“Understanding” the lack of “Understanding”!

This paradoxical title seeks to address the basic dynamics of social & spiritual dis-connect in our lives (as per booklet / e-book). As a possible contender for the Guinness Book of Records you will find an outline of the context, content & conclusion on page one.

The core concept is envisioned in terms of “’RELATIONALITY’” & the role ‘separated-relationships’ & ‘connected-relationships’ play in our everyday lives. The dilemma of human living presents quite a challenge, whether addressed in terms of: single mode, social mode, spiritual mode or any combination of same. Somehow our humanity seems to have been compromised. We all, to some degree, manifest default defects that impact ”’RELATIONALITY’”.

A basic contrasting set of strategies is delineated in terms of ‘WARD’ (off) tactics & in reverse terms of ‘DRAW’ (out) transcendence. The question arises: what possibilities might arise if we came to a deeper understanding of our latent human weakness & incapacity?

The ‘self’ in survival mode is like a donkey who has a reputation for stubbornness. We try to tame the ass – ‘ass’ we are. However, in ‘self’ transcendence mode we ‘give-up’ on human effort & ‘call-in’ Jesus, the Christ. See CCC 521.

PONDER: “Come to me all you who labour are burdened & I will give you rest. Take my ‘yoke’ (mode of living) upon you & learn from me, for I am gentle & humble of heart” (Matthew 11:28-29).

Note: Transition-Time-Thoughts:

CHRISTMAS RECONCILIATION

‘Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner’

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

‘Run To God’ for what is ‘Right True Good

 Daniel (www.konect-1-2-1.com) 8/12/13

Addendum from “Bible Alive”

Most forms of addictions – ‘modern day compulsions’ – are rooted in pain: the pain of loneliness, failure, rejection, low self-esteem etc.

However, we all seek comfort, consolation & affirmation in one form or another. This is part of our human condition. No matter who we are or how seemingly secure our lives, we all ‘long-to-know’ that we are loved & that there is someone we can turn to, no matter what we have done & no matter what predicament we find ourselves in. Some find this unconditional acceptance in their families. Others are not so lucky.

Loneliness can be a terrible anguish even within relationships. We can experience a sense of being ‘alone & isolated’ & in need of ‘affirmation & consolation’. We could call this the ‘God-shaped-hole’ or the ‘divine-itch’, which simply will not go away.

How many of us turn to the Scriptures (as the living Word of God) when we are down, lonely or depressed? It is in the Scriptures that we encounter the risen Christ & hear him speak to us.

Mercifully, the Scriptures are full of comforting & consoling words, such as are set out in this month’s ‘PONDER’ quotation. These words are spoken to every human being. They are not mere human ‘descriptive’ words: they are divine ‘generative’ words. Only God can utter these words & only God can offer this gift.

Jesus, the Christ, holds out to every human being the promise of peace: not the absence of trouble & strife, but to know & experience the peace of God, which transcends understanding (Philippians 4:7).

What is the way to peace’? Jesus, the Christ, is Peace personified. We need to know what it is that robs us of peace. The most common reason we lose our peace is: we allow the immediate, the ‘here & now’ & our ‘worldly affairs’ to dominate & overwhelm us. We could call this the ‘tyranny of the urgent’ (e.g.Facebook / Twitter). The remedy to this is to carve out some time – no matter how small – to ‘be still’ & to ‘be with the Lord’ (Jesus Christ): to converse with Him, to ponder His Word: to be refreshed by Him, so as to be able to smile again.

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Many thanks to ‘Bible Alive’ for the above reflection, which has been taken / adapted from their daily ‘Word of God’ commentary (on 11/12/13): Daniel.