Thank God First

I attended mass on Wednesday morning at the chapel with in the school building. It was the first morning service of the year. A 7:15am mass is held on Monday’s and Wednesday’s in chapel; the celebrant is the school’s chaplain. It was wonderful to see the small chapel packed with attendees that morning; teachers, students and parents. Fr. Michael, the school’s chaplain, is also an alum of the high school, so listening to his homilies (which I always love) inside the school from which I also graduated (although more than a decade before he did), is really edifying.

A line from today’s gospel read, “At daybreak, Jesus went out to a deserted place”. Father focused on this statement, talking about how Jesus, being the Son of God and the second person in the Trinity, even had to make time for God and would go off alone to pray. He reminded us of how important it is for us to make time for God.

So after mass, I sat quietly in the chapel (something I rarely do), and made time for God. I read the reflection for the day as I didn’t have time to read it before mass like I normally would. The reflection focused on the first reading from Colossians, with emphasis on the following line, “We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.” (Colossians 1:3). It then talks about all of the struggles and issues of the Colossians, but indicates how Paul doesn’t immediately point out those problems, short comings or misunderstanding. Paul begins his letter with praise and thanksgiving for all of those things that Christ’s followers are getting right. He praises them for their faith, their love, their hope and trust in the Lord. Paul focuses on being thankful and recognizing all of the blessings that God has bestowed on the Colossians. He doesn’t begin by pointing out all the things they are doing wrong or all of the ways they need to improve.

This really is beautiful, because I think a lot of times we focus on the negative, on all the things that are going wrong. We all tend to overlook the blessings in our lives and take those “everyday” good things in life for granted. But concentrating on gratitude changes all that, it changes our focus and our outlook. If we begin with gratitude, we start with hope. And as Andy Dufresne tells Red in Shawshank Redemption, “hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

I know I tend to get caught up in everything that is going wrong, and I miss the blessing. I forget about hope. I forget about all of the good things, particularly when facing a challenge. There are a lot of things that I take for granted. Like being able to attend morning mass twice a week with students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni at my alma mater. Although it has just begun and has only happened once, it is one thing I absolutely love about my job.

Let us remember to look for the blessings in the midst of the struggle and to thank God for all of the good things in our lives. In fact, let us take the advice of Blessed Solanus Casey and remember to “Thank God ahead of time.” So today, make time for God, find a quiet place to spend time with Him, and remember to thank Him ahead of time for all the blessing that he will bestow upon you, and recognize all of the blessings that you have already received. Please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.

“What do you do?”

Monday was Labor Day.  My husband and I were in Granville spending a couple of days of rest and relaxation over the long weekend.  We got up Monday morning to attend mass at St. Edward the Confessor, a beautiful Catholic Church just on the edge of town. 

If you have never visited Granville, might I suggest that you make a point to do so.  It is a quaint little town about an hour east of Columbus.  It’s like a little piece of New England nestled in the heart of Ohio.  It was settled by transplants from Connecticut and Massachusetts in the early 1800’s.  It is home to Denison University, a couple of breweries, antique stores, inns, coffee shops, restaurants, boutique shops, museums, and pubs. 

We have been visiting Granville for over 20 years, always staying at the Buxton Inn.  It started many years ago as a romantic weekend getaway when I lived in Columbus.  We continued to visit every year for several years, and then life got in the way.  We realized that it been over a decade since we had last stayed at the Buxton Inn.  That was far too long.  So Labor Day weekend was the perfect time for us to revisit Granville.

We drove out on Saturday afternoon, stopping along the way to try a brewery in Newark. When we arrived in Granville, it was as if we had stepped back in time, the period homes, the tree lined streets, the American flags, the shops, the churches, everything.  I had forgotten just how much I like that town.  Walking the streets of the town is like stepping into a Hallmark movie. And while some things have changed – The Village Coffee Company has moved, a bar that we liked which had every beer imaginable is no more, and the Buxton Inn has changed owners – much is still the same.  The courtyard and gardens at the Buxton Inn are just as we remembered, as was the garden dining room and the tavern – only brighter. 

