The body is intelligent. When muscles are tight, the body will automatically compensate such that you will accomplish what you want to do, except your muscles will not be working collectively in a balanced manner and you will not be properly aligned even though you think you are.
Over time, the compensatory movement will create a muscle imbalance that may eventually cause an injury or impact the skeletal structure negatively.
Likewise, our mind can play tricks on us when we deal with trauma, unpleasant truths or our own voracious need for love.
Sometimes, the lies we tell ourselves are a necessary self-defence mechanism in order we survive, however the danger is if we remain in the lie and perpetuate unhealthy patterns of behaviour that we cannot see and shake off.
When it comes to love, we all have this propensity to behave in ways that demonstrate a tenacious compulsion to fashion relationships that feed our own inordinate needs and desires.
We are unable to see or act with true self-giving love, that is, to love in a way that is objectively good for the other person and not what WE THINK is good for the other or our own self, with no expectation or hidden agenda.
It's usually a little (or a lot) self-serving for we are often unable to love in a way that is free of self-interest, or salutary for ourselves.
We grasp. We bend over backwards. We get enmeshed. We over-compensate. We rationalize co-dependent or abusive relationships, and our own and others' toxic behaviour.
We manipulate. We obfuscate. We isolate ourselves. We lose truth in our lives, and consequently we lose our way; we lose self-awareness and even our sense of self.
Last Friday evening we talked about marriage, and love - how love should be prophetic and liturgical.
We agreed that the marriages we saw around us that were successful were those where the couple was centred on God and His plan for them. It's all about what He wants, not what he or she wants.
The same holds true for those of us who are single, or more precisely, for everyone.
Within each of us is the call to love and be loved, but how we answer the call makes all the difference between a love that is life-giving or poisonous.
As Father Bernard Lonergan states, "Heirs of original sin, people come into the world as divided creatures, gifted with the love of God, being in love with God, but victimized by ignorance and concupiscence."
Because of original sin, we will tend toward sin and we will sin. It's inescapable. But we can minimize sin, just as we can train our bodies to proper recruitment of muscles and better postural alignment.
Through the continued effort of hard work: educating ourselves, shedding our ignorance by looking for a more edifying way of living life; and acknowledging shortcomings yet being willing to effect change.
An additional way to cultivate wisdom involves daily examen consciousness or self-reflection, regular time spent in prayer, meditating on Scripture and persistent journalling (patterns of behaviour can be seen more clearly over a period of time).
For as JPII proposes, we are made to spend time in solitude in order to discover how we can enrich our relationship with God by hanging out with Him, and consequently to be fed emotionally and spiritually, growing in wisdom.
Seek counsel from wise and mature spiritual guides, or listen to the opinions of trusted friends. I even consider remarks made by people who are not life-giving for a hint of truth may lurk in the midst of malice.
Journeying with a community of like-minded, committed Christians has also made the difference for me. By being honest and open with those who love me and want what's best for me, I am able to cast light on my secret, shameful weaknesses and move forward into transformational strength.
When we aspire to love as Christ loved, and loves, we love prophetically, reflecting His love to others.
We are able to share the truth of friendship* with love and sensitivity; remain compassionate and patient in the face of blind obstinacy; and uphold a high moral standard with humility and without being judgemental.
We love liturgically when we praise the Lord in all situations, in all things. When we worship with the exuberance and joy of Psalm 148.
This means elevating the unpleasant, mundane and dreary by imbuing a sense of caring pride into all we do. Not only by doing small things with great love but by keeping faith and finding blessings even in disaster.
Releasing tight muscle and harmful "love" behaviour are equally painful and difficult but there is hope when we attempt to love with JPII's "original nakedness"; with vulnerability and openness that is untainted by fear, distortion and subterfuge.
Whether it's peers, friends, spouses, parents, siblings or children, let us ask God today to purify the love we receive and give in all our relationships, and restore them to wholesomeness.
