If only we could have one day, or perhaps half a day, without problems. Impossible. Probably we had in in the paradise, which we have lost. More and more I understand that that’s what life is all about. About the constant struggle. At making new afforts to overcome difficulties. The time to rest will come later.
When our hearts beat and our breasts move in respiration, it means that the body is still alive. Problems and difficulties show, on the other hand, that we have a next opportunity for our love to grow more mature. And the next. And the following.
When our heart and respiration stop, we will have only one worry left: that we cannot retrieve those moments that were given us to overcome our weakness. Therefore recently, when I feel overwhelmed by the following day, I cling to the hope that I will manage, even though I have no more strength left, and I thank for the new opportunity to grow.
Michał
If only we could have one day, or perhaps half a day, without problems. Impossible. Probably we had in in the paradise, which we have lost. More and more I understand that that’s what life is all about. About the constant struggle. At making new efforts to overcome difficulties. The time to rest will come later.
When our hearts beat and our breasts move in respiration, it means that the body is still alive. Problems and difficulties show, on the other hand, that we have a next opportunity for our love to grow more mature. And the next one. And the following.
When our heart and respiration stop, we will have only one worry left: that we cannot retrieve those moments that were given us to overcome our weakness. Therefore recently, when I feel overwhelmed by the following day, I cling to the hope that I will manage, even though I have no more strength left, and I thank for the new opportunity to grow.
He was a well clad, polite gentleman. He came into my office at the end of my duty on Saturday. He said that he’d locked his car keys in the car and that he had to go back to get the other set. And that he had some paint mixing facility and he would give the money back. Well, perhaps not on Saturday but surely on Monday. He’ll give back those 10 PLN that he needs. And he asked what he could give me as a collateral. Because he could gladly give me anything.
I’m talking to him, smiling to him and to myself. I’m telling him that I don’t need any collateral and that many people came here. Some didn’t have enough money to buy a ticket, some to buy medicines (the pharmacy is close at hand), some to buy bread in the nearby discount shop… And I smile again. And I’m giving him the 10 PLN because I remember a certain nun who is a streetworker. She says that we should watch out and not let ourselves be abused. It is clear. But she also said something that stuck in my memory: that in spite of all these things we should not kill those impulses of the heart.
It is so difficult today. If I suspect that someone’s lying then perhaps it’s better not to give. But I do not identify completely with the indifference and calculating that somebody’s cheating and lying. I want to see all the people who come to me. How should I help them? How can I preserve this creativity of charity that John Paul II called for so urgently?
How do you manage to do it?
Michał
image one
During one of Dr Hilgers’s lectures, a gynecologist told him about one of his cases:
A woman came to ask for prescribing contraceptives. The doctor explained the harmfulness of the side-effects of such “therapy”. The patient wouldn’t change her mind, so the doctor gave her all the details. In the end the woman thanked for the information but said that any of the aforementioned side-effects would be better than a baby.
image two
During the Program I stayed with a young married couple with two small children. They gave a place for me in their home and in their hearts. I didn’t perhaps observe, but actually took part in their everyday life: kids waking up in tears at night, illness of one of them, and then their mum’s illness, bustling about between school, doctor and work. Evening conversations with the effort to make the right decision. Monthly budget. Ordinary life. But with so much care for each other, so much gift of oneself!
From the two images, I choose the second one. This is the world I believe in, this is the world I want to build. I hope to meet you on that path.
P.S.
I’ll never forget the view of my host, moving about the kitchen with rosary beads in his hand. And I would like to thank the Lady of the House for her concern for me.
Michał
What was the most amazing thing for me during the last week?
Was it the fact that Dr Hilgers – together with his whole Team – ran a complete NaProTechnology Education Program for the first time outside Omaha, outside the US, far behind the Ocean, in Poland? No, I don’t think that would be it.
And maybe the fact that almost 100 participants had come from different countries: Croatia, Germany, Ireland, Lithuanien, Slevenia, Ukraine, France, England and Nigeria? No, that’s not it, either.
