How Do We Live in the World and Not Be Overwhelmed By It? (Another Silly Question)

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Reflections

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Posted On July 7, 2023

I recently spent seven days on retreat at the Abbey of Gethsemani. Tucked in the rolling hills of Kentucky, the Abbey is place of contemplation, prayer, and serenity.

Leaving behind the world of responsibilities and chores that consume our secular lives, I joined the monks in the chapel seven times each day beginning at 3 a.m.to pray the Divine Office. As I sat in prayer, the veil between heaven and earth lifted a bit and my soul turned toward “God alone.”

The mourning doves outside my retreat-house window softly cooed throughout the day. Their songs lifted life’s burdens off my weary shoulders, carrying my troubles off into the clouds.

The words of the Psalms replaced my litany of self-doubt as I thanked God for the wonder of my Being.

In the heavenly cocoon with which I was held, I was able to clearly hear the Inner Voice of Love. I melted into the arms of Christ and felt an inner transformation.

The days rolled by like the morning mist rising off St. Joseph’s Knob.

I knew all too soon it would be time to leave this hermitage and return home.

“How do I live in the world, and not be overwhelmed by it?” I asked God in silent prayer.

The Creator whispered these words in the stillness of my heart:

You live in the world, but you are not of it. Like all people, I’ve created you in my image. You are a divine being. When you return home, morning routines of daily quiet time, reading, and prayer will keep your face turned towards me and I will continue to lift the veil and remind you of whose you are.

Your mission in life is simple: Be love and bring more of my love into the world. It may feel like the world is overwhelming, but it will not overwhelm you. You will overcome the world with the Divine love that flows in you through me.

As I packed my bags and left the walled monastery, God reminded me that my “Home” is in my heart. There within my chest, nestled in my soul, is the divine spark of love where the Holy Spirit dwells. I will return to the physical house in which I live, but my Home—my dwelling place—is in my heart. I carry the sacred heart of God within me wherever I go.

If, like me, you struggle with finding the balance between living in an often-noisy secular world and maintaining inner peace rooted in your connection with God, I invite you to consider these practical ways to live in the world and not be overwhelmed by it.

Cultivate self-awareness

Develop a deep understanding of your values, beliefs, and priorities. This self-awareness will help you navigate the world with clarity and make choices aligned with your inner compass.

Practice holy detachment

View the world and yourself with an objective eye. See yourself as an observer so you experience your emotions and daily events from a detached perspective. Imagine you see life through God’s eyes. While we all hope things will turn out the way we want, when we pray for God’s will to unfold in our lives, we gain the needed wisdom to let the Creator guide us towards our highest good.

Meditate daily

Regularly engage in mindfulness practices such as quiet time with the Creator, meditation, or deep breathing. These practices help us develop an inner stillness so we can stay present to the Inner Voice of Love. Observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment. Let go of expectations as you let the Creator have its life-giving way in you.

Embrace simplicity

Simplify your life by focusing on what truly matters to you. Minimize material possessions, social media, and the sky-is-falling news distractions that can lead to anxiety or the need for constant outside validation. Let God be the sole source of reminding you who you are.

Serve others

Engage in acts of kindness and service to others. By helping those in need, we foster a sense of connection and purpose beyond materialistic pursuits. When we make the world a better place, joy fills our being.

Seek inner growth

Dedicate your life’s path to personal development, self-reflection, and spiritual awareness. Read inspirational books, go to workshops, and seek guidance from mentors or spiritual teachers.

Finding the balance between participating in the world and maintaining inner peace is a life-long journey. It requires patience and adopting consistent spiritual practices.

As we navigate our path, remember this heavenly promise: When we turn our face towards God, the veil lifts (2 Corinthians 3:16-18).

With that promise in mind, perhaps the answer to the silly question of how we can live in the world and not be overwhelmed by it, is this:

Adopt some or all of the above spiritual practices as you turn your face each day towards the Creator so the veil will lift and you can live from your heart—your Home.

That’s how we live in the world and are not overwhelmed by it.

—brian j plachta
brianplachta.com

A note to readers:

As I mentioned last week, for the next several weeks I’ll be focusing these reflections on what I call “silly questions.” They’re silly because as the mystic Meister Eckhart wrote centuries ago, the only way forward in difficult times, is to be “absurd.”

The word “absurd” comes from the Latin word “absurdus” meaning “to be out of tune,” even “silly.” In an “out-of-tune” culture—like the one Eckhart lived in and we also do now—Eckhart said we must seek a way forward by tilting things inside out. We must ask questions that pop culture doesn’t seem to care about and even might call silly or dumb.

According to Eckhart, to be absurd or silly in sane times might be foolish, but to be foolish in foolish times might just be a mark of wisdom. As it was for Eckhart in his day. And might well be in ours as well.

Next week’s silly question will be: How Can We Experience God Face-to-Face?

I invite you to join me as we get silly over the next few weeks. And if you’re so inclined, forward these silly questions onto someone else who might also enjoy them

Thank you for being part of the spiritual journey that we are all on.

Your friend in the flow,

brian

(To read more about Eckhart, check out: Jon Sweeney’s book, Meister Eckhart’s Book of Darkness & Light.

Written by Brian J. Plachta

Following the Breadcrumbs God Leaves Along Our Path

What if God is speaking through ordinary moments more often than we realize?

A conversation that stays with us. A door that closes. A quiet nudge we can’t quite explain. An unexpected invitation that seems to come at just the right time.

The challenge is learning to notice these moments before we have any idea where they’re leading, and trusting the next step.

Over time, we may begin to see that God’s guidance doesn’t always come as an answer. Sometimes, it comes as a trail.

What to Do When God Seems Silent

Has silence ever made you feel like God is far away? When we feel this way, it’s easy to start looking for answers or waiting for a clear sign. But prayer can also be as simple as slowing down and noticing what’s already here. The breeze. The waves. Your breath. The quiet. God’s presence doesn’t always come through words. Sometimes we just need to be still enough to notice.

Let God Alone Define You

Ever have someone’s words get stuck in your head?
Maybe they criticized you, misunderstood you, or told a story about you that doesn’t feel true. And before long, you’re holding a courtroom in your mind—defending yourself, replaying the conversation, wondering if maybe they’re right.

There’s another way.

Bring it into the quiet with God.

Ask: Is there something here I need to learn? Is there something I need to own? And what was never mine to carry in the first place?

We can stay humble enough to receive the truth without letting someone else’s opinion become our identity.

Because in the end, God alone defines you.

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