Seeing the big picture

The book of Genesis relates the story of Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers. While in Egypt, he gained the respect and trust of the Pharoah, and was placed in a position of authority. Joseph had foreseen a time of famine, and ordered Egyptians to store up crops during the years of bounty so that there would be ample food during the lean years to come.

Later, when his father and brothers were suffering from the famine, his father instructed Joseph’s brothers to travel to Egypt and purchase food for the family. They did not recognize their brother, who ultimately told them, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.” God had allowed Joseph’s freedom to be taken, but he had a far greater good in mind. Joseph likely didn’t see the good that would come of his captivity at first, but he was able to see it in retrospect.

Our perspective on the events of our lives tends to be rather short-sighted. We don’t see the “long view”, and it is there where God is working behind the scenes to create light from darkness, joy from sadness, success from failure. In my own life at least, I have seen that God deplores a vacuum. He never takes anything away without giving something in return. He is not wasteful; indeed, nothing is wasted in God's economy. He continues to be a Creator, using the "bad stuff" to fashion something far better.

– Anonymous.

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Advent: looking forward to the birth of Christ

Easter is considered the most important feast in the church year, but i admit to having more of a "soft spot" in my heart for Christmas. Not the lights or the trees, not the carols or the gifts, but the thought of God taking on the form of a helpless baby.

Imagine that.

God - the all-powerful, the Creator of the universe - became an embryo, totally dependent on Mary for his very life blood. The Lord of Lords, born in a manger because there was no room for him. The King of Kings, relying on his subjects for food, shelter, guidance, and (perhaps at times) discipline. The God of Glory needing to be changed and bathed, learning to walk, falling down, learning to read...

Can you imagine yourself being humble like that? I know I can't. Contemplating that sort of humility fills me with wonder.

The Incarnation is also remarkable in that it shows that God - the Creator of the universe - was willing to trust his very existence to man. Not just to Mary and Joseph, but to the community at large - for it does indeed "take a village" to raise a child.

Jesus - fully God and fully man - allowed himself to be open, trusting, and vulnerable. The cycnical response to this statement would be to point out that Jesus ultimately suffered an ignominious death at the hands of man, and this, of course, is true. But jesus ended his earthly life in the same fashion it began : open to the will of God, and trusting his Father in all circumstances.

May we do the same!

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A rerun.. Matt and Janice: A True Story

I posted this back in April, but after being at the bedside of a dear relative as she died, it seems appropriate to share it once again.



I apologize for the length of this post, but this story deserves to be told - and heard - in full.

Some time ago, I read a short but interesting novel called "The Five People You Meet In Heaven", by Mitch Albom. It starts with the unexpected death of a guy named Eddie, a man who works in an amusement park repairing rides. He sees a ride malfunction, and part of it plummets towards an unsuspecting little girl. He jumps to push her out of harm's way and, in the process, Eddie is killed.

Now Eddie wasn't anybody important - at least not in the eyes of the world. He wasn’t particularly educated, he wasn’t particularly likeable, and he certainly wasn’t rich. But after his death – one by one – Eddie found himself meeting a series of people whose lives he had touched, for good or for ill. In some cases, Eddie didn't even remember the person he had affected so deeply. So the premise of the book is that each of us is connected to other people and affects other people profoundly, often without even realizing it. And after reading the story, I began to think about people who had touched my life.

I'm a nurse, and I work with patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation. Most of our patients have life-threatening illnesses such as cancer. Many of them are young. Many have young children. Most have had a series of treatments that have failed and – as a last resort – they come for a very intensive and risky procedure. We give high dose chemotherapy that completely wipes out the immune system in hopes of wiping out the disease. Then we "rescue" the immune system with bone marrow transplant.

One of our patients was a young woman named Janice who was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of leukemia shortly after the birth of her first child. She was very sick when she came to us. She grew worse in the weeks that followed. During that time, I grew close to Janice and to her husband, Matt.

Matt was a shy and quiet man. Like Eddie, he wasn’t educated or wealthy. He didn’t talk much – he didn't want to bother the nurses and doctors by asking questions. As Janice grew weaker, we encouraged Matt to become more assertive… to ask questions… to ask for help when he or Janice needed it. Gradually, he felt more comfortable with that.

