Lenten Thoughts ...

... from Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade:

Holiness is produced in us by the will of God and our acceptance of it.  It is not produced by intellectual speculation about it.  If we are thirsty we must have a drink and not worry about books which explain what thirst is.  If we waste time seeking an explanation about thirst, all that will happen is that we shall get thirstier.  It is the same when we thirst after holiness.  The desire to know more about it will only drive it further away.  We must put all speculation aside and, with childlike willingness, accept all that God presents to us.  What God arranges for us to experience at each moment is the best and holiest thing that could happen to us.                                Chap 1: 4

Hmmm ... "speculation aside" ... "childlike
willingness"  .. I'm not so good at that.  What would you suggest?

Yet another reason why I homeschool ...

2011 by MCG

 The interesting thing I've found over my past 10 years of homeschooling is the simple fact that I'm learning right alongside the kids ... whether it's learning things I have forgotten or things I never knew, the fascinating thing is that I'm always learning from my kids as well as while I'm teaching them.

God, in His infinite wisdom, gave each of us a brain that is a great and glorious thing ... but like any muscle in our body, it needs to be exercised. 

How are you exercising your brain today?

Philosophy: Rule of Six revisited!

Back in 2006, I hosted a blog carnival of folks' ideas on a Rule of 6 ... a guide to six things that need to be included everyday in our homes ... a guide to prioritizing our days ... a way to ensure that we nurture the soul as well as the mind.

Although I've changed the logo a bit since 2006 .... the list is still unchanged.

What is your "rule of six"?  And has it changed over the past four years?

My Thinking Spot ...

St. Peter Canisius (1521-1597)

Today's "Reflections from the Saints" on myCatholic.com (which is the BEST homepage I've used yet!), is a quote from Jesuit St. Peter Canisius ...

If you have too much to do, with God's help you will find time to do it all.

Now this is all well and good as long as what I'm doing is the GOOD!  I tend to "have too much to do" because I get caught up in the minutiae of daily living rather than focusing on the big picture of getting me and mine to Heaven! 

I've been thinking about this alot lately.  Maybe it's because I recently had a birthday ... not a momentous, earth-shattering day (like turning 50 or something), but still a time to look back, reflect and fix what ain't workin'. I've realized just how much of my time is spent in the minutiae ... in the self-serving ... in the muck and mire! 

For instance:  I just recently reactivated my Facebook account as I realize that it is a great way to connect with those far and wide ... friends in Austria ... or Rome ... or Australia ... or even here in the States.  A chance to see and read what we're all doing.  This is all good stuff ...

BUT ...

I spent over an hour this morning just trying to work my way around and trying to add things to my Facebook "profile".  I searched out friends ... and acquaintances ... and fun games to play ... but this is not what I SHOULD have been doing. 

Facebook can be a major time-waster; so too, many of my other online activities.  They are good things, but can lead to overindulgence ... self serving  ... one-upmanish in which I really shouldn't be participating. 

The solution? 

Who knows? 

Cutting back on my online time ... obviously.  Being aware of the "danger signals" and keeping all in perspective ... duh!  Letting the internet and online activities set the schedule for my day ... NO!

So, what have I learned over the last month or so of meditating on all this?

If I have too much to do ... activities that are the good, the true and the beautiful ... with God's help, I will find the time to do it all.  All the other stuff ... too bad! God shows us the way ... it's just that sometimes He has to hit me upside the head to get my attention.

Can I be self-disciplined enough to make a change.  Can I separate the online wheat from the proverbial chaff?  Am I making sense or am I being too Quixotic?