A New Pattern

We have a pattern problem. We have developed behaviors that we practice consistently, habitually, and without much thought. We start practicing these behaviors before we crawl out of bed in the morning and condition ourselves to practice them before we lay our heads on our pillows at night. When we realize that some of these behaviors are negative or destructive, we have a battle on our hands removing them. When we determine to introduce positive practices to the mix, we find that there is no room for the old is crowding out the new. The first change is in our attitudes . Then we can address behaviors. We need new patterns. We need to replace old, worn-out,, useless and even harmful behaviors with newer, more nurturing and positive actions. What are the steps?

• First, we must make the determination that we are going to introduce change into our lives. This comes out of careful evaluation and resolve.
• We must pray for guidance and strength. Our creative God will work with our creative minds to create a new scenario and unveil options we have never considered.
• Then, we must do the hard work of being institutional and aware. We must accept that change is awkward and new behaviors may be “forced,” contrived, manipulative, or uncomfortable. We must practice them anyway.
• We must repeat the new behavior (which includes avoidance of the old) day after day, keeping some sort of record of our progress.
• We must allow grace for the failures and celebrate the victories and patterns begin to change in our lives.

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Big Ideas

Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire. - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Since once again, O Lord, in the steppes of Asia, I have no bread, no wine, no altar, I will raise myself above those symbols to the pure majesty of reality, and I will offer to you, I, your priest, upon the altar of the entire earth, the labor and the suffering of the world. - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.—Gilbert K. Chesterton

Perfect love is rare indeed - for to be a lover will require that you continually have the subtlety of the very wise, the flexibility of the child, the sensitivity of the artist, the understanding of the philosopher, the acceptance of the saint, the tolerance of the scholar and the fortitude of the certain. - Leo Buscaglia

Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried. - Gilbert K. Chesterton

A room without books is like a body without a soul.—Gilbert K. Chesterton

You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.— Henry Drummond

Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.—Henry Van Dyke

Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.—Albert Einstein

Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says 'I need you because I love you.' - Erich Fromm

Some people are so afraid do die that they never begin to live. -
Henry Van Dyke

Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired. - Robert Frost

An empty stomach is not a good political adviser. - Albert Einstein

An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered. - Gilbert K. Chesterton

When once you have tasted flight you will always walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward: for there you have been and there you will always be. - Henry Van Dyke

It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein