Quote Response

3/26/2005

PV writes: "Life is this simple: We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and the Divine is shining through it all the time. Thomas Merton."

God is always present, whether we realize it or not or even if we want him to be there or not, but it is us who shuts God out and makes the world a darker place. Even still, God continues to shine his grace on anyone willing to accept it, or anyone willing to take his call, and even those that care less about God than lima beans. As I continue to live my life, I hope to break down the barriers I've set up before God and bring Him in.

***

It's necessary to be convinced that God is always near us. too often we live as though our Lord were somewhere far off---where the stars shine. We fail to realize that he is also by our side---always.

For he is a loving Father. he loves each of us more than all the mothers in the world can love their children, helping us and inspiring us, blessing... and forgiving.

How often we've erased the frowns from our parents' brows, telling them after some prank, "I won't do it again!" Maybe that same day we fall again... And our father, with feigned harshness in his voice and a serious face, reproves us, while at the same time his heart is softened because he knows our weakness: "Poor boy," he thinks, "How hard he tries to behave well!"

We have to be completely convinced, realizing it to the full, that our Lord, who is close to us and in heaven, is a Father, and very much our Father.

St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way, 267

First Entry

3/26/2005

Tonight was the night when everything came together, when everything I had been hoping for these last few years came to be. Remarkably, it was not I who wanted it to be this way, and despite everything that I've said and the one thing I've been looking for, PV came as a pleasant surprise, for which I give God credit. He has blessed me in many ways, but he continues to draw me closer and make me one in Him through PV. I've grown stronger in my faith and as a person. It must be through God that these delight consequences occur.

***

Be an instrument of gold or of steel, of platinum or of iron---big or small, delicate or rough. They're all useful. Each serves its own purpose. Who would dare say that the carpenter's saw is any less useful than the surgeon's scalpel? 

Your duty is to be an instrument.

 St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way, 484

VP Receives His Journal

3/26/2005

VP,

So kid, one month, eh?  What what! But seriously... I'm having a great time with you. Not just a great time... I feel like I'm growing as a person. Getting to know you is helping me get to know myself even more. Like I've told you before---we're two independent people who somehow ended up being so similar. It's a beautiful thing... We're each ourselves, but together we're better.

So this is really random. hehe. Well that's me... Anyways, a bit of an explanation. You know me an my absolute obsession with song lyrics. Well, song lyrics, quotes, profound thoughts are all good stuff. So I was trying to figure out a way to transmit all (or a large percentage) of my favorite... blurbs... to you. Then I remembered you'd talked about journaling and just... getting your thought in order... so I discovered the perfect combination: Journal with room for your thoughts but my... randomness... interspersed.  Well, I thought it was cool, anyway... hope you feel the same. :-)

So feel free to write your little heart out... it's good for you. :-) And when you come upon a topic for discussion... thought... idea... random insight... I'm here. :-)

I love you, kid. You should know this, but hey, no harm in repeating it. :-)  It's happy... and, apparently, happiness is good for the metabolism. :-)

So now I'm leaving this to you---knock yourself out, kid!  Te quiero mucho.

Abrazos y besos,

PV

***

If your imagination bubbles over with thoughts about yourself and creates fanciful situations and circumstances which would not normally find a place in your way, then these will foolishly distract you. They will dampen your ardor and separate you from the presence of God. This is vanity.

If your imagination revolves around others, you will easily fall into the defect of passing judgment when this is not your responsibility.  You will interpret their behavior not at all objectively but in a mean way. This is rash judgment.

If your imagination concerns itself with your own talents and ways of speaking or with the general admiration that you inspire in others, then you will be in danger of losing your rectitude of intention, and of providing fodder for your pride.

Generally, letting your imagination loose is a waste of time, and, if it is not controlled, it opens the door to a whole string of voluntary temptations.

Do not leave off the practice of interior mortification, for even a single day!

St. Josemaria Escriva, Furrow, 135