Richard Rohr - A Joyful Mind -

 I subscribe to Franciscan priest's, Richard Rohr, Daily Meditation (written). I seldom read his entire post, yet the titles and the initial thought often are the intention that I need to carry me through my day. 

For instance: 

Confidence does not arise from our ego or efforts, but from the goodness of God. 

There is an absolute connection between how we see God and how we see ourselves and the universe. 

The purpose of prayer and religious seeing is to see the truth about Reality, to see what is. And at the bottom of what is is always goodness. The foundation is always love. 

Until I discover the God in which I believe, I will never understand another thing about my own life. If my God is a harsh judge, I will live in unquenchable guilt. if my God is Holy Nothingness, I will live a life of cosmic loneliness. If my God is taunt and bully, I will live my life impaled on the pin of a grinning giant. If my God is life and hope, I will live in fullness overflowing forever. 

This - 

If Jesus is representative of the total givenness of God to creation, the perhaps Mary is the representative of humanity, showing us how the gift is received. And I believe that is why we love Mary. She's a stand in for all of us. When we can say, like her, "Let it be," then we're truly ready for Christmas.  

Rohr's thoughts give me pause as well as give me something to think through as I work with patients. I often wonder how they perceive goodness, love, life, hope, and I will ask, and listen, and receive their offerings.  

This month, the month of love, grace, goodness, peace, hope, did not begin in this direction. Turmoil at work, all the ADHD'ness conversations, on top of my day-to-day stressors, have pitted against me. Yet a week ago, in a moment of quiet contemplation (typically happening in a warm car, pulled to the side of the road, prior to entering my home, after work), gave me the answer - "Things will be just fine. Trust the process. Stay present." And I have, and I will. And Rohr once again came through with this reminder. And while there's so much here, I'm choosing to pick a phrase a day, and ponder: 

What might a joyful mind be?

"When your mind does not need to be right.

"When you no longer need to compare yourself with others.

"When you no longer need to compete — not even in your own head.

"When your mind can be creative, but without needing anyone to know.

"When you can live in contentment with whatever the moment offers.

"When you do not need to analyze or judge things in or out, positive or negative.

"When your mind does not need to be in charge, but can serve the moment with gracious and affirming information.

"When your mind follows the intelligent lead of your heart.

"When your mind is curious and interested, not suspicious and interrogating.

"When your mind does not 'brood over injuries.'

"When you do not need to humiliate, critique, or defeat those who have hurt you — not even in your mind.

"When your mind does not need to create self-justifying story lines.

"When your mind does not need the future to be better than today.

"When your mind can let go of obsessive or negative thoughts.

"When your mind can think well of itself, but without needing to.

"When your mind can accept yourself as you are, warts and all.

"When your mind can surrender to what is.

"When your mind does not divide and always condemn one side or group.

"When your mind can find truth on both sides.

"When your mind fills in the gaps with 'the benefit of the doubt' for both friend and enemy.

"When your mind can critique and also detach from the critique.

"When your mind can wait, listen, and learn.

"When your mind can live satisfied without resolution or closure.

"When your mind can forgive and actually 'forget.'

"When your mind can admit it was wrong and change.

"When your mind can stop judging and critiquing itself.

"When you don't need to complain or worry to get motivated.

"When you can observe your mind contracting into self-preservation or self-validation, and then laugh or weep over it.

"When you can actually love with your mind.

"When your mind can find God in all things."