“In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Happy Thanksgiving!
This Bible verse seems extremely appropriate today, but at Mass this morning, we were challenged to pay attention to the second word: all. In all circumstances, not just the ones we like or the times we are happy or when we feel moved to do so. Even (and perhaps especially) when we’re frustrated, hurting, angry, sad and just don’t want to!
God is all-powerful and all-good, meaning that nothing that happened in our lives is beyond God’s control. However, because God is all-knowing, He may permit something hard or painful or tragic in our lives that He can ultimately work for our eternal good. Because as a good father, He desires our well-being and ultimate happiness, which is only found with Him for eternity.
The challenge (or opportunity) today, and every day, is to give thanks at ALL times; the good, the bad, the ugly, the joyful, the ordinary. Always.
Limiting God - that sounds like it should be the title of a Science Fiction horror; God is limitless!!! But yet, all to often we do exactly that.
It sounds absurd, I know!
How can we, mere humans, begin to contain the Creator of the Universe?
There are more examples of this than you might care to admit. In today's Gospel, (Mark 6:1-6) Jesus was limited when he began to teach in the synagogue. This was the same person who, just when he returned to Nazareth, had been welcomed and greeted and received by family, friends and neighbors. Yet when he spoke the Truth through the Scriptures, their minds and hearts limited what they were willing to receive. They couldn't get past what they thought they knew, and thus, no mighty deeds were done by Jesus in Nazareth. How sad is that?!
Wait for the Lord, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the Lord! ~Psalm 27:14
I love to wait . . . . [said no one, ever]!
Umm, no thank you.
While there are different levels of waiting i.e. waiting for results from a medical test, waiting for news of a baby's birth, waiting for a family celebration, it can be hard to have joy when the waiting feels prolonged or without fruit. I'm not referring to waiting for a pizza delivery or for the book you've been dying to read, either! This is the waiting that involves soul-searching and trust in God.
Recently, someone asked me how I was. Before I could even think, I automatically replied, "Fine." I paused for a nano-second, and then clarified. "Actually, I'm stressed out about xyz, but everything else is fine." I'm not exactly sure what compelled my revision of the socially expected response. We are seemingly programmed to respond, "Fine," whether it is true or not. Maybe because we don't want to reveal problems and insecurities, or maybe because the person asking isn't interested in an answer with more than one syllable. It is interesting to ponder.
I cam across this quote recently, and it really resonated with me.
If you can trust a puzzle company to make sure every piece is in the box to complete the puzzle, then why can't you trust God that every piece of your life is there for a reason?
I love puzzles, whether jigsaw or not. I like the challenge of taking a bunch of seemingly random pieces and seeing them take shape. I enjoy the thrill of putting in the final piece, or the joy of finally finding the right place for that stubborn piece that looked like it was in the wrong puzzle box! I've frantically searched for missing pieces that seemingly vanished and leave the puzzle unfinished (maybe they went to the place that missing socks live?!). I've placed pieces where I thought they fit, then discovered the piece that truly fits and had to change what I thought was complete.
Once again, I'm drawn back to reflect on life, especially in our current setting. This extreme change in our social behavior feels unreal, as if I woke up in totally different world than the one before. I didn't realize just how many things I've taken for granted, both big and small. And maybe even more telling are the things that are no longer available that I didn't value when they were.
It's tempting to panic. It's tempting to deny. It's tempting to complain and moan and despair. But I choose something more. Something better. I choose hope. Because, let's face it, who likes to talk to a pessimist? So why would I want to live that way?
I've been pondering lately what it means to live the liturgical season. I've found some amazing
resources, inspirations, and overall felt a greater awareness of the importance and wisdom in the seasons in our church. I'm usually one who drags my feet when it comes to putting away decorations and taking down my Christmas tree. I absolutely love the glow of Christmas lights, especially when entering an otherwise dark house. It's inviting and warm and evokes feelings of happiness and joy. That's not to say that there is any magic that emanates from these bright globes, they will glow whether I've had a good or bad day, whether it snowed one inch or ten. But like Pavlov's dog, I seem to have conditioned myself to find, see and welcome joy into my life more quickly when the tree is lit. I also love the parallel that as we approach the shortest day of the year, we enjoy our lights while we crave and seek the true Light - Jesus Christ.
Daylight Savings Time- my favorite time of year (major sarcasm). Losing an hour of sleep is not on my list of good ideas. I have enough struggles with distractions and temptations on my own; I do not need an outside source robbing my of my sleep!
Pardon my mini-tantrum, I'm short on sleep . . . ha ha.
They can take away my sleep, but I shouldn't also give away my joy.
Three days before Ash Wednesday 2017, there was a change that happened. It came without fanfare, without pomp and circumstance. It would forever impact my life, my family, and my heart, but it was disguised as ordinary life. On that day, February 26, 2017, Mom was admitted to the hospital, never to return home. While this moment was unexpected and alarming, I did not anticipate the path we were on, and where it would lead. Life became Lent, and Lent became my life, although I wouldn't truly recognize this until much later.
