John 16:21
“When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.”

There is a pattern in life all around us. It is the pattern of dying and rising. Franciscan priest Richard Rohr in his book Falling Upward writes: “Reality, creation, nature itself, what I call the “First Body of Christ,” has no choice in the matter of necessary suffering. It lives the message without saying yes or no to it. The “Second Body of Christ,” the formal church, always has the freedom to say yes or no. That freedom allows it to say no much of the time, especially to any talk of dying, stumbling, admitting mistakes, or falling. Yet God seems ready and willing to wait for, and to empower, free will and a free “yes.” Love only happens in the realm of freedom.” A woman’s “yes” in giving birth to her child is a beautiful example of following Christ’s example of dying to yourself. New life follows…and in that loving act…there is transformation. May we all say “yes” to God’s invitation to “dying” to our “false selves”…so that our “true selves” can be born.

Suggested song of the day—“Seasons” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!