Janice struggled with nausea and vomiting, and soon she was unable to eat. During the next few weeks, her kidneys, liver, and lungs – ALL of her major organs – began to fail. Her facial features were terribly distorted, and her beautiful long auburn hair was gone.. She was in tremendous pain. She could no longer get out of bed unassisted. Soon, she was so weak that she needed a ventilator in order to breathe. We increased her pain medication and sedation to give her some relief.

Matt was reluctant to talk about it at first, but I think he knew that Janice was dying. We all did. And there were tears shed by all of us, especially on the day that Matt brought their little baby in and laid her on the bed beside a mom she would never know.

After seeing the extent of Janice 's suffering and after numerous heart-breaking conversations with the staff, Matt decided that the time had come for us to remove the breathing tube and to allow Janice the opportunity to die if, indeed, it was her time. I was working with Janice that day.

After the decision was made, I talked with Matt about what to expect. I told him that the ventilator would be turned off, the breathing tube would be removed, and that Janice probably wouldn’t live long after that. I told him that she might have some noisy and irregular breaths and that her color would change. I told him that he could remain in the room if he wished but that I would stay with Janice and be sure she wasn't in pain. Matt decided to stay.

Janice lived for only a matter of minutes after the tube was removed. Her breathing was raspy and irregular, and her swollen body quickly turned blue. I made sure she was comfortable, but I worried about Matt. He was simple, quiet, and unassuming by nature. Often Matt had hung back from Janice – he’d always been reluctant to show affection in front of the staff.

But not then.

Not as she lay dying.

Matt stood close to Janice . He leaned close and held her hand. He kissed her lips as they turned blue, and he told her over and over that she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. He told her repeatedly that he loved her. He told her that she didn’t have to worry – he’d take care of the baby and would make sure that their little girl learned about her mamma. Janice ’s life was slipping away, but Matt completely surrounded her with love.

It’s been many years since Janice died, and I haven’t spoken to Matt since that day. Frankly, I doubt he remembers me: all of his focus was on Janice and on the impact that her illness and death would have on him and their young daughter.

But I remember Matt.

I remember a man confronted with a tremendous challenge.

I remember a man who grew to meet that challenge.

I remember a man who – in the midst of his own grief – poured out love.

– Anonymous.

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Do we have the sense of a goose?

Next fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in the ‘V’ formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way.

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in the ‘V’ formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone – and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are headed the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What messages do we give when we honk from behind?

Finally – and this is important – when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

– Anonymous.

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The Paradox of Our Age

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

- Dr. Bob Moorhead

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A special All Souls remembrance:
Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.
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This week's photo caption contest

This week's contest has a Thanksgiving flair.

Can you think of a caption for this picture?

Use McLinky to share your suggestions. Winners will be announced next week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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And here are last week's winners for the contest found here.

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A special All Souls remembrance:

Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.

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Our Lady of the Chain

I ran into a title for Mary the other day that I’d never heard before: Our Lady of the Chain. I did a bit of research and found some interesting background.

This devotion began in the 14th century in Palermo, Italy. Three young men were condemned to death by hanging. They were being led to the gallows under heavy guard when the skies grew dark and a terrible storm arose. The guards, the condemned men, and the people who had gathered to witness the execution sought shelter in the Church of St. Mary of the Port. The fierce storm continued, forcing the execution to be postponed.

The guards secured the condemned men with extra chains and secured the doors of the church. The guards eventually fell asleep. The condemned men found themselves in front of an image of Mary, and they prayed for deliverance. As they prayed, the chains they were bound with fell to the ground. The doors of the church opened by themselves, and the men heard words coming from Mary’s image: “Go, you are free, do not fear. The Divine Infant whom I hold in my arms has heard your prayers and has granted your freedom."

When they awoke, the guards searched for and ultimately found the prisoners. The King heard about their experience in the church and granted the men their freedom, saying, “The Blessed Virgin Mary has set them free, so will I.”

News of the miracle spread throughout Italy, and the image became known as “Our Lady of the Chain”.