On this trip, we sampled local craft beer, and ate some delicious food.  We toured the Old Colony Cemetery and we learned about the Buxton Inn being a stop on the underground railroad.  The bartender in the tavern even showed us the passage where they hid slaves fleeing the south.  Our visit over the Labor Day weekend was a relaxing trip and visit that taught us a lot about the history of Granville.

And while most people simply look at Labor Day as along 3-day weekend, the priest at the Monday morning mass reminded us of the reason we celebrate Labor Day. Labor Day honors the American labor movement and the power of collective action by laborers, those who toiled under extreme conditions to form and advance our great society. Father talked about labor, about work and careers. He talked about how in many instances, what we do helps define who we are. That inevitably in conversations with people, particularly when meeting new people, the question arises, “What do you do?”.

While that is important in its own right, Father reminded us of the labor that each of us is called to regardless of our careers as teachers, doctors, welders, housewives, lawyers, plumbers, etc. or even in retirement.  We are all called to build of God’s Kingdom.  And that the building of God’s kingdom can happen in many ways, by volunteering in our community, by serving your church, by helping a friend, by visiting the sick, by simply listening when someone needs to talk, by taking communion to a shut in, by helping the elderly, essentially by sharing the gospel and being an example of Christ’s love.  Sharing the gospel and being an example of Christ to others occurs in so many ways, that sometime we forget that we are spreading the love of God to the world through those small actions. 

We are all called to build God’s kingdom regardless of our denomination, that calling is part of the universal Christian church – Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, etc.  – it doesn’t matter.  We are all called to share the gospel, be witnesses of Christ’s love, to share that love with others and to ultimately build the Kingdom of God. 

“What do you do?” How will you build God’s kingdom today?  Today I invite you to be a witness of Christ’s love by visiting an elderly neighbor, inviting the friend who lives alone for dinner, helping a child with homework, doing that one chore that someone in your house dislikes doing, bringing coffee and donuts for the teachers at your child’s school, volunteering at the soup kitchen, or any other random act of kindness.  With every act of kindness, the world changes for the better.  Today, change the world.  Please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you. 

St. Monica and St. Augustine

Tuesday August 27, 2019 was the feast of St. Monica. As I mention before, I am not well versed in the Catholic Saints, but I have learned a great deal about them this past year. To tell you how ignorant I am concerning saint’s lineage, I did not know that St. Monica is the mother of St. Augustine. Let’s just say I have soft spot for St. Augustine.

The Bishop said the mass on Tuesday morning and in his discourse about St. Monica during the homily he said these two words – “bold determination.” You see, St. Monica did not have the easiest of lives. She was married to a pagan with a terrible temper. Her pagan mother-in-law lived with them. Apparently, she had a terrible temper too. She bore 3 children. Her son, Augustine, was wayward and rebellious and lived a carefree life style. But St. Monica prayed for them. She prayed for her husband and mother-in-law, and for her son, Augustine. St. Monica prayed for 17 years for her son’s conversion. 17 years – that is bold determination.

This past week I prayed the Novena to St. Monica and have really been reflecting on her patience, her faithfulness to prayer, her determination, and her trust in God. I know that when I pray, I do tend to expect immediate results. And when I don’t get them, I tend to think that God might not have heard me.

I can’t imagine what St. Monica might have thought or what she might have felt after decades of praying for her husband, mother-in-law and son. But she persisted, she continued to pray, to ask for the conversion of her family, to offer up her trials, struggles and suffering to God.

What a model of patience, faithfulness and determination. I marvel at her endurance. St. Monica never gave up hope. She trusted God and He eventually answer her prayers. Her husband and mother-in-law both converted to Christianity before their deaths. Her son converted at the age of 31 and became one of the greatest scholars and saints of the Church. That is the power of prayer.

I can relate to St. Augustine. We were both a little wayward and we both had our conversions later in life (mine a little later than his). We know St. Augustine’s mother prayed for his conversion; I am grateful to those who prayed for my conversion and to those who continue to pray for me. I can certainly attest that I would not have gotten here – at this very juncture in my life – had it not been for prayer. I was pretty set in my ways and really had no intention of changing paths. But God had other plans.

The Bishop closed out his homily by saying that “God’s grace will heal all things.” Think about that for just a moment. That is profoundly beautiful and completely true. The sad thing is that most of us, me included, are not always open to experiencing God’s grace. We think we can handle things on our own, that we don’t need help – so we don’t ask, or that it just easier if we keep our problems to ourselves. Or maybe we think prayer doesn’t make a difference or that we don’t need God. But prayer does make a difference, and God desperately wants to help us. But He wants us to ask Him for help. Again, He doesn’t want to intrude.

You how nice it is to be invited to a party or to a wedding? Or that feeling you get when a friend invites you to lunch or to just take a walk? You feel important, somebody wants you to be part of their special day. You feel wanted, somebody wants to spend time with you. You feel like you matter. The same is true with God. He wants to matter to you. He wants to spend time with you. He wants to be part of your life. God wants to be invited. Will you invite Him into your life?

Today, remember that God’s grace will heal all things, so open yourself up to experiencing that grace. Invite God in. Please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.

Extroverted Introvert

The sky was beautiful Monday morning August 26th at 6:30am as I drove to mass.  It was a lovely crimson color with shades of violet, cerulean, sienna, and mauve.   The morning air was crisp and cool, the windows were down and the birds were chirping.  We are on the cusp of autumn and you could smell it in air.  It was quiet and peaceful and I thoroughly enjoyed the solitude of the morning drive. 

As social as I might I seem, I love spending time alone.  While I am fairly outgoing and have a pretty high energy level, I need silence and space.  Over the past few years, I have learned that I am an introvert.  I truly did not realize that I was, but what I have discovered is what I really am is an extroverted introvert.  Yes, it’s a real thing.  I can be extremely outgoing, but I also need time alone to recharge and refocus. 

Actually, somebody had to tell me I was an introvert, I didn’t really know it.  You see, I work in advancement, so I spend much of my time interacting with people – building relationships and learning what they are passionate about. In fact, I often travel to meet with individuals, so to maximize my time, I typically schedule as many meetings as possible when I am on the road.  That translates into 2-3 meetings each day.  And these aren’t just one hour meetings, they can be several hours, spanning meals, and/or other activities and be with large groups.  During these meetings, I have to be “on”, attentive, engaged, involved and real.  I want to be real, I want to be present, I want to learn about and understand the people I am with, I want to form meaningful relationships.  I have spent hours talking about food and cooking techniques, or beer and wine, or prayer and spirituality with people. Or sharing about mission and vision, current initiatives and future endeavors, needs and assessments.  I have even shared family stories and personal experiences. That is the extroverted side of me. 

Most of trips over the past three years have been with religious sisters, so the logistics of those trips had to take into account their life of prayer. Each day would begin with morning mass, typically we might meet somebody for morning mass.  That would be followed up with breakfast.  We might have a short break before we had a second meeting around lunchtime, and that would be followed up with a third meeting or a dinner or an event.  By the end of the day, I would be silent, in need of a quiet walk and some time alone.  I just thought I was tired after all of the events of the day, but the truth is, I am an introvert.  And I didn’t figure that out on my own, somebody had to tell me.  That somebody was my frequent traveling partner, the Reverend Mother.

Well, I didn’t believe it at first.  I’m not an introvert.  Introverts are quiet and shy.  My husband will be the first one to tell you that I am loud, I don’t have a library voice.  Part of that is also because I am Italian.  And I am definitely not shy.  Please don’t dare me to do anything, because I will likely accept your challenge and announce to the world that I am taking it on.  But as I dug deeper into the real traits of an introvert, I discovered that I have more of those characteristics than those of an extrovert.  Well, it looks like the Reverend Mother was right. 

As our travels evolved, I set up the itineraries to allow more time for quiet and opportunities for retreat.  To provide space to recharge after spending time engaged with wonderful people.  It was during those “down” times, that I began to pray more often, to spend more time in silence with God, and to reflect on all that was occurring in my life, including the blessings of meeting new people, spending time with them and forming new friendships.  It was during those trips, that after cultivating relationships for advancement purposes, I began cultivating my relationship with God.

Over the past three years, I learned quite a bit about myself, things that I never really knew.  And I like to think of myself as a self-aware person.  But I was self-aware based on very narrow scope of who I thought I was supposed to be.  I have learned, obviously, that I am an extroverted introvert.  I have learned that spending time with strangers is a wonderful experience, especially when those strangers become friends. I have learned that silence and solitude are restorative. I have learned that if you are quiet enough and open enough, you will actually hear God speak to you.  I have learned that it is never too late to embark on your journey with Christ.  

