Naming My Year…

Almost three months into 2012 and I have finally determined my name for the year…“Patient Trust.” 

Back in December I shared about 2011 being my year of stability and my desire to name my 2012…HERE.  All this was inspired by my friend Daphne’s blog post, “Choosing to Name Your Year.” 

Well, better late than never, I guess?!

A couple weeks ago I stumbled upon these words of reflection and encouragement on “Patient Trust”…HERE. These words have stuck with me ever since. In my posture of seeking and attentiveness to God at work in my life, I tend to be pretty impatient with myself. At times, I have a hard time with unanswered questions and formation in process in my life. I’d much rather skip the waiting and just cut to the chase.

I’m not sure where these current stirrings of my heart, mind and soul will lead. I am uncertain how these stirrings will deepen my formation and vocation this 2012. But, I desire to seek and wait in a posture of “Patient Trust.” I also hope to live this posture of patient trust in my relationships and accompaniment with others this coming year.

This is my hope and prayer for 2012!

Traditional Irish Blessing

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! I stumbled upon this Celtic Blessing this morning (Thanks Jamie & Missional blog!). Good words of blessing and prayer for one another!

 

Traditional Irish Blessing
I wish you not a path devoid of clouds,
nor a life on a bed of roses,
not that you might never need regret,
nor that you shall never feel pain.
No, that is not my wish for you.
My wish for you is that you might be brave in times of trial
when others lay crosses upon your shoulders.
When mountains must be climbed
and chasms are to be crossed;
when hope scarce can shine through.
That every gift God gave you might grow along with you.
And let you give the gift of joy to all who care for you.
That you may always have a friend who is worth that name.
Who you can trust, and who helps you in times of sadness.
Who will defy the storms of daily life at your side.
One more wish I have for you:
That in every hour of joy and pain you may feel God close to you.
This is my wish for you and for all who care for you.
This is my hope for you, now and forever.

Patient Trust

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
     to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something
     unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
     that it is made by passing through
     some stages of instability—
     and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;
     your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
     let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on,
     as though you could be today what time
     (that is to say, grace and circumstances
     acting on your own good will)
     will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit
     gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
     that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
     in suspense and incomplete.
~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ

Taken from: dotMagis: the blog of Ignatian Spirituality.com
http://ignatianspirituality.com/8078/prayer-of-theilhard-de-chardin/

Raw Material for Discernment

 I continue to go through the Ignatian Lenten Retreat that I shared about in my previous post below. If nothing else, you might like to check out Week Two of the retreat that serves as an excellent foundation for the Examen. Here is the link: Week Two.

My retreat reflection this morning included this quote, which was a good reminder for me today.

Ignatius’s Great Discovery
The point has often been made that the Christian Gospel is a story of strength and triumph arising from weakness and defeat. The Savior is a poor man in a provincial, backwater land. Salvation comes about through suffering and death. In the words of Mary’s Magnificat prayer: “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.”

We’re afflicted with divided hearts that cause us to be burdened by angst, uncertainty, and fear when making important decisions. But this very confusion of thoughts and feelings is the place where we find God’s footprints. It’s the raw material for discernment.

This was Ignatius’s great discovery.

— J. Michael Sparough, SJ; Jim Manney; Tim Hipskind, SJ,
What’s Your Decision?