“A God who would die on a cross for you,” he said on his podcast today, “isn’t looking for some loophole so he can send you to hell. He will do everything he can to make sure you’re there with him in heaven. He loves you more than you could ever love anything.”
I've been a believing Catholic for about 20 years. I've never heard or even sensed God speaking to me directly. I'm sure I could sit in a chapel and pray for hours, and get the same response that you have gotten. Other people seem to have a direct pipeline. Perhaps He thinks I can figure it out on my own, but that's highly debatable.
It sounds like "Life with Father" (Joe, that is) has been a real blessing. You may need Fr. Joe, his dad, BOB, and coffee with Jesus a while longer. Advise you to stay write there.
Well, again, I appreciate your ability to write so well. Mostly I’ve been (and will likely continue to be) silent about your self-analysis and your separation. This post has so many great New England photos, though, and such warmth within the description of Fr. and his Dad, that I must comment. I’ve never been to a coastal New England town, and would love to see those you visited. That lobster is killing me, too.
A hard-of-hearing priest who encourages his naughty kitteh Bob to “attack the apostate,” and can’t keep a sanctuary lamp in his chapel due to said kitteh’s wicked ways, is a guy I’d enjoy hanging out with for certain.
Wonderful writing, as usual. I am going to search for Fr. Joe's podcast. He sounds like a wonderful priest.
I only been between a rock and a hard spot a few times in my life--but when there, I try to stay calm, because experience has shown me that God knows when I'm in that type of bind, and relief invariably comes--it may take a year, but I've invariably come up with something (God really is doing the heavy lifting) to improve the situation. When God closes a door He opens a window, but there may be a period of uncertainty. I don't expect anything when I pray. I have a committed prayer routine. If I were you, I'd develop a prayer routine. Personally, I find morning best. I use "Magnificat" and "The Divine Office." "Magnificat" has been a spiritual game changer in my life. It's $50 a year or so--moved me from one interior castle into the next one. (If I remember correctly, there are seven interior castles--get the book, but it's a slow read.) I think of the castles as concentric circles. In the inner-most circle is Our Lord, sitting on a throne, with some other saints and angels conversing with Him, and when one enters (death), Our Lord gets up and embraces one. Looking forward to that embrace--I can visualize it. Take out the kiss in the link below of the encounter with Our Lord in the big "welcome" hug. That's my vision of the Divine embrace when one enters the 7th mansion. Turn it into a big holy hug and lose the kiss (artistic license here). (I edit songs this way in my mind's eye as well.)
So the four forms of prayer are: adoration, asking forgiveness for one's sins, petition and thanksgiving. I don't "hear" or "see" anything. Keep a pad of paper near by because when one clears the mind and tells the Lord: "I'm just going to sit here in your presence with love and gratitude in my heart," you'll find that a lot of "must-do" items come rushing into your mind and one has to write them down if hoping to return to "Sitting there adoring the Lord" mode. Sometimes, start by reading a little bit of Scripture. "Magnificat" is perfect for this--the editor, Fr. Sebastian White is a spiritual genius in my opinion and the art is spectacular. When making petitions, realize that the answer may be "yes," "no," or "wait." Silence is hard to interpret but if one sticks to prayer (I try for 2 hours a day, but really don't make that goal many days), God notices. And how do I know that? Because I've been helped with all my problems (as seems to be the case for all my Third-Order Carmelite brothers and sisters), big and small problems. I feel sometimes like life is like being in a hotel hallway when the lights go out, and one is feeling along the wall, and trying every door. Some door has always opened for me, but one has to persist in searching and trying everything one can think of. Try different things. I may suffer, but I'm going to get help. And so will you.
If I were you, I'd try to come up with ways to help the family when I get back. Ask your wife: is there something I can do for you? Ask the kids: is there some way I can help you? If they say "no," then try to help the needy, choosing an appropriate organization. Say "Well, then I'll see if there's some way I can help someone, but if you think of a way I can help you (wife, the kids), let me know." Ways will present themselves--picking things and people up, homework help, maybe cooking dinner (?), helping to fix things or run various errands. In general, since my kids are grown (but I'm still involved with them), I'm trying to organize my life around helping various other people through the church. For instance, you could become a Knight of Colombus. These outfits are really desperate for men these days. All this assumes you return to the faith. My attitude: just jump in. And when you do, expect "trouble" and "blowback" because there is the enemy of the soul, and the enemy of the soul raises Hell when he is driven out of one's life and soul. That's a daily effort. It ain't over until the fat lady sings.
I'm going to break my own rule that no sentence beginning with the phrase, "I wish" is worth the bother of finishing, and say I wish you could drive across the Atlantic and hang out here with us.
I was listening to this guy who works with business people and one of the things he does is teaches them how to hear from God. He said they come from all walks of life and faith, but they end up hearing from God. Here's one of his principles to hearing from God: Ask God a question in such a way that the answer will give you your missing piece. In other words, you have to be sure your asking God the right questions, ones that will help you see your blind spots.
