Safely Home

It has been four days since we have been home. We were near multiple accidents, but didn't have one ourselves. We came through the mountains unscathed. There were challenges on the road, but a ready solution presented itself each time. The only answer for how that is possible is God rode this trip with us, every mile of the road.

Prayers Again

We were held up for another accident tonight, this time on Interstate 15, in Las Vegas. We offer prayers for those involved, from the driver to the witnesses, the rescue personnel to the ones who clean up after the accident and to all those who haven't been named. Please join us in an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.

Prayers

Tonight, I ask for prayers for the anonymous person from the car accident on I-80. We came by in the aftermath, with the burned out shell of a car that had been obviously handled with a jaws of life and the emergency personnel still on the scene. It was horrific to see after it was all said and done. I can't imagine how it felt to see it when the car was on fire or when they were cutting the driver out.

As a family, we prayed for all those involved. I invite you to join us in an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for all involved today.

Travelling with Holy Water

Almost as a side note, as we walked out the door yesterday morning, I grabbed one of our bottles of holy water. I feel safer knowing we are starting our day with prayer and blessings as we embark on the next leg of our journey to Las Vegas. It was not on my packing list, though, so it must have been on someone else's. God is travelling with us this week.

Mount Rushmore

As part of our trip through South Dakota, the boys and I visited Mount Rushmore tonight. The whole feeling around the place is one of spirituality. The boys spoke in hushed voices without being prompted. I spoke in a hushed voice, without thinking about it.

I don't know the experience was "Catholic" necessarily, but it had a holiness. I will have to pray about this to get a better handle on how I felt and why I felt it. There wasn't a religious ceremony. It was a history lesson, coupled with the lighting of the Monument and recognition of past and present military. Rationally looking back, I don't see a reason for my feelings, but there were definitely there.

Maybe a little sleep will bring clarity.

Roadside Signs

We are travelling for my sister's wedding this week. Our journey started in Marshall and is currently resting in Rapid City, SD. All the way across South Dakota, I have seen billboards regarding faith. Some have been "messages from God". Others have been scripture. Still others have been condemnations. I wonder the impact of those signs on others. Do people read them? Do people jot down a scripture reference for later review? and if they do, do they follow up?

Some of the billboards I find interesting. Many I find offensive. None of them have I ever followed up on once I wke me.as home, although I have written down scriptures. It just didn't carry over the impact strong enough for me to finish off the process. I wonder how many people are li

Scapulars

It is time for me to look into another area of our faith. Scapulars are something I know very little about, and I should know more. I have seen them, usually at First Communion, but I have never studied them.

Today, there was an update on one of the women I have been praying for on a regular basis. She is battling cancer. Honestly, I am pretty sure she is in the final stages and the prayers should be more than God's will be done than to pray for recovery. At this point, it will take a miracle, although, that is within God's reach if He so chooses.

Her mother's only complaint or concern about the care she is receiving, other than her desire for her daughter's recovery, is the nursing staff takes off her scapular. Their priest was there today and have now tied it on to her arm with a silk string and a note to leave it on. I pray they will be able to respect the request. They are drawing so much strength from their faith, I know it reassures her mother to know it is on her body.

Celebrating the Body and Blood of Christ

Three years ago this week, on the Sunday commemorating the Body and Blood of Christ, we re-dedicated our wedding bands. My original set disappeared at some point when Dave's dad died. Dave gave me an anniversary band that Christmas, but I didn't have wedding rings for years after. Three years ago, he replaced them.

We had planned a trip to the Twin Cities that corresponded with our anniversary. Father Mike agreed to bless our rings at the baptismal font that was dedicated, in part, to the memory of Dave's parents. For more than one reason, it was a very special day.

I have never attended a Mass, other than Holy Thursdays, where the Eucharist moves in procession. That day was so spiritual. Almost the entire congregation followed the monstrance out of the Church. The walk around the city block was full of song and prayer. I cannot tell you how many people were there. I can tell you there was full participation. The voices raised together were so powerful, so resounding. I haven't felt anything like that since.

The tone of Mass this morning led us to believe today may be the day for another procession, but it was not to be. Maybe next year we will go back to St. Bernard's.

Eucharist

Father Larry's commentary in the bulletin at Immaculate Heart of Mary focused on living in the Eucharist. He stated we have to truly live as God asks us to be living in the Eucharist. Gossiping, speaking behind others' back, and being spiteful would not allow us to be one with the Eucharist. Therein lies a question. At what point does discussing your feelings and experiences cross the line to gossip and speaking behind others' back? I guess if you have to question if you should have said something, the answer has been given to you, or me, as the case may be.

Outward Signs of Faith

As I watched a reality program about re-doing outdoor spaces, it struck me. The man who was receiving the outdoor make-over was wearing a yarmulke. He is unapologetically Jewish. He is appearing on a nationally syndicated television program wearing a very outward and unmistakable symbol of his faith. How many of us are willing to do that? How readily do you share your faith with the world around you?

