Lenten Meditations - #`15
I have often been reminded by those much wiser I need to trust that I will always get what I need to grow spiritually. The teacher may be a person – adult or child – from whom I least expected to learn. The lesson may be the one I least wanted to hear. Earlier this morning. I was reminding myself to “Let go and let God.” I was, once again, confronting the fact that I am powerless over people, places and things. Specifically, I was and am aware that I am powerless over someone who is in active addiction.
A little later I consulted the web page of the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur to read the Gospel reading for this day of Lent. It is Luke 16:19-31 which is the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man wants relief from the fire of Hades. Abraham says this is not possible. Then the rich man wants Abraham to send Lazarus to warm his brothers what they need to do to avoid Hades when they die. Abraham replies if the brothers cannot listen to Moses and the Prophets they will not listen to a dead person.”
In this season of Lent I am often reminded that I have and continue to daily ignore teachers and the lessons they bring. Perhaps I have already decided that so and so is not perfect and cannot possibly have any wisdom to which I need to listen. Despite my best attempts to quit putting others in neat little boxes I continue to do so. I recall one day attending a forum at a local University. There was a man next to me dressed in jeans and a tee shirt which barely covered what appeared to be a rather substantial beer belly. When he began asking questions I was not even listening having decided that it was unlikely that he would have anything to say to which I needed to attend. Then, despite my prejudicial assumption, I heard him asking the most astute and poignant questions that were asked that day. Another day, when my office was next to a place which fed and provided other services for the homeless, my most loving and helpful teachers were homeless men and women.
The older I get the more aware I am that this life journey is very brief. Not much matters except how well one gives and receives love. The teachings of Jesus and Buddha are very clear on this subject. History is also a very poignant reminder of this fact. Yet, time after time, I find myself fretting about people, places and things over which I have no control. I do have control about how honest I am with myself and others about my own shortcomings. I do have control over being more intentional about noticing how often I judge others. I do have control over how I choose to use the gift of time today. I do have control over how well I choose to listen to the wise teachers who surround me. I do have control over whether I choose to trust the god of my understanding. I do have control over whether I choose to embrace every experience as an opportunity to learn. I do have control over listening to the teachers who are gifted to me every day.
Written March 21, 2019
Jimmy F. Pickett
coachpickett.org
I have often been reminded by those much wiser I need to trust that I will always get what I need to grow spiritually. The teacher may be a person – adult or child – from whom I least expected to learn. The lesson may be the one I least wanted to hear. Earlier this morning. I was reminding myself to “Let go and let God.” I was, once again, confronting the fact that I am powerless over people, places and things. Specifically, I was and am aware that I am powerless over someone who is in active addiction.
A little later I consulted the web page of the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur to read the Gospel reading for this day of Lent. It is Luke 16:19-31 which is the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man wants relief from the fire of Hades. Abraham says this is not possible. Then the rich man wants Abraham to send Lazarus to warm his brothers what they need to do to avoid Hades when they die. Abraham replies if the brothers cannot listen to Moses and the Prophets they will not listen to a dead person.”
In this season of Lent I am often reminded that I have and continue to daily ignore teachers and the lessons they bring. Perhaps I have already decided that so and so is not perfect and cannot possibly have any wisdom to which I need to listen. Despite my best attempts to quit putting others in neat little boxes I continue to do so. I recall one day attending a forum at a local University. There was a man next to me dressed in jeans and a tee shirt which barely covered what appeared to be a rather substantial beer belly. When he began asking questions I was not even listening having decided that it was unlikely that he would have anything to say to which I needed to attend. Then, despite my prejudicial assumption, I heard him asking the most astute and poignant questions that were asked that day. Another day, when my office was next to a place which fed and provided other services for the homeless, my most loving and helpful teachers were homeless men and women.
The older I get the more aware I am that this life journey is very brief. Not much matters except how well one gives and receives love. The teachings of Jesus and Buddha are very clear on this subject. History is also a very poignant reminder of this fact. Yet, time after time, I find myself fretting about people, places and things over which I have no control. I do have control about how honest I am with myself and others about my own shortcomings. I do have control over being more intentional about noticing how often I judge others. I do have control over how I choose to use the gift of time today. I do have control over how well I choose to listen to the wise teachers who surround me. I do have control over whether I choose to trust the god of my understanding. I do have control over whether I choose to embrace every experience as an opportunity to learn. I do have control over listening to the teachers who are gifted to me every day.
Written March 21, 2019
Jimmy F. Pickett
coachpickett.org
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