Today is Mom's birthday. She would have been 85. I'm not sure whether this day will be a day of sadness or a day of grace. Probably both. Part of me wants to celebrate her life, and the other part wants June 26 to start immediately. I guess I'm a little gun-shy after the experience of Mother's Day.
Mother's Day.
Who knew such a beautiful holiday could magnify my grief?
One of my favorite songs, taken from Revelation 7, is Worthy is the Lamb. When you read Scripture and listen to the song, you see the beautiful correlations.
I, John, saw another angel come up from the East, holding the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to damage the land and the sea, “Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked from every tribe of the children of Israel.
After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.”
All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, and exclaimed:
“Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”
Any time I sing and/or play for Mass, I try to be fully present. This means truly believing what I'm singing, and thus, singing with conviction and emphasis. This song resonates with me, and I find it easy to pour my heart into the music. There are not enough words to describe Jesus' gift of salvation, and any attempt will fall short. Yet, my attempts to do so are a gift to God. The fact that I recognize how inadequate my words are, how inept my actions can be, reinforces the beauty of God's love. God is pleased with my attempts, minor though they are. I consider this to be practice for the glorious day when we are robed in white, praising God non-stop. So, until that day comes, we must continue to strive to be worthy, as God is.
Prayer - Lord, help me to grow in awareness of Your greatness. Open my eyes to Your beauty and power. Grant me the ability to see You in my life, so that I may live every day and every moment for You. May I continually strive to attain You. Amen.
As in, I got an offer on my house and they wanted to close in 15 days! Yikes. Yesterday was closing, and now I am without a house. Thanks to my fabulous realtor, Steve, for his time and commitment. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with him. God is good.
Having listed my house in January, shortly after I opened the current chapter in my life journey, I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of speed. "The housing market is good," they said. "Your house will sell quickly," they said. I guess it's all relative.
It's official!
It was definitely evident that God had a plan, even if I didn't know the details of said plan. For one thing, I was never panicked about the sale of my house. That's not to say I didn't have moments of anxiety or doubt. Yet, I had a peace about the situation that wasn't of this world. I am grateful that God granted me the grace of patience in this situation. I had just experienced God's plan when I accepted my new job, so it made sense that this would have been figured out already. Cross that off of my to-do list :-)
One thing that really made me smile was the timing of the offer. I had been planning a surprise party on May 1, and the venue ended up being my unoccupied house, for lack of a better option. The phone call about the offer came April 27, and I just knew that the timing was certainly of God - enough time to wrap things up, have the party, finalize details, and revel in God's goodness. I liked the idea, too, that this happened around Tasha's birthday - I'm sure she had her fingers in there as well.
Celebrating the sale :-)
What's next? I'm not sure. In the next moments, I want to focus on God's goodness and the gifts I have received. I cannot express enough how thankful I am for everyone's love and support. So I will close with this prayer:
Ephesians 3:14-19 "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
I was looking back at some of my posts while trying to find a fitting title for this one. I've noticed that my recent focus appears to be on time, i.e. God's timing, patience, seasons, etc. This one is in much the same vein. There is so much to say, I'm not sure my thoughts can be expressed completely. Life is complicated. In one breath we experience joy, and the next, sadness. Time is the great equalizer, granting perspective or hindsight. There are so many pieces that we don't understand while they are happening, but occasionally, we can look back and glimpse God's work in our lives.
I was recently back to my old 'stomping grounds' as I was playing for a wedding. Interestingly enough, the cantor was my former neighbor. We practiced a few times, and chatted back and forth via text. We talked more in the last two weeks then we probably did in the five years I lived across the street. She made a comment to me that she wished we had connected sooner. I agreed. Sometimes it takes big changes to see something that's right across the street. Yet, I believe that God's timing is perfect, even if it is occasionally confusing.
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
So, my Thursday started like any other day. Lots to do at work. Go to Mass. Stop to visit my parents. Eat supper with them. Fracture my foot on my way out the door. The usual routine. Wait . . . . What???
Well, I took the 2nd last step as if I were on the bottom step, and down I went. The irony is, we worry about my parents tripping and falling, and I"m the one who fell! Oops. The doctor says I'm in the boot for now and he wants to see me in 10 days.
Well, that certainly wasn't part of MY plan. I just attended a healing Mass the night BEFORE! Rotten timing. Just another reminder that I'm not in charge :-)!
I'll admit, I have a history of crazy foot injuries. Well, only 2, but they are unique. The time I stepped on a pork chop bone when I was a kid (this is when you gave food bones to your dogs on the farm and they left them all over) and it punctured my shoe and foot and I had to get a tetanus shot. Or the time I sprained both of my ankles at once when I was first out of college, living by myself (I blame my platform shoes). Stairs were especially challenging. Talk about being immobile!
