Father Matt's Sonshine

I Love You

2012-01-22T06:59:00.005-05:00

An adult education teacher once gave his class an assignment to go to someone they love before the following week's class and tell them that they loved them. They would then give their report at the next class. It had to be someone to whom they had never said those words before, or at least not for a very long time.

At the next class, one man stood up and recounted his story to the class. "I was quite angry with the teacher last week when you gave us this assignment. I felt that who were you to tell us to do something so personal? But as I was driving home, my conscience started talking to me. It was telling me that I knew exactly who I needed to say 'I love you' to. Five years ago, my father and I had a terrible argument that we have never resolved. We have avoided seeing each other unless it was absolutely necessary and even then we hardly spoke to each other. So last week by the time I had gotten home after class, I had convinced myself to tell my father that I loved him.

It's strange, but just making the decision seemed to lift a heavy load off my chest. When I told my wife, she jumped out of bed, gave me a big hug and for the first time in our married life saw me cry.

The next day I was up bright and early as if I had slept soundly all night. At 9am, I called my father to tell him I wanted to come over after work and talk to him. He reluctantly agreed. By 5:30, I was at the house. When my father answered the door, I didn't waste any time. I took one step inside and blurted out 'Dad, I just came over to tell you that I love you.'

Well, it was as if a transformation had come over him. Before my eyes, his face softened, the wrinkles seemed to disappear and he too began to cry. He reached out and hugged me, saying 'I love you too, son, but I've never been able to say it.' I didn't stay long, but I hadn't felt that great in a long time.

Two days after my visit, my dad, who had had heart problems but hadn't told us, had an attack and ended up unconscious in the hospital. I still don't know if he'll make it. So my message to all of you in this class is: don't wait to do the things you know need to be done. If I had waited, I may never have another chance to do what I did."

We all need to tell the people that we love how much we love them. We always presume that they know. But maybe they don't, and besides it wouldn't kill us to say so.

Immanuel prays for us as we reflect; “But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.” (Psalm 130:3-5).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends and let me personally say "I Love You" for all your years of wonderful support. May you find these words of affirmation a sign that God is well pleased with your life that reflects a divine love for all creatures great and small.

I Squealed on Myself

2012-01-14T07:38:00.006-05:00

A good friend shared that she volunteers at her church cleaning the altar and she was feeling terrible about lots of things in her life. Then one of her fellow workers asked her to do something and she started to scream back at her friend. She admits that whatever her friend wanted set her over the top and she just lost it. She has no idea what she was complaining about, but she felt embarrassed and walked over to the confessional to “squeal on herself.” Obviously, it must have been 4 o’clock in the afternoon if father was open for business.

On her knees, she told the priest her sins, but she started sobbing in the confessional. The kind man listened through her tears, but she felt burned out from all the stress in the past few months and the healing came as quickly as the squealing. Father gave her penance of three Hail Mary’s and she left relieved but went up to her fellow volunteers to say that she was sorry.

You have to admit we go through so many stresses that there are moments we feel like screaming at the top of our lungs. It actually can be quite relieving, but screaming while cleaning a pew was quite a shock for her cleaning buddies.

Once again, it was moment to trust that God can help us surrender our tension and give us the hope that the brokenness we experience can be mended with a kind word. Her cleaning buddies told her to go home and get some rest and don’t worry about cleaning the linens. They would gladly pick up the load while she went home to take a nap. Better yet, she had the kind of friends who do not hold a grudge and gossip behind her back. She was having a bad day and they promised to pray for her that all her troubles would be resolved and she back helping again.

Lord, only knows that our shouts and screams are a cry for help when life gives us more than we can handle. The compassion comes from our friends who offer a hug and reassuring words to take a break and they promise to check on us to make sure that we are felling better.

Thank you Lord for such wonderful friends who don’t take us seriously but allow us to vent and holler and give us the grace and courage to persevere through the miserable days.

Immanuel prays for us as we reflect; “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for help.” (Psalm 116:1).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who squeal on themselves in humility for we know that we are not always at our best. Thank you for friends who accept us when we are a terror and take us into their arms with no questions asked. What a surprise and wonderful grace to be loved by a God who hears the cries of his people.

We Are Star Stuff

2012-01-08T07:12:00.004-05:00

I'd like to begin this Epiphany Sonshine reflection by describing one of the most beautiful sights a person can see. For this photographer, it involves getting up very early in the morning - before dawn, when there are still stars visible in the sky. The sun has not yet risen, but you can see its light on the eastern horizon. Little by little the stars begin to disappear. Soon there is only one left and it is not a star. It is the planet Venus. Finally the light of the sun overcomes Venus, the Morning Star.

Something like this happened to the Magi when thy came come from the east because they had seen a "star." We don't know exactly what the star refers to. The Chicago Planetarium once had an exhibit titled "The Star of Bethlehem." They reconstructed the heavens around the time of Jesus' birth and speculated that the star may have referred to a comet, some configuration of planets or perhaps the Morning Star itself. Whatever it was, the star led to Jesus. But when the Magi found Jesus, things changed. Jesus was like the sun rising at dawn. The Wise Men no longer needed stars and planets. They now had the bright, life-giving sun.

The poet Lope de Vega wrote a beautiful poem about this. Its title is: “The arrival of the Magi Kings.” Lope de Vega describes how the star guided them in the dark night, but when they found Jesus, the stars faded. Here is a translation of Lope de Vega's poem into English:

You Kings, who come from the East,
are searching the night sky
looking at the their beautiful lights.

Do not follow them now
for where the sun is
the stars have no light.

The Child shines upon you.
And where the sun is
the stars have no light.

Lope de Vega is thinking about the practice of astrology. It was something that attracted him, but he realized that if he was going to follow Christ, he would have to give up astrology. A famous astronomer named Carl Sagan said, "We are star stuff." That is a poetic phrase and it is true as far as it goes. The matter that forms us was ultimately forged in the furnace of stars. But, unfortunately, Sagan meant it in an absolute sense: We are only star stuff. However, I like the phrase “We are star stuff.”

As Christians, we admit that we are material beings, but we believe that we are something more. When we encounter Christ, his light overwhelms even the stars.

Sometimes darkness enters our lives and we find ourselves lost and confused. In those moments, keep in mind that are “star stuff” filled with light of the divine. The best part of the wondrous Magi story comes at the end: they left us a promise. For at last they found what they were looking for. And so will we.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “While the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38:7).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who look to the morning star to guide us each day to be a true sign of God’s love here on earth.

Rainbow on New Year's Day

2012-01-02T05:54:00.003-05:00

I am driving to get gas for the tractor before the snowstorm when the cell phone rings to inform me to look north. Over my left shoulder is the most perfect rainbow that frames all the plowed fields in the most stunning image you can imagine. I say imagine because my camera was in the closet at home and not at my side.

Sometimes that’s where we tend to put God. In the closet and not at our side. We drive along life with all our fears and hurts. We wonder if we are doing the right things in life. Are we caring for our loved ones enough? Am I working at the right job? Do I take good care of ourselves or do we neglect to exercise and eat the healthy greens.

Over time, the hurts begin to accumulate that we no longer are ourselves. Instead of kindness and patience, we find ourselves irritable and full of venom. We are no longer pleasant to ourselves because we have experienced so much rejection. Jesus farewell gift to his disciples and ourselves was a “shalom.” This is not a peace that eliminates frustrations or disappointments. Rather imagine a quiet peace that reminds us that we a never alone in our tears and God is at our side to guide us with his wisdom and courage.

Rainbows were a sign from heaven that we are never alone and that we are never in control of our destiny. Rather, we are on a path guided by a wonderful God who has sent his Son into the world to show us how to live a life filled with grace and wonder. Let this rainbow experience help us to meditate and relax that we are in the hands of a compassionate God who wishes no harm on all his creation.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” (Genesis 9:13).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who need a rainbow in their life to remind them that You are faithful to your promise to watch over us and guide us in our everyday life. Help us to be aware of your loving presence and we give you thanks.

Blending

2011-12-27T13:48:00.003-05:00

The rolled pork stuffed with spinach and goat cheese was the highlight of the family Christmas meal. There were plenty of leftovers to take to a family member who had returned from the hospital on Christmas day. However, the real surprise came when the chef decided to deglaze the roasting pans with the pork juices and “blend” them with the pan from the charcoal grill.

I like to slow cook meat on a charcoal grill. The meat melts in your mouth. But this takes extra time, so you need to find the patience. I had recently slowed cooked a pork roast on a charcoal grill for six hours. This grilled has been used to smoke various kinds of meat this fall season. The juices from the grilled pork were caught in the pan below but what I did not know was that the juices had captured the smoky flavors from all the prior grilling.

The chef had an idea to combine the Christmas pork juices with the pork dripping that had been captured in the grill. When the juices were mixed together, there were a lot of crispy trimmings that were difficult to reduce. So the chef reached for the Christmas gift, a Cuisinart blender spoon and they were able to grind up the pork trimmings that made an awesome sauce that you would die for.

Something miraculous happened in the blending. You see the pork trimmings that were captured in the grill also contained the smoky flavors from a season of grilling. Add the juices from the stuffed pork that contained the goat chesses and spinach and the blending make a sauce that would make the saints in heaven scream for more.

I like to think that a faith community is a blending of many different cultures, traditions, and experiences. What gives each faith community flavor is the spirit to experiment and try for something unique that makes the light of Christ’s loves present in their community. The blending might result in a potluck supper to help pay the medical expenses of a neighbor’s cancer treatment. Or it might be a request to donate blankets and warm socks to a local clothing shelter. It might be a dream to rebuild a former parish complex into a retreat center located in a valley where people might want to walk and commune with God in the woods.

Yes, all faith communities are a blending of God’s love that has no boundaries and cannot be contained by any faith tradition. Jesus, our master chef, brings all the ingredients together so that each one may add their seasoning to the pot. The result is a taste of heaven here on earth where people feel the warmth and forgiveness of the newborn Savior, the Iron Chef of peace and good will to all God’s children

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who you have blessed with many flavors and talents. May they open their hearts to Your creative hands as You stir their hearts and blend their spirits to bring Your sweetness and love.

Crossing OIver

2011-12-19T20:43:00.006-05:00

One of my favorite Christmas movies is “Home Alone.” There is one tender scene when Kevin is walking outside the church looking at the outdoor manger scene and you hear the choir singing from inside the church.

Kevin has been abandoned by his family. Supposedly he was inadverterly forgotten by his parents as they traveled to France for Christmas vacation. We find Kevin “all alone” in the pew listening to the carols when he spots his next door neighbor across the aisle. You see terror in this little boy’s eyes because he has been led to believe that Marley is a killer who has never been caught. Shockingly, Marley “crosses the aisle and walks up to the panic-stricken boy, smiles, and says “Merry Christmas.”

The dialogue is memorable if you ever had the feeling of not being wanted by your family, your religion or you think God no longer accepts you. Marley explains that he had come to church to hear his little granddaughter sing in the choir. He can only see her in church because he is afraid to go to her home. Marley explains that he and his son had a quarrel many years ago. He was told by that he was no longer welcomed in his son’s home.

Kevin innocently asks Marley what keeps him away. Marley very sadly says that he s afraid. “The older you get the more afraid you become.” Little Kevin confesses that sometimes he has not been very nice to his family. But he loves his dad very much and even though they had a quarrel he stills loves him and would go back to see him if they had a fight.

You can sense how sad Marley feels being estranged from his family. Finally, Kevin says to Marley: “You should call home.” Marley winces at this suggestion yet you sense he desperately wants to trust this child’s words. If only he could believe.

Many people are afraid to return to their churches on Christmas because they feel unworthy. Perhaps, you had a quarrel with someone in the church; perhaps, you no longer feel welcomed because we have been told that we are not living up to the norms of the institution. Many good people are “home alone” in their hearts.

I like to think that there is a voice calling from the manger to everyone who has felt like Marley and Kevin. We have been made to feel unworthy. How sad that some use their power to make the rest of us feel inferior. We are not living the Christian life or worse others have condemned us by their words and actions.

We need to call home. We need to “believe.” I encourage everyone this Christmas to come back to your churches and kneel by the manger scene. Look closely into the eyes of this tiny babe and can you not see the warmth and love. You have never been forgotten. Despite the harshness of life, God wants us to know that we are loved and waits for us to accept his embrace no matter how we choose to worship or practice our faith.

It is time my friends to come back to your churches and surrender your fears. Allow the power of God’s understanding and peace to take root in your souls again and walk along side of your God who loves you more than you know.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” (Matthew 10:40).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel left out in the cold by the harshness of this world. Help them to surrender their fears and give them the courage to come back to a faith community that welcomes all who feel unworthy. Believe and your heart will find peace.

Blessing of the First Snow

2011-12-11T07:03:00.005-05:00

The first snow of the season is a blessing from God. The trees and shrubs have a light dusting of white resting quietly on each limb. Along the stream bank, the rocks and roots are sprinkled with laces of white that make the most exquisite of designs. God is speaking to us in a conversation that can only be heard in your heart.

Remember the meaning of blue during this Advent season. How it represents the darkness of the night that gives way to the bright light of morning. Well imagine yourself in your attic or basement trying to sort the clutter of last Christmas. You are searching for wrapping paper and ribbons amid the mess of boxes, ribbons and boxes. However, the shrapnel of memory begins to overwhelm you.

As you reach across the mess, you come upon a card of an old friend. Suddenly something very unexpected tugs at your heart. You recall the good times you had together and then all of a sudden those good memories faded and you think about all the mistakes that you and your special friend had made.

An emptiness, sadness seemed to settle into your heart. God sees what in your heart and noticed in the middle of the floor a little blue box. When you think about what the blue box was, your countenance begins to change as you recall all of the notes of encouragement that lay within that blue box.

They are the promises of God that keeps us going after our heartbreaking breakup with our friend. Inside the blue box are the reminders of the friendship that we have developed with God during the darkest time of our life.

What we can imagine next is like the gente snow that covers each branch of the tree. Suddenly our floor (our soul) is no longer filled with memories of pain and hurt but now it is just a bunch of trash and a very special blue box.

Sometimes we try to cling to our past, and the bad memories that haunt us. Sometimes the best thing to do is just throw it all away and with God’s help, just move forward!

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “The Lord says, Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already-you can see it now. (Isaiah 43:18-19).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that walking in the first snow of the season we can listen to your gentle voice melting our fears that bring us comfort and peace.

Longing

2011-12-03T08:06:00.005-05:00

Advent is about getting in touch with our longing. It’s about letting our yearnings raise our spiritual temperatures so that we are pushed to eventually let down our guard, hope in new ways, and risk intimacy.

John of the Cross had a similar image: Intimacy with God and with each other will only take place, he says, when we reach a certain kindling temperature. For too much of our lives, he suggests, we lie around as damp, green logs inside the fire of love, waiting to come to flame but never bursting into flame because of our dampness. Before we can burst into flame, we must first dry out and come to kindling temperature. We do that, as does a damp log inside a fire, by first sizzling for a long time in the flames so as to dry out.

How do we sizzle spiritually? For John of the Cross, we do that through the pain of loneliness, restlessness, disquiet, anxiety, frustration, and unrequited desire. In the torment of incompleteness our spiritual temperature rises so that eventually we come to kindling temperature and, there, we finally open ourselves to God and one another in new ways. That is an image for advent.

Advent is all about loneliness. Nobel Prize winning author, Toni Morrison describes it this way: “There is a loneliness that can be rocked. Arms crossed, knees drawn up, holding, holding on, this motion, unlike a ship’s, smoothes and contains the rocker. It’s an inside kind—wrapped tight like skin. Then there is a loneliness that roams. No rocking can hold it down. It is alive, on its own. A dry and spreading thing that makes the sound of one’s own feet going seems to come from a far-off place.”

All of us know exactly what she is describing, especially the latter type, the roaming kind of loneliness or what I like to call “noisy brain” that haunts the soul and makes us, all too often, too restless to sleep at night and too uncomfortable to be inside our own skins during the day.

What we learn from loneliness is that we are more than any moment in our lives, more than any situation we are in, more than any humiliation we have experienced, more than any rejection we have endured, and more than all the limits within which we find ourselves. Loneliness and longing take us beyond ourselves. How?

Loneliness and longing let us touch, through desire, God’s ultimate design for us. In our longing, the mystics tell us, we intuit the kingdom of God. What that means is that in our desires we sense the deeper blueprint for things. And what is that?

Scripture tells us that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, of simple bodily pleasure, but a coming together in justice, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, that is what we ache for in our loneliness and longing: oneness, intimacy, completeness, harmony, peace, and justice.

Our loneliness and longing are a hunger and an energy that drive us, always, beyond the present moment. In them we do intuit the kingdom of God.