I am thankful for Reverend Mother and for all of the sisters who encouraged me to open myself up to Christ, who encouraged me to attend mass, who invited me to pray with them, because I certainly would not be where I am today were it not for them.  I truly believe I am in a better place because of their influence, and if I can share just a little bit of that with others, then I have, hopefully, done God’s will. 

I hope you never stop learning about yourself, even if means re-learning something you already thought you knew.  I know I still have a lot to learn.  Today I invite you to open yourself up to Christ.  Please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.

Messiness

There are three adults that live in my home, 2 rescue dogs and 3 rescue cats. Yes, there are more animals in my home than people. So needless to say, things can get messy at our residence.

With three people who have three very different schedules and 5 animals, all of which whom shed, we don’t have a regular cleaning schedule like we used to. Saturday’s used to be our “big” cleaning day. This included mopping the floors and washing windows. Intermittent cleaning was also done on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s with vacuuming and dusting. This doesn’t really happen any more. And it has been a difficult adjustment for me; 1. Because I like schedules and 2. Because I love when the house is clean.

You know the smell of Murphy’s oil soap? Well if they had a candle in that scent, I would buy it. Pinesol also has a pleasant aroma and floors are squeaky clean. And I love the smell of bleach. I know it might smell like I just cleaned up a crime scene, but it does reek of sanitization.

These smells mean the house is clean. Incidentally, I also love the smell of clean laundry. My husband is awesome. He primarily handles that for us and our son is now responsible for his own laundry.

Ironically, laundry is one of the areas that tends to get the messiest in our house. With laundry for three people who are doing multiple tasks throughout the week – think work, school, meetings, exercise, travel, etc. – and 5 pets, the laundry can get a little out of control. Adding to the complexity is that our son does his own laundry and we do ours. So sometimes, there is a miscommunication as to when the washer and dryer are available. And often times, there is a laundry emergency.

This happened the other day when my son decided to do laundry at 1am. However, we had laundry in the dryer. Let’s just say that the expectations of how to handle another persons laundry and had not been clearly communicated and things got messy.

At the time, that messiness was stressful. But in reflecting on that situation, I have to say that I am grateful for the messiness. I am grateful that our lives are so  full that they can actually get messy, really messy. There are huge blessings within the mess, but we tend to get so focused on the mess itself, the chaos, the busyness, the confusion; that we miss the blessing. There are blessings within everything, if we take time to notice them.

Today be thankful for the messiness and look for the blessings. And please pray for me (in my own personal messiness) and I will continue to pray for you.

Make Time for What’s Important

I travel quite a bit for work, not quite as much as I did 5 years ago, but still once or twice a month. I had an early flight this morning but not so early that I needed to be awake at 2:30am. But that is exactly what I was, wide awake at 2:30am.

It was raining this morning, so I laid quietly in bed listening to the rain and thinking about all that has transpired over the past several months.  It really has been a roller coaster and a lot has changed. You see, I left a job that I loved in May, began independent consulting in June and accepted a position July. My husband wrapped his 25th year teaching in May, did consulting and contract work throughout June, July and August, and began the new school year last week. And our son graduated from high school in May, worked full-time over the summer and just began his freshman year of college last week.

The last few months have been filled with changes, have been extremely busy and have flown by in what seems like a blink of an eye. September is just around the corner and I am trying to figure out where spring and summer have gone.

But as busy and as crazy as it has been, we have managed to make time for each other. My husband and I went fishing several times since June and visited a number of local breweries (we like beer). We have gone on family motorcycle rides to the lake or on winding country roads – each of us recording over 1,000 this summer, had several family dinners, barbecues and bonfires together, and even survived the 20 hour road trip to Florida without killing each other. I am truly grateful for all of the family time and I am happy that we make it a priority to make time for each other.

And as crazy as this summer has been with its ups and downs, uncertainties, concerns, changed plans, busyness and challenges, I have managed to keep God the central part of life. Except for those two weeks in May when I wasn’t speaking to him.  Fortunately we got through that trying time. Well, I guess He waited patiently for me to get through it.