I never miss an opportunity to watch Fr Joe’s podcast, simply the best. He’s one of the few religious people I can listen to without my jaw clenching. What a blessing to call that guy brother!
One of my favorite books when I was younger was "tuesdays with Morrie" and your post surely brought that book to mind as I read it.
Never mind that I was so excited to once again sit alone on the couch and gum whatever I found in the refrigerator to eat for dinner while reading it, that my choice was poor. Who knew that a week old fish fillet sandwich could cause so much havoc in ones stomach half way through the best post yet.
After swigging down something to settle my stomach, I immersed myself into your world once again. And through your eyes, words and experiences shared, you wrote what I surely would were I you and actually, you are gaining ground in so many ways. It gives ME hope.
Soak it up; every kind and authentic word from every kind and authentic person is priceless.
You've struck gold, Steve. The hard part is holding it in your heart and never letting fools gold replace it, for that is mainly what unauthentic, unkind people have to offer.
I sat down on the couch to have dinner with your post tonight, me gumming some week old fish filled sandwich I found in the back of the refrigerator while throughly enjoying every word and I've come to a few conclusions:
I could have authored the first few paragraphs but you took the words right out of my head.
I loved the book "Tuesdays with Morrie" and reading your post is equal to how that book made an impression on me.
I feel honored to read your words and thrilled to see your journey leading you forward. It's everything I have hoped and prayed for.
You are not the only one waiting for some ounce of assurance that there is God and He will take care of and love you when there is NO ONE else who does.
And my last conclusion is this;
Never, ever eat a week old fish filled sandwich while reading the best post so far. The stomach doesn't care about posts.
I second Anne's comment below where she says, "If I were you, I'd try to come up with ways to help the family when I get back. Ask your wife: is there something I can do for you? Ask the kids: is there some way I can help you?"
I'd just add, that however you are able to help your family, never ever get into a dispute with them again. If you have to, excuse yourself and cool off, but don't dredge up why they need you out of their lives.
As for hearing from God, I think God has been speaking to you. And I suspect you even know it at one level. But another part of you overrides that and shuts it off. Here's the remedy:
Col 3 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God... Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
In short, you forgive, you put on His love, receive His peace, and be thankful. By doing those things, you free the part of you that does hear God.
Love this:
“A God who would die on a cross for you,” he said on his podcast today, “isn’t looking for some loophole so he can send you to hell. He will do everything he can to make sure you’re there with him in heaven. He loves you more than you could ever love anything.”
I've been a believing Catholic for about 20 years. I've never heard or even sensed God speaking to me directly. I'm sure I could sit in a chapel and pray for hours, and get the same response that you have gotten. Other people seem to have a direct pipeline. Perhaps He thinks I can figure it out on my own, but that's highly debatable.
It sounds like "Life with Father" (Joe, that is) has been a real blessing. You may need Fr. Joe, his dad, BOB, and coffee with Jesus a while longer. Advise you to stay write there.
Well, again, I appreciate your ability to write so well. Mostly I’ve been (and will likely continue to be) silent about your self-analysis and your separation. This post has so many great New England photos, though, and such warmth within the description of Fr. and his Dad, that I must comment. I’ve never been to a coastal New England town, and would love to see those you visited. That lobster is killing me, too.
A hard-of-hearing priest who encourages his naughty kitteh Bob to “attack the apostate,” and can’t keep a sanctuary lamp in his chapel due to said kitteh’s wicked ways, is a guy I’d enjoy hanging out with for certain.
Best to you and all.
A beautiful post, Steve. Praying for you.
Wonderful writing, as usual. I am going to search for Fr. Joe's podcast. He sounds like a wonderful priest.
I only been between a rock and a hard spot a few times in my life--but when there, I try to stay calm, because experience has shown me that God knows when I'm in that type of bind, and relief invariably comes--it may take a year, but I've invariably come up with something (God really is doing the heavy lifting) to improve the situation. When God closes a door He opens a window, but there may be a period of uncertainty. I don't expect anything when I pray. I have a committed prayer routine. If I were you, I'd develop a prayer routine. Personally, I find morning best. I use "Magnificat" and "The Divine Office." "Magnificat" has been a spiritual game changer in my life. It's $50 a year or so--moved me from one interior castle into the next one. (If I remember correctly, there are seven interior castles--get the book, but it's a slow read.) I think of the castles as concentric circles. In the inner-most circle is Our Lord, sitting on a throne, with some other saints and angels conversing with Him, and when one enters (death), Our Lord gets up and embraces one. Looking forward to that embrace--I can visualize it. Take out the kiss in the link below of the encounter with Our Lord in the big "welcome" hug. That's my vision of the Divine embrace when one enters the 7th mansion. Turn it into a big holy hug and lose the kiss (artistic license here). (I edit songs this way in my mind's eye as well.)