Advent is about longing, about getting in touch with it, about heightening it, about letting it raise our spiritual temperatures, about sizzling as damp, green logs inside the fires of intimacy, about intuiting the kingdom of God by seeing, through desire, that our world bears the imprint of God.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my signing is not hidden from you. (Psalm 38:9).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that this Advent we learn that our loneliness and longing are not to be feared but God’s ways of bringing us closer to the spirit of harmony and peace.

Why Blue?

2011-11-27T07:24:00.005-05:00

So I point to Dan in the pews and invited him to walk in procession to light the first Advent candle. On the way down the aisle, this young man asks the obvious question, what is an Advent wreath? Good question Dan, let’s take it one step further and simply ask what is the purpose of Advent?

I'm sure all my Sonshine readers would answer this question by saying that it is the season in the Church's year, which leads to Christmas. However, to better understand Advent, we have to understand the origins of Christmas, which was not celebrated by Christians until the fourth century. The pagans of that time saw the world as a great cosmic struggle between the powers of darkness and the powers of light. And they noticed that at different times darkness seemed to be getting more of the light, so to speak. They were watching, if you will, two great cosmic wrestlers and at this time of the year, it appeared that the wrestler called darkness would seem to be getting the upper hand because the days were getting shorter. At least until December 21, which is when they noticed that the tables were beginning to turn, and that the sun was regaining its strength. And so when they saw this happening on an annual basis, the pagans celebrated the resurrection, or the return of the light of the sun. It was a 'sun feast', marking the transition time from darkness to light.

When the Christians came along they took over this pagan notion. They said, 'It's a pretty good idea that you have got here, and after all, we know that if you are really talking about darkness and light, the only real darkness’s of this world are the darkness of sin and the darkness of death. And the only light in this world is Jesus. So we'll keep your ideas.”

But what the Christians did, as it were, they took the word 'sun' and they took out the middle letter, 'u,' and they changed it to 'o'. So the sun they were talking about was Jesus, the Son of God, and they made this time of year a celebration when we would get ready for the tables to be turned. In the great struggle, this was the time when sin and death would now be overcome by the light of the world, Jesus, the Son of God. So they called this time Christmas, and they made Advent the time of considering an end of darkness and looking forward to the coming light. Now about those liturgical colors.

Well in history, blue actually was the color often appointed for Advent in medieval times. In the Middle Ages, blue, purple, and even black were generally regarded as interchangeable, and when blue itself was specified it was often identified as indigo, a deep hue, not a pale one, symbolically suggestive, perhaps, of the darkness of night in which the world sleeps, before the dawn of the Son of Righteousness.

Now that we have learned that blue symbolizes the darkness of the night, I like to offer some practical suggestions on bringing more light into your life during the Advent Season. Here are a few suggestions.

Mend a quarrel.
Seek out a forgotten friend.
Dismiss suspicion.
Write a long overdue love note.
Hug someone tightly and whisper, "I love you so."
Forgive an enemy.
Be gentle and patient with an angry person.
Express appreciation.
Gladden the heart of a child.
Find the time to keep a promise
Make or bake something for someone else---anonymously.
Release a grudge.
Just listen, for a change.
Speak kindly to a stranger.
Enter into another's sorrow.
Smile. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more.
Take a walk with a friend.
Kneel down and pet your kitty or dog.

Groom your horse.
Read a poem or two to your mate or friend.
Lessen your demands on others.
Play some beautiful music during the evening meal.
Apologize if you were wrong.
Turn off the television and talk.
Treat someone to an ice-cream cone (yogurt would be fine).
Do the dishes for the family.
Pray for someone who helped you when you hurt.
Fix breakfast on Saturday morning.
Give a gentle answer even though you feel strongly.
Encourage everyone your meet.
Point out one thing you appreciate most about someone with whom you live or work

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for the Lord.” (Isaiah 40:3).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that we make Advent one long, extended gift of ourselves to others. Unselfishly. Without obligation. Or reservation. Or hypocrisy. After all, this is Christmas, isn't it?

Mashed Potatoes

2011-11-22T05:47:00.004-05:00

On Sunday evening, I asked our Brockport college students where they would be celebrating their Thanksgiving meal and secondly, what food do they look forward to most to have served at their tables. While some shared pumpkin, pecan and so-fly pie, the overall winner was simply “mashed potatoes.”

As their religion professor, the parable about the sheep and goats can be scary, but I prefer to point out that it’s a beautiful story that reminds us to simply pay attention.

Throughout this section of Matthew, Jesus has been suggesting that there will ultimately be a great division among humanity. There will be those who prepared for history’s conclusion and those who did not adequately prepare (the parable of the ten virgins). There will be those who did their best with what had been given to them and those who will be guilty of wasting their time by doing nothing (the parable of the talents).

But what we may sometimes miss in this passage is the curious fact that when you get right down to it, the sheep and the goats have one big thing in common: neither group was aware of what they did or failed to do at the time they were doing it (or failing to do it). Hence, both groups ask the exact same question: "When did all that stuff happen?"

Jesus tells the righteous folks that he was grateful for all the ways they had nourished, welcomed, clothed, tended to, and visited him. But the righteous cannot for the life of them recall doing any of that for Jesus, and so they ask, "Well now, when did we do all that for you, Lord?" Conversely, those not paying much attention cannot for the life of them recall ever seeing Jesus anywhere, much less in need of anything, and so they ask, "Well now, what day was that when we plumb missed seeing you, Jesus?" One group did the right things to Jesus, the other group failed to help Jesus, but neither realized it at the time.

Like most of my photos, I literally get down on the ground, from that perspective I see the world differently than most. Jesus identified himself snugly with the hurting of this world that whatever we do, or fail to do, in relation to those hurting people directly affects Jesus. So we forget or miss our chance. We simply don't pay attention while we live our life.

I shared with our students that on Sunday morning after the 10 am Mass, people who really, really care about them donated over 100 baked goods. Despite all their creative, baking talents, their purpose was simply to share their faith in Jesus and used the funds to support the wonderful student ministry at Newman.

At the same time no one noticed, but an 88 year-old Marilyn came to Newman for the first time. Her story was simple. She had recently moved into an assisted living home in Brockport and she had no way to get to church. Her husband died over 10 years ago and her two daughters live in Pennsylvania. So an invitation was extended to the parish asking for volunteers to bring Marilyn to our church. For 88 years Marilyn had been coming to church and I asked her to kindly stand so that we could welcome her to Newman and applaud her faith and love for Jesus. With a smile that brought our people to tears, this community warmly welcomed her at our Eucharistic table. This is what it means to walk humbly in the footsteps of Jesus. Sometimes it not money or time people need, only a smile and a hug.

That gospel story invites all of us to pay close attention to one another for I believe there is a piece of God inside each of us. If we truly believe this, then we will indeed feed the hungry, clothe the naked and all the things mentioned in the gospel reading. But sometimes we need look no further than our own home to help someone. Sometimes help can be rendered without giving money, or even our time. Sometimes it may be just as simple as giving someone a hug, which lets them know that we care about them. Or sometimes the toughest thing to do may be just telling someone whom you care about that you love them.

Simply put, I told our college students that when they go home take the time to tell mom and dad, grandma and grandpa that you missed them and give them a great big hug.

Now reflect on this psalm: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends on Thanksgiving Day that we get down at our tables and remember to thank all who cooked the turkey and prepared our favorite “mashed potatoes.” From my heart and soul, I love you all and may you and all the members of your family be at peace.

Treated Like a King

2011-11-16T05:52:00.005-05:00

Everett worked in customer service and treated everyone he met “like a king.” People would cry on the phone or walk up to his desk with tales of woe about their broken machines. You see Everett managed a car repair shop. Oh, not any ordinary shop, but one people trusted for its excellent and honest service. If he was in a middle of an order for a part and someone came to him desperate because they had a flat or the engine blew-up, he would come around his desk, put his arms around their shoulder and reassure them they things would be taken care of.

He would stop immediately and leave what he was doing. Why not? This illustrates what any good king would do when sitting with his council deliberating on high affairs of state involving the destiny of nations, when suddenly he hears the sorrowful cry of his little child, who has fallen down or been frightened by a wasp. He rises and runs to his relief, holding him tight and relieving his fears.

Is there anything "unkingly" here? Is it not most natural? I think that it even elevates the monarch in esteem. Everett was that kind of servant. For him, customer service meant listening to the people who walked through his door with their broken vehicles, listening to the sounds of their problems, setting them down with a cup of coffee, asking them for their patience while his gifted staff worked on the car and finally escorting them personally back to the car that was fixed like new. Imagine all this service from a man who had his share of medical and personal problems, but he never would let you down. Everett treated everyman man, woman and child like a king.

Now think, why would we think it dishonorable for the King of all the kings, our Heavenly Father, to consider the small matters of his children - like you, for instance!

Now reflect on this psalm: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on the faithful.” (Psalm 103:13).

The Heavenly Father does care about you - in His eyes, you are a very special person. Never forget that!!

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who often think we are of no account - no one knows about us in our particular situation - no one cares. Yet, down deep in the hearts of hearts let realize Our Lord’s loving concern. Things might not be going as they would want, but that does not mean that You are not with them in a particular situation. Bless them, and give them Your heavenly peace. Thank you Everett for treating everyone like a king and may you rest in peace taking care of all the saints vehicles in heaven.

Anyone Can Stay

2011-11-06T06:20:00.002-05:00

There's relatively little about hell in the gospels. Nine times in Matthew, three times in Mark, three times in Luke--many repetitions of one another--and not a word in John. In truth, we owe more of our picture of hell to the imaginations of Dante and James Joyce and fire-and-brimstone preachers than we do to Jesus.

Our pictures of hell are nothing but works of imagination--unless you know someone who has sent back postcards. There must be a hell: for people who don’t want to be with God as long as he thinks he is more important than they are.

Love is real-but-invisible, so we express it in our gifts of roses and cards, and idealize it in our hearts, our works of mercy and intimacy. Messages from God are real-but-not-physical so we embody them in burning bushes and feathery-winged angels. The point is that the inadequacy of our symbols doesn't mean the realities don't exist. In The Great Divorce, C. S. Lewis pictures hell as a Grey Town, filled with surly people. There's a bus to heaven all day long, to a beautiful meadow sloping up to breathtaking mountains. Anyone can stay, if they'll leave behind their self-absorption. If they do, their stay in the Grey Town has been purgatory; if they don't, they get back on the bus and freely go back to what has become hell. Not fascinating fire, but bleak boredom.

Heaven and hell are not places; they are the state of our soul. And we're in one or the other right now, like hikers on a trail making our way through darkness--or sunshine. We're all invited to the feast! But many have "more important" things to do; or we would prefer not to be seen with "that kind of people"; or we find it too costly to check our self-absorption at the door. Sartre was wrong, I think. Hell is not "other people"; hell is oneself. So too, of course, is heaven.

To be a mean-spirited SOB is its own punishment; to be a heartless, to have an exaggerated sense of our own importance its own emptiness; to use people as if they were no more than commodities for one's own personal profit needs no further hell. Yet, God wants to know those people. They just don't want to be known--by God or by many others. That's what hell is, I think: to be not-known--by God or, in any real sense, by anyone else.

in the story about the wise bridesmaids, they were happy because they knew their place. They weren't the bride--or the bridegroom. They were attendants. “I'm just here to help out. I just serve hors d'oeuvres; I just play in the band; I just check the coats. But, God! Whatta party!" We don’t have to be the center of attention, just a server.

I suspect those of us who "know our place" will have a lot more fun than the ones hyper-aware of what they "deserve." How lucky we are just to have the chance to live! How could we take life and all we love for granted? Who cares if we sit on the dais or bus tables in the far corner? We’re here! How lucky each of us is–-just to be, even once! Much less forever!

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “The Lord looks down from heaven on all huamnkind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.” (Psalm 14: 1-3).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who know their place and seek heaven in their hearts. Bless all their daily works as they wait on others and may their souls celebrate at your banquet table in heaven.

Together We Sing

2011-10-31T05:48:00.006-04:00

Close your eyes for a moment and picture yourself standing in a chorus of an endless 144,000 people, a singing a song of faith, singing aloud, if you will, the Gloria. And I ask you to be aware of two things that will be operating as each of us belts out our song, and you must listen to this seriously and carefully to catch its meaning.

The first is no one believes it all. Each of us in the chorus is gifted with only a partial understanding of the mystery of God among us; and so, in our large chorus, one sings with great intensity and assurance, another’s is with little attention and conviction, or perhaps today we’re caught by the words and melody because we happen to be emotionally ion a good place. But, at another time, in another mental or emotional place, we feel doubtful and alienated and we can hardly get the words out of our mouth. That OK. No one believes it all, but together we sing more than we can sing alone. Together we can sing more than we can sing alone.

The second thing that operates in this: if no one believes it all, so also no one believes all the time. Our journey of faith is seldom smooth and uninterrupted. At times it fluctuates between belief and unbelief. The list of names that you emailed contained people who have walked with you on this earth. Perhaps called them home when we were not ready to let them go home to heaven. We might say that we can no longer believe in God, in a God who would let take away our best friend or even a child. How could God do this to us? I like to share this healing thought.

Our response would be best to honor your losses, the loss of your spouse or family member, the loss, or at least, the shock to your faith. The fact of the matter is that tragedy has indeed broken your trust in a loving, compassionate God.

Now consider that your faith community believes for you. The saintly chorus picks up your faltering verses. The collective faith of the saints sustains us through periods of unbelief as we come in contact with saints of yesterday and we begin to see theirs scars and sense their resilience and they help us believe once more, in the face of tragic absurdity, in a new and different way. They help us sing with a different modulation. They sing the louder the phases that we can sing only softly through our tears.

So you see, no one here, you or I believe it all. And no one here believes all the time. No one accepts every verse and no one can sing every note all the time. But the chorus does. The chorus, or the community of saints, sings when you and I are unwilling or unable to do so.

We are a chorus of saints.

That’s what we celebrate on all Saints Day. We support each other and we become more than the sum total of our individual selves as the Communion of saints. You exhibit the gifts I don’t have and I exhibit the gifts you don’t have. You cry the tears I cannot cry and I laugh the laughter you cannot laugh. You believe when I struggle with doubt, I believe when you struggle with doubt. You smile when I am in tragedy; I grieve when you are in joy. Our faith hope and love are incomplete. But this feast of all saints tells us something. This feast gives us support. It reminds us that we belong to a vast community of time and space. It becomes a revelation and comfort. It tells us a mighty truth. Together we sing more than we sing alone.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the lord.” (Chronicles 16: 32-33).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who remember all their loved ones on this Feast of all Saints. May we always remember their goodness to us and sing their praises.

Shirley Goodnest

2011-10-22T07:39:00.005-04:00

A mother was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe. So she had an idea of how to handle it.

She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, So he probably wouldn't notice her. Her neighbor said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.

The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Tim as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.

As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy 's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, “Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?”

Timmy nonchalantly replied, Yeah, I know who she is. The little girl said, Well, who is she?

That's just Shirley Goodnest , Timmy replied, and her daughter Marcy. Shirley Goodnest? Who is she and why is she following us?

Well, Timmy explained, every night my Mum makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, Shirley Goodnest (surely goodness ) and Marcy (mercy) shall follow me all the days of my life, so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!

No doubt there are times when you fell trouble is stalking you every step of your way. It is nice to know that God walks before, beside and has our back and will even, if necessary, carry us the rest of the way whenever we feel over our heads.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always

Am I A Witness or Witless for God?

2011-10-15T09:41:00.005-04:00

A tip for getting dramatic photos in the wide-open. Live in your viewfinder. Explore the landscape through your viewfinder by keeping the camera at your side, not stashed away in your backpack. If you “live in the viewfinder,” you will see the world through the unique perspective of your lens and it will help you discover compositions, possibilities that you would not have found otherwise with your own eyes.

Another way of gaining a unique perspective on life is to ask a question with a question. It is a teaching style that teachers use with their students to motivate them to think, wonder and grow.

Some religious leaders in Jesus’ day were scheming to trick him into a dangerous mistake, and wondered if it’s “…lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not?”

Jesus answered their question with a question. He requested a coin, a denarius with Caesar’s image on it. “Whose head is this, and whose title?” You know the drill. You know the Biblical story.

When Jesus seemed threatened, he was adept at turning the tables. Jesus also embraced positive opportunities to reveal God’s ways. Questions were met by questions in the form of parables (What! A Samaritan is my neighbor?) and by gestures of unexpected generosity (What! The last hired worker is given the same pay as those hired first). In other words, Jesus witnessed for God by inspiring others to think, wonder and grow. Instead of providing answers ending an encounter, he posed questions or told stories that caused others to be unsettled about old ways or unfair traditions while sensing a new relationship with neighbors and God.

However, instead of being God’s witness, we frequently are witless.

