The following is an Embeddable Blog Spreadsheet to show the personal development of my own understanding of the Universal Three-fold 'CALL' for Freedom-Unity-Integrity, and their SOURCE. The Three-fold 'CALL' expresses the Universal 'Essence' of the three traditional vows of Religious life, Poverty-Chastity-Obedience, which have basically been 'limited' to Monastic, Communal, Ministerial life. However, the 'good news' is that this Three-fold 'CALL', indeed, is to 'ALL' PEOPLES of this World no matter one's life 'state' or 'style'. The Universality of the Three-fold 'Call' for FREEDOM-UNITY-INTEGRITY, the essential meaning of the vows of Poverty-Chastity-Obedience, does not in any way minimize the value and validity of a genuine calling to traditional forms of Relious, Communal/Monastic life.
This spreadsheet is designed to show the 'over-view' relationship of each of the three 'CALL', ASPECTS with each other for FREEDOM (first, right hand column); for UNITY (second, middle column); and for INTEGRIY, (third, left hand column). Read, ACROSS, each line. Also, varying parallel aspects of each individual 'Call' relative to our SOURCE can be viewed by reading DOWN each column.
The Three-fold 'CALL' for FREEDOM-UNITY-INTEGRITY, respectively, touches the 'heart' of our Universally experienced human struggles with, Greed-Control-Fear, the antithesis of LOVE/PEACE which All PEOPLES are 'CALLED' to 'be' in relationship with one another.
May I invite you to both read across each of the lines in the Developmental Chart below, and, also, read down each column. The first column down on the left refers to the 'CALL' for, FREEDOM; the second column in the center refers to the 'CALL' for, Unity; and, the third column on the right refers to the 'CALL' for, Integrity.
Below this Chart will be three summary statements of my understanding of key, 'practical elements’, of each of the three traditional vows for poverty-chastity-obedience. Following each one, will be a summary statement of my understanding of the essential Universal meaning of each paralleled 'Apect' of the Three-fold 'CALL' for FREEDOM-UNITY-INTEGRITY. These latter summary statements were formulated by collating the terms used under each column:
Poverty – ‘Poverty of spirit’ opens the door to, 'FREEDOM', for selfless giving . . . for enablling and encouraging one another in our respective services . . . to get in touch with the gifts, talents, and personal mission our SOURCE has given to each of us . . . to encourage the development of others’ gifts, talents, and personal missions . . . to change what 'can be' changed, for our and other's wellbeing; and, to assist one another in finding ‘where’ we can each use our gifts and talents in service of all Peoples of the World.
FREEDOM: Left column, DOWN, collation: Through responsiveness to God’s ‘Call’, as Creator, to ‘Let My People Go’, we know true ‘Freedom’. By recognizing and receiving the ‘Life-giving’ Gift of ‘generous availability’, as good ‘stewards’, and, by being a selfless-presence for one another, we are enabled to ‘live justly’ in The Divine ‘Light’. Ever striving to be ‘poor in spirit’, ours is the, ‘Kin-dom (Reign) of Heaven’. (In a retreat conference the presenter used the term, ‘Kin-dom, to emphasize the, ‘we’, of all Peoples
instead of the, here 'I' am, and, then there are,'those others', theology.)
Chastity – ‘Singleness of heart’ opens the door to Unity, to be all embracing . . . for enabling and encouraging one another with a supportive, affirming love for one another . . . to get in touch with every aspect of what it means to, ‘love God and our neighbor as ourselves’ . . . to supportively help one another to accept what cannot be changed in life's disasters and hardships; and, to be always ready and willing to love with ‘no greater love than this, than to lay down our lives’ for one another.
UNITY: Middle column, DOWN, collation: Through responsiveness to God’s ‘Call’, as Redeemer, to ‘Be one as They are One’, we know true ‘Unity’. By recognizing and receiving the ‘Transforming-Gift’ of ‘all-embracing’, unconditional 'other- centeredness’, and by being supportive-presence for one another, we are enabled to ‘love tenderly’ in/with our LOVE-SOURCE, our ‘Way’. Ever striving to be ‘single of heart’, we ‘can see God’ in our neighbor.
Obedience – ‘Hunger and thirst for holiness’ opens the door to Integrity, to wholeness and holiness . . . for enabling and encouraging one another to reverently 'listen' as well as to be reverently 'heard' . . . to get in touch with God’s Perfect Plan for each of us . . . to 'discern' together the 'Wisdom' to know the difference of what is to be 'changed' and what is to be 'embraced' . . . to ‘hear’ God’s Word in our hearts through prayer, Scriptures, one another; and, to recognize God’s Voice in all aspects of daily life.
INTEGRITY: Right column, DOWN, collation: Through responsiveness to GOD'S ‘Call’, as Sanctifier, to ‘be holy as God is Holy’ -- to ‘be whole as our CREATOR is WHOLE’, we know true ‘Integrity’. By recognizing and receiving the ‘Purifying-Gift’ of ‘quiet readiness’*, and 'open listening', by being prophetic-presence for one another, we are enabled to ‘walk humbly with GOD’, our ‘FULFILLMENT’. Ever striving to be ‘hungry and thirsty for holiness’, we ‘will be satisfied’. (*‘Quiet readiness’: ‘ego surrendering stillness’ to really ‘hear’ GOD'S internal 'VOICE'.)
NOTE: The lived ‘spirit’ (Beatitudes) of each of the three traditional vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience moves us from ‘exclusivity’ (only for ‘religious’ nuns, priests, sisters, brothers and a ‘few’ lay persons) to a Universal Three-fold 'CALL' to 'ALL' Peoples, for FREEDOM-UNITY-INTEGRITY . . .
Monday, March 1, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
11. LENTEN 3-FOLD 'CALL' PEACE STATIONS
A Meditation For Our Hearts . . .
The following Stations of the Cross for PEACE were inspired by a booklet that was written by Fr. Gilbert Barth, TOR. The booklet title may have been: "Stations for Peace"? I contacted his community to ask if they had any more of these booklets. But, the title and author were not currently recognized. I have not been able to locate the very old copy that, many years ago, served this personal meditation, in order to give proper 'credits'. I remember that Fr. Barth incorporated Scripture and St. Francis of Assisi's Prayer for Peace in his own meditation. Keeping the end goal in mind of personal 'inner' PEACE as well as World-Wide PEACE, for each Station, I felt lead to meditate specifically on daily applications for God's Threefold 'Call'. Because, only, 'to the degree' that we each strive to embrace and integrate into our lives the deepest meaning of, FREEDOM-UNITY-INTEGRITY, will God's Dream for PEACE, through JUSTICE for ALL, be fulfilled.
May we be strengthened by the example of all of God’s committed, consecrated persons who have gone before us, as was Martin Luther King. Together with all those who work for PEACE in our time, let us pray:
‘Freedom at last!' . . . Let us now ever seek 'Unity' for this common purpose of striving toward the fulfillment of God’s Dream, Peace through Justice, that
'Integrity' may be sought and found by all of God’s People throughout the whole World. Amen!
1. DISCOURSE AT THE LAST SUPPER
Lord, make us instruments of Your Peace.
Let us free our fearful hearts through Your Word.
Let us unite our troubled hearts through Your Presence.
Let us integrate our scattered hearts through Your Peace.
"Peace is My gift to you; . . . not as the world gives peace . . ." (John 14:1, 27-28; 16:32-33)
2. THE GIFT OF EUCHARIST
Where there is hatred, let us sow love.
Let us free our hateful hearts in love.
Let us unite our angry hearts in Eucharist.
Let us integrate our resentful hearts in wholeness.
He said, "this is My body . . . this is My blood . . ." (Matthew 26:26-30)
3. THE AGONY IN GARDEN
Where there is doubt, let us bring faith.
