We are wanting

At the heart of the human condition we are needy.  We want.  From infancy we learn to be so.
A baby cries for food, for warmth,  for comfort, for attention, to have it’s needs met.  As the child grows this is further reinforced through childhood and adolescence as the family and society expressing their care, duty and love continue to pay attention to the developing person; pampering to it’s needs. The child learns to crave attention and limelight,  it gets what it demands most of the time.  Throwing a tantrum when it is ignored.  It is not therefore surprising that as adults that we are not much different, we want.  We want a comfortable home, nice food, good looks, health, wealth, fame, attention, sex, relationships, power, success;  we want.  Even in the church people want.

Most of what we want, that which we crave for only temporarily satisfies, we soon want more, we never have enough.  Our capacity for wanting is insatiable.  We are hardwired and socially conditioned for wanting.

Mary listened to the angel, and submitted to the will of God.  “Be it done to me according to thy word…”  Her acceptance and grace allowed all of humanity the chance of salvation, of freedom and love.

We can slake our insatiable thirst by responding to God’s call like Mary.  If we follow Christ’s example and live for others, love others feed their needs.  Then a remarkable thing happens, we stop wanting, we become satisfied.

"I pray that you and I can be reborn with the grace to love God and others, and our desires be for others and the Christ child."

Our country again needs converting

Our country again needs converting, It will not be done by the half hearted.

I cannot but agree with Kate Tristram, as she speaks from her home on Lindisfarne, in England.

Resurrexit sicut dixit

He is risen as he said

May the light of the Risen Lord be in our hearts today and every day.

Most Shocking Second a Day Video

My Child, your child, God's child,
Lent is a time for giving,
Give to God's children.

Time

I have given priority to work, family, personal development, study and prayer.  Other things hobbies, TV, Facebook and blog have been put on the back burners.
However, now is the beginning of the season of Lent, a period of preparation for Easter and a period of discipline.

We ought always to pray, but Lent is a great time of year for new beginnings.  During Lent many Christians, work through the spiritual exercises of St Igantious, these can be done at any time, but now is a great time to do them.  I have made time, go on, you can make time too.

Check out www.ignatianspirituality.com  You can work through the exercises starting today.  I have and can feel the power of good it is doing for me.

People on a bus, God on a bus.

This week I asked somebody what they liked to do?  Making conversation.  She replied that she liked people watching.  She liked to sit and watch people on the bus, trains and in waiting rooms.  I realised that I too like to people watch.

And what better thing is there to do?  Nothing can beat watching, nothing can be more interesting than God's handiwork.  Humans are frail and weak they do all kinds of funny and interesting things. Also given that mankind is made in the image of God, created by God.  We can see God in others, if only we have eyes to see.

When we watch we can see God, but we can also see our sister or brother in pain, hungry, lonely and broken.  Then we can be the hands of God, soothing the pain and the loneliness.  We have the ability to let God be God and work thorough our frail and sinful bodies.  You and I must let go and let God.

You and I must look at the people on the bus. in the waiting room, walking on the street and sitting at the desk near us.

Look and see God.
Let yourself be,  let yourself be the hands, mouth, eyes and ears of god.
Let God be God.

Hungry Caterpillars?

You and I live in a consumer world, eating everything about us, but unlike the hungry caterpillar most of us do not blossom into beauty. Most of our efforts and those of the people around us are vain, selfish and indulgent.  We strive for more, bigger and best. We walk over our brothers and sisters to get it.  All  humanity selfishly striving to have more, and at what cost.

This week I heard a captain of industry criticise some politicians for considering actions that would not maximise profits.  The politicians were considering prioritising people, and their needs.  Trade is important, it is part of life but profit should be for the people, people should come first.  We ought not to be working constantly to make profit,  more and more money.  We need to make profit so people benefit, society benefits.  Attempting to build a great tower off Babble, made off accumulative wealth and greed. 

In the same way as industry should be made by man for man, rather than man made for industry; you and I are made for God.  Creation was created for God's mysterious purposes, not to serve our appetites, we need to focus on God.  If we do God's will, not our will we will grow into something beautiful. You and I can recreate our sick and sickening society.

There is a lot a very good Christian media out there, for a variety of churches and denominations.  Check out Fr Barron whose preaching may help you.  And do not forget the Bible. Start now, start today, make a difference to your self and to society.