Too often, we try to impress people with what we know.

Too often, we tell people what they should think before they finish speaking.

Too often, when confused or fearful or angry or spiteful, we don’t seek clarity but raise our voice.

Wit is derived from the Old English witan and the Old High German wizzan. Those two were rooted in ancient Latin and Greek words. But all shared a common meaning: to see or to know. And thus we have witness, witless, witty, dim-witted and more. Someone who sees or knows is a witness. Those who refuse to see or know are witless.

Am I a witness or witless for God?

Henry David Thoreau wrote, “The question is not what you look at, but what you see.” In the encounter with the two-faced Pharisees, Jesus is said to have discerned their malice. I believe he knew they only looked through selfish, self-satisfied eyes, and only schemed to ensnare him. And yet his response, then and in so many other situations, challenged people to “see” beyond the self-destructive, foolish and witless.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “But you, O God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. (Psalm 10:14).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that we see life through the viewfinder of God’s vision. Let our questions about the things that happen to us help us to grow in God’s way of thinking, courage and love.

More Than Expected

2011-10-10T05:22:00.003-04:00

Once again, I have been invited to offer the blessing prayer at the local florist workshop. The master floral designers strut their talent by demonstrating stunning displays depicting the holiday season. I begin my prayer with a big thank you to these creative artists who designed miniature gardens at a funeral home for a dear friend. This beautiful soul loved her gardens and the floral pieces that surrounded her ashes complete with gardening gloves and trowel were a stunning reflection of her love for God’s flowers.

Many times the floral designers are called upon to help folks cope with intense feelings of sorrow, or in times of struggle or moments of joy. The work of their hands brings hope and encouragement on a birthday, or wedding, in a hospital or surrendering our loved ones to God. Sometimes the orders and messages people put on their cards get a little mixed up. Like the time a spouse who was surprised by a beautiful bouquet from her husband who was away at a business meeting in Florida when the message read: “With deepest sympathy.” She was not as surprised as the woman whose husband had died and her card read: “It’s a lot hotter down here than I expected. Wish you could join me.”

There was a special moment during the demonstration when several designers were honored for their contribution to the floral industry. The narrator shared that often orders come from customer service for special orders and a designer does not want to be interrupted while they are working. However, one master designer at a local floral shop always seems to find the time to respond to these irksome requests throughout the day. He has spent over 30 years in the floral industry and his work is always beautiful. This is the kind of person you would never hesitate to ask a favor for because he always comes to greet you with a smile and his creative skills goes beyond exceptional, his creative displays are simply stunning.

Does not God come to us this way when we are rattled at times with life’s quirks? We need someone like this designer who makes time for us and stands at our side to be a sign of God’s love and generosity. In the same way, we are invited throughout our busy day to reflect the same patience and enthusiasm to help others in need. This is called exceptional customer service. Customer complaints are a gift where get a chance to shine with patience and humility. Some people we know do it seamlessly and with grace.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.” (Proverbs 18:16).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who take the time to go out of their way to help those in trouble. Give us the gift of grace to gladly reach out to all who call upon for help and may we receive the fruits of our good works.

Looking Up

2011-10-03T07:15:00.005-04:00

What do you worry about? The usual lists of problems like job, health, and your kids. Then there is this sin. Nothing you want to talk about. Usually hidden in your subconscious. But you worry a lot about it. It is like running the red light. We know it’s against the law, but we’re always in a hurry, but we take the risk and get lucky that we don’t crash into someone. This sin hurts our relationship with God. Not that God will condemn us into oblivion, but that it makes us feel unworthy, when all God wants us to feel is how very special we are to Him. So what can we do with this back hole in our soul, this compulsive habit that prevents us from enjoying the beauty that God sees.

It’s a prescription offered by St. Paul who had his troubles and worries and tells us: "Have no anxiety at all." To some people this might seem like Pollyanna or playing down our sinful nature. But St. Paul is no naive optimist. He had his share of troubles and failings. A partial list includes public whippings, shipwrecks, snakebites, imprisonment, illness and putting Christians to death. Yes, even the worse sin that you can imagine. We might carry that same sin inside when we took the life of the unborn, or slandered a someone, or abused a spouse or child. These sins drive us crazy because in an impulsive moment we no longer reflected the love that God placed inside our hearts.

But stay with me here. Listen to what St. Paul wrote while he was in prison: "Have no anxiety at all." How did St. Paul overcome anxiety? He tells us: "in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God." His prescription against anxiety. First, pray - put our troubles and our sins in God's hand - make your requests known to him. Doesn't God already know what we need? He does, but He wants us to entrust our lives and our problems to Him. There is a person who has a prayer corner in there home. It has a cross, a candle and small basket. The person writes their concerns on small slips of paper and places them in the basket, handing them over to God. When this sinner practices this prayer, they experience wonderful peace. The first part of overcoming anxiety our sins is prayer, trust in God.

The second part of the prescription is thanksgiving. God does not make mistakes. When a human being is alive, it is because God wants him or her to be alive. We are here because of God's will and, even the bad things, even the sins. God only allows them because of some greater purpose. Perhaps so that we can humbly get down on our kneels and experience this blessed moment of peace. So in every circumstance, we need to give thanks. A grateful heart is a peaceful heart.

The image that I have attached is a moment while walking a trail in the Adirondacks in which a friend told me to look up into the trees. He noticed the beauty of the leaves changing and this stunning shot reflects the beauty that occurs during Autumn.

So I say to you look up to heaven this morning and pray to God and unburden all your worries and sins. Let God come into your soul to refresh your drooping spirit and experience the wonderful bliss that comes when we trust in His words. "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God." (Philippians 4:6).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends whose troubles have made them sick with worry and fear. Our world is full of greed, selfishness, betrayal and violence and we experience many disappointments yet help us to realize that – trust and gratitude is the secret to have no anxiety at all.

Internet of the Heart

2011-09-25T07:49:00.007-04:00

My friend and his wife had to replace their refrigerator. They heard about the state rebate program-that would refund $250 if they bought a high efficiency refrigerator.

So they scouted the sales that’s saved a couple of hundred dollars off the machine if you bought refrigerator at the same time and then on Labor day weekend, would take another 15 percent off. The rebate would make the deal even sweeter.

They went to the website of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to complete the rebate application. NYSERDA was running a tab to show how much of the $3.5 million in rebates had been claimed as of that moment. Online, the application for the site would not open. The phone number set up to register applicants kicked immediately to voice mail. They left a message and got no response. The following day the application still would not open and the $3.5 million rebate had been used by other applicants.

My friends reached a live human being who had heard that people had trouble with the application online. He sent them a copy of the form and put them on a waiting list. In three days the money was all gone.

The couple was not happy about not getting the rebate, but the reality is that just about every business, every agency, every organization exists almost exclusively online. The intenet is an essential tool that we could not function without it. But it is also too convenient to distance ourselves from other human beings, to avoid contact and to blame failure on software glitches.

Some appliance buyers could open the oniine rebate application, but my friends could not. Breakdowns are routine. Websites can open the door to far more traffic then they can handle. And those who can’t get through are left to fume I the privacy of their homes or offices, pounding aimlessly on keyboards or touch screens that take them nowhere. Recently, both this blog and my website were down and I had no one to talk to about the problems.

I am sure you have had this sensation of being stymied somewhere in cyberspace, knowing for certain that there is no one to talk to, no way to prove how hard you have tried to get through.

In prayer, we have a direct line to a compassionate God who listens to all our concerns. There is no waiting, no busy signal, no endless prompts that take you nowhere but the pit of frustration. In your heart, you can immediately go to Our Lord and let Him inside your soul and share what’s on your mind, how you are doing and where you need wisdom and strength. The prayer line to heaven is open 24/7 with call forward. Perhaps our prayer application receives a message that our requests will not been granted. We sometimes do not like the news, but we know that we have made contact, that someone who loves us noticed and keeps us always in their mind and heart.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayers.” (Psalm 17:6).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are praying at this moment for their family and friends. May the Internet in our hearts remain open to all calls and, like Jesus, respond with generosity and compassion for all who call upon us.

Take Our Breath Away

2011-09-16T20:24:00.009-04:00

Imagine giving someone who works only one hour the same pay as someone who worked twelve hours! It doesn’t make sense. In the parable about the workers who had toiled all day in the oppressive heat, they felt cheated when they discovered that those who worked only an hour before quitting time received the same pay as they did.

But if you look closely there is an incredible message that slaps us in the face with delightful surprise.

There are four other parables that are precise variations on this gospel. First, there is the parable of the unforgiving servant, with its message of God’s extraordinary capacity to forgive someone with a huge debt he couldn’t possibly pay back. Then there are the familiar stories of the lost sheep, the woman with the lost coin and the prodigal son. In each of these stories, we see how a God acts toward us in a way that we would not naturally expect. They all reveal a God who comes to us in love and mercy, not as a harsh judge who justifiably wants to punish us for our sins.

Simply put, these five parables show God’s radical and surprising ways with us. No first century king, for example would forgive a huge debt any more than VISA or MasterCard would cancel thousands of dollars of our credit card debt. No sensible shepherd would leave ninety-nine sheep at huge risk to go looking for one measly lost animal. No sane woman would sweep her house for hours looking for a single coin worth ten cents. And certainly no first-century father would freely forgive his wayward son, running to meet him and then throwing a party to celebrate his return. A proper father would put the son on probation for a while to see if he was serious about repenting.

The workers who worked hard all day didn’t get it. They wanted more money than their co-workers who came at the end of the day. But you see, the same dynamic is at work here as in the other parables; the after hour workers are the indebted servant, the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. They represent all of us who feel lost and broken. It might be our selfishness, our destructive lifestyle or thoughtless manners.

In all those stories Jesus is claiming that each of us is of infinite worth to Almighty God, no matter who we are or what we have done or not done, how long we have or haven’t worked. All fringe, indebted, lost latecomer folk are given underserved kindness and mercy. Do you see this profound truth? These are not stories about fairness or labor-management relations. They are stories about God, a God who leaves ninety-nine to search for one, who sweeps a house for ten cents, who embraces a son who had fled him—and who gives one-hour laborers too much money. It’s a story designed to take our breath away and ask, “What kind of a God is this who undermines all human expectations?

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.” (Psalm 6:9).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel lost and without hope. May your gift of forgiveness lift our spirits and bring us peace of mind and heart.

Hiddenness of the Kingdom

2011-07-24T17:10:00.004-04:00

One of the most remarkable truths that Jesus taught is the unexpected hiddenness of the kingdom of God. Jesus made clear that the kingdom of God was going to save and rescue this world precisely by virtue of its being so very different from the powerful, flashy, showy political kingdoms which otherwise capture our attention.

The kingdom of God, Jesus said, looks small, even tiny. It looks foolish. In fact, the kingdom can even disappear completely the way a seed gets buried in the soil. It takes 750 mustard seeds to equal one gram. Drop one of those little wisps into the dirt and you won't even be able to see it. The same is true of yeast in dough: once it's mixed into the water, flour, and oil, the yeast disappears—you could not separate it back out again (much less locate it) if you tried. Yet these tiny things have great effects.

The kingdom is not what you expect in terms of political clout. The kingdom of God is not about gleaming capital cities studded with marble colonnades and soaring executive mansions. It's not about some fierce army plowing under opposition by sheer dint of its power. Compared to all of that, God's kingdom looks as insignificant as a grain of mustard or a packet of dry yeast. But the kingdom can change hearts. It can change the world. It has changed the world. So how many life changing moments have you had recently?

A grieving widow had received an invitation to drive to Vermont to visit her kids and grandkids but she never made this trip alone. Some friends from Boston were visiting and offered to drive home part of the way. However, their plans changed so our dear friend was faced with the decision to make the drive alone. She found the courage only to discover that her kids had to get back to work on Tuesday. It appeared she make the trip for nothing. But it seemed her older brother who lived in a nearby town caught wind that his sister was stranded. Instead, he took himself out of work and invited his older sister to go hiking in the Vermont mountain trails. This spontaneous act of kindness brought much joy and healing to his grieving sister. She enjoyed great comfort from her brother who took note of his sister’s grief. She described her adventure as a great relief and enjoyed taking their daypacks and hiking 4-6 miles a day. On the trail they just talked about everything and she never felt lonely or sad.

The kingdom simply means we find ourselves in a moment in which we might be asked to do the impossible-like take the extra days to spend with a family member, or go walk the dog or help a neighbor shop for groceries. The kingdom is here but it's modest. It's hidden. It's quiet.

The kingdom of God turns out to be utterly surprising in nature. How many times do I walk into the woods and get a glimpse of nature that I never noticed before. But you have to go slow and not be in a hurry. But once you embrace this quiet moment of bliss, you have accepted the invitation to live in a kingdom lifestyle. To do so becomes very contagious to those around us, which is why I can’t wait to start taking folks with me on journeys into the woods.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: And a highway will be there, it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way.” (Isaish 35:8).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who extend themselves to be quiet acts of your loving faithfulness. Help us to let the Kingdom grow and leaven in its own quiet, humble way so that people’s hearts will be changed by our gestures of acceptance and openness. Special thanks to all our Sonshine nurses who care for the sick and bring a special blessing and healing to all their patients and family members. You are the best!

You Need To Go Home

2011-07-03T07:32:00.007-04:00

I was visiting a beautiful family who are preparing today to entertain 60 family and friends for a Fourth of July picnic at their home. On Friday, we were cleaning up the yard and helping to strain the seaweed floating up the side of their dock. Unbeknown to any of us, a worker from their truck farm came with a weedwacher that sent grass-clippings flying all over the sidewalk and into the water after we had just cleaned. The lady of the house kindly asked this eager beaver to be more watchful and keep the clippings out of the water. No sooner did she have this discussion then he pulled his ear protectors back on and proceeded to rip up the grass as the wacher sent clippings back into the water, on the dock and into the patio. My friend firmly went up to him, looked him straight in the eye and said: “You need to go home.”

The yard was a complete mess and we looked at one another wondering where did he come from? All we could do was head for the garden shed, get out the brooms and pans and sweep the mess away off the patio, the walks, and the dock and strain the shore again. I wonder if Jesus had moments when he went up to an apostle who was botching up the message and said: “You need to go home.”

Sometimes we are so exhausted that we are not thinking straight and it results in making lots of mistakes. Our intentions are good, but we are not listening very well because we have so many burdens on our mind.

A good friend was having another miserable day at his construction site, where everybody seemed to working at a snail pace despite the deadlines he had in his mind. To get away from this mess, we convinced him to take us for a boat ride on the lake to see the sunset. As we were heading for the lighthouse and the sun was setting, a coast guard boat came along side for an inspection. He has never been inspected in his life in 50 years. Instead of panic, he just slowed the boat and welcomed the guardsmen aboard to perform their drill. He had all the required flares and whistles, took his required boat courses in the 60's before any crew members were born and passed the inspection with flying colors. He wondered to himself what else could go wrong?

We could only laugh with him as the Coast Guard boat sailed off into the sunset. Instead of a yoke that was too heavy, he is loved by family and friends who were there to remind him that in times of trouble we need to “come to the Lord.”

Don’t you know that Christ is fully aware of what is going on in our lives at all times? We often do not acknowledge his presence. What we need to do is to tell Him our troubles, not so much for His information, but for our own benefit, to bring to our consciousness the fact that Christ must be present in our lives.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me. “ (Psalm 71:12).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel exhausted and burnt-out from the burdens of life. In that moment, help us to know that we are never alone and that you are our side to give strength and courage. May we remember to come home to the Lord whenever we feel washed-out to find rest from all our burdens.

My Foster Dads

2011-06-14T05:18:00.006-04:00

Some time ago, I had this problem of trying to dismantle mattress springs that were welded together with iron pipe. The frame weighed a ton and I wanted to take the frame to the recycling center, however, it would not come apart to fit in my truck. A sledgehammer would not budge the frame. God rest his soul, but Tony my 90 plus next-door neighbor came over to assess the problem. He returned from his basement with this special tool. He administered a few whacks in the right spots and the frame seemed to magically fall apart like a deck of cards.

Some men have all the rights tools. Advertisers know that men are more into their gadgets than flowers or chocolate. So Home Depot, Sears and Lowes are flooding their store shelves with every tool a man would want on their workbench. On Father’s Day, I like to offer my prayers for all the dads who have helped this “father” with their tools.

For Michael who patiently taught me the art of floral design, and Tom, who will bring a garden design to help me plant my first flower and herb garden. Then there are memories of Father Alex, who use to squeeze our thumbs and handout quarters during lunch break to all the children at St. Stanislaus. This was the same pastor who beamed with pride and stood by my side when I celebrated my First Mass at the altar.

