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Quote for the Day:
Do not be troubled if you do not immediately receive from God what you ask him; for he desires to do something even greater for you, while you cling to him in prayer.

Evagrius Ponticus
Quote from the book, "101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer"

I have read from different sources that if you don't "feel" like if you have faith... you should act "as if" you had faith anyway. So I wonder if that means we move forward with things - as if we are a great saint whom God is listening to as much as a Saint Paul or Saint Joan of Arc. I do believe God has no favorites... but I wonder how great my faith is compared to theirs? Do I even want to have that kind of faith... the faith that opens the door to great opposition? It's so much easier and simpler to have a nice quiet faith - that minds its own business and stays at home. I'm not saying I want to be a radical - because I don't. I do believe I'm rather a wimp in the faith camp. I'm just sort of challenging myself is all.... don't know why.. just questions that sort of seem to have popped up.

Today I'm being swallowed by the grumpies and the frustations of life. Nothing big, nothing major - just the glums that settled in like a heavy fog on the day. I'm trying to think how to push beyond that.

I have been thinking off and on about Blessed Basil Hopko having to walk for 121 days without stopping. I just so totally cannot imagine that - nor can I imagine anyone (much less a group) putting someone to such torture for that length of time. Sometimes I get in one of my moods where I think I could probably do someone in.. but it never lasts very long and I always feel completely ugly, ugly.. imagine torturing someone for that length of time? What kind of possession must they be under?

Then I think well, geesh, you can't handle stupid little inconsiderations for a few minutes - hardly ever a day and certainly not 121 days! And truthfully - I don't want to handle inconsiderations... even if they are of my own making. So does that take me out of the running for saint hood? Nope, I don't think so. What it means is - that if we are going to be saints.. it's got to be God that makes us one.. because we are sure not going to accomplish it on our own.

That has been my major break through for the day. Blessed Basil - did not want to go to prison - he did not choose to be tortured - and imprisoned - but what he did choose was to say YES to God - one minute at a time. So I guess that is what I am to do - Give the planning and the details to God - and concentrate on just saying "YES" to whatever unfolds from his hands.. one minute at a time. Even on a grumpy, gray old day that I would rather forget - somehow - bear up and get through it.

Probably need to drink a lot more water and horrors.. maybe even take my vitamins. I did get enough sleep so that is not an issue - I think its a "CONTROL" issue.. wanting God and Life to operate on my time schedule to my planning and it's not happening.

So Lah de dah - lah de dah - God will work things out - regardless of how sweet and charming (or not) I'm at the moment.

Blessings of Peace and Joy! (God's Peace and Joy that is!)

Sister Patricia

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Sr Patricia