Let us free our busy hearts to be prayerful.
Let us unite our hesitant hearts to experience trust.
Let us integrate our doubtful hearts to know faith.
"My heart is nearly broken with sorrow. Remain here and stay awake with me." (Matthew 26:36-39; Luke 22:43)
4. JESUS IS TAKEN CAPTIVE
Where there is injury, let us bring pardon.
Let us free our betrayed hearts with Christ's Kiss of Peace.
Let us unite our unpardoned hearts with Christ’s Infinite Clemency.
Let us integrate our wounded hearts with Christ’s Anointed Healing.
"Lord, shall we use the sword?" . . . Jesus said in answer . . . "Enough!"
(Luke 22:47-51)
5. JESUS IS BLINDFOLDED AND MOCKED
Where there is darkness, let us bring light.
Let us free our blinded hearts to recognize Christ's Heart.
Let us unite our insulted hearts to give prophetic witness.
Let us integrate our prideful hearts to live with modest humility.
"They . . . questioned Him . . . and they reviled him . . . saying things against Him." (Luke 22:63-66)
6. JUDAS TAKES HIS LIFE
Where there is despair, let us bring hope.
Let us free our despairing hearts with the hope of mercy.
Let us unite our repentant hearts with the reconciliation of forgiveness.
Let us integrate our remorseful hearts with the goodness of life.
"I did wrong to deliver up an innocent man." . . . "What is that to us? It is your affair!" (Matthew 27:3-5)
7. JESUS IS JUDGED BY PILATE
Grant that we may seek not so much to be understood as to understand.
Let us free our introspected hearts to know self worth for service.
Let us unite our powerless hearts to know timing for words or silence.
Let us integrate our controlling hearts to know understanding for others.
"I have the power to release you and . . . to crucify you . . ." (John 19:9-11)
8. BARABBAS IS PREFERRED TO JESUS
Grant that we may seek not so much to be loved as to love.
Let us free our fickle hearts to become faithful through Christ's Love.
Let us unite our selfish hearts to become altruistic with Christ's Love.
Let us integrate our accusing hearts to become committed in Christ's Love.
"What am I to do with Jesus . . .? (Matthew 27:15-17, 21-23, 26)
9. JESUS IS LED TO GOLGATHA AND CRUCIFIED
It is in giving that we receive.
Let us free our self-serving hearts to give without measure.
Let us unite our self-seeking hearts to give without return.
Let us integrate our self-rewarding hearts to give without glory.
"He saved others; let Him save Himself . . . " (Luke 23:26, 33, 35)
10. MARY IS ENTRUSTED TO THE CARE OF THE BELOVED DISCIPLE
Grant that we may seek not so much to be consoled as to console.
Let us free our disappointed hearts from self-concern to express empathy for others.
Let us unite our suffering hearts with Christ's Passion to express compassion for others.
Let us integrate our unfeeling hearts by transforming Grace to express consolation for others.
" . . . There is your son . . . There is your mother." (John 19:25-27)
11. JESUS PARDONS CRUCIFIERS
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
Let us free our conditional hearts to forgive unconditionally.
Let us unite our hurt hearts to forgive without hesitation.
Let us integrate our judgmental hearts to forgive without questioning.
" . . . forgive them; they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)
12. JESUS GIVES UP SPIRIT
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Let us free our material hearts to embrace Divine Purpose.
Let us unite our closed hearts to open to Divine Eclipse.
Let us integrate our dying hearts to surrender to Divine Life.
" . . . Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit." (Luke 23:44-46)
13. JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE
Where there is sadness, let us bring joy.
Let us free our saddened hearts by acknowledging them as worthy.
Let us unite our joyless hearts by assuring them of meaning.
Let us integrate our weeping hearts by supporting them with purpose.
" . . . why are you weeping?" (John 20:11-16)
14. JESUS APPEARS TO DISCIPLES
Lord, make us instruments of Your peace.
Let us free our locked hearts to welcome in Jesus' Spirit.
Let us unite our disbelieving hearts to recognize our Salvation.
Let us integrate our distressed hearts for the fullness of Christ's Peace.
"Peace be with you." (John 20:19-22)
*We invite all Individuals, Families, Communities, and Nations; all persons of every Lifestyle, Race, Creed, Culture, and Government to embrace this threefold 'Call' for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP, Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc.
The following Stations of the Cross for PEACE were inspired by a booklet that was written by Fr. Gilbert Barth, TOR. The booklet title may have been: "Stations for Peace"? I contacted his community to ask if they had any more of these booklets. But, the title and author were not currently recognized. I have not been able to locate the very old copy that, many years ago, served this personal meditation, in order to give proper 'credits'. I remember that Fr. Barth incorporated Scripture and St. Francis of Assisi's Prayer for Peace in his own meditation. Keeping the end goal in mind of personal 'inner' PEACE as well as World-Wide PEACE, for each Station, I felt lead to meditate specifically on daily applications for God's Threefold 'Call'. Because, only, 'to the degree' that we each strive to embrace and integrate into our lives the deepest meaning of, FREEDOM-UNITY-INTEGRITY, will God's Dream for PEACE, through JUSTICE for ALL, be fulfilled.
May we be strengthened by the example of all of God’s committed, consecrated persons who have gone before us, as was Martin Luther King. Together with all those who work for PEACE in our time, let us pray:
‘Freedom at last!' . . . Let us now ever seek 'Unity' for this common purpose of striving toward the fulfillment of God’s Dream, Peace through Justice, that
'Integrity' may be sought and found by all of God’s People throughout the whole World. Amen!
1. DISCOURSE AT THE LAST SUPPER
Lord, make us instruments of Your Peace.
Let us free our fearful hearts through Your Word.
Let us unite our troubled hearts through Your Presence.
Let us integrate our scattered hearts through Your Peace.
"Peace is My gift to you; . . . not as the world gives peace . . ." (John 14:1, 27-28; 16:32-33)
2. THE GIFT OF EUCHARIST
Where there is hatred, let us sow love.
Let us free our hateful hearts in love.
Let us unite our angry hearts in Eucharist.
Let us integrate our resentful hearts in wholeness.
He said, "this is My body . . . this is My blood . . ." (Matthew 26:26-30)
3. THE AGONY IN GARDEN
Where there is doubt, let us bring faith.
Let us free our busy hearts to be prayerful.
Let us unite our hesitant hearts to experience trust.
Let us integrate our doubtful hearts to know faith.
"My heart is nearly broken with sorrow. Remain here and stay awake with me." (Matthew 26:36-39; Luke 22:43)
4. JESUS IS TAKEN CAPTIVE
Where there is injury, let us bring pardon.
Let us free our betrayed hearts with Christ's Kiss of Peace.
Let us unite our unpardoned hearts with Christ’s Infinite Clemency.
Let us integrate our wounded hearts with Christ’s Anointed Healing.
"Lord, shall we use the sword?" . . . Jesus said in answer . . . "Enough!"
(Luke 22:47-51)
5. JESUS IS BLINDFOLDED AND MOCKED
Where there is darkness, let us bring light.
Let us free our blinded hearts to recognize Christ's Heart.
Let us unite our insulted hearts to give prophetic witness.
Let us integrate our prideful hearts to live with modest humility.
"They . . . questioned Him . . . and they reviled him . . . saying things against Him." (Luke 22:63-66)
6. JUDAS TAKES HIS LIFE
Where there is despair, let us bring hope.
Let us free our despairing hearts with the hope of mercy.
Let us unite our repentant hearts with the reconciliation of forgiveness.
Let us integrate our remorseful hearts with the goodness of life.
"I did wrong to deliver up an innocent man." . . . "What is that to us? It is your affair!" (Matthew 27:3-5)
7. JESUS IS JUDGED BY PILATE
Grant that we may seek not so much to be understood as to understand.
