Uncategorized – Page 4 – Naked Soul Thoughts

I Once Was Lost

“I once was lost, but now am found.” Amazing Grace is not typically associated with Catholicism. I think it has meaning for converts and returning Catholics. Actually, for anyone who has had a crisis of faith and eventually had it restored, I think the words resonate. Yes, the theology of grace varies, but the needContinue reading “I Once Was Lost”

Upside Down

Everything is turning upside down. What I thought was certain, I’m doubting. What I thought I knew, seems foreign. The path I took looked promising, but led back to the beginning. Pleasing progress now presents as pride’s folly. Am I going forward or just falling down? Am I striving for a better me, or justContinue reading “Upside Down”

Comfort and Paradox

I read a lot to start my day, daily scripture readings, various online sites, various spiritual sources. And I often find that I see something in the array of readings that I don’t see if I only read one. I usually start with the emails that I’ve signed up for. Today, I started with PopeContinue reading “Comfort and Paradox”

Hope in Christ

“If we have hope in Christ for this life only, we are of all men the most to be pitied.” 1 Corinthians 15:19. What if we have hope in Christ for the next life only? What if we have decided on some level that it’s too late for us in this life? That our dreamsContinue reading “Hope in Christ”

Is Your Life Working?

Is your life working? I subscribe to Dynamic Catholic. I am following Matthew Kelly’s Lenten program using his book I Heard God Laugh. In the Ash Wednesday episode, he asks: Is your life working? Not really. I am much closer to God and faith than I was a couple years ago. I examine my lifeContinue reading “Is Your Life Working?”

Pope’s Missio of 2/13/2021

“When our faith is reduced to empty words, unconcerned with the lives and needs of others, the creed we profess proves inconsistent with the life we lead.” Pope Francis has a way of articulating things I feel so well. I feel disturbed about the church’s focus on abortion above all other issues. For most Catholics,Continue reading “Pope’s Missio of 2/13/2021”

Power of Love

In Pope Francis’ Missio of 2/2/2021 he states that salvation is a gift of love offered to human salvation. He describes a love with freedom that evokes an equally free response. It decisively changes the way we think such that we want to follow Jesus and act as Jesus did. I recalled it as IContinue reading “Power of Love”

Doubt: Read the Book, part 4

I’ve said quite a bit about how Brian MacClaren’s book, Faith Beyond Doubt, spoke to my story of finding faith beyond doubt. I am into the part of the book that is reminding me to go read other books he has mentioned. And as I am juggling various books, I think it’s time to say:Continue reading “Doubt: Read the Book, part 4”

Doubt: Exploring Doubt, part 3

In the fall of 2012, two friends invited me to the church they attended, though neither were members at the time. That particular Presbyterian church is very socially active, involved in building Habitat homes in the States and Guatemala, volunteering at a food kitchen, preparing bags of food and hygiene items for the homeless, theContinue reading “Doubt: Exploring Doubt, part 3”

Doubt: Time of Doubt, part 2

I started reading Faith after Doubt yesterday. I have read far enough to know that it speaks deeply to some of my faith doubts and experience returning to faith. One paragraph stood out, because it is where I am an exception to the rule. Or, perhaps time will show there are more people like myself.Continue reading “Doubt: Time of Doubt, part 2”