A Walk in the Morning Twilight

By Dan O'Neil

A Walk in the Morning Twilight is a story of a simple mans journey of faith, struggle, learning, and moments of pure grace poured out in abundance. This is the story of a man who was blessed with all the good things that the world has to offera wonderful wife, nearly perfect kids, financial success, everything the world could giveand it still wasnt enough to bring true happiness and peace. The small voice that whispers to the heart of every man amidst the noise of the world was one that was so foreign to the man, so distant at first. This story tells how it came to be his constant companion, his place of refuge, the place he desires more than any other. A common man born into the world came to understand he needed so much more. He learned about the journey through this life and where it ultimately will lead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490843414

Dan O'Neil

Thanks for being a part of what I hope to be a spiritually rewarding journey for all of us. It is my desire to share a little of my inner prayer life with you. My reflections have a great effect on the choices I make in my life. It is my hope that they may have a similar effect on you. Please do not misunderstand what these are all about or who I am, I am Dan the plumber nothing more. I live in an old house in Oswego, IL with my beautiful wife and four children. I am the greatest sinner among you and the least deserving of any special gifts. The only thing I have is a deep prayer life. I spend a great deal of time wondering, praying, listening, and lately writing about what ever is happening in my life.

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Copyright © 2014 Dan O’Neil.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-4297-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-4298-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-4341-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014944398

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/21/2014

Contents

Introduction

Acknowledgements

Preface

A Lasting Gift

A Gift of Intimacy

What’s Important Is All That Matters

A Petition of Surrender

To Become Aware

A Little Revelation

What’s in Your Heart?

What You Need

Simplicity Finds Perfection

A Thought in a Peaceful Moment

A Challenge for Today

The Summons

A Rewarding Experience

Basking in the Warm Glow of My Love

The Canvas of Your Life

A Safe Place

Why Worry?

This Is the Place

Is It Really a Wonder?

Graces Freely Given

The Way to Peace

It’s Always Love

Little Things, Great Love

A Challenging Day

A Time for Trust

A Simple Surrender

If You Ask for Much

Gifts for No Other

A Gift of Presence

A Very Ordinary Day

A Passing Glance

A Whisper from the Heart of Love

Changes in the Wind

You Have to Let Go

Avoiding Distractions

Trust

Trust Today

Almost Ready

Just Say Yes

A Cup of Blessings

A Great Price

Precious Gifts

Only the Truth

Trust or Fear

A Gentle Invitation

A Place with No Parallel

A Cross for Today

A Simple Thought

This Heart of Mine

A Changing Perspective

An Ordinary Day

Patience and Perseverance

Easy to Find

Raindrops

Worthy at All

All Day Long

Treasures in Your Heart

It Begins at the End

The Triumph of an Ordinary Man

A Love Gone Cold

The Courage to Be

Sometimes

Why So Heavy?

Over and Over

What Is Peace?

What to Choose

A Gift for Today

A Saint for All

The Lost, the Little, and the Found

Shining Like the Son

It’s So Different

An Invisible Man

One by One

Where Is Your Heart Today?

A Snuggle for All Time

Fear Nothing

Changes in the Wind

A Heart at Peace

A Good Choice

Struggles in Paradise

The Unknown Task

Why Listen to Him

It’s Not What It Seems

What Else Matters

Come Closer

Keep Pruning

You Have It All

Nothing

You—Perfection in Creation

A Special Touch

Embracing Littleness

All These Things

You Can Find Me

Soft in My Hands

Different in Love

What Is Truly Beautiful

Focus Rightly

Too Much Clutter

A More Perfect Gaze

The Depths of My Heart

No Words Are Necessary

A Perfect Life

Your Intellect Is Sufficient

A Long Time Coming

Little Places

All I Have Given

Small Choices

Today’s Abundance

A Life Like No Other

For All the World to See

You Are Mine

Life in the Spirit

Hold Back Nothing

I Have Found

Let It Go

What’s Love Got to Do with It?

Being Little Is Big

Look Within

A Gentle Breeze

Far Away

I Came

Far and Near

Healings of the Heart

A Journey Together

Memories of My Presence

Come to Know Him

Something to Think About

A Gift of Grace

Nurture Your Spirit

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Time to Think

Easter Promise Fulfilled

A Generous Response

Trust Is All You Need

What Fills Your Heart?

The Path of Self-Giving Love

Rich in Mercy

The Father’s Perception

Divine Mercy

A Singular Grace

What Owns You

At My Side Today

A Pearl for Today

Beyond Myself

To Receive You Must Give

Thirsty?

It’s Your Invitation

Be Not Afraid

It’s Quite Simple

There’s Peace in Quiet

Whatever Comes Your Way

You Are Shining Bright

Sometimes It Seems So Hard

It’s a Wearisome World

It’s Not That Easy

You Really Have No Limitations

Take a Step

Who’s Knocking?