For more information about this devotion, see here.

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found here.
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Who am I?

There are times when the grass seems greener on the other side... even in a spiritual sense.

A person best suited for a life of service may wish to lead the life of the contemplative. A married man may regret that he didn't become a priest. A young mother may yearn for the hermitage. But we need to use the talents we've been given in the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

No one should desire means of serving God that he now lacks but rather should diligently use those he actually has.

~St. Francis de Sales

I'll never be a Mother Teresa. I don't have the same gifts. But I pray that I will use what God has given me to enable me to be the best "me" I can be.

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God's Kaleidoscope

I've stood upon a mountaintop,
But could not touch the sky,
And stood in awesome wonder there
As clouds kept rolling by.

I've wandered through a woodland
in Autumn's golden days,
And knelt in silent splendor there
To offer God my praise.

I've strolled along a seaside path
As the sun began to set,
And the beauty of that moment
I never shall forget.

I've seen fields of golden poppies
And gargens in full bloom
And the magic of red roses
In a hospital room.

I've seen hills become cathedrals,
All crowned with flakes of snow,
And palaces of purple ice
In the moonlight's afterglow.

I've seen each season come and go
Through eyes of faith and hope,
And I caught a glimpse of Heaven
Through God's kaleidoscope.

- Clay Harrison

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What is Africa doing right?

The November 8, 2009 issue of Our Sunday Visitor gives some interesting statistics. Between 1994 and the end of 2007, there has been significant growth in the Catholic church in Africa. While the African population has grown by 33%, the number of African Catholics has grown by 60%. There has been a 49% increase in the number of African priests, and a 94% increase in the number of Catholic lay missionaries.

I'd love to be able to include statistics that show the rate of change for other faiths in Africa and the rate of change for Catholics as well as other faiths in the U.S. It would be interesting to see how they all stack up against each other. But I suspect that the rate of growth of the Catholic church in the States wouldn't compare favorably to that in Africa.

What is the secret of their success, and what can we learn from Africa?

What do you think?

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found here.
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Be careful: gossip can backfire!

I recently read a quote from Cardinal Wilfred Fox Nepler. He said:

Spiritual or religious things are not reported, unless they are controversial.

This quote brings to mind the extensive coverage of sexual abuse by some priests as compares to the lack of coverage of the good things done by so many. (For just one example, read this post). But this tendency to focus on the negative or the sensational isn’t limited to the media, and it isn’t limited to talk about priests.

Most of us are guilty of speaking ill of others. Often times it is easier to notice and talk about the defects of those around us than it is to recognize and speak about he good that they do.

In thinking about this, I found this verse in Luke 6:45:

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Reading this verse, I wonder if it’s possible to malign another without saying something negative about oneself. If we really reflect on this and internalize Jesus’ message, we’d be more careful about speaking ill of others. It certainly helps to explain why Jesus spoke so forcefully against the sin of judging or condemning others. He didn’t mince words, either:

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, “Raca,” is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell.

- Matthew 5:21-22

And the more we judge, the worse it gets. For us.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

- Matthew 7:1-2

Maybe Grandma was right when she used to say, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

Don't forget to go to Conversion Diary today and every Friday for 7 Quick Takes!
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Try a little kindness!

Over time, I have come to understand that some gifts are meant to be passed on, not repaid. All of us know somebody who would benefit from a kind word. I’m encouraging you to act on it. For the biggest impact, do it in writing. And do it for somebody who knows you have nothing to gain.

It’s important to give encouragement to family and friends, but their happiness and yours are inseparable. For the maximum velocity, I’m suggesting that you give your encouragement to someone who can’t return the favor – it’s a distinction that won’t be lost on the recipient.

And remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness.

Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.

– Scott Adams

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Don’t forget to enter this week’s contest,
found here.
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And visit a special All Souls remembrance:
Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.
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A new photo caption contest!

Here's a photo in need of a caption! Please use McLinky below to share your suggestions. The winners will be announced next Wednesday.

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And here are the winners for last week's contest. The photo can be found here.

