Tag: Good Living

Inspiration

Made for Mission

Smitten With Goodness
Reflections for contemplative living

We are sent by God, the father of mercy, to distribute this treasure to those in need. The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, and comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. St. Thomas Aquinas defined mercy as “the compassion in our hearts for another person’s misery, a compassion which drives us to do what we can to help him.”  Are you a missionary of mercy? 

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Inspiration

True Love

Smitten With Goodness
Reflections for contemplative living

One day a while back I was struck by the notion of wanting to “learn love.” I’d hit a wall with my teenage daughter who was struggling with her mental health and the love I was giving her wasn’t enough. The pain of this situation drew me towards my own transformation. And what a gift it was. 

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Inspiration

Sowing Abundance 

Smitten With Goodness
Reflections for contemplative living

In faith, we sow all sorts of seeds, and yet often the ones that grow abundant in fruit surprise us. We plant all sorts of seeds:  our work towards justice, taking care of others, both in prayer and relationship. We offer them all to God. We trust that what grows is God speaking in our world, through us.

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Inspiration

Cracking Open

Smitten With Goodness
Reflections for contemplative living

A seed can exist for a long time but unless it falls into the soil and cracks open, nothing further comes of it. Their life is inside, but it’s a life that grows by being given away and mixing with the soil around it. Paradoxically, when you look at a great tree, you simultaneously see none of the original seed and nothing but the original seed, now flourishing.

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Inspiration

The Praise Paradox

Smitten With Goodness
Reflections for contemplative living

To mature spiritually, we need to grow in wholeness which is body, mind, and spirit, living an integrated life. This way of living is hard, not for the faint of heart and what’s meant by the “narrow gate.” By living our best life, we worship God to the fullest, giving praise and all glory to our Creator. 

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Inspiration

Morning Routine

Smitten With Goodness
Reflections for contemplative living

We all have one.  Are you rushing to get out the door to start work or get the kids off to school? Or are you carving a little space for yourself to set your intentions for the day?  It’s challenging to think about creating space for a “Holy Hour” full of prayer and scripture reading as part of a morning routine but it is well worth the effort.

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Inspiration

The Art of Wandering

Smitten With Goodness
Reflections for contemplative living

The other day, as I was driving to work, and using the time to contemplate the mysteries of the rosary, I looked up and saw a jeep that had the tire cover with the statement: “Not all who wander are lost.” It immediately made me chuckle as my husband always takes different routes in driving than I do. He never is truly lost. He just goes a different way than me. 

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