We Are On The Inside What We Take In From The Outside

[Forwarded from KrisTina]

I have come to really realise that, to a large extent, we are on the inside what we take in from the outside. Also, what and who we choose to associate ourselves with.

The old saying 'they are a good/bad influence on you' is true whether talking about people, newspapers, programmes, books etc.

Just speaking personally, I have found when I totally shut out the secular influences (TV, radio, secular books, newspapers, secular websites, unGodly people), and only absorb Catholic and/or Christian media, the bible or associated writings, (including the lives of truly pious people in history), I find my character gets into that 'groove' and life becomes clearer, nicer, more pure and clean. Clearer in the way that when one comes across the secular world in it's many forms, it sticks out like a sore ugly dirty thumb to the eyes and ears, and actually even feeling the worldly spirit emanating from them. Prayer becomes more desirable (an urge even) and naturally flows better too.

Disciplining our eyes, ears and tongue, is actually quite easy - it is simply a case of becoming aware of what we allow to pass through them, from bad sights, sounds and words, (bad habits) to good habits - that then becomes the easy-normal, the more it is practised.

Finding people in church that take it that seriously though, I have found to be challenging, even before March 2020, but I so love being around really holy people, whether laity, nuns, priests, or pastors of any Christian denomination - they really push me to improve.

Equally inspiring are those people of no official religion/denomination who have, and exhibit the spirit of God without even realising it ☺️