Wisdom

Do you know wisdom?
She delights in God.
She is manifested as God's Son.
She calls out your name.

Wisdom is not divided.
Be careful for the heart is full of deceit.
Accept everything as if it was from God himself.
Wait on God for you will be tested like fire.
Trust God and you will be satisfied.

The greater favor you posses, the less you think of yourself.
Do not get in the middle of disputes.
Do not be ashamed to be yourself.
Always be ready to confess your sins.

Do not pray for justice or seek after your own righteousness.
Refuse every kind of lie for only evil can come from it.
Remember to visit the sick and keep watch over your own soul.
Do not judge by appearances and resist your pride continually.

Do not multiply your responsibilities and be at peace with others.
Do not criticize but listen when others are talking.
Do not argue but love.
A cheerful face is a sign of a happy heart.
Meditate on wisdom and seek mercy.


(inspired from the book of Sirach)

Mystical Sleep

Sleep is the crawl space between two worlds

I am reading and reflecting on Pavel Florensky's "At the Crossroads of Science and Mysticism."  The rhythm of sleep takes a third of our life.  I am ready to sleep, dream, and rest.  Night time consciousness is the place of revelation and wisdom.  It is where the divine Sophia of God, the God who holds us like a mother cradling her infant in nurturing arms.  My soul is touched by the breath of God while I sleep.  Often the Lord wakes me up not to disturb my rest but to bring me to my knees in prayer for others.  This divine feminine invites us to be a childlike soul for without sleep, our souls would not be nourished or revitalized.

The Mother of God calls me to rest and enter once again the maternal womb.  The womb is open and not closed.  Even God opened Mary's womb to birth a new creation.  A closed womb became an open womb just like later a closed tomb did the unthinkable and became an open tomb.  In this new reality everything becomes lucid and bright.  Beauty, wonder, and mystery are everywhere.  The heavens are open and even the angels join us in our celestial praise.  One discovers that everything in life is connected to the grand architect of life.  Duality fades as the answer to Christ prayer in John seventeen appears over and over as we become one with the Creator.

I'm reminded of a homily by Thomas Merton that says,

"All the perfections of created things are also in God;
and therefore He is once Father and Mother.
As Father He stands in solitary might surrounded by darkness.
As Mother His shining is diffused, embracing all His creatures
with merciful tenderness and light"

(A Book of Hours, p.194)

The Wisdom of Simplicity and Humility

"There is no peace until we enter the river of forgetfulness of self"

Wisdom is clothed in simplicity and humility.  Simplicity makes us forget about ourselves and humility tells us that everyone else is to be remembered more than yourself.  Simplicity and humility focus is on our own faults and not the faults of others.  Do not listen to complaints or murmurings against others.  Self love exaggerates our distresses and magnifies them.  Do not listen but suffer in the simplicity of God's love.

Do not be disturbed by any distraction but keep your gaze fixed on Christ.  When crosses, sufferings, and humiliation come, they are not attacks of the enemy but sent by God to destroy self love at its root.  As long as we keep focusing on the symptoms, self-love will remain hidden deep within and will only appeared to have left when in reality it just went into hiding.

God's wounds are medicine to the soul for those who can accept it.  Weakness is better than strength and love is better than knowledge.  Distrust the vanity of your own reasoning that wants to be in charge of your life.  People can get so puffed up with knowledge that they do not see that love has been driven away.  God reveals the hearts to those who are like babes and hides His ways from the proud and those who think they are clever.

Simplicity and humility gives us courage in two ways.  First we must have the courage to weep over our old ways and let it die.  Secondly, we must have the courage to be prepared by God to enter into a whole new way of being, praying, and doing.  May God remover the darkness from my eyes and give my eyes childlike radiance.  May God clear the weeds from the field of my soul so that seeds of God's goodness can begin to grow.

"Tame my pride O God for I can not!"