My family was instrumental in making sure I made time for God. See, we all spend time with God in our own way. I like to begin my day with mass. While my husband often goes with me, he starts his day with God in other ways. But he encourages me to spend time with God in my own way. We often share reflections and thoughts with each other or talk about the saints (yes, crazy, I know).

So this morning, when I left the house before 5am to catch my early morning flight, although I missed mass, I did make time for God.  I prayed before I ate my road warrior breakfast (I love the Quest bars). And I will pray morning prayer on the plane and say a rosary, I will study the readings from today’s mass and read the reflections. And I will pray for each of you as I traveled to Savannah for a mere 36 hours.

So today make time for and support your family in the things that are important to them. Carve out a little time for God too, because you are important to Him. Please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.

Eucharist

I don’t know about you, but there is something about going to mass and receiving the Holy Eucharist that is restoring for me.  But I have to admit that when I go up in the communion line and I get to the priest and he gives me part of the host that has been elevated during consecration, not the round alter bread host that is typically distributed, but a piece that is broken off, I get this sense of joy.  I know I am not only one who feels this way. So I am just going to put it out there. I’m just going say it: it’s a big deal for me when this occurs.  I kind of feel like a little kid at Christmas opening that one present that you just could not wait to get. I am almost giddy when it occurs. 

There are days that I really need that.  And when it happens, I feel like God really has heard me.  And it seems like He knows those days when I need that reassurance and He always comes through for me. 

Thursday – the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary –  was one of those days.  I attended mass at the Franciscan Sisters TOR of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother’s Monastery.  Their Father of Mercy chapel is beautiful and the masses are always inspiring.  But this mass was a bit difficult for me.  You see, there are days that I desperately miss being there and working for the sisters.  Thursday was one of those days.  And it hit me all at once when I walked through the doors.

I arrived early for mass. So early, in fact, that I was able to participate in morning prayer, something I used to do on a regular basis.  And then I realized that Fr. Jonathan was saying mass.  I always love his homilies; it always seems like he is speaking directly to me.  So Thursday morning was a nostalgic moment for me, and it brought about some deep sadness because I know those days are behind me and I can’t go back.  My heart broke a little bit that morning, and I know God knew I was struggling. 

I know we never really know what God has planned for us.  When I had started working for the sisters back in 2015, I thought sure it had to be some kind of joke.  I mean I wasn’t the most faithful Catholic. In fact, I was so far away from my faith I don’t even know if you could call me a Catholic.  I mean I went to mass; I went through the motions.  But that was about it.  I didn’t really have a good relationship, any relationship for that matter, with God.  So when God led me to the sisters, I kind of thought it was a joke. I really thought it wouldn’t last six month.  But it turns out it was part of His greater plan to lead me back to Him. 

I was quite happy there, so much so that my husband and son noticed a change in me.  It was joy.  After years of working in advancement, I found peace and joy in my work.  I also found my faith and cultivated my relationship with God.  So imagine my disappointment when I had to leave them.  It was difficult, extremely difficult, because they had become family to me.  And then I had to go.  It certainly disrupted my joy and peace.  I wasn’t sure where God was leading me and I certainly didn’t understand why it was happening. 

And while I know all of this is part of God’s greater plan and designed for His ultimate glory, it still stings a little to be there for mass and know that I am not staying.  I am just a visitor now, not really part of the family anymore.  That’s why Thursday was difficult. 

So I asked God to see me through the mass and give me the strength and the courage to do His will.  And I knew that He had heard me when I went up to communion and Fr. Jonathon held up the Body of Christ.  I have attended mass in that very chapel, literally, hundreds of times.  I have never once received part of the elevated host. Never.  So what are the odds that I would on this day? 

I know it was God telling me that He heard me, that He is with me.  It was Him telling me that I am right where I am supposed to be, I am where He needs me and wants me rights now. It was God reminding me, has He has for the past few months, to be patient, to trust Him, and have faith.    

God has a plan for each of us; we may not always see it or understand it as it is unfolding.  We just need to be patient, to trust and to have faith.  So today I will be patient, I will trust God and I will have faith that everything will work out as He intends.  Please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.

