What A Reference

“If you want fresh air, don’t look for it in this town.” The Asphalt Jungle

Our lives are filled with so many movie quotes and literary references. Our lives overflow with metafiction, all types of trivia and stuff continually percolating within our hearts, minds, souls. We hear or see and then retain so much slang, jargon, catchphrases, cliches, bits of poetry, political speeches, movie and television dialogue, and prayers. All of this and more is constantly being churned, being turned into our thoughts, being churned into our conversation. We should look within ourselves, search for those secret words which describe us, those lines of dialogue which govern and influence our lives. Whether we like it or not, want to accept the reality that the media can and does have an impact on our lives, both directly and indirectly. We must look within ourselves and discover what words and ideas truly govern us, give us comfort, give us hope.

As Christians our minds need to be nourished with love and hope and freedom and justice. As Christians our minds need to be directed toward God and being humble, loving servants.

How wonderful our lives would be if all our conversations mentioned the Eternal Word. If our minds contained the majesty of the Psalms or the justice of the Beatitudes. Within the Holy Scriptures God reaches out to us; God speaks to each one of us when we take the time to read the Bible. Everything in this world, in our lives speak about God; our ears may not understand the language or accept the words. Saying our prayers is a start. With patience and hope and reverence allow God this Beginning, this conversation with our hearts and souls. Listen, contemplate, silence your tongue. Jesus wanted us to be governed by love, wanted us to share love. Our responsibility, our obligation as Christians is to learn how to incorporate this love into our lives. In time we will gain understanding; in time we will learn how to judge ourselves and each other with fairness and compassion. The Word is our guide, our protector, our teacher. As we learn how to better love ourselves and each other, we learn how to better love God. As we learn how steadfast of spirit Jesus was, we will try and fail with our own attempts at being steadfast of spirit. Look to your failures for inspiration, encouragement. Allow your failures to lead you closer to God. Please do not allow any failure to detour you or lead you away from your journey to God. Remember to follow the path that Jesus Christ made for us. Remember that God is the Truth, God is the Word. Ask God for mercy, love, forgiveness. Protect your soul, your heart, your mind; our world is often bothersome, worrisome. Desire only humility, charity, and obedience. They are the foundation of goodness. Remember to leave the chaos and confusion of this world. Create a private secret silent place for yourself and God. Allow for God to gently speak to you in private.