I have been blessed with many “foster dads” in my lifetime, hard working farmers like Dick and Jim who taught me how to cultivate the land and Tom who taught me how to float and Jim for his help in surveying, and Ken for help in cutting the vines. Then there are the master craftsmen who know their trades: Rudy, Brad, and Mark who are masters in their trades and especially, Vince, the forester, who now is walking in the forests of heaven.

The blessings continue as other men have shared their spiritual gifts. I am humbled by my spiritual advisor, the professor whose faith and profound insights have fostered many reflections that show God is indeed by our side through the fears and pain of life.

My gratitude goes to Chet for his bread baking passion as I practice once a week kneading my pumpernickel recipe. There is Owen who took me under his arm decades ago and introduced me to the art of photography. It’s all about the light and not the technology, although I am grateful to Brandon, Louis, John and Glen who show me which buttons to push.

Then there is my dad who taught me that God loves all people without exceptions. A veteran with a passion to help his senior comrades and a faith that continues to inspire my ministry to bring comfort to the sick and hope to the dying.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.” (Jeremiah 17:7).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine “foster dads” who have blessed me with their with amazing tools and talents. May these men know in their hearts that I am forever grateful for their unselfishness and care for their family and friends. One thing I ask of all my Sonshine Friends on Father's Day and that is to pray for all our fathers whenever we think of them.

Darkness Always Yield to the Light

2011-06-05T21:13:00.005-04:00

A young man and a priest are playing golf together. At a short par 3 the priest asks, 'What are you going to use on this hole, my son?' The young man says, 'An iron, father. How about you?' The priest says, 'I'm going to hit a soft seven and pray.' The young man hits his iron and puts the ball on the green. The priest tops his iron and dribbles the ball out a few yards. The young man says, 'I don't know about you, father, but in my church when we pray we keep our heads down.'

Obviously, father should have kept his head down to make a better shot. When Jesus ascended to heaven, it appears the disciples were looking up. However, I prefer that we take this familiar story and take a moment to look within.

There are moments when we are in shock and disbelief. Imagine, Jesus is pulling away in a U-haul and our memories flood with the times we hung out together, sharing meals, shopping trips and life changing events. It’s more likely the disciples are crying their eyes out because their hearts are broken. Jesus can’t be gone. You can’t leave us again. It’s not fair. I don’t understand. How will I survive without you? You mean so much to us. And once again you are going to disappear out of our life. How dare you leave us! Anger, despair, frustration, what’s with this God.

Don’t you understand Jesus that we need you to “stay with us.” We miss your humor, your compassion, your encouragement, your wisdom and your profound insights about life. The disciples memories about Jesus would be unique and express their humble appreciation for everything that he brought into their life. But this leaving again is painful. “Stay with us.” I can more imagine the disciples screaming at Jesus as he lifts off the ground heading for the pearly gates. “No, no, no, you can’t leave us again,” as their sobbing becomes uncontrollable.

It’s more rational for me to think that the disciples would get upset, even angry that Jesus made this decision to leave. What’s so good about losing your best friend? The message is humbling and gut wrenching. We must surrender our need and trust that we will grow in the spirit of love. This surrender makes us more compassionate, more flexible, more understanding, more forgiving. We never like to let go of anything. We definitely want to be in control. The key message of this ascension is that it can increase our trust.

The Hebrew word “Ehyeh” means “I will be with you.” That is God’s name. That is what God is all about. God is the one who is with us. When we are faced with something that we don’t think we are capable of doing “living without our best friend, our spouse, our child.” God is the light shining in the darkness, and make no mistake there is darkness in the world. But God comes to reassure us that we do not have to be afraid of the darkness because darkness will always yield to the light!

Where do you think the impulse comes from to strike down your grief, to intervene on the side of the powerless? And who gives you the strength to do these things? It was because Lord was with you.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” (Psalm 56:13).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine friends who have confronted the darkness feeling alone. Let your promise whisper within our hearts a voice to remind us that despite the hurt and pain God is always by our side to hold us up and give us the courage to know that all “darkness always yields to the light.”

Newman at its Best!

2011-05-10T07:03:00.006-04:00

Just before an exam, literally some shared 15 minutes before their next exam at night, our Brockport College students walk from their dorms to the Newman House to take part in a wonderful tradition. Our generous and talented parishioners have cooked a variety of tasty meals from veggie soups to chili to mac and cheese, topped with a multitude of desserts to tank up before their studies. The students pass the word that free eats are available from 5 to 7 during exam week. As you see from this photo, this team was satisfied and posed for Fr. Matt to say "thank you" for your wonderful generosity and delicous food. They told me to say "keep it comin" they will be back tonight!.

On behalf of the Newman staff and myself, I want to thank each and every parishioner at Newman for your wonderful spirit of love that shows Chirst's love for all students. They promised to be back tonight and tomorrow!!! Fr. Matt

Is This Your Best?

2011-05-03T00:34:00.005-04:00

A mother shared the story about her teenage son who had received his driving permit. When she returned from taking a walk, she noticed that the family van was not parked in its usual position. The radio was tuned to a rock station and the driver’s seat had been moved to a different position. When she asked her son if he had driven the family van for a spin without permission, her son wanted to know how she knew he had driven it to his friends to show off that he had received his driving permit.

This mom gave her son the riot act telling him that he could have caused an accident or worse hurt someone for life due to lack of experience. In addition, if the police caught him it would have cost the family thousands of dollars for legal fees and fines.

Mom knew her son was not perfect but she believed in him despite his foolish pranks that later took another turn for the worse. One day her son was caught with his buddy targeting their air guns at an official post office truck. The furious postman rang the front door that his truck was being vandalized by their prank and he was ready to call 911. Once again, this mom had to muster all her restraint for not killing these boys. Rather, she pointed out the harm they could have caused by injuring the postman in the truck. She kept their foolishness a secret, for their dad would never had let it go. Mom put her son on some serious restrictions to let him know that his behavior was not acceptable to say the least-this was not his best.

How many times did your mom catch you--not at your best? You pretended that it was only a joke-no harm done-but you were really not thinking about the consequences at the time. You tested your mother’s patience. However, instead of degrading you, she would follow the example of Jesus and let you know that you were capable of being a much more thoughtful, kind and responsible young person.

On our journey of life as we were growing up, there were many ups and downs, in which we tested our mother’s patience. Yet, she believed and saw the good inside of us even though our emotions stretched her to her limits.

Our moms had many expectations for our own lives. However, as we progressed or regressed, many of those expectations that she originally had for us remain unfulfilled. Our lives have moved in directions that we would never have guessed, almost as if they were being guided by something that is beyond us. We can respond to this unexpected direction in either of two ways: the way that the disciples did, with disillusionment because our expectations have not been met, or with contentment, because we know that there is a greater force at work, the spirit of a mother who knows the best version that we can be if we only trust in her.

So how do we achieve this contentment, this feeling of safety in the midst of all the adversity which life throws at us? We can achieve this contentment by realizing that Christ has stayed with us, just as our mother stayed by our side when we did our foolish pranks.

When we feel overwhelmed by life, when we feel that we just can't go on, when we feel all alone, we need to realize that we are not alone, that Christ and our moms are still with us.

But there is more. In the depths of our despair, we need to reach back into our faith that came to us from our mothers and see that she has provided us with a wonderful gift of faith that continues to help us get through some pretty tough times.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. “ (Matthew 25:40).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends mothers who believed in us through thick and thin. Bless these faithful women who gave us new life and a faith to help us in our daily journey. With a bouquet of flowers to place by their side or near their grave, may our prayer of gratitude rise to heaven for their many sacrifices, tender love and forgiving hearts. Blessed Mothers’ Day to all our Sonshine mommies

Thumbs Up

2011-04-25T07:05:00.004-04:00

A Sonshine Friend had come to see me before Easter to share her sorrow over the recent death of her dad. Her father had suffered from mental illness all his life. After the death of her mother, his depression grew worse. He had often talked about suicide, but one morning she received a phone call from the police and her worse fears were realized. He had shot himself and left a note that police reported they had never seen such a well-organized suicide in their life.

She had prayed to God to help her dad during these years and now she feared about his soul. She knew the rules and wondered if God would ever forgive her father for taking his life.

I shared a story about my experience as a hospital chaplain when I was asked to find out the progress of a patient. Due to privacy laws, the medical staff has to maintain the privacy of information for each patient under their care. I understand and uphold this same integrity in the seal of confession, but at the time I was simply trying to learn if the patient was making progress. The nurse on call simple response was a “thumbs up.” I was grateful for her kindness that the patient was getting better and on their way home.

Our young daughter was suffering the death of her father and worse feared that he might be lost forever. Once again, I needed to remind her that the Resurrection is not about why there is suffering but that Jesus comes to redeem us from our fears, the worse fear is about death. So when I was asked what did I think happened to her dad. I simply gave her the “thumbs up” and she started to cry. She realized that the God she has always prayed to would be compassionate and take her father home to heaven.

Heaven knows we need more “thumbs up” gestures in a church that often times get blamed for damning too many people as not acceptable in the community. The end result is that there are many souls waiting to be admitted into the community of saints, but never felt welcomed by their churches. God save us from our arrogance and need for power.

Jesus invites us into the empty tomb to experience his light of life. That’s the Easter message, a “thumbs up” loving gesture that Jesus came to save us from our fears of sins, unworthiness or that we are not acceptable. In my community, all are welcomed and in God’s eyes he looks forward to the day when we will humbly walk with Our Lord into His wonderful garden of Paradise.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 22:43).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine friends during the Easter Season who need the reassurance that they are making progress in their spiritual journey. However despair or rejection take root, be reassured that the divine gardener comes along to offer you a “thumbs up” that all will be saved by the grace and power of His love. Alleluia!

Jelly Bean Prayer

2011-04-16T08:46:00.009-04:00

Once upon a time, on Good Friday morning, I found a small zip-lock bag with eight jellybeans of assorted colors in my mailbox. The “Jelly Bean Prayer” was locked inside a plastic bag. There being no postage attached to the bag, a neighbor had left this Easter gift with the hope that each mouthful would be accompanied by a reflection of God’s goodness. I confess some disappointment that could my neighbor not reflect on God’s goodness with a solid chocolate Easter bunny from Andy’s Candies?

That jellybean bag was left unopened on my office desk. As I prepared to celebrate the Good Friday service, my eyes kept going back to that locked bag of colorful reminders of God’s goodness. The bag remained zipped tight; it was a strict day of fast.

On Holy Saturday, the beanbag was still sitting on my desk. Eight colorful reminders of God’s goodness zipped tight in plastic. While the morning sun poured through the window, outside sparrows were chirping anticipating the joy of the Resurrection feast, their songs as colorful as these jellybeans.

Throughout the day I was preparing for the Holy Saturday service and my Easter Sunday homily. I needed words to inspire and uplift, words to bring people out of the dark and into the light. Mostly, I thought about the many people I have counseled throughout the years and their pain and suffering. My mind was blank and my heart empty and my eyes kept focusing on that bag of jellybeans.

Then God struck with a revelation; I was no longer in darkness and needed inspiration and uplifting! That bag of candy was transformed, no longer jellybeans but it represented all the good things God has given me and my Sonshine Friends and yet to come. And here God’s gift sits on my desk, sealed, zipped tight, locked away from my experience. I could hear Him ask me, “What the matter with you Matt, do you not see?”

I looked out the open window, drawn by bird songs and sight of turkey and deer. Why would I choose to stay inside when the signs of Resurrection are outside? Why do I keep the reminders of God’s goodness so tightly shut away inside my life? I’ve been so often content with knowing that birds are singing in the glorious outside while I shut myself inside. I’ve been content with knowing that God’s good things are within my grasp –yet I leave them just beyond my reach—never actually experiencing them. It’s sometimes easier to remain in the cold, dark tomb then to come out into the sun, sensing this new life!

The very first thing I’m going to do on Easter Sunday is to pop one of those jellybeans into my mouth maybe yellow (for His sun is so bright) or pink (for a new tomorrow). And after I savor the first one, I’m going to meditate on the others as they follow the route of the first one. Then I’m going to pray for more jellybeans. To be open to the signs of God’s goodness everyday in my life.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” Psalm (56:13).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine friends on Easter Day that they rejoice in your goodness. As we munch on our jellybeans, white for His grace, pink for a new tomorrow. may we know it WILL happen because it already DID happen. Alleluia!

The Joy of Spring

2011-04-11T22:25:00.004-04:00

On Saturday, I took my first walk into the woods in search of Spring. It was muddy and the leaves from last Fall make the trek slick. I wandered into an area with a stream, but the harsh light of the morning sun washed out any interesting detail. I was looking for a bouquet of colors, but my journey would take me to something much more sublime.

The professional photographer is looking for some punch and color that sets his image apart. However, the landscape was still drab and dreary from a long, harsh winter until you looked in another direction. Indeed, if you looked down through the woods, you could see pockets of green breaking up through the ground.

The leaves of unknown flowers were just beginning to peek out of the earth. I’m not versed in native plants, yet another book to read, but I fell to my knees and started to notice that the earth was brimming with new life. The mosses and fungi were clinging to the logs and though not spectacular, they made interesting patterns and designs that I will upload during the week for your meditation.

No crocus or hyacinths in a forest, but there were plenty of signs of trout lily, jack in the pulpit and native grasses. Plants have their own identities and souls, along with divine purpose and goals; however, their goals are much simpler than ours?

I believe their goal in this new incarnation is to feel the Joy of Spring! To you this may seem frivolous, but to the native plants, it is everything. It is all they know, all they yearn for, and all that they live for. The life of any plant is nothing if not for Spring.

It all began with a seed, and this seed was watered and nurtured by the sun and the earth, so that the plants may come and experience the Joy of Spring. This is all they want, this is all they will be, and this is simply perfect and divine, at least for each plant. But with Spring comes the power for new growth to sprout through the earth and soar into the heavens. Is this not our essence, to rise from the earth and join our Creator in the Garden of Paradise.

The Joy of Spring means drinking up the morning dew, quenching our thirst and feeling the breath of life move through our being. Then as the seasons progress, we spread our essence of selfless love, making it possible for our descendants to experience the Joy of Spring.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the peepers (frogs) can be heard in the fields.” (Song of Solomon 2:12).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who have broken through the crushed barriers of selfishness and rise above the need for power. May we share our essence that brings much joy and new life.

Whose Fault Is It?

2011-04-03T07:09:00.003-04:00

I am learning how to use new software to tweak my images. More truthfully, I failed to shoot correctly and I now have the tools to correct my mistakes. Case in point, I have a close-up of a ladybug crawling up a lilac flower. It was an instantaneous moment when from the corner of my eye I saw this red speckled creature moving on the leaf. Was the wind blowing, did my camera shake—most likely all of the above. With a few clicks of the mouse my new software can correct the blur but not perfectly.

A couple sits down in the doctor’s office, waiting for the report. They have been trying for two years to get pregnant, with no success; now, they want to know why. Last week they came in for the battery of tests that will begin to give them some answers, but as the doctor sees the tension in their faces, how they are unable to look at one another or hold hands, the doctor knows how the couple is framing their questions:

Is she the one—is it her inability to conceive?
Is he the one—is his sperm count too low?
Is it her organs that are malfunctioning?
Is it his stress that is interfering?

The doctor opens the folder and takes a deep breath. The question hangs heavy in the air: Whose fault is it, that we cannot have a baby?

Maybe it’s human instinct, to find fault. My poor camera technique, the wind was blowing, the ladybug moved. Maybe it’s a coping mechanism. If we know whose fault it is, at least we have a way to understand what has happened. At least we have a way to explain our part in it. Even better, we may find a way to excuse our part in it—which is to say, to put the responsibility squarely on another’s shoulders. If our only job is to find out whose fault it is, we can be assured of some retributive satisfaction: someone will pay for what goes wrong.

Do you see this, where you are? When the basement floods, when you had a car accident, when the Sonshine reflection falls flat, why are we so quick to ask, "How could this have happened?" And when we determine whose fault it was, why does the fault-finding so quickly turn to blame?

Remember the gospel story about the man poor blind? The disciples asked Jesus whose to blame. They’re just curious. They really want to know: Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? It’s a fair question for disciples to ask of their teacher, given the theological equations of the day (blindness = sickness = sin = human fault).

It’s a fair question for Jesus’ disciples to ask, given the fact that Jesus keeps turning the theological tables. I think the disciples really are open to the possibility that there might be a new and different answer, here. They really want Jesus to teach them. So who sinned, Jesus?—this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Jesus’ answer stumps everyone, and it stumps me. No one sinned. He was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. No blame. No fault. Just an opportunity for God to be seen and known.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "Who is like the wise? Who know the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance.” (Ecclesiastes 8:1).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are looking for answers to put the blame on someone for our misfortunes when we might better ask ourselves what is God doing? Jesus changes the subject and wants us to ask ourselves-how can I help? It’s no one’s fault. Let God be God. Let we who are blind be healed.

