tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415815443006499013.post1423797728373470618..comments2023-04-27T04:14:30.583-07:00Comments on Straight from the Heart: In Praise of PowerlessnessDonna Farleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11884647995104136193noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415815443006499013.post-49851686343548378202012-07-31T18:38:16.368-07:002012-07-31T18:38:16.368-07:00Hello Fr. Lawrence,
I had constructed a "lov...Hello Fr. Lawrence,<br /><br />I had constructed a "lovely" letter to you about some of the issues you have mentioned. However, pressing a wrong key on my computer made the whole work "of love" disappear. I think my guardian Angel pulled a trick on me and my mullings. I am, now, grateful. ;-)<br /><br />However, I am somewhat disappointed about your statement: "... I am in fact the fountain and source of all wisdom..." since it was my firm conviction that this was my calling on earth.Kai - Welf J. Lerchehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11328611676971387138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415815443006499013.post-69799736623683117452012-07-30T18:15:13.550-07:002012-07-30T18:15:13.550-07:00But it is so much more entertaining and distractin...But it is so much more entertaining and distracting (and therefore less painful) to attempt to fix the "other's" issues, be it on the global stage or even closer to home, a friend's life. Then I would not be faced with my own life. In doing so, I continue to live a life of unreal because to venture within the real takes courage. And at all costs, that kind of pain is to be avoided. And anyway, what entertainment value is there in being real? Yes, very timely comments. Thank you, papa.TeresaAngelinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251765018168417707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415815443006499013.post-283346002717178062012-07-30T16:14:28.813-07:002012-07-30T16:14:28.813-07:00Thank you Father, that is helpful.
-MBThank you Father, that is helpful.<br />-MBOstensive Lymehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04605919388856782153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415815443006499013.post-33500448341158282492012-07-30T16:04:32.265-07:002012-07-30T16:04:32.265-07:00Thank you, Mark Basil, for your comments, and for ...Thank you, Mark Basil, for your comments, and for passing along the wise reflection of your friend Andrew. I can of course only speak for myself, but like you I am reluctant to offer advice to the Most High. All I do is commend the people I would pray for to God by name, over and over again, imploring that He act according to His own wisdom and love. I am reminded of the example of a monk of St. Tikhon's (Fr. George, if memory serves) who when asked to pray for someone simply stood before his icon corner and repeated the Jesus Prayer over and over for the person: "O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on Your servant N". This monk I think showed true wisdom, and I have always been impressed by his example.Fr. Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13933248163052873060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415815443006499013.post-85806282207490263352012-07-30T14:26:52.912-07:002012-07-30T14:26:52.912-07:00Christ is in our midst!
Thank you for this remind...Christ is in our midst!<br /><br />Thank you for this reminder Father.<br />Can you offer some suggestions how to manifest this sort of 'circumstantial prayer'? When I hear about struggles and sufferings afar, I want to pray but I am not sure the most fitting way to do so.<br />Of course I ask God's mercy for the situation and persons involved. But this is a very brief petition. Should I just repeat it?<br />I have questioned the value of becoming more specific (trying to spell out all the ways in which God could best help ;)<br />But short of this approach I am not sure how to offer "more". More than a single "lord have mercy".<br /><br />Also your reflections on the limited nature of our perspective on any large issue, reminds me of another related reason why we do well to refrain from making too much of our presumed "power in knowledge".<br />My friend Andrew Klager once memorably pointed out that there is a philosophical problem with the "perspicuity of scripture": it assumes not only that God could somehow 'spell out' clear ultimate truth propositionally, but also (here's the deeper error) that we could actually receive this truth without distorting it!<br />In actual fact- if there is any need for salvation at all- the human person must be in no condition to rightly see and understand the truth even if it is laid out plainly before him.<br />Planks in our own eyes, and so on.<br /><br />Love;<br />-Mark BasilOstensive Lymehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04605919388856782153noreply@blogger.com