KNOW I WALK WITH YOU Transforming Suffering
An Interview with Basil Pennington
By Mary NurrieS tearns

PT: What are the most prevalent ways that suffering is manifested in our individual lives?

Pennington: Many people equate pain with suffering. Because they are so desirous of being free from all pain, pain immediately causes suffering. In meditation you learn to move to another state of consciousness and you leave pain behind, so you gain a growing freedom from pain. In lovingly going out to others, you forget your own pains and sorrows because you are concerned with theirs. For instance, when you visit a retirement home, you find some people in absolute misery. They are taken up with the aches, pains, and limitations that age has brought upon them. They are miserable and they make everyone who comes near them miserable; nobody wants to be near them. Other people who have as much or more aches and pain are outgoing and loving. They are a joy and people like to be with them. Throughout their lives, they gradually schooled themselves, from meditation perhaps and through outgoing love, to leave their pain and suffering behind. For most people, suffering is experienced through pain or frustrations in love—being lonely, not having the persons they love with them, or not having anybody who is in communion love with them.

PT: I appreciate how you link suffering to desire, especially the desire to be free from pain. I thought suffering came more from a sense of separation from a spiritual self or from God.

Pennington: Separation from God is the essential suffering and we call it hell. Many people don’t know that much of the emptiness or longing desire that they suffer from is because they are not in touch with God or whatever name they give Him. Separation is a very real form of suffering in this life. Many, many people suffer because there is nobody in their life. They are not in touch with God, with the inner spirit. They are not in touch with their true selves, and they are not really in touch with anybody else.

PT: When we suffer, whether that suffering comes in the form of physical pain, loss of meaning, or alienation, what can we do?

Pennington: Of ourselves, in a certain sense, we can do nothing. The Lord says, "Without me you can do nothing." But, by the grace of God, and coming directly from Him, or through others who reach out to us, we can begin to open up to reality. The reality is that we are infinitely and tenderly held by the divine. We cease to exist if God does not bring us forth every moment in His creative love. We are united with everybody else in our human nature and in our sharing of a divine nature, so we are never really alone, we have all this union and communion. Getting in touch with that reality is the greatest healing. We can adopt meditative practices which enable us to begin that journey of finding our true inner selves or transcending our separate selves and leave behind some of the pain and suffering. Relief occurs only during the time of meditation until, through meditation and the grace of God, we come to experience the reality beyond our individual selves that then flows over into our lives.

 

A MEDITATION ON BEING
In Isolation Before Me   

Of course there are other ways for you to “Be in Love with Me.” Come before Me in Adoration of My True Presence in the Eucharist on a regular basis.  You will be surprised what the fruits of such visits are within you. I give Peace where there is turmoil. I heal physical ailments. I give each friend who comes before Me momentary breaks from the worries and the concerns of their lives. 

If you cannot come before Me in Adoration of Me, you can find some place in your environment where you can set aside some time to just be with Me in the Silence of your heart. I am here within you 24/7.  I can be found anywhere anytime that you wish to be with Me. That is the beauty of My Divinity.  I am Omni Present. I am the Risen Lord. I can and am with all friends who in their hearts open up some free time to just be with Me.

There is something special about being in Isolation with Me.  Instead of it being solitary confinement, it is an uncovering experience of My Freedom within you that is there just for you at those very moments in your life when you need Me most. 

In fact, I like it best when My friends come before Me in prayer when their need levels are minimal. I recognize that the human way is always fraught with need for Me. However the levels of need vary from moment to moment. Thus, I love it most when your need level is low and you still find time to just be with Me. 

I am the Keeper of the Flame of Love in your heart. I fan the fires of My Love most in those moments of low need when you find time to just be with Me because you recognize Me as your best friend.  Indeed I am that.

Be not afraid. I am here with you. I protect you from harm. I know what concerns you. I will help you deal with this. You know this. We've been through this before. It does nat matter if your concern is physical, emotional, spiritual, relational or all of these elements combined. I am with you through it all.

Oh My friend! Problems are bound to arise in life in temporary. They are inevitable. I also arise within My friends as they face their problems. That is inevitable too. That is why I am here with you at t is very moment in your today.

I take your hand. We face everything together. Thus be at Peace. Allow My Presence to help you. Accept My Words as true. Know I walk with you.

Love,

The Most Holy Spirit

I AM HEALING YOU

 Wait for My Promise to be fulfilled. Rest assured they will be fulfilled. Know that My Word is forever true. What will be, will be! I am with you in all things great and small. My Love always shines through you.

Pause

My friend! I am healing you. I am cleansing your being. Put up with your discomfort. I promise you it will pass. Wait just a little longer. Know that what I do is in your best interests.

Love,

Jesus

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