I am still praying that all humanity would be gifted in the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the blessings we use in marriage. Against such things there is no law.
There is a ‘Present’ that is everywhere at once. Right now it is the Present. But if I wait a few seconds it is still the Present. And if I wait a Thousand Years, it’s still the Present. What divides the Past & Present yet retains so interconnected?
Once upon a time I’ll pass on to the next
For as soon as I am here I’ve left.
However this is merely how you perceive.
For I never really change and yet still continue to weave.
I am reminded of that old poem from long ago:
“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?” -- Tennessee Williams
I have wondered if there was a word for something that seemed bad but was actually good?
Some people use the idiom of a 'blessing in disguise' - something that seems bad or unlucky at first, but results in something good happening later: Losing that job was a blessing in disguise really.
But some idioms can be very bad if you DO them expecting to be immediately rewarded. A blessing in disguise can change into an actual curse if you arrogantly do it expecting to be rewarded. In this case it can be a situation of your pride before you fall.
As far as I can tell no one person has all the answers. The only way we can get through it is when we work together. What unites us is much greater than what divides us.
But the whole human race has to search through our past, present, and future together along the full spectrum of all our virtues: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
True respect is when true heroes reciprocate the heroic virtues of everyone around them with everyone around them while enhancing everyone around them -- we radiate an Aura of Positive Reciprocity.
The supernatural reciprocation of loving mirthful laughter between families creates a cloud of positive energy that unites us so faithfully that we can move entire mountain ranges together.
Many people do not realize when something is a sacred it is considered so holy is untouchable. Life is like a very fine balancing act between all the authentic virtues.
Many people say the Lord's prayer "...and lead us not into temptation." But deep down they don't actually believe God would actually tempt them. Perhaps a better word to use is 'test'. And God would most certainly test us as He sees fit, even leading us into temptation. I remember a time when I prayed this but I did not really believe God would really lead me into temptation.
Example 1: God tested Abraham in the positive sense and Abraham passed the test. When I say positive sense, God told Abraham literally what to do, “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” This would be filial fear.
Example 2: God tested Judas in the negative sense and Judas failed the test. God told Judas ambiguously what to. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” If Judas had actually believed when he prayed "...and lead us not into temptation." the virtue fed to Judas would have been the humility of the Holy Spirit. Judas would have been gifted with discernment of the spirits. And Judas would NOT have betrayed our Lord.
I suspect a big difference between Catholics and Protestants is that Protestants do not believe God would actually tempt them. Catholics know full well God can most certainly test us. The real challenge seems to be for us to have the humility to offer His test up to God.
The answer to the conundrum is to Always Choose Life in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the weapons we use in battle. Against such things there is no law.
This is why Einstein loved the Catholic Church. In the end only the Catholic Church was left to fight the Nazis.
“Only the Catholic Church protested against the Hitlerian onslaught on liberty. Up till then I had not been interested in the Church, but today I feel a great admiration for the Church, which alone has had the courage to struggle for spiritual truth and moral liberty." -- Albert Einstein
Tesla once said, "If your hate could be turned into electricity, it would light up the whole world." Replace hatred with chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility and light up the world for our Lord. This is what authentic free energy is all about.
"If your chastity could be turned into electricity, it would light up the whole world."
"If your temperance could be turned into electricity, it would light up the whole world."
"If your charity could be turned into electricity, it would light up the whole world."
"If your diligence could be turned into electricity, it would light up the whole world."
"If your patience could be turned into electricity, it would light up the whole world."
"If your kindness could be turned into electricity, it would light up the whole world."
"If your humility could be turned into electricity, it would light up the whole world."
Self-centeredness is NOT "self-care". Promises are only as strong as the actions that follow them.
Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary. -- Saint Francis of Assisi