What Are You Listening to?

Words of love are what the Father chooses for us… words that lift us up, make our day, correct and guide. Our Father always speaks the truth. But often times, we hear other words. The voice may sound the same, but the words are very different. These are words that cause us to worry, “Am I good enough?” Or, perhaps, we've heard them so much that we’re beaten down and have given up. These are lies. We should call them what they are. Maybe they come from a deep inner wound, or maybe they come from the devil, but they are not the truth.

How do we know that?

Because they steal, kill, and destroy. Lies steal our joy, kill our relationships, and destroy our lives. Perhaps it didn’t happen so forcibly at first. It can take time… which is why they are so deadly; however, suddenly you can’t get out of bed and face the day, or get past the hurt that someone caused you. All. Because. You. Believed. A. Lie. 

Along the way something inside of you said,

“If only I could be better…”

“If I were a good person (wife, friend, boss)” or

 “I'm useless. ”

Lies can also be about other people, even people we love. “He's running late on purpose. He'd rather be at work and make me.”

“They never include me. I bet they're talking about me right now.”

Lies. Sad words that we just think and allow to marinate.

How can we get from lies to truth?

There may not be a way to fully stop these words from floating in our head, but we can stop them from getting stuck deep in our hearts and becoming part of us. As with many things, recognizing is the first step. This can be difficult because we are honestly hurt sometimes, and it's so easy to go there. Pray for wisdom and strength. Asked the Father to be with you. Second, go with the facts–“He wouldn't hurt me on purpose. He loves me.”

“They are my friends.”

Third, is there anything that might be true within the lie? For example, it could frustrate you when he's late because you try to be on time. Or, it might hurt your feelings when they don't call. Recognizing the truths that are hidden in a lie can bring about fruitful, genuine conversation, which is the basis of true friendship. And true love.

Why is this important?

Recognizing lies keeps us or gets us at peace and allows love in. The truth gives, brings life, and reconciles…the opposite effects of lies. We were created to receive and give love. Living in the truth of our daily lives allows us to do that. It makes us less selfish because we aren't so focused on ourselves. This leaves us open to allow love to flow through us. Life is hard enough without us allowing ourselves to be beaten down by lies. Our Father spoke Truth into the world when He sent His Son, and He continues to find ways to speak his love to us. Blessed are those who strive to hear his still, small, voice speaking love and beauty into their lives.

A Prayer

Let me dream of dancing with you, of joining in with the angels. Take my hand and lead the way. Lift me up and show me how.

Let me dream of being a joy to your heart, of bringing you glory, of you holding me close and letting your love wash me clean...making me new.

Let me dream of being for you what you dream me to be...where you are my Father and I am your child. When your will is my desire and my pride is melted away revealing a heart of pure humility.

Let me dream of a banquet and a place and time that is like no other. Where family is reunited and you shine bright and we all delight in your presence.

Let my dreams be a glimpse of Heaven, until pursuing it and sharing it with others is my dream, my bread, my life. Father, take my hand and lead the way, so that I may know the steps to take and make this dream reality.

The Gardener's Apprentice

Faith is a gift. Recently, I've been contemplating what this means. What has come to mind are seeds. Seeds for our soul. Some of us may look at the metaphorical pack of seeds and, uncertain of what it is, say, “No, thank you.” Others might say, “I don't need those.” Some even seem to have been there on the day that God had been giving out a two-for-one kind of deal! (I’m imagining a well-kept, middle-aged gardener on the street corner or going door to door offering plain packets of seeds.) I think some people may walk by or won't even open the door. Even more, people might respond saying that they need to do more research because really, they don't understand gardening. But, still He offers… the Gardner continues to offer us seeds.

What I think we often forget is that our Father offers us the gift of faith daily. This is not the type of gift that is to be set on the shelf. Once received, the expectation is that we “plant” them within, knowing that the Gardener would do what needs to be done in order for them to bloom. The best gardens are the ones that are tended to constantly. Our soul is an area that doesn't come with a “grower’s guide” so we have to continue going back to the Gardner with, even the most basic of questions like, “How do I start?” Thus, in order for faith to take, we have to become the Gardener’s apprentice.

For us to accept the gift of faith we must have faith and believe; we must have faith to have a relationship, trusting that the Father will not lead us astray. We have to have faith to accept faith. What does this mean? Even if it is small, it is still faith. Just one “okay.” from us will allow the process to start. I think this is why so many of the Saints speak about having faith to believe, instead of believing (or knowing) to have faith. What is both beautiful and complicated is that we don't know what kind of garden we will be growing with the Father's guidance; it could be thorny; it could need a lot of weeding. “Researching” before we accept faith can get us stuck in the details, the difficulties, leading us to say, “I don't want any of that!” However, every rose has its thorn and removing weeds reveals and allows room to grow. And, the Father is the Master Gardener. He knows how it will turn out, the beautiful, lush landscape that our lives…our souls will come to be.

So, when I feel less than full of faith, that's when I need to ask myself, “How have I nurtured my faith today?” Have I watered it with prayer or Scripture, pruned it with Reconciliation, nourished it with the Eucharist? Have I sat in silence for further direction on what to do? Faith takes work, a definite effort on our part. Sometimes, the effort lies in us just being and not doing anything.

I think faith is the gift of knowing in our deepest selves that the Creator is our Father…that God not only exists, but that He will also take care of us, of all...knowing that He will provide, guide, listen. That He freely desires to participate in our lives… the lives of his children. And, while we do nothing to earn faith, we must become nothing in order to experience it. Really, this is the best gift we can give ourselves.