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  • Waspie_Dwarf

    Outwitted by a small, black cat called Elsa.

    By Waspie_Dwarf

    I have a small, black cat named Elsa. She is good company, generally very quiet and very well natured (although not always so well behaved). We are, however, in a battle of wits over a chair, and I think I am losing. A few weeks ago a relative of mine moved and had more chairs than was strictly necessary for her smaller flat. The chairs are much newer than the ones I had and so she gave them to me. That is where the battle started. Initially Elsa was happy to claim a chair of her
    • 8 comments
    • 211 views

Mistakes and laughter

Mistakes and laughter Sometimes we can be sources of entertainment not only to others but to ourselves as well. The other night, I was on to do the prayers that conclude Compline. So I went up to the podium after we finished with the last Psalm. I then started looking for the folder with the prayers. So I was looking under the podium for it but could not find it anywhere. It is in a very ugly yellow folder. Fr. Augustine came over and pointed out to me the folder was already opened fo

markdohle

markdohle

There is always something

There is always something Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for.---Dag Hammarskjold A retreatant came to me one day and wanted to ask me a question. “Why is it that the better off I am on a financial level the more problems I seem to have?” It was a good question, so I answered it with another question: “Why is it that when one enters a Monastery that many problems seems to surface, more than anticipated by most new

markdohle

markdohle

Boating - Chapter 10 - Conclusion

Here is the exciting conclusion to the Boating story - The Adventures of Zarkor and Zerak. Zerak! Over here!" Cloney shouts excitedly among the startled natives as Zerak's speedboat approaches the beach. Slog, watching the speedboat rushing toward the shore with apprehension, stoops down and grabs Zarkor's brain jar, turns and leaps out of the little boat. Hitting the beach he stumbles, sprawling onto the sand clutching the precious bottle. At the same moment, Zerak's speedboat slides furio

StarMountainKid

StarMountainKid

AA retreat this weekend

AA retreat this weekend (A community of people who struggle together) We have three groups that are AA that come here during the year. Each is different, yet the people are very much alike. The statistics state the around 8% actually do it “successfully”… though I have trouble with the word ‘success’. AA is made up of people, just like anyone else, who struggle with areas of their lives that cause a great deal of havoc if not dealt with. Most of us have areas that are troublesome, yet per

markdohle

markdohle

Dreams and Proper Behavior

Dreams and Proper Behavior Last night I had a dream of cats using unusual transportation devices. I can't quite remember what these devices were, though. Of course, we all know that in our waking reality cats generally use small bicycles to get around. That's not news or worth dreaming about. If I dreamed about cats bicycling down the sidewalk in front of my house, as they usually do, that dream would disappoint me. Who wants to dream about the ordinary? Nobody. Because ordinary is not interes

StarMountainKid

StarMountainKid

Vaster realms of understanding

Vaster realms of understanding “Tell souls not to place within their own hearts obstacles to My mercy, which so greatly wants to act within them. My mercy works in all those hearts which open their doors to it. Both the sinner and the righteous person have need of My mercy. Conversion, as well as perseverance, is a grace of My mercy.” (SR. Faustina’s dray 1577) Jesus is the Word, he is not owned by Christians, nor is our interpretation of our Scriptures some sort of magical formula to control

markdohle

markdohle

Getting my act together

Getting my act together I am almost 67, and I can say with total honesty, perhaps even with humility; for truth and humility are in reality one. What is this truth? Well it is very true, one truth that I have no doubt about, and it is this……my act has not even begun to come together; in fact as I get older; it is a goal that seems as far away as ever. As I was meditating on this, the thought came to me, what would happen if I arrived at that point in time, when indeed everything would fall

markdohle

markdohle

Sacred Journeys towards the end of Life

Sacred Journeys towards the End of Life November 27-29, 2015 (Weekend) Exploring Spirituality, Religion, and Health Care in the settings of illness and death. (Br. Mark, Br. Michael, Fr. Tom Francis, and physician Dr. Christopher) Retreat house number: 770-760-0959 8-4 Mon-Sat This retreat will explore the importance of Spirituality in the journey of Death and Dying and in the areas of Health Care and Medicine, especially the growing field of Palliative Medicine. Specific topics wi

markdohle

markdohle

Solitude and silence a human need

Solitude and silence a human need No matter what our beliefs are, most people need at certain points in their lives, silence and some solitude. Each has their own way of dealing with this important human need. To ignore it, can lead to becoming overloaded, burnt out, and unable to put up with the stresses of daily life. Some people need solitude to get their energy back, and it is for them that the importance of finding a way to refuel on a daily is so important. As well as to go somewhere

markdohle

markdohle

Boating - Chapter 9

Dashing hurriedly between branches, Cloney drifts breathlessly with his precious burdens suspended precariously before him, several times almost loosing them in his struggle to elude his pursuers below. From treetop to treetop he flies, ever keeping watch on the forest floor through the thick foliage of the tall trees. Still far ahead does he glimpse the ocean, a shining thin blue line on the horizon. Succeeding in evading the natives for the moment, Cloney spies a giant tree ahead. With deft m

