tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post5001374836731887134..comments2023-07-05T08:17:21.505-04:00Comments on Getting to the Point: Thinking About Not ThinkingFr. Denis Lemieuxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01049723287624178155noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-59597717944988350262014-02-17T16:42:48.056-05:002014-02-17T16:42:48.056-05:00I believe we know God best when we talk to each ot...I believe we know God best when we talk to each other. Thanks all. Patriciohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679413468450435320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-40029389857254020932014-02-17T11:52:39.895-05:002014-02-17T11:52:39.895-05:00Great comments, everyone - very stimulating and - ...Great comments, everyone - very stimulating and - dare I say it - thought-provoking.Fr. Denis Lemieuxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01049723287624178155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-35961508392866691622014-02-16T21:30:18.521-05:002014-02-16T21:30:18.521-05:00Umm.
Probably, the greatest struggle of my life ... Umm.<br /> Probably, the greatest struggle of my life has been with my own mind. "Folding the wings of your intellect". When people directed me in this way I used to think: "stop thinking". It discouraged me because no matter how hard I tried I still had thoughts that I did not want to have. I wanted my mind focused on Jesus, whom I love so much. <br /> I am not saying that I have this all worked out. But as the years pass, mercifully, I have learned to live a little better with my own mind.<br /> Although, we each have no control over the thoughts that come into our head, we can consciously choose to allow them to be. We don't have to resist our thoughts, believe our thoughts or identify with our thoughts. The truth is our mind only has the power we give it.<br /> The mind just is as it is. We create our struggle by wanting it to be different from what it is.<br /> The mind just is what it is. It needs the heart to love it and soothe it so it can become clear. Sometimes God gives us this grace inside ourselves. Sometimes, in his mercy, he sends another to help it become clear.<br /> ....anyway...this post today sort of got me going about the head and the heart...<br /> Bless you.Catherinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-75006859046105013512014-02-16T17:15:01.151-05:002014-02-16T17:15:01.151-05:00I like to speak of this as living in the ambience ...I like to speak of this as living in the ambience of God's presence. It is for me a sense of spiritual presence born out of intention which calls me to a desire for obedience. I find myself there when I look for God in what I am doing or thinking. It is in this ambience that I know and believe. To maintain this relationship requires investing myself daily in pray, study and action or it fads away.Patriciohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679413468450435320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-27406769371613243962014-02-16T12:37:11.067-05:002014-02-16T12:37:11.067-05:00I like St. John Climacus' phrase "the hea...I like St. John Climacus' phrase "the heaven of the mind in the heart" (Ladder, step 29). 'Heaven' is a cognate of 'haven' and 'harbour', that is, the place of rest and shelter. The home where the ship returns after the journey. So, as you say, it has nothing to do with being either pro- or anti-intellectual, it's about where our true home is.Neil Pattersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06447274994087291780noreply@blogger.com