Our Father Who Art in Heaven...

It cannot be stressed enough the great importance of knowing who we are and how knowing and accepting this matters as we live out lives. The depth of understanding and acceptance of the person that we have become and are today contributes to the freedom in which we live our life today.

It contributes to the courage we must draw from within us to navigate through the storms of life.

It inspires or allow for inspirations that greatly color our daily lives.

It enables us to become gifts to those to whom we meet, are a part or share our lives.

Therefore, we give to ourselves a great gift should we return to silence and solitude constantly. Henri Nouwen once wrote,

"Somewhere we know

that without silence words lose their meaning,

that without listening speaking no longer heals,

that without distance closeness cannot cure."

We believe that we come from God. We hold to the fact that we are created in the image and likeness of God. We are loved by God who is Love. How then do we live life if we stray too far away from God who is our everything? Vatican II teaches that sin dull the edge of conscience. That straying too far from God also dulls our sensitivity to the very real movement of the Spirit in our lives.

From a certain perspective and again quoting from the same author who wrote,

"Our life is full of brokenness...bitter relationships, broken promises, broken expectations. How can we live with that brokenness without becoming bitter and resentful except by returning again and again to God's faithful presence in our lives?"

Let us not wander too far away from our heart.

Let us not be locked outside the Chapel within us

from which flows courage, strength and healing.

Let us always return again and again

placing ourselves before the faithful love of God.

And let us check and examine our conscience

to see if pride has hold on us

or that our path is one marked by selfishness

and even consider anger in our lives in the many different form it manifests.

Let us too not make excuses for our fallings

or always have an explanation for everything.

Let us not bring God for the argument we must make

to justify our actions.

Our life with its burden and responsibilities is our ours and ours alone.

In the meantime, if we find ourselves today distant and lost,

let the prayer Jesus taught us bring us back.

That we have a Father in Heaven

who is sacred and distinct,

That the will and reign of God is found with us

as it is in Heaven,

not leaving out our roles in making that happen.

That we are given what we need today.

That God do not hold against us the wrongs

and transgressions we have committed

just as we do not hold it against those who wronged

and committed transgressions against us.

And Dear Lord, put us not to the test

And keep us safe from all that is not of you

And are opposed to you which we call.... evil.

Amen... I believe... Let it be done.

Ends