"God makes everything beautiful for its own time."
I did not admit it last time I wrote, but the reason I quit writing on this blog for awhile is because I became very aware that I do not possess the right skill to be a good blogger. My story-telling and writing style (while proficient I would say) are such that they don't lend to the profound, thought-provoking posts that some of my friends contribute to their blogs (I follow some amazing bloggers, btw...I've posted some of their links on here before).
Shying away from blog posting last spring, incidentally, taught me a couple new things about myself:
1) I don't like to do things unless I can do them well
2) I'm getting better at recognizing my own shortcomings, as well as my talents
In addition to these insights, the last couple months of summer life and the first 3 weeks back at Rockhurst have helped me grow immensely in knowledge of my self. My quirks, my talents, my temptations, my desires. Thomas Merton talks about how as we get to know ourselves better, we grow in knowledge of God, and vice versa. Well, that's good. Means I'm learning more about God. :)
This idea of growth has definitely been a theme of my heart lately. God is growing me. He is making me, not "better," (implying the idea that I am not good enough as I am), but simply more complete. The pieces of me and Him that I am not yet aware of are out there, and He is showing them to me as is necessary, and no more than that. He is making me beautiful in my own time. The important part of that verse is not that I am being made beautiful, (again, implying that I am not beautiful by nature) but that I am being made beautiful for my own time. He is, with perfect timing and prudence, forming me in and for my journey toward Heaven.
This summer was so blissfully consoling. It was easy to pray, easy to love, easy to serve. And I grew and healed so much. And I am back again in KC, MO for my senior year at Rockhurst where, quite frankly, it is not as easy to serve, not as easy to pray, not as easy to love as it is in the Promised Land of Wichita, KS in the midst of my TEC framily. But the relative ease I assign to the places and tasks God calls me to don't really matter. I am blessed when I am at home. I am blessed equally as much here. I am called to love Christ with as much of my heart here as I am at home. My own time for being made beautiful is now, and it doesn't matter where I am placed.
St. Maximilian Kolbe said once: "Pray that I may love without any limits." I used to think that was true in terms of the magnitude of my love. But I also realize now that I must love without limits to where the journey takes me, physically and spiritually. Christ calls me to love without ANY limits. Period.
So, as I write this imperfect blog post and muse on how different life at school is from life in summer, I pray that God continues to make me beautiful for my own time. May He do the same for you.
Grace to you all, and peace!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
An Opportunity: Bless Him with gratitude
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUopRWPH7vc
"Does God give us (insert virtue), or does he give us opportunities to (insert virtue in action)?"
This totally applies to trusting God and joyful submission to His will.
When we ask God for the grace to trust in Him, He provides an opportunity for us to trust in Him. For example, a life transition that looms ahead, with uncertainty about what will happen. So what do we do with that opportunity? We trust in Him. Enjoy the present moments, which are beautiful and full of God's goodness and meaning. Instead of ruining the blessings we have with anxiety and fear of the future, we must return God's blessings with gratitude for what He has given us.
Worry and fear are merely distractions meant to keep us from embracing and accepting all God has given us. When we are tempted to worry about the future (and it is indeed a temptation), we must recognize it as an opportunity to enjoy the present...
*****
My lack of regular posting lately has been somewhat intentional, somewhat forced. Severe writer's block with some of the things I have thought about posting has been a sign...I think I am being called elsewhere, to grow and share what I've learned in a different way than an online blog. I'm not sure what that way is yet, but I imagine its a new opportunity. :)
I still plan to post songs, quotes and contributions from other cool people on here, but for the time being, I'm going to be mostly offline. Thanks for reading, and maybe I'll be back. Grace to you friends, and peace.
Sweet Heart of Mary, be our salvation!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Joyful Submission
*Sigh* Stepping back into the blogging world. Sorry for being away for so long. I was proud of my once-a-week streak...but I believe there's some kind of adage about all good things coming to an end. It's ok. Maybe a new one will start.
Like that positive tone? That subtle joy and lack of guilt/pressure/worry? It's a new thing I'm trying. I'm going to call it joyful submission, and I'd like to tell you about it. It's inspiration comes from 4 sources I will surely, eventually, beautifully relate to each other by the end of this post.
Like that positive tone? That subtle joy and lack of guilt/pressure/worry? It's a new thing I'm trying. I'm going to call it joyful submission, and I'd like to tell you about it. It's inspiration comes from 4 sources I will surely, eventually, beautifully relate to each other by the end of this post.
I'll work chronologically, as these sources impacted me.
1) I stumbled across a book called A Man for Others. It's a compilation of stories and testimonies about the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who. is. AWESOME. I had no idea. I mean, he already gets the awesomeness title because of his huge devotion to Mary (what with starting the Militia Immaculata and all), but his entire life was complete Franciscan, joyful, endlessly selfless giving. As I'm reading this book, I've been struck by his amazing capacity for joy. The man was often deathly ill and suffered all kinds of hardships in trying to start the MI. Not to mention the fact that he suffered persecution and martyrdom at the hands of the Nazis. And over and over, those who knew him commented on his consistent serenity, peace and cheerful confidence in the Providence of God and the favor of our Heavenly Queen.
2) While feeling disheartened, thinking that only SUPER holy people like St. Max could be so joyful, I came a quote (I regrettably canNOT remember where I found it or who said it) that said something along the lines of "joy is a daily choice." And I also know that joy, as being very separate from happiness, is more than an emotion. It is given to us as a grace from God. The decision to choose joy is a decision to choose to accept God's grace and work in our lives. Always a good thing, right?
3) The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Thinking about them, especially in the life of Mary, brought me to some new insight. All 5 incidents in Mary's life were pretty precarious situations. Being told by a mysterious figure that she was going to have some magic baby out of wedlock, listening to a cousin spout off about her being the Mother of God, having to deliver her child in a stable, learning from some crazy old man that her Son would be the Savior of the world and would undergo immense suffering, and finding said Son after losing Him for 3 days. Tough stuff right? But the situations are still infused with joy. Watching God come through on His promises is definitely a cause for celebration, and for confidence in our Creator.
4) A friend sent a quote on Facebook that goes like so: Real servants don't struggle, they submit.
Ouch. That one caught me right between the eyes. I have gotten stuck viewing this earthly life as nothing but struggle and fighting (the last couple blog posts about war come to mind?), when in reality, thats not the big picture. The analogy breaks down when the fight comes BETWEEN me and God. How silly would it be if an instrument I needed to do a job suddenly decided to not fulfill the purpose for which I had chosen it? How silly is it when I, as my Lord's servant, suddenly decide not to submit to His perfect and loving will? A good servant follows his master's will. As should I.
Ouch. That one caught me right between the eyes. I have gotten stuck viewing this earthly life as nothing but struggle and fighting (the last couple blog posts about war come to mind?), when in reality, thats not the big picture. The analogy breaks down when the fight comes BETWEEN me and God. How silly would it be if an instrument I needed to do a job suddenly decided to not fulfill the purpose for which I had chosen it? How silly is it when I, as my Lord's servant, suddenly decide not to submit to His perfect and loving will? A good servant follows his master's will. As should I.
So, integration time. St. Maximilian's example of genuine, ceaseless confidence in Mary his Queen, and in God was a reflection of Mary's endless joy and humility as Mother of God. St. Max chose joy because he chose to submit to his Master. Real servants don't struggle, they submit.
Hmmm, let's give it a shot. There is abundant cause to be joyful this time of year. It is Easter.
Are you a real servant?
Grace to you all, and peace!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Ready to Rage
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/03/05/obamacares-next-gift-after-birth-contraception/
I use the word "rage" and cite its correct definition. Most people my age think its means a great party. But what I say rage, I mean what dictionary.com says: "to act or speak with fury; show or feel violent anger..."
And violent anger is what I feel when I read about Obama's support for infanticide. The euphemism doesn't even begin to mask the meaning; "after-birth contraception" is murder. And that has nothing to do with when human life begins. I don't care what kind of whacked out scientists try to say that life begins after conception...there has NEVER been any doubt that life has not already begun after a child is born. And the truth that cannot be obscured, no matter how stupidly arrogant Obama and other pro-choicers get, is that murder is wrong. Ending a life that has already begun violates natural law.
It seems that sometimes anger can be destructive to a cause. It can poison it. The temptation to act out of impulse and revenge, rather than charity and compassion, is very real. But righteous anger is also powerfully motivating. Anger can be the catalyst that fills a person with courage to stand up to injustice...like a boss. If you have read anything Cardinal Dolan or Marc Barnes has written on the HHS Mandate lately, you know what I mean.
As for my take on anger...I'm, well, female. And what's more, I'm personally an intensely emotional female. The last 6 months of my life have allowed me to realize how deeply I feel...and while I've spent much of the last 6 months cursing this trait, I've also come to understand how beautiful a trait it is. I have a talent for empathizing with and caring for people because I am motivated by such strong reactions to their experiences. I'm pretty sure John and Stasi Eldredge were talking about me when they said that "there is something fierce in the heart of a woman." That fierceness comes from a seemingly endless capacity to feel. And the ability/opportunity to feel anger deeply is in no short supply in the struggling world we live in.
So, fabulous brothers in Christ, next time you think about rolling your eyes and chuckling because your fellow sisters cry or fly off the handle, remember that it is their God-given emotional capacities that motivate them to love others...like the 1/3 of your generation that has been lost due to abortion.
Obviously, I rage about life issues...but what do you rage about?
Our Lady of Guadalupe and Queen of Peace, pray for us!
Grace to you all, and peace.
PS-I also just want to share this link I found...
More Americans "Pro-Life" than "Pro-Choice" for the First Time (yeah!)
http://www.gallup.com/poll/118399/more-americans-pro-life-than-pro-choice-first-time.aspx
I use the word "rage" and cite its correct definition. Most people my age think its means a great party. But what I say rage, I mean what dictionary.com says: "to act or speak with fury; show or feel violent anger..."