Is This a Good Time?

2011-03-27T07:16:00.006-04:00

Sometimes, our friends say things that come across a little too harsh. A family member comments that our home smells like pet odor. We get annoyed and want to tell her to mind her own business or better yet tell her that she has no clue how to take care of her animals. Things quickly get out of control. When is it a good time to sit down with your soul mate, colleague or friend and have a candid conversation about things that really irk you?

Jesus was outraged when the moneychangers were milking the folks to pay the Temple tax. For him, it was the gouging, the exorbitant rates, the fleecing of the pilgrims that got to him. It was the holiest of places yet! The Temple had become a veritable mall of ATM’s, a circus of noise and transactions. Jesus was merely acting in the ways of the prophets of old. Prophetic anger is what Jesus was showing, outrage at what should be not, but was, God’s honor and God’s people should not be treated like that.

This incident tells us something about Jesus, and something about ourselves. I believe people are measured by what angers them. True, anger can be dangerous. But anger that leads to reform, transformation and making ourselves into the best version of who we can be be is a respectable and desirable emotion.

We are judged by what angers us and what does not. Anger can become the Lenten energy that motivates us and forms the basis of reflective questions for this season. Such as: We get angry if we get stalled behind a slow moving vehicle and miss the first episode of our favorite TV show. But are we angry over our unemployed neighbors, or our young people not getting subsidies to help with college? The massacre in Libya, the massive greed of corporate executives and our leaders in government.

Are we angry that our seniors will not get a cost-of-living increase this year? Over the graphic violence and lack of respect for women in the media, the corruption of sports, the growing chasm between the very rich and very poor?

Are we just merely disgusted, a feeling that stays within us, but really angry, that moves us into action? Are we angry over our own buying into the culture’s norm of success: high consumption, low reflection, fierce competition, and tepid cooperation? Are we angry over our selfishness and petty jealousies, our picayune lying and cheating, our lack of a generous spirit, our failure to develop a truly spiritual life?

I don’ t know if you ever looked at it this way before, but Lent might be the season to get angry enough to overturn old tables and set up new ones. Which new ones might we set up? Here’s a sample of my Monday's night's Lenten Penance Service Lenten reflection.

Love the things that are worth loving. Some things are not worth loving, like SUVs, trucks, celebrities, or our addiction to the “screen” meaning our computers, cell phones and plasmas, or flirting with a temptation that comes in all shapes and sizes, colors and prints. The things worth loving are family, faith, God, Jesus, friend, neglected kitties, dogs and horses.

Strive for integrity of character, meaning I will not do anything to compromise my integrity. I will not yell and scream at anyone, always have it my way or the highway, engage in self-destructive behavior like drinking, drugs, gambling and overusing my prescription medicines. I won’t cheat on exams or my income taxes. I won’t do anything to get ahead or gain the whole world at the expense of my soul.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "Trust in him at all times; pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:8).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that you help surrender the anger that blinds us from your patient and understanding love. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those you trespass against us and give us the insight to humbly turn ourselves over to you.

Mycorrhizae

2011-03-20T08:20:00.013-04:00

Mycorrhizae are fungi. What is truly amazing is that these fungi help trees to grow healthy and strong. Think of mycorrhizae as tiny fibers that actually grow into the roots of trees. The tree roots and fungi become one. These fungi act as special assistants that creep into the soil particles and help the roots of the trees to absorb more water and nutrients.

On the other hand, fungi cannot make their own protein, but since the leaves of the trees are making sugars from photosynthesis, the sugars travel throughout the tree to its roots and the fungi get their protein. The fungus receives carbohydrates and vitamins from the tree and they reciprocate by breaking down the proteins in organic material that can be absorbed and utilized by the trees. The network of mycorrhizae in the soil vastly increases the potential surface area for absorption over and above the root’s own root hairs, so mycorrhizae are important in poor soils where mineral nutrients are hard to come by. So this Spring as you are planning to plant any trees into your garden, you can improve the health and growth of your plants by adding some mycorrhizae.

Our souls and personality are greatly enriched when we are connected to people that act like mycorrhizae who help us to grow in God’s love. Staying connected helps our spiritual roots to grow healthier and stronger. So who are the people in your life that help you spiritual roots grow in patience, generosity and forgiveness?

Staying connected to our older family members help us to appreciate our ancestral roots whose faith helped build our churches and schools in the past. Staying connected to family members who have endured great pain and struggles teach us to trust in God and persevere despite the crosses of life.

Our spiritual roots grow stronger if we stay connected with a faith community that worships and rallies together to reach out to families to bring hope and comfort to those who have lost their homes in foreclosure, lost a child to suicide or lost their faith because they no longer feel accepted by a faith community.

Staying connected to our spiritual mentors who teach us from our pulpits or monasteries a message of Jesus’ love that penetrates our stubborn hearts and helps our roots of faith renew themselves with the spirit of God’s love and forgiveness.

I am grateful to my social mentors who have enriched my life by sharing their gifts and talents with this apprentice priest. To my master floral designer, Michael; to my first photography teacher, Owen; to my fellow photo enthusiasts, Brandon, Glen and John, to my photo marketing team Ed, Bill, Lara, Lisa; to my horse trainers Judy in Vermont, Heather, Alto and to my bread baker, Chet.

The secret of a healthy spiritual garden is obvious, stay connected to people in our life who teach us how to pray humbly, walk joyfully and work diligently to bring God’s mercy and peace. Our roots will be energized and grow stronger this Lenten Season.Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "They will be like a tree planted by the water that spends out roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that you help us remember with gratitude the family, friends and neighbors who have helped our spiritual roots to grow healthy and strong. May we never take their gifts for granted. Bless them for their generosity, wisdom and support during our most difficult moments and many thanks for being present in our desperate hour.

Reflections

2011-03-12T07:24:00.010-05:00

A few years ago researchers at Stanford investigated how college students multitasked. They assumed they did it much more effectively than older adults. The researchers expected to find highly tuned cognitive abilities that allowed effective multitasking. What they actually found was that the more people multitasked, the worse at it they were.

They were worse at identifying relevant information, more distractable, and more disorganized. They even became worse at what multitasking is supposed to help with: switching tasks seamlessly. Multitasking, they concluded, impairs one’s ability to think reflectively. Such reflection is about thinking long enough on a topic to weigh a number of ideas. That can’t be done in 30-second bytes while also updating a Facebook page, changing the playlist on an iPod, or watching the latest cute cat video on YouTube.

As we thaw from a brutal winter, I am designing my garden. It requires some thought on what native plants I want to blossom for floral designs in the future. As different varieties of plants blossom at different seasons of the year, we need to reflect on how we want to blossom this Lent.

I think we suffer, if not from multitasking itself, certainly from the spirit of multitasking. Like Martha in Luke 10:41-42a (“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part.”), we become so distracted by the busyness of our lives that we do not make the time to think reflectively and prayerfully on our life and actions. It is not that we do not have the time. Of course we do. It is that we often lack the courage to live into such a prayerful and reflective relationship with God.

A traditional Lenten practice that we often neglect due to our multitasked, blackberried, and instant-messaged culture is reflection. As a gardener and floral designer who wants to use these blossoms to make beautiful bouquets, I need to reflect quietly on what I want to plant and grow. This morning take time to reflect on this Spring image of ice thawing in a creek and spent a quiet moment to reflecting on how God wants you to grow in the spirit of love this season.

We need to step back, gain perspective, listen to others, and spend time in solitude so we can think reflectively and prayerfully. Such reflective time is a necessary precursor to making our lives blossom. We must be able to think and see clearly before we can lead and act faithfully. In Mark 8:23-25, we read, “Jesus laid hands on the blind man and asked: ‘Can you see anything?’ And the man looked up and said, ‘I can see people, but they look like trees walking.’ Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.”

When we do not make the time for solitude so we can think reflectively and prayerfully, we often end up seeing “trees walking” and not the people, things, and circumstances of our lives that truly matter. Like with the blind man in the gospel, we need more time for Jesus to work on us, for the needed time to listen to the Holy Spirit in our daily prayers and in the prayers of our community.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “For now we see only as a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that during this Season of Lent we make time to reflect and come to know your will so that all our daily tasks may truly reflect your wisdom and love.

Blossoming

2011-03-06T07:25:00.006-05:00

What does it mean to blossom? For a plant, a tree, or a vegeatable, it’s the point at which a flower forms. What we sometimes forget in our love for flowers is that it is really just a stage of growth that leads to pollination, and thus bearing fruit.

Blossoming could be compared to that part of our youth when we found our soul mates and produce our fruits and thus our little seeds (children!). But more often it seems as if there should be many blossoming moments in our lives, when the conditions are right for us to burst from our tight buds and become our most beautiful best selves.

Too often, we find ourselves consumed by petty irritations, conflicts, frustrations, and angers. Each of these might be small in itself but, cumulatively, they take the sunshine and delight out of our lives, like mosquitoes spoiling a picnic. Instead of feeling grateful, gracious, and magnanimous, we feel paranoid, fearful, and irritable and we end up acting out of a cold, irritated, paranoid part of ourselves rather than out of our real selves.

Why do we do that? Because we are asleep (a long, brutal winter does this to people) to who and what we really are, and we are asleep in two ways.When St. Luke describes Jesus’ agony in the garden, he tells us that after Jesus had undergone a powerful drama, sweating blood so as to give his life over in love, he turned to his disciples (who were supposed to be watching and praying with him) and found them asleep. However he uses a curious expression to describe why they were asleep. They were asleep, he says, not because they were tired and it was late, but they were asleep “out of sheer sorrow”.

That says a couple of things: First, that the disciples are asleep out of depression. Depression is what is preventing them from seeing straight. But they are also asleep to what is deepest inside of them, namely, that they carry the image and likeness of God. Jesus was not asleep to that and, because of this awareness, was able precisely to be big of heart.

As a people of God we believe that what ultimately defines us and gives us our dignity is the image and likeness of God inside us. This is our deepest identity, our real self. Inside each of us there is a piece of divinity, a god or goddess, a person who carries an inviolable dignity, with a heart as big as God’s.

And so it is in a garden. Think about it: What are the conditions we humans need to blossom? Just like plants, we need good nutrition, clean water and tender are. We need sunshine and darkness (good rest). We need to be planted in the right place to optimize our happiness. And once we do blossom, we need the pollinators and the people to enjoy and appreciate our beauty.

In our spiritual garden we need to awake to our great dignity, the Imago Dei inside each of us, is meant to be a center from which we can draw vision, grace, and strength to act in a way that, ironically, precisely helps us to swallow our pride and blossom.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “The desert and the parched land will be glad or Western New York version (The snow covered streets and frozen earth will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus,” (Isaiah 35:1).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that during this Season of Lent we feel ourselves about to blossom, knowing that something is happening inside of us because we are in touch that we “come from God and going back to God.” It’s like spiritual pollination, bringing joy, understanding, forgiveness and love, beyond wound, irritation, and the knowledge that’s it’s good to be alive because the spirit of the divine dwells within me.

Learn from the Wild Flowers

2011-02-28T06:16:00.003-05:00

It’s Sunday morning and grandma is playing with her 5-year-old granddaughter on the living room carpet. This little one’s mom is also present listening carefully to her mother’s advice on getting the best educational resources for her daughter. It appears I am in the room of a living miracle. Our “little one” had a missing chromosome that the doctors said would result in a child who would never speak or walk. The early years of her life required feeding tubes and a host of complicated medical procedures. Yet, this morning with the love of her parents and family and a determined grandmother who never quits this child has the ability to walk, speaks and even swims like a fish. Sometimes grandmothers are God’s gift to us when our burdens seem too heavy.

God wants to help you with your burdens. Now, no doubt you know that. I know that. But last week I found myself in a situation where I was not letting God carry my burden. I had "given it to Him" with mental ascent, but actually I had taken it back right after I had given it to Him.

Does this sound familiar with you? This morning I like you to remember the words Jesus said, "Come unto me all of you who are laboring and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matt. Ll: 28)

I don’t know why it is, but when faced with some heavy situations I say, "God, well you have told me to bring my burdens to you, so here they are. (And I would list 5 or 6.) Then I get up from my chair and walk to the door.....free? NO. Why because I find myself "chained to them" I have "tied them" to my very being. So, in fact, I lied to Jesus when I told him I was leaving my burdens with him. How could Jesus take care of them when I, as if it were, "pulled" them away from his loving tender strong arms?

So, I have found myself much like the farmer who was going along the country road in his buckboard when he overtook a fellow who was walking - with great difficulty - with a very heavy bundle. He asked the man if he wanted a ride and if so, hop in. The traveler got into the buckboard, sat down very tired and put his heavy bundle in his lap. "I'm caring you," said the farmer, but "you are still carrying your burden."

Jesus our burden bearer has asked us to come to him with our cares, yet we fail to do so. We suffer - spiritually, physically. Let us throw it all on Him - be free of that which plagues us with fear and torment.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: " Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you…” (Matthew 6:28-30).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they be set free from the burdens that weigh them down. Let them give to you that which has been a concern so that they can straighten up in you...load free.

Heaven's Language of Love

2011-02-13T15:16:00.006-05:00

Last Sunday, I witnessed the baptism of three miracle babies. Trevor, Emma and Ella were born pre-mature and struggled in the early hours of life to survive. But with lots of prayers and blessings and the gifts of a brilliant medical team they are all thriving as they received the waters of everlasting life at their baptism.

Their young mother described her delight in watching her new babies awake to more awareness. Her words: “They are all beautiful. Each baby is starting to vocalize a bit and smiles a lot when we talk to them.” This morning, while her five year-old son was having breakfast, he looked into Trevor’s eyes and said: ‘Are you talking to me?’ Little Trevor replied with something that sounded like ‘yeah!’ His brother was so excited - ‘Mommy, he talked!’ Mom didn’t have the heart to tell him that it was just a random utterance.”

Now this is a wonderful image, I believe, to describe what it will be like for each of us when we are born again into heaven. The maternal side of God will be looking us in the eyes, smiling, and trying to coax a smile and some words out of us, but we will be a bit too overwhelmed and underdeveloped to speak.

Heaven is going to be wonderful, no doubt. I believe we will wake up in heaven, like an infant again, too overwhelmed to speak, needing to be coaxed into a new language and a new consciousness by God’s smile.

We will have to try to learn the language of God’s stillness and divine quiet, in our own way. For me, walking in two feet of snow in quiet woods brings me into focus with this stillness. Perhaps it might be through your intimate relationships in your family, where words become superfluous; or perhaps a parent’s exhaustion changing the diapers of your triplets, or it will be in our loneliness and solitude, where silence breaks through both so painfully and peacefully; or maybe it will be through the very tediousness of our daily tasks, where burdens often reduce us to silence. There are many ways of learning divine silence and all of them are good.

Jesus told us that each of us needs to be born twice, once from below and once from above. We need also to be taught twice how to speak. Our mothers once gave us birth, from below, and they also coaxed, cajoled, and lured us into speech. Each of us has a “mother-tongue.”

Our second birth, our rebirth, our birth from above, will, I suspect, be somewhat similar. There will be time of having to leave the womb, the familiar, this life, and then a lonely journey down an unwanted birth canal into the greatest of all unknowns. Light, love, and community will greet us upon arrival. However it will be somewhat overwhelming, beyond language and imagination. We will be too stunned to speak, but God’s smile will awaken within us a smile and evoke from us something that sounds like a “yeah!”

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1Cor 2:9).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are leaving the womb of this life. May their journey into the unknown be filled with loving family and friends at their side. Too stunned to speak, may God’s smile wipe away all our fears and from our lips a sound like a “yeah” that proclaims our faith and endless joy.

Healing Silence

2011-01-29T07:40:00.010-05:00

My assignment was to take an image that portrays silence. Walking through a foot of snow as the flakes were gently drifting to the ground was a moment of grace and sheer exhaustion. I wonder if the path to silence entails a journey in which we are so exhausted by the demands of life that we simply “fall still.”

As I meander through the woods following the trail of the deer I come upon a creek winding through the forest. The snow has covered the banks of the water and I need to be watchful so that I do not put my foot into the freezing water.

It is absolutely still. The snow continues to accumulate on the ground and create a tapestry of beauty on the rocks and limbs below that have fallen into the creek. It is a moment to simply watch and listen to the silence. Even put the camera down for a moment and allow the surrounding beauty to heal the wounds of busyness.

Perhaps, this is what it means to commune with the Lord. To empty oneself from all our worries that make us tense throughout the day and allow our bodies and souls to drink in this healing silence.

There has been a lot on our minds that stretch us to our limits. The fear is that we will break under all this tension and our hearts and bodies will become weak and ill under this stress.

