Oprah’s Church? What Do You Believe?

Oprah has been for me a person who demonstrated that we can accomplish a lot in life, even against the odds. I watch her show every week and I’m a subscriber of her monthly magazine, but one thing I’ve learned in life is to KNOW WHAT I BELIEVE. I won’t judge her because she is acting according to what she knows about her faith at this point, only God has the right to judge on this matter. There is a lot of different teachings, faiths, beliefs out there and we can’t blame this or the other for the loss of our faith. When life doesn’t go exactly as we thought it should we can’t blame the media, books, people, music etc. Yes, the media have a tremendous influence in our way of thinking but it is ultimately US who by our ignorance are driven into situations of this magnitude.

When I heard the announcement for this class something told me it wasn’t right. I tried to listen to the first class but technical difficulties didn’t let me finish it. I thought about listening to it later after it was posted on her site. Then I went to the store and saw the book displayed and stop to look through it, I could tell right away it didn’t go with my Christian belief. By reading a blog review of the book I found out it had Budhist ideas integrated into it, called it Budhism 101 written into a more easy to understand terms.

I’m not trying to condone the bad influence some communication mediums are doing to believers in general but what I would like to do is put responsability back on the shoulders of those who know about Jesus and what he is about. He came personally to teach us how to live and how to gain eternal life, if we choose to believe something else or listen to others than the witnesses of his teachings we are entitled to do so, but we are also entitled to the consequences.

As Christians what we are called to do is to continue to grow in the knowledge of our faith and share it with others. Each individual in turn will respond to the message or not. It is our responsability to share it to the best of our ability and move on, but we are also called to defend it. We can’t force anyone to believe on what we believe but we have the right to hold fast to our faith.

I believe that many people are driving to all of this kind of thinking because their spirit is hungry. We have starved our spiritual life to such a degree that we don’t even know what it is anymore. My belief is that we were created by God and that is who our soul yearns for. If we only take care of our body and not the soul sooner or later we feel that something is missing and it is.

Faith is a personal choice and we are ultimately responsible for our own life and what we do with it. All we can do is live it to best of our knowledge and ability, expose our belief along the way and guide those who are willing to listen.

We need to pick our battles and this one is one we need to trust God to conquer with the life of Christians as testimony. What’s your opinion?

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Clary Lopez, author of Simplicity, Richness of Life

Personal Denial

“Trials are nothing else but the forge that purifies the soul of all its imperfections.” St. M. Magdalene de Pazzi

During the Lenten season we are called to deny ourselves, to purify our soul and get closer to God. To see ourselves as we really are; weak, broken, imperfect.

Nobody like trials, we hear about people going through them and we thank God that we are doing fine. But when trials come your way there is no better thing to do but to embrace them. To run from it will only delay the resolution of the same.

Every trial that I have experienced served to forge a new dimension of my spiritual growth. God knows me better than anyone on earth and he knows what I need to get closer to him, but what amazes me is that he manages to bring good out of every bad situation in my life. I might not see it right away but with time and after the scales are lifted from my eyes I’m able to understand that the trial was only a vehicle to transform me and help move forward to do his will in my life and that of others.

Lately I’ve been preocuppied about me and my feelings, so the Lord put before me couple of trials I must endure in order to make me lift my eyes off me and onto others. I’ve been called to be strong and supportive. By giving I won’t worry too much about receiving, and by sacrificing I become stronger to endure pain and suffering. It is all there in front of me, there is no way to avoid it and I must prepare myself spiritually to endure it. I must take the necessary steps to be prepared to make wise decisions.

Right now I feel that I’m the unlikely candidate to handle the situation, but somehow I trust it will be God and not me doing so. I must step aside and let him work through me, it is only then that I’m able to do what he asks me to. If I dare try to do anything on my own I know I will fail, I must lean on him. Surrender, denial, renunciation three words that most people run away from and yet it is the essence to be strong, powerful, influential and transforming with God’s grace.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 we read: And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My stregth is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I’m weak, then I am strong.

The Need for Silence

Photography by Clary Lopez Copyright 2006

In a little over a month I will be taking my yearly silent retreat. It is a time I look forward to, however I understand that not many people are used to silence. “Silent retreat? What’s that?” some have asked me. It’s a retreat in which you don’t speak for two and a half days. “Oh my God, how am I going to do that?” Well, I would say by not talking…

I will listen to spiritual talks throughout the day and then reflect on them. Sometimes I walk the grounds you see on this picture. There is plenty to explore and as I walk and listen to the sound of the ground beneath my feet, I feel the heat, cold or breeze on my face. If I’m ambitious enough I can walk a mile and reach the Benedictine Monastery and go into the church or across the street and spend some time at the grotto. The monks get together a few times a day for prayer. I usually take my camera with me and take pictures at the escapes I want to take home with me when I’m far away from this wonderful place.

Silence drives me to dig deep and to hear God’s voice if he wishes to communicate with me. It is rare that I get to this point but first I must create the ideal situation for him to work with my spirit.

Sometimes I just go to my room and read or journal my thoughts and reflections. There is a stillness that you can hardly get anywhere else unless you do this kind of retreat. Life is too busy, too noisy, too fast for this kind of situation to be recreated at home. I try my best to get this periods of times whenever I can and I need to let others know of my intentions. I can’t be listening to radio or TV all day long, I need some down time. Balancing the physical and the spiritual is important to me and I’m sure it is good for everyone, but not everybody understands it. One day they are all stressed out, depressed or with a nervous breakdown and they wonder why. To me is simple, don’t forget to take time for yourself and by yourself. Don’t forget your dreams and passions in life. Take time to laugh and time to cry. Show others how much you love them and care for them. Take care of those who need help. Say something nice to someone you know or to a stranger. It is simple.

One of my mottoes is: “Be silent and speak when necessary.”

Reconciled

Photography by Clary Lopez

Lent marks for me the journey within, a deep reflection of who I am and who I would like to be. I fall short of so many great ideals and I must persevere in this life never losing hope to start fresh one more time.

At Immaculate Conception Church, Jacksonville, FL they still have a confessional, and reconciliation before Mass. I go in after examining my conscience determined to make my peace with God and I get out brand new. Not only that but I also receive special graces to help me do better the next time I face temptation.

I’m going through a lot these days and sometimes feel overwhelmed. When I feel I can’t take it no more I looked up to the crucifix, that’s love. Then I realise that what I’m going through is nothing compared to that sacrifice.

One thing I learn during this season is to keep my eyes off myself and on Jesus. I am not accustomed to that but by making a decision to sacrifice something during this time it helps me to get the most out of it. To get rid of bad habits, bad aptitudes, bad influences, selfishness, apathy, laziness and many other things that keeps me from being what God intended me to be.

As I begin this journey I hope, that like years before, it strenghtens me spiritually in order to complete my earthly mission.