Was it the fact that we had a press conference and tv filming here, that Dr Hilgers was interviewed? No, that’s not it for sure.
The most amazing thing was the committment and sacrifice on the part of the whole US Team – so that we could understand and learn as much as possible. Each day I also felt enormous respect for the other students, who made such a great effort during the EPI. There were so many pregnant women. Also the mothers with small babies at their breast – they had to bring together both the study and looking after their offspring. You could see gratitude on the faces of those who had left their wife or husband at home. You could hear this gratitude in their phone conversations. I’m coming back home today with the same gratitude.
And I thank you very much for your prayers.
Michał
I’ve been to many conferences. In some of them – even several hundred participants took part. The speakers came from all over the world. But there is something in the Education Program here which definitely makes a difference. We’ve come here to acquire some knowledge, of course. But we are united by the fact that we want to use this knowledge for something bigger than just ourselves. We would like to build a better world. The world in which problems are never sold at the cost of another human being.
Nobody feels more important than another in that process. The Head of Gynecology Ward from one of the hospitals is eager to share his experience with me. Another doctor approaches me to ask where my medical practice is. And, as usual, it ends with an outburst of laughter. I have to admit that most of my interlocutors have problems with the “VMD” before my name on the badge: Veterinary Medical Doctor. The other doctors have just MD! When I give them explanation, we laugh together.
I’ll repeat after Father J: we’re asking for your support.
Michał
Sometimes you feel this huge need to pity yourself. To let the whole world know how much you’re suffering. So that the world could hurry to comfort you.
I felt like that, too. And that was when She arrived at our place – a young, beautiful woman. She was fighting to save her marriage. We supported her. Now she has to fight for her own self, for her dignity. She looked me in the eyes and said that even though it hurts so much, she is happy – because she can feel the proximity of God greater than before.
And I was ashamed. My longing for self-pity was gone.
I don’t know why for some people things didn’t work. And I have no idea why I’ve received so much that I can’t complain. The people I have in mind did not “deserve” being hurt so much. Neither did I deserve what I’ve got.
There’s only one thing I know: in both situations God speaks to us. And the ones who are crying out to Him from the depth of their wounds happen to be closer to hearing His voice than whose who forget about calling out to Him in joy. And with gratitude.
Michał
— „You are the most beautiful woman in the world!”
I saw at once I’d missed.
—„You bake the best pies!”
I was didn’t get too many points for that one.
— „You look great… you are the most wonderful mother…”
I was trying to meet the needs. Unfortunately, the effect was poor.
—“Maybe you could tell me what you want to hear. Can you teach me?”
The lesson turned into a very nice evening. It’s good to start dialogue. 🙂
Michał
or a perfect parent:
Rembrandt, The Return of the Prodigal Son (fragment)
Two shades of irrevocable love:
Love which accepts unconditionally, tender, selfless, giving comfort- associated more with the love of a mother.
Love which requires, gives the impulse to reach out, firm, encouraging and equipping the other with confidence – associated more with the love of a father.
They need to go together, as one palm needs the other.
It was our community’s day of reflection. And Adoration, too. The chapel wasn’t too big. But the light in it seemed not to be sufficient. So many families, and many more children. Buzz, noise. The pews squeaking with every movement. Some children were taking part in rosary prayer, some were walking around the chapel, some were filing a request for changing the place of their stay to their parents. One small boy quietly enjoyed sightseeing in the presbytery with the Holy Sacrament in the middle of it. Everyone was pursuing as much silence in their hearts, as they could afford. For sure, the yearning for silence was much greater than the actual experience. And among all that – He himself, God.
And it occured to me: isn’t our life just like that? Is it not what any family’s everyday reality is like? You could say: chaos in thousands of variations. And it is only up to us – to make this chaos a space available for Him to walk around. He doesn’t like being an unwanted guest. He wants so much to be invited. Wanted.
Stay with us, Lord.
Michał
