I have to share about my New Year’s resolution in 2012. I already experienced great problems in life even if I am still in my 20s. I realize how early God let me experience these things.
I asked myself, “What’s really God’s purpose in letting me experience all of this?” I assumed I was into bad karma, realizing that I also have mistakes I have done in my life. But, I think these things are far too much for me personally. I was hoping I’m not experiencing these things.
Last December of 2011, I got to a point of listing my new year’s resolution. But as I read what I wrote, I was thinking not one of them was achievable. I revised what I wrote. To sum all this, I have came up into one New Year’s resolution only, and that is to improve myself first. But, How? I was thinking this is a broad idea and that I cannot make this happen.
Until I have realize something really important, a thing that surely can change me into a better person, someone that is full of love, peace and the good stuffs inside me; and also this would be to let myself experience spiritual discipline in life. I believe that will be the start for me to change myself into better. Having Spiritual disciplines in life, I’m sure I got to handle problems and somehow eliminate all the pain I felt inside.
I used to pray always during the night. I thank God for the blessings, ask forgiveness and I ask blessings for my family and to all the people I know.
However, I do believe praying alone is not enough for me to improve my spiritual discipline in life. I must go to church regularly, to attend prayer groups if possible, to be an active individual to serve God and others. I’m sure these things are possible to happen bit by bit. It just came into my mind which I cannot do all of these things with all the temptations all around us.
I have read a news about a person named Douglas Todd. He would rather be with silent groups to build up his character in life. Thus, he attends retreats regularly. In his post, he was telling something about an author named Merton. Douglas Todd emphasized the book authored by Merton, that was the New Seeds Of Contemplation.
Merton stated, “If you have to live in a city and work among machines and ride in the subways and eat in a place where the radio makes you deaf with spurious news and where the food destroys your life and the sentiments of those around you poison your heart with boredom, do not be impatient, but accept it as the love of God and a seed of solitude planted in your soul.”
“Meanwhile,” he wrote, “keep your sense of compassion for the men and women who have forgotten the very concept of solitude. You, at least, know that it exists, and that it is the source of peace and joy. You can still hope for such joy. They do not even hope for it anymore.”
I was able to reflect about what Merton was telling us. I know his advice will work. By doing those things in our life, It will get us closer into spiritual disciplines in life.