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TUESDAY THOUGHT 12/18/12

December 18, 2012 on 12:31 pm | By John Ingrisano | In Faith & Forgiveness | No Comments

Pardon the rambling nature of this thought; I’m still trying to wrap my mind and heart around it: When I was younger, like many people, I chose my beliefs. I believed in literature and art for a spell; the power of my sheer own will and personal charm; objectivism, naturalism, and even Buddhism, mostly because they felt so good, so right, so comfortable and comforting. Today, I also believe in capitalism, the U.S. Constitution, the value of a good dog, and the satisfaction that comes from the aroma of a great pasta sauce simmering on the stove.

That’s what makes my faith in God so different. I have no choice. Instead, I was chosen. Big difference; nothing arbitrary about it. My faith is an unstoppable, immovable force (no contradiction in those two terms). It propels me along, anchors me down, and is beyond my control. I can get angry at God (there are times when my prayers are a growling, I’m-so-fed-up lecture) and there are times when I walk away … or try to, at least. But then I’ll roll over in the morning and realize that ignoring God would be like ignoring the existence of the breaking dawn.

My point: Don’t get too close to God, don’t open your mind and your heart … unless you are prepared to be overwhelmed by a truth that goes far, far beyond the logic of one-plus-one equal two. Given all the choices in the world, the choice of God is immutable, irrefutable, unbelievable, and totally believable. – jri

“May you always be filled with the fruit of your

salvation – the righteous character produced

in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring

much glory and praise to God.”

— St. Paul (Philippians 1:11)

My life has been transformed in the last 12 month. God-driven and God-led, it has unfolded before my eyes in the most improbable and unlikely of ways: rediscovering and rekindling a love from more than four decades ago, a love built on caring, sharing, gentleness, and a mutual, active, pray-together faith in the Lord. It is a life surrounded by loved ones, both family and friends, and – though certainly not problem-free – filled with peace, caring, integrity, and joy. Though I’m supposedly a writer, I find all this still difficult to express, except to say that I find my life to be blessed beyond belief. Amazing grace. Amen.

John Ingrisano

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(770) 314-2649

December 18, 2012

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