January 8, 2022

 

SHAME  VS. THE REAL THING

 

God, to be honest, I do too many things out of shame.
 
Shame seems to be my predominant motive.
 
I don’t sin, because if I was caught, I’d be ashamed.
 
Too many times I’m here – not because I want to be here – but because I’d be ashamed not to be here.
 
Shame! Shame on me!
 
God what a façade I’m hiding behind.
 
Shame! Fear! Guilt!
 
These are pilots and co-pilots.
 
What should be my pilots and co-pilots are: Faith! Hope! and Charity!
 
They ought to hi-jack my plane.
 
But I don’t have the courage of my commitments and convictions
 
Better:  I’m not following my commitments or convictions.  I am following my fears.  I’m filled with guilt. I’m ashamed of my very motives – my basic being.
 
Do I then walk out?
 
Do I walk away?
 
Do I leave all?
 
I can’t.
 
Even though I’m here for the wrong reasons, people depend on me for the right reasons.
 
I told you this.
 
I’m admitting this.
 
Shame runs the engine in me.
 
God is that why you keep calling me into the desert?
 
Is that why you want me to make an Exodus?
 
Is that why you want me to cross the river – to climb the mountain – to retreat?
 
Sabbath, Exile, Exodus, are all so real, when I get right down to it.
 
40 years – 40 days – 4 days – 4 hours – 4 minutes – to let go – to be emptied.
 
Then to come out – as “Beloved” – doing all things - for all for the Lord’s reasons – the Lord’s way – clean and clear of shame.
 
Being ... doing... without shame... now that's the tricky trick ... how to be ... how to do that.
 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2022

 January  8,  2022

 

Thought for Today

 

“Two possibilities exist …
Either we are alone in the universe
or we are not.
Both are equally terrifying.”

 

Arthur C. Clarke

January 7, 2022

IMPLICATIONS

 
 
They are below the ice.
 
Everything we say has implications dripping from its words.
 
Everything we do is loaded with implications.
 
Life moves too fast – most of the time – for us to take the time – to become aware of the ocean of implications we need to navigate.
 
We speak.  We do. We remain silent. We make a phone call. Sometimes we have a sense of the implications involved in our behaviors.  We want others to respond to our words, our gifts, our actions, our signals.
 
Prayer is a great chance to listen to our heart – to stop – to hear our neediness, our poverty, our hungers, our thirsts – for recognition, for acceptance,  for inclusion, for love.
 
Prayer is a great opportunity to listen to God and his implications.
 
We were given the gift of life.
 
Our parents gave us the gift of life.
 
God gives life.
 
Implications.
 
Don’t neglect or miss them.
 
Implications: live life to the full.
 
A funeral passes by.  We see a row of cars with headlights on – following a hearse.
 
Implications: some day it will be my turn – just as it was my turn years ago – to be born – to come out of my mom – into the light of day.
 
A job – being given a job …. What are the implications, the designs, the hopes, the dreams of the boss?
 
A family – what does that imply?  Time with? Time for?  Listening?
 
Prayers:– my God, prayers are loaded with implications.
·       To forgive as I am forgiven;
·       To make sure all have daily bread;
·       To be an instrument of God’s peace.
 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2022

January  7,  2022

 

Thought for Today

“It’s easy to halve the potato where there’s love.”

 

Irish proverb

January 6, 2022

IMPLICATIONS

 

They are below the ice.

Everything we say has implications dripping from its words.

Everything we do is loaded with implications.

Life moves too fast – most of the time – for us to take the time – be become aware of the ocean of implications we are navigating.

We speak.  We do. We remain silent. We make a phone call. We want others to respond to our words, our gifts, our actions, our signals.

Prayer is a great chance to listen to our heart – to stop – to hear our neediness, our poverty, our hungers, our thirsts – for recognition, for acceptance for inclusion, for love.

Prayer is a great opportunity to listen to God and his implications.

We were given the gift of life.

God gives life.

Implications.

Don’t kill them.

Implications: give life.

Implications: live life to the full.

A funeral passes by.  We see a row of cars with headlights on – following a hearse.  Implications: some day it will be my turn – just as it was my turn years ago – to be born – to come out of my mom – into the light of day.

A job – being given a job …. What are the implications, the designs, the hope, the dreams of the boss.

A family – what does that imply?  Time with? Time for?  Listening?

Prayers – My God, they are loaded with implications.

    ·       To forgive as I am forgiven,
·       To make sure all have daily bread,
·       To be an instrument of his peace.
 
 
  
 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2022

January  6,  2022

 

Thought for Today

 

“People who cough incessantly never seem to go to the doctor.  They go to banquets, concerts and churches.”

 

CONVICTIONS

 
Prayer – moments of prayer – help us to get in touch with our convictions.
 
Too often we’re rootless – like an autumn leaf – dead, dried up, fallen on a hard sidewalk – blowing in the direction of the prevailing wind.
 
Prayer – better moments of prayer, moments of listening to God roots us, connects us to the human community – like grapes on the vine.
 
We become young again, green again, alive again.
 
Resurrection.
 
In the silence of prayer, we hear the call of God.
 
We discover that all are called to be prophets – people who have convictions.
 
Prayer lets us know what’s right and what’s wrong.
 
Prayers convict people.
 
We discover that we are convicts, imprisoned by food, television, money, public opinion.
 
We discover in prayer that God wants to free us- to break our shackles, to pardon us, to release us from prison, to lead us to promised lands.
 
Prayer helps u to see, to hear, to know the truth.
 
And the truth will set us free.
 
Prayer brings us face to face with the convictions of God:
 
·       Human rights,
·       Social justice,
·       Love one another,
·       Protect the children,
·       Protect the environment we all live in,            the air, the water,
·       Visit the sick,
·       Visit the  imprisoned,
·       Comfort those in sorrow or mourning.
 
Moments of prayer bring us face to face with God – the God of truth – and slowly we become convinced of his convictions.
 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2022