Let us free our introspected hearts to know self worth for service.
Let us unite our powerless hearts to know timing for words or silence.
Let us integrate our controlling hearts to know understanding for others.
"I have the power to release you and . . . to crucify you . . ." (John 19:9-11)
8. BARABBAS IS PREFERRED TO JESUS
Grant that we may seek not so much to be loved as to love.
Let us free our fickle hearts to become faithful through Christ's Love.
Let us unite our selfish hearts to become altruistic with Christ's Love.
Let us integrate our accusing hearts to become committed in Christ's Love.
"What am I to do with Jesus . . .? (Matthew 27:15-17, 21-23, 26)
9. JESUS IS LED TO GOLGATHA AND CRUCIFIED
It is in giving that we receive.
Let us free our self-serving hearts to give without measure.
Let us unite our self-seeking hearts to give without return.
Let us integrate our self-rewarding hearts to give without glory.
"He saved others; let Him save Himself . . . " (Luke 23:26, 33, 35)
10. MARY IS ENTRUSTED TO THE CARE OF THE BELOVED DISCIPLE
Grant that we may seek not so much to be consoled as to console.
Let us free our disappointed hearts from self-concern to express empathy for others.
Let us unite our suffering hearts with Christ's Passion to express compassion for others.
Let us integrate our unfeeling hearts by transforming Grace to express consolation for others.
" . . . There is your son . . . There is your mother." (John 19:25-27)
11. JESUS PARDONS CRUCIFIERS
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
Let us free our conditional hearts to forgive unconditionally.
Let us unite our hurt hearts to forgive without hesitation.
Let us integrate our judgmental hearts to forgive without questioning.
" . . . forgive them; they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)
12. JESUS GIVES UP SPIRIT
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Let us free our material hearts to embrace Divine Purpose.
Let us unite our closed hearts to open to Divine Eclipse.
Let us integrate our dying hearts to surrender to Divine Life.
" . . . Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit." (Luke 23:44-46)
13. JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE
Where there is sadness, let us bring joy.
Let us free our saddened hearts by acknowledging them as worthy.
Let us unite our joyless hearts by assuring them of meaning.
Let us integrate our weeping hearts by supporting them with purpose.
" . . . why are you weeping?" (John 20:11-16)
14. JESUS APPEARS TO DISCIPLES
Lord, make us instruments of Your peace.
Let us free our locked hearts to welcome in Jesus' Spirit.
Let us unite our disbelieving hearts to recognize our Salvation.
Let us integrate our distressed hearts for the fullness of Christ's Peace.
"Peace be with you." (John 20:19-22)
*We invite all Individuals, Families, Communities, and Nations; all persons of every Lifestyle, Race, Creed, Culture, and Government to embrace this threefold 'Call' for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP, Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
10. A COMMUNITY PRAYER
TRINITARIAN INDWELLING SOURCE, Eternally CREATING-REDEEMING-SANCTIFYING, our Most Perfect SOURCE COMMUNITY, together, we are Community in Trinity. . . Trinity in Community. You dwell within the center of each of our hearts; and, You dwell within the heart of our Community. We are sustained, individually and communally within Your Heart-Center.
You have a Dream! This Dream is Your ‘Covenant’ with and for us (Is. 42:6-9; 54:10) Your Covenant is offered to every person, and to all Communities of the World. Your Covenant is for all Nations . . . for all Peoples of all Beliefs. Your Covenant is Peace by our living Justly. Thank you for Communicating Your Dream to us through Your Threefold 'Call' for: Freedom-Unity-Integrity, that we may know how to live, 'justly'.
These three 'Calls' are a Spiritual, ‘Way-of-Life’, for living a ‘Just’ and
‘Consecrated’ life. Our Commitment to Your threefold ‘Call’ enables us to, ‘reach for’, the realization of Your Dream.
BELOVED ETERNAL SOURCE, our CREATOR, Your 'Call' for Freedom is:
"Let my People go!" (Exodus 5:01)
DEVOTED INCARNATE WORD, our REDEEMER, Your 'Call' for Unity is:
“May they be one as We are one, that Your Love for Me may live in them as I live in them.” (John 17:11, 26)
BLESSED HOLY SPIRIT, our SANCTIFIER, Your 'Call' for Integrity is:
"Be holy, for I, your SOURCE, Am Holy." (Leviticus 19:2)
“Be whole, as your SOURCE is Whole." (Matthew 5:48)
Together, let us give thanks and praise:
We thank you, BELOVED SOURCE, our Creator, for Calling us to, 'Freedom'. Let us free & enable one another in Your Service. May we strive to use all of our Spirit-given gifts and personal missions to fruitfully build and re-build in Your Light.
We thank you, DEVOTED REDEEMER, Christ Jesus, for Calling us to, ‘Unity’. Let us unite & enable one another in Your Love. May we strive to selflessly reach out to others; recognize your Presence in each person; and embrace All Peoples in Your Way.
We thank you, BLESSED SANCTIFIER, for Calling us to, 'Integrity'. Let us integrate & enable one another in Your Holiness. May we strive to renew Faith and revitalize Spirituality individually, Communally, and World-wide in Your Fulfillment.
Blessed Trinity, You 'Call' each of us, individually, in this Community to realize in each of our own lives Your Dream for Peace by personally embracing Your Threefold ‘Way-of-Life’ for Freedom-Unity-and Integrity.
You 'Call' each of us, individually and communally, to share with others Your Three-fold ‘Way-of-Life’, our active response to your Covenant of Peace that Justice for All Peoples can be known.
In You, our Trinitarian, Indwelling SOURCE-COMMUNITY, Your Dream of Peace for us IS Fulfilled.
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP; redrafted, A Community Prayer, February 18, 2010; Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc.; Scripture references have been paraphrased to emphasize their essential meaning relative to our Trinitarian SOURCE and ‘Call’ for Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
You have a Dream! This Dream is Your ‘Covenant’ with and for us (Is. 42:6-9; 54:10) Your Covenant is offered to every person, and to all Communities of the World. Your Covenant is for all Nations . . . for all Peoples of all Beliefs. Your Covenant is Peace by our living Justly. Thank you for Communicating Your Dream to us through Your Threefold 'Call' for: Freedom-Unity-Integrity, that we may know how to live, 'justly'.
These three 'Calls' are a Spiritual, ‘Way-of-Life’, for living a ‘Just’ and
‘Consecrated’ life. Our Commitment to Your threefold ‘Call’ enables us to, ‘reach for’, the realization of Your Dream.
BELOVED ETERNAL SOURCE, our CREATOR, Your 'Call' for Freedom is:
"Let my People go!" (Exodus 5:01)
DEVOTED INCARNATE WORD, our REDEEMER, Your 'Call' for Unity is:
“May they be one as We are one, that Your Love for Me may live in them as I live in them.” (John 17:11, 26)
BLESSED HOLY SPIRIT, our SANCTIFIER, Your 'Call' for Integrity is:
"Be holy, for I, your SOURCE, Am Holy." (Leviticus 19:2)
“Be whole, as your SOURCE is Whole." (Matthew 5:48)
Together, let us give thanks and praise:
We thank you, BELOVED SOURCE, our Creator, for Calling us to, 'Freedom'. Let us free & enable one another in Your Service. May we strive to use all of our Spirit-given gifts and personal missions to fruitfully build and re-build in Your Light.
We thank you, DEVOTED REDEEMER, Christ Jesus, for Calling us to, ‘Unity’. Let us unite & enable one another in Your Love. May we strive to selflessly reach out to others; recognize your Presence in each person; and embrace All Peoples in Your Way.
