The Grumbles and Giggles of Spirituality

Before writing an article, blogpost, or novel, I pray the following prayer that I made: “Lord, let my fingers be nimble as the Holy Spirit kindles the grumbles and giggles.” It is a bit cheesy, but I pray it because my writing is not just for my own personal satisfaction. Rather, it is a gift and a charism, in which I pray that the Holy Spirit stirs the hearts of my readers.

The Grumbles

Now, the Holy Spirit does not always make us feel elated, peaceful, and happy. In fact, the Holy Spirit can make us feel annoyed, irritable, and even angry. What is so interesting is that the grumbling may actually be the work of the Holy Spirit. If readers grumble because my writing makes them upset or uncomfortable, I pray that it is the Holy Spirit shining upon them, prompting them for conversion. So, if I write something controversial, perhaps about Church teaching or secular culture, some may read my work and grumble.

Let us say that I write that the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. There may be plenty of readers out there who disagree with that statement. I, personally find it more than a statement. I find it to be the truth; the wonderful, beautiful, passionate, blessed truth. It is so wonderful that I smile, and even laugh and giggle. Yet, for the readers who do not understand or agree, they may be so disturbed by the truth that they frown, are annoyed, or grumble.

The Lukewarm

Everything that is of God is peaceful and joyful. Yet, sometimes we need to go through fire to attain that peace and joy. I think the Holy Spirit allows us to be perturbed by the truth. After all, it would be better for the devil if we are indifferent, and “blah” and ignore the Holy Spirit. In fact, the person who is perturbed by the truth is much closer on his/her journey towards God than the one who is indifferent to God.

The annoyed soul is giving evidence that God is working on his/her heart. The things of the world and all that are false starts to disturb the soul and can even cause great anger and even hate. Only something of such great importance could cause the soul to grow angry and hateful. In this case, anger and hate for God or the Catholic Church, or the truth of the Eucharist can drive souls to discover who God really is.

To the indifferent (or lukewarm), in the Book of Revelation, the Lord says, “I know your works; I know that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit out of my mouth” (3:15-16).

Jesus even said to St. Faustina that lukewarm souls pain Him more than any:

Today bring to Me the Souls who have become lukewarm and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy (Diary of Saint Faustina Kowalska, Notebook I 1682).

Fr. Thomas Dubay, in his book, “…And You Are Christ’s,” writes that “No mediocre person in any state of life is a testimony to the gospel’s power and attractiveness” (pg. 142). Living a mediocre Christian life is neither enthralling nor terrifying. Let us pray that we are nimble with our hands as we write and type, with our lips as we speak, with our whole bodies as we work, with our minds and souls as we pray, and with our hearts as we love.

Please, grumble away, dear reader. And make sure you realize the reason why you grumble so. You may find it leading straight to the loving, most adorable, Sacred Heart of Jesus, giver of all mercies and goodness and rest.

The Giggles

Now, if readers giggle because my writing makes them feel joyful and inspired, I pray that it is the Holy Spirit shining upon them, prompting them for deeper conversion. The word “giggle” may just be a good word choice for my poetic prayer because it is a near rhyme of “grumble” and “nimble.” But when I pray for people to giggle when reading my writing, I am praying that they are elated, smiling, encouraged and that their soul is being “fed” by what they read.

Even in Jesus’ time, the people Jesus met either grumbled or giggled. Think of the grumbling of the scribes and Pharisees. They charged Jesus with blasphemy. Jesus’ message and the word made them uncomfortable—so uncomfortable that they were outraged and ultimately put Jesus to death.

Then, there are the many who giggled. Those who were healed by Jesus and touched by His teachings rejoiced and giggled. They could not contain their joy. Jesus would tell a leper to tell no one about his healing, but the leper was so overcome, that he shared his joy with all he encountered (Mark 1:40-45).

The biggest giggle fest that we know of was probably Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples in the Upper Room. When the disciples went out, preaching in different tongues, some thought that the disciples were actually drunk, they were so giggly (Acts of the Apostles 2:13). Of course, it was the Holy Spirit that brought about such unheard-of joy. And 5,000 were converted that day (Acts of the Apostles 4:4). The evidence that there were that many who converted alludes to how contagious giggling is.

The Battle of the Grumbles and Giggles

If you are a Catholic, you may find that some Church teachings irk you. Your stomach may twist at the thought that women cannot be priests. You may find teachings on homosexuality or abortion to be troublesome. You may grumble because these teachings do not make sense to you. That grumbling, though, can lead to a search.

During this search, you do not have to be afraid when you grumble over Church teachings. It is not like you are going to find that the Church is built on lies and evil. For Jesus is the Head and He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)!

These grumbles and giggles do not just apply to writing and reading. It applies to our everyday conversations and encounters, be it words or a quick meet of the eye. Mother Teresa said, “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” She knew that the spark of the Holy Spirit at work in us would catch flame when encountering others, making them giggle. As for the grumbles, Mother Teresa did not just say to leave people “happier,” but she also said to leave people “better.” I think this means that even if we have a heated discussion with a family member or speak the truth among others and we get a hostile response, that is, grumbling, you are leaving the person better because of your witness to the goodness and mercy of Jesus Christ.

Think of the popular church hymn, “The Summons.” There is a verse, “Will you risk the hostile stare, Should your life attract or scare?” This is the same concept. Our lives should be so focused on Christ that people will see us and be attracted to the holy presence of God within us. If not attracted, then they should grumble by witnessing the holy presence of God within us.

Are you lukewarm? Did this article make you grumble or giggle? Why so?