Jesus,
Fill us with your most Holy Spirit, and release His life and power in our lives, that He may teach us, lead us, and work through us, bringing the fruits of your presence, peace, and joy, to us and those around us. As God's child I can confidently say: "Thank You!"
little john 13 July 1991
as a little child
Approaching the close of the twentieth century, we see a world torn by strife and filled with restlessness and disorder. Self-seeking and callousness of heart are becoming the mainstays to blocking out the shallowness and emptiness felt deep in the fibers of the human heart. Self-acclaimed sophisticates pose to proclaim as beacons the highways to be traveled in lieu of the premeditated destruction of values that have led the world for twenty centuries. Further hunger in spirit, mind and body ferments as the "wine of new liberties and freedoms" are promoted with their increased rebellion, violence and degradation of the worth of human life. Ironically, the worse matters become the more adamantly intense are the new banners praised as "salvation and secrets to happiness".
And so we see modern man acting like a little child who in his perverse stubbornness refuses to hear his Father's advice, guidance and commands. He persists in what he "thinks" is his best. Man today belligerently refuses to acknowledge that he does not "know it all" and creates a self-imposed bondage of error based on his limited vision and power. The ever apparent reality is to see man acting like a three year old brat in his relationship to his Father. He is trying to deny his actual relationship and doing his darndest to purport as being equal or better than his loving, providing Father. He would rather experience the pain of his behavior unrelentingly so as to avoid admitting who he really is - than acknowledge, be forgiven and filled with the peace, joy, and security of being who he is - his loving Father's child.
The world hungers to be loved and experience peace and happiness in mind, heart, and spirit. In its limited wisdom and thus blindness, it proudly refuses to admit that this experience is not found in the misguided paths of the intellectually sophisticated "adults", but in the childlike relationship to a loving Father who has already flawlessly marked out the sure path here and into eternity with Him. Mankind today, however, does not want to be labeled as children of anyone, but their "own person" to do what they want. And so the woes continue to worsen. In reality, they divorce their loving Father and have chosen another who is a liar.
Why then did Jesus Christ, in the Gospel of Mark, say: "Let the children come to me and do not hinder them. It is to just as such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I assure you that whoever does not accept the reign of God like a little child shall not take part of it." Was it not to point out and enlighten us as to what our real relationship is and to indicate what our attitudes and behavior should reflect, and the fruits that this brings? Instead of being a humbling put-down, our humble understanding and putting into practice opens the floodgates and blessings beyond anything we can imagine.
Looking deep into our hearts and experience, who do we define as a child? A child knows he is dependent. He does not have to analytically or logically spell it out. It is a fact of his existence and no shame. Even though at times he would like to think otherwise, he knows that he does not know everything and who to turn to to receive realized help. A child knows that he cannot safeguard himself, and once again, he knows where to turn to be strengthened and given a continued sense of security. A child peacefully and simply experiences and expects to be provided for, even if so often he takes it for granted. In moments of fear, pain or confusion, the child knows where to turn for protection and answers. A child accepts and believes the one who trains him, although he may not understand still having questions because he knows so little. He will see and often confirm only later as he experiences the wisdom upon which the decisions of his training were based. A child can err and yet experience forgiveness without jeopardizing the position of continued membership in the family as child, thus maintaining a sense of security, self-worth and peace of heart. A child can grow and mature with a deepening richness and understanding of who he is and a sense of wholesome pride-his father's child. A child is heir and entitled to the legacy as gift, not earned, simply because he is and has lived as part of the family. And so, he can and does accept the reign of his father and its blessings. It is not a stumbling block or burdensome unless he makes it so himself.
Thus, Jesus says to all his brothers and sisters the words from His Father, Abba: " 'Let my children come to me and do not hinder them!' My Father's children, Abba-child, know their dependence and do not see it as shame. It is their strength and not their weakness. They know their limitations better and where to turn for continued help. They know their protection and security from harm lies in trusting themselves to His love and care. They know that when they hurt or sin, they have but to sincerely turn back to be healed and corrected in true love. They know that even though they do not understand right now, in time all will be known, and that He who calls for their faith is trustworthy. They know that by the power of His love, they are never forever separated from Him and His family unless they stubbornly rebel and pull away. Even then, He pursues to reconcile. As they mature in His life, the riches, beauty and power of His love will evermore deeply manifest the limitlessness of who their Father is. And in the end, knowing Him to be true to His word, they will inherit as a fee gift the eternal life begun, sustained and empowered by His infinite grace, Spirit, and love if only they respond."
