Yesterday's Feast: Saint Bernard- Nature Does Not Have an Algorithm Designed to Destroy You
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Today is the Feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Doctor of the Church. Founder of Clairvaux Abbey. And a man who spent enough time in the woods to know something the screen will never teach you. He wrote in one of his letters: "Believe me, you will find more lessons in the woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you what you cannot learn from masters." Source. He was not being poetic. He meant it literally. Get off the screen. Get outside. Here's some reasons it helps:
St. Bernard did not have a smartphone. He had rocks and trees and the presence of God in the created world. And he found more wisdom there than in any classroom. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the work of his hands." [Psalm 19:2] Nature is not neutral. It is a classroom designed by God. Use it. And for the betrayed wife reading this: encourage him to get outside today. A walk. A trail. Anywhere without a screen. It is not a small thing. It is a change of environment and a change of environment changes everything. 2 Practical Tips: To Battle Lust: Schedule thirty minutes outside today with no phone. Walk. Sit. Pray. Let the nervous system reset in the way God designed it to. Do it before the urge has a chance to build. To Help Your Wife Heal: Ask her to take a walk with you today. No agenda. No heavy conversation required. Just presence, side by side, outside. "I just want to walk with you today. No phones. No agenda. Just us and nature." Trees and stones will teach you what the screen never will. Get outside. Join Catholics Fight Porn here. Remember, "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!" [Philippians 4:13] —Steve Join a FINALLY FREE! GROUP here. 🎙Listen to the Podcast: Catholics Fight Porn here. Sign up for a Daily 'Boost' TEXT for Motivation here. Book a 20-minute Intro Discovery Call here. Book a 1:1 Session w/Steve here. Read past Newsletters at the BLOG. Donate to CFP to support this work here.
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