The grille is a powerful symbol. In the cloistered
heart way of life we describe here, it is the important symbol. It
is a place of separation and, just as importantly, it is a place of
encounter. It is only through the grille that some cloistered individuals
connect with the world.
Every human being has been given, by God, a way to connect with the world. A way to see situations correctly; a way to interact with others appropriately.
God invites each one of us to view and respond to every person and every circumstance through His will.
We do not have to guess what that will is. God has revealed it to us. Scripture and the authentic teachings of the Church make up the bars of our grille.
One exercise that I've found helpful over the years is to write scriptures on pictures of grillwork, or sometimes on pieces of plain cardboard on which I've drawn a simple 'grid' of squares. I have gone so far as to cut out the holes on some of these. It's a simple little 'craft,' but it does help drive the point home for me. I am not so good at remembering to see and respond to people and circumstances 'through the grille,' so I benefit from a stream of tangible reminders.
The important thing, of course, is to become familiar with my 'grillwork.' I have a number of Bibles in my home - do I read them?
Every human being has been given, by God, a way to connect with the world. A way to see situations correctly; a way to interact with others appropriately.
God invites each one of us to view and respond to every person and every circumstance through His will.
We do not have to guess what that will is. God has revealed it to us. Scripture and the authentic teachings of the Church make up the bars of our grille.
One exercise that I've found helpful over the years is to write scriptures on pictures of grillwork, or sometimes on pieces of plain cardboard on which I've drawn a simple 'grid' of squares. I have gone so far as to cut out the holes on some of these. It's a simple little 'craft,' but it does help drive the point home for me. I am not so good at remembering to see and respond to people and circumstances 'through the grille,' so I benefit from a stream of tangible reminders.
The important thing, of course, is to become familiar with my 'grillwork.' I have a number of Bibles in my home - do I read them?
Do I spend time in prayer
with Scripture?
Do I allow the Word of God to form my mind and heart, so I can
interact with the world as I am called to do?
As I have been writing this, I've been constantly reminded of a television commercial (I think for insurance) in which someone asks about the contents of our wallets. The contents of our minds are obviously of much more importance. 'Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God's will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.' (Romans 12:0). It is a vital bar of our grille.
The grillwork of God's Word to us is perfect, made-for-us-insurance when we face the world around us.
What's on YOUR grille?
As I have been writing this, I've been constantly reminded of a television commercial (I think for insurance) in which someone asks about the contents of our wallets. The contents of our minds are obviously of much more importance. 'Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God's will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.' (Romans 12:0). It is a vital bar of our grille.
The grillwork of God's Word to us is perfect, made-for-us-insurance when we face the world around us.
What's on YOUR grille?
This is a repost from our archives. It is linked to Reconciled to You and Theology is a Verb for 'It's Worth Revisiting Wednesday.'
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