Sacrifices for Growth and Greatness

I brought up the issue of "self-mortification" during my time with L, an Opus Dei member.

Let's define this "religiousese" word:

MORTIFICATION: the practice of asceticism by discipline to overcome desire and to strengthen the will.

Bearing sacrifice makes one not take for granted that which one aspires toward..a sense that one can overcome their desires and grow in strengthening one's will.

A dancer spends years of countless hours to develop grace and strength, bending their body in positions not natural yet making it look effortless after years of practice, a musician's technique is no accident... controlling independent fingers to be agreeable and expressive is not easy... and the writer, artist and athelete grows their greatness in the spaces of solitude. Conversations are exchanged for silence so that creativity has a clearing.

And so I understood, L's practice of "self-mortification" .... "small sacrifices" in order to grow self-discipline, mindfulness of the inner conversations, and appreciation of life by creating struggles to humble one from being attached to personal suffering. It's the lessons and creativity that one is embracing... not the "pain."

Without mindful focus on balance, the artist and athelete could injure themselves if they blindly allow ego to drive them into a maschoistic regime... and such mindfulness is required of spiritual exercise as well. A trained musician and a coached athelete knows which boundaries to push to challenge oneself.

The fruits of these sacrifices can be seen by what a person produces... is their life a work of artistry and excellence... or as the people of Opus Dei strive for... a work of God.

JNET

Opus Dei

For several years now, I've gone back and forth in my consideration for taking on a life of religious vocation.

G took me to visit with his sister in the Bay Area who is a numerary of Opus Dei and I was charmed by the sisterhood life that L is living. She is an optometrist and she lives with a diverse group of women that are the best of friends. There was a lot of laughter shared over a lemon meringue pie. Opus dei's philosophy of life is that the daily life is a "work of God".... therefore, being a great teacher, optometrist, college student, or homemaker can be lived to the gratitude and celebration of God.

L lives in a beautiful community and all the women; young and older are absolutely lovely people... inside and out. I asked my questions regarding the image that the book "The Da Vinci Code" creates about their organization and found it absolutely funny that a work of fiction has managed to create such distortion.

Is Opus Dei for me?

Opus Dei certainly has a certain appeal that contrasts with the ascetic life of a nun. Knowing myself, I know I am not a perfect fit for a cloistered Christian life. Not that I think that having a faith and being committed to its corresponding community is wrong or insular. It is due to their special commitment that the health of their spiritual community grows and thrives. They are a system of people that are essential but no better than other systems. Does a body think the nervous system better than the immune system?

L and her friends have found and created their home.

My place in this spiritual world is still under construction. I don't have a "name" for that home or a certain community that I belong to exclusively...

But I certainly consider life as an opportunity to celebrate and live as an "opus dei" a work of God. My champagne days continue toasting to the beauty and diversity of life.

JNET

"Leadershipis much more an art, a belief,
a condition of the heart,
than a set of things to do.
The visible signs of artful leadership are expressed,
ultimately, in its practice."

Max Depree

Happy 2007!!!

I had a perfect New Year's Day.

My champagne day began at the stroke of midnight. And I want to continue having champagne thoughts for the rest of the year. It's my favorite drink and with good reason... You can never be sad having a glass of champagne.

Mystic made a surprise appearance at my party that pleased me. I like sweet surprises. I didn't get to sleep until nearly 5am. I woke up a bit dizzy after a few hours of rest but jumped out of bed happy and cleaned up before heading out to a brunch in Westwood to join the Greene Knight who I haven't seen in almost a year to meet and make new friends.

I have a game to play this year and that's to have champagne thoughts... live like that world is at my feet, full of delight and celebration...a bit of boldness that tickles the mind but full of gratitude toasting to life.

Want to play with me? I think it'll be a really FUN year. 2007.... I love it!

JNET