__________________________________________________
AT
A TIME OF GREAT SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS, FORGET ARGUMENTATION AND ELEVATE
ABOVE THE TERRAIN WITH GOD
We live at a time of obvious spiritual
blindness, a blindness caused by sin, arrogance, anger, and lack of
prayer -- for it is only through prayer with unitive contemplation (of God)
that we transcend and can see (beyond sidelines) the larger picture.
You might also call it peering "backstage"
(spiritually).
Do you see what is really transpiring, or what
is paraded about as reality?
While everyone stares at the dramatics
of "news" and other forms of media (as if every little development
is of historic mega-consequence), most are oblivious to the real reasons and powers behind many events.
We are on all sides too often
immersed in the superficial. What seems so "big" to us may not be so very
big in the scheme of eternity.
With prayer, we transcend in a way that
allows a "birdseye" view of the landscape and it's like driving down a
highway:
When we're wearing spiritual blinders, our vision is blocked by buildings
or trees; we see very little into the
distance; there is only what is very near.
With prayer (and fasting), on the other hand -- and dramatically
-- we rise above the brush,
the forest, the fence, the barricade, and have more the vantage point of a
plane in the sky.
We can see a larger mosaic. We can see far beyond
a single patch of forest. We see a number of scattered towns and villages. We
can see formations of clouds and potential storms for hundreds of miles -- a
good thing. We have a much fuller picture of what we are passing and where we
are headed. We note the traffic in the distance. It is the terrain from a
plane instead of a train. This is prayer.
To transcend is also to detach. It is to
take yourself from material matters and emotions that spring from pride and circumstances that cause you tension
(for here you have a first-warning signal) and see with the eyes of Heaven.
Leave to God what causes you anxiety.
Just plain walk past it.
See all around you but take matters one step at
a time.
Don't rush, rush, rush.
It is a first sign (anxiousness, with confusion) of the evil
one.
Focus on love.
Today, you hear much political rancor; much is
self-righteous; and there are serious issues (such as genetic engineering and
war and abortion). But don't let the devil (who plays all political parties)
strip you of love.
"Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house," says Ezekiel
12. "They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear,
for they are a rebellious house."
It is love in all circumstances that grants the
greater vision to see beyond the pettiness of those who otherwise will cause
you aggravation and to see their good and it is to take a deep breath before
responding to insult. Silence is the taste of grace.
The Eucharist brings us the larger vision
with intuition and the other day a priest mentioned how after distributing the
Host one day he suddenly found himself looking down on the pews as if from the
ceiling. He was no longer on the ground. He was elevated! He actually saw
things from above. When the Host is elevated, so is our vision.
It is wisdom.
An opposite of wisdom is control: trying to
manipulate, which also brings myopia (as does any obsession).
Scientists go to a tree and try to
figure it out instead of simply asking for understanding from the One Who created
it. A window in an ivy tower may be obscured by ivy.
Fear of eternity leads many to
blindness.
The call of life is the call to find the truth in ourselves. Life
is a time to develop and sharpen the feelings, sensitivities, and
sensibilities of Heaven. When we wear spiritual blinders, we
grope in the dark which is often caused by disbelief which leads to fear. When
we fear, we are rooted in a negative. To be negative is to express a denial;
it's characterized by absence (as in "absence of light"). It is to lack
optimism.
For when we do not believe in the supernatural
reality of God we fear what we see as the blackness of death.
We are blind also when we are discouraged.
We are blinded when we are intimidated by the task before us.
We're blinded by jealousy; we're
blinded by pride; we're blinded by lust; we're blinded by greed.
We're blinded by unforgiveness. We're blinded by stress. We're blinded by the
minutiae of the world (including, often, politics). We're blinded by any sin which brings
the Prince of Darkness.
And so it is that our times are ones of
great spiritual myopia.
We know this because it causes shock when a priest suggests
that the shooter in Colorado was influenced by Satan (as he was) or a politician in
Romania declares that a lewd singer/dancer is a disciple of the devil (despite
all evidence that such is in fact the case).
See what is true and declare it.
The eyes open with prayer, fasting, and
taking one day (or, as a viewer has noted, one step) at a time.
"Thank you so much for the lesson on the joys of weariness,"
wrote Rory Page of Clinton, Montana. "I
learned one of my most profound lessons when we visited Yellowstone National Park
three weeks after having gall bladder surgery (which came after a week in the
hospital to calm down my pancreas). I was doing much better but was still weak
but we wanted to go to the bottom of the lower falls. To get there you have to
walk down 375 stairs. Well, going down was nothing! But, as we got ready to
head back up the stairs, I got to the bottom and looked up; I had an absolute
panic attack and tried to think of how difficult it was going to be to have
someone carry me back up -- an embarrassing rescue. However, I caught my
breath and tried to calm myself. It was then that it came to me that I only
had to take one step at a time. That I didn't have to see the 300-plus steps
still in front of me but only see the next one I had to take. I knew that I
could stop and take a rest -- even sit down if I had to. So, off I went;
head down, one step at a time. It was one of the best lessons I ever
learned and I have definitely applied it to other situations that seem
impossible. Thank you for reminding me of my weariness and how blessed
we are when it comes" (and is overcome).
Resources: Spiritdaily