College Orientation

I missed morning mass on Monday August 19.  It is amazing how disconnected I feel on the mornings that I don’t attend mass.   But I had a good reason to miss on this particular morning.  You see my son had orientation for college.  He is a freshman this year.  And while he is commuting to class from our home, it was still difficult for me, because he is not child anymore, but an independent young man who is moving on in his life.  For that I could not be more proud.  He has made smart financial and educational decisions that I know were difficult for him to make, especially as his friends were taking off and moving into dorms on college campus all over the state. 

I am truly grateful that he has made those difficult decisions to limit his expenses and college debt and pursue an engineering degree.  I am also happy that I get to hold on to him for a little while, although his schedule for work and school is so packed, I really don’t know when I will see him.  I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for those parents who moved their children into college dorms and apartments over the past few weeks.  I mean, I know my son is going to move out eventually, but knowing that he is sleeping under our roof a little longer is a bit reassuring to me. 

So I didn’t attend morning mass because we had orientation early on Monday morning.  My Monday was filled with class information, what to expect as the parent of a college student, overviews of the campus, its policies and procedures, and how to not be a helicopter parent (fortunately, we passed that test with flying colors).  Everything the parent of a new college student needs to know was covered.  My morning was so busy that I didn’t even get to read the morning reflection until after orientation had completed and I returned home. 

Then I read it.  The gospel for Monday was from Matthew 19: 16-22 about the rich young man who wishes to have eternal life.  He asks, “what good must I do?”  That’s a great question for each of us to ask.  What are we doing to deepen our faith, to serve God, to ultimately share in eternal life? 

This was a great reading for my Monday, because orientation for college is full of information concerning what both a college student and a college students parent needs to do in order to achieve success.  Orientation provides a roadmap, now we, as student and parent, get to decide if we are going to follow it.  The same was true for the rich man.  He asked what he needed to do to earn eternal life.  And Jesus answered him, but after he got his answer, he went away sad.  Jesus gave him a roadmap, and he chose not to use it.  It was too difficult for him. 

I have found that in working towards any worthwhile, you will encounter difficulties.  It reminds of a line from the movie, A League of Their Own, – when talking about baseball, Manager Jimmy Dugan tells Dottie Hinson, “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it…The hard is what makes it great.”  This is true for playing sports, earning a college degree or pursing a relationship with God. 

The reflection for Monday talked about using St. Ignatius of Loyola’s “Daily Examen”, to really see how we are doing on our walk, our relationship with God.  The five steps are as follows:

  1. Thank God for the blessings you have received that day
  2. Pray to the Holy Spirit and ask for Him for help and guidance
  3. Review what happened during the day
  4. Think about when you felt closest to God
  5. Look ahead to the next day

These five steps are a great way to evaluate our day, see how God is present and working in our life, encourage a sense of gratitude, prepare us for what lies ahead and help us improve.  It helps us focus on the positive, minimize the negative and look at areas where we can improve. 

We can take these same five steps and use them for a college student or even adapt them for someone who does not adhere to any set religion or doesn’t necessarily believe in God (although I do hope you are open to a relationship with God) by reviewing them as follows:

  1. Recognize the good things that have occurred during that day
  2. Focus your attention on the positive; ask for help and guidance from trusted friends when needed
  3. Review what happened during the day
  4. Think about when you felt the most joy
  5. Look ahead to the next day

Again, at the end of the day, reflecting on our day in this manner helps us focus on the positive, minimize the negative and look at areas where we can improve.  It helps build an attitude of thankfulness, it cultivates joy, it helps us focus our attention and energy on all that is positive and good.  It also helps us when we are traveling down a difficult road, to stay on the course, to not give up, to remember the ultimate goal.

That is what a relationship with God does for us, if we are open to it.  But we also need to follow that roadmap and work at that relationship. And it is going to be difficult at times and we might forget why we are traveling a particular path. Reflecting on each day in this manner, will hopefully remind us of what we are doing, why we are doing it, and inspire us to continue down that path to do good, to be better, to earn eternal life.

While I have not practiced the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, I am going to work on closing out each day by thanking God for all of the good things that filled the day, asking the Holy Spirit for guidance, reviewing all that transpired during the day, thinking about the moments in which I felt closet to God, and looking ahead to the next day.  I wonder how my outlook, my perspective, my relationship with God, my joy will be different after putting this into practice. 