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And for the rest of November, we'll continue to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.Click here.
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Making God known in the world

If our fundamental relationship with God is not living, if it is not lived, then none of our other relationships can take their correct form... If we do without God, if God is absent, we lack the compass... to show us the path, the direction we must follow.

God!

We must bring the truth of God back into the world, make Him known, make Him present.

- Pope Benedict XVI

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The glory of God, or the God of glory?

I’m often struck by the beauty of the world we live in. Seeing the blush of the sky at sunrise, the crash of waves on the sand, leaves rustling in the breeze, the antics of squirrels as they race in spirals up a tree, the tireless activity of birds feeding their young, a tiny crocus braving winter’s end to bloom, the vibrant colors of leaves in autumn…

Glorious!

These wonders – and countless others – are good in and of themselves. But they are also much more. They serve as signs of the creative genius of our God.

The book of Wisdom puts it this way:

For they indeed have gone astray perhaps, though they seek God and wish to find him. For they search busily among his works, but are distracted by what they see, because the things seen are fair.

- Wisdom 13:6-7

It’s grand to love the glories of God, but it’s even better to love the God who creates these glories!

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"This is my Body."

I've been in Pittsburgh with my father while an ill family member receives medical care. My dad and I are both Christian, but we belong to different denominations. I'm Catholic; he's not. We've both had the opportunity to attend church while we're here.

For me, it's been a real treat to be able to attend Mass more regularly than I generally can. For one thing, I've not been working. For another, Mass is held at least once each day at the hospital. And for a third, the cathedral is about 8 blocks from where we're staying. It's a beautiful structure, and they hold more than 20 Masses there each week. This is a far cry from what is typical in North Carolina, where there are far fewer Catholics and far fewer Catholic churches.

The other day while Dad and I walked to the hospital, I mentioned that I planned to go to daily Mass. He said that he didn't understand the purpose of going to daily Mass... he didn't see what someone would "get" from going to Mass so often.

As a former Protestant, I understood where he might be coming from, for there is a vast difference in the way Catholics and most Protestants understand Eucharist. It seems to me that most Protestant denominations emphasize the verses from 1 Corinthians 11 - "Do this in memory of me," while Catholics emphasize the verses from Matthew 26: "This is my Body", and "This is my Blood".

This difference in outlook is not insignificant. Because if you accept (as I do) that the bread and wine are truly transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, there is no more intimate way to partake in the life of Christ while we are on this earth.

My description of the importance of Eucharist is certainly not eloquent, but St. Francis de Sales phrased it beautifully:

When worldly people question you about your receiving Communion so frequently, answer them that it is to learn to love God, to be purified from your faults, to be freed from your miseries, to be comforted in your troubles, to be strengthened in your weaknesses. Tell them that two sorts of persons are to receive Communion often: those who are perfect because, being well disposed, they would be very wrong if they did not draw near to the source and spring of perfection; and those who are imperfect, that they may be able to rightly to seek perfection; the strong, that they may not become weak, and the weak, that they become strong; the sick that they may become well and the healthy that they may not become sick. Say about yourself, that being imperfect, weak, and sick it is necessary that you have frequent contact with him who is your perfection, your strength and your doctor.

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“Good Without God”? How “reasonable” is that?

According to New York Times blog article
published on October 19, 2009, a group called the United Coalition of Reason is mounting a campaign in New York. They will post signs in subway stations which read, “A Million New Yorkers Are Good Without God. Are You?” The campaign is funded by a $25,000 donation from an anonymous donor, and it is timed to coincide with the release of a book by Harvard humanist chaplain Greg Epstein titled “Good Without God”.

There have been other similar campaigns elsewhere. I posted here about a British campaign that took place earlier this year. The Coalition of Reason also posted billboards in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and in Morgantown, West Virginia which read, “Don’t Believe in God? You Are Not Alone”. An Indiana atheist group ran ads in Bloomington and South Bend which proclaim “You Can Be Good Without God”; the same group purchased ads for 25 Chicago buses as well.

I recognize that the number of people who claim no religious affiliation appears to be rising. The American Religious Identification Survey’s 2008 results back this up; their data is summarized here.

What I really don’t understand, though, is “proselytizing” by atheists. But maybe that's just me.