Now is a moment to find our balance, to humbly come before the Lord and surrender our despair and allow God’s grace found in this cold and desolate place to heal the wounds of all our despair.

O Blessed are you who are poor… O Blessed are you who mourn… for in these moments when we can easily become bitter and cynical- maybe even throw in the towel, Our Lord shows us another way.

In this silence, we find the Truth and Peace that we have been searching for in our life. Only in Jesus can we live the Beatitudes that are hard lessons but the path to peace. Jesus came to keep justice and mercy, truth and peace together. He came to save us.

And this morning in silence, in this snow-covered museum of cold and ice, we find a path where we find our balance, renewed energy and a spirit that can make our fragile and weak spirits strong again.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "People listened to me expectantly. Waiting in silence for my counsel. (Job 29:21).

Lord, I pray for all my Sunshine Friends that in this silent moment we find the Jesus who comes to breathe a sign of relief and a moment to heal all our fears with his tender love and quiet peace.

It's Hard to Measure Up

2011-01-23T22:34:00.007-05:00

Sometimes, it’s just hard to measure up.

I realize that it was simply impossible for a human being to be and remain good or pure. If, for instance, I wanted to be attentive in one direction, it could only be at the cost of neglecting another. If I gave my heart to one thing, it left another in the cold. No day and no hour go by without my being guilty of inadequacy. We never do enough, and what we do is never well enough done, except being inadequate, which we are good at because that is the way we are made.This is true of me and of everyone else. I am constantly catching myself feeling inadequate and falling short of my expectations. It sounds strange that we should be guilty where we can do nothing about it.

Henri Nouwen expressed similar feelings: There is a nagging sense that there are unfinished tasks, unfulfilled promises, and unrealized proposals. There is always something else that we should have remembered, done, or said. There are always people we did not speak to, write to, or visit. Thus, although we are very busy, we also have a lingering feeling of never really fulfilling our obligations. A gnawing sense of being unfulfilled underlies our filled lives.

Last week, I thanked a man who went out of his way to help me and he replied to pray for this “heathen.” In other words, he did not feel comfortable coming to church because he was acutely aware of his imperfections. What he didn’t realize was that people who come to church are acutely aware that we simply do not measure up to God’s expectations. Why is this?

At the end of the day, we cannot measure up and cannot not disappoint others and ourselves. The fault is not that we are not sincere or that we do not put out the effort. The fault is that we are human. We have limited resources, get tired, experience feelings we cannot control, have only 24 hours in our day, have too many demands on us, have wounds and weaknesses that shackle us, and thus know exactly what St. Paul meant when he said: Woe, to me, wretch that I am, the good I want to do, I cannot do; and the evil I want to avoid, I end up doing!

What I want you to realize is that despite our inability to measure up we need to be a people of hope with renewed energy in our lives. In case you did not realize it, to be human is to be inadequate. Only God is adequate and the rest of us can safely say to ourselves: Fear not you who are inadequate! For God who made us this way surely gives us the slack, the forgiveness, and the grace we need to work with this.

The key to be fully human is to accept our imperfections, our congenital inadequacy, which can bring us to a healthy humility and perhaps even to a healthy humor about it.

But it should bring us to something more: prayer, especially the Eucharist.

I try to celebrate Eucharist every day. I do this because I am a priest and part of the covenant a priest makes with the church at his ordination is to pray the priestly prayer of Jesus, the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours, regularly for the world. But I do it too, more personally, for another reason: The older I get, the less confident, in some ways, I am becoming. I don't always know whether I'm following Christ properly or even know exactly what it means to follow Christ, and so I stake my faith on an invitation that Jesus left us on the night before he died: To break bread and drink wine in his memory and to trust that this, if all else is uncertain, is what we should be doing while we wait for him to return.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people.” (Isaiah 64:9).

Lord, I pray for all my Sunshine Friends that they may realize that despite our imperfections our God reaches out to make us his children who shine like the stars.

Take a Breath

2011-01-16T07:48:00.003-05:00

The other day, while driving on the expressway in the snow, I suddenly felt a strong pain in my abdomen like a knot. Since December 1^st, we have been dumped with record amounts of snow except for one brief melt. I must have had a lot of stress that day for here I was having a painful, panic attack while driving on another miserable snowy day.

So, I started to slowly breathe. Yes, we do not breathe when we are experiencing lots of tension. We literally hold our breath. We tend to tense up inside and hold our breath when facing a situation that we feel out of control.

So like a good strudent, I tell myself, yes I also talk to myself and say to: breathe, slowly, calmly. This exercise is called the Relaxation Response and it helps to relieve the pain and fear. I’m slowly breathing in through my nose, taking a moment to hold the breath and slowly exhale like blowing a kiss. As I exhale, I might add a word or phase that helps to keep me calm, “God, give me strength.”

This anxious moment did cause me to reflect upon the Word of God which says, "Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua1:6).

What does that have to do with having knots in your stomach when driving on slippery roads? If, according to the Word, a sparrow can not fall to the ground without God knowing it, then that means I have the attention of the Almighty. And driving on icy roads in which I feel that I about to lose control of the wheel is cause for me to have God’s attention.

So, if God is aware of me, then I should be of good courage. God is with you, my friend, right now - where you are. Driving to work on another snowy morning, taking your medicine for a cold, battling a life-threatening disease, or starting over again after a lost of a job or relationship.

No matter where you are, or who are you, God has assured you of His presence. It is true, no matter how high one goes in the sky, or how deep one goes in the ocean, one can't get away from God.

So be of good courage. Be not afraid of the difficulties that are in your life, or the trial through which you are going. Things might really be bad, but please acknowledge God with you. You have a friend in Him.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. (Psalm 150:6).

Lord, I pray for all my Sunshine Friends that they be especially blessed and be given great reassurance. May they know of your concern over them. May they never be forgotton. Because if you know of the fallen sparrow, you certainly know about this special, dear one.

Just Let Loose

2011-01-10T07:32:00.004-05:00

A Sonshine Friend shared this frightening story about his experience during our recent snowstorms. He was traveling on 104 when he lost control of his truck on black ice. The truck began to spin out of control, not once but three times around. He remembers seeing this ditch, then guard rails and then he feared the cars that were behind him had no way to stop before they would crash into his spinning vehicle. He admitted to me that he had never been so scared in his life. But the hand of God must have been on his shoulder because his truck stayed on the road, never went into any ditch and finally came to a stop in the middle of 104.

What he did not know at the time was that a New York State trooper witnessed the entire spin and slowed all the traffic behind the truck. The trooper was most kind in that he came to the rescue of our frightened driver and shared that he had thought for certain the truck was going to turn over and spin out into the ditch. This trooper slowed the traffic behind our driver so that no one would hit him from behind.

Without a doubt, he prayed in gratitude to God for protecting him and saving him from a serious injury or worse.He recalled that as he was spinning out of control the first time, he tried to steer the wheels but it was no use. He suddenly just “let go of the steering wheel.” When he finally let go of the steering wheel, the truck spun for two more times and ended safely in the middle of the road.

You might be going through your own “slippery experience.” We need to constantly remind ourselves that there is a God who is always underneath us with everlasting arms.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "You have a mighty arm: Strong is your hand and high is your right hand.” (Psalm 89:13).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they may let loose of that which they are holding on. The difficulties, the problems, the tensions can be released. May they be encouraged to turn loose and fall into your everlasting arms. May they hold less and less onto their situation, and more and more onto you. In you is their hope.

New Year House Blessing

2010-12-29T06:04:00.002-05:00

In doing some reading about the Feast of the Epiphany, I like to encourage a custom of unknown origin that is often mentioned in connection with this day of celebration: the blessing and chalking of the house. Many versions of the ceremony that I’ve come across include these elements.

The reciting of a blessing upon the house (or other dwelling) and those who inhabit it.

The blessing of a piece of chalk that is then used to write a formula above the entry of the house. The formula incorporates the current year with the initials of the wise men (whose names are not recorded in scripture but were given by tradition as Caspar [or Gaspar], Melchior, and Balthasar). This coming Epiphany, it would be written this way:

20 + C + M + B + 11

Some folks note that “C M B” can also stand for “Christus Mansionem Benedicat,” which means “May Christ bless this dwelling.”) This chalking is followed by the sprinkling of the door with holy water.

Like the Magi who brought their gifts to the dwelling place of Jesus, I invite you to imagine the coming year as a house—a space in time that is opening itself to all of us. How will we inhabit the coming year? How will we enter it with mindfulness and with intention? How will we move through the rooms of the coming months in a way that brings blessing to this world?

With these questions in mind, I offer this blessing for you.

The Year as a House: A Blessing

Think of the year as a house: door flung wide in welcome, threshold swept and waiting,
a graced spaciousness opening and offering itself to you.

Let it be blessed in every room. Let it be hallowed in every corner. Let every nook be a refuge and every object set to holy use.

Let it be here that safety will rest. Let it be here that health will make its home. Let it be here that peace will show its face. Let it be here that love will find its way.

Here let the weary come let the aching come let the lost come let the sorrowing come.

Here let them find their rest and let them find their soothing and let them find their place
and let them find their delight.

And may it be in this house of a year that the seasons will spin in beauty, and may it be
in these turning days that time will spiral with joy. And may it be that its rooms will fill
with ordinary grace and light spill from every window to welcome the stranger home.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty.” (Psalm 84:1).

Lord I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that their homes may be a welcoming place for family and strangers. Wherever you make your home, may it be blessed, and may you enter this Epiphany and the coming year in peace.

Imagine

2010-12-19T07:33:00.007-05:00

The good news for this week is that the world is changed and saved when God the Son comes down here. “Immanuel, which means, ‘God with us.”

Yes, that’s it.

God with us.

God with us in all our flesh-and-blood complaints and messiness. “Christ among the pots and pans” as Teresa of Avila put it. Christ among the barn animals, our dogs and kitties, our horses and cows, and then those quirky magi astrologers and then all the rest of the Gospel’s curious cast of characters.

God with us.

God with the prostitutes and the lepers and the outcast in whose company Jesus would delight again and again. God at the dinner table with a chive stuck between his incisors. God lifting the cup of wine to his lips.

God with us.

God with the little children whose warm brows he touched and blessed. God smiling when a baby was shown to him by a proud new mother. God with us in all our ordinary times and days. God with us, as Jesus would say to bookend Matthew’s gospel, even unto the end of the ages.

Always. With us. Immanuel.

Immanuel is God-with-us in the cancer clinic and at the local nursing home where bodies slump pitifully in wheelchairs pushed up against the hallway walls. Immanuel is God-with-us when the pink slip comes and when the beloved child sneers, "I hate you!"

Immanuel is God-with-us when you pack the Christmas decorations away and, with an aching heart, you realize afresh that your one child never did call over the holidays. Not once.

Immanuel is God-with-us when your dear wife or mother stares at you with an Alzheimer's glaze and absently asks, "What was your name again, dear?"

Ever and always Jesus stares straight into you with his two good eyes and he does so not only when you can smile back but most certainly also when your own eyes are full of tears. In fact, Jesus is Immanuel, "God with you" even in those times when you are so angry with God that you refuse to meet his eyes. But even when you feel like you can't look at him, he never looks away from you. He can't. His name says it all.

Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6).

Lord I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that on Christmas Day we may know that you have come, just as promised. My Christmas blessings to all of you for your prayers and support throughout the year. May Immanuel bring you peace and joy.

Stop Your Complaining

2010-12-05T07:14:00.004-05:00

I’m walking into a cable company store to drop off my router and cancel my account. Inside the door, this company has a sign that tells you to press a button, take a ticket and wait.

Waiting for customer service is not one of my strengths. It ranks as “very annoying” and high on my list of complaints. At the counter are five stations in which only three have someone waiting on customers. I notice when one customer had finished, the agent started to mark some papers instead of calling the next number. More waiting. Being ignored also ranks high on my list of complaints. Now only two reps are waiting on customers. Suddenly from the back room, an agent appears at the counter and calls a number. Unfortunately, the other agent leaves her station and we’re back to two servers. Put this compliant on my list. Whenever customer service puts you on hold or worse the phone line gets disconnected—now that’s really annoying.

We are a nation of complainers. Being inconvenienced really stretches our endurance, our patience and respect for people. We need to give ourselves a little pep talk, and tell ourselves that there are far worse injustices being perpetuated around the world, and calmly calm ourselves down. We need to get back into our cars and cool off.

As a photographer, did you ever notice the difference in colors between Advent and Lent. The crimson-purple of advent is not the black-purple of lent. The former symbolizes yearning and longing, the latter repentance. The spirituality of advent is not about repentance, but about carrying tension without prematurely resolving it so that what’s born in us and in our world does not short-circuit the fullness that comes from respecting love’s rhythms.

The crimson-purple is about waiting and how well we hold up in situations not in our control. We look forward to the birth of the Savior, but there’s a tension and pain and lessons to be learned in the waiting period. To reach the sublime moment of Christmas peace, we need to surrender our petty annoyances that reflect our intolerance and criticism of people.

What helps change this selfish attitude is precisely the tension in our lives. In carrying properly our unfulfilled desires we sizzle and slowly let go of the dampness of selfishness. In carrying tension we come to kindling temperature and are made ready for love. Sizzling in tension, not resolving things prematurely. The sublime has to be waited for. Only when there is first enough heat will there be unity. To give birth to what’s divine requires the slow patience of gestation.

Think of how long God has waited for us to come away from our thoughtless, selfish complaints and embraced a spirit that oozes with empathy and forgiveness for customer service folks required to work on holidays and 3am in the morning.

Advent gives us another chance to learn to better handle those waiting moments in our life. When we realize that we have nothing to complain about, we focus our energy on being more compassionate people.

Jesus watches over us as we reflect: “Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction.”(Isaiah 29:24).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who have been routed to the far corners of the earth. May our time on hold make us a better people and respond when service comes back online, “thanks for you time, you’re the best.”

Do Something Religious

2010-10-31T07:14:00.003-04:00

Some folks were afloat in a hot air balloon, touring the countryside hundreds of feet about the ground. They ooohhed and ahhhhed and were having a swell time. Cars appeared to be toys, humans looked like tiny figures, Introductions were done informally and one of the passengers happened to be a priest. Unfortunately the young lad in charge of the balloon didn’t instill confidence in the paying customers.

The balloon suddenly lost elevation. The problem could have been a faulty burner, or an unexpected gust of wind. The captain of this ship panics and he appears to no idea what to do, but all is well within a few seconds. Nonetheless everyone’s anxious and agitated. One of the passengers blurts out to the priest, “Do something religious!” “Should I take up an offering?” father says.

I love that silly punch line. Everyone in church laughed when I told this story. Do something religious. Do what? Pray? Cry aloud for God’s help? Bless or curse the fickle burner? Hey, why not pass the offering plate?

On Friday, as I was leaving my office, a lady in the handicapped parking spot opened her door and shouted, “Can you fix my car, it won’t start.” My immediate response in my head was that I’m no mechanic. Do something religious, humbly meant to ask what was the problem. She said her steering wheel wouldn’t turn when she tried to turn the ignition key. I got inside her car, inserted the key, and jiggled her steering wheel and the car turned on immediately. She was delighted and gave me thumbs up as she got inside her car and drove away. Do something religious might simply mean to jiggle your neighbor’s steering wheel.

Today, as we celebrate the feast of All Saints, I will offer Mass for the 500 names that were emailed to my attention. Do something religious means to pray for these special family members and friends. It meant getting up at 5 in the morning to cut and paste your email and more important to remember in thanksgiving the spirit and faith of these important people you wished to be remembered with God’s care and eternal love.

Do something religious, might be to give a special tour of your new floral shop to a lady physically challenged in her wheelchair. Or, the friend who comes to clean your furnace for the winter, or the neighbor who borrows their sander. It is the friend who flies back from a Denver hospital with her best friend diagnosed with cancer. It’s the person who drives you to your doctor’s appointment or the therapist who tells you not to lose hope in your new job search. It’s the farmer who finds the cap and puts it on his neighbor’s water well or the builder who goes beyond the call of duty and builds a masterpiece.

Do something religious. Say the rosary? Make a novena? Volunteer at the homeless shelter? Or, when the treat or treaters come to your door in the snow, you offer a treat to the parents with a warm cup of cocoa.

Jesus watches over us as we reflect: “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” Psalm 25: 9.

Lord, I promise to pray for all my Sonshine Friends who daily do something religious by offering their time and gifts to those in need to bring your joy, peace and love.

I Want to Go Home

2010-10-25T06:26:00.008-04:00

I want to go home is the prayer of all prisoners who suffer the indignity of confinement. A Sonshine friend has persevered in the hope that his appeal would win back his freedom. However, to the shock of his parents and friends, his appeal was denied.

