Moving beyond defeat

Have you ever been so overwhelmed with negative events happening in your life you come close to throwing in the towel and admitting defeat? People can inflict such hurt. But there is a sure fire way to move past defeat. Let's do a little spiritual check. Are you attending Mass or church services on a regular basis? Are you doing some daily spiritual reading, for example, the Bible or the Volumes? Are you praying at bedtime and upon rising every morning? If you answered "no" to these questions, it's time to reassess your priorities. In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers from the Cross, she gives us some food for Christian thought:

"As Christ followers, we must look at the people in our lives in truth, with compassion. We can judge objective wrongs as wrongs and still view those acting out those wrongs with compassion. We can say, 'Ah, yes, it is pain and vulnerability that prompts these bad actions against me.' Viewed in this way, we can avoid bitterness and condemnation, even as we deal with the effects of the wounds inflicted by others.

We, committed to Christ and plugged into His constant healing graces, can stop the destruction from spreading and even push back at it by returning love for hostility."

With every ounce of courage you can muster up, respond with love to those who hurt you. Responding with love may require remaining silent at times. Not an easy one for me. But over the last year, several people have helped me try this one on for size. And, it's getting easier to brush off harsh comments or actions. Like anything, practice makes perfect (or in my case, near perfect!). Abandon yourself to the Lord and let Him take care of difficult people and situations. He is the Master, after all!

Thank you, Lord, for helping me view others with compassion, even when they act as if I am the enemy. Please continue to provide the graces I need to practice majestic silence as You did during the brutal beating You took for all of us.

God bless,

Bonnie