Life Changes Again!

A couple of months ago I was informed that the Bishop of my Dioceses was not wanting to accept my vows this coming June for the 4th year as a Hermit (one more after that and I would have been able to give permanent vows).  So, after much prayer, contemplation and looking into things, I have come out of Religious Life early and have returned to Lay Life.  In the process I have moved back to Florida, although a bit further south than the last time, now in Homestead Florida.  For now I will be living on my disability retirement from the Veterans Administration, and from my disability compensation as a disabled Veteran while I try to work out what I can do with and not adversely effect and affect my left knee, back and hips, which are why I was retired.

I do plan to continue this blog on my Spiritual Journeys, but also will have a “lay” blog at http://www.ddbellenterprises.com/DonBell, so please keep your eye on both!!

In Christ,

Don

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Continue Changes in Life!

Yep, more changes in my life!

I am in the first stages of moving fully into the life of a Diocesan Hermit.  By that I mean, I am living the Rule of life, but must live it for six month to two years under Private Vows at which time, if I am living the Rule correctly I will give my Public Vows through the Church.

This is part of why I have been silent for the past few months, but also because I was moving into the country near a Catholic Church (in the same Dioceses and with the same Priest), and several other events in my transition process.

What does this change mean for me?  Well, my days are now spent in prayer, contemplation/meditation, reading from the Doctors of the Church, reading the Bible, and work about the Church and Hermitage.  MOST of my day is spent in prayer, contemplation and studying the Word and works of the Church.  What a GREAT way to spend the day.

It also means I will not be out and about anymore, except on Saturdays to shop, etc.  No more movies (HARD one for me!  Love my movies!  (My mom will like this probably!!  She thinks I watch too many I think!), no more going to friends, etc.  I get out for Mass at Saint Joseph’s and Our Lady of Fatima (on Saturdays), but the rest of the time is at the Hermitage or Saint Mary’s Catholic Church next door (of which I have keys for).

Contact info for me remains the same, except the cell phone, which remains the same but doesn’t work where I now live, however, I will not be answering emails, the phone or the door on Fridays.  This is a day of silence for me.  A better email for me is Br.Don@brothersreconciliation.org.

In Christ,

Brother Don

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My Spirtual Beginnings – Part Three

During this time spent on the Reservation, I spent a lot of time with the Shaman of the Tribe.  I asked a LOT of questions about faith, the Earth, God, and life in general, many of which I had my answers to, but wanted confirmation or contradiction to my thoughts.  Through his translator (he said he didn’t speak English, but I think he truly did, and probably well!) we share may conversations and I learned and grew inside myself significantly.  Many of his sayings and stories meshed with what I had began to form in my life as well.  I was at peace within myself and starting to find out more about life.

During this time with him, I participated in a handful of Sweet Lodges (no drugs or booze involved!), and many a night in awakedness thinking things through.

Near the end of the stay, in perfect English, hence how I think he knew it well, he asked me, “Why do you ask all these questions, you are a Shaman of this Tribe and Nation already, and you know the right answers!?”  This took me back significantly.

A few days later, the Tribe was called together for a Blood Brother ceremony between Charlie and I, and at the end of the ceremony, I was announced as a Shaman of the Tribe.

For the next few years I was taught the stories of the Tribe and Nation from the beginning of their time until then.  I lead several Sweet Lodges, counseled members of the Tribe when they sought me and helped out as I could, passing on the story of the Tribe and Nation as I could.

But every time I passed a Knights Hall, I felt I belonged there.  Occasionally that dream I had for three years would pop back into my sleep again.  In 2000 I began to feel that I was not where I needed to be spiritually.  I still felt that the Native American ways were closest to what I was looking for in what I had looked at over the past years, but I wasn’t were I belong, of this I was sure.

I began looking at all the religions out there that I had looked at before, but still found them lacking, and I kept glancing over Catholicism, but passing up, as it was evil and wrong according to my upbringing and what I heard around me.

But those people I knew that were Catholic all seemed happy.

And my little brother converted to Catholicism in order to marry his great now Wife.  And he was loving it, and very happy in his faith!  (And he was a Knight, going into those Halls I felt called into.)

I began to think….

In Christ.

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