When the night becomes your only clear mind, take it.

When the night becomes your only clear mind, take it.

Thoughts from the Spirit can be used when there are no outside interferences especially with other people asking questions or TV’s reaching for attention.  This morning (3:30 AM) has been one of those periods where it is better to open my PC than to lie in bed counting the stars or sheep if there are any around.  

One troubling aspect can allow our mind to wander in regards to what the past day presented us with useless thoughts of what someone might have said or at least intimated and paranoid threats begin to include our sense of judgment keeping us awake for hours on end.  This is where the Holy Spirit can direct our spiritual pleasure of something holy and without the premise of judging in our mind that leads nowhere.

In the world of trying to do the best with our talents we find ourselves struggling to be neighborly even in our quiet periods of reflection that may not have a positive outcome.  Imagine for a moment if Christ and his closest apostles had taken time to make judgments on the people that they were ministering with; the ultimate result might have been a disaster since the aspect of judgment would have taken over.  

Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury.  He becomes guilty: 

Of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true,  without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;

Of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them;

Of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.  (CCC 2477).

This type of uncontrolled activity can bring anyone down to negative approaches in their own mind and lead to events that appear to change their own self-respect.  Christ never once condemned anyone (except the Pharisees in their hypocrisy) allowing them to use their own faith to bring a healing upon themselves.  Even the criminal on the cross asking Jesus to remember him when he entered his kingdom.  “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  (Lk 23: 42 - 43).

To those whom we seem to criticize even in our sleepless nights must get a fair opportunity to be forgiven and start over in our minds.

Ralph B. Hathaway