Jim Cogley: Reflections Tues 11 Feb – Mon 17 Feb 2025

Note: A seminar entitled Personal and Ancestral Healing will be held in Lady’s Island Community Centre on Saturday8^th March from 10am to 4pm. Cost €40 with refreshments included. Facilitators – Jim Cogley & Luba Rodzhuk. Bookings by phone or text to 087-7640407.

Because of huge demand and limited spaces, two similar Wood You Believe seminars involving Personal and Ancestral Healing are scheduled to be held in the Edmund Rice Healing Centre in Callan, Co Kilkenny on Saturdays March 15^th and 22^nd also from 10am to 4pm. The cost will be €50 with refreshments and lunch included. Bookings by phone or text to Jim Maher on 086-1276649. Early booking is advised.

Tue 11^th Feb – Soul Ripening

In my role as a priest, I regularly have the privilege of accompanying and ministering to those who are dying. This affords a unique vantage point to reflect on what is inevitable for us all. I grew up with the idea that even after having lived a wayward life, a death bed conversion was always possible – that was unless one happened to be very unlucky, and the burglar called death ‘broke through the wall of your house at an hour you least expected‘. Such thinking was quite common, but also very limited, insofar as it did not take into consideration that the souls ripening into maturity is a slow process. However valid a death-bed conversion might be, soul maturation is a process that can take a long, long time, and the sooner we give our sacred ‘yes’ to the Lord in an act of surrender, the quicker that process can begin. It is extremely sad to meet someone at the end of the way and sense that their soul journey has not yet started.

Wed 12^th Feb – First Fruits

I feel privileged to know a few truly ripe souls. In scriptural terms they are like ‘first fruits’ of the harvest, whose value exceeds all that comes later. Close to Lady’s Island we have Carne that is renowned for its early potatoes, and these are most sought after and prized the most. Such individuals gave their sacred ‘yes’ to the Lord at an early stage and it is obvious that they have both experienced and been subjected to the slow work of grace throughout their lives. Over the years they have grown strong in their inner selves and even into their 80’s in the words of the psalm are, ‘Like a tree planted beside a flowing stream, still full of sap and still green.’ They still lead very productive lives ‘and have no fear of evil days.’ To a large extent they have become what they have believed in. One in particular comes to mind, not as someone who has faith, but who is faith. That person is the embodiment of a lifetime belief and practice of goodness, kindness and generosity.

Thurs 13^th Feb – Light Bearers

A great soul is someone like a light on a hilltop that is apparent for all to see. By their very presence they silence the superficial and intellectual arguments about the existence of God and the value of living a faith-filled life. In such individuals it is obvious that they have embraced the path, walked the path, and become the path – like Christ who could say that he was the Way, the Truth and the Life. While we are all called to be light bearers, this is not as easy as it sounds and demands considerable courage. We tend to associate it with standing up for what we believe in, but we can well do that and still remain very hidden. Bringing our light from beneath the tub and allowing it to shine for everyone to see demands that we allow our shadow side to become so exposed that it too becomes a source of light. Great souls lose all interest in ‘respectability’ and keeping the good side out. Instead, they have become real in the acceptance of their broken humanity.

Fri 14^th Feb – Transformation

An encounter with a truly great soul is like seeing a butterfly. We can be mesmerised by its exquisite beauty while completely unaware of the incredible transformation process the creature has come through before ever becoming what it is and finding its wings. The Greek word for butterfly is psyche and psyche means soul. So, the transformation of the caterpillar into the butterfly has always been a source of inspiration for the spiritual life. While we tend to associate this change with physical death, it is even more more applicable to life and the death of the small ego self that is so necessary before the true Self can emerge. The seed that must die in order to bear fruit is another good image for this process. At some stage in its earthbound journey the caterpillar must build a cocoon around itself and like the seed allow itself to be embraced by darkness. There its former identity disappears beyond recognition, and it becomes like a soup. At this point only a miracle can save it and yet this as we know is exactly what happens. In its own way and in its own time, the outer shell cracks and the struggle for freedom allows blood to flow to the wings. So it leaves behind that former shell that was its life and flies away.

