Tag: Wisdom

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Minute Meditation – Probe for Inner Wisdom

We are told that in the beginning there was light. Ever since, all of God’s creation—plants, animals, we humans—are drawn to light. As we emerged from our mothers’ wombs and pushed our way through a dark and confining birth canal, we experienced light for the very first time. We have come to learn how light sustains us and calls us to life. We call Jesus “Light of the World,” and he invites us to be light for one another in ways of loving, caring, and serving. Without this light, ours would be a dark, fearful, oppressive journey. 

Move from contemplation to action and probe for inner wisdom. What kind of light do others see in you? Do you have enough light to see your way? How do you fill the oil in your lamp? Who needs you today to bring a bit of sunshine into their life? As you generously share your light, give thanks and praise in knowing and treasuring all that is gift. 

— from the book Eucharistic Adoration: Reflections in the Franciscan Tradition 
by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

//Franciscan Media//

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Minute Meditation – True Spiritual Wisdom

Only when inner and outer authority come together do we have true spiritual wisdom. We have for too long insisted on outer authority alone, without any teaching of prayer, inner journey, and maturing consciousness. The results for the world and for religion have been disastrous. I am increasingly convinced that the word prayer, which has become a functional and pious thing for believers to do, is, in fact, a descriptor for inner experience. That is why all spiritual teachers mandate prayer so much. They are saying, “Go inside and know for yourself!” We will understand prayer and inner experience this way throughout this book. As Jesus graphically puts it, prayer is “going to your private room and shutting the door and [acting] in secret” (Matthew 6:6). Once you hear it this way, it becomes pretty obvious.

—from the book Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality
by Richard Rohr, page xv

Posted on

Minute Meditation – True Spiritual Wisdom

Only when inner and outer authority come together do we have true spiritual wisdom. We have for too long insisted on outer authority alone, without any teaching of prayer, inner journey, and maturing consciousness. The results for the world and for religion have been disastrous. I am increasingly convinced that the word prayer, which has become a functional and pious thing for believers to do, is, in fact, a descriptor for inner experience. That is why all spiritual teachers mandate prayer so much. They are saying, “Go inside and know for yourself!” We will understand prayer and inner experience this way throughout this book. As Jesus graphically puts it, prayer is “going to your private room and shutting the door and [acting] in secret” (Matthew 6:6). Once you hear it this way, it becomes pretty obvious.

— from the book Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality by Richard Rohr, page xv

//Franciscan Media//

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60 Second Wisdom: The 4 “isms” That Are Ruining Your Life, And How to Break Free – Matthew Kelly

“Philosophy” means lover of wisdom. Are you a lover of wisdom? Do you believe the more wisdom you have the happier and more fulfilling your life will be? Most people don’t, and that’s why the ISMS rise up in every place and time and destroy people’s loves.

The four practical philosophies ruling our age are:
Individualism. What’s in it for me?
Hedonism. If it feels good, do it.
Minimalism. What is the least I can do?
Materialism. Materials possessions are more important than character and values.

Every day you make hundreds of decisions. Are you trying to make wise choices or are you wrapped up in the ISMS of our age? Do you have a process for making decisions or are you just doing the best you can in each situation?

Let me share with you a way that will help you start making better decisions right now, today. Whatever the decision, just ask yourself: What will help me and others become the-best-versions-of-ourselves?”

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60 Second Wisdom: 3 Questions That Put Everything Into Perspective

We all lose perspective on life from time to time. When that happens, it’s important to step back from who we are, where we are, and what we are doing, and take another look. Here are three questions to help you do that:

3 Questions that Put Everything in Perspective – Matthew Kelly

1. You get a call from an attorney tomorrow who tells you about a relative you never knew you had who has died and left you $100 billion dollars. If you knew you would never have to worry about money, what would you do with the rest of your life and what would you do with the money?

2. You go to the doctor tomorrow, she does some tests, comes back and says, “I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is you are going to feel perfectly healthy until the moment you die. The bad news is five years from today you are going to die.” If you knew you only had five years to live, what would do over the next five years?

3. Now question three sounds a lot like question number two, but it’s different. You go to the doctor tomorrow, he does some tests, comes back and says, “I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is you are going to feel perfectly healthy until the moment you die. The bad news is, you are going to die right now.” If you died right now, what would you never get to do that’s important to you?

Most people spend more time thinking about their annual vacation than they do thinking about their life. When was the last time you sat down and really thought about the life you want? It is too easy to let another week, month, year slip by without really thinking about it. It‘s too easy to just let life happen to us. You don’t have to settle for the life you stumbled into.”