I wanted to let this young man know that his family and friends cannot even imagine his disappointment and frustration. However, he will never be forgotten and we would never give up the fight to bring him home. So, I decided to take the five-hour trip to the prison near Saranac Lake to offer our support and friendship. Once again, I called upon the hospitality of St. Bernard’s Parish and found Fr. Mark the new pastor to be a generous host. He informed me that a new chaplain has been appointed to the prison and that this young priest would be attending a gathering in the rectory when I arrive.

As I pulled into the rectory parking lot, I received a phone call from our inmate’s mom that he had literally just hung up on his mother. She managed to tell him that a visitor was coming from Rochester to see him and this sent him into a rage in which he told his mother that he never wanted to see anyone and hung up the phone. “I don’t know what to tell you,” this mom cried.

Yes, there are times no words can express our darkness and despair. A justice process that has failed to show him mercy outraged this young man. Despite the diligent efforts of his appeal attorney, he would be confined for many years with no hope of an early release. The reality of this decision was sinking in and he just wanted to be left alone. I’m not turning back I say to this mother and I told myself I will humbly go to visit him in the morning and let God take care of the rest.

That evening, I met our new young chaplain and shared the story of our young inmate. We exchanged contact numbers and told him that this young man is loved very much by his family and friends and would he please bring that message to his cell from us.

At 7am, I am signed-in at the prison’s visitor shelter waiting to be called in for the visit. A bus from New York City pulls in with a dozen women and children who had come to visit their fathers and dads. The visiting room was like a childcare center with babies crying and kids running around the room with their toys. Finally, my number was called and I marched through a series of locked gates. The guards were pleasant and greeted me kindly. I was escorted to a table in the back to wait for our young friend. A few minutes went by and I noticed the guard walking in my directions. His only words, “The inmate has refused to see any visitors.” As I was escorted out the door. I was not shocked or angry, just sad to not be able to tell him that I love him. I heard a guard whisper under his breath to his colleagues that I had come all the way from Rochester.

Someone shared with me over the weekend that I had actually given this young man a wonderful gift. They were aware that prisoners have no rights and must do as they are told everyday throughout their sentence. The only thing they have in their control is the ability to say “No” to a visit. It offered some dignity to the person who has suffered so much indignity. If this was God’s will for me to make this drive to show him that his parents and friends love him then “let it be done according to your will Lord.” I do not understand and neither do his parents why their son must endure such a painful sentence. We struggle to understated why God has allowed this man to suffer this indignity. His parents ask your prayers to give them wisdom on what their next steps should be to help release their son.

As I drove home, I allowed God to speak to my broken heart through nature. I took a series of photos that I hope would offer inspiration and solace to the heaviness I carried home. At this precise moment, I recall these words from the cross: “My God, My God why have you abandoned me.” Even Our Lord had his moments.

With faith that leads to courage, let us pray for one another when we are confronted by an experience that makes no sense. When we feel that our prayers have fallen on deaf ears. When I was taking photos on the way home, I felt that God was trying to help me to heal and ask that you take a deep look into this journey home that became a true healing experience for me. I love this verse that beautifully expresses what God wants us to do in moments of despair.

Jesus watches over us as we reflect: “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.” (Isaiah 54:7).

Lord, I promise to pray for all my Sunshine Friends who feel abandoned in their trials. May the compassionate hand of God take us by the shoulders and allow our tears to fall so that hope and courage may take hold and bring us back to you.

May the Dear Lord Bless You

2010-10-17T08:34:00.006-04:00

It was mommy’s birthday and the kids found a birthday cake with her favorite crème icing. This mom had reason to be grateful. A routine medical checkup found cancer that is being treated and a follow-up procedure hopes to keep this miserable disease in remission. However, she was anxious about her mother who was taken to the hospital on her birthday. Later in the day, she learned that the kid’s grandma‘s cancer had returned with a vengeance.

Grandma told her daughter to take the grandkids to Disney World and enjoy a few days in the sun and not to worry. At my suggestion, mom skipped mouseland and we took her kids on a thrilling airboat ride into Alligator Cove in Florida. The kids got to see Florida no one ever sees anymore. There were gators, eagles, “I-bends” better known as egrets, and real cows grazing in the marshes.

As all moms do, she mustered the courage to let her kids celebrate her birthday despite her fears about their grandmom. We held hands around the table and prayed to Jesus to take care of grandma. You could see the tired and worried look on her face. Then her beautiful children sang Happy Birthday. Suddenly after the last refrain, I believe an angel entered the room and whispered this message into the heart of her son when he immediately popped up and said that there’s a second verse to Happy Birthday. A little stunned, we sat in silence and awe as this choir boy on earth sang these sweet words: “May the dear Lord bless you, May the dear Lord bless you mommy! May the dear Lord bless you.”

His words pierced an anxious and aching heart. His tender voice and healing message was like a soothing balm for a troubled soul. Needless to say, mommy reached over the table and gave her son a hug, then she squeezed her daughter and I could see her holding back a tear. I can only imagine that her birthday wish was an urgent plea to God to save her dear mom and keep their grandma safe.

There are moments when no words can express the sorrow and pain. We look for answers but we shed only tears. This “little one” was blessed with a sacred revelation. His song came from the heart of Jesus. A sign that God indeed hears our desperate prayers. I can still hear his sweet voice as he sang with all his heart to his mommy these words: “May the dear Lord bless you.”

Jesus watches over us as we reflect: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelations 21: 4-5).

Lord, I promise to pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel the shroud of death and despair. Help us to surrender our fear and allow the voice of Jesus to pierce our darkness with words of courage and hope that he indeed will make all things new. May the Dear Lord Bless You!

All Will Be Well

2010-09-26T07:05:00.005-04:00

I have the privilege of working with college students at Brockport as their chaplain. They have a zest for life and an energy and color that I can only envy. But inside of all this zest and energy, I notice that they lack hope because they do not have the spirit vision. They do not have a big story, a big vision, that can give them perspective beyond the ups and downs of their everyday lives. When their health, relationships, and lives are going well, they feel happy and full of hope; but the reverse is also true. When things aren’t going well the bottom falls out of their world. They don’t have anything to give them a vision beyond the present moment.

In essence, what I am describing might be called “the peace that this world can give us.” In his farewell discourse, Jesus contrasts two kinds of peace: a peace that he leaves us and a peace that the world can give us. What is the difference?

The peace that the world can give to us is not a negative or a bad peace. It is real and it is good, but it is fragile and inadequate. It is fragile because it can easily be taken away from us. Peace, as we experience it ordinarily in our lives, is generally predicated on feeling healthy, loved, and secure. But all of these are fragile. They can change radically with one visit to the doctor, with an unexpected dizzy spell, with sudden chest pains, with the loss of a job, with the rupture of a relationship, with the suicide of a loved one, or with multiple kinds of betrayal that can blindside us. We try mightily to take measures to guarantee health, security, and the trustworthiness of our relationships, but we live with a lot of anxiety, knowing these are always fragile. We live inside an anxious peace.

What Jesus offers is a peace that is not fragile, that is already beyond fear and anxiety, that does not depend upon feeling healthy, secure, and loved in this world. What is this peace?

At the last supper and as he was dying, Jesus offered us his gift of peace. And what is this? It is the absolute assurance the we are connected to the source of life in such a way that nothing, absolutely nothing, can ever sever - not bad health, not betrayal by someone, indeed, not even our own sins. We are unconditionally loved and held by the source of life itself and nothing can change that. Nothing can change God’s unconditional love for us.

If that is true, and it is, then we have an assurance of life, wholeness, and happiness beyond the loss of youth, the loss of health, the loss of reputation, the betrayal of friends, the suicide of a loved one, and even beyond our own sin and betrayals. In the end, as Julian of Norwich says, all will be well, and all will be well, and every manner of being will be well.

Jesus watches over us as we reflect: “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8).

Lord, I promise to pray for all my Sonshine Friends whose peace is fragile and anxious. When feeling broken, listen in your heart to Our Lord's promise that says: "I leave you a peace that no one can take from you." Know that in your worse fears, I hold you unconditionally close to my heart.

Shaking Things Up

2010-09-20T06:05:00.005-04:00

A priest was in charge of the garden within a famous Zen temple. He had been given the job because he loved the flowers, shrubs, and trees. Next to the temple there was another, smaller temple where there lived a very old Zen master.

One day, when the priest was expecting some special guests, he took extra care in tending to the garden. He pulled the weeds, trimmed the shrubs, combed the moss, and spent a long time meticulously raking up and carefully arranging all the dry autumn leaves. As he worked, the old master watched him with interest from across the wall that separated the temples.

When he had finished, the priest stood back to admire his work. "Isn't it beautiful," he called out to the old master. "Yes," replied the old man, "but there is something missing. Help me over this wall and I'll put it right for you."

The priest lifted the old fellow over and set him down. Slowly, the master walked to the tree near the center of the garden, grabbed it by the trunk, and shook it. Leaves showered down all over the garden.

"There," said the old man, "you can put me back now."

Jesus often shook people up when he felt that things were getting a little too comfortable. People often used the term stress when their lives are out of control. However, if you feel burnout because you are feeling stagnated from your work or personal life then find ways to “branch out.”

That could mean putting in for a job that is more challenging, or learning a new set of skills to make your job more meaningful. If you really are at a dead end, and finding another job is not an option, then branch out in your personal life—ramp up the excitement level outside work by getting started on that list of things you would like to do “if only,” or things you have in the back of your mind that you would like to try but just have not taken the first step yet. Perhaps you can take a class and learn to play a musical instrument or pick up your camera and take a walk in the beautiful of the season or read a spiritual book. I need to get back into the woods and take more autumn photos like today’s “walk in the woods” image.

Jesus watches over us as we reflect: “In that day the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.” (Isaiah 4:2).

Lord, I promise to pray for all my Sonshine Friends who need to branch out and see their beautiful within. Give us the eyes to take a moment to walk in the woods this Autumn and see the glory of your creation.

Looking Sideways

2010-09-12T07:45:00.010-04:00

I learned a secret that most women have known all their lives. It is the trait known as “looking sideways.” In plain English, you can hear your mother shouting: “Pay attention.” But my lesson was about learning how to look at things from a different perspective.

At yesterday Peddler’s Fair, I was signing calendars for a parishioner when from the side there were three little children about age four jumping up and down pointing fingers at some of the animal’s photos. What caught my eye was the sheer wonder and joy as their enthusiasm went from the horses grooming one another, to the owl, then to the eagle. They were hopping around the photos, jumping for joy as if they had never seen such wonders in their life for the first time. There was sheer joy in their hearts and it knocked my socks off to think that these “little ones” were entertained by the images that were taken many years ago. But you see my friends, you have to pay attention to your surroundings.

How often do we sit and groan about life and look forward instead of sideways to take notice of the interesting things going on in our lives. Of course, women have known this truth all their lives that in order to make sure something is clean you have to look sideways to make sure all the drips have been collected.

Are there any drips in your life that need wiping up? Are you stuck at this stage in your life doing the same things over again without any joy? I appreciated the support of my parishioners encouraging me to share my photos at this public show. To my surprise, I have been invited to bring the gallery to two other shows in Hilton and Brockport in November and December. Who would have thought that these images would be welcomed into people’s homes? But the best part of the show was looking sideways and watching those children laughing and enjoying themselves.

God knows when the drips in our lives (problems) cast a shadow of doubt and make us down in the dumps. We need to learn to look sideways and take notice of the many ways God's spirit of love makes itself present in our life. For me, children laughing and dancing around the animals were the delight of my day.

Jesus watches over us as we reflect: “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who love him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.” (Psalm 33:18).

Lord, I promise to pray for all my Sonshine Friends whose eyes need to look sideways for all the ways you come to our side to bring comfort and hope. Help us all to pay attention to your goodness in our daily lives and look sideways.

Gated Community

2010-09-05T08:28:00.007-04:00

Over the summer, I was invited to an engagement party for a young couple and found myself at a table of retired Catholic school teachers. While they lamented the closing of many wonderful Catholic schools, the focus of the stories turned to their new lives as “grandmothers in training.”

One new grandmother shared that taking care of her new granddaughter was a joy that had its challenges. She was living with her daughter and son-in-law in a “gated community.” She explained that there was a gate at the top of the stairs to prevent the baby from falling. Then there was another gate at the bottom of the stairs from going up the stairs. There was another gate in front of the basement stairs and then the most important gate was the one to the laundry room where the family kept the dog’s food and water bowl. If one were not watchful, the little one would crawl her way to the dog food bowl and help herself to a tasty snack.

Despite the gates in this home, this twenty year plus retired educator shared her experience and wisdom in teaching this crawler about life, reading her granddaughter stories and playing with her blocks and stuffed toys. It was a new vocation that brought her much enthusiasm and joy to her life.

Still, I wonder how many people feel that their churches have put up gates that prevent them from experiencing this joyful spirit. I am aware of those misunderstandings that plague our minds and souls and result in people feeling unwelcomed and unaccepted in their faith communities. But as I share with my college students, we are all searching for joy and Jesus knew the best place to find that joy in life. He simply taught to take all our wonderful gifts that we possess and help our kids with their newborn child, or sit by the side of a parent in their bedroom as they wait the glory of God or take our neighbor to the their favorite restaurant, the Olive Garden. My apologies to my Italian Sonshine Friends who claim this is not a real Italian restaurant but the neighbor believes they make the best sauce in town.

Jesus does not expect all of us to walk the road to Calvary and die on a cross. Although sometimes we felt crucified by the church, our family or employer. Despite, these painful moments that take away the joy, I want you to refocus your heart on the fact that God wants us to take the risk to bring His love to those who feel helpless, unwanted or misunderstood. Those of us, who chose not to follow Jesus to the cross, are home doing hard good work like washing the dishes, taking out the garbage, working two jobs and mending fences with our in-laws.

Jesus watches over us as we reflect: “Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.” (Psalm 24:7).

Lord, I promise to pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are willing to take the risks to forgive those who have hurt them in the past, bring comfort to those who seem unlovable and wrap our arms around those who need God's love. That’s when the spirit of joy takes over our life and we are bridge builders who make the glory of God shine on earth as it is in heaven.

Dancing with Molly

2010-07-05T23:12:00.008-04:00

This weekend, I was invited to a 4^th of July picnic and fireworks with some special friends. There was one stunning moment that I shall never forget. Little Molly is the apple of the eye of her family. A little girl born with special needs, yet, despite her physical and mental limitations, she walks around with an infectious smile.

One of her adopted aunts was playing bubbles with her. She was trying to get Molly to blow through the little tube to make bubbles. But the moment came when all the adult women of the family gathered in the living room for a magical moment. All the women started to dance with this “little one” singing at the top of their lungs the “hokey poky.”

Little Molly started to twirl around and around and mom and grand-mom and all her adopted aunts were raising their hands in the air smiling and singing getting Molly to smile and laugh. To some it might look pretty silly, but to me it was a precious moment like the seventy-two in the gospel bringing their neighbors a message about God’s infectious love for each of them, despite their limitations, theirs weaknesses and sins. It was a message of hope and pure joy.

Molly’s messengers were dancing and surrounded her with joy and laughter to make her feel like a special little girl despite the fact that the world may only see her physical and mental limitations. In the eyes of these special women, they were sending their precious Molly a message that she is indeed a "child of God.”

Somewhere, as we grow older we begin to accumulate lots of fears. Mostly about our survival. How will we retire on a dwindling pension, or make ends meet when unemployed, live on Medicare, or after college graduation find a job that will use our degree and training? Lots of stress that takes emotional energy and results in medical problems. We begin to despair, lose hope and the joy of life is taken away.

Molly's adopted aunts sang their hearts out to let this little girl know that she was perfect in their eyes. Can you believe that God sends us the same joyful message in our hearts that sings that no sin whatever is unforgivable and that every one of us can cheat death. What these messengers offered was liberation–-not from sin and death–-but from the fear of sin and death.

About nine o’clock grandma started handing out sparklers and lighted multi-colored wanes to all the kids. As the evening grew dark, the kids put the lighted wanes on their heads or around their necks and wrists. It looked like a court of princes and princesses. The kids were dressed up for a parade. Imagine a parade in heaven where you are a kid again, running around with a sparkle in your hand and a lighted wane on your head and all God’s children living in harmony and joy.

God prays for us as we reflect: “Let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.” (Psalm 5:11).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are in need of your reassurance and liberation. Like Molly, may we find ourselves surrounded by our Lord’s joy and laughter who wants us to live without the fear of sin and death.

Dessert from Dad

2010-06-20T21:00:00.006-04:00

At the end of my Father’s Day Blessing, I told the community to give their dads an extra dessert. I remember my dad and I going to Andy’s Ice Cream Parlor on Hudson Avenue to have dessert. He liked to order a vanilla milkshake. Not today's pancake syrup that ends up like a lump in your tummy. Rather, these shakes were made with real ice cream and real milk. They also were made in the old fashion stainless steel cylinder that kept the ice crème cold.

