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talking to myself

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Being thankful for the dark times

markdohle

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Being thankful for the dark times
(A thanksgiving retreat)

We had a retreat on thankfulness this Mon-Wed of this week.  This time of the year the number is usually small; we had five participants.  Usually we have larger groups.  I do like the smaller ones however.  When I started off the discussion, I reminded the group that when thinking about ones life and being thankful, we are also led to those times when we struggled and perhaps failed in a major way and in the end we find ourselves being thankful for everything in our lives.  That is one of the great gifts in aging, this ability to look back and see how one was lead even when not in conscious relationship with God.

We had some powerful sharing, each had quite a bit of trauma from their past.  Yet they have discovered that even when things were the darkest, in looking back they can see how the Lord worked in their lives.  There was sexual abuse, physical trauma, serious life threatening addictions, yet each as they relating their experience ended up being thankful for what they had to go through to get to were they were at.  What they went through was not willed by God, yet God who meets us wherever we are can bring healing and good out of any situation. 

In judging we deny others to walk the path they need to travel in order to find the Lord.  To share ones faith in a respectful manner and to let it go, is a great act of faith in the workings of the Holy Spirit, to water that seed and bring it to new life at the right time.  I believe that we should carry in our hearts all those we meet, to pray for them always, and trust in the Lords mercy, the same mercy he has shown all of us. 

One woman shared how one night she walked out to look at the moon.  She had a drink in one had and a smoke in the other.  Suddenly she felt a hand on her forehead and a voice telling her to stop doing this to herself.  She was healed and is now a deeply devout Christian woman.  Yes the free gift of grace, she had like St. Paul, a Damascus moment.

In the Letter of 1st Peter, he talks about Christians being a priestly people and so we are.  We are called to pray and lift up all and to in a special way to never forgot those we have spoken to or met, we are all used by the Lord in ways that in the future we will be amazed and thankful.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.--1 Peter 2:9
 

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Davros of Skaro

Davros of Skaro 11,010

Posted

"One woman shared how one night she walked out to look at the moon.  She had a drink in one had and a smoke in the other.  Suddenly she felt a hand on her forehead and a voice telling her to stop doing this to herself.  She was healed and is now a deeply devout Christian woman.  Yes the free gift of grace, she had like St. Paul, a Damascus moment."

Too bad this free gift of grace doesn't prevent much more horrible things from happening rather than just some schizo-typal women out for a smoke.

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Davros of Skaro

Davros of Skaro 11,010

Posted (edited)

2 hours ago, markdohle said:

Or not.  lots happened to her.

Peace
Mark

Like what?

Sexual abuse, beaten by her Father, abandoned for long periods of time when still very small, her whole family was into drugs big time, and no faith at all.....her family were atheist at least they said they were.  So yes she went through a lot.....she is now a doctor, a family doctor.

Peace
Mark

Edited by markdohle
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Davros of Skaro

Davros of Skaro 11,010

Posted

Bad parents are bad parents wether faith, or no faith.

Glad she pulled through even if it was in part prodding from her subconscious. 

 

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GlitterRose

GlitterRose 27,429

Posted (edited)

 What they went through was not willed by God

With all due respect, how could anyone possibly know that? For all we know, we're meant to go through what we go through because it makes us who we are. 

Thank you for all the doubts, and for all the questioning,
for all the loneliness and for all the suffering.
For all the emptiness, and the scars it left inside.
it inspired in me, an impetus to fight.
For the conviction, for the purpose found along.
For the strength and courage, that in me I've never known.
And if it seems to you, that my words are undeserved,
I write this in gratitude for whatever good it serves.

Edited by ChaosRose
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Davros of Skaro

Davros of Skaro 11,010

Posted

If I had the ability to stop wrong to a child, I would.

It takes a monster not to do anything. 

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markdohle

markdohle 6,095

Posted

On 11/26/2016 at 9:40 AM, ChaosRose said:

 What they went through was not willed by God

With all due respect, how could anyone possibly know that? For all we know, we're meant to go through what we go through because it makes us who we are. 