We thank you, BLESSED SANCTIFIER, for Calling us to, 'Integrity'. Let us integrate & enable one another in Your Holiness. May we strive to renew Faith and revitalize Spirituality individually, Communally, and World-wide in Your Fulfillment.
Blessed Trinity, You 'Call' each of us, individually, in this Community to realize in each of our own lives Your Dream for Peace by personally embracing Your Threefold ‘Way-of-Life’ for Freedom-Unity-and Integrity.
You 'Call' each of us, individually and communally, to share with others Your Three-fold ‘Way-of-Life’, our active response to your Covenant of Peace that Justice for All Peoples can be known.
In You, our Trinitarian, Indwelling SOURCE-COMMUNITY, Your Dream of Peace for us IS Fulfilled.
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP; redrafted, A Community Prayer, February 18, 2010; Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc.; Scripture references have been paraphrased to emphasize their essential meaning relative to our Trinitarian SOURCE and ‘Call’ for Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
9. BIO: “TESTING”
In preparation for entering the Carmelite Monastery, the Community required applicants to be tested by a School Sister of Notre Dame who was a psychologist. It is important that a person is joining a cloistered community for the ‘right’ reasons and has health of mind/body/spirit for the rigors of the stark and simple lifestyle. One part of the testing revealed the degree of, ‘self-motivation’. The second part revealed basic challenges of a person’s temperament. This self knowledge greatly benefited both our spiritual and human developmental processes. My test results were: ‘Self-motivation’, 100%; and, with three temperament challenges of a tendency towards sadness; borderline scrupulosity; and being, ‘over responsible’.
So, you can imagine how I ‘initially’ felt upon becoming ‘aware’ of how even a negative thought ‘negatively’ effected everyone else who ever lived, is now on earth, or is yet to be born! (It is my understanding that our, ‘SOURCE- PERSPECTIVE’, of Creation and of our union in and with all Creation and one another, is, ‘outside-of-time’.) Needless to say, I became very, ‘sad’; ‘scrupulously’ spent much time during our daily, ‘Examination of Conscience’; and, ‘over responsibly’ went out of my way to ‘look’ a second and third time at my fellow Sister’s expressions to be sure that the ‘fruits’ of my thoughts, words, and actions were only LOVE/PEACE. After about two weeks of being mentally, physically, and spiritually ‘worn out’ from this exceedingly, ‘perfection-oriented’, approach to ‘relationships’, I remembered God’s Promise related in Scripture to, ‘bring good out of everything’, (Romans 8:28):
A 'negative' thought offers me an 'exercise-moment' in which I can practice exchanging 'my' perception with the PERCEPTION of the MIND & HEART of my SOURCE.
A word spoken without ‘thoughtfulness’ carries with it the potential to open me to ‘opportunity’ for new ‘redemptive’ communication moments . . . and,
A ‘misplaced’ action or ‘omission’ teaches me how to better ‘edit’ my thoughts that, in turn, can lead me to less-than-loving words and actions . . .
This is the, ‘good’, that is always ‘available’ for us in every situation. Consequently, ‘HOPE’ dispelled my ‘sadness’ allowing, PEACE to, accordingly, relax this borderline scrupulous and over-responsible mind/heart/spirit!
It soon became apparent that ‘I’ couldn’t ‘perfectly’ incarnate LOVE/PEACE in ‘my’ every thought-word-action . . . HOWEVER, The SPIRIT of our SOURCE would PERFECTLY, ‘Be PRESENT’, in and through my thoughts/words/actions in ‘HER’ WAY . . . my ‘role’ was to simply, ‘let go’ of my ‘attempts’ to ‘control’ my ‘self’ that all these energies would be, instead, used ‘by’ The SPIRIT of our SOURCE in the service of others . . . I was then lead to seek out and embrace the, ‘essence’, of the three traditional vows of Religious Life, (poverty-chastity-obedience), over the ‘superficial aspects’ of, ‘having no things’; of ‘denying all sexual desires’; and, of following Mother Superior’s ‘word’ without question, dialogue, or communal discernment processes.
Three of the 8 Beatitudes for me specially corresponded to the vows of poverty-chastity-obedience. They offered meaningful developmental understanding of the deepest ‘spirit’ behind any superficial ‘letter’ of each vow:
‘Poverty of spirit’(poverty); ‘Singleness of heart’ (chastity); and, ‘Hunger & thirst for holiness/wholeness’ (obedience), became my personal cloistered, ‘mantra’ . . .
Along with this ‘threefold’ dedicated consecration of, mind/heart/body/spirit, was a daily growing ‘awareness’ of the Indwelling of our very, SOURCE. And, that, ‘we’, in Community, are called to be, ‘in-relationship-with’, one another in our Indwelling SOURCE through a Threefold Creating Freedom; Redeeming Unity; and, Sanctifying Integrity . . . It is this Eternal Relationship with one another in our Indwelling SOURCE that, clearly became for me the, ‘goal of my soul’ for personal and Communal,
‘Fulfillment’. (See, “A Community Prayer”)
So, you can imagine how I ‘initially’ felt upon becoming ‘aware’ of how even a negative thought ‘negatively’ effected everyone else who ever lived, is now on earth, or is yet to be born! (It is my understanding that our, ‘SOURCE- PERSPECTIVE’, of Creation and of our union in and with all Creation and one another, is, ‘outside-of-time’.) Needless to say, I became very, ‘sad’; ‘scrupulously’ spent much time during our daily, ‘Examination of Conscience’; and, ‘over responsibly’ went out of my way to ‘look’ a second and third time at my fellow Sister’s expressions to be sure that the ‘fruits’ of my thoughts, words, and actions were only LOVE/PEACE. After about two weeks of being mentally, physically, and spiritually ‘worn out’ from this exceedingly, ‘perfection-oriented’, approach to ‘relationships’, I remembered God’s Promise related in Scripture to, ‘bring good out of everything’, (Romans 8:28):
A 'negative' thought offers me an 'exercise-moment' in which I can practice exchanging 'my' perception with the PERCEPTION of the MIND & HEART of my SOURCE.
A word spoken without ‘thoughtfulness’ carries with it the potential to open me to ‘opportunity’ for new ‘redemptive’ communication moments . . . and,
A ‘misplaced’ action or ‘omission’ teaches me how to better ‘edit’ my thoughts that, in turn, can lead me to less-than-loving words and actions . . .
This is the, ‘good’, that is always ‘available’ for us in every situation. Consequently, ‘HOPE’ dispelled my ‘sadness’ allowing, PEACE to, accordingly, relax this borderline scrupulous and over-responsible mind/heart/spirit!
It soon became apparent that ‘I’ couldn’t ‘perfectly’ incarnate LOVE/PEACE in ‘my’ every thought-word-action . . . HOWEVER, The SPIRIT of our SOURCE would PERFECTLY, ‘Be PRESENT’, in and through my thoughts/words/actions in ‘HER’ WAY . . . my ‘role’ was to simply, ‘let go’ of my ‘attempts’ to ‘control’ my ‘self’ that all these energies would be, instead, used ‘by’ The SPIRIT of our SOURCE in the service of others . . . I was then lead to seek out and embrace the, ‘essence’, of the three traditional vows of Religious Life, (poverty-chastity-obedience), over the ‘superficial aspects’ of, ‘having no things’; of ‘denying all sexual desires’; and, of following Mother Superior’s ‘word’ without question, dialogue, or communal discernment processes.
Three of the 8 Beatitudes for me specially corresponded to the vows of poverty-chastity-obedience. They offered meaningful developmental understanding of the deepest ‘spirit’ behind any superficial ‘letter’ of each vow:
‘Poverty of spirit’(poverty); ‘Singleness of heart’ (chastity); and, ‘Hunger & thirst for holiness/wholeness’ (obedience), became my personal cloistered, ‘mantra’ . . .
