From Paul the Apostle to the Galatians (5:13-25) we have “the Works of the Flesh,” the list of 15 should not do in life—fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factious, envy, drunkenness, carousing and things like these. Also, a shorter list of 8 of “the Fruit of the Spirit”—joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control with the differing comment that there is no law against such things. Or I would add that the first list that there is no human law in our world of free will to not choose what we will choose at any point in our life.

In the Gospel of Luke (9:51-62) Jesus, setting face towards Jerusalem (and the Crucifixion), simply asks us in His own way to “follow Me.”

In the beginning and end of the priest’s sermon our prayer for courage and strength to love and follow Jesus with gladness and single-mindedness of our hearts. If He is the primary pursuit of our faith journey then everything else comes second and works out just fine. I have experienced this at times in my life especially early on growing up impacted by the disease of alcoholism and later in life and more recently in recovery from the disease of compulsive overeating and sugar addiction. “I can’t fix that” transforms to “with God and Jesus I can,” were the words of the priest. Is a faith journey a primary purpose in your life? If so, what is the true primary purpose of that faith journey? These questions, at times, are difficult for me to answer.

“Finding the right balance” in life is why I seek a spiritual journey in life. It is difficult in the world we live in. Yes it is but we need to question our denial, our rationalizations and our justifications in our life. What is the truth of our human being, what is the true purpose of our life?

The priest referenced the 2015 Charleston Church Shooting where nine beautiful souls were lost. How the remaining victims and their family and loved ones were now more focused on the grace and love of Christ and not being sucked into hate from the traumatic experience. On their “Journey of Awakening” they are learning how to pray for the shooter that he experience God’s mercy and forgiveness to live a different life and to be able to tell a different story with the rest of his life.

The Children’s Talk where the kids go up on the altar and here a more childish version of the gospel had a special message for me this morning. Actually I usually connect closely with the message to the children, maybe it is the Eternal Child Within? The kids’ translation was simply put as a prayer when confronted with something we don’t like in life.

“God, can you help me to see this (experience in my life) in the way You see it?”

It connect the dots once more for me in my pursuit of a “Splendid Spiritual Self” and the “?4 Ask God 4?” translation from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous where I ask God four things in times of crisis (anxiety, indecision, contemplating a slip in abstinence)— to free me of my self & selfishness; to direct my thinking, to inspire my decisions and to show me the next step to take in the moment.

How can we think, how can we be more like God in our lives?

After the mass (or service), there is more interpretation and a question and answer session with the rector. There are usually ten or so questions asked and I love this part of my morning spiritual experience because I learn so much more about the Word of God and realize we are all imperfect and struggling a bit at times to get through this experience we call life. More dots are connected in my mind and more importantly in my “Splendid Spiritual Self.”

We are spiritual beings first that the world has duped us into not believing this. Some spend their whole lives denying this but in the end it can be suppressed but not denied. Hopefully and eventually we all come to this realization in life.

I formulated a question as the discussion went on and was surprised at the end that there was silence when the audience was asked for another question. I took this as a Godsend and asked my question. Making reference to the two lists above, I commented that we all come to a place of acceptance and realization  the we are not God in our lives or the lives of others and as human beings we die. It seemed to me that our experience will follow Jesus’ experience in that we all ultimately die. I didn’t say it but that is indeed true, that we all share one thing in common without except— we die! But nobody talks about it to any great degree or minimally likes to talk about it.  So you would say, as others did, hey where is the question in that?

Here’s the question I asked of the rector: When you look at “the rest of your life,” what comes to mind, what will Jesus say to you in your 60s, 70s, and 80s that is different than what He is saying to you today? Always a TROML question from me!

I loved and was inspired by his response, first making reference to the first list as things we do when Jesus is not first in our lives and that the reality is that the second list spills out into our life from a God-centered life. As to my 60s, 70s, and 80s question he does not think that way, mainly because he isn’t there yet age wise. As he continues his journey, he will grow more in God’s grace and love and shared that he wants to always be a person that believes in wonders, that he is intrigued by people who have lost their sense of wonder. Why have they lost their sense of wonder of life?

Have you lost your sense of wonder?

For me, as inspired as the morning was, the real inspiration came when an older gentleman in his 80s came up to me afterwards and tapped me on the arm. He looked up and looked me in the eyes and said that in his 60s he was focused on transitioning into retirement. In his 70s he began walking closer with God. As he told me about his 80s he turned and motioned to his wife saying that he continues to walk closer taking big steps and that it is overwhelming how much he loves his wife today.

I connected with his spiritual insight as though I am single today when I pray and ask, and meditate and listen, I hear God sharing that I will be married by the time I am 60 which is only a few years off. Which reminded me of my neighbor the other day sharing what his wife wanted him to share with me. Reminding me that I said that I will be married in 1-1/2 years. Evidently six months ago I said I would be married in two years. But I don’t remember that as I always thought I heard 3 to 4 years which would be 60 for me!

LOL, when and to whom will God direct me to? I do know one thing that will be required. That she and I put our relationship with God first and foremost above all else and that No. 2 on the list will be our marriage and each other.

I left to go back out in the world I heard the message from today. Courage and strength for gladness and single-mindedness of God’s love, grace and mercy. I hope to live the rest of this day in an abstinent manner in peace, joy and freedom.

Plus I will ask God to help me to see my tragedies and successes in life in the moment in the way he sees them and act accordingly.

For I am my True Self, with God within me with my Trusting Ego, an Eternal Child Within…

Have a TROML Day today!

Your Personal Revivalist,

Anonymous Andy