Why We can’t Turn Away From Reality

“The first step in the interior life…is unlearning our wrong ways of seeing, tasting, feeling, and so forth, and acquire a few of the right ones. Renunciation is not an end in itself. It helps us to use things better. It helps us to give them away. If reality revolts us, if we merely turn away from it in disgust, to whom shall we sacrifice it? How shall we consecrate it? How shall we make of it a gift to God and to men?”- Thomas Merton

In my mind, Merton is speaking about the comfort of burying our heads in the sand when we don’t like what we see in the world around us. The problem with this is then nothing can change. When we allow ourselves to feel what upsets us, and see what revolts us, we can begin to understand that it is a symptom of a deep need within ourselves, another, or society. Then we begin to know how to give-up what ultimately harms us and make it sacred.

10/27/2016 Art Event

Another great event working with patients at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital! For those of you that don’t know what we are doing, we are patients helping patients through times of crisis. Bridge’s Healing Notes program began when a patient with a chronic illness realized typical “get-well” cards fall short in speaking to the challenges faced when diagnosed with a serious condition. As a result, she developed a series of cards to inspire during these times. Each card has a hand crafted nature symbol that represents a different strength that is needed in a health crisis. Bridges’ Healing Notes program facilitates events to pass out cards, talk about a card’s healing symbol, and then asks each patient to pick a nature symbol to draw for another patient. In this way patients help support one another through serious illness. Help us keep this program going by donating donate here
or buy our printed cards that are great to give to friends or family that are struggling with any kind of crisis in their lives. Buy cards at  https://bridgestopatientempowerment.org/products/

 

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