Along with this ‘threefold’ dedicated consecration of, mind/heart/body/spirit, was a daily growing ‘awareness’ of the Indwelling of our very, SOURCE. And, that, ‘we’, in Community, are called to be, ‘in-relationship-with’, one another in our Indwelling SOURCE through a Threefold Creating Freedom; Redeeming Unity; and, Sanctifying Integrity . . . It is this Eternal Relationship with one another in our Indwelling SOURCE that, clearly became for me the, ‘goal of my soul’ for personal and Communal,
‘Fulfillment’. (See, “A Community Prayer”)
8. "DREAM-BITES"
The following is being created to store 'soundbite' statements relative to the Threefold 'Call' and The Society of Christ's Priesthood. As I re-read through the writings and communications of the past three decades, I'll pick out the short statements that seem to encapsilize relevant concepts and post them here. It has been clearly, 'confirmed-by-Community', that doing a 'soundbite' is definitely not my natural, 'gift'! . . . For 15 years, now, Louise Haggett, founder of CITI Ministries, has been lovingly and gently and encouragingly trying to help me develop a, 'gift-for-bite'. With her own unique gift and experience for 'marketing', from the first day we met she has asked me, 'more than once', to try to, 'say it in fewer words'! The original documents 'explaining' this new service mission Community for the 21st Century,(The Society of Christ's Priesthood), were several 100 pages . . . God definitely 'DESTINED' these writings to 'meet' Louise . . .!
As I work on this blog's 'beginnings', the following are my first three 'official' soundbites! Since, in the original writings in the latter 1970's and early 1980's, I referred to the Threefold 'Call' as, 'GOD'S DREAM' for us, I decided to call this posting, "DREAM-BITES":
"God's Threefold 'Call' for Freedom-Unity-Integrity is simple in Essence; profound in Impact."
"Celebrate God's Threefold Call in the, 'every-dayness', of life, in each event's, 'moment' . . . the only 'place' Freedom-Unity-Integrity can be 'lived'.
"Freedom-Unity-Integrity can most clearly be 'recognized' in the Fruit of Peace."
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP; Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc.
As I work on this blog's 'beginnings', the following are my first three 'official' soundbites! Since, in the original writings in the latter 1970's and early 1980's, I referred to the Threefold 'Call' as, 'GOD'S DREAM' for us, I decided to call this posting, "DREAM-BITES":
"God's Threefold 'Call' for Freedom-Unity-Integrity is simple in Essence; profound in Impact."
"Celebrate God's Threefold Call in the, 'every-dayness', of life, in each event's, 'moment' . . . the only 'place' Freedom-Unity-Integrity can be 'lived'.
"Freedom-Unity-Integrity can most clearly be 'recognized' in the Fruit of Peace."
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP; Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
7. DEFINITION OF POSTING TERMS
The following will be a developmental blog 'dictionary' of common terms being used in these postings with their 'meanings':
INDWELLING: The term, 'Indwelling', expresses my belief that my SOURCE is Ever-PRESENT within me, Eternally sustaining my own, 'existence', with or without a body.
LOVE-SOURCE: 'GOD is LOVE'.
SOURCE: To express my personal belief in One CREATOR of us all, or, SUPREME BEING (GOD), I am using the universal term, SOURCE.
THREEFOLD 'CALL': Freedom-Unity-Integrity
TRINITARIAN: Our SOURCE is Trinitarian in, 'BEING', Ever Creating, Redeeming, Sanctifying us EXPRESSED through a Threefold Cyclical 'Call' for Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
INDWELLING: The term, 'Indwelling', expresses my belief that my SOURCE is Ever-PRESENT within me, Eternally sustaining my own, 'existence', with or without a body.
LOVE-SOURCE: 'GOD is LOVE'.
SOURCE: To express my personal belief in One CREATOR of us all, or, SUPREME BEING (GOD), I am using the universal term, SOURCE.
THREEFOLD 'CALL': Freedom-Unity-Integrity
TRINITARIAN: Our SOURCE is Trinitarian in, 'BEING', Ever Creating, Redeeming, Sanctifying us EXPRESSED through a Threefold Cyclical 'Call' for Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
Friday, February 19, 2010
6. FREEDOM-UNITY-INTEGRITY: The SCP "WAY-OF-LIFE"
The Society of Christ’s Priesthood (SCP) was begun as a Certification Program of CITI Ministries to legally enable married priests to return to active ministry. The, 'Way-of-life', encouraged for this newly developing support Community is simply each one’s whole-hearted response to the Threefold ‘Call’ to all Peoples for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity. This Threefold Universal Call touches the very heart of our, ‘meaning-of-life’, that of our very existence and purpose for our creation. The daily intentional integration of this Threefold ‘Call’ for Freedom-Unity-Integrity in our relationships and services embodies the SCP meaning of a, ‘consecrated life’.
Daily I am seeking 'how' I can more effectively embrace this Universal Threefold 'Call’. I have learned that, only through SOURCE-DIRECTED living, can any, ‘attitude-of-attack’, of an ego-driven 'moment' be, accordingly, replaced with an, ‘attitude-of-gentleness’. The Society of Christ's Priesthood is a Community called to serve within the 'turmoil' of this world's dysfunction which tends to resolve relationship 'issues' through 'war' in its many forms. Our LOVE-SOURCE is 'commissioning' us to be 'recognized' by the 'spirit' of the Universal Threefold 'Call', that is, gentleness: “A servant of The Lord is gentle to all.“ (2 Ti 2:24) Gentleness proceeds from our conscious union with our Indwelling LOVE-SOURCE.
For several years I have been studying about 'perceptual change'. It became immediately clear that, Freedom-Unity-Integrity, was the key 'enabler' for 'transforming' or 'replacing' our 'transitory', 'illusary', earth-directed perceptions with, Eternally Fulfilling, 'SOURCE-PERCEPTION'. It can, at times, be challenging to 'recognize' and distinguish between 'seeing' daily life through, 'ego', and 'seeing' who we REAL-ly 'are', Eternally, through our, 'SOURCE'. Now, I understand clearly that the ego-opposite of LOVE is, 'fear'; and, the ego-opposite of PEACE is, 'attack'. This latter 'bottom-line' is at the 'heart' of 'who' we are called to become as, The Society of Christ's Priesthood. In our ministries we are to be, 'LOVE-IN-PEACE', 'where' fear and attack 'are not' and 'can not' co-exist. Even, 'correcting' another with ‘tough love’, can be done with a ‘spirit-of-gentleness’; that is, without angrily, 'attacking' or 'disabling' with fear. Consequently, each moment ‘in time’ we are given the, ‘opportunity’ and choice’ to either live, in gentlenss, ‘from within’ our Indwelling SOURCE of LOVE/PEACE, or by ego, 'fearfully', and ever ready to 'attack' . . . The latter is in direct opposition to the Threefold 'Call' for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
Practical application of the SCP ‘Way-of-Life’ is learned with one another in each circumstance. Daily, THE SPIRIT of our Indwelling LOVE-SOURCE inspires an ever deepening understanding of the meaning of each of the three essential aspects of this Universal ‘Call’. With our final breath we will then ‘know’ that the depth and breadth of the spiritual and practical applications of this Threefold ‘Call’ is truly, ‘Endless’. Even while within the temporal mode of each time/space event of this life, a whole-hearted response to this Threefold ‘Call’ for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity, can transport our spirits into an 'awareness' of this Eternal Realm. “The Kingdom (Kin-dom) of Heaven is within us.” (Luke 17:21) The Relationship we have with our Indwelling SOURCE while in this life reflects through our relationships with one another, 'in community', as we ‘live’ the Threefold ‘Call’.
