Suffering With Joy

Surrender: Let God Decide

February 21, 2013

As I write this, sleet is tick-ticking vigorously against my windows while thunder rumbles and rolls nearby. Darkness like dusk, only with no warm sun slowly slipping below the horizon, is out of place at this mid-morning hour. 

This week, between the surprise attacks of exhaustion that punctuate the life of someone with fibromyalgia, and an unusually long (twelve hour) day trip to St. Louis for Roger to see his lung specialist, my series on sin is being delayed and all my Lenten practices have been interrupted.  The partial abstinence I planned to observe flew out the window for the week and fasting became inadvisable.

My inner ear issues create a feeling of nausea and instability that sap my will to research, think and write, and allergens blown in by high winds and stirred up from dry soil have tormented me for several months in spite of the antihistamines and nasal sprays I use.

Colleen Spiro wrote Desert Time this week in which she said, “Let God decide my path.”  We can be sure that when our good intentions are blocked, God has something else in mind.  When we are trying to move out of the space to which He has confined us, He moves us back to where He wants us – all for our spiritual safety and to give us practice in surrendering.

I’m not complaining. The low mental and physical energy are a blessing.  I can enjoy visiting blogs like Catholic Spiritual Direction where I feasted on Spiritual Liberty in the Night by Anthony Lilles. This post uplifted me today, comforted me as do so many others by Catholics in love with Christ. Right now it seems I am not meant to stress out over research and writing, but rather to be fed by others so that I can take my turn later and contribute to the table when I have more energy.

I am also enjoying some exceptionally well written, acted, directed, and edited Korean dramas that have elevated comic relief to a fine art. It’s too easy to become locked into our own problems and forget that a well-balanced life needs to include some laughter. If I feel better tomorrow, I’ll get on about the heavy mental lifting.  If not, I’ll continue to enjoy what the Lord is setting before me, no doubt to teach me something I can later use for His greater honor and glory.

Thanks to all the dedicated Catholic bloggers whose sites I enjoy visiting and who never fail to educate, inspire or prod me into becoming a better person.

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V. Praised be Jesus Christ!

R. Now and forever!

(Click on the link above to read why I end my posts this way.)

Tags: health, Lent

4 Comments to Surrender: Let God Decide

1. 

   amen– As St. Theresa of Avila said, (after her donkey threw her into a cold stream they were crossing),

   “If this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few”

   What sufferring does is bring us to the point where we cannot STAND to live in our wounded emotions, aching bodies and anxious minds, we are compelled to surrender to Love to live deep in out spirits in communion with Him. I can switch gears in the blink of an eye, yet in another minute I am back in control and feeling miserable
   melanie jean juneau recently posted..KEEP LOVE IN LENT “Follow Frenzy”: GROUP 1
melanie jean juneau on February 21st, 2013
2. 

   Beautiful post. I will check out that link. Thanks for the link to my blog!
   Looks like I am not the only one whose lenten plans changed! You are in my prayers!
   Colleen recently posted..Sunday Snippets – February 25
Colleen on February 23rd, 2013
3. 

   What I also try to learn — among the many things the Holy Spirit tries to teach me — is that He is way more concerned about our intentions than of our follow through when follow through is interrupted by things beyond our control — like as you mentioned in your post, illnesses (yours or others for whom we are enmeshed because of love). Thanks for reminding us that even the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry — but thanks be to God that He is looking at our hearts, not our calendar. Be blessed, Barb, in all you do for Him as you do for others.
Rich Maffeo on February 24th, 2013
4. 

   Love your reminder that God looks at our intentions.
barb on February 24th, 2013