• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

Akita Suggagaki

Well-Known Member
Jul 20, 2018
10,427
7,478
70
Midwest
✟379,830.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
I have been watching Nova on PBS and this wonderful series on the solar system. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/

I became interested in the orbits and how they have an elliptical shape. In that orbit the is an apogee and a perigee. At leas for the moon around the Earth. For Earth around the sun is is called aphelion and perihelion. "Ap" being furthest away from the body orbited and "peri" closest.



I cannot help but notice that my spiritual journey seems to have such a cycle to it. In my orbit around God I often feel at aphelion, far and distant.
All I can do is stick to my disciplines as best I can, dry though they may be, scripture, psalms, sacraments, readings, etc.

Practice patience until perihelion and I feel the warmth and closeness again .
 

Akita Suggagaki

Well-Known Member
Jul 20, 2018
10,427
7,478
70
Midwest
✟379,830.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
I think also that my own intention of surrender has something to do with this cycle. When I feel closest to God I am better able to surrender to God's will for me. Is it the closeness that enables this or is it the desire to surrender that brings me closer?

But I like this metaphor of gravity. It is God's pull on us welcoming us to union. But I guess we have the momentum of sin/selfishness that keeps us out there resisting.
 
Upvote 0

Pioneer3mm

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Aug 12, 2018
1,798
1,372
North America
✟739,304.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
When I feel closest to God I am better able to surrender to God's will for me. Is it the closeness that enables this or is it the desire to surrender that brings me closer?
Good point/question..
---
Draw me close to You, never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend
You are my desire, no one else will do
'Cause nothing else can take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find the way, bring me back to You...
---
From song lyrics:
'Draw Me Close'
 
Upvote 0