SCP Members are encouraged to both personally embrace, as well as to encourage all whom we serve to embrace this Universal Threefold ‘Call’ as truly practically possible in every, ‘state-of-life’. Freedom-Unity-Integrity also becomes more desirable as the Fruit of Peace is experienced through the development of our mission’s, ‘spirit-of-gentleness’, to all in all circumstances.
In summary, we have been given the gift of ‘Freedom’ to choose ‘Unity’ with one another from within our Indwelling LOVE-SOURCE, for a life of ‘Integrity’ through gentleness. To the degree that we, as SCP Members, can ‘align’ our ‘thoughts’ with the ‘THOUGHTS’ of our Indwelling LOVE-SOURCE, we can, accordingly, ‘know’, PEACE, both in mind and heart; in word and action; individually and communally.
It was 'traditional' for the founder(s) of Religious Communities that were developed throughout the Centuries to capture the 'essence' of their service-mission Community in a 'Rule'. The 'essence' of the SCP, ‘Way-of-Life’('RULE'), could be simply stated as: Freedom-Unity-Integrity, with gentleness.
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP; Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc
Daily I am seeking 'how' I can more effectively embrace this Universal Threefold 'Call’. I have learned that, only through SOURCE-DIRECTED living, can any, ‘attitude-of-attack’, of an ego-driven 'moment' be, accordingly, replaced with an, ‘attitude-of-gentleness’. The Society of Christ's Priesthood is a Community called to serve within the 'turmoil' of this world's dysfunction which tends to resolve relationship 'issues' through 'war' in its many forms. Our LOVE-SOURCE is 'commissioning' us to be 'recognized' by the 'spirit' of the Universal Threefold 'Call', that is, gentleness: “A servant of The Lord is gentle to all.“ (2 Ti 2:24) Gentleness proceeds from our conscious union with our Indwelling LOVE-SOURCE.
For several years I have been studying about 'perceptual change'. It became immediately clear that, Freedom-Unity-Integrity, was the key 'enabler' for 'transforming' or 'replacing' our 'transitory', 'illusary', earth-directed perceptions with, Eternally Fulfilling, 'SOURCE-PERCEPTION'. It can, at times, be challenging to 'recognize' and distinguish between 'seeing' daily life through, 'ego', and 'seeing' who we REAL-ly 'are', Eternally, through our, 'SOURCE'. Now, I understand clearly that the ego-opposite of LOVE is, 'fear'; and, the ego-opposite of PEACE is, 'attack'. This latter 'bottom-line' is at the 'heart' of 'who' we are called to become as, The Society of Christ's Priesthood. In our ministries we are to be, 'LOVE-IN-PEACE', 'where' fear and attack 'are not' and 'can not' co-exist. Even, 'correcting' another with ‘tough love’, can be done with a ‘spirit-of-gentleness’; that is, without angrily, 'attacking' or 'disabling' with fear. Consequently, each moment ‘in time’ we are given the, ‘opportunity’ and choice’ to either live, in gentlenss, ‘from within’ our Indwelling SOURCE of LOVE/PEACE, or by ego, 'fearfully', and ever ready to 'attack' . . . The latter is in direct opposition to the Threefold 'Call' for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
Practical application of the SCP ‘Way-of-Life’ is learned with one another in each circumstance. Daily, THE SPIRIT of our Indwelling LOVE-SOURCE inspires an ever deepening understanding of the meaning of each of the three essential aspects of this Universal ‘Call’. With our final breath we will then ‘know’ that the depth and breadth of the spiritual and practical applications of this Threefold ‘Call’ is truly, ‘Endless’. Even while within the temporal mode of each time/space event of this life, a whole-hearted response to this Threefold ‘Call’ for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity, can transport our spirits into an 'awareness' of this Eternal Realm. “The Kingdom (Kin-dom) of Heaven is within us.” (Luke 17:21) The Relationship we have with our Indwelling SOURCE while in this life reflects through our relationships with one another, 'in community', as we ‘live’ the Threefold ‘Call’.
SCP Members are encouraged to both personally embrace, as well as to encourage all whom we serve to embrace this Universal Threefold ‘Call’ as truly practically possible in every, ‘state-of-life’. Freedom-Unity-Integrity also becomes more desirable as the Fruit of Peace is experienced through the development of our mission’s, ‘spirit-of-gentleness’, to all in all circumstances.
In summary, we have been given the gift of ‘Freedom’ to choose ‘Unity’ with one another from within our Indwelling LOVE-SOURCE, for a life of ‘Integrity’ through gentleness. To the degree that we, as SCP Members, can ‘align’ our ‘thoughts’ with the ‘THOUGHTS’ of our Indwelling LOVE-SOURCE, we can, accordingly, ‘know’, PEACE, both in mind and heart; in word and action; individually and communally.
It was 'traditional' for the founder(s) of Religious Communities that were developed throughout the Centuries to capture the 'essence' of their service-mission Community in a 'Rule'. The 'essence' of the SCP, ‘Way-of-Life’('RULE'), could be simply stated as: Freedom-Unity-Integrity, with gentleness.
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP; Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc
5. BIO: "I BELIEVE"
In my own developing spirituality, I clearly recall the, ‘Moment’, as a cloistered Carmelite Nun, when I was ‘awakened’ to an unspeakable, ‘awareness’, of my ‘effective-relationship’ with everyone -- past, present, future -- through my every thought, word, and deed. This deepening ‘awareness’ of the ‘Eternal-Connectedness’, we all have with one another profoundly ‘impacted’ both mind & heart. This, ‘Awareness Moment’, I now understand, was also The Spirit’s introduction to my understanding the threefold ‘relationship’ of the Universal ‘Call’ for Freedom-Unity-Integrity and a Trinitarian, ‘SOURCE’ . . . My belief in a, 'Trinitarian God' -- Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier -- came from the Protestant and Roman Catholic Belief Systems of my child and early adulthood years. Regarding this particular aspect of my belief relative to, Threefold 'Call' and Trinitarian ‘relationship’, the following summarizes my current personal, 'theology'.
I believe that I am created and sustained, Eternally, IN my SOURCE (GOD), the same, ‘ONE’, SOURCE I also believe created and sustains everyone else and all of creation. Our Eternal, ‘connectedness’, is through our spirits which were Always in the MIND/HEART of our SOURCE, and will always ‘be’. I believe that,‘who’ I 'am' is not ‘confined’ to/in ‘time’ . . . that, ’who’ I 'am' is not my physical body, which is given me that I may serve others in this material life, in ‘time’ . . .
In my understanding and belief, our SOURCE is an Eternal, Cyclical Movement of LOVE/PEACE, ‘BEING’. . . and this, ‘SOURCE-BEING’ is Eternally, ‘EXPRESSED’, through a Creating-Redeeming-Sanctifying, ‘PRESENCE’. This Eternal, ‘PRESENCE’, my Christian background teaches me, stepped into ‘time’ in the PERSON of Jesus Christ . . . And, through this, ‘INCARNATION-MOMENT’, in familiar, 'Human Form', I am ‘enabled’ to ‘see’ my ETERNAL SOURCE as PERFECT LOVE/PEACE . . . Through Jesus, as our ‘Way', I can ‘see’ how to, ‘be’, ‘LOVE/PEACE’, with and for everyone else. And, since I am, “made in the IMAGE and LIKENESS”, of my SOURCE, my every, ‘movement of being’, is ‘Called’ to be a ‘Reflection’ of LOVE/PEACE . . .
At this ‘Moment’ that I, ‘realized’, how my life ‘effects’ everyone else’s life, the words attributed to Jesus in Scripture took on new ‘depth’ of meaning:
“Whatever you do to the least of these little ones you do to Me.”