And violent anger is what I feel when I read about Obama's support for infanticide. The euphemism doesn't even begin to mask the meaning; "after-birth contraception" is murder. And that has nothing to do with when human life begins. I don't care what kind of whacked out scientists try to say that life begins after conception...there has NEVER been any doubt that life has not already begun after a child is born. And the truth that cannot be obscured, no matter how stupidly arrogant Obama and other pro-choicers get, is that murder is wrong. Ending a life that has already begun violates natural law.
It seems that sometimes anger can be destructive to a cause. It can poison it. The temptation to act out of impulse and revenge, rather than charity and compassion, is very real. But righteous anger is also powerfully motivating. Anger can be the catalyst that fills a person with courage to stand up to injustice...like a boss. If you have read anything Cardinal Dolan or Marc Barnes has written on the HHS Mandate lately, you know what I mean.
As for my take on anger...I'm, well, female. And what's more, I'm personally an intensely emotional female. The last 6 months of my life have allowed me to realize how deeply I feel...and while I've spent much of the last 6 months cursing this trait, I've also come to understand how beautiful a trait it is. I have a talent for empathizing with and caring for people because I am motivated by such strong reactions to their experiences. I'm pretty sure John and Stasi Eldredge were talking about me when they said that "there is something fierce in the heart of a woman." That fierceness comes from a seemingly endless capacity to feel. And the ability/opportunity to feel anger deeply is in no short supply in the struggling world we live in.
So, fabulous brothers in Christ, next time you think about rolling your eyes and chuckling because your fellow sisters cry or fly off the handle, remember that it is their God-given emotional capacities that motivate them to love others...like the 1/3 of your generation that has been lost due to abortion.
Obviously, I rage about life issues...but what do you rage about?
Our Lady of Guadalupe and Queen of Peace, pray for us!
Grace to you all, and peace.
PS-I also just want to share this link I found...
More Americans "Pro-Life" than "Pro-Choice" for the First Time (yeah!)
http://www.gallup.com/poll/118399/more-americans-pro-life-than-pro-choice-first-time.aspx
Monday, February 27, 2012
Random, but semi-related news/thoughts, why I love FB, and War update-Part III
"What was God doing before you got there?"
This question was indirectly put to me last weekend, and it really segues well from my last post. Someone was telling me a story, and he mentioned that people who serve others sometimes get the idea that they are the be-all and end-all when it comes to getting stuff done. That we have such a desire for results, for that achievement high, for validation for our hard work...we forget that its not really about us. Now, don't get me wrong. Ambition is a wonderful thing, especially in terms of serving others, fighting the good fight, building up God's Kingdom, yada-yada. But sometimes we-ok, I-get stuck in thinking that if I am not present and contributing to the start AND finishing touch of some work God puts me to, I'm not doing enough.
"If I don't go, who will?"
"If I don't finish this, it won't get finished."
These thoughts sound familiar, ambitious do-gooders?
Totally my bad...And totally conceited. Believe it or not, Jecha and company, the world, God's view of it, and the value of my work are larger than what I see. To quote a song from an epic cartoon-animated movie based on Moses' life: "Look at your life through Heaven's eyes."
God was slinging stones/swinging light-sabers and swords/beating down evil long before He assigned me to anything, and He'll be doing the same long after I'm called to other things. My contributions are a lot less significant or essential than I'd like to think. (But He still appreciates and uses my input. He's such a good Guy.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG0a9WFkgzU
To illustrate my point, I keep hearing about new developments in the pro-life cause that have nothing to do with me, but that started before I cared so much, and will continue to develop far beyond my own ability to contribute. THIS is why I love FB...because it grants access to SO MUCH information. It can really unite pro-lifers to each other. Social networking rocks:
They're really threatening to close down all Catholic hospitals if the HHS doesn't call its mandate quits. This is the heart-wrenching consequence of the government's intrusion on religious freedom. President Obama, please don't try to call this a bluff or force the Catholic Church's hand. In my humble opinion, you'll be wrong.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cardinal-george-all-catholic-hospitals-will-close-in-two-years-under-hhs-ma
A semi-related thought about abortion, but really, its about being true to yourself. Her writing style is fantastic, and I love her personality. And she defends chastity brilliantly.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/hi-my-name-is-kristen-and-im-abstinent
This one's my favorite:
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/27/planned-parenthood-closes-texas-center-after-de-funding/
Barring prayer, none of these happened with any of my direct help. The USCCB going toe to toe with Washington, Kristen's conversion, and PP in Odessa closing...this is was what God was doing looooong before the links popped up on my facebook. So here's the update on War: Part III...I'm still fighting, but it is He who is still winning.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Queen of Peace, pray for us!
Grace to you all, and peace.
This question was indirectly put to me last weekend, and it really segues well from my last post. Someone was telling me a story, and he mentioned that people who serve others sometimes get the idea that they are the be-all and end-all when it comes to getting stuff done. That we have such a desire for results, for that achievement high, for validation for our hard work...we forget that its not really about us. Now, don't get me wrong. Ambition is a wonderful thing, especially in terms of serving others, fighting the good fight, building up God's Kingdom, yada-yada. But sometimes we-ok, I-get stuck in thinking that if I am not present and contributing to the start AND finishing touch of some work God puts me to, I'm not doing enough.
"If I don't go, who will?"
"If I don't finish this, it won't get finished."
These thoughts sound familiar, ambitious do-gooders?
Totally my bad...And totally conceited. Believe it or not, Jecha and company, the world, God's view of it, and the value of my work are larger than what I see. To quote a song from an epic cartoon-animated movie based on Moses' life: "Look at your life through Heaven's eyes."
God was slinging stones/swinging light-sabers and swords/beating down evil long before He assigned me to anything, and He'll be doing the same long after I'm called to other things. My contributions are a lot less significant or essential than I'd like to think. (But He still appreciates and uses my input. He's such a good Guy.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG0a9WFkgzU
To illustrate my point, I keep hearing about new developments in the pro-life cause that have nothing to do with me, but that started before I cared so much, and will continue to develop far beyond my own ability to contribute. THIS is why I love FB...because it grants access to SO MUCH information. It can really unite pro-lifers to each other. Social networking rocks:
They're really threatening to close down all Catholic hospitals if the HHS doesn't call its mandate quits. This is the heart-wrenching consequence of the government's intrusion on religious freedom. President Obama, please don't try to call this a bluff or force the Catholic Church's hand. In my humble opinion, you'll be wrong.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cardinal-george-all-catholic-hospitals-will-close-in-two-years-under-hhs-ma
A semi-related thought about abortion, but really, its about being true to yourself. Her writing style is fantastic, and I love her personality. And she defends chastity brilliantly.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/hi-my-name-is-kristen-and-im-abstinent
This one's my favorite:
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/27/planned-parenthood-closes-texas-center-after-de-funding/
Barring prayer, none of these happened with any of my direct help. The USCCB going toe to toe with Washington, Kristen's conversion, and PP in Odessa closing...this is was what God was doing looooong before the links popped up on my facebook. So here's the update on War: Part III...I'm still fighting, but it is He who is still winning.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Queen of Peace, pray for us!
Grace to you all, and peace.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
War sucks. Oh well...
So, my plan was to write another post about the developments on the HHS mandate and all my battles for the pro-life cause. Well, life got a little hectic during all those battles, and with my sword in one hand and my light-saber in the other, typing up a blog post was not really an option. I'll put my sword down (light sabers are cooler) for the moment and update a little. Since I posted last:
*I signed a petition that ended up with the 25,000 signatures it needed, which was exciting, and it elicited a response from the White House, albeit a nasty one.
*Like I said last time, Komen quit funding Planned Parenthood, which was also exciting. They then further clarified their reasons for doing so, which was noble and even more exciting. I heard a statistic that the day they made the decision, donations to their organization increased 100%. Yay for women's health!
*The last time I posted, I asked for prayers for our pro-life group meeting about the HHS mandate. Good news. There were upward of 15 people (a remarkably well-attended meeting) there and the next day I mailed off 28 letters to the Senators of both Kansas and Missouri. Very exciting.
*I had a great conversation with a Protestant, explaining the Catholic Church's teaching on contraception. He seemed receptive, and asked me a lot of great questions I have to learn more about.
*I had another intensely great conversation with a some-kind-of-Christian/agnostic/spiritual-condition-unknown about the whole reason the HHS mandate is a problem. When we had exhausted the topic, all the other party had to say was "I don't know." He must have been thinking really hard. Encouraging.
So, lots of good stuff right? Many battles won/started with good progress. But sometimes, the casualties and injuries and setbacks really get to me:
**The "accomodation" made by the Obama Administration regarding the HHS mandate isn't much of an accomodation at all. I like the analogy made here:
(Marc Barnes, aka "badCatholic"-who I've very recently become a fan of-wrote a "letter" on his blog to Obama stating his opinion of the new accomodation.)
"To accommodate them [USCCB] you said the “insurance company — not the hospital, not the charity — will be required to reach out and offer the woman contraceptive care free of charge.
**Almost immediately after the uproar surrounding its decision to defund Planned Parenthood, the Komen Foundation reversed it. It could have been a sucker-punch of a letdown, but pro-lifers shouldn't throw Komen under the bus yet.
"[CEO Nancy Brinker]...make[s] clear that they will amend their guidelines [for funding decisions] so only 'criminal and conclusive' investigations affect their funding decisions. They will ensure that 'politics has no place in our grant process,' and they will 'continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities.'" http://www.jillstanek.com/2012/02/decoding-komens-supposed-cave/
...I don't know. These two minor calls for retreat and re-group in the pro-life cause weren't super huge considering the amount of progress made in recent months, and I haven't beeen personally handed a lethal injury in my personal pro-life battles either. But the thing about battling is: it sucks. It's tough, and even if nothing negative happens, it gets discouraging, waiting for immediate victories and conquests.