I invite you to try this as well.  Let us focus on the positive, minimize the negative and look at areas where we can improve.  Have a blessed day.  Please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.  

Work and Wages

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard. There is quite a bit packed into this brief parable and lot of what it contains makes me a bit uncomfortable.

You see, I am an early riser and consider myself more of a morning person, although my husband might disagree because I don’t like to talk first thing in the morning. I like the morning silence, the unbroken quiet, as I enjoy my first cup of coffee. That is probably why I so enjoy my morning walks with the dogs. They don’t talk. Please don’t initiate a conversation with me until I have had my coffee and a shower. I do some of best work once those things have occurred.

I am also early for everything. And when I say early, I mean early. Not 10 or 15 minutes early, I‘m talking at least half an hour early or more. It’s just who I am. The thought of being late or even on-time makes me physically uncomfortable. I will arrive early for any appointment, meeting, service, event, etc. So, yes, I arrive early for everything. In fact, anybody who knows me well knows that I despise tardiness. I rigidly adhere to schedules and timelines. That can be good and bad (we can talk about that another time). My point is that I would have been one of the workers in the field bright and early – out at dawn to be hired.

So here is where I get a bit uncomfortable. This is because I would also be one to grumble and complain when, at the end of the day, the wages received didn’t reflect the work performed. Why? Because I would have worked all day. I completely understand the view point of the workers who labored all day and received no more than those who labored for only an hour. I’ve worked for 8 or 10 or 12 hours and make the same wage as the man who worked for hour. What?!? Where is the equity in the division of labor? Where is the justice? Shouldn’t I make more money because I worked more hours? I understand their outrage at the distribution of wages. I totally comprehend why the laborers question the land owner.

But, I also understand the land owner’s response to the workers. He is upholding his agreement with each worker, regardless of the hour at which they were hired. He can choose how he shares his wealth, how much and with whom. But, I also understand that he is simply generous, and for that reason alone some are angry. Maybe they don’t think his “generosity” is fair and equitable. Which leads me to wonder, how can you be angered by someone’s generosity?

But what is most beautiful about this gospel is that it is a parable and it represents faith, forgiveness and the kingdom of heaven. I think Fr. Ed said it beautifully in his homily, it doesn’t matter when you have your conversion, God shares everything equally. No matter how late in the day you come to the vineyard, you will receive an equal reward with those who have been faithful the longest. Wow! No matter how late!

This is fantastic news because it has taken me a long time to even find to vineyard, let alone enter it and begin to work. In fact, I am still finding my way through the vineyard and I become idle from time to time. But that is the beauty of all of it.

God doesn’t care when we find the vineyard, just that we enter the vineyard, that we open ourselves up to Him, to a relationship with Him. That is the mercy and generosity of God. It is far more that any of us deserve, but He gives it out without discrimination because of His unfathomable love for us. All He asks is that we make the decision to join Him in His vineyard.

Again, God lets us decide. He doesn’t force us or order us; He is patient with us, gentle with us. He lets us decide how and when. And even if its very late in our life’s journey, He doesn’t get angry or upset, and He doesn’t hold it against us. He welcomes us with open arms and a lavishes upon us the same love, forgiveness, and mercy that He does to those who have served Him for much longer. He is generous and gives so much more than we deserve.

Today, realize that it is never too late to enjoy God’s generosity. I hope you take a step into the vineyard. It is your decision. But if today is not the day, then maybe tomorrow, or the next. God is patient. Whenever you decide, God will be waiting. Please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.

Pray without Ceasing

Pray without ceasing.   That seems like a pretty tall order, especially today.  With work and family commitments, time for friends, volunteer opportunities,  meetings, parties, social engagements, errands, chores, appointments, vacations, life in general; who really has time to pray without ceasing.  If fact, in today’s world, people rarely have time for occasional prayer let alone time for continuous prayer.

