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  My Witness

Vol. 13, No. 2, April, 2008

From the Editor
Sr. Jan Nattermann, S.N.C.

Sister Jan A Christian is to be dependent on Jesus in every area of his/her life. But we have deep within us, little pockets of independ-ence that insist that there are certain areas that can be lived on one's own. Total dependence on Christ is a process of learn-ing, especially in times of trouble.

Does trouble make you bitter or does it make you better? The only difference in these two words is one letter: the I.

Focusing upon the 'I' in times of trouble, will make you become bitter and hard. If you look at your own misery and have a "pity-party", you will be overcome by bitterness. Trouble does make some people bitter, hard and resentful against everything and everyone. It all depends upon the way you respond to it. If you focus on the I, the ego, what is happening to me, then it will make you bitter.

If your focus is not upon the I, but upon God, then situations of trouble can make you better. That is what happened to St. Paul. He lists, in 2 Corinthians 11:19-12: 10, a lot of troubles he experienced. But his focus was upon the Lord. His weaknesses were exposed and acknowledged so that the power of Christ might rest upon him (12:9).

This process of total dependence on Christ begins to take shape as God shows you how you can draw upon His grace to fill up the emptiness and weakness that has been exposed in your own life. He is trying to tell you that He created you to be dependent on Him in everything, so that you can learn to draw on His strength. He wants us to turn from sin, become better and live. See Sr. Brigid's article in this issue for some points in prayer helping us to choose life.

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