I get tired of asking the gentlemen in my life to watch their language around me. I get tired of turning off the music with negative messages that my residents like to blast on the radio in the bathroom, and coming back a couple hours later to have it turned on again. I get tired of organizing college student events that are alternatives to partying and having only 6 people show, instead of the 15 who verbally committed. I get tired of the stress of making up homework after being gone for 3 days because I was on the March for Life. I get tired of the exhausting conversations I engage in about my faith with people who aren't willing to listen. I get tired of listening to others because they just need to vent, and they never ask about how I am. I get tired of being raw and open and honest with others, when the favor is not returned.
I am not writing to complain or to demand that the opportunities God grants me to love others pass me by. Throwing up the white flag is not an option. Never has been and never will be. Fighting the good fight is what I do as a Christian woman in a hurting world. But I am writing to empathize in everything that people go through when they suit up to fight for Christ. War is tough.
But I guess thats why God told Paul to tell the Ephesians to "draw your strength from the Lord and from His mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil."
-Ephesians 6:10-11
He also pointed out that I shouldn't get discouraged, because I'm not really responsible for victory, or in charge anyway.
"Therefore neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth." -1 Corinthians 3:7
So get off your high horse, Jecha, because
"There is only one Savior of this world, and you are not Him."
-my best friend
So what if every little pro-life battle I engage in doesn't reach my definition of success?
"God does not require that you succeed, only that you try."
-Blessed Mother Teresa
and
"There may be times when we're powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we stop protesting it." -Elie Weisel
The reason I know I was supposed to write this post, is that I was scrolling down my newsfeed on good ole' FB a couple minutes ago, being discouraged and grumbling and mumbling, and I saw these 3 statuses, from 3 people who are completely unrelated in my life. And I'm pretty sure none of them were explicitly related to a pro-life thought.
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Unknown, attributed to several people
"Jesus, I TRUST in you!"
"Friggin' solid brick walls. I'll break through one of 'em eventually."
Boom.
It says somewhere in Scripture that those who love God can run and not grow weary. So I'm going to keep battling, even when I'm tired. Because guess what? War does suck.
But we're on the side that wins.
Mama, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Queen of Peace, pray for us!
Grace to you, and peace.
April :)
*I signed a petition that ended up with the 25,000 signatures it needed, which was exciting, and it elicited a response from the White House, albeit a nasty one.
*Like I said last time, Komen quit funding Planned Parenthood, which was also exciting. They then further clarified their reasons for doing so, which was noble and even more exciting. I heard a statistic that the day they made the decision, donations to their organization increased 100%. Yay for women's health!
*The last time I posted, I asked for prayers for our pro-life group meeting about the HHS mandate. Good news. There were upward of 15 people (a remarkably well-attended meeting) there and the next day I mailed off 28 letters to the Senators of both Kansas and Missouri. Very exciting.
*I had a great conversation with a Protestant, explaining the Catholic Church's teaching on contraception. He seemed receptive, and asked me a lot of great questions I have to learn more about.
*I had another intensely great conversation with a some-kind-of-Christian/agnostic/spiritual-condition-unknown about the whole reason the HHS mandate is a problem. When we had exhausted the topic, all the other party had to say was "I don't know." He must have been thinking really hard. Encouraging.
So, lots of good stuff right? Many battles won/started with good progress. But sometimes, the casualties and injuries and setbacks really get to me:
**The "accomodation" made by the Obama Administration regarding the HHS mandate isn't much of an accomodation at all. I like the analogy made here:
(Marc Barnes, aka "badCatholic"-who I've very recently become a fan of-wrote a "letter" on his blog to Obama stating his opinion of the new accomodation.)
"To accommodate them [USCCB] you said the “insurance company — not the hospital, not the charity — will be required to reach out and offer the woman contraceptive care free of charge.
"Obama, who — precisely — is buying the insurance companies’ free-contraceptive coverage? Who but the Catholic institutions, the institutions morally opposed to providing contraception to their employees? All you’ve done is forced morally opposed institutions to pay for other institutions that will provide contraception. Yes, this is akin to forcing those morally opposed to murder to hire hitmen. Not only is it immoral, unconstitutional and arrogant, it’s also painfully unintellectual..."
**Almost immediately after the uproar surrounding its decision to defund Planned Parenthood, the Komen Foundation reversed it. It could have been a sucker-punch of a letdown, but pro-lifers shouldn't throw Komen under the bus yet.
"[CEO Nancy Brinker]...make[s] clear that they will amend their guidelines [for funding decisions] so only 'criminal and conclusive' investigations affect their funding decisions. They will ensure that 'politics has no place in our grant process,' and they will 'continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities.'" http://www.jillstanek.com/2012/02/decoding-komens-supposed-cave/
...I don't know. These two minor calls for retreat and re-group in the pro-life cause weren't super huge considering the amount of progress made in recent months, and I haven't beeen personally handed a lethal injury in my personal pro-life battles either. But the thing about battling is: it sucks. It's tough, and even if nothing negative happens, it gets discouraging, waiting for immediate victories and conquests.
I get tired of asking the gentlemen in my life to watch their language around me. I get tired of turning off the music with negative messages that my residents like to blast on the radio in the bathroom, and coming back a couple hours later to have it turned on again. I get tired of organizing college student events that are alternatives to partying and having only 6 people show, instead of the 15 who verbally committed. I get tired of the stress of making up homework after being gone for 3 days because I was on the March for Life. I get tired of the exhausting conversations I engage in about my faith with people who aren't willing to listen. I get tired of listening to others because they just need to vent, and they never ask about how I am. I get tired of being raw and open and honest with others, when the favor is not returned.
I am not writing to complain or to demand that the opportunities God grants me to love others pass me by. Throwing up the white flag is not an option. Never has been and never will be. Fighting the good fight is what I do as a Christian woman in a hurting world. But I am writing to empathize in everything that people go through when they suit up to fight for Christ. War is tough.
But I guess thats why God told Paul to tell the Ephesians to "draw your strength from the Lord and from His mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil."
-Ephesians 6:10-11
He also pointed out that I shouldn't get discouraged, because I'm not really responsible for victory, or in charge anyway.
"Therefore neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth." -1 Corinthians 3:7
So get off your high horse, Jecha, because
"There is only one Savior of this world, and you are not Him."
-my best friend
So what if every little pro-life battle I engage in doesn't reach my definition of success?
"God does not require that you succeed, only that you try."
-Blessed Mother Teresa
and
"There may be times when we're powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we stop protesting it." -Elie Weisel
The reason I know I was supposed to write this post, is that I was scrolling down my newsfeed on good ole' FB a couple minutes ago, being discouraged and grumbling and mumbling, and I saw these 3 statuses, from 3 people who are completely unrelated in my life. And I'm pretty sure none of them were explicitly related to a pro-life thought.
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Unknown, attributed to several people
"Jesus, I TRUST in you!"
"Friggin' solid brick walls. I'll break through one of 'em eventually."
Boom.
It says somewhere in Scripture that those who love God can run and not grow weary. So I'm going to keep battling, even when I'm tired. Because guess what? War does suck.
But we're on the side that wins.
Mama, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Queen of Peace, pray for us!
Grace to you, and peace.
April :)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
This means war.
In all the uproar with the new Health and Human Service Mandate, the investigation into Planned Parenthood, and the March for Life itself, I'm declaring an April vs. Abortion war on my blog. What my next couple posts will show are the videos, articles, pictures, and experiences that have blown up my facebook wall over the last week. To start with is one of my favorites, which made my day this morning: Komen for the Cure is no longer supporting Planned Parenthood.
Present here is an article in the LA times which scathingly reports the severed ties between Komen and PP. I just want to point out what I said above. Lying to one of your donors about how you're going to use their money is perfectly professional grounds for them to remove their monetary support. Oh, never mind that PP is under federal investigation. Even if PP were providing mammograms like they said, its not a poor move to sever ties with an organization under investigation. Duh.
"Over the last five years, Planned Parenthood has provided about 4 million breast exams and referrals for 70,000 mammograms nationwide."
Referrals. Since when do organizations get funding for their secretaries making referrals? I should get extra funding. I'm an RA. Making referrals is what I do...
Ok, ok, I'll get off my soapbox for now. But you can be sure I'll be keeping it out for awhile. Coming off the largest peaceful protest in America, (M4L whoop whoop!) I'm ready to rage against this evil. If you're also in, join the rosary campaign. It starts today and goes for 18 days.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/292426467479696/.
If you're not Catholic, pro-lifers still rock, and please keep praying with us!
Bishop Jackels said it well: "pray, pray more, and pray more harder."
http://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/office-of-the-bishop/documents/doc_view/2285-bishop-jackels-response-to-hhs-mandate
Please pray for Rockhurst's Hawks for Life group. We're learning more about the HHS mandate tonight at our meeting. For those unfamiliar, that will be my next topic of conversation.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Grace to you all, and peace!
Present here is an article in the LA times which scathingly reports the severed ties between Komen and PP. I just want to point out what I said above. Lying to one of your donors about how you're going to use their money is perfectly professional grounds for them to remove their monetary support. Oh, never mind that PP is under federal investigation. Even if PP were providing mammograms like they said, its not a poor move to sever ties with an organization under investigation. Duh.
"Over the last five years, Planned Parenthood has provided about 4 million breast exams and referrals for 70,000 mammograms nationwide."
Referrals. Since when do organizations get funding for their secretaries making referrals? I should get extra funding. I'm an RA. Making referrals is what I do...
Ok, ok, I'll get off my soapbox for now. But you can be sure I'll be keeping it out for awhile. Coming off the largest peaceful protest in America, (M4L whoop whoop!) I'm ready to rage against this evil. If you're also in, join the rosary campaign. It starts today and goes for 18 days.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/292426467479696/.
