One-chan went for a leadership camp then immediately motivated to blog, I went for a retreat two weeks ago and still struggling to post. The retreat was at the chaplaincy, where 6 students turned up. Allocating time for God is not easy. Two seminars and lots of time for reflection, including mass and benediction. I personally enjoy retreats, because I genuinely believe it necessary in putting time aside to reflect on oneself. Thereby absorbing life lessons I gather from looking back at my past actions, and my present knowledge. They call it ‘divine intervention’, Phing calls it ‘epiphany’, I call it ‘enlightenment'. Life is a lot simpler than people would have you believe. Will just record some of the more striking points I gathered from Fr. Ian the other day.
A way to discern people with the strongest faith in God is by asking them the question, “have you ever doubted your faith?”. Those that answered “Never!” and "Of course!” are the strongest. As with most people, my faith goes through a sinusoidal cycle of peaks and valleys, but I do try and strengthen it as I grow older. It almost is a natural process that the more one experiences life, the more one experiences God, which in turn strengthens one’s faith. The fundamental question of “does God exist?” is not even a question to me because I have accepted it, partly because of convenience (a born-Catholic), partly because of conviction (miracles of life). For those who doubt the moral God, moral (good / bad) itself is a product of the human conscience, and moral is ephemeral in existence. To me, God is a subtle integration of my conscience, and his divinity transcends through my actions, because He made me.
Fr. Ian gave a most beautiful example of dealing with life’s uncertainty: when feeling down, confused, disturbed, or angry, go “sit beside yourself”. Splendid. Nothing of the schizophrenic sort here, just take a step back, and using your true self to evaluate your current self. Again, it is an example of God’s divinity transcending within you. It is saying: my true self, manifesting God, takes a good look at my current self, then laughs at the idiocy of feeling whatever negative thoughts I may be having. But if anyone does see me sitting beside myself, you better pray it is only an illusion.
St Vincent de Paul said, “when someone knocks while prayer, leave god for God”. Pope Benedict’s encyclical “God Is Love” also contains a beautiful section about Mother Mary (C. 41). These two great figures of faith understood that God’s divinity transcends in their actions, and that they’re undertaking God’s initiatives, as much as they are willing to put their time aside for prayer. I know I am not the best Catholic around, especially with the smart mouth and indifferent demeanor. It is irritating for the perfectionist living inside me, but I have to loosen up and understand God’s sincerity. I have to learn how to not doubt God’s sincerity.
We do all kinds of things each day because of fear – fear of rejection, fear of being ugly, fear of being lonely, fear of the unknown, fear of feeling stupid etc. That’s why we act up and try to impress. But we know our true self disapproves of all these. It is surprising, but letting go of the false facades and breaking down your own outer facade, and you will realize that you have more friends than ever before. That we people yearn to know each other’s true self, because they are identical in nature. Guess those were the parts that impacted me. Joke heard during tea time:
A way to discern people with the strongest faith in God is by asking them the question, “have you ever doubted your faith?”. Those that answered “Never!” and "Of course!” are the strongest. As with most people, my faith goes through a sinusoidal cycle of peaks and valleys, but I do try and strengthen it as I grow older. It almost is a natural process that the more one experiences life, the more one experiences God, which in turn strengthens one’s faith. The fundamental question of “does God exist?” is not even a question to me because I have accepted it, partly because of convenience (a born-Catholic), partly because of conviction (miracles of life). For those who doubt the moral God, moral (good / bad) itself is a product of the human conscience, and moral is ephemeral in existence. To me, God is a subtle integration of my conscience, and his divinity transcends through my actions, because He made me.
Fr. Ian gave a most beautiful example of dealing with life’s uncertainty: when feeling down, confused, disturbed, or angry, go “sit beside yourself”. Splendid. Nothing of the schizophrenic sort here, just take a step back, and using your true self to evaluate your current self. Again, it is an example of God’s divinity transcending within you. It is saying: my true self, manifesting God, takes a good look at my current self, then laughs at the idiocy of feeling whatever negative thoughts I may be having. But if anyone does see me sitting beside myself, you better pray it is only an illusion.
St Vincent de Paul said, “when someone knocks while prayer, leave god for God”. Pope Benedict’s encyclical “God Is Love” also contains a beautiful section about Mother Mary (C. 41). These two great figures of faith understood that God’s divinity transcends in their actions, and that they’re undertaking God’s initiatives, as much as they are willing to put their time aside for prayer. I know I am not the best Catholic around, especially with the smart mouth and indifferent demeanor. It is irritating for the perfectionist living inside me, but I have to loosen up and understand God’s sincerity. I have to learn how to not doubt God’s sincerity.
We do all kinds of things each day because of fear – fear of rejection, fear of being ugly, fear of being lonely, fear of the unknown, fear of feeling stupid etc. That’s why we act up and try to impress. But we know our true self disapproves of all these. It is surprising, but letting go of the false facades and breaking down your own outer facade, and you will realize that you have more friends than ever before. That we people yearn to know each other’s true self, because they are identical in nature. Guess those were the parts that impacted me. Joke heard during tea time:
James: Do you want sugar in your tea?
Miriam: No thanks, I’m sweet enough.
