"Why did so many of the saints suffer grievous physical afflictions? Paul had his thorn in the flesh, Francis his blindness and ravishing diseases, Teresa her morning sickness and constant discomfort. Sometimes the only prayer that can be made is one that is wrung out of suffering: "Lord, take this pain; it is the only gift I have to give." (emphasis mine--and for me, I figure the pain can be emotional and not necessarily physical)
Her book has such clarity, and the older I get it's more valid. Curiously enough, I figured by this time of my life (53) that I'd have things figured out. Ha. Guess I thought my personal maturity would spill over to show that my life was more on an even keel. Ha again. Having older children doesn't equal out to having a life that's more orderly, just busier in a different sort of way.
Anyway, in same thread, wanted to share a link I found tonight when I was searching for an e-text of The Cloud of Unknowing---an ancient book written by a monk about contemplative prayer. That book and several others are on my Wish List at Amazon, and have waited to get them. I was able to go to this Catholic site (catholicfirst.com) and cut/paste St. John of the Cross' Dark Night of the Soul, Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, Orthodoxy by Chesterton, and the Cloud of Unknowing. They formatted beautifully too. Amazing. Just thought you'd like to know.