If you're not Catholic, pro-lifers still rock, and please keep praying with us!
Bishop Jackels said it well: "pray, pray more, and pray more harder."
http://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/office-of-the-bishop/documents/doc_view/2285-bishop-jackels-response-to-hhs-mandate
Please pray for Rockhurst's Hawks for Life group. We're learning more about the HHS mandate tonight at our meeting. For those unfamiliar, that will be my next topic of conversation.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Grace to you all, and peace!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
They're getting it!!!!
With all the swing dancing I've done in the last couple months, its safe to say I've been hitting the country music pretty hard. I love lyrics too. Thinking about what artists are really saying behind their words, the message they're sending to the world...And well, I've started to notice something. Some of the country artists are starting to get it. If you listen to what they're really saying.
Jerrod Niemann-What Do You Want
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97BfC4LgrXk&ob=av2e
I get so tired of living like this.
I don’t have the time, neither do my friends,
To stay up at night, to pull me through,
And to find the things to keep my mind off of you...
Oh baby what do you want, what do you want, what do you want from me?
To come here and make love tonight cause you’re feelin’ lonely.
You keep takin’ me back, takin’ me back where I’ve already been.
When we wake up and say goodbye it’s like I’m losing you again.
Can’t you see? So what do you want, what do you want from me?
This song is heartbreaking. The poor guy can't even stand to talk to her because she keeps using and abusing him. I couldn't put my finger on why I seemed to like it...I'm not a fan of heartbroken country crooning. But I figured it out. Here's another example:
Jake Owen-Alone with you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3EpArAtGJQ&ob=av2e
I don’t see you laugh
You don’t call me back
But you kiss me when you’re drunk...
Don’t put your lips up to my mouth and tell me you can’t stay
Don’t slip your hand under my shirt and tell me it’s okay
Don’t say it doesn’t matter cause it’s gonna matter to me...
You’ve got me out on the edge every time you call
And I know it would kill me if I fall
I can’t be alone with you
Again, another heartbreaking song that makes me sick to my stomach.
One of the most infamous complaints from country music haters about songs like this is that they're so depressing...but has anyone taken a good long look at how the world views love, dating, and sexuality these days? Yeah, pretty accurately depressing. Rap and hip-hop songs describes the stores and frame of mind that leads to country songs like these. The morning after you've experienced the apparent no-consequence one-night stand.
Though I wanna shake Jake and Jerrod and tell them to stop messing with the women that inspire songs like this, deep down, I really like both these songs. Why, you ask?
Because these songs are sung by and for men living in this world who are asking: "Is this really all there is? Breaking hearts and getting my heart broken, getting used and using her?" Now granted, both of these songs describe a man who's stuck and can't seem to find an answer to that question, but I think its a big deal that they're asking it. On secular radio stations with no spiritual agenda. God hears the cries of the heartbroken who sing non-Christian music too.
This song describes a frame of mind a step or two ahead. I fell in love with it immediately.
Lady A-Just a Kiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_yTphvyiPU&ob=av2e
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No, I don't wanna mess this thing up
No, I don't wanna push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby, I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight
I know that if we give this a little time
It'll only bring us closer to the love we wanna find
It's never felt so real, no it's never felt so right
"I care enough about you and growing in love of you that I'm good with this. This is enough."
Much more romantic. Much less of a mood killer. Much more hopeful. All it requires is some self-control. I don't know. You could probably give me 10 other songs that contradict my point, I'm sure. But these songs are popular. People know what it means to feel that way, to begin to understand that the world's counterfeit love is a lie. Love is meant to set us free, not trap us in despair and depression. I don't know. Makes me hopeful.
This topic also gives me an opportunity to post my new favorite song on here. I melt every time...because Scotty has it SO RIGHT. Women are a mystery, they're beautiful, they have something to offer to their brothers in Christ that can't be experienced elsewhere, and men will always love them. Boom.
Enjoy. :)
Scotty McCreery-The Trouble with Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND-SB3OxP38&ob=av3e
Hope you didn't mind my optimistic ramblings about my favorite genre of music.
Grace to you and peace.
Jerrod Niemann-What Do You Want
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97BfC4LgrXk&ob=av2e
I get so tired of living like this.
I don’t have the time, neither do my friends,
To stay up at night, to pull me through,
And to find the things to keep my mind off of you...
Oh baby what do you want, what do you want, what do you want from me?
To come here and make love tonight cause you’re feelin’ lonely.
You keep takin’ me back, takin’ me back where I’ve already been.
When we wake up and say goodbye it’s like I’m losing you again.
Can’t you see? So what do you want, what do you want from me?
This song is heartbreaking. The poor guy can't even stand to talk to her because she keeps using and abusing him. I couldn't put my finger on why I seemed to like it...I'm not a fan of heartbroken country crooning. But I figured it out. Here's another example:
Jake Owen-Alone with you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3EpArAtGJQ&ob=av2e
I don’t see you laugh
You don’t call me back
But you kiss me when you’re drunk...
Don’t put your lips up to my mouth and tell me you can’t stay
Don’t slip your hand under my shirt and tell me it’s okay
Don’t say it doesn’t matter cause it’s gonna matter to me...
You’ve got me out on the edge every time you call
And I know it would kill me if I fall
I can’t be alone with you
Again, another heartbreaking song that makes me sick to my stomach.
One of the most infamous complaints from country music haters about songs like this is that they're so depressing...but has anyone taken a good long look at how the world views love, dating, and sexuality these days? Yeah, pretty accurately depressing. Rap and hip-hop songs describes the stores and frame of mind that leads to country songs like these. The morning after you've experienced the apparent no-consequence one-night stand.
Though I wanna shake Jake and Jerrod and tell them to stop messing with the women that inspire songs like this, deep down, I really like both these songs. Why, you ask?
Because these songs are sung by and for men living in this world who are asking: "Is this really all there is? Breaking hearts and getting my heart broken, getting used and using her?" Now granted, both of these songs describe a man who's stuck and can't seem to find an answer to that question, but I think its a big deal that they're asking it. On secular radio stations with no spiritual agenda. God hears the cries of the heartbroken who sing non-Christian music too.
This song describes a frame of mind a step or two ahead. I fell in love with it immediately.
Lady A-Just a Kiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_yTphvyiPU&ob=av2e
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No, I don't wanna mess this thing up
No, I don't wanna push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby, I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight
I know that if we give this a little time
It'll only bring us closer to the love we wanna find
It's never felt so real, no it's never felt so right
"I care enough about you and growing in love of you that I'm good with this. This is enough."
Much more romantic. Much less of a mood killer. Much more hopeful. All it requires is some self-control. I don't know. You could probably give me 10 other songs that contradict my point, I'm sure. But these songs are popular. People know what it means to feel that way, to begin to understand that the world's counterfeit love is a lie. Love is meant to set us free, not trap us in despair and depression. I don't know. Makes me hopeful.
This topic also gives me an opportunity to post my new favorite song on here. I melt every time...because Scotty has it SO RIGHT. Women are a mystery, they're beautiful, they have something to offer to their brothers in Christ that can't be experienced elsewhere, and men will always love them. Boom.
Enjoy. :)
Scotty McCreery-The Trouble with Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND-SB3OxP38&ob=av3e
Hope you didn't mind my optimistic ramblings about my favorite genre of music.
Grace to you and peace.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
A Season of Waiting
Wait, wait, wait....I'm gonna go crazy if I have to wait much longer! Being up in KC while everyone else has been gone for two weeks...working at a place that makes me crazy when I'd rather be at home Christmas shopping with my mom and sister and talking skiing strategies with my brother...blegh. Waiting is torturous. It's also hard. There is literally nothing I can do to make time skip to Friday December 23rd at 2pm, when I get to point the nose of my little car toward Wichita, KS. It stinks that 2 weeks of my break have been spent waiting...especially because I'm wishing this time away.
Amidst all this frustration and boredom with a little loneliness mixed in, I think of Mary. Poor girl. All she could do after the Angel Gabriel's visit was wait. She simply had to trust that the child growing inside her was the miracle she was promised. She had to trust that God (through Joseph) would take care of her as they were slandered and gossiped about by their neighbors. If I think about it, it may not have been until the shepherds came proclaiming their praise and confirming the news she heard from the Angel, that her "waiting" was over. 9 months of waiting. While pregnant. What have I got to complain about? I've got two weeks and no baby. No lost reputation in the eyes of my neighbors.
So, instead of wishing my time away, I'll wait with Mary, as She prepares to bring us the Savior of the World, the Prince of Peace, the newborn King of Kings. Yep. I'll wait with Her.
Merry Christmas!
Grace to you, and peace.
Amidst all this frustration and boredom with a little loneliness mixed in, I think of Mary. Poor girl. All she could do after the Angel Gabriel's visit was wait. She simply had to trust that the child growing inside her was the miracle she was promised. She had to trust that God (through Joseph) would take care of her as they were slandered and gossiped about by their neighbors. If I think about it, it may not have been until the shepherds came proclaiming their praise and confirming the news she heard from the Angel, that her "waiting" was over. 9 months of waiting. While pregnant. What have I got to complain about? I've got two weeks and no baby. No lost reputation in the eyes of my neighbors.
So, instead of wishing my time away, I'll wait with Mary, as She prepares to bring us the Savior of the World, the Prince of Peace, the newborn King of Kings. Yep. I'll wait with Her.
Merry Christmas!
Grace to you, and peace.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
I got to daily Mass today only to realize that it was a Marian feast day! Hooray....I love Marian feast days...especially when I get on Facebook and realize that many of my friends are as excited as I am...
Not many people know this, but Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of my favorite apparitions for so many reasons:
1) The way cool story of Juan Diego, and Mary's direct intervention on the part of the Mexican people, barely ten years after the Aztec empire had been conquered, and the Spanish were trying to enforce Catholicism on them. Because of her appearance to poor Juan Diego (who was probably terrified at the prospect of appealing to the Bishop at Her request!), Mexico's people were no longer so disenchanted; they established an identity separate from the Spanish, and benefitted from the justice Mary sought for them.