The United Coalition of Reason is comprised of a number of organizations that take a stand against mainstream religious thought. Michael De Dora, the executive director of one of these, the Center for Inquiry, says, “Collectively, we’ve had a harder time selling our message to New Yorkers.”

Why are they trying to “sell their message”? I don’t get it.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines atheism as “disbelief or denial of the existence of God or gods; the doctrine that there is no God or gods”. I can’t quite understand why someone would feel a need to spend their time, talent, or treasure to promulgate a belief in nothing at all.

But I do recognize that they have a right to do so.

And I hope they will return the favor.

As Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York , said, “The First Amendment allows these groups to preach their religious beliefs. I hope that the rights of other religious groups will also be respected when they also seek to advertise their beliefs.”

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An Offering

by Eloise Bibb

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Lord, all I am and hope to be, I humbly offer, King, to thee! When clouds arise, thy guidance send, Accept my life, and bless it, Friend. O Father! let me rest in thee, Resigned to what thou will'st for me; Content, though all my fond hopes fade, And visions bright in gloom are laid. When I was but a tiny child, Thou shielded me from tempests wild; And gave me strength to do the right Within temptation's treacherous sight. And now in girlhood's solemn time, Oh, make my life one perfect rhyme, Sung to the air of sweet content, With blended sounds of a life well spent.

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GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED

My thanks to Sr. Suzanne VHM for sending this story.

I envy Kevin.

My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least that”s what I heard him say one night.

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, “Are you there, God?” he said. “Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...”

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin”s unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he”s 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied.

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.
He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day’s laundry chores.

And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That’s the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. “That one’s goin’ to Chi-car-go, “ Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.

He doesn”t know what it means to be discontent.

His life is simple.

He will never know the entanglements of wealth or power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an “educated” person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.

It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God’s care.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.

And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I’ll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.

Kevin won’t be surprised at all!

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A special All Souls remembrance:
Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.
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And don’t forget to enter this week’s contest, found here.

A new photo caption contest

It's Wednesday again - time for our weekly photo caption contest. Can you think of an appropriate caption for this week's photo? Use McLinky below to submit your ideas. Winners will be announced next Wednesday.





Good luck!

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And here's the winner from last week's contest, found here:

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A special All Souls remembrance:
Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.
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Don't forget - tomorrow is Veteran's Day

In the November 2009 issue of Guideposts, a veteran tells of an experience he had one Veteran's Day. He and his wife went out for breakfast when a man came up to him.

"Are you a veteran?", he asked. On learning that he was, the stranger insisted on treating the veteran to breakfast. According to the waitress, he does this each year on Veteran's Day.

In the aftermath of the tragic events at Fort Hood last week, let us remember the sacrifice made by our armed forces.

Let us join our petitions to this soldier's prayer:

God our Father,

Help me to remain true to my ideals
during my service to my country.
Help me to be what is in America,
the land of the free.
May I realize that I represent what our country stands for.
My uniform is a symbol of duty and valor
both in peace and in war.
I take up arms to defend what all Americans hold dear:
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Grant me the strength to live
according to these ideals,
the courage of my convictions,
and the resolve to endure whatever dangers threaten.
With you at our side
I fear no evil and resist every enemy,
secure in the knowledge that you hold me
in the palm of your hand.
Amen

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A special All Souls remembrance:
Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.
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"Am I killing? Yes I am. I know that."

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A special All Souls remembrance:
Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.
____________________________________

And don’t forget to enter this week’s contest, found here.

What to pray for?

There are times when I wonder what to ask God for when I pray. As an example, a member of my family has been critically ill. She may not survive, and if she does, it will be a long battle with lots of ups and downs. In this situation (and, for that matter, in many others), I don’t know what to ask for. Because one thing I’ve learned over time – God does a much better job of managing the world than I do. I’ve seen many instances where my prayers were answered with a resounding “No”, and yet the end result was far superior to anything I could have anticipated had the answer been “Yes”.

More and more lately, this is my prayer:

Lord, I don’t know what’s best in this situation, but you do.
Please, Lord, teach me to understand, accept, and cooperate with your will.