Our Father God created us. We are His children. He calls us to service to extend His kingdom and draw others to Him. He sent His only Son, Jesus, our brother, to reveal His love, to teach us His love. In an obedient response to ransom us, paying our debts, His sacrifice by dying nailed to a tree lifted up for all to see brought us life and adoption. He sent us His Spirit to empower us to share the Good News. It is truly blest to be and live as a child of God. The jeering shame by the children of this age will eventually be revealed as falsity as their blindness and perverseness is seen for what it really is as God's children rise unto the honor and glory of God forever.
Children of God, whatever your age, shame not in who you are. Let not the ridicule, persecution and sufferings experienced as you respond and live out your adoption and call be a hindrance. Repent where you have faltered and receive your Father's love and Spirit. Draw close to and follow the example of your brother, Jesus, who shows you how to be and live as God's child. In the witness of your lives, reach out to those whom your Father wants also to call unto Himself into His family, but who have lost heir way. Come to Him in the Spirit He empowers in us - as His little child, Abba-child.
little john 5/27/85
BROKENNESS: THE JOURNEY'S BEGINNING
11 March 2006
Curt,
I had just finished my Masters in Guidance and Counseling at NIU in August 1971. I had started the program thinking that by this pursuit in science, I would/could find the knowledge and answers, thus finding "inner peace". In reality, it did not happen. In September, realizing the depth of emptiness and questions that still existed, and the pain in spirit, mind and body, the following words came in the form below because I could not express it in prose.
Today, I can really say from another vantage point, "surprise, surprise", and be thankful for a gift. On Monday night, 4 August 1975, 11:00pm at the Holy Angels Church basement at the conclusion of the 5th week's class of the Life in the Spirit seminars, I was prayed over at the Spirit-gifted inspiration of Jan Kalita. I owe a thank you for the prayers to someone(s) along the way, because I received the grace to say from the heart, "God, if you still exist, I would like to get to know you??? He said "YES", for the next day His answer was unmistakable, never to be forgotten. The title for these words from the heart in 1971, crying out from where I was at then, came to me today (3/11/06) as I was returning from Mass at Marmion Abbey - BROKENNESS: THE JOURNEY'S BEGINNING.
"I yearn for something, I know not yet." was answered almost thirty-one years ago now. It has been my responsibility to learn to try and say "yes" in return to His, asking for His forgiveness at lived moments and then also to His representative, His priest, in the sacrament of forgiveness/of Reconciliation/of Confession. What a God!!! What He does for us to save us, forgive us , heal us, love us and make us whole - we, His children by graced adoption, Jesus' brothers and sisters now, family!!! Thank you, my Lord and my God!!!
"little john"
BROKENNESS:
THE JOURNEY'S BEGINNING
To be the now
Existential me,
Emanating and not just
Reverberating.
To overflow rather than
Be filled.
To reveal rather than
Reflect.
One is diamond-gold,
The other is lead.
Painfully growing,
Not placidly spoon-fed.
I yearn for something,
I know not yet.
J.R.T.
Sept. 1971
Meant to Be!
Refrain: There's a time for everybody,
To be who you are meant to be.
Just look deep inside you
And you will see.
1. In the heart of every person,
He feels the beck and call.
He knows that he's supposed to
Give it his all.
2. It's hard to follow.
It's hard to reply.
It's hard to be faithful,
But you must do or die.
3. For the person you're called to,
To be at peace,
Will never stop calling,
no, it will never cease.
4. When you're true to who you're called to,
You'll know deep inside.
For you will be that person
With a peaceful sense of pride.
5. And that's a lifelong story
That's inside at work or play.
So look deep inside you
And you will find the way.
"little john" 20 May 84
"little john"
In the name of Jesus,