Sat 15^th Feb – Spiritual Emergence

Always with a great soul there is a story of personal transformation or awakening. At some point, possibly quite early, there will have been an emergency that will have triggered an emergence. Having to cope with an intolerable situation in the home, a significant loss in early life, a major disappointment, a relationship breakup, are just some of the heart-breaking factors that can also serve the heart to break open to deeper realities and shatter the illusions of living a superficial life. The sooner the realization dawns that who I am is not to be identified with any of the passing things of life, the better for my soul development. Knowing that I am not what I have, frees me from a materialistic lifestyle. Knowing that I am not what I do, frees me from over identifying with any role I may play in life. Knowing that I am not what others think of me frees me from being a people pleaser who is always concerned with being liked and needing others approval.

Sun 16^th Feb – Beatitudes

That Gospel of today is known as the Beatitudes. Beatitude is not a word we use very much nowadays. Some Bible translations substitute the word happy for blessed. We could think of beatitude as attitude and Jesus saying let this be your attitude. So what are the attitudes or new ways of looking at reality that Jesus is trying to get across. In the eyes of the world the rich appear to be blessed by God and the poor cursed. But Jesus spoke about the strange poverty of those who live for the wealth of this world and the strange wealth of those who trust in God. He also spoke of the strange hunger of those whose only food is the things of this world and the strange satisfaction of those who seek the food that only a relationship with God can give. Likewise, he spoke of the strange sadness of those who laugh and the strange joy of those who know how to weep, also of the strange weakness of the strong and the strength we experience when we put our trust in God. None of that is easy to get your head around.

Poverty, hunger and sorrow are all too real. So too are wealth, plenitude and happiness. One set is attractive the other is not. But which is which? Jesus seems to be turning our understanding upside down.

He’s not saying that it’s a good thing to be starving or to be miserable because in another breath he said that he came that we might have life and have it to the full. The truth is that in order to come into any kind of spiritual awareness and trust in God we actually need experiences where we feel a sense of inner emptiness even in the midst of all that we have.

Also, that we need experiences of disappointment before we will ever turn to the God who will never disappoint. As someone once said disappointments can be God’s appointments.

Likewise, we need experiences of failure and weakness before we will ever turn to God for strength.

At another level a certain amount of suffering is necessary in all our lives before we are prepared to change. All the shoulds, musts and oughts in the world won’t bring about one iota of change. It’s only when we have suffered enough and are sick and tired of being sick and tired that we eventually surrender to God and accept His help. Like someone struggling with alcohol, it’s a long journey from saying that he or she has things under control and that he or she will give up the drink to the point of admitting their helplessness, that their life has become unmanageable and then letting go and letting God.

There has to be something in all our lives that is capable of awakening our souls and bringing us to God. Whatever that might be the chances are that we will initially regard it as the great stumbling block and perhaps only years later see that God was using it as a mighty stepping-stone helping us to reach out to Him. It may even be an addiction or a serious sin. It’s nice to know that in the divine economy nothing gets wasted.

None of us wish to encounter grief or sadness in our lives. Yet they are part and parcel of life and they do serve to make us deeper more compassionate and even more aware of the things that are really important in life that we could otherwise take for granted. Life tends to break us all the challenge is to grow strong at the broken places.

We don’t like having to deal with problems and difficulties. We would prefer life to be plain sailing. Yet in terms of growth and personal development and in deepening our relationship with God they not also have their place. The Arabs have a saying that too much sunshine only makes a desert.

Ultimately what the Beatitudes are saying is that there is another way of looking at everything and nothing is ever as it seems.

Mon 17^th Feb – The Place of Suffering

With great souls there is usually the story of personal and often deep suffering. Two very beautiful vases illustrate the truth that suffering has a part to play in the process of transformation. Both are made from yew which of itself does not make them particularly valuable. What sets them in another league is the fact that this ordinary yew is not ordinary any longer; it is yew that has suffered. Early in its development, a piece of wire was twisted around the young branch threatening to choke off its life. Instead of allowing this to happen the brave sapling learned to grow itself around the offending article and in doing so underwent a cellular transformation that also completely changed its appearance from ordinary yew to having some spectacular colours and designs. Many from the beginning have no option but to overcome serious obstacles in order to survive, but in doing do forge a character that is unique and beautiful.