What's Lurking in the Foyer?

I don't like it when ugly, vile, distressing thoughts barge into the 'foyer' of my mind. Because I haven't been called out of the world in a physical sense, these have fairly easy access. At any moment, they might whisper from newspapers, blare from TVs, and sneak in via conversations overheard in checkout lines.

I do have influence over some of what's allowed to enter. I know how to change a television channel.  I do not have to attend movies in which I know there are unacceptable scenes. I can often switch topics if someone's conversation veers into areas of gossip. I realize that once disturbing or sinful thoughts have gained admittance, they often set up camp and yammer at me through the grille for days or weeks to come.  They can cause my mind to wander into areas where I do not want it to go. If entertained, they can lead me right into sin.

I am well advised, therefore, to boot unholy ideas from my mind at the earliest possible moment. Mine is not a wise choice if I spend time with them, entertain them, or invite them in to sit down and present their case. "When an evil thought is presented to the mind," said St. Alphonsus Liguori, "we must immediately endeavour to turn our thoughts to God."

"Our thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise."  (Philippians 4:8)

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive, to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

"Certain attitudes deriving from the mentality of 'this present world' can penetrate our lives if we are not vigilant."  (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2727)

"Fix your thoughts on Jesus, Whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest." (Hebrews 3:1)

"Close your ears to the whisperings of hell and bravely oppose its onslaughts."  (St. Clare)

"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God's will, His good, pleasing and perfect will."  (Romans 12:2)

"Disown by a brief and simple act every kind of thought that is contrary to divine love, saying: 'I renounce all thoughts that are not for You, O my God; I disown them and cast them off forever.'  And then when they attack you, you do not have to do anything except to say from time to time: 'O God I have rejected this, You know I have.'" (St. Francis de Sales)

Text not in quotes © 2015 Nancy Shuman thecloisteredheart.org 

Guarding the Foyer

I know.  I keep using photos of the same grillwork, the same exact foyer! 

It is appropriate to do so, actually, because those living behind a grille look into the same foyer (or "reception room") day after day.  And in the analogy of the cloistered heart, so do I.  I think of the "foyer"as my mind, the place where thoughts wander in and out.

I do not have total control over what thoughts gain access to the parlor.    Even to walk through a mall or glance at a newspaper is to open the doorways of my senses to a multitude of ideas.  However, I do have some influence over what thoughts enter in the first place.  If I go to a movie in which I know there are fear-inducing or lustful scenes, I am giving disturbing thoughts free access to the foyer.  If I listen to gossip, I'm opening my mind to uncharitable judgements.  If I dwell at length on how I have been "wronged," or on how bad I feel today, I am setting myself up for self-pity  My intention may not be to have negative, unloving, self-focused thoughts lingering around - but once these have been admitted, they often set up camp and yammer at me through the grille for days and weeks to come.  These can do much to distract me from God and His will for me.  They can cause my mind to wander into areas where I do not want it to go.  They can, if I don't boot them out, lead me into sin.

Over the years, I've collected a few choice "pieces of grillwork" that help me gain some perspective.... 

"Our thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise."  (Philippians 4:8)

"We.. bring every thought into captivity to make it obedient to Christ."  (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

"Certain attitudes deriving from the mentality of 'this present world' can penetrate our lives if we are not vigilant."  (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 2727)

"Close your ears to the whisperings of hell and bravely oppose its onslaughts."  (St. Clare)

"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God's will, His good, pleasing and perfect will."  (Romans 12:2)

"Disown by a brief and simple act every kind of thought that is contrary to divine love, saying: 'I renounce all thoughts that are not for You, O my God; I disown them and cast them off forever.'  And then when they attack you, you do not have to do anything except to say from time to time: 'O God I have rejected this, You know I have.'" (St. Francis de Sales)

"Temptation gives you a chance to show Me your fidelity."  (Jesus to St. Faustina)

Text not in quotes © 2011 Nancy Shuman.  All Rights Reserved.
thecloisteredheart.org    

cause for rejoicing here

A friend recently wrote:  "I was thinking how good it is that we have 'salesmen' and things that 'bang on the grille' for our attention. This means that the cloister, this way of life, is REAL. Were there not difficulties, dryness, repulsions, it would just be a nice idea - a human idea. Thanks be to God for the temptations and the noise - for it is by these that we are made humble and are given a sign that the work is hated by the evil one - a true mark that if we are faithful to it, to Christ, in times of difficulty, the effects of grace will extend far beyond our imaginings..." (from J.)
 

"There is cause for rejoicing here.  You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness lead to praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ appears."  (1 Peter. 1:6-7)

 

There are salesmen in our foyer.  They don't just call to us, they bang on the grille.  They remind us that there are difficulties in life, they throw dryness and temptations at us.  Their presence, as my friend says, is a mark that IF we are faithful to Christ, the effects of grace will extend FAR beyond our imaginings.

We have cause to rejoice.

Text not in quotes © 2012 Nancy Shuman.  All Rights Reserved.
thecloisteredheart.org      

salesmen in the foyer

The monastery foyer is where visitors enter to be greeted through a grille.  In the analogy of the cloistered heart, I think of the foyer as my mind.  It's where thoughts come in requesting admittance.  Ideally, good and virtuous thoughts are allowed to linger.  Mean, condemning, fearful, evil thoughts are shown the door.  At least, that is the ideal.

We all know it's not that simple.

I think of unholy, unkind, worrying thoughts as "salesmen in the foyer."  They generally enter unbidden, although I often do invite them (even if unintentionally) by what I read, listen to, view.  They trail in on the coattails of family members; they hitchhike in magazine pages; their voices thread through memories I entertain.  They stand in the foyer, opening their catalogs of old regrets and new fears and future dreads.  

Recently there was a convention in my foyer.  I didn't recognize "the salesmen" at first, and by the time I realized who they were and what was happening, I was already quite mired down.  I had forgotten there was a grille between us, and I'd focused my eyes right between the grille-bars so I could plainly see the wares being offered. And then I remembered my grille.  I will admit to finding it hard, at first, to step back and take a look THROUGH it... after all, the catalogs of worries laid out before me were remarkably compelling.  Part of me wanted to continue my unobstructed view.  But then I picked up my Bible and opened it to a "bar of my grillwork....." 

"Praised be the Lord, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies."  (Psalm 18:4) 

I cannot describe the sense of relief that flooded me as I not only read these words, but began to put them into practice.  I wasn't feeling physically up to par, I'd been bombarded by worries and stresses..... but still, I could praise the Lord!  Nothing should be able to prevent that!  Every salesman on earth might be standing in my "foyer," but I could make the decision to praise God.  Each time a worry trickled in, I could actually let it serve as a reminder to give thanks and praise to God. 

"Praised be the Lord, I exclaim"... and so I do. 

...and I am safe from my enemies."  And so I am.

Text not in quotes © 2011 Nancy Shuman.  All Rights Reserved.
thecloisteredheart.org