So the four forms of prayer are: adoration, asking forgiveness for one's sins, petition and thanksgiving. I don't "hear" or "see" anything. Keep a pad of paper near by because when one clears the mind and tells the Lord: "I'm just going to sit here in your presence with love and gratitude in my heart," you'll find that a lot of "must-do" items come rushing into your mind and one has to write them down if hoping to return to "Sitting there adoring the Lord" mode. Sometimes, start by reading a little bit of Scripture. "Magnificat" is perfect for this--the editor, Fr. Sebastian White is a spiritual genius in my opinion and the art is spectacular. When making petitions, realize that the answer may be "yes," "no," or "wait." Silence is hard to interpret but if one sticks to prayer (I try for 2 hours a day, but really don't make that goal many days), God notices. And how do I know that? Because I've been helped with all my problems (as seems to be the case for all my Third-Order Carmelite brothers and sisters), big and small problems. I feel sometimes like life is like being in a hotel hallway when the lights go out, and one is feeling along the wall, and trying every door. Some door has always opened for me, but one has to persist in searching and trying everything one can think of. Try different things. I may suffer, but I'm going to get help. And so will you.
If I were you, I'd try to come up with ways to help the family when I get back. Ask your wife: is there something I can do for you? Ask the kids: is there some way I can help you? If they say "no," then try to help the needy, choosing an appropriate organization. Say "Well, then I'll see if there's some way I can help someone, but if you think of a way I can help you (wife, the kids), let me know." Ways will present themselves--picking things and people up, homework help, maybe cooking dinner (?), helping to fix things or run various errands. In general, since my kids are grown (but I'm still involved with them), I'm trying to organize my life around helping various other people through the church. For instance, you could become a Knight of Colombus. These outfits are really desperate for men these days. All this assumes you return to the faith. My attitude: just jump in. And when you do, expect "trouble" and "blowback" because there is the enemy of the soul, and the enemy of the soul raises Hell when he is driven out of one's life and soul. That's a daily effort. It ain't over until the fat lady sings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XUxAS2ymIU
Beautiful! Fr Krupp is a real gem. Now if only he would add a fanatical obsession with baseball and steam
Oh, he’s fanatically obsessed with baseball. You should see his collection of autographed balls.
Blessings on your journey ahead, sir. You bless us with these stories.
I'm going to break my own rule that no sentence beginning with the phrase, "I wish" is worth the bother of finishing, and say I wish you could drive across the Atlantic and hang out here with us.
Me too!
I was listening to this guy who works with business people and one of the things he does is teaches them how to hear from God. He said they come from all walks of life and faith, but they end up hearing from God. Here's one of his principles to hearing from God: Ask God a question in such a way that the answer will give you your missing piece. In other words, you have to be sure your asking God the right questions, ones that will help you see your blind spots.
I never miss an opportunity to watch Fr Joe’s podcast, simply the best. He’s one of the few religious people I can listen to without my jaw clenching. What a blessing to call that guy brother!
Steve,
One of my favorite books when I was younger was "tuesdays with Morrie" and your post surely brought that book to mind as I read it.
Never mind that I was so excited to once again sit alone on the couch and gum whatever I found in the refrigerator to eat for dinner while reading it, that my choice was poor. Who knew that a week old fish fillet sandwich could cause so much havoc in ones stomach half way through the best post yet.
After swigging down something to settle my stomach, I immersed myself into your world once again. And through your eyes, words and experiences shared, you wrote what I surely would were I you and actually, you are gaining ground in so many ways. It gives ME hope.
Soak it up; every kind and authentic word from every kind and authentic person is priceless.
You've struck gold, Steve. The hard part is holding it in your heart and never letting fools gold replace it, for that is mainly what unauthentic, unkind people have to offer.
Thanks for the memories, Steve.
Steve,
I sat down on the couch to have dinner with your post tonight, me gumming some week old fish filled sandwich I found in the back of the refrigerator while throughly enjoying every word and I've come to a few conclusions:
I could have authored the first few paragraphs but you took the words right out of my head.
I loved the book "Tuesdays with Morrie" and reading your post is equal to how that book made an impression on me.
I feel honored to read your words and thrilled to see your journey leading you forward. It's everything I have hoped and prayed for.
You are not the only one waiting for some ounce of assurance that there is God and He will take care of and love you when there is NO ONE else who does.
And my last conclusion is this;
Never, ever eat a week old fish filled sandwich while reading the best post so far. The stomach doesn't care about posts.
That last line! Hilarious.
I second Anne's comment below where she says, "If I were you, I'd try to come up with ways to help the family when I get back. Ask your wife: is there something I can do for you? Ask the kids: is there some way I can help you?"
I'd just add, that however you are able to help your family, never ever get into a dispute with them again. If you have to, excuse yourself and cool off, but don't dredge up why they need you out of their lives.
As for hearing from God, I think God has been speaking to you. And I suspect you even know it at one level. But another part of you overrides that and shuts it off. Here's the remedy:
Col 3 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God... Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
In short, you forgive, you put on His love, receive His peace, and be thankful. By doing those things, you free the part of you that does hear God.