I believe that, we are all ‘Members’ with one another – all ‘parts’ of the ONE ‘Body’ of our ONE SOURCE, no matter our Belief System. I believe that persons of all Belief Systems on this earth are ‘Called’ to, together, ever strive to consciously enter into this Eternal Cyclical LOVE-PEACE MOVEMENTS of our, ‘ONE-SOURCE’, by mutually embracing a, Creative Freedom, a Redeeming Unity, and, a Sanctifying Integrity.
As individuals, families, and communities, let us encourage one another to open our minds and hearts that we may ‘recognize’ this Threefold, ‘SOURCE-Call’, to all Peoples. Consequentially, ‘attack’, in any and in all forms would cease . . . an Era of PEACE would be ushered in . . . ‘Together’, it is, ultimately, we who choose war or who choose PEACE. (See, Freedom-Unity-Integrity: A ‘Way-of-Life’)
I believe that I am created and sustained, Eternally, IN my SOURCE (GOD), the same, ‘ONE’, SOURCE I also believe created and sustains everyone else and all of creation. Our Eternal, ‘connectedness’, is through our spirits which were Always in the MIND/HEART of our SOURCE, and will always ‘be’. I believe that,‘who’ I 'am' is not ‘confined’ to/in ‘time’ . . . that, ’who’ I 'am' is not my physical body, which is given me that I may serve others in this material life, in ‘time’ . . .
In my understanding and belief, our SOURCE is an Eternal, Cyclical Movement of LOVE/PEACE, ‘BEING’. . . and this, ‘SOURCE-BEING’ is Eternally, ‘EXPRESSED’, through a Creating-Redeeming-Sanctifying, ‘PRESENCE’. This Eternal, ‘PRESENCE’, my Christian background teaches me, stepped into ‘time’ in the PERSON of Jesus Christ . . . And, through this, ‘INCARNATION-MOMENT’, in familiar, 'Human Form', I am ‘enabled’ to ‘see’ my ETERNAL SOURCE as PERFECT LOVE/PEACE . . . Through Jesus, as our ‘Way', I can ‘see’ how to, ‘be’, ‘LOVE/PEACE’, with and for everyone else. And, since I am, “made in the IMAGE and LIKENESS”, of my SOURCE, my every, ‘movement of being’, is ‘Called’ to be a ‘Reflection’ of LOVE/PEACE . . .
At this ‘Moment’ that I, ‘realized’, how my life ‘effects’ everyone else’s life, the words attributed to Jesus in Scripture took on new ‘depth’ of meaning:
“Whatever you do to the least of these little ones you do to Me.”
I believe that, we are all ‘Members’ with one another – all ‘parts’ of the ONE ‘Body’ of our ONE SOURCE, no matter our Belief System. I believe that persons of all Belief Systems on this earth are ‘Called’ to, together, ever strive to consciously enter into this Eternal Cyclical LOVE-PEACE MOVEMENTS of our, ‘ONE-SOURCE’, by mutually embracing a, Creative Freedom, a Redeeming Unity, and, a Sanctifying Integrity.
As individuals, families, and communities, let us encourage one another to open our minds and hearts that we may ‘recognize’ this Threefold, ‘SOURCE-Call’, to all Peoples. Consequentially, ‘attack’, in any and in all forms would cease . . . an Era of PEACE would be ushered in . . . ‘Together’, it is, ultimately, we who choose war or who choose PEACE. (See, Freedom-Unity-Integrity: A ‘Way-of-Life’)
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
4. "MOTHERHOOD IN PRESENCE"
She raised her eyes and opened her hands, and waited . . . knowing her God would fill them . . .
Whenever she asked for God’s Strength to be her weakness;
Light to be her darkness;
Peace to be her sorrow;
Joy to be her suffering;
Love to be her nothingness;
She would ask as God would prompt; that all her sisters and brothers be also given.
She ‘somehow’ knew that they also received . . .
But, this time . . . aware of Mystery taking flesh . . .
She lowered her eyes and folded her arms across her heart and, indeed, knew . . . they were all there!!!
The whole Body of Christ – Indwelling.
Strength, Light, Peace, Joy, Love . . . they have received . . .
At the moment God touched her ‘being’, theirs also were touched . . .
Filling her, they are filled . . . those for whom she loves.
Her heart, pregnant with, PRESENCE . . . with, ‘presence’.
She knows her motherhood! She knows her every movement of ‘being’ effects theirs.
What meekness does fill her Strength . . .
What reverence does fill her Light . . .
What trust does fill her Peace . . .
What stillness does fill her Joy . . .
What gentleness does fill her Love.
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP; Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc
Whenever she asked for God’s Strength to be her weakness;
Light to be her darkness;
Peace to be her sorrow;
Joy to be her suffering;
Love to be her nothingness;
She would ask as God would prompt; that all her sisters and brothers be also given.
She ‘somehow’ knew that they also received . . .
But, this time . . . aware of Mystery taking flesh . . .
She lowered her eyes and folded her arms across her heart and, indeed, knew . . . they were all there!!!
The whole Body of Christ – Indwelling.
Strength, Light, Peace, Joy, Love . . . they have received . . .
At the moment God touched her ‘being’, theirs also were touched . . .
Filling her, they are filled . . . those for whom she loves.
Her heart, pregnant with, PRESENCE . . . with, ‘presence’.
She knows her motherhood! She knows her every movement of ‘being’ effects theirs.
What meekness does fill her Strength . . .
What reverence does fill her Light . . .
What trust does fill her Peace . . .
What stillness does fill her Joy . . .
What gentleness does fill her Love.
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP; Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc
3. Bio: "METAMORPHOUS"
The metamorphosis process of the caterpillar becoming a butterfly captured my imagination very early in life . . . We lived, ‘way out in the sticks’, a phrase often heard. I was not sure what this phrase ‘really’ meant relative to where anyone else lived? For me it meant a very, ‘ beautiful place’, with so much to discover and do. One of my most meaningful experiences was spent trying to ‘catch’ the ‘moment’ when a ‘watched’ cocoon would produce its butterfly . . . I never did see a butterfly emerge from the cocoon in its, ‘process-of-becoming’. Or, did I? . . .
My own life has surely seen a ‘many-staged’ personal metamorphous process in its own, 'becoming winged’ . . . There is still much more work needed for the full unfolding of all ‘winged-possibilities’ for this 65 year-old to reach the ‘range’ and ‘expanse’ of potential!. . . But, with deepest gratitude for the dedicated, patient support and encouragement of my beloved Husband, Fr. William, along with our Families and Friends, my ‘wings’ have definitely now been ‘enabled’ . . . We can actually ‘see’ this butterfly’s wings unfolding and even beginning to, ‘flutter’, with delighted anticipation of what, ‘full flight’, might mean!? Whew . . . that cocoon was so ‘stuffy’, anyway!
The ‘steps’ in my own metamorphous process has taken me from ‘single’; to ‘cloistered Carmelite nun’; to ‘wife’ . . . From Donna Amy Nash; to Sr. Gordon Helene of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel; to Mrs. William Podobinski, wife of a married Roman Catholic Priest . . . From, ‘by nature’, being a, 100% ‘introvert’ (according to testing done in the Carmelite Monastery), with ‘learning/dyslexic’ challenges, to, now, actually doing a Blog, thanks to Louise Haggett! She is exceedingly gifted for, and has been given the mission to 'call forth' the ministerial gifts of married priests and their wives for the health and wellbeing of Christ’s whole Body.