Yesterday, I had this craving for an old-fashioned vanilla ice crème shake. On the eve of Father’s Day, my dad must have been nudging me to sit down for a moment and share a treat we use to enjoy together. Where does one find an old fashioned milkshake? I was in the mood for a real old fashioned shake made with real cold milk, skim milk would work just fine and homemade ice crème.

I never tasted a Cold Stone Creamery milk shake so I gave them a try. Regretfully, I discovered that instead of cold milk, the young person poured some pancake concoction into a plastic container that made the shake stiff as a board. I prefer to taste the cold milk and see the lumps of ice crème in the stainless steel cup.

That’s what I miss about my dad, someone just to pull up a stool and let him listen to my day. Someone who really was interested in what I was doing and someone who had the best ideas when it came to treating yourself to your favorite dessert.

That’s what God our Father has in store for you. Think of heaven where your favorite dessert will be made, “just the way you like it.” Not some gummy imitation, but served with the real fruit, or real vanilla bean, or real cold milk, or real “hot fudge and peanuts.”

Imagine God decked out with a soda fountain hat and apron ready to take your order and smiling with a grin that says wait till you get a taste of this.

God prays for us as we reflect: “ Be wise, my young son and daughter, and bring joy to my heart. (Proverbs 27:11).

Lord, I pray for all my Sunshine dads who are at home with you in heaven or the dads who are cuddling their babies and "little ones" to sleep tonight with a bedtime story. May we always be grateful for their sacrifices that they make daily in this life to keep us safe and warm. Bless their hands and all their good works and give them “Sunny Days and double desserts.”

Greeter in Heaven

2010-06-14T06:34:00.004-04:00

I had been called to provide trauma services to a local group home staff after the death of a long-time client. Instead of sorrow, I came home with joy.

After the debriefing, I met one of the residents at the group home who was a special case in the state. Her nurse shared that this young lady was on a respirator and required 24/7 nursing care.

Her mother was visiting that morning and the nurse brought her young patient in her wheelchair to the dining room. Her smile was childlike and she was coloring in a book of numbers. She looked up and asked me my name. When I said: Matthew, she immediately responded that it was a beautiful name. The smile on her faced made her glow with delight. I asked what her name was and she happily said that it was Miriam. Miriam was the prophetess and older sister of Moses and Aaron. The origin of the name Miriam is unclear, but some think it comes from the Egyptian meaning “beloved.” In the Hebrew, Miriam comes from the verb meaning obstinacy and stubbornness and both her mom and the nurse agreed that sometimes this young lady displayed this character.

Her mother sat by her daughter’s side and watched her carefully for Miriam would often get excited and jump up from her wheelchair pulling out her respirator. Her nurse would gently coaxed Miriam to settle down and put the respirator tube back in its place.

I told Miriam that she had an amazing smile and what a wonderful greeter in heaven she would be. Instead of St. Peter who might be asking us probing questions about our poor judgments, I suggested that Miriam would make a great greeter in heaven because her smile would immediately take away any fears. Miriam’s smile simply brings peace and joy to anyone who looks upon her.

Miriam mom was most taken back with this complement of her daughter. She thanked me for the generous words, but I shared that her daughter while misunderstood by her outward limitations possessed a wonderful charm and gift that you could see all over her face.

In my ministry, many people have worried themselves sick or as one patient called it” brain freeze” that he was going to hell. The messages in the classroom and from the pulpit were not very uplifting or consoling. I had been called upon to bring comfort to a grieving staff, but found myself in the presence of the spirit of a young woman bound to her chair and oxygen tank yet full of delight and joy. Her face radiated the glory of God’s love and peace that the Lord wants us to feel despite the messages of doom and gloom.

How many times are we judged by our outward appearance or the misdeeds of our past. Miriam like the Lord sees only the good in our hearts and always welcomes the broken and fearful soul into his Kingdom. The Lord comes not to condemn but to redeem and bring us eternal peace. Remember that the next time you feel your spiritual soul is on empty and needs a shock of Miriam to spice up your troubled soul.

God prays for us as we reflect: “But with you there is forgiveness’ therefore you are revered.” (Psalm 130:4).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine friends that they will be greeted by one like Miriam as they approach your heavenly gates. May all their good deeds go before them and their poor judgments be keep locked away in a vault of forever after. Peace be with you all my Sonshine friends and thank you Miriam for sharing your wonderful smile of joy.

Sometimes it Doesn't Click

2010-05-23T07:24:00.005-04:00

In the field, I like to travel light with the least amount of clutter when taking photos of some pristine landscape or delicate flowers in the meadows. Many years ago, I was visiting Tobomory in Ontario with a group of park tourist as we were heading for Flower Pot Island. On this tour, a local photographer was taking photos for a magazine and I noticed how simply he moved about the rocky paths. He had a fanny pack around his waist and all his camera gear, lens, camera bodies and film were always available. He walked with a monopod to steady his hands and feet and I marveled at how swiftly he was able to change lens with the system he had developed.

I like to copy people who have simple ideas so I purchased a photo fanny pack. On each photo shoot, I carry my lens, camera, extras batteries and digital disks, no film for passionate soul. However about three weeks ago, I lost the clip that secures the belt around my waist. I searched all the usual places where I store my gear with no luck. Finally, I went to my friends at Rowe, but their solution was that to go online and purchase a new clip.

I happened to be driving on Ridge Road and decided to check another camera store. One of the salesmen is a Nikon guru who knows equipment, but as I waiting for him another young salesman heard my story took the fanny belt and simply unclick the buckle and said, “Here you go.” I was embarrassed and surprised. It appeared that the clip was in the buckle all along and that it slipped out of the belt. Are there not times the answer to life’s complicated problems is staring at you in your face, but you are just too anxious to see the solution? Must be stress.

Many times we struggle through difficult moments like the young couple praying for there premature triplets to grow healthy, or a professor recovering miraculously from his burns in a fire. Then there is the unemployed searching desperately for another job. or the senior mother emotionally abused by her addicted adult son. Sometimes our brains fail to click to find the solution to our problems. At these times, I feel a quiet moment away from the busiest of our lives helps to slow us down and reboot our brains so that we can better manage with the complicated situations of our lives.

This morning let me take you for a walk through a bluebell meadow. It’s a moment where you can spend a few moments of peace and quiet. We learn in scripture that Jesus went off to the desert to pray. It was his moment to relax and reboot his head and his heart. Well, I’m grateful that instead of a desert I have the natural forest to allow my soul to reboot and find calm in a storming situation.

God prays for us as we reflect: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” (Psalm 23:2).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are not clicking very well these days. Maybe they lost someone special to them or daily struggle with a chronic illness. As they walk along the bluebell meadow, let them feel the cool breeze on their face and may the breath of your Spirit fill their minds and hearts with your heavenly peace.

I Just Don't Care Anymore

2010-05-16T07:41:00.008-04:00

“I just don’t care anymore” were his words describing the months of rejection by the penal board refusing his request for work release. The young inmate had reached his breaking point and has become bitter and angry about his prison experience. He had hoped to enroll in any kind of work release program and return home. Despite his numerous appeals and support from his prison committee, both the prison superintendent and Albany have rejected his attempts for a work release program.

He admitted that he has been hiding his feelings from his parents and friends. No one can say that they understand how he feels at this moment. You are naïve and fooling only yourself. The daily boredom and routine have driven him to withdraw and build up a wall. It is how he survives each day. He has nothing in common with the outside world. His former business, his love for his dog, and hopes for the future are gone. He is no longer interested in the activities of the outside world. He cannot be bothered with the details of other people’s lives. He admits that he has no connection with the outside world and he just doesn’t care about the mundane things that bother the rest of us.

He has chosen not to associate with the other inmates since all they talk about are their crimes and appeals or the food to pass the time. He no longer has any motivation to exercise or read. They were once the daily the activities that gave him energy to face each day. Some would say that he is clinically depressed. He would tell you that this withdrawal is the only way for him to remain stable and not go insane.

Listening to the emptiness of this soul and finding a way into his broken heart made my stomach churn with pain. So I just listened and prayed to the Spirit to help me get a glimpsed of his pain and sadness. The light of truth came when I took off my pastoral and clinical mask, and simply walked with him in silence to feel his sadness. He needed someone to give him permission to be sad.

Walking with this inmate through his tears of sadness, his darkness was a moment for healing. He understands that his parents have filed a formal appeal and are hopeful of their son’s release. Despite this appeal, he cannot allow the luxury of any hope in his heart. It is too painful to even think about another disappointment. Therefore, the only way for him to survive is to go “into the desert” and wait for God’s mercy and justice.

This need for patience is breaking this young man’s spirit. So in that moment of silence. I told him that I love him. No one can steal his unique gifts of compassion, creativity and love for his favorite dog. We must do the praying and worrying and appealing for him. He needs to do what he thinks is best to keep himself sane even it means to withdraw from this world so that he no longer feels the pain of rejection. It is his agony in the garden.

Lord, send your angels to protect all our inmates who have lost hope in a the world that no longer has any meaning for them. Let your angels comfort the souls who feel abandoned and rejected by a system focused on punishishment rather than rehabilitation. Give strength and courage to my young friend, his wonderful parents, his many friends, and this humble chaplain who simply do not get it nor understand the sadness of prison life. Our young inmate is absolutely right. None of us can really undertstand his pain or sadness. How dare we say we understated! We can only walk by his side, never in his shoes.

God prays for us as we reflect: “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.” (Psalm 25: 15).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are incarcerated and their family members who visit them in our correctional facilities. Shelia met me with a smile at the reception center, a 25-year sergeant in the penal system. She shared her experience when an inmate was “out of line.” In her own words, she would say to the inmate: “Let’s go have a smoke and a cup of coffee and tell them sincerely, ‘I’m not here to judge you but my job is to keep you safe.’” Lord, keep all your inmates safe in your hands.

Weeping Prayer

2010-05-09T21:33:00.008-04:00

This weeping cherry blossom tree reminds me of the moments our mothers have simply cried for no particular reason. Tears just flow due to the exhaustion of their day or disappointments of life. So imagine yourself sitting underneath this lovely cherry blossom and your mom comes up to you to share this beautiful prayer when you’re feeling out of sorts.

Imagine you are six years old at the time and sitting underneath this tree and you are crying. We don’t know why. We are just crying and crying. Our mother comes along and says, “What’s the matter?” We whimper back, “Nothing, Leave me alone!” So mom did and then we really start to cry. About fifteen minutes later she comes back and sits beside us underneath our tree. “You know, she says, I have to tell you something. There are going to be times in your life when you are going to cry, and you won’t know why. You won’t understand and neither will anybody else.”

Then mom said she was going to teach us a prayer for the times when we are crying and we don’t know why. She made you get off the ground and stand up underneath this tree. She said, "now put your arms around yourself." We did, but it wasn’t good enough for her. "You’re just folding your arms," she said. "Put them all the way around yourself. Cuddle your body. Hold yourself the way you would hold a baby in your arms. Now after you have a real good hold of yourself, close your eyes and begin to rock yourself. Rock yourself real good, the way you would a baby, and just keep doing it."

"When you grow up, no matter how old you are, and find yourself crying and you don’t know why, I want you to rock yourself just like this. And as you do it, remember that you are God’s little one, and that God understands why you are crying, even if no one else does. And remember, too, that God holds you close, just the way you are holding yourself, because God loves you very much. Then just keep rocking yourself and be comforted."

God prays for us as we reflect: “ For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death. my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.” (Psalm 116:8).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Caregiver Friends who are coming apart at the seams. Remember this prayer and whenever you feel miserable just stand wherever you are—in the kitchen, in your bedroom—and wrap your arms around yourself as tightly as you can. Rock yourself. Before long you will be able to feel God holding you in the same way you are holding yourself. You will be comforted the way you were comforted as a child when your mother held you in her arms and rocked you.

It's All About the Timing

2010-05-02T23:04:00.010-04:00

A courageous friend struggles with her suffering that she would gladly give back to God. Many years ago, he legs grew tired for she suffers from multiple sclerosis. Daily, she prays for strength and she is not afraid to give God a piece of her mind about her suffering, Despite her disease, her mind and heart yearn to see the flowers in bloom and smell their sweet scents.

If you are sensitive to the seasons, you would note that all our flowers are three weeks ahead of schedule. Two weeks ago, I was scouting Highland Park at six in the morning for a sunrise and images of flowering magnolias. One has to be at the right place and know the right time to find the glory of God lurking in the trees and shrubs. Never disappointed, I discovered that the lilacs were beginning to bud out, but the surprise was a “weeping cherry” that was shining in the morning mist.

Our suffering soul would welcome the opportunity to see the lilacs so this weekend, mind you three weeks before the official Lilac Sunday, she found herself being wheeled through the gardens to witness the miracle of nature and smell the lilacs. She was like a little kid, simply glad to be outdoors and enjoy the beauty that was peaking in the morning sun. In one week, the budding lilacs were now ablaze in a glorious display of purple and crimson colors. If you are waiting for Lilac Sunday, you will be disappointed because the flowers will be past their peak. Go now my friends!

Many times I hear people say, “They don’t wish to be a bother.” They struggle with some suffering that is known only to us. At those moments, we have an opportunity to blossom and reflect the profound beauty of God’s care for his people. It might simply be a gesture that says we notice their struggle and take their garbage to the curb, or take away their loneliness by bringing a plant into their home, invite them to lunch, or if we are really mindful, pack them into our van and let them smell the lilacs.

The miracles of Jesus were simply being mindful that it was the right moment to make his friends more wine, bring them more fish, forgive them a poor judgment, or best of all, raise them to eternal life. God’s timing is perfect, but we can be just as mindful with a little extra attention to detail. God is watching us, not looking for our failures, but watching our timing so that we don’t miss the opportunities to bring his comfort and love to others. It might simply mean bringing our friends to the pansy bed to see all the smiling faces.

God prays for us as we reflect; “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves in heard in our land. “ (Song of Solomon 2:12).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel that the Spirit has given them more than their share of suffering. Imagine that you tie all your sufferings to your outdoor tree. May the Spirit give us a nudge to take one of those sufferings from our neighbor’s tree and help them feel and experience the power of God’s love for them.

The Shepherd Never Gives Up

2010-04-29T06:57:00.008-04:00

This Shepherd never gives up on her sheep. I literally was walking into the hospital to visit a young couple that just gave birth to triplets. As I walked onto the third floor, I met the new dad pushing the wheelchair with his beloved spouse when he started to cry on my shoulder. We silently washed our hands and made our way into the unit. It was there that I met the Good Shepherd.

The Shepherd doesn’t give up on her sheep. She was the doctor who gently explained what was going on and that their tiny little son was in serious condition. She drew his heart and showed what was wrong. But, then she told the parents, “your boy’s a fighter” and I will not give up for I have a few tricks up my sleeve. In the next moment, this shepherd asked me to baptize the baby and with the parents blessing we prayed and asked that this “little one’s” angels come to guard over and protect him.

The next twenty-four hours proved to be difficult for his oxygen levels began to drop, but once again the shepherd stood guard over her sheep and administered new medicines to bring the sheep back to life. We are at day seven and at this moment, our little lamb continues to survive and thrive at a miraculous pace. I have never witnessed such faith and tenacity in a pediatric doctor but she truly imitates what Jesus said: "I am the good shepherd. As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way I know my sheep and they know me" (John 10:14).

Yes, there are many times in which we feel stretched and at the breaking point. These parents no doubt felt that Jesus is a million miles away. But we prayed as a family in these times of sickness and fear to guide us through some difficult decisions and believe these words: "My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me, and I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost. No one can snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:27-30).

As an artist, I love the theme of Jesus being pictured holding a lamb, or carrying a lamb across his shoulders, or watching over sheep. Jesus is the one who cares, the one who saves the lost, and rescues from trouble. He is the one who is intimately and individually concerned about each one of his sheep like our little infant. He provides his sheep with everything they need. The shepherd is the one whose staff and rod defend the sheep if any danger should come their way. Like the shepherd who doesn’t give up, our pediatric doctor refuses to give up and will not let anything harm her sheep in her care.

God prays for these parents and their baby boy as we reflect: “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing else I need. I will not be afraid for you are close beside me.” (Psalm 23.)

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends and our triplets, their mom and dad and young babies who needs our prayers and a shepherd’s watchful care. Help us to be shepherds to one another for goodness and love will follow us all our lives and we will live in the house of the Lord forever.

On My Knees

2010-04-21T06:26:00.008-04:00

Recently, I have been down on my knees praying for lots of good people. The professor in severe pain after his recent apartment fire. He faces a second skin graph and a long