Spiritual Thoughts

The other night, each member of the family had a dream which involved a fateful wreck or driving mishap. A result of something we ate for dinner or something more? I don’t know… but it gave me cause for reflection for the rest of the day.

My husband’s dream involved driving the car on a snowy day, losing control and as it spun around, he exclaimed how fortunate it is we have air bags! Facing oncoming traffic, he woke up as they collided head on. Our son (10 years old) dreamed he was arrested for exceeding the speed limit in his car, and went to jail. Our daughter’s dream involved drowning in a shipwreck. My dream was a bit different… I walked everywhere, instead of driving, although everyone was in cars around me. Then I was standing on a hill, observing traffic below, and watched as a lady crashed her car. As she backed out of the ditch, disoriented, she drove the wrong way down the road, and it seemed inevitable she would encounter another collision. I commented then to a friend next to me: “I know exactly how she feels. I crashed once in exactly the same place, and it was so upsetting, I too got back on the highway and didn’t even realize I was going the wrong way until later…”

As I think upon all of this, I wonder if it is related to the “change of direction” our president is so proud of promising, and which it seems the world is already reflecting in its current state of political and financial chaos. Not to mention the moral spiral downwards in a country that freely chose a president who supports abortion and other issues directly opposed to the law of God.

Reflecting upon all of this, I cannot help but think our future holds even greater, abrupt changes of direction. If we are not prepared individually, we will crash into the depths of despair. Are we ready or will we drown? Will we speed past the signs until it is too late? If we do crash, are we protected? Are we orienting ourselves in the ways of God, are we familiar with His path, so we don’t get lost in the sudden chaos? His path is the path to Calvary. Are we ready to climb it?  I do not mean ready in a physical way so much, by stocking the basement with water and canned goods, generators and flashlights… I am speaking spiritually. 

When we lose our accustomed way of life, we are stressed, and unexpected emotions surface in ourselves and others. Pray to recognize it as a Godsend when it happens, because He is about to point out those hidden diseases of the soul that keep us from health and Him. Let us not despair over our illness, but practice the virtues of humility, of patience, of love that they force us to grow in, and all will be well.

I know many already whose financial situations have changed drastically in recent months, ourselves included… and there can be fear in what the future holds. Where there is fear, there is distrust of God, and His loving Providence, and this opens the door to more problems. Loss of sleep at night, anger at the former boss who fired you instead of that other guy.  Impatience with the wife who had to have that new car, and now the bills are insupportable… then the wife is angry in return because you are a bear to live with now, the children feel the tension and scream at one another, and so you scream back, and so it goes… Are we ready?

Even if we think we are emotionally prepared ourselves, are we ready to be around others who aren’t? Are we ready to love and forgive them as they blame us for their hurts? A few years ago this happened to me.  It was the most emotionally crippling thing I have ever encountered. I did not realize how much I was held up by the esteem of others, until it was taken away!  

Are we ready to leave our things and travel across the desert to Egypt, confident that God will care for us as He did the Holy Family? Do we have Mary and Joseph’s trust and resignation to the will of God in all things? Are we prepared to put away the excess baggage of life, the cell phones, the extra car, the internet, the hair dresser, those things we are so attached to but really don’t need? Can we put them down with a smile and find peace in our hearts without them?  Can we patiently accept those around us who feel this loss more deeply and express it through anger and perhaps seek solace in things they shouldn’t? Will we absorb their lack of peace, or can we share the peace of Christ with them?

Yes, through the grace of God, we will find Christ in this Cross, and possess greater peace than ever!  Trust in Our Lord, who loves us with a greater love than we can imagine. Trust in His promise to provide for us as He does the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. And remember, even if the manner in which we are provided for does not meet our expectations, it is always for our good. I cannot help but remember St. Joan of Arc, who was burned at the stake, a seemingly terrible end for one who had rescued her king and country! Even she was disheartened and confused a bit when in captivity, having been reassured from above that all would end well.  And it did, from a heavenly standpoint… it was a glorious offering of her life which I am sure obtained many graces for her and her country… though it was a terrible trial and a seeming defeat at the time.

Finally, remember what Our Mother told St. Bernadette “I do not promise to make you happy in this life, but in the next…” and that remembrance should give us great happiness!