Of wooden beams and closets...

"Remove the wooden beam from your own eye; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye."
Luke 6:42

Oh yes, the wooden beam in our own eye...the beam that blinds us to our own shadow side, as Fr. Richard Rohr calls it. Our shadows--those parts of ourselves we don't like to acknowledge or show to company. In an effort to keep them hidden from others, we tend to lose track of them ourselves and talk ourselves into believing they aren't really part of us. But, opps, there they are! It has been said that the things we find fault with in others are the very wooden beams in our own eyes. So, if I find you judgmental and overly opinionated, that's my own shadow showing and I need to pay attention to THAT.  In myself. It may be easier to make acquaintance with our shadow sides if we remember that God loves us, shadows and all. We can't keep our shadows hidden from God...God can open that closet we have shoved everything in we don't want guests to see. And the lovely thing is, God loves everything in that closet, even if it may embarrass us. If we have a chance this beautiful weekend, let's sit down with Jesus and gently open that closet door. With love and forgiveness, Jesus can help us see and sort through what is in there. Love, heidi

Always remember...

I bristle when I see posts that say "Never Forget" the events of 9/11. I prayerfully explored why earlier today as I walked, pondering the day.  I realized I tend to equate Never Forget with "Never forget what they did to us." Dwelling on the wrong that was done to us traps us there...in the negative, in the wrong. The hate wins if that is where we stay. But, conversely, if we remember the good that came from that wrong--the heros and heroines, the selfless acts of courage, the pulling together of neighbors and communities, the good wins. We learn that our compassionate and loving God forgives AND forgets our sins. That certainly would be an ambitious goal--to forget the wrong of the events of 9/11. But, as the years pile up behind us since that terrible day, can we move ahead in peace, understanding that to continue raging keeps the negative force alive?  Instead, let's remember the helpers, the first responders, the embracing love that scooped us all up in the aftermath of the hatred. Let's remember the good and decent people who were lost to their families and to those of us who didn't have the chance to know them. So, instead of saying Never Forget when it comes to 9/11, I'm going to say "Always Remember" instead. Always remember the helpers and the good.  Always remember that God loves us and can bring good from every tragedy. And always remember that we are to love each other, too, even those who hurt us.  Love, heidi