* A. echoed Bernard Cooke on friendship: "Human friendship is the most basic sacrament of God's saving presence among us".
Over time, the compensatory movement will create a muscle imbalance that may eventually cause an injury or impact the skeletal structure negatively.
Likewise, our mind can play tricks on us when we deal with trauma, unpleasant truths or our own voracious need for love.
Sometimes, the lies we tell ourselves are a necessary self-defence mechanism in order we survive, however the danger is if we remain in the lie and perpetuate unhealthy patterns of behaviour that we cannot see and shake off.
When it comes to love, we all have this propensity to behave in ways that demonstrate a tenacious compulsion to fashion relationships that feed our own inordinate needs and desires.
We are unable to see or act with true self-giving love, that is, to love in a way that is objectively good for the other person and not what WE THINK is good for the other or our own self, with no expectation or hidden agenda.
It's usually a little (or a lot) self-serving for we are often unable to love in a way that is free of self-interest, or salutary for ourselves.
We grasp. We bend over backwards. We get enmeshed. We over-compensate. We rationalize co-dependent or abusive relationships, and our own and others' toxic behaviour.
We manipulate. We obfuscate. We isolate ourselves. We lose truth in our lives, and consequently we lose our way; we lose self-awareness and even our sense of self.
Last Friday evening we talked about marriage, and love - how love should be prophetic and liturgical.
We agreed that the marriages we saw around us that were successful were those where the couple was centred on God and His plan for them. It's all about what He wants, not what he or she wants.
The same holds true for those of us who are single, or more precisely, for everyone.
Within each of us is the call to love and be loved, but how we answer the call makes all the difference between a love that is life-giving or poisonous.
As Father Bernard Lonergan states, "Heirs of original sin, people come into the world as divided creatures, gifted with the love of God, being in love with God, but victimized by ignorance and concupiscence."
Because of original sin, we will tend toward sin and we will sin. It's inescapable. But we can minimize sin, just as we can train our bodies to proper recruitment of muscles and better postural alignment.
Through the continued effort of hard work: educating ourselves, shedding our ignorance by looking for a more edifying way of living life; and acknowledging shortcomings yet being willing to effect change.
An additional way to cultivate wisdom involves daily examen consciousness or self-reflection, regular time spent in prayer, meditating on Scripture and persistent journalling (patterns of behaviour can be seen more clearly over a period of time).
For as JPII proposes, we are made to spend time in solitude in order to discover how we can enrich our relationship with God by hanging out with Him, and consequently to be fed emotionally and spiritually, growing in wisdom.
Seek counsel from wise and mature spiritual guides, or listen to the opinions of trusted friends. I even consider remarks made by people who are not life-giving for a hint of truth may lurk in the midst of malice.
Journeying with a community of like-minded, committed Christians has also made the difference for me. By being honest and open with those who love me and want what's best for me, I am able to cast light on my secret, shameful weaknesses and move forward into transformational strength.
When we aspire to love as Christ loved, and loves, we love prophetically, reflecting His love to others.
We are able to share the truth of friendship* with love and sensitivity; remain compassionate and patient in the face of blind obstinacy; and uphold a high moral standard with humility and without being judgemental.
We love liturgically when we praise the Lord in all situations, in all things. When we worship with the exuberance and joy of Psalm 148.
This means elevating the unpleasant, mundane and dreary by imbuing a sense of caring pride into all we do. Not only by doing small things with great love but by keeping faith and finding blessings even in disaster.
Releasing tight muscle and harmful "love" behaviour are equally painful and difficult but there is hope when we attempt to love with JPII's "original nakedness"; with vulnerability and openness that is untainted by fear, distortion and subterfuge.
Whether it's peers, friends, spouses, parents, siblings or children, let us ask God today to purify the love we receive and give in all our relationships, and restore them to wholesomeness.
* A. echoed Bernard Cooke on friendship: "Human friendship is the most basic sacrament of God's saving presence among us".
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