Life is complicated. I've felt this fact in a number of ways in my life and I want to share bits of pieces of the things that have helped me navigate life. There are a few headers denoting some semblences of "sections" but since different aspects of our lives and attitudes are so interconnected, forgive me if they're not 100% accurate to how others may classify them ;)
Note too that I am a Christian and many things will reflect that here. But, if you're completely against anything Jesus-related, I think you will still find some things here helpful on your journey of life.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions for more tidbits? Feel free to email me at
jojo2k at jojo2k dot com
Pictured: the only known image of the exterior of the JOJO2K Shrine. Don't forget to take a deep breath today.
Some heretics came to Abba Poemen one day and began to speak evil of the archbishop of Alexandria suggesting that he had received the laying on of hands from priests. [In short, some strangers were stirring up controversy here.] [Abba Poemen], who had remained silent till then, called his brother and said, "Set the table, give them something to eat and send them away in peace."
-- Abba Poemen, revered monk from the earliest days of Christian monasticism. The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Ward, p. 178
A man of piety complained to the Baal Shem Tov, saying: "I have labored hard and long in the service of the Lord, and yet I have received no improvement. I am still an ordinary and ignorant person." The Besht answered: "You have gained the realization that you are ordinary and ignorant, and this in itself is a worthy accomplishment.
-- The Spirituality of Imperfection, Kurtz & Ketcham, p. 41
A monk was brought up before the brotherhood for having committed a grevious sin, and it was decided that he would be excommunicated. As the monk left the sanctuary, his head bent in shame, the esteemed Abba Bessarian stood up, fell into step behind his fellow monk and in a clear voice announced, "I too am a sinner."
-- The Spirituality of Imperfection, Kurtz & Ketcham, p. 48
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.
-- Jesus (The Gospel According to St. Matthew, chapter 6)
So, you see, my dear sister, the happiest people are only the least unhappy. The wisest thing, the simplest thing, in all this is to resign oneself to God's will and to prepare ahead of time to carry one's cross as bravely as possible.
-- St. Zelie Martin when afflicted by the pains of cancer. The Extraordinary Parents of St. Therese of Lisieux, Mongin, p. 99
Some people say "the grass is greener on the other side." No it's not! It's BROWN on BOTH sides! Water your own damn grass!
-- A priest I know
Note that some entries here come from the recollection of myself or others, so if you recognize something but with a variation, think of it like another beam of light being reflected through the prism that is the "base" or "original" story. Maybe it's just a different angle! I try and give a source for where I first heard a story here when possible.