It’s Not Always What It Seems

Uncommon Gifts

A Gift of Perfection

Letting Go—a Different Perspective

Love Is a Challenge

You’re First Pick

The Peaceful Heart

Choose Wisely

Laying of Hands

The Storm Is Passing

The Lens of Normalcy

One Small Step

The Way Life Is

To Thee I Lift Up My Soul

Step Out in Faith

Sunset in the Garden of Gethsemane

The Heart of Truth

Today,-Where Trust Is Taught

Give It All Away

Set It Ablaze

The Roadmap to Happiness

Be still and know that I am.

Introduction

In the very early morning hours while most are still fast asleep I will be having that first cup of coffee in my comfy chair. The world is still quiet and I am at peace.

It is in these times where the daily noise and distractions of an all too busy life have not yet closed in on me where I take the time to question, to wonder, to think, to listen, to be.

This is my time to seek that close intimate connection with the Lord that I so desperately need, the relationship that sustains me throughout the day, the relationship that every human heart longs for.

This is my time for prayer, for seeking to understand the circumstances in my life by listening to the Lord speak to me through the scriptures, my time for contemplation, my time to set aside my will, my time to hear the gentle reflections the Lord whispers ever so sweetly to my heart.

After many years of these daily, beautiful, intimate encounters I began to write them down, very tentatively at first, in time they became longer and richer. Occasionally I would share them with some of my closest friends and they began to share them with theirs.

Over time many people wanted to receive these reflections as often as I was willing to share them and the number who ask for them continues to grow. It was at the gentle urging of friends that the thought of putting these reflections into a book so as to share them in a wider manner was first considered.

After much prayer and several talks with my spiritual director I decided that there might be something in these writings that could help others look at the challenging situations in their own lives from a different perspective. One that could help them make a step or two in the walk on their path of holiness a little more insightful, a little more meaningful.

The reader that looks deeply into what I have written on these following pages will see my struggles, my flaws, my weakness, my failures, the sometimes overwhelming challenges that face me each and every day.

It is my most fervent prayer that in these writings you will find the Lord speaking to you through them, and nurturing you through the challenges that you encounter in your daily life.

These reflections are intended to be read slowly with ample time for contemplation about the simple messages contained within them.

We should read them like a little child with eyes wide open and outstretched arms as we listen to the words of our Merciful Lord as he beckons us come to me this day my little one for I have much to show you.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank those who on their own journey on the path of holiness have crossed mine and had a significant influence on it- Renee who has walked on this journey of faith with me these past 28 years leading most of the way, my love, my wife, and the most precious person in my life.

To Denine and Karen, Scott and Cheri who’s constant encouragement really helped me decide to put my thoughts and conversations into a format that could be shared.

To the Light of the World teams 6,7,8 and those on my best friends list who I began sharing my writings with, and to Fr. Andy Davey MIC my spiritual director, spiritual companion, and dear friend who really helped me learn to listen when the Lord was gently whispering to my heart.

Preface

Whenever you embark on a spiritual journey it is always best to just let the Holy Spirit lead the way, go willingly where He leads you, and see where you end up, its always somewhere unexpected and beautiful.

Put yourself in a quiet place and a peaceful state of mind, no matter the turmoil that your life is in, set it aside for a few moments and know that He is near.

A Lasting Gift

Life is my great gift for you. It is the time for you to gather up the spiritual treasures that will be with you for all eternity. Those treasures are your memories, your experiences, your ability to love, your capacity to allow others to love you, and your self-awareness.

You bring these things from your life on earth, along with your senses, to experience the place I have set aside for you. The richer these things are in your lifetime, the richer they will be in heaven.

The way to enrich them is through self-giving love. It is easy; I have shown you the way. Follow me. I will be waiting at the end of your journey.

A Gift of Intimacy

When your heart suffers from a lack of intimacy, know that my heart has suffered as well. Seek to undertake a menial task, and through that effort, unite your loneliness with the suffering you have endured from past failures. Offer them to me as a gift of unconditional love, and I will give you strength to endure it.

For this gift of love, I will lavish my graces on the one who causes you to suffer.

What’s Important Is All That Matters

Your struggles and failures do not cause you pain. You allow them to take you far from me, and that is what causes your pain.

Your pain and your suffering will pass away in time, but the graces you received in offering that suffering for carrying that cross will not go away.

I will be with you to help you give freely to those you encounter who are in need.

The events in your life are ordered toward saving the greatest number of souls; nothing else is important.

A Petition of Surrender

It pleases me so that souls come to me with their petitions.

I will grant those that are in accordance with my will, though many do not understand the way in which I answer them. I give to them what they truly need, not necessarily what they ask for.

How my heart rejoices at the soul that comes to me to surrender its will. For those souls, I pour out my grace in great abundance, and I cannot stop as long as they focus their gaze on me.

To Become Aware

Only when you surrender everything to me will you become truly aware of my presence in your life.

A Little Revelation

Prepare well, my child, for the task that lies before you this day. Many souls I have entrusted to your care.

Do not worry about little things, for you yourself are little.

Give all that you have from the depth of your heart, and I will be with you.

It is the beauty of your littleness given in humility and love that reveals my greatest glory.

What’s in Your Heart?

The blanket of protection that I have given to you today cannot be penetrated by any external influence; it can only be penetrated