Here is my week day at a glance: wake up before 5am and take the dogs for a 2 mile walk.  Return home, make coffee, pack my lunch (or lunches for the family during the school year), take a shower, get ready for work. Leave at 6:30am for work.  Spend my work day involved in all things advancement related; meetings, phone calls, appointments, proposal, grants, etc.  Leave for home at the end of the work day.  Workout.  Make dinner, clean up, take the dogs on their 2nd walk, run errands, do chores – laundry, ironing, etc., shower, read a little and go to bed.  So where does prayer fit in, let alone praying without ceasing?  It seems almost impossible, doesn’t it? But in his letter to the Thessalonians 5:16-18; Paul indicates that we should “Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

So we need to make time for prayer; we need to carve out time for God.  Too often, God is afterthought.  Or we pray only when things are bleak, when we are in distress or when we need something.  Wow, talk about fickle. But I will admit, I have been guilty of only coming to God only when I need something, when I want Him to intercede for me.  I am also guilty of turning my back on my relationship with God when things don’t turn out the way I expect or when I don’t get my way.  I know that I am fickle. I know that I am self-centered.  I know that I am selfish.  Those are also things that I am trying to change, the areas in which I am trying to improve. 

How do we make time not only for God and for prayer; but how do we pray without ceasing?  Personally for me, I have finally worked prayer into several of my daily routines.  Inspired by the Franciscan Sisters, TOR who often pray their rosary during an afternoon walk, I have adopted the habit of praying both a rosary and a Divine Mercy Chaplet on my morning walks with the dogs.  That walk is just long enough for those devotional prayers.  I typically offer them up for a friend.  After the walk (while my coffee brews), I read the daily reflection from the book Jesus Calling, as well as the corresponding bible verses.  Before work, I attend a daily mass.  Before mass I pray Morning Prayer.  I began attending daily mass and praying Morning Prayer because of those same sisters.  You see, I worked for them at one time and began to share in certain aspects of their way of life.  Morning Prayer, daily mass and the daily rosary are part of their 5+ hours of prayer each day.  Before mass begins, I read a few brief daily reflections – one from the Word Among Us, one from Living Faith, and  one from the Laudate App.  For some reason, I always wait until mass concludes to read Bishop Barron’s daily reflection. And that is how I start my day…with God.  But that is a long way from praying without ceasing.

There is a great piece in the July/August issue of the Word Among Us, entitled “Ceaseless Prayer, Seriously?” It is an article by Deacon Greg Kandra and contains excerpts from his book The Busy Person’s Guide to Prayer.  Deacon Greg shares his reflections on reading The Practice of the Presence of God by Nicolas Herman aka Brother Lawrence.  And while I haven’t read that particular book, I just ordered a copy from Amazon.  I am anxious to read it because according to Deacon Greg, “practicing the presence of God transforms the very act of living into an enduring, ongoing prayer – a way to pray without ceasing.”

Saying that I like to work out would be an understatement.  Working out is a part of my daily routine and helps me maintain my sunny disposition.  My husband calls my gym, aka our garage (I work out at home), the torture chamber.  I take work outs pretty seriously.  On cardio days, I don a sauna suit covered in sweat pants and a hoodie with a weighted vest, wrist and ankle weights, and typically pray another rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet during that work out.  On weight days, I hit the weights pretty hard, pyramiding sets, increasing weight and decreasing reps.  But what I am realizing, those work outs can be a form of prayer in and of themselves.  So I have been offering the exertion, sweat and fatigue for special intentions or for deceased family and friends. 

I am realizing it could be the same with household chores, errands, etc.  All of those things that fill up our day can be offered as a prayer if we perform them with Christ in mind.  If we focus more on seeing God present in all of the aspects of our daily lives, it will grow our relationship with Him. Thus, in our daily routines we are “practicing the presence of God”. 

God is with us always, but we don’t really take that to heart or realize that as we go through our day.  We get caught up in the minutia of our daily lives, struggles and responsibilities.  God is always present to us, but we aren’t always present to Him.  We forget about God and we don’t make time for Him. 

I am anxious to dive into Brother Lawrence’s book.  I am hopeful that I can better learn how to put God at the center of my life, keep Him in mind in all that do and “practice the presence of God”.  By recognizing each chore, task, or action as a prayer, I will endeavor to be more present to God and build a stronger relationship with Him.  How will you grow your relationship with God?  How will you make time for Him?  How will you be present to God?

Today, “Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.