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A special All Souls remembrance:
Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.
____________________________________

And don’t forget to enter this week’s contest, found here.

Laughing with the saints, Fr. James Martin SJ

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Stop by Elizabeth Esthers's place today to meet some great bloggers. She can be found here.
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A special All Souls remembrance:
Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.
____________________________________

And don’t forget to enter this week’s contest, found here.

A case of magnanimous justice

A story is told about Fiorello LaGuardia, who, when he was mayor of New York City during the worst days of the Great Depression and all of World War II, was called "the little Flower" by adoring New Yorkers because he was only five foot four and always wore a carnation in his lapel. He was a colorful character who used to ride the New York City fire trucks, raid speakeasies with the police department, take entire orphanages to baseball games, and whenever the New York newspapers were on strike, he would go on the radio and read the Sunday funnies to the kids.

One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself. Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. "It's a bad neighborhood, Your Honor," the man told the mayor. "She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson."

LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said, "I've got to punish you. the law makes no exceptions - ten dollars or ten days in jail." But even as he pronounced the sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous sombrero, saying, "Here is the ten dollar fine, which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant."

So the following day the New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered old lady who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren, fifty cents of that amount being contributed by the red-faced grocery store owner, while some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations, and New York City policemen, each of whom had just paid fifty cents for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation.

- Brennan Manning, from The Ragamuffin Gospel

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Don't forget to go here for this Friday's edition of 7 Quick Takes.
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A special All Souls remembrance:
Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.
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And don’t forget to enter this week’s contest, found here.

Treating others with dignity and respect

I recently spent some time with an ill family member at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. (In fact we're here again, so please pray for my family...) I found these "30 tips to promote dignity and respect" there. The philosophy they embody are worded from a secular point of view, but it seems that they "fit" quite well with the pattern laid out by Jesus, don't you think?

1. Sweat the small stuff. It's often the small things, such as being kind and courteous, that make a difference.
2. Smile. You might be surprised at how contagious a smile can be.
3. Listen. Everyone feels respected when they know you're listening to their point of view.
4. Say hello. You just might make someone's day.
5. Say thank you. Gratitude is a gift that's never too small to give.
6. Reinvent the wheel. Do something that hasn't already been done.
7. Be open. Try to look at new thoughts and ideas as learning opportunities.
8. Be flexible. Things don't always go as planned. Be willing to adapt to changing conditions when necessary.
9. Join the team. Do your part to support teamwork.
10. Be a relationship builder. Seek ways to expand your network.
11. Treat others the way they want to be treated. R-E-S-P-E-C-T... find out what it means to me.
12. Be culturally competent. You might be surprised what you learn from people who are different.
13. Break the ice. Start a conversation with someone new.
14. Demonstrate mutual respect. An inclusive environment requires respect regardless of level, title, or position.
15. Ask. It's okay to inquire about something you don't know. Ask for clarity.
16. Find common ground. It's easy to disagree. Focus on finding something to agree on.
17. Communicate respectfully. Often it's not what you say, but how you say it.
18. Practice patience. Take the time to get the full story.
19. Seek understanding. It's better to not fully understand than to fully misunderstand.
20. Share your point of view. We all have different perspectives. Allow someone to benefit from yours.
21. Get someone else's point of view. After you've shared your thoughts, give other people a chance to share theirs.
22. Lead the way. Let your inclusive behavior create a path for others to follow.
23. Do the right thing. Be fair and objective.
24. Be considerate. Before you speak, consider how your words might affect others.
25. Remember, we all make mistakes. Resist pointing out the mistakes of others.
26. Get involved. Decide to make a difference. Get caught being good.
27. Become a mentor. You - yes, you - can help others realize their potential.
28. Take a healthy step. Do something good for your health and encourage a friend to join you.
29. Lend a hand. A little help can go a long way.
30. Be a champion of dignity and respect. Encourage others to do the same.

Actually, when I think of it, there's nothing here that wasn't taught to most of us under the heading of "common courtesy", is there?

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A special All Souls remembrance:
Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.
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And don’t forget to enter this week’s contest, found here.

This week's photo caption contest

Join the fun and participate in this week's contest by submitting a caption for this picture. Use McLinky - it's easy and free.

