The Discernment

sweet abandon
beckons me
come home to
find a rest
long pursued
from a combat
rooted in fear of
giving up ideals
wrapped in
holy desires
nourished by
hurts long forgotten
clutched by a
death-grip of
self-willed
determinations
a quest viewed through
the lens of
my visions of
His calling
always beyond
my grasp and
comprehension
but then
without a warning
it was Love
that cut the tether
Grace that
unbound my heart by
Wounds of Freedom
endured by the Healer
made present in prayer
decisions from within
intercession from without
trustfully letting go
into my Lover's Hands
what was so precious
from ages past
melded into
my identity
a brand never
to be removed
what's next
I know not
nor does it matter
for the fit
shall be perfect
His Will
a path discerned
in silence
listening for
the Shepherd's Voice
softly spoken
midst the competition of
counterfeit calls and
my wounded perceptions
step by step
by signs of consolation
in circumstances 
surrounding darkness
without clearly
seeing the end
I yield- with my
brothers' support- to
the Adventure
evolving
through a process of
aggressive surrender

Reflection/Discussion:
-What areas of your life are you trying to discern God's Will?
-What does "aggressive surrender" mean to you?
-What part do our feelings play in discernment?
-Why is it hard to "let go" of certain things in your life?
-How can a Spiritual Director help discern God's will?
-If you can't find a Spiritual Director, what can you do?
-Find a support group to whom you can be accountable.

The Name

So sacred
the Name is
equal to
the Person
proclaiming the truth
with reverence
and awe
in highest esteem
describing identity
He who is Holy
the One who saves
with words that create
and deeds that heal
not boastfully
proclaiming superiority
but rather ministering
in humility
a suffering servant
gathering all who respond
at the end of time
so shall every knee bend
and tongue confess
the Name
above all names
yet on our thrones
does that Name reign?
is there honor
on our lips?
reverence in our hearts?
sensitivity in our hearing
as that Name is cast down?
cursed and abused
forgotten
dismembered
equaled to evil
condemned to darkness
where do we stand?
Jesus
Lord
Savior
I Am
Abba
Father
Spirit
Holy Holy Holy
now and forever

The Decision

do good
avoid evil
simple enough
to say
sometimes
complicated to
figure out-
though actually doing it is
another matter altogether-
but first
consider this
within each is
written on the heart
the Truth of
God's loving law
to guide us to live in
love
honor
dignity
respect
fulfillment by self-gift
however
voices abound
within and without
fostering forgeries
that lead to
darkness not light
confusion not clarity
opposites of reality
bearing the fruit of chaos
ultimately to destruction
in and around us
support abounds
for self-taking
instead of self-giving
preference over principle
dehumanization
over nobility
license over liberty
where vice is virtue
and virtue is vice
following the
dictatorship of feelings-
rationalizing the illogical-
making objects
out of subjects
justifying the ends
by any means-
disasters of delusion- 
especially when
unfortunate consequences
lead to inconvenient
criticisms of behavior
presenting
emptiness as fullness
degradation as fulfillment
sin as righteousness
disorder as order
yet for those who object
to their mandate
ridicule awaits
accusations of hatred
prejudice
judgmentalism
antediluvian attitudes 
shouting down
disagreement
in the name of
freedom from tyranny
all the while
boasting tolerance
but living
totalitarianism
decisions of
right and wrong
based on emotions
today's inclinations
culture's elastic boundaries
relative righteousness
individualism's enthronement
as the crowd's
least common denominator
confidently confuse
to say the least
prove to be the
narcissist's dream
leading to abasement
in the costume of
self-actualization
proof abounds if
actually looking for it that
such is rooted in
our enemy's sham
with the telltale
odor of decay
yet to be fully human
through reason
conscience must be formed
by objective truth
not just
what I say it is-
the silly
true for you
but not for me-
disciples seek
formation in the Word
interpreted by
the Body's teaching
handed down through
centuries of Wisdom
under the covering
of the Spirit
by Peter's successors
with proven results in
harvests of joy
with power
beyond nature to live
even the
hardest of sayings
cross-cultural beliefs
unpopular to our
base tendencies
limiting self's
limitless capacity
for self aggrandizement
so we are left with choices
that take us in
different directions
like a nomad of morality
looking for an oasis
but finding only sand
one leads to death
disguised as life
approximating reality
always ensuring not to
interfere with what
you want
no matter what
or
the one that
relativism categorizes
as foolishly blind
stifling to behold
but in reality-.
proven by experience-
brings joy though
sometimes veiled
in garbs of the cross
a willingness to
obey the Truth
no matter what
now
you decide

Reflection/Discussion:
-What does it mean that God's law is written on our hearts?
-If so, how is it we disagree on moral issues?
-What does "relativism" mean?
-What does it mean that the law of God is written in our natures?
-What part do feelings play in moral decisions?
-How do you make moral decisions?
-How do you answer relativism? 

The Approval

where do you look
for approval?
in whose eyes
must you find
affirmation?
fickle indeed is
the adulation
of the world
like the weather-vane
grasping at the wind
is the fawning for favor
the addiction of
pursuing a nod
to fill ego's
bottomless coffers
vainly obsessing to satisfy
insecurity's infinite appetite
bankrupts the spirit
devours integrity
enslaves the soul
bringing double-mindedness
to the heart
by focusing on
mirror's reflection
with a fascination for
the temporal....
instead
hear this:
you are already approved
in My eyes
the One who created you to
become Divine
who bore you upon
the Cross
in sacrificial Love
who tenderly caresses
your heart
calling you
to Myself for
eternal intimacy
I name you
My Beloved
each one
My favorite
you have only to
turn to Me
to surrender
to know the truth
to begin to fathom
your precious Identity
I entreat you to
open your heart
let go of self to
live in Me
and
I in you
then seek to walk
in My Love
for only in the gift of self
is My Image perfected
in mutual donation of
one to another
only then will
freedom become yours
so when vanity
demands to be fed
provoking security's effacement
resist and
envision Calvary
there to comprehend
True Approval
and it's perfection
in the Resurrection
then seek ONLY
to please
the One who is
your ALL

Reflection/Discussion:
-How does looking for the approval of others affect you?
-How does it "enslave the soul"?
-Does our sin affect God's approval? Why/not?
-How can already having God's approval free us?
-What are the blocks for that to happen?