Skipping Mass

We made a quick trip to Sioux Falls today. We knew we were going to be home too late to be able to get to Mass this evening. Dave and I figured we would need to pick a Mass tomorrow, either at the lake or at home, but we didn't discuss that with the boys, exactly. We told them we had decided to skip Mass this weekend.

You should have heard the hollering in the car! As a matter of fact, you *might* have heard the hollering! We were informed we cannot skip Mass because we would be breaking the Third Commandment. We were told we cannot skip Mass because we are supposed to show God our love and respect to him by attending the Mass. Both of them were appalled at the mere thought of missing Mass.

I would say we are on the right track with them. I can only pray it will continue as they grow and mature, and move toward an independent relationship with Jesus.

Watching Your Child Die

A woman I have known of for more than six years is watching her daughter die by inches before her eyes. It was just a couple of months ago when some on-going complications with her lungs chased her into the doctor's office. The final diagnosis was lung cancer.

She is my age. She has a daughter fairly close in age to my children's ages. Her mother is about my mother's age. Her father is close in age to my father's age. Her mother has been caring for her father and his cancer issues for as long as I have known her. For the past weeks, she has been caring for her dying daughter and her daugher's daughter while trying to juggle life with her husband and her greyhounds.

My heart is breaking for them. I cannot imagine the pain of what they are dealing with right now. Please keep Patti and Fred, Dee and her husband, and the little one, in your prayers in the days ahead.

More Food For Thought

I received another email this morning. This one told of celebrities who had made disparaging comments about God and how their lives were shortened. I don't think for one moment everyone who dies young disrespected God, but it does give me a moment to pause and consider my attitude toward God. Am I respectful? Do I minimize the role God has in my life while maximizing the effect of my personal contribution?

Are You Jesus?

I received this in an email today. It really gave me some food for thought. I hope it does the same for you:

EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU JESUS?

As you read this, think about what you would do!

"Excuse me, Are you Jesus?" This is really powerful and makes one
think!

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales
convention in Chicago . They had assured their wives that they would be
home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with
tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over
a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere Without
stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time
for their nearly missed boarding.

ALL BUT ONE! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his
feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose
apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of
them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and
explain his taking a later flight... Then he returned to the terminal
where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did.
The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears
running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly
groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one
stopping and no one to care for her plight..

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put
them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this,
he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he
set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl,
"Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?" She
nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil
your day too badly."

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called
out to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back into those
blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way
to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about
in his soul: "Are you Jesus?" Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's
our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell
the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His
love, life and grace..

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.
Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church.
It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a
fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill
called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Please share this, Sometimes we just take things for granted, when we
Really need to be sharing what we know...

Thanks, and May GOD BLESS YOU.

Anger, A Deadly Sin

On Monday evening, we watched the next couple of segments of the Seven Deadly sins. Anger was the first one of the night, with the corresponding heavenly virtue of forgiveness. I find I am struggling with this. There is something that happened almost two years ago. In my heart, I truly thought I had forgiven the other person involved. I thought I had moved past it.

I was wrong.

Something happened last weekend, again. My feelings are hurt. I am frustrated and angry. The worst part is, I am not just upset about this weekend. Everything from two years ago is now sitting as a hard, hot knot firmly ensconced in the pit of my stomach. It is wreaking havoc on my life.

I am supposed to be forgiving as God has forgiven me. I just wish the "how" of that was more clearly explained. I don't know where to begin.

The Gospel of John

For many months, I have had a study of the Gospel of John. I haven't done anything with it, other than moving it out of my way. This morning, I finally cracked the book. I have only gotten through the introduction, but already, I feel it grabbing me. For the first time, I see the Gospels as written by real men, who experienced life with Jesus, who saw the world through eyes similar to His. This is not just some story of faith, written two thousand years ago. This was life, lived two thousand years ago, by people who loved others, sweated in the heat, shivered in the chill air, felt pain and joy, and were able to walk with Jesus.

I am looking forward to the first study tomorrow.

Slacking

I wonder if there is any correspondence between my lack of posting and my feeling of distance from my faith. There is a desert in my life again. It is time to bring myself back to center.

Chant

It is amazing to me how many things you can learn if you have your ears open and pay attention.

Chanting has always touched my heart. There is something about the rhythm that draws me.

Tonight, we had play practice for The Sound of Music. We needed to practice all of the songs the nuns sing. There is a fair amount of Latin and it begins with a chant.

The choral director likes to explain the who, what and why of what we are doing as we go along. Today, he explained how chant developed. He said it was because a chanting voice carried, acoustically, to the back of the large churches prior to the invention of amplification equipment. It also maintained the prayerful tone of the Masses.

It was new information that gave me a different perspective, and respect, for another tradition of our faith.

She Called Back!

The person who most exemplifies living a life filled with the Holy Spirit called me back today. I don't think she has any idea the impact she has on others, just by living her life. Hopefully, this will show her how much I appreciate her.