2) When Mary appeared to Juan Diego, she had dark skin and dark eyes, was dressed in a common Aztec garment, and spoke in their native tongue. She claims all people as Her children!
3) Because of this, there is a cultural devotion to Our Lady that goes beyond religious affiliation. Even those of Hispanic ethnicity who may not be Catholic commonly show devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
4) The miraculous scientific findings about Juan Diego's tilma with the image. They are SOOO COOL. I only can explicitly, accurately remember two...but there are so many more. For example, the "paint" used in the depiction of the image is unlike any man-made paint that exists. And my favorite: Human eyes are unique from other animals' in that the pupil reflects what the eye is looking at. When the pupils of the image on the tilma were magnified, the shadowy figures in them exactly mirrored the positions of the people in the room where Juan Diego first revealed his cloak of roses (which do not normally grow in December!). CRAZY COOL!
5) Our Lady of Guadalupe is patronness of the Americas, which is appropriate as Father Curran pointed out today, because we are nations that have both extreme wealth and extreme poverty, and Our Lady stands as a proponent of justice for the poor.
6) And finally, I'm a big fan of Our Lady of Guadalupe because She is also patronness of the unborn, and a huge intercessor for the pro-life cause. Naturally, my passion in being pro-life has drawn me to this specific apparition of Her.
Pro-life patronage segues into the main point of my post....Mass. Today, the first reading was from the book of Revelation. I am very familiar with the passage about the Woman who covers the sun with twelve stars above Her head. She's pregnant and laboring to give birth right? So awesome, because that is what Mary's important for...giving the world it's Savior...yada yada yada...
But one little detail I've never had memorized was the description of the dragon.
"...it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. It's tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth." ~Revelation 12:3-4
I don't know how many people know this, but the general statistic is that 1 out of every 3 pregnancies in America is terminated by abortion. Think about it. 1/3 of the generation conceived since Roe vs. Wade was legalized in 1973 was never born. A third of the stars in Mary's sky, a third of Her children, are silenced by the red dragon of abortion. Evil waits to attack those who are most innocent, most defenseless in our society. And the book of Revelation says it all. God knows. So does Mary.
I know that if you skip to the end of the good Book, you find out that Good wins, right? But what can we do in the meantime, to fight for those precious stars, those precious children of Mary?
Grace to you, and peace.
Not many people know this, but Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of my favorite apparitions for so many reasons:
1) The way cool story of Juan Diego, and Mary's direct intervention on the part of the Mexican people, barely ten years after the Aztec empire had been conquered, and the Spanish were trying to enforce Catholicism on them. Because of her appearance to poor Juan Diego (who was probably terrified at the prospect of appealing to the Bishop at Her request!), Mexico's people were no longer so disenchanted; they established an identity separate from the Spanish, and benefitted from the justice Mary sought for them.
2) When Mary appeared to Juan Diego, she had dark skin and dark eyes, was dressed in a common Aztec garment, and spoke in their native tongue. She claims all people as Her children!
3) Because of this, there is a cultural devotion to Our Lady that goes beyond religious affiliation. Even those of Hispanic ethnicity who may not be Catholic commonly show devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
4) The miraculous scientific findings about Juan Diego's tilma with the image. They are SOOO COOL. I only can explicitly, accurately remember two...but there are so many more. For example, the "paint" used in the depiction of the image is unlike any man-made paint that exists. And my favorite: Human eyes are unique from other animals' in that the pupil reflects what the eye is looking at. When the pupils of the image on the tilma were magnified, the shadowy figures in them exactly mirrored the positions of the people in the room where Juan Diego first revealed his cloak of roses (which do not normally grow in December!). CRAZY COOL!
5) Our Lady of Guadalupe is patronness of the Americas, which is appropriate as Father Curran pointed out today, because we are nations that have both extreme wealth and extreme poverty, and Our Lady stands as a proponent of justice for the poor.
6) And finally, I'm a big fan of Our Lady of Guadalupe because She is also patronness of the unborn, and a huge intercessor for the pro-life cause. Naturally, my passion in being pro-life has drawn me to this specific apparition of Her.
Pro-life patronage segues into the main point of my post....Mass. Today, the first reading was from the book of Revelation. I am very familiar with the passage about the Woman who covers the sun with twelve stars above Her head. She's pregnant and laboring to give birth right? So awesome, because that is what Mary's important for...giving the world it's Savior...yada yada yada...
But one little detail I've never had memorized was the description of the dragon.
"...it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. It's tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth." ~Revelation 12:3-4
I don't know how many people know this, but the general statistic is that 1 out of every 3 pregnancies in America is terminated by abortion. Think about it. 1/3 of the generation conceived since Roe vs. Wade was legalized in 1973 was never born. A third of the stars in Mary's sky, a third of Her children, are silenced by the red dragon of abortion. Evil waits to attack those who are most innocent, most defenseless in our society. And the book of Revelation says it all. God knows. So does Mary.
I know that if you skip to the end of the good Book, you find out that Good wins, right? But what can we do in the meantime, to fight for those precious stars, those precious children of Mary?
Grace to you, and peace.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
"You can't get there from here."
Fr. Curran started off an excellent homily this evening with this common expression, often referring to finding directions to a new destination. His point was that the statement is incorrect. Its more like..."you can't get there alone." And it makes sense. There are some places I could try driving to based on my own intuition and some simple direction from others...but unless I were a local Kansas Citian, I could not find it unless i had a navigator in the car with me (...ok, lets be real. There are lots of places like this.)
Fr. Curran's point though, was that, in a spiritual sense, the statement doesn't make sense either. And I totally agree.
"You can't get there from here" implies that we have the capacity to get anywhere on our own, spiritually. And, it also says that there are places from which we can never get away, places from which we can never leave to find holiness or joy or peace. It implies that there might be sins that are too big to be forgiven, or that it is impossible to be a certain amount of holy in this world (if holiness were quantifiable). All these statements are sooooo wrong.
Like Father said, "You can't get there alone."
"Behold, I am with you always until the end of the age." ~Matthew 28:20
And God does not mean for us to be alone. He is always with us. He sent His Spirit to be among us, the Church (Acts 2). He has been guiding us from the beginning.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you...have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you..." ~Jeremiah 2:5-8
And in this season of Advent, He is promising to enter our own humanity.
"'Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,' which means 'GOD IS WITH US.' ~Matthew 1:23
For goodness' sake, Jesus' name means He is with us! How cool is that?
It was a kickin' homily.
Just sayin'. The president of our university rocks.
Take courage, when you feel that you can't get there alone. "You cannot go where God is not already, waiting for you."
Grace to you, and peace.
Fr. Curran's point though, was that, in a spiritual sense, the statement doesn't make sense either. And I totally agree.
"You can't get there from here" implies that we have the capacity to get anywhere on our own, spiritually. And, it also says that there are places from which we can never get away, places from which we can never leave to find holiness or joy or peace. It implies that there might be sins that are too big to be forgiven, or that it is impossible to be a certain amount of holy in this world (if holiness were quantifiable). All these statements are sooooo wrong.
Like Father said, "You can't get there alone."
"Behold, I am with you always until the end of the age." ~Matthew 28:20
And God does not mean for us to be alone. He is always with us. He sent His Spirit to be among us, the Church (Acts 2). He has been guiding us from the beginning.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you...have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you..." ~Jeremiah 2:5-8
And in this season of Advent, He is promising to enter our own humanity.
"'Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,' which means 'GOD IS WITH US.' ~Matthew 1:23
For goodness' sake, Jesus' name means He is with us! How cool is that?
It was a kickin' homily.
Just sayin'. The president of our university rocks.
Take courage, when you feel that you can't get there alone. "You cannot go where God is not already, waiting for you."
Grace to you, and peace.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
Yay! It's Advent!
Ok, I won't lie. I have not before had the spiritual maturity to appreciate Advent in previous years. Maybe now its time...what a hopeful season. All the world awaits a Savior...me included. I think God's timing on this whole thing is quite perfect (uh...duh). I have reached a turning point in my spiritual struggles recently, which provides an excellent opportunity for hope. Tah-dah! First week of Advent, friend. God is good.
The message of hope came through so strongly today in the readings at Mass...
"On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom...Then the wolf shall be a guest with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them...for His dwelling place shall be glorious." ~Isaiah 11:1-10
Father commented in Mass today about how beautifully versed this passage in Isaiah is. What tender, poignant images they bring us Gentiles, who are breathlessly anticipating the Love that is ours. Talk about poetry.
I agree, but I loved the psalm even more:
"Justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness of peace forever." ~Psalm 72
Justice...a concept we Americans tend to associate with ugly legal proceedings and cold, unfeeling court rooms. But justice is so much more...all the wrongs of this world will be righted when the King of Kings comes for His people. And the result being the fullness of peace forever...I like it. :) Peace is good.
Speaking of Mass....I'm totally in love with the New Translation. I cannot at present say which word changes stick out to me most...but the whole idea of being even more in communion with the rest of the non-English speaking Body of Christ is so exciting...even more cause for hope. Yay God.
May you find hope in this season of waiting. Grace to you, and peace.
Ok, I won't lie. I have not before had the spiritual maturity to appreciate Advent in previous years. Maybe now its time...what a hopeful season. All the world awaits a Savior...me included. I think God's timing on this whole thing is quite perfect (uh...duh). I have reached a turning point in my spiritual struggles recently, which provides an excellent opportunity for hope. Tah-dah! First week of Advent, friend. God is good.
The message of hope came through so strongly today in the readings at Mass...