I'm on my hand and knees carefully running my palm over the carpet in my room. I'm desperately feeling for the back to my earring. Naturally, it's a small, clear back for dangling earrings and I have a cream white carpet. Not a good combination. As I'm tamping down my frustration, trying to decide how much time I really should spend looking for this, a bible story comes to mind. The woman who lost a coin:
"Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it?" ~Luke 15:8
I glance around and think, 'No way am I moving everything in this room!' The room isn't that big, but not for a single, replaceable earring back. It's not worth it. And yet, I am reminded that when either I or another person is lost, God would overturn everything to bring us home.
"And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” ~Luke 15:9-10
So many thoughts, so many joys and sorrows. Words are inadequate to describe the power of the experience. From the washing of the feet, to the Eucharist, the richness of Scripture and Tradition was repeated. "Do this in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11. "....that as I have done for you, you should also do." John 13. What power is present when we fully enter into these Sacred Mysteries. Are we even able to fully comprehend the boundless depths of God's love for us? In sharing of ourselves and opening our hearts to God, we catch a mere glimpse of the joy of Heaven. And from my glimpse tonight, it is a beautiful thing.
I was one again doubting many things: God, myself, and my faith. I had spent a portion of the day criticizing myself for bad choices, and more time worrying about things beyond my control! As I briefly texted a friend, I was certainly living moment to moment because I was engulfed in chaos. Unable to sort things out myself, I wisely decided to consult God. I was partaking in the wonderful opportunity of adoration in front of the exposed Blessed Sacrament after mass, and I was perusing some devotionals I brought along. Flipping through one book, the following words caught my eye: "So what's worrying you today? Are you trying to take care of it yourself? Or are you praying Psalm 31?"
Lent has been difficult for me this year. I know; it's supposed to be a challenge. However, I feel that I'm experiencing more than the 'usual' struggles. Maybe it's because I'm looking at life differently since my pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Maybe I'm being tempted more and unable to resist. Maybe God is giving me the opportunity to wholly rely on Him, and it scares me.
Regardless, my human nature complains. 'Why this? Why me? Why?' There are no easy answers. I do not know God's mind, but I do believe in God's plan, even when it's hidden or obscure. It seems as though God is permitting numerous obstacles so as to deepen my faith. I'm certainly not to the level of Job, but I have been contemplating his life in the face of trials. He was desolate and devastated, yet he still praised God: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." ~Job 1:21b
4 days and they are crawling and flying by. I've already had one bad dream - it was supposedly the day before my flight and I realized I didn't have everything purchased that I needed for the trip. Then, in the magical timeframe of dreams, I was back on the farm and my entire family starts showing up. A farewell party, perhaps? I woke up the next morning sure that I had missed my flight. Normal stuff, right? :-)
The thing that is the most challenging for me, right now, is my voice. Well, lack thereof, actually. You see, after a day of work, and various errands and appointments and last-minute details, I get home and want to call friends and family to share my excitement/stress/whatever. Yet, as I'm continuing to recover, I just don't have the energy available to talk. And as frustrating as it can be, it's an amazing opportunity as well. I feel God is prodding me, reminding me to seek Him. I may want to completely ignore the to-do list I have, yet I cannot ignore God's promptings.
My lack of voice allows me the opportunity to go inward and connect to God. There wil be so much to see and do in the next two weeks, but the most important action will be an internal one. I requested a blessing for my travels from our chaplain today, and part of his prayer over me was the request that my heart would be open to God's message. And so, although things are not going according to 'my' plan . . . again . . . God's way is more than enough. '"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares The Lord.' ~Isaiah 55:8
Here's to the goal of patience - which is a lifelong adventure :-)
First reading - Isaiah - celebrating the glory of the Lord
Psalm 72 - Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Epistle - Ephesians - we are all graced people
Gospel - Matthew 2 - visit from the magi
I heard an excellent story, which I will share here. I have not discovered the source, but it is certainly worth hearing. On the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, we hear about King Herod's jealousy when the magi arrive in search of the newborn King. The first reading and psalm highlight the goodness of the King, which stands in contrast to Herod's behavior. Rather than behave in a kingly fashion, which would, as a representative of God, mean serving the people and acting justly for all, Herod is consumed with his own importance. This behavior is the backdrop for the story.
3 men of different religions were discussing which religion was the one, true faith. The discussion became heated and they almost came to blows. They decided to seek the counsel of a wise man in the area. The spiritual guru told the men that the answer would lie with a flour mill on the other side of the great mountain. The guru said they could climb the mountain and go over the peak to reach the mill. It would be a very difficult journey, but it could be done. Then the guru said there was a path around the left side of the mountain which would take them to the mill. He said the path was rocky and full of obstacles, and would not be an easy journey, but it could be done. Finally, the guru said that there was a road around the right side of the mountain to the mill. The road was smooth and clear, and the journey would be easy. "But," said the guru, "when you get to the mill, the man there will not inquire as to how you reached the mill. Instead, he will ask about the quality of your wheat."
There are many paths to God. Some will be significantly easier than others. Ponder your path. Are you attempting to climb over the mountain, through rocks and brambles, or along a smooth road? Do not spend all of your energy struggling on the path. Ultimately, we are all called to God, and will be judged by "our wheat".
