Michael F Conrad

Messages from the Edge of Time Michael F Conrad

One of the exciting results of praying Lectio Divina, after a period of getting used to wild and unexpected topics popping into my mind, is where the Holy Spirit takes your mind and heart. Here is an example: Last Thanksgiving, we had the traditional dinner of turkey, both mashed and sweet potatoes, dressing, peas, green beans, cornbread with real corn in it, gravy, cranberries, plus apple pie and, of course, the traditional pumpkin pie. The point is, there is always too much good food to eat at one sitting. We count on eating leftovers for two or three days. Love those turkey sandwiches. I can remember the feeling of being so bloated from all that delicious food. I had eaten more than my fill. The idea of "capacitas dei," or making room for God, is like that Thanksgiving dinner. In my spiritual journey, I am usually not bloated on living the Life of Christ. In fact, I find that I am usually full of myself and not full enough of Jesus. As a Lay Cistercian, striving always to have in me the mind of Christ Jesus (Phl. 2:5), seeking more capacitas dei, and daily conversion of the mind and heart to be more like Christ, I must struggle to take up my cross and follow The Master. This book is a reflective Internet Retreat about some topics on how to have a mindset of conversion of self to God. It is filled with blogs from my site: www.thecenterforcontemplativepractice.org Those who wait before the Blessed Sacrament, proclaiming the death of the Lord until he comes in glory, will find these reflections helpful.