Stranded on the Mainland: Inner Pilgrimage and Living Alone as a Spiritual Path:

Often after I spend time with the Sisters of Life I think about the story of the Samaritan Woman at the Well. Which makes me think of a potent little book written and gifted to me by the sisters called, Epiphanies . One of the chapters/meditations in the book that touches me deeply is, "I am the Woman of Samaria". The chapter begins saying, "He had to pass through Samaria..., Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.  It was about noon (Gatherings with the sisters end about noon!)" (48). The chapter ends with a consoling and hopeful prayer. I love the prayer and wanted to share it. The Prayer: "Jesus, you are Lord of all things.  You see me and know me.  I ask you to heal any lack of love in my past-- any wounds I have from others, or from giving in to counterfeit loves or desires.  I ask you to enter into those memories, and make all things new.  Jesus, I trust in You.  Amen." (53). How amazing is that. Cb Amen

The quote below resonates with me.   "Individuals in emotionally abusive relationships experience a dizzying whirlwind that includes three stages: idealization, devaluing, and discarding. This cycle can repeat numerous times, spinning a merry-go-round of emotional vertigo for those caught in such relationships." (source: goodtherapy.org, Mar 25, 2015) . Today I want to blog about temptation and cycles of abuse. In the past I have felt helpless to stop going-around-in-circles with dysfunctional but important people in my life.  Maybe you have too? For me, engaging with unhelpful and tricky people has been (still is) a temptation.   Now if I am at risk of that temptation I say, "O right, I'm supposed to turn this over to you God!" Some quotes that help me stay on course: "Knowing the tendency we have to pride, egoism, self-reliance, independence, and impatience, the evil one entices us to rely on our own calculations. This is why we often miss the God-gi...

Tomorrow our bible study starts up again. We will be talking about heaven. I'm thinking of St. Catherine of Sienna's quote, "All the way to Heaven is Heaven" . Paraphrasing and taking liberty with one of Pope Francis' well-known quotes, I think, " Heaven is a field hospital all the way to heaven". The paramedics and the patients just keep trading places. Thanks be to God for the Divine Physician!  (Matthew 9). Amen   Dreamstime  Rest in Peace Uncle Cliff (Jan 7, 2023)