"On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom...Then the wolf shall be a guest with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them...for His dwelling place shall be glorious." ~Isaiah 11:1-10
Father commented in Mass today about how beautifully versed this passage in Isaiah is. What tender, poignant images they bring us Gentiles, who are breathlessly anticipating the Love that is ours. Talk about poetry.
I agree, but I loved the psalm even more:
"Justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness of peace forever." ~Psalm 72
Justice...a concept we Americans tend to associate with ugly legal proceedings and cold, unfeeling court rooms. But justice is so much more...all the wrongs of this world will be righted when the King of Kings comes for His people. And the result being the fullness of peace forever...I like it. :) Peace is good.
Speaking of Mass....I'm totally in love with the New Translation. I cannot at present say which word changes stick out to me most...but the whole idea of being even more in communion with the rest of the non-English speaking Body of Christ is so exciting...even more cause for hope. Yay God.
May you find hope in this season of waiting. Grace to you, and peace.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
At the Foot of the Cross
I got a new perspective on the crucifix in the little ill-used chapel in XL hall's basement last week. Despite the lack of use (except for studying) and the humility of it, with little decoration on the walls and few chairs, the space is a sacred one, and the crucifix in the center of the wall makes the little room sufficient for me to feel comforted or, at the very least, alone when I'm trying to escape the very small, busy, sometimes overwhelming world that is RU's campus.
There is an old altar in this chapel, but its never used anymore because Masses are not said down there. I always seat myself on the floor when I visit, in front of the altar, about 6 or 7 feet away from the crucifix. On this particular day last week, I left the lights off, quite literally dropped all of my stuff at the door (except my kleenexes...I definitely needed those) and collapsed onto the floor. It was one of those days: I had just been delivered a heart-wrenching piece of news, the kind that stops time, that makes the world stop spinning, that makes me wonder if things could possibly get any worse...so I did the only thing I knew to do. I took the piece of news and my broken heart into the chapel, buried my head in my arms, and I cried out to my God.
While sobbing into the carpet, I felt a sort of beckoning, and I looked up. I realized physically how far away I was from the crucifix, and it occurred to me that I had never been very spiritually close to the Cross before the recent hardships in my life before. And then I heard Christ calling me.
"Come suffer with Me. Please."
So I did. I crawled around behind the altar and sat in the dark, staring up at my Lord from the foot of the Cross. And there I discovered something.
In the midst of suffering, there is a calling. From Christ, directly to the center of our hearts. He calls us not to run away from the darkness, the pain, the horrors of this life. He calls us to run toward Him. To be with Him. I know in my head that Christ can be there for me, but it never occurred to me that I could be there for Him, as He suffered in His earthly life.
Christ did not just come to this Earth to suffer for us. He came to suffer with us. He came to share in the hurt we suffer at the hands of Evil, because He loves us. He did not suffer and die to take away our suffering. He came to give it meaning. Christ's Passion says something about how much He values us. It says: "You are so important to Me; You deserve better than to be attacked and hurt in this way. What has happened to you is wrong. It matters. And I will do anything to be as close to you as possible. Even go through the same things you are going through, because I love you."
Wow. Entering into suffering, especially for someone else's sake, is soooooo...opposite of my own internal instinct. All I want is for pain and fear and shame to go away...we all know its easier to be joyful and to praise God when the sun is shining. But we are called to find meaning in even the worst and lowest parts of our lives, because even then our dignity is valued, when we are broken and struggling. Even then, God's love for us is infinite.
You see, suffering, hardship, failure, heck even discomfort is something Evil tells us to shy away from. He tries to get us to think that we deserve an easier road, a better life, more power to control our comfort level, more money, more, more, more. And when he gets the upper hand on us, we are tempted then to turn away from the God who "let it happen" to us, who "doesn't really care." But that is so wrong!
Christ doesn't wait for us to feebly offer Him our sufferings, so He can condescendingly pat us on the shoulder and be on His merry way. No. Christ waits to meet us where we are, to embrace and console us and to be embraced and consoled as He suffers too. There comes a point in a relationship with someone when you endure a struggle together, and it makes you stronger, and closer to the other. We love to give Christ everything in times that are good; why don't we share suffering with Him, and let Him share with us, in times that are bad?
May you grow closer to Christ...in all things.
Grace to you, and peace.
There is an old altar in this chapel, but its never used anymore because Masses are not said down there. I always seat myself on the floor when I visit, in front of the altar, about 6 or 7 feet away from the crucifix. On this particular day last week, I left the lights off, quite literally dropped all of my stuff at the door (except my kleenexes...I definitely needed those) and collapsed onto the floor. It was one of those days: I had just been delivered a heart-wrenching piece of news, the kind that stops time, that makes the world stop spinning, that makes me wonder if things could possibly get any worse...so I did the only thing I knew to do. I took the piece of news and my broken heart into the chapel, buried my head in my arms, and I cried out to my God.
While sobbing into the carpet, I felt a sort of beckoning, and I looked up. I realized physically how far away I was from the crucifix, and it occurred to me that I had never been very spiritually close to the Cross before the recent hardships in my life before. And then I heard Christ calling me.
"Come suffer with Me. Please."
So I did. I crawled around behind the altar and sat in the dark, staring up at my Lord from the foot of the Cross. And there I discovered something.
In the midst of suffering, there is a calling. From Christ, directly to the center of our hearts. He calls us not to run away from the darkness, the pain, the horrors of this life. He calls us to run toward Him. To be with Him. I know in my head that Christ can be there for me, but it never occurred to me that I could be there for Him, as He suffered in His earthly life.
Christ did not just come to this Earth to suffer for us. He came to suffer with us. He came to share in the hurt we suffer at the hands of Evil, because He loves us. He did not suffer and die to take away our suffering. He came to give it meaning. Christ's Passion says something about how much He values us. It says: "You are so important to Me; You deserve better than to be attacked and hurt in this way. What has happened to you is wrong. It matters. And I will do anything to be as close to you as possible. Even go through the same things you are going through, because I love you."
Wow. Entering into suffering, especially for someone else's sake, is soooooo...opposite of my own internal instinct. All I want is for pain and fear and shame to go away...we all know its easier to be joyful and to praise God when the sun is shining. But we are called to find meaning in even the worst and lowest parts of our lives, because even then our dignity is valued, when we are broken and struggling. Even then, God's love for us is infinite.
You see, suffering, hardship, failure, heck even discomfort is something Evil tells us to shy away from. He tries to get us to think that we deserve an easier road, a better life, more power to control our comfort level, more money, more, more, more. And when he gets the upper hand on us, we are tempted then to turn away from the God who "let it happen" to us, who "doesn't really care." But that is so wrong!
Christ doesn't wait for us to feebly offer Him our sufferings, so He can condescendingly pat us on the shoulder and be on His merry way. No. Christ waits to meet us where we are, to embrace and console us and to be embraced and consoled as He suffers too. There comes a point in a relationship with someone when you endure a struggle together, and it makes you stronger, and closer to the other. We love to give Christ everything in times that are good; why don't we share suffering with Him, and let Him share with us, in times that are bad?
May you grow closer to Christ...in all things.
Grace to you, and peace.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Yes.
Seriously. Whoa. This crazy radical mission statement was bestowed upon me by a fellow team member over TEC 130. I'm not sure how it struck anyone else, buuuuutttt its definitely posted above my bed, to be read daily. And I can't get over it, so I'm posting it here too.
Fellowship of the Unashamed
"I AM A PART of the Fellowship of the Unashamed.
The die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up slow down, back away or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is in God's hands. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, the bare minimum, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, frivolous living, selfish giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, the best, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith. I lean on Christ's presence. I love with patience, live by prayer, and labor with the power of God's grace.
My face is set. My gait is fast, my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, and my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I am a Catholic. I must go until He comes, give until I drop, speak out until all know, and work until He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no difficulty recognizing me. My banner is clear: I am a part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed."
~Adapted from the original (author unknown) by Patrick Madrid.
WHOOOOAAAA. Again.
That is a tallllllll order. It serves simultaneously as an excellent examination of conscience, a bold mission statement, an awesome contract to be used to sign my life away, and a heck of a prayer to be offered to God as often and as wholeheartedly as possible. It's like...the tender, devoted loving of Mother Teresa meets the bad @$$ness of Joan of Arc. It's like..."Peace be with you" meets "I have come to bring not peace but the sword." It's like....awesome.
What does it mean to be part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed?
Grace to you, and peace!
Fellowship of the Unashamed
"I AM A PART of the Fellowship of the Unashamed.
The die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up slow down, back away or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is in God's hands. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, the bare minimum, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, frivolous living, selfish giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, the best, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith. I lean on Christ's presence. I love with patience, live by prayer, and labor with the power of God's grace.
My face is set. My gait is fast, my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, and my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I am a Catholic. I must go until He comes, give until I drop, speak out until all know, and work until He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no difficulty recognizing me. My banner is clear: I am a part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed."
~Adapted from the original (author unknown) by Patrick Madrid.
WHOOOOAAAA. Again.
That is a tallllllll order. It serves simultaneously as an excellent examination of conscience, a bold mission statement, an awesome contract to be used to sign my life away, and a heck of a prayer to be offered to God as often and as wholeheartedly as possible. It's like...the tender, devoted loving of Mother Teresa meets the bad @$$ness of Joan of Arc. It's like..."Peace be with you" meets "I have come to bring not peace but the sword." It's like....awesome.
What does it mean to be part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed?
Grace to you, and peace!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Romans 12:12
"Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer."
I just needed a reminder of that verse...it sounds so simple.
If you asked me how my day was yesterday...at about 12:20 last night when I was desperately trying to get to bed before I got more upset, I would have told you it was awful. A testament to Evil's un-originality, when I get really tired, everything I didn't accomplish during the day, everything I'm unsure about, everything that I want to get done in the next 5 years (that I all of a sudden think I need to worry about now) comes rushing at me. Stress really sucks. Yuck.
