Into the Silent Land

One of my favorite Pages I have ever read on identity and labels on the self

This is a conversation with a young man in a monastery trying to become a monk and a monk (Fr. Alypius) that already lives there.

Fr. Alypius- "You say you seek God, but a ray of light doesn't seek the sun; it's coming from the sun. You are a branch on the vine of God. A branch doesn't seek the vine; it's already part of the vine. A wave doesn't look for the ocean; it's already full of the ocean. Because you don't know that who you are is one with God, you believe all these labels about yourself: I'm a sinner, I'm a saint, I'm a wretch, I'm a worm and no man, I'm a monk, I'm a nurse. These are all labels, clothing. They serve a purpose, but they are not who you are. To the extent that you believe these labels, you believe a lie, and you add anguish upon anguish. It's what most of us do for most of our lives. In a secular world we call it our career. In monastic terms, we call it our vocation...You already are silent. I understand how there is a lot of noise and chaos swirling around. That's true of us all. But you, you are silence. You are the silence that is aware of the chaos. You are the silence that sees the chaos...silence and contemplation are concerned with what is deeper than thinking. Silence is always present." - Martin Laird Epilogue in Into the Silent Land

Keep it Simple Stupid John 15:13

God is good ALL THE TIME. He is the one for me, he gets all the glory. Seek Him first!!!

I don't know if a lot of you know this but I am in a relationship with Maeghan Keaton. It has been such a joy being with her this past year. I wanted to share some things with you all that God has taught me using her in just these past two weeks. If I told you all the things I have learned in this journey with her, this post would go for eternity. Words truly can't describe how God has used us both in each other's lives to know Him more and to let Him be glorified. We are apart of the body of Christ so we can learn from each other. She is experiencing things that I can learn from and vice-versa. "And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'" So this is what I have learned from the Lord through my relationship with Maeghan these past two weeks

What God has taught me through my relationship with Maeghan...

1. to choose love and goodness...

there is so much life when i walk in faith to Love Him and others

2. He answers prayers

He answers our prayers better than I can dream up answers

3. I am one with God

It is my natural state to be one with the living water and bear fruit in season

4. Being real is beautiful

There is nothing better than open communication and being yourself

What God is still teaching me through my relationship with Maeghan...

1. A thankful heart creates a large avenue for love to be poured out

Hebrews 13:15-16

2. If I am being myself in my natural state, God and His angels rejoice more than I think

Hebrews 13:1-2

3. More awareness that I have every spiritual blessing is better than praying like I dont have every spiritual blessing in my reach.

Ephesians 1:3

I did not marry up, because we are not married, but I sure am dating up. We are both dating up (not tooting my own horn). What I mean by this is we are both undeserving of this beautiful wonderful life, but God's grace never ends. It's all because of God and his grace that I am in this. Thank you, Lord for Maeghan Iris Keaton.

For all you men out there, if you want to see real fruit in a relationship, follow in God's footsteps not in your girlfriends. No puppy dog boys following your girlfriends, only Christ following feet washers

I do not have everything figured out, not even close. I am weak and I do sin. I do know one thing though I am enjoying the journey with God and I am enjoying continually learning things in my life. This life is fun, not easy but fun.