Sunday, September 22, 2013

I Created God. (a story of faith)

I am the center of the Universe. The world revolves around me. I am the master of my destiny.
           
I awoke one morning to find it raining. This was not a good thing as I had much planned for this particular day. And so, I ordered the rain to stop, yet it continued on as if I wasn't there. I raised my voice and demanded in no uncertain terms that the rain stop. The rain continued on without a peep. It did not even take notice of me or acknowledge my rant. It just kept raining. It did not look at me, or explain why it was refusing to obey my orders. It just kept raining.
           
I finally accepted that the rain would not stop so I arranged my day around this stubborn rain and did other chores. As it turns out I repaired a water pipe that was about to break. Had it not rained this water pipe would have damaged much in my home. Could it be that the rain knew more than I? No, it can’t be so. It’s just water; it can’t think; it has no intelligence. Is it then just a coincidence?
           
I awoke on yet another morning and the sun was shining and it was hot. I had much to do on this day and my work was in the garden. This is my garden, my home, my domain. I told the sun to back off a little bit and allow the air to cool, but the sun did not listen to me. I tried to stare the sun down, but the sun stared back and it hurt my eyes; I had to look away.

I called for clouds to cover the sun, but instead the clouds faded and vanished until there were only blue skies. When I see these clouds again I will give them a piece of my mind, they will surely understand who I am. At that moment, the sun then shone even hotter than before as if to say, “Who are you?” I told the sun who I am; I yelled to the sun, “I AM!” I could feel the temperature rise almost instantly as if this sun was trying to tell me something. I gave in to this incorrigible sun and instead went inside to rest.

In my home, my domain, my world, I looked around miffed in apparent failure to control my surroundings. How could this have happened? Where did I go wrong? How did I lose control?

As I sat in my self-pity I began to feel oddly. The lights around me were fuzzy. I felt heavy, perhaps a little out of breath, even a little weak. I tried to get to my car, it always obeyed me, but I couldn’t find the strength. I called for help and soon there were men and women in uniforms with red crosses on their shirts pounding on my chest. What was happening to me, here in my domain, my world?

I awoke, and as I contemplated my surroundings I realized that I am not the master of my destiny. I understood that the world does not revolve around me. I now know that am not the center of the universe.

But if not me, then who? It can’t be the rain for the rain only comes around occasionally; it can’t be the sun for the sun gives way to the clouds and the day gives way to the night. The Universe is there, a wonder for all to see. The universe helps us tell time and helps to keep us from getting lost. But it only helps; it does not have power over us, and certainly not over me.  

Perhaps I should create something greater than I. I should call this higher power something, perhaps God would do. It would have the power that goes beyond the senses. Perhaps I should accept this God of mine as a higher power. But that would mean a power greater than me, could this be possible?

Can I really create something that is greater than me? Can I then follow the edicts of this God to help control me? I would have to bow down to the power of this God and listen to and live by the words of this Higher Power. What has this God of mine ever done for me?

The rain kept me in my home and I repaired a water pipe that saved many valuables, valuables precious to me. The sun chased me into my cool home where I was close to my phone, this saved my life. Could it be that this God of mine is already here? Could it be that this God of mine directed the rain, the sun and the clouds to help me help myself? Is this how a God works? Perhaps this higher power always was, is, and always shall be. …………............................................

I shall call this higher power God, for I am, I am his.



By David E. Gonzales and The Holy Spirit-

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Quiet Spirituality: A little piece of me

           To put it in a nutshell;

Always preach the Gospel, and when necessary use words.” St. Francis of Assisi

Love is a word of action and God is love in its purest form. Spirituality is how I live my life in my relation to this God in action. If I understand God as love and live my life without love I am not living a spiritual life. I live in love when I do a work of charity, and do so not because I have to, but instead because I am called to do so by my faith.

I would much rather people see me as a good Christian, than to hear me as a good Christian. Quiet Spirituality is the practice of living my life in love/charity more so than teaching or preaching about love/charity. I am a spiritual being. “Spiritual” is my relationship to a God of love in action. My relationship is expressed through my acts of charity (love). The spirit guides me away from harm, and calls me to service, to be spiritual, to live my life in my knowledge of God. (11 Corinthians 13:1-3) ”If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing”.

I don’t believe in preying on the fears of the people to spread the word of God. I believe in feeding the hope that God has shown us. And by feeding I mean showing all those who wish to hear/see the opportunity to grasp hope and love and to let that hope and love become a realization in their lives.

            Christ came to show us, literally and physically show us, the love God has for us. Yes there are some hard sayings in Holy Scripture and I believe we will never fully understand what the true message is in these sayings. Certainly there is much theology, mystery, mysticism, scriptural interpretation, that we as mere mortals will never fully grasp. It is because of the intellectual limitations of our minds to contemplate the infinite, that I have developed this “Quiet Spirituality.”

This is a simple and foundational, but not fundamentalist, practice of Christianity. This is a life to be lived and to be practiced. I use as my foundation, these parts of Sacred Scripture and Church Tradition that I believe reflect the core message of Christ. The message of love and what love means.

To add to the above stated quotes;

Mark, 12; 29-31-
            Jesus replied, the first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all tour heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

Also / Luke, 10; 29-27 – Mat 22; 37-40

John, 13; 34-35
            I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Mat, 7; 12-
            Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.

Luke, 37-38
            Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

Also Mat. 7; 1-2

            Quiet Spirituality largely goes unnoticed by the general population. This practice brings about a great deal of personal satisfaction but few accolades. After all, Spirituality is a life lived in love and love is rarely loud. A life lived within Quiet Spirituality usually gets you noticed after you’ve moved on from the people that you’ve been working with. And that’s ok. Works of charity comes from the heart of the giver and by guidance of the Holy Spirit.

            This is just a little piece of me. I understand that there are many ways to be Spiritual. This is just the way I have chosen to express myself; this is my way of being a positive presence in this life. When necessary, I expand myself into other methods of Spiritual behavior. I do not judge others because they use the soapbox, the pulpit, the TV, or radio to express their Spiritual beliefs; more power to them for being able to reach the populace in mass. This is just a little piece of me; I hope that you are able to take little peace with you on your Spiritual journey.

May the peace and love of Christ be with you always. Amen.

by David E. Gonzales


Scripture is from the NABRE

Monday, September 2, 2013

It’s not just a tagline.

           There is a blessing derived from scripture that seems to go largely disregarded. It’s one of those “last things said” that has seemingly become mundane in its use. But to me this simple blessing is not only meaningly powerful but personally meaningful. This is a blessing that warms my heart. It’s a blessing that says you really care for and about me and me about you.
           
           I use this blessing both as a general blessing and as a personal blessing. When I use this as a general blessing I am extending this to all who are reading my posts/blogs or all who can hear me at any given time. But it’s still personal, in that I truly mean it as an extension of God’s love for us all. When I’m using this in a personal manner I am specifically extending Gods love through me to you, an individual.

           I believe that this is one of the greatest blessings we can offer one another, for God’s love through Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit is the foundation of our faith. We are called to love one another above all else. “For there is no greater commandment that these”. (Mark 12; 29-31) Well here it is, short and to the point. From my heart to yours.

May the peace and love of Christ be with you now and always.


by David E. Gonzales

Scripture from the NABRE