WE HAVE ENOUGH...

July 15, in our formation, our monk spiritual director was asked, “What do you pray for yourself?”

He answered, “Honestly, I don’t pray for myself anymore, I pray for the needs of others…” 

That moment, I saw in him that he is contented with what he has. Wow, could that be possible? Can one not want anything for himself?

In this modern world, that seems to be impossible. We are so exposed in the latest gadgets, newest models of cellphones, ipods, beautiful cars, houses, etc. We aspire for careers that can bring more money in our bank account or luxurious vacations here and abroad. We seem to be always on the go wanting to achieve one thing after another, dreams after dreams that become bigger each time....

Wanting nothing for oneself...could this really be possible or our spiritual director is just kidding us and maybe he is living in a dreamworld? But....if it is so, I would like to know how....

That question and his answer in our formation left a mark in my mind and from time to time, it surfaces and my wonder comes back. 

Yesterday, an inspiration came to me: 

“If I become contented with what I have,

then I will stop whining and stop wanting so many things.

I will begin to be grateful to God for all that I have.

All that will come to me,

I shall appreciate and see as bonus gifts from God,

His extra blessings.”

As I try to take a look at what I have, I discovered: "Hmmm, yes, it seems there are so many things I should be thankful for...I just don't notice them."

I have food for my every meal, even for my snacks....

I have a roof over my head, even my own room...

I have my own computer to do my blogs, talks, research, studying, check FB, etc...

I have my cellphone to communicate and text inspirational messages...

I have my family who loves me and will always be there to support me....

I have my friends who cares for me, too and are willing to listen and do things with me...

I have my Church who never tires to reach out to me and teach me about God...

I have God who never abandons me, even if I'm unfaithful to Him from time to time, still He loves me...and there are much more...

What I need, especially the most valuable things in life are already with me. All those I desire to have, mostly are just wants, not needs...I can even do without them....

In Matthew 6:25-34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%206:25-34&version=NASB ) Jesus said God provides all we need, we just have to seek heavenly treasures rather than worldly gains.

We are already blessed with what we truly need, we just don't see them because our eyes are upon the things we do not have, and what we don't have is what we want, though we don't need them really.

We seek happiness from them, that we forget to be contented and grateful with what we have, but if we will just take some time to survey our physical, mental, emotional, spiritual possessions....we will find out that what we truly need are already there. Whatever will come to us are just additional, bonuses from God...If we will just learn to be contented, then we will have a grateful heart and see everything else as gifts and surprises.

 

Simplicity is one key to a happy living...we just want too much, too many...but really, we already possess what we truly need to be happy, we just have to stop, dig in deeper, and take a look.

Have a Grateful and Contented Soul!

-luisadelacruz

A QUIET MOMENT...

Inspiration:   Psalm 42:1-2

Dear God, You designed my mind to seek You.

You designed my heart to love You.

That is why there is a deep longing within my being

For my Divine Source and Destination.

I am restless until I rest in You.

I am discontented until I find satisfaction in You.

I am lonely until I find joy in You.

I hunger and thirst for You,

The One where the roots of my being came from.

Why desire those that this world offer,

When all I have to desire is You alone.

When I come naked face to face to nothingness,

I find that there is no such thing,

For in nothingness I find everything

Because I find my dearest God,

And You are everything my whole being needs.

From my creation to my death, I belong to You.

I am Yours.

Though You are hidden from my sight,

Let not this world blind me to this truth…

As a deer longs for the cool water

So my soul longs after You, oh my God…

My soul thirsts and You alone can satisfy this thirst…

You are my joy-Giver,

The Apple of my eyes,

My Beloved…

To You alone will my Spirit

Bow down and yield…

My Lord, My God…

-luisadelacruz

WHY ARE WE NEVER SATISFIED???

“To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.”

This was part of a text message I received middle of last week. It struck me. I started thinking of what I want, one after another popped in my mind. But then a question stopped me: ‘Is it possible for anyone to live without wanting anything?’

            This echoed in my mind for the rest of the week. Last Saturday, I read this in a book by Michael Marsch: 

“The more I have, the more plans I have. I have everything – except time. My appointment calendar is full. All the possible dates are taken. There just isn’t time for anything more. But if riches are so desirable and if it is characteristic of all who have them that they have no time, why did God become human among the poorest….? Why not something spectacular?”