StarMountainKid

StarMountainKid

Music and the soul

Music and the soul Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind,flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything. ---Plato I am not one of those people who listen to music very often. However when I do listen, I am often touched deeply, opening up experiences that are closed off to me ordinarily and when the music is over, it is like a small death, for things close up again. When retreatants talk to me about our chanting, they also say tha

markdohle

markdohle

The most demanding path

The most demanding path Pure love is capable of great deeds, and it is not broken by difficulty or adversity. As it remains strong in the midst of great difficulties, so too it perseveres in the toilsome and drab life of each day. It knows that only one thing is needed to please God: to do even the smallest things out of great love – love, and always love. ---Sr. Faustina’s diary (138) I believe one of the fastest roads to holiness, but by far the most difficult is to be married and

markdohle

markdohle

Corporationism

I must admit at first I was against Corporationism. In the old days when we had a sort of democracy I was pretty happy with it. Then, of course, came The Big Crash. In its aftermath I could understand the single party rule. We needed strong leadership if ever we were to revive our economy. The many (temporary it was said) changes to our Constitution at that time seemed reasonable, a requirement to gain stability of our society. Now that prosperity has returned, our form of government has change

StarMountainKid

StarMountainKid

There is no soul which is not bound to pray

There is no soul which is not bound to pray Prayer. – A soul arms itself by prayer for all kinds of combat. In whatever state the soul may be, it ought to pray. A soul which is pure and beautiful must pray, or else it will lose its beauty; a soul which is striving after this purity must pray, or else it will never attain it; a soul which is newly converted must pray, or else it will fall again; a sinful soul, plunged in sins, must pray so that it might rise again. There is no soul whi

markdohle

markdohle

When the ego is weak

When the ego is weak “It is your faults, My children that make you unhappy. recognize when you are in the wrong. Let your thoughts probe to the depths of your misery. He and I by Gabrielle Bossis Pauline Books of Boston When the ego is weak it is difficult to admit faults. Our habitual actions or reactions that we develop in our lives can keep us in a state of perpetual struggle with others. If we struggle with those who are in the same boat we are, then it can

markdohle

markdohle

29 August

I had plans to write something meaningful for today and I started it, but never finished. I don't know why. Today, of course, is the 10 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's landfall between the Gulf Coast and New Orleans. I wasn't living here at the time, so I didn't have to live through the stress of evacuating. I know from past experience, though, that it IS stressful. If you've ever been in horrible commuter traffic, amplify that by 100 and you'll understand. I wasn't here, but I came ba

Keel M.

Keel M.

Understanding Mercy

Understanding Mercy +Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy. Faustina diary 300/2 One way to look at mercy is to understand that there are many levels in experiencing it. As Jesus said, the one who is forgiven much loves much. What does that mean? People can ask for mercy but do not understand the true depth of their offense. However, the more they grow in their relationship with God (or with loved ones); the more also their underst

markdohle

markdohle

When 'seeking' stops

When 'seeking' stops Even if a unity of faith is not possible, a unity of love is. Hans Urs von Balthasar All who seek are brothers and sisters on the way. When truth is ‘found’ and seeking ‘stops’, then we develop an arrogance presented before others that perhaps even the demons wonder at it. Fanatics can’t stand others who think in categories different from them. they have a need for everyone to believe the way they do, if not, they will manufacture a way to twist things ar

markdohle

markdohle

Woke to a flute sound

Early this morning I awoke suddenly. A loud flute played three notes, then once more the same notes. I immediately felt annoyed, that my children must be awake and playing on a wooden recorder. I listened for another few minutes and realized, my children would have kept playing. Also, they wouldn't have played three notes so perfectly, then repeat the same notes a moment later. Stunned I leaped from my bed and rushed to my children. They were both peacefully asleep, undisturbed by the flute. I r

Releanapeace

Releanapeace

Healing fire

Healing fire Holy Hour. During this hour of adoration, I saw the abyss of my misery; whatever there is of good in me is Yours, o Lord. But because I am so small and wretched, I have a right to count on Your boundless mercy. (St. Faustina’s diary 237) False humility can sound like what Sr. Faustina’s is saying. Yet it can be based on self hatred and a lack of understanding of God’s love for us. Saints will use language that seems strange to people like me who still do not und

markdohle

markdohle

The reality of grace in all lives

The reality of grace in all lives My trust in God flows out of the experience of his loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or fair, whether I'm sick or in good health, whether I'm in a state of grace or disgrace. He comes to me where I live and loves me as I am.. ---Brennan Manning What is grace? Is it a ‘some-thing? In the Christian faith, grace is a ‘some-one’, who has such a love for us that it can actually be embarrassing if thought about. Sort of lik

markdohle

markdohle

What self love is not

What self love is not One day as I was speaking to one of our guest, he wondered how he was supposed to love himself when he is so aware of his past, what is in his heart now and what he is capable of doing. Well I said “self knowledge has its price. Too actually to be able to see yourself in a truthful light takes a type of self love. Also having the strength of ego that many lack; as well as being in touch with your soul and what gives life and breathe to your spirit”, even if uncon

markdohle

markdohle

The more you know, the less you know you don’t

The more you know, the less you know you don’t Working with people who come for retreat does not lead to any great understanding about them or people in general. It is true, I believe that any exchange between people can be enriching, yet getting to the bottom of things will never happen. I supposed if we were fixed into one state of being then perhaps we could get to the ‘bottom-of-things’….well we are not frozen into a certain level of being so that is not possible. We are relational b

markdohle

markdohle