Slow Down ...

Earlier in the day, I passed on a Thomas Merton quote that appeared as the quote of the day on gratefulness.org

"We must slow down to a human tempo 

and we'll begin to have time to listen."

An hour or so later, I received a terrific email from one of my spiritual mentors, Father Alexei at Georgetown.  Father Alexei related a great story that I want to share ...

In the deep jungles of Africa, a traveler was making a long trek.  Coolies had been engaged from a tribe to carry the loads.  The first day they marched rapidly and went far.  the traveler had high hopes of a speedy journey.  But the second morning, these jungle tribesmen refused to move.  For some strange reason, they just sat and rested.

 On inquiry as to the reason for this strange behavior, the traveler was informed that they had gone too fast the first day, and that they were now waiting for their souls to catch up with their bodies.

Loyalty

In the past 12 months, I’ve done a lot of contemplative reading that has enabled me to rearrange my brain in what I perceive is a good way.  My reading range from Thomas Merton to Zen to Native American stories [rarely written, always told and ‘related], and I’ve become attentive to minimalism and am trying to make it a part of my life.  As I told one of my friends recently, I’ve concluded that our sole objective in life is to live it as best we can in accordance with God’s will.  I believe that if we do, we will be fulfilled, which, in turn means we lead happy and productive lives.  Father Tom Rosica enriched my thought in his Zenit “Word Made Flesh” essay this morning on the Loyalty of God’s Son.  His thought is something I will contemplate and consider until I get it right.  Father Rosica writes,

“Reflect on your own sense of loyalty this week. Unless you find some sort of loyalty, you cannot find unity and peace in our active living. True loyalty is a positive, wholehearted devotion to those things beyond our own selfish private selves. It is much bigger than we are and no one can be really successful or happy if he lives only for himself. How loyal are you?

“Here is a simple test: Make a list of the simple things in which nearly everyone believes -- family, community, church, country and employer. Ask yourself if since making this list you have so lived that these five things are stronger, better, finer, because of you. If you can answer "yes" truthfully, you know that you understand the full meaning of loyalty -- and, incidentally, the secret of true happiness. It is also the road to holiness.”