Warning signs, guideposts to replenishment meltdown.

I was chatting with a friend the other day, an introvert by nature.  He does public work all day, and he can't wait to get back in the cave at night.  Often, he can't.  He has other people in his life who are vying for his precious down time.  Anger erupts. 

This is the role of self-clarification. When we get to know who we really are, we can being the hard work of peeling off the onion-like layers of our personae, our false selves, our masks.  This as, Thomas Merton has said, is hard, laborious work, but there are divine dividends.  We get to know God.  Spiritual greats from Augustine, to Teresa of Avila have reminded us through the centuries:  as we get to know ourselves, we get to know God.

Another friend is on a similar journey of self-discovery.  This is good.

I am on what I have liked to call "Long Night's Journey Into Day."  There are certain rhythms that I need to stay replenished.  Jazz is one of these rhythms, these watering holes I need (Thanks be to God for Larry Carlton, whose every string-bending note just makes me happy!)

Along this "long night" I have become weary in well-doing.  Just plain knocked out. 
The activism of the Christmas season has left me with long nights, and short, fast days. 
But to counter this draining of emotional and physical resources, I have crafted a Rule (see http://openingsalvocr.blogspot.com/2011/11/defeating-seasonal-lunacy-disorder.html)

When I follow this, my soul remains sane.  It takes work to do this, it takes an active partnership with the Spirit of God to follow-through on my commitments to soul sanity.  Got to heed the warning signs:  Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired.

Pickiness -
Attitude (see pickiness) -
Abruptness of speech (see attitude)
You get it.

Quick Start Guide: 

1 - Stay in the mystery:  the wonder of the Incarnation, God with us, Jesus got feet, and is walking in the neighborhood.  This neighborhood: up and down the streets and alleys in my soul!  Wow!

2 - Pray the "Jesus prayer."  Just say His Name.....watch what happens inside your soul.  Jesus.  He is faithful: you call Him, He shows up. 

3 - Slow down.  Get quiet.  If even for a minute or two, in car or waiting for an elevator, get still.

This might be the beginning of a Rule of Life for you, or it's the emergency escape hatch off the slippery slope leading to some "below the line" habits. 

These are the toughest 2 weeks for many, the "not so holi-" days.....keep watch over your soul. 

pax Christi,

sp