Confession 101

September 2010
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
« Oct
	1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30

A Good Confession begins with Questions

I think the secret to getting more out of the sacrament of confession… is taking the time to ask yourself important questions. Every conversion point begins with a question.

Is this all there is?
Should I be doing something different with my life?
Am I being as good a Christian as I can be?
How can I be better?

I like asking myself questions like these. Don’t usually come up with good answers … but its a sort of bold way to wake me up and get me into a deeper level of living a spiritual life.

I always remember one conversion point I had long before I entered the monastery… long, long before… must of been right after after Noah landed the ark on dry land - anyway I took a walk in the woods during a retreat. I was supposed to be examining my life to see what I was about…. I started to panic because for the life of me I could not come up with a good answer and I was supposed to say something during the group session…and I was just totally blank. I walked.. I sat down for two seconds on a log here and there ..but couldn’t sit still and jumped up and started walking again. Walking, walking, walking…. and not lazy walking either .. this was serious.. thinking walking.. only there wasn’t any thinking coming forth. Finally - it hit me. What my life was about at that time.

It was called “running away.” I was running away from everything. At that time I was into drugs and all sorts of things…running away things that kept me from looking too much within.

The answer was like the bright sun breaking through the clouds.

Somehow - being able to put a “label” on where one is at in life… .is so transforming. It’s like, yes. now I can deal with this. … and I can look at my life with better understanding. I can deal with it… once I just figure it out!

I didn’t quit drugs actually for another year or so… but that moment has always stayed in my life as a very transforming moment.

I think if I could encourage anyone to do anything.. I would say… ask yourself questions. Maybe not every day - but often. The same questions or new ones… the answers will always be different.. but the experience of looking at your life for answers - opening yourself to God for HIS answers…. is totally, totally life changing.

What is God saying to me today? What does God want for me? Do I believe God loves me? If not, why not. If yes, how much do I believe and accept his love in my life? How much do I really trust God?

No one needs to know the answers but you… but you will be empowered… always.. when you ask yourself questions and take time to let them germinate and grow and grow in your thinking.. one day the answers will finally come.

Posted: September 29th, 2007 under Daily Spiritual Check IN.
Comments: 13

Comments

Comment from Maristelle Binsfeld
Time: September 29, 2007, 2:45 pm

WOW! Thank You for your honesty. I like how your body was showing you the answer “running away”. That is how I spent 50 years of my life. I still do “run away” sometimes but I try to face life every day. On the days I make it to daily Mass I ask God to show me where He wants/needs me to be. I have been amazed at the results: so not like me to “get involved”. But I found out that God wants to work through me just as He wants to work through each and every one.

Running away is easy but it is not living. There can be no joy or true intimacy with any one, even ourselves, if we don’t stay and face life.

Thank you for your good work. By the way, I loved the book “101 Inspirational Stories of Reconciliation.” I use the workbook every month; it is a whole new experience in Reconciliation.

Comment from Sr Pat
Time: September 30, 2007, 2:19 am

Thanks Maristelle. Yes, I think I still do run away on some things. Like playing a quick game of spider solitaire before starting writing my JoyNotes …. or ? At least now I think I have it more in control.

I also agree with you about asking God for direction for the day. I try to do that every day.. but amazing how many times I just simply forget. So I’ve made the intention for God and the Blessed Mother to just take over and don’t rely on my faulty memory system.. still it seems to have more personal effect when I make the conscious attempt to put the day totally in God’s hands.

Thanks for sharing!
Sr. Pat

Trackback from Kylie BattName
Time: April 11, 2010, 8:35 pm

???????????? ??? ??????…

?????????? ?????????? (?????????? ????) I think the secret to getting more out of the sacrament of confession… is taking the time to ask yourself import…

Trackback from Kylie Batt
Time: May 4, 2010, 12:36 am

?????, ????? ?????…, ????????????? ?????…

???????? ?? ???????????, ???????? ?? ?????? ? ????????? Is this all there is?
Should I be doing something different with my life?
Am I being as good a …

Trackback from THOMAS
Time: July 20, 2010, 8:24 pm

< blockquote >< a href=”http://medicamentspot.com/”>MedicamentSpot.com. Canadian Health&Care.Best quality drugs.No prescription online pharmacy.Special Internet Prices. Low price drugs. Order pills online< /a >…

Buy:Prednisolone.Human Growth Hormone.Lumigan.100% Pure Okinawan Coral Calcium.Zovirax.Zyban.Accutane.Actos.Petcam (Metacam) Oral Suspension.Mega Hoodia.Nexium.Arimidex.Prevacid.Retin-A.Valtrex.Synthroid….

Trackback from au capsules Capsules/
Time: August 29, 2010, 7:11 am

r\x3dh http://01DODGEPARTS.US/tag/r\x3dh : r\x3dh…

au capsules Capsules/…

Trackback from joe\x27s
Time: August 29, 2010, 7:32 am

trader http://AUTOTECHGUIDE.INFO/tag/trader joe\x27s : trader…

wasabi Recipe/…

Trackback from Burners
Time: August 29, 2010, 10:13 am

vs http://cjensenh2xyoit.ALLSTOCKSPORT.INFO/tag/vs natural gas Burners Propane/ : vs…

Propane…

Trackback from activity
Time: August 29, 2010, 10:33 am

actifry http://ktefalhnt.ANTIQUEFURNINISHING.INFO/tag/activity+tefal+actifry/ : actifry…

actifry…