Over the years, during the entire process of breaking through secure ‘cocoon’ walls, there has been one, constant, ‘life-lesson’: The metamorphous ‘process’ effects everyone else’s life, as well . . . for better or for worse. (See, "Motherhood in Presence")
My own life has surely seen a ‘many-staged’ personal metamorphous process in its own, 'becoming winged’ . . . There is still much more work needed for the full unfolding of all ‘winged-possibilities’ for this 65 year-old to reach the ‘range’ and ‘expanse’ of potential!. . . But, with deepest gratitude for the dedicated, patient support and encouragement of my beloved Husband, Fr. William, along with our Families and Friends, my ‘wings’ have definitely now been ‘enabled’ . . . We can actually ‘see’ this butterfly’s wings unfolding and even beginning to, ‘flutter’, with delighted anticipation of what, ‘full flight’, might mean!? Whew . . . that cocoon was so ‘stuffy’, anyway!
The ‘steps’ in my own metamorphous process has taken me from ‘single’; to ‘cloistered Carmelite nun’; to ‘wife’ . . . From Donna Amy Nash; to Sr. Gordon Helene of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel; to Mrs. William Podobinski, wife of a married Roman Catholic Priest . . . From, ‘by nature’, being a, 100% ‘introvert’ (according to testing done in the Carmelite Monastery), with ‘learning/dyslexic’ challenges, to, now, actually doing a Blog, thanks to Louise Haggett! She is exceedingly gifted for, and has been given the mission to 'call forth' the ministerial gifts of married priests and their wives for the health and wellbeing of Christ’s whole Body.
Over the years, during the entire process of breaking through secure ‘cocoon’ walls, there has been one, constant, ‘life-lesson’: The metamorphous ‘process’ effects everyone else’s life, as well . . . for better or for worse. (See, "Motherhood in Presence")
Thursday, February 4, 2010
2. A Spiritual Treasure Chest
A SPIRITUAL TREASURE CHEST
Within the hearts of all persons can be ‘found’ and ‘heard’ a Universal threefold ‘Call’ for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity. No matter our Belief System . . . no matter if we even believe in One, Eternal SOURCE for us all – or not, this threefold ‘Call’ is written in the very core of our ‘humanity’; connects ‘us all’; and, consequentially, affirms everyone’s created equality. This threefold ‘Call’ for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity, answered and embraced in every aspect of an individual’s life, brings one to inner peace, which, in turn, enables one to ‘be’ and ‘do’ one’s very best in all service roles. Then, our collective human energies, together channeled through this threefold Universal ‘Call’ to all Peoples enables, ‘Justice-for-All’, resulting in a World-Wide Movement for Peace among all Peoples. This Universal threefold ‘Call’ for Freedom-Unity-Integrity is a Spiritual Treasure Chest we are each invited to open to discover the wealth of inestimable ‘jewels’ that are ‘within’ and ever available. We are invited to ‘put on’ and ‘wear’ these ‘jewels’ of Freedom-Unity-Integrity, for every occasion of ‘every-day’ life:
1. The ‘Call’ for Freedom enables us to selflessly serve with a universal desire to provide for the development and use of every person's gifts and talents.
2. The ‘Call’ for Unity enables us to compassionately love, with a universal desire to seek the ‘common denominator’ that binds us all with one basic purpose.
3. The ‘Call’ for Integrity enables us to openly listen, with a universal desire to learn what is whole and holy in each situation.
As a World-Wide Community of Nations, this Universal threefold ‘Call’ for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity, is for all Peoples ‘in relationship’ with one another.
Now, together, we are warmly being invited to open this Spiritual Treasure Chest. To the degree that we each reflect the brightness of the ‘Jewels’ in this Chest will there be Justice for Everyone – will our working toward personal and World Peace be even possible. The following blog is dedicated to the developmental understanding of the meaning and purpose of this Universal Threefold ‘Call’ for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP; Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc
Within the hearts of all persons can be ‘found’ and ‘heard’ a Universal threefold ‘Call’ for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity. No matter our Belief System . . . no matter if we even believe in One, Eternal SOURCE for us all – or not, this threefold ‘Call’ is written in the very core of our ‘humanity’; connects ‘us all’; and, consequentially, affirms everyone’s created equality. This threefold ‘Call’ for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity, answered and embraced in every aspect of an individual’s life, brings one to inner peace, which, in turn, enables one to ‘be’ and ‘do’ one’s very best in all service roles. Then, our collective human energies, together channeled through this threefold Universal ‘Call’ to all Peoples enables, ‘Justice-for-All’, resulting in a World-Wide Movement for Peace among all Peoples. This Universal threefold ‘Call’ for Freedom-Unity-Integrity is a Spiritual Treasure Chest we are each invited to open to discover the wealth of inestimable ‘jewels’ that are ‘within’ and ever available. We are invited to ‘put on’ and ‘wear’ these ‘jewels’ of Freedom-Unity-Integrity, for every occasion of ‘every-day’ life:
1. The ‘Call’ for Freedom enables us to selflessly serve with a universal desire to provide for the development and use of every person's gifts and talents.
2. The ‘Call’ for Unity enables us to compassionately love, with a universal desire to seek the ‘common denominator’ that binds us all with one basic purpose.
3. The ‘Call’ for Integrity enables us to openly listen, with a universal desire to learn what is whole and holy in each situation.
As a World-Wide Community of Nations, this Universal threefold ‘Call’ for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity, is for all Peoples ‘in relationship’ with one another.
Now, together, we are warmly being invited to open this Spiritual Treasure Chest. To the degree that we each reflect the brightness of the ‘Jewels’ in this Chest will there be Justice for Everyone – will our working toward personal and World Peace be even possible. The following blog is dedicated to the developmental understanding of the meaning and purpose of this Universal Threefold ‘Call’ for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP; Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
1. Bio: "FIRST DAY"
Hello, my name is Donna; and, this is the first day of the rest of my life. Today is the 5th anniversary of surviving breast cancer . . . for the second time. So, it is an extra special blessing for me to be able to begin this blog today!
I have a dream . . . actually, it is God’s ‘Dream’. Over thirty years ago, in 1978, I began to write about this ‘Dream'. A most incredible, ‘unplanned’, journey was begun . . . Little by little, I would love to share this journey with you. But, first may I introduce to you God’s Dream, which is Eternally being ‘Expressed’ in a, Universal Threefold ‘Call’. (See, "A Spiritual Treasure Chest")
Ultimately, this Threefold Call is an Eternal ‘failsafe’ for our internal ‘spiritual wars’. These ‘spiritual wars’ are undertaken between each person’s true ‘self’, found consciously Centered within our Indwelling SOURCE, and our ego. Ego is ‘centered’ within this transitory life’s three basic human tendencies towards greed, power, and fear, which are the antithesis of Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
Now, I will begin to share the ‘story’ of my personal ‘journey’ on this ‘Road’ to Freedom-Unity-Integrity. Subsequent postings will be taken from past or current writings and interspersed with other biographical 'chapters', entitled, 'BIO 1, BIO 2, etc.
I have a dream . . . actually, it is God’s ‘Dream’. Over thirty years ago, in 1978, I began to write about this ‘Dream'. A most incredible, ‘unplanned’, journey was begun . . . Little by little, I would love to share this journey with you. But, first may I introduce to you God’s Dream, which is Eternally being ‘Expressed’ in a, Universal Threefold ‘Call’. (See, "A Spiritual Treasure Chest")
Ultimately, this Threefold Call is an Eternal ‘failsafe’ for our internal ‘spiritual wars’. These ‘spiritual wars’ are undertaken between each person’s true ‘self’, found consciously Centered within our Indwelling SOURCE, and our ego. Ego is ‘centered’ within this transitory life’s three basic human tendencies towards greed, power, and fear, which are the antithesis of Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
Now, I will begin to share the ‘story’ of my personal ‘journey’ on this ‘Road’ to Freedom-Unity-Integrity. Subsequent postings will be taken from past or current writings and interspersed with other biographical 'chapters', entitled, 'BIO 1, BIO 2, etc.
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