Under stress, duress, severe financial difficulties, or any reason for anxieties, the mind retreats or becomes aggressive.
God has given us natural survival instincts.
He has also given us grace.
As the fabric of so many usual organizations in our societies unravel, as we see changes happening quickly in the health systems, educational institutions, even Church organizations, many people, especially the old, may experience a dislocation in their thinking.
The youth of our day have been accommodated to many changes and are more flexible. Youth is always, by definition, more flexible than the older persons in society.
What I have been noticing among peers and those older is a reluctance to understand what is happening around us. There is much confusion is several areas of our lives at this time. Take my friends in small businesses, or in the health fields, like a woman I know who is a finance director for a large clinic.
These good people simply do not know what is happening with all the changes in the national health plan, Obamacare. Even some doctors are confused.
Of course, if the health professionals are confused, the patients will be more confused.
But, the changes in health care are not the only huge changes. Older people have to face the closure of parishes, community centers run by the Church, and so on.
Those people with children are facing the changes brought about by the Core Curriculum, which is simply, a terrible change, which Catholic parents will not be able to accept.
Changes cause confusion. Stability allows for mental clarity.
So, how does one maintain mental clarity in the midst of all these changes?
Like people displaced by war or natural disasters, people may not be coping well.
That brings us to the real need for faith, hope, love.
Without being totally centered on Christ, without accepting His Will in our lives, we shall be easy prey to anxiety and stress.
Only the peace and calm of Christ can transcend the many changes in our society which are happening so fast.
The growing decadence and the institutionalization of sin also cause this confusion among many.
A very good priest in England spoke against the ssm bill over and over again for two weeks before the passage of that bill. He rightly said that the bill would forever change the lives of our children and grandchildren.
And yet, many Catholics had become so confused that they could not understand his courageous pleas to contact the MPs.
Confusion is always from Satan.
Order, clarity, calm are from God.
How does one maintain order, clarity, calm?
Only in God is peace and light.
Only in the one, true religion can there be order and clarity.
Truth wins out over confusion and over stress and anxiety.
But, we must cooperate with grace in all these matters.
When I wrote the other day that we cannot compromise, I could have emphasized more that compromise causes the softening of the clear conscience, which leads to confusion.
Clarity of mind comes with humility, grace, obedience to God's Laws-all of them.
Do you feel anxious and fearful? I had a moment today when I realized that if I had my injured foot attended to, it would have cost me over 3,400 dollars minimum, which I do not have.
I cancelled the appointment, as I abhor debt. I am not afraid of pain. But, I shall not get into debt if I can help it.
The moment passed, and I made yet another obeisance to the Will of God in my life. He is in charge.
Do not be afraid. Learn to be strong so that you can help others who will panic as things fall apart.
Your strength may be the only oasis of clarity of mind for many.
Pray, think, reflect, act. Only God can be the Center of our being and if He is, we shall find His peace, which passes all understanding.
If you do not yet believe in the coming persecution, read this article and the comments.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-raushenbush/cardinal-dolan-gay-marriage-_b_4364273.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
Romans 8:38-39
Douay-Rheims
38 For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.