Tag: God

Episcopal priest and Center for Action and Contemplation teacher emerita Cynthia Bourgeault writes of the difference between our modern understanding of emotions and the teachings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers in the following reflection:

In contemplating Rembrandt’s painting of The Prodigal Son, do you identify with the younger son or the older son from the Parable of Two Brothers that we know so well from the Gospel of Luke (15:11-32)?

Embodiment, which is a key element of identity or a sense of self, is the experience of one’s body in the world. The experience of being embodied signifies a consciousness of the feelings and sensations within one’s body, especially as it relates to the outer world. Embodiment is not just awareness of the body as an object; rather, it is awareness as a body.

Looking for God’s Goodness in contemplation and prayer.  Temperance in a Modern World. Acquiring virtue. In the face of all the inducements against the practice of temperance that the world throws at us today, how can people hope to acquire this indispensable virtue?

I’ve always been stubborn and sometimes it takes a big smack on the head to get my attention. After successfully avoiding Covid for two and a half years, I finally got a mild case and am recovering. However, in this space of isolation, I can see clearly how the “achiever” in me has gotten caught up in the “doing” since returning to work and living a post Covid life. I’ve let all this interfere with my “being”. “Being” allows me to listen to the whisper of God’s voice, feel secure in who I am and “whose” I am. It keeps me from taking on the weight of the world.

My confession, I struggle with discipline. I can be very disciplined with my work life and other areas of my life, but it falls off the rails when it comes to exercise and eating healthy. You wouldn’t know this about me from the outside but I’m on a constant roller coaster ride, up and down, and it’s exhausting. I’m praying for the virtue of temperance in my life so I can have self-mastery over my desires for food and drink. I am a sensual person, we all are, and if I don’t express this in healthy ways, I’m back on the roller coaster.

Living well is nothing other than to love God with all one’s heart, with all one’s soul and with all one’s efforts. This is who I was created to be.  How many times have I left “home” looking and searching for something more when the voice of love that satisfies is within. The problem begins when I start seeing myself as separate from God.

One virtue that helps us grow in purity, trust God more and grow in apostolic zeal is simplicity of heart. When I grow in simplicity of heart, I will never demand of God that He explain my vocation or my sufferings. I’m able to trust God with all my heart living a temperate life.