But this morning I received a pleasant reminder from a friend about remembering the small things that make life worth living. So, to have some perspective, here are some great things that redeemed yesterday's passage quite remarkably:
1. I beasted through my Social Psych test. I was much better prepared than I thought. Cool!
2. I got out of the test early enough to make it to noon Mass. WHOA. I should stop right there.
3. I had an excellent lunch conversation with two friends about theology.
4. After that conversation, a gentleman sitting nearby grabbed my attention and told me he was listening in and that he was impressed. :)
5. I found my lost headphones, which is great because now I can listen to my new Matt Maher album!
6. Instead of trying to finish my homework in the hour and a half before it was due at night class, I scrambled into one of the new hammocks on campus and listened to my iPod (with my newfound headphones) and simply renewed my love for music for about 20 minutes.
7. The weather was GORGEOUS outside at this time. :)
8. After deciding to meet a friend for dinner, I managed to get out the hammock by rolling out of it onto the ground. Quite a feat. And very amusing.
9. CLC last night was GREAT. Instead of doing the meditation we had planned, we spent the hour talking about everything: theology, philosophy, psychology, politics, morality, government....literally everything. :)
10. I was able to spend some time at a friend's house talking about the little things of our lives before heading off to bed.
Why in the world would I have ever said yesterday was a bad day? Because Satan sucks, that's why. (Guardian angels, protect us!)
Remember the little blessings. There's a reason Romans 12:12 starts with REJOICE IN HOPE. It's what we should do first, and its what we should focus on while enduring in affliction and persevering in prayer.
Are you rejoicing in hope? If not, give it a shot. My entire day yesterday was turned around by those 10 small things. I have the feeling yours will be too. :)
Grace to you, and peace.
I just needed a reminder of that verse...it sounds so simple.
If you asked me how my day was yesterday...at about 12:20 last night when I was desperately trying to get to bed before I got more upset, I would have told you it was awful. A testament to Evil's un-originality, when I get really tired, everything I didn't accomplish during the day, everything I'm unsure about, everything that I want to get done in the next 5 years (that I all of a sudden think I need to worry about now) comes rushing at me. Stress really sucks. Yuck.
But this morning I received a pleasant reminder from a friend about remembering the small things that make life worth living. So, to have some perspective, here are some great things that redeemed yesterday's passage quite remarkably:
1. I beasted through my Social Psych test. I was much better prepared than I thought. Cool!
2. I got out of the test early enough to make it to noon Mass. WHOA. I should stop right there.
3. I had an excellent lunch conversation with two friends about theology.
4. After that conversation, a gentleman sitting nearby grabbed my attention and told me he was listening in and that he was impressed. :)
5. I found my lost headphones, which is great because now I can listen to my new Matt Maher album!
6. Instead of trying to finish my homework in the hour and a half before it was due at night class, I scrambled into one of the new hammocks on campus and listened to my iPod (with my newfound headphones) and simply renewed my love for music for about 20 minutes.
7. The weather was GORGEOUS outside at this time. :)
8. After deciding to meet a friend for dinner, I managed to get out the hammock by rolling out of it onto the ground. Quite a feat. And very amusing.
9. CLC last night was GREAT. Instead of doing the meditation we had planned, we spent the hour talking about everything: theology, philosophy, psychology, politics, morality, government....literally everything. :)
10. I was able to spend some time at a friend's house talking about the little things of our lives before heading off to bed.
Why in the world would I have ever said yesterday was a bad day? Because Satan sucks, that's why. (Guardian angels, protect us!)
Remember the little blessings. There's a reason Romans 12:12 starts with REJOICE IN HOPE. It's what we should do first, and its what we should focus on while enduring in affliction and persevering in prayer.
Are you rejoicing in hope? If not, give it a shot. My entire day yesterday was turned around by those 10 small things. I have the feeling yours will be too. :)
Grace to you, and peace.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Let me stay and rest.
"I'm finding myself at a loss for words, and the funny thing is, its ok..."
I was thinking this afternoon on my drive home that I haven't taken much time to really cultivate my friendships. I mean, I see great people that I love all the time. We get together when...we do homework. Or when we have a club meeting....I see my friends a lot! When I'm...en route the next to-do of my day and can only give them half of my attention and about 3 minutes of my time. The busy-ness of college life has struck. Hard core. When was the last time I sat with a friend or two in silence? Without stretching myself to come up with small talk or worse-homework complaints? What a serious oversight on my part. The nature of my busy-ness, however rewarding my classes and clubs, doesn't replace the good nature of fellowship...simply for the sake of fellowship.
As I mused on the severity of such negligence, I looked up from the top of my steering wheel...and BAM. Pink. Orange. Purple. Blue. And every shade of color in between completely exploded in my visual field.
God's timing is so perfect. He hovers in my sunbconscious, and then announces Himself in all His glory...in the middle of the Flint Hills at sunset.
And as if He thought that wasn't quite enough for a Kansas girl like myself, a song came on the radio that was so appropriate for His sudden, startling, overwhelmingly beautiful appearance in my conscious mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK_6osCH74
"Word of God, speak, would you pour down like rain?
Washing my eyes to see...Your majesty.
To be still and know that You're in this place.
Please let me stay and rest
in Your holiness.
Word of God, speak."
Talk about romancing my heart...*thumpthumpthumpthump*
It occurred to me that I've been neglecting a more important Relationship as well. Its been quite some time since I went to adoration...simply to adore. It's been too long since I've noticed Christ's presence and simply sat at His feet. Like Mary. Instead, I've been bustling about and giving Him my to-do lists, like Martha. The absolutely fantastic thing about God is, He quietly accepts the to-do lists I shove on Him, chuckles a little, and waits. For the perfect moment to overload my heart and soul with Love, and affection, and....beauty. Sometimes God works quietly. Sometimes He works brilliantly. Sometimes He works mind-blowingly. Often, its a combination of all three and more. When was the last time I simply admired His multi-tasking abilities without putting them to the test?
Good food for thought. May you be still and know that He's in this place. May you stay and rest awhile...in His holiness. Not your holiness (or lack thereof, in my case.)
Grace to you. And PEACE.
I was thinking this afternoon on my drive home that I haven't taken much time to really cultivate my friendships. I mean, I see great people that I love all the time. We get together when...we do homework. Or when we have a club meeting....I see my friends a lot! When I'm...en route the next to-do of my day and can only give them half of my attention and about 3 minutes of my time. The busy-ness of college life has struck. Hard core. When was the last time I sat with a friend or two in silence? Without stretching myself to come up with small talk or worse-homework complaints? What a serious oversight on my part. The nature of my busy-ness, however rewarding my classes and clubs, doesn't replace the good nature of fellowship...simply for the sake of fellowship.
As I mused on the severity of such negligence, I looked up from the top of my steering wheel...and BAM. Pink. Orange. Purple. Blue. And every shade of color in between completely exploded in my visual field.
God's timing is so perfect. He hovers in my sunbconscious, and then announces Himself in all His glory...in the middle of the Flint Hills at sunset.
And as if He thought that wasn't quite enough for a Kansas girl like myself, a song came on the radio that was so appropriate for His sudden, startling, overwhelmingly beautiful appearance in my conscious mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK_6osCH74
"Word of God, speak, would you pour down like rain?
Washing my eyes to see...Your majesty.
To be still and know that You're in this place.
Please let me stay and rest
in Your holiness.
Word of God, speak."
Talk about romancing my heart...*thumpthumpthumpthump*
It occurred to me that I've been neglecting a more important Relationship as well. Its been quite some time since I went to adoration...simply to adore. It's been too long since I've noticed Christ's presence and simply sat at His feet. Like Mary. Instead, I've been bustling about and giving Him my to-do lists, like Martha. The absolutely fantastic thing about God is, He quietly accepts the to-do lists I shove on Him, chuckles a little, and waits. For the perfect moment to overload my heart and soul with Love, and affection, and....beauty. Sometimes God works quietly. Sometimes He works brilliantly. Sometimes He works mind-blowingly. Often, its a combination of all three and more. When was the last time I simply admired His multi-tasking abilities without putting them to the test?
Good food for thought. May you be still and know that He's in this place. May you stay and rest awhile...in His holiness. Not your holiness (or lack thereof, in my case.)
Grace to you. And PEACE.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Our Lady of Sorrows, Pray for us!
Ok, so as an officially registered member of the Militia of the Immaculata, I get an email every so often offering a short reflection from the rector of the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe. I got this one about a week ago and after taking time to read it, defintely appreciated it. What with the sufferings of the summer and how they carry into the school year, Fr. McKinley's words seem especially appropriate. Enjoy!
"Greetings from the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe
Dear Friends of St. Maximilian,
Summer comes to an end this month with Labor Day parades, barbeques, and the windup of vacation revelry. I remember the carefree summers of my youth as some of the best days of my young life. Unfortunately, for many people this year, it has been a summer of struggle, hurt and anxiety. Here and abroad, too many of our brothers and sisters have borne the weight of a difficult economy, hurricanes and other natural disasters, hunger and hardship. We enter the month of September with deep concern for those who are struggling.
In our concern, we remember that September is the month in which we honor Mary under the title Our Lady of Sorrows. We honor her, who at the foot of the cross looks up at her beloved Son. She in essence suffers a spiritual martyrdom in the passion and death of Christ. She cannot take away the cross, only share in it. He is not alone. Mary is with him at the foot of the cross. (John 19:25)
St. Maximilian wrote “ … the poor, the weary, those who are bent under the burden of their worries, of their tribulations and crosses, are reassured in their certainty of not being orphans, of having a Mother who is aware of their suffering, who sympathizes with them, consoles them and helps them. They know they will still have to suffer for a while, but that their reward will follow … [and] a comforting balsam descends upon the hearts, a ray of hope appears again in desperate souls...”
