Complex Simplicity

Lately I find myself overthinking, overprocessing, overreacting in my mind. I've been consumed with the writing my last paper for last semester's class. Unfortunately for me that didn't result in any writing. It did cause me to make a simple situation complex. As I anguished over completing the task, I shut down. I allowed other situations to override God within. I allowed the voice that brings me so much peace, joy and comfort to be quieted in the banging of worry.
Aaahhh our God is a good God though. He continues to reach for us while we flail around making things complex.

Today I began to write again and it was so simple. Why I had stopped is complex. But the joy I felt as I put words together reunited my spirit to God. Wow what a peace She gives if we but allow it.

What simple situation(s) have you made complex?

While I'm Working

While I was working today, I listed to a number of T.D. Jakes' podcasts. I got so excited about loving God that I floated through my work. I even posted some of his quotes on Facebook. While I was working I had the best time in a long time. You know, sitting at your computer for the better part of the day can be quite draining. Yet as I listened to the sermons from the Potter's House, I was so enlivened about God moving in, through and around my life. Today it became quite clear how important it is to not only work, but to also leave room for God to enter in and be God. I made room and was so elated that before I knew it, it was after 5pm. While I'm working, God is teaching me how to perfect His work. While I'm working, God is showing me just how to accompany Her in the midst of my busyness. This on the job training that God is providing me is quite uplifting. I am so elated to be an apprentice of my Lord. All I have to do is move inside His plan. When done that way, Her benefits exceed my own expectations. "Faith does not demand details." T.D.Jakes

Standing Still in Motion

The summer thus far has not been what I expected. I wanted to research and write and that hasn't happened. I didn't take on additional jobs thinking that i'd be too busy. And I was. I just wasn't doing what I planned. I am standing still on that while being in motion on something else.

While I haven't been researching and writing, ReCiL has been growing. Those who thought African-American Young Adult Catholics don't care about growing in faith are just plain ole crazy.

African-American young adults are starving for spiritual food in our Church. So many are proud to be Catholic.

Standing still in motion is about me learning to embrace God's shifting of my plan. I have had to clear my mind of a number of things that caused me to stall out, to stand still.

By doing the hard work of facing my barriers, I've been able to set in motion God's plan.

So I'm standing still when it comes to research and writing while I'm in motion journeying with those who have asked me to help them see God more clearly.

God is Amazing

I don't care what anyone else believes, God is amazing!!! I am so grateful that I have a relationship with God the father, son and holy spirit. My life, difficult some days, is truly a life full of God's grace. I am sitting here working on a talk for the peacebuilders initiative of Catholic Theological Union and have become so aware of God's amazing mercy and love. Not thinking beforehand about the topic I had been given and its connection to my life, I began to write. 30 minutes into the process I was struck by the topic's connection to my life and was amazed at how God continues to guide us if we but allow it. Today my movement towards peace is through the window of the past. I am looking at what peace has meant in my life as I seek to help others define peace in theirs. Sankofa, going back to the past to retrieve something for use today, has allowed me to once again praise God. I can see when I look back that God never stopped speaking to me, I stopped listening. So many things are there for me to see how God has been working on our relationship, day after day, encouraging me to open my heart once again to His love. Wow!! Are you sending God's call to voicemail?

Good Friday - All Ready?

So many people are oblivious to the meaning of Good Friday and their Christians. The attitude among them seems to resonate an annoyance that conveys "Okay, so it's Good Friday. And?" Attitudes such as that make me wonder whether or not I have done what I needed during Lent? Did my sacrifice show Christ? Did my almsgiving stretch me in such a way that someone was truly helped? And let's not forget fasting. Did I really partner my fasting with prayer so that I could be made over? Doing these things helps not only ourselves but also those with whom we interact. As Christians, there should be nothing better than to contemplate the LOVE of Jesus as continues to suffer for us. Holy Thursday offered us the opportunity to pray in a new way, before suffering. Today, Good Friday, offers us the courage to pray while we suffer.