Thank you for all the doubts, and for all the questioning,
for all the loneliness and for all the suffering.
For all the emptiness, and the scars it left inside.
it inspired in me, an impetus to fight.
For the conviction, for the purpose found along.
For the strength and courage, that in me I've never known.
And if it seems to you, that my words are undeserved,
I write this in gratitude for whatever good it serves.

 

Thank you, good question.  We are called to love one another.  Good can be brought out of 'evil', it is not willed by God but by the malicious intent or from ignorance of others.  Though volumes have been written on the subject of human evil that we bestow on each other......

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markdohle

markdohle 6,095

Posted

On 11/26/2016 at 10:56 AM, davros of skaro said:

If I had the ability to stop wrong to a child, I would.

It takes a monster not to do anything. 

 

Yes I agree.

Peace
mark

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markdohle

markdohle 6,095

Posted

On 11/26/2016 at 6:33 AM, davros of skaro said:

Bad parents are bad parents wether faith, or no faith.

Glad she pulled through even if it was in part prodding from her subconscious. 

 

 

Yes of course.  Religious parents hide behind their faith and fail to look deeper.  I doubt it was her subconscious, it is not intelligent nor directive, not can it heal the way it did her.....it was not asked for, but given freely, it is grace. 

Peace
mark

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Davros of Skaro

Davros of Skaro 11,010

Posted

5 hours ago, markdohle said:

Yes of course.  Religious parents hide behind their faith and fail to look deeper.  I doubt it was her subconscious, it is not intelligent nor directive, not can it heal the way it did her.....it was not asked for, but given freely, it is grace. 

Peace
mark

The subconscious is very powerful, but you have your faith.

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markdohle

markdohle 6,095

Posted

8 hours ago, davros of skaro said:

The subconscious is very powerful, but you have your faith.

It goes both way ;-), any belief system can be attributed in part to the unconscious mind, or the subconscious in part. 

Peace
mark

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Davros of Skaro

Davros of Skaro 11,010

Posted

One time I saw this guy at a party, and he looked like his face/body was being flattened out. I thought I was seeing things. Turns out he was having a bad acid trip. He thought he was being buried alive. My friends saw the same flattening effect that I saw.

The mind is very powerful.  Padre Pio comes to mind.

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Davros of Skaro

Davros of Skaro 11,010

Posted (edited)

27 minutes ago, markdohle said:

I agree, the mind is powerful.  Luckily we don't know how to use it consciously against someone else, at least for now.  http://www.newdawnmagazine.com/articles/padre-pio-paranormal-man

Peace
Mark

That's not what I was talking about obviously. I did not know that so much legend surrounded Pio, but that's no surprise. Too bad he couldn't stop WWII. Let's see if his supposed prediction of a war where 2/3 of the population is decimated happens.

Edited by davros of skaro
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markdohle

markdohle 6,095

Posted

14 hours ago, davros of skaro said:

That's not what I was talking about obviously. I did not know that so much legend surrounded Pio, but that's no surprise. Too bad he couldn't stop WWII. Let's see if his supposed prediction of a war where 2/3 of the population is decimated happens.

 

I hope not.  If the mind manufactures these events then Padre Pio would have a very powerful unconscious.  That is what I meant.  How people interpret will depend on their preconceived ideas,  We see this in every area of life.  Like the politics situation from both sides in the election here in the United States.

Peace
Mark

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Davros of Skaro

Davros of Skaro 11,010

Posted

What about the many miracles attributed to Islam, and it's adherents? Keep in mind that Jesus was only a prophet, and never was crucified, but made to appear so according to the Quran.

Quran 4:157-160

"That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:- Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise;- And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Judgment he will be a witness against them;- For the iniquity of the Jews We made unlawful for them certain (foods) good and wholesome which had been lawful for them;- in that they hindered many from Allah's Way;"

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