It is never easy to suffer. Yet, we can have courage and hope because we are not alone. This month, make it a point to offer your prayers from the foot of the cross in solidarity with Our Lady of Sorrows and those who are alone, suffering or afraid. In doing so, you will bear –if even just a little – the crosses of others.
Peace to you.
Fr. Stephen McKinley, OFM Conv.
Rector of Marytown – The National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe"
Dear Friends of St. Maximilian,
Summer comes to an end this month with Labor Day parades, barbeques, and the windup of vacation revelry. I remember the carefree summers of my youth as some of the best days of my young life. Unfortunately, for many people this year, it has been a summer of struggle, hurt and anxiety. Here and abroad, too many of our brothers and sisters have borne the weight of a difficult economy, hurricanes and other natural disasters, hunger and hardship. We enter the month of September with deep concern for those who are struggling.
In our concern, we remember that September is the month in which we honor Mary under the title Our Lady of Sorrows. We honor her, who at the foot of the cross looks up at her beloved Son. She in essence suffers a spiritual martyrdom in the passion and death of Christ. She cannot take away the cross, only share in it. He is not alone. Mary is with him at the foot of the cross. (John 19:25)
St. Maximilian wrote “ … the poor, the weary, those who are bent under the burden of their worries, of their tribulations and crosses, are reassured in their certainty of not being orphans, of having a Mother who is aware of their suffering, who sympathizes with them, consoles them and helps them. They know they will still have to suffer for a while, but that their reward will follow … [and] a comforting balsam descends upon the hearts, a ray of hope appears again in desperate souls...”
It is never easy to suffer. Yet, we can have courage and hope because we are not alone. This month, make it a point to offer your prayers from the foot of the cross in solidarity with Our Lady of Sorrows and those who are alone, suffering or afraid. In doing so, you will bear –if even just a little – the crosses of others.
Peace to you.
Fr. Stephen McKinley, OFM Conv.
Rector of Marytown – The National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe"
St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us!
And, on the feast of Her birth, Mama Mary, pray for us!
Friday, August 26, 2011
A Sense of Purpose
The last two nights in a row here at school, during the first week of classes have not been filled with homework, but with fellowship. If this is the meat and potatoes of being an RA, I love it. I live in a residence hall, on a floor with a group of young women who are not strangers to me, but I won't presume to call them friends yet, because I'm not positive how they feel about me. However, I think they are all great! Its really neat that mine is the room where folks come in to sit down and chat, whether its because they need help with a rodent problem (not that that's happened, **cough, cough**), they're waiting on a friend to get ready, they need advice, or because they genuinely like me. Basically? My job is to be available to love and serve others. How much closer to the job description of a Christian can ya get?
I've spent the last few weeks becoming really aware of how I feel about what I'm doing. My classes, my job as an RA, the opportunities to grab meals with friends and chat, or better yet, listen. All these things bring me a sense of peace, longing and purpose. Its like I'm getting chances to discover my calling, my vocation. Its very cool. :)
In the last year I've noticed that I have a good capacity for listening to people, for trying to understand them and their stories. I have a knack for reading people and taking meaning from what they say, even if they struggle to communicate it. Being present to others, honestly communicating with them, building relationships based on trust and mutual respect? Its what I love. Its what I do. I'm relational to the core. God is showing me my talents, my gifts...and with those, my calling. I think these talents would be well-used in the field of psychology and likely, counseling. That's where I'm headed. Hopefully, if I'm wrong, He'll steer me in the direction of His choice. In the meantime, I'm following my passion with the sense of purpose in tow.
What do you love? What do you well? What brings you sense of purpose and longing? It is through those things that God is calling you. Chase after Him.
Grace to you, and peace.
I've spent the last few weeks becoming really aware of how I feel about what I'm doing. My classes, my job as an RA, the opportunities to grab meals with friends and chat, or better yet, listen. All these things bring me a sense of peace, longing and purpose. Its like I'm getting chances to discover my calling, my vocation. Its very cool. :)
In the last year I've noticed that I have a good capacity for listening to people, for trying to understand them and their stories. I have a knack for reading people and taking meaning from what they say, even if they struggle to communicate it. Being present to others, honestly communicating with them, building relationships based on trust and mutual respect? Its what I love. Its what I do. I'm relational to the core. God is showing me my talents, my gifts...and with those, my calling. I think these talents would be well-used in the field of psychology and likely, counseling. That's where I'm headed. Hopefully, if I'm wrong, He'll steer me in the direction of His choice. In the meantime, I'm following my passion with the sense of purpose in tow.
What do you love? What do you well? What brings you sense of purpose and longing? It is through those things that God is calling you. Chase after Him.
Grace to you, and peace.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
I'm sick!
While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to His disciples,
"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
He heard this and said,
"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'
I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
~Matthew 9:10-13
All humans carry the stain of Original Sin. We all live in our brokenness, and often fall to temptation.
The different thing about Christians though, is that when we realize our sickness, our brokenness, we are willing to ask the Doctor for help. And He, in His infinite mercy, allows us to heal, and to dine with Him. :)
Grace to you, and peace. :)
"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
He heard this and said,
"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'
I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
~Matthew 9:10-13
All humans carry the stain of Original Sin. We all live in our brokenness, and often fall to temptation.
The different thing about Christians though, is that when we realize our sickness, our brokenness, we are willing to ask the Doctor for help. And He, in His infinite mercy, allows us to heal, and to dine with Him. :)
Grace to you, and peace. :)
Friday, August 19, 2011
Fight another day
I've been on campus for almost 3 weeks. Life has been a pleasant rate of busy. I have had very little free time, and what free time I have had remains full of tasks to be completed, in preparation for returning students (Yikes! They're gonna be here tomorrow!). Bulletin boards, door decorations, room condition cards, crisis management and conflict mediation training sessions...being semi-responsible for the safety and comfort of a group of college students requies much of me. But the Resident Assistant job I am preparing for really excites me. I mean, I'm essentially earning a free place to live while doing the things I love: building relationships and cultivating and enjoying community. God be praised for the opportunity to fully live and develop my passions, especially as they pertain to the career path I want to follow some day. Better said by a psychologist who spoke at one of our sessions at leadership camp:
"You will make the greatest impact [on your organization] with your strengths, your passions fully developed and fully lived, rather than your weaknesses marginally improved."
This really stuck out to me. We all know that we're our own worst critics. Even as I'm discovering passion for this job, the last two weeks have been pretty tough. My prayer life is nowhere near where it used to be, and I'm struggling to be open to God's will in my weaknesses, which have manifested themselves very clearly in the last 2 months. There have been times when I remember how hard this summer was, when I think about how lonely I am, and I get overwhelmed with how weak I feel. During one of my low moments at camp, I retreated to my room so I could be upset for a moment and collect myself before going back into the conference room. As is typical of these moments, I chewed God out, telling Him I didn't feel like I could do this. As is typical of Him and His goodness lately, He didn't really answer. As I continued to complain about my lack of spiritual consolation, I heard Him say something to the effect of "Suck it up, and deal with it." This would have been much less comforting and much more damaging to my psyche, if it hadn't been said in a tone that sounded strangely like my mother's voice, when she's gently scolding me to get over myself.
Sometimes, its all I can do to remember to focus on my passion for what I'm doing, to play to my strengths, as they say. And I think thats what the quote above, (which I heard promptly after returning to the conference room that day) means. I can try as hard as possible to fix myself so I'm good enough/well enough to be an RA. OR, I can chase after the opportunity God has given me anyway, to live the passion I have, even if I don't feel capable of living it out. A few days later, I heard a song that communicates such a theme well.
"Do you feel the fire when the flame gets hot?
Are you living every day like its the last you've got?
Do you step aside when it all falls down, and watch it burn away?
Have a little faith when the walls cave in,
Pray for strength to fly against the wind.
Will you walk away when the fire gets hot, or fight another day?"
Addison Road-Fight another day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvT74QsGwOU
"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." ~2 Corinthians 12:9
May you chase your passions anyway, and gain strength from God to fight another day.
Grace to you, and peace.
"You will make the greatest impact [on your organization] with your strengths, your passions fully developed and fully lived, rather than your weaknesses marginally improved."
This really stuck out to me. We all know that we're our own worst critics. Even as I'm discovering passion for this job, the last two weeks have been pretty tough. My prayer life is nowhere near where it used to be, and I'm struggling to be open to God's will in my weaknesses, which have manifested themselves very clearly in the last 2 months. There have been times when I remember how hard this summer was, when I think about how lonely I am, and I get overwhelmed with how weak I feel. During one of my low moments at camp, I retreated to my room so I could be upset for a moment and collect myself before going back into the conference room. As is typical of these moments, I chewed God out, telling Him I didn't feel like I could do this. As is typical of Him and His goodness lately, He didn't really answer. As I continued to complain about my lack of spiritual consolation, I heard Him say something to the effect of "Suck it up, and deal with it." This would have been much less comforting and much more damaging to my psyche, if it hadn't been said in a tone that sounded strangely like my mother's voice, when she's gently scolding me to get over myself.
Sometimes, its all I can do to remember to focus on my passion for what I'm doing, to play to my strengths, as they say. And I think thats what the quote above, (which I heard promptly after returning to the conference room that day) means. I can try as hard as possible to fix myself so I'm good enough/well enough to be an RA. OR, I can chase after the opportunity God has given me anyway, to live the passion I have, even if I don't feel capable of living it out. A few days later, I heard a song that communicates such a theme well.
"Do you feel the fire when the flame gets hot?
Are you living every day like its the last you've got?
Do you step aside when it all falls down, and watch it burn away?
Have a little faith when the walls cave in,
Pray for strength to fly against the wind.
Will you walk away when the fire gets hot, or fight another day?"
Addison Road-Fight another day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvT74QsGwOU
"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." ~2 Corinthians 12:9
May you chase your passions anyway, and gain strength from God to fight another day.
Grace to you, and peace.
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