What I Know for Certain?
What I know for certain?
What is it that I know for certain? Not simply what I believe, but what I really KNOW.
If you will, what I know so surely that I will stake my life and my reputation on? Here is what I know, really know for certain, in order of priority as of August 2008 in my 79th year.
1. Family love is most precious and to be honored. Midlife will present challenges. Sooner of later, we shall be greatly disappointed, either by children, siblings, parents, in-laws, spouse, or friends. This stumbling block is a necessary stepping stone to full maturity.
2. We are each and everyone of us selfish, prideful, wounded and blind to our egotism. Failure is inevitable. Because we and all others are imperfect, forgiveness is essential. For ourselves and for others.
3. When we run f rom darkness, we are running from ourselves into great darkness. The easiest human reaction is to blame and find fault. This is a projection of what we refused to face in ourselves and an effort to make ourselves better than others.
4. In Him, we live and move and have our being. We are surrounded, infused, hounded and haunted by the mystery of Grace,.a Hound of Heaven who will never let us go or hide successfully.
5. We have a hole in our hearts, each of us, that can be filled only by love of this mystery we call God, neighbor and family. We are not humans trying to become spiritual. We are spiritually beings becoming wholly and fully human.
6. Everything, every single thing in life and life itself, is a gift, an undeserved gift. We are entitled to nothing in life. When we accept this we shall live with humility and gratitude, easily.
7. Awareness is the key to understanding. Only with awareness do we realize that a sense of unfairness or bitterness, and on the other hand, forgiveness and healing is a constant choice.
8. We must wrestle with this mystery we call "God." We grown only by risk, vulnerability and loving. Noblesse Oblige.
9. Truth is best conveyed by Love. Story , metaphor and parable are the best vehicles.
10. A community of faith is not optional but necessary. The best "ticket" is acceptance that alone we are “lost,” have need of one another for support and balance, and that we are all "outsiders”"in some way.
Paschal Baute, August 15, 2008
What is it that I know for certain? Not simply what I believe, but what I really KNOW.
If you will, what I know so surely that I will stake my life and my reputation on? Here is what I know, really know for certain, in order of priority as of August 2008 in my 79th year.
1. Family love is most precious and to be honored. Midlife will present challenges. Sooner of later, we shall be greatly disappointed, either by children, siblings, parents, in-laws, spouse, or friends. This stumbling block is a necessary stepping stone to full maturity.
2. We are each and everyone of us selfish, prideful, wounded and blind to our egotism. Failure is inevitable. Because we and all others are imperfect, forgiveness is essential. For ourselves and for others.
3. When we run f rom darkness, we are running from ourselves into great darkness. The easiest human reaction is to blame and find fault. This is a projection of what we refused to face in ourselves and an effort to make ourselves better than others.
4. In Him, we live and move and have our being. We are surrounded, infused, hounded and haunted by the mystery of Grace,.a Hound of Heaven who will never let us go or hide successfully.
5. We have a hole in our hearts, each of us, that can be filled only by love of this mystery we call God, neighbor and family. We are not humans trying to become spiritual. We are spiritually beings becoming wholly and fully human.
6. Everything, every single thing in life and life itself, is a gift, an undeserved gift. We are entitled to nothing in life. When we accept this we shall live with humility and gratitude, easily.
7. Awareness is the key to understanding. Only with awareness do we realize that a sense of unfairness or bitterness, and on the other hand, forgiveness and healing is a constant choice.
8. We must wrestle with this mystery we call "God." We grown only by risk, vulnerability and loving. Noblesse Oblige.
9. Truth is best conveyed by Love. Story , metaphor and parable are the best vehicles.
10. A community of faith is not optional but necessary. The best "ticket" is acceptance that alone we are “lost,” have need of one another for support and balance, and that we are all "outsiders”"in some way.
Paschal Baute, August 15, 2008
posted by Paschal Baute at 7:20 AM
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