            Yeah. People always want something but when they have it, they want something bigger than that. We are never satisfied, we are never contented. So my nagging question came back again to me. If there’s such a level in life of wanting nothing at all, I would like to reach that level. It would be great! I can live peacefully and happily ever after!

            But as I reflected more on it and asked God about it in prayer, I discovered, there’s no such thing. It is innate in man to have this deep longing for something that as he grows, he search and search and search….so this can be satisfied. But in his search, what he finds never satisfies his deep longing and so he searches for bigger things, but with the same result. The fact is, man can never find what he is truly searching for in this world.

 

            Why? Why can’t we be satisfied? Why can’t we find this in this world? Because if we do, then the more we will want to live in this world and not leave it someday to go to our Father in heaven….the more we will not strive to grow even if we are designed to grow inside and outside our being. The more we will get attached to dear life and never long for an eternal life and meet God face to face.

            God planted that deep longing in us when we were formed, a longing not really for worldly things, but for what? What is that want that we truly must have?

            As I reflected that Saturday morning, I ended up with one answer – wanting God more than anything else in this world….but in wanting God, it cannot be avoided to also want what He wants for me. I can find satisfaction in whatever this world can offer me if I can only be contented and happy with what I have and what I achieve. But this world can never satisfy my deep longing for God, His embrace, His awesome Presence of which we are meant to experience.

There’s nothing wrong with plans and riches, nor in doing great things, as long as they don’t prevent you in your pursuit of deepening personal relationship with God, as long as He is the center of everything in your life….This is the biggest dream we must have above our big dreams. 

My Dreams

Once I heard a priest reflect: “The deep longing we have in our hearts is the reflection of the deep longing of God for us.”

….I believe him, God loves us so much and He longs that we may love Him back....but our focus always is somewhere else, not on God who truly deserves our love and attention….

PRAYER OF THE HEART:

My Beloved Father, may I want only You and what You want for me. May I be contented and satisfied with what this world can offer….except in my deep longing for You and Your desires. May I find You as my need above all the basic needs that my physical body requires. 

My Dearest God, grant that my inner self thirst and hunger for You alone that I shall ache and feel like dying without Your Presence in my daily earthly life. In Jesus Name I pray, by the power of Your Spirit. Amen.

 -luisadelacruz

LET YOUR MISERIES FLY....

If you want your life to be miserable, resistance will do the job for you….

We resist because things happen not the way we want it to happen….

not the way we expect…..we are powerless to change them. 

If you want to be happy and peaceful, 
acceptance will make your miseries have wings 

so they can fly light on the wind of God’s love….

Acceptance is the first positive step we can take. 

With this, we can see things in a different perspective, 

then we can roll up our sleeves, get to work with those we can,

and let God work on those we can’t….

Why allow the volcano of resistance imprison you,

when you can allow the serenity of acceptance free you….

where trust in God prevails…. It’s just a matter of choice….

-luisadelacruz 061511

WHAT MORE CAN I DESIRE.....

What more can I desire, oh God

but Your awesome Presence.

When things distract me,

when other desires fill my being,

pierce my heart with the pain

of not having You....

Let the longing of my soul

cry out for You alone.

Let there be emptiness

that only You can satisfy.

Make me restless, oh God

that I may only find my rest in You.

Let nothing take Your place

in the depths of my being.

What more can I desire....

You are enough....

Nothing matters as long as I have You.

You are my life, the air I breathe.

Your beauty is everywhere.

Let not busyness or other people blind me.

Your voice constantly calls my name.

Let not the noise of this world

make me deaf.

My peace and my joy is in You, alone.

What more can I desire, oh God.

You are enough....

-luisadelacruz  041411  6:05pm

(Written during a two-day silent retreat

in this very spot as I sat on the swing.)

MAN'S SEARCH FOR TRUE LOVE....

 



....Man is constantly in deep searching for somebody to truly love him.

He looks everywhere, waits for somebody to come,

aches while on the search, frustrated, feeling miserable at times....

the irony of this search is:

God is just around him,

waiting for him to accept His unconditional love

that will make him whole and satisfy his deep longing.... :-)

-luisadelacruz

 



WHAT'S LIFE IF . . . .

WHAT'S LIFE IF . . . .

What's life if

you're just sitting
and doing nothing....

if you're just waiting

for the end of the day

while looking out of the window....

if you're just fantasizing

about anything....

if you have all the things

you can ask for

but find your world empty.

Life without struggle is boring,

without sadness, it is not fun,

without challenge,

it is not worthwhile....

- luisadelacruz 022290