It has been cold a rainy the past few days, but I must admit, I truly love this time of year. The crispness of the air, the damp chill, the smell of the dry leaves, falling from the trees and the way they crunch beneath your feet, apple cider, sweaters and boots and fleece vests and hoodies, crackling fires, and amazing October sunsets; I love all things autumn. In fact, I love all seasons, the changes of the seasons and the beauty of each transition. But Fall is my favorite!
As I drove into work this morning, just before dawn broke I could not help but ponder the wonder and majesty of God. I know there are people who do not believe in God, or are unsure if God does truly exist. I understand that it is difficult to comprehend the concept of a merciful God when we see all that is going on in the world. I was one of those people at one time, so I fully understand that thought process. But that is where free will comes into play.
I attended the all school mass this morning; we have a weekly mass with all of the students each Thursday (and on first Friday’s each month). Fr. Michael our chaplain was away on a diocesan priest event, so Fr. Michael from the Marian’s of the Immaculate Conception said mass.
Today is the feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch. Fr. Michael shared quite a bit about St. Ignatius of Antioch and how he was martyred (killed by wild animals). During his homily, father shared the following “I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if only you do not stand in my way. I plead with you: show me no untimely kindness. Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God. I am God’s wheat and bread. Pray to Christ for me that the animals will be the means of making me a sacrificial victim for God. No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth.”
He indicated that Ignatius was deeply in love with God and that each of us should strive for the same. He also stated, and this is what struck me hardest, God doesn’t send anyone to hell, we choose it by our actions. Wow, is that ever powerful. And that is free will!
God doesn’t send anyone to hell, we choose it by our actions.
Fr. Michael, MIC
We choose hell by our actions, God doesn’t condemn us to hell. That truly is free will. Free will allows us to choose. God wants us to choose Him, by how many times do we choose something other than him? How many times do we choose money, fame, prestige, power, titles, positions, pleasure, our own wants and desires, sleep, alcohol, food, etc. over God. How many times do we choose selfishness, arrogance, conceit, prejudice, gluttony, pride, anger, and self-centeredness? Or do we choose not to believe at all? Do we choose to deny the presence and the existence of God, or only believe in God when it convenient?
What will you choose today?
As I came back to my office after mass, I looked out my window. The sunlight was just beginning to break through the grey clouds. It was streaming through, dancing on the leaves of the trees, leaves tipped with bright yellow as the trees begin their transition. And I wondered how people could not believe in a loving God, a God of grace and mercy and forgiveness. All of this beauty that surrounds us speaks of God’s majesty and power and love. Then I realized that people probably aren’t seeing this magnificence.
We get so caught up in the minutia of day to day living; we forget to take in all of the splendor that is around us. We forget to choose God. And its not just the beautiful landscapes, the oceans, mountains, valleys, lakes and rivers or the fields and meadows, the long spans of desert and winding country roads. It’s the daily interactions that we have with one another. It’s taking a walk with friend, it’s calling your parents just to “check-in”, it’s sending a random text to a person you haven’t talked to in a while, it’s buying coffee for the car behind you in the drive-thru, it’s making a little extra dinner to share with the elderly woman who lives alone down the street, it’s visiting your sick friend in the hospital, holding her hand and telling her it’s going to be alright, it’s showing compassion to those who are less fortunate than you and extending a hand in friendship to a stranger.
It is all those little things that we do on a daily basis – usually without even thinking about them – brewing coffee for your coworkers, making breakfast for your family, packing lunches for your kids, doing the laundry, cleaning the house, car-pooling, preparing dinner, reading your children a bedtime story and tucking them in at night, having a glass of wine (or beer) with your spouse after a long day. The magnificence and beauty, the choosing God, is in all of these little things, but we are so caught up in the stress of day to day that we fail to see their impact, their brilliance. We fail to see them for what they really are, everyday miracles.
Today take a little time to look for everyday miracles and be an everyday miracle for someone else. Today choose God. And please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.
Tattoos, Motorcycles, Beer, Bourbon and Faith 