Have a great week!

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Here are the winners for last week's contest, found here:

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And don't forget the All Soul's remembrance throughout November - click here to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.

Seizing the opportunity for service

The September 2009 issue of Guideposts contains an inspirational story about a man named Kenneth Behring. He had been a successful businessman and was quite prosperous by most standards. He wasn’t satisfied, though. He said, “I lacked purpose, something you achieve by giving your heart, time, and money to provide a better life for another – without seeking anything in return.”

So he watched for an opportunity to find such a purpose. In time, he became aware of the desperate need for medical supplies and equipment in many countries. He began to help with relief efforts. And a need he hadn’t foreseen became obvious to him. He recognized that “there were hundreds of thousands of people who were outcasts because they couldn’t walk – people who couldn’t be part of family activities or hold down jobs. People who spent their years lying in bed, isolated and alone”.

So Ken created the Wheelchair Foundation. In less than 10 years, 750,000 wheelchairs have been provided to people in 153 countries. In one instance, a man from Zimbabwe crawled 12 miles to the distribution center in hopes of receiving a wheelchair. The following year, the Wheelchair Foundation returned to the area. The man had again traveled 12 miles – this time in his wheelchair – to thank them once again.

As I read this story, I was both touched and, perhaps, a bit troubled. Certainly I don’t anticipate being able to start a foundation that has such far-flung impact. I don’t have resources to give away 75 wheelchairs, let alone 750,000. And I may feel a bit of self-reproach at not feeling called to such a ministry.

But then I read the last paragraph of this article:

“Ken doesn’t see what he does as extraordinary. ‘You don’t have to have a lot of money to do something good for someone else. You can start out small – a kind deed, a loving gesture. Those small acts multiplied can change lives.’”

No, I’m not called to supply wheelchairs to needy people around the world. And I don’t have the funds to launch a philanthropic effort on the scale of Kenneth Behring’s. But God has some purpose in mind for me, I feel sure.

Am I attentive enough to notice when an opportunity to perform even a “small act” presents itself?

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A special All Souls remembrance:
Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.
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Changed.

There are two of Jesus' disciples whom I would particularly like to have known in the days of their earthly life. One is Peter, and the other is John. I like these two men. I am especially impressed by the change that fellowship with the Lord Jesus produced in their lives. This is what intrigues me about these two.

Peter, as you know, was erratic, impulsive, brash. As someone has well said, "Whenever Peter enters a scene, it's always with a thud." He seems to have a gift for putting his foot in his mouth -- he suffered from hoof-in-mouth disease. Yet the Lord made him a steady, stable, dependable rock, as his name implies. He became a rallying point, a gathering point for the Christians in the days of the persecutions which broke out in the first century. It was only because he was with the Lord, and knew the Lord. Most of the change took place after the Lord's death and resurrection, however, so we do not need to feel that it was the personal presence of Jesus that changed these men. He changed them after he died and rose again, just as he can change us.

John was the other one who was dramatically changed by our Lord. He was a young man, the youngest of all the disciples. In fact, many scholars feel that he was a teenager when he first started to follow the Lord. Perhaps he was seventeen or eighteen years of age. Along with his brother, James, he was a hot-headed young man, given to sharp and impulsive utterances with a tendency toward blowing off steam. He was probably a loudmouth, because Jesus nicknamed him Son of Thunder. That was our Lord's gentle way of labeling John's problem. He just kept the thunder rolling all the time. So our Lord called both James and John Sons of Thunder.

But John became the apostle of love. He was noted for his gentleness and his graciousness and his goodness. He was called "The Virgin." As far as we know, he never married. There is no record that he ever did. But he was called "virgin" primarily because of the purity of his life. He became a man who was characterized by such an outstanding devotion and love for the Lord Jesus, that all his life he was singled out as the apostle of love.

- Ray C. Stedman

How has your encounter with Christ changed you?


A special All Souls remembrance:
Click here throughout the month of November to offer prayers in memory of loved ones who have preceded us in death.
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And don’t forget to enter this week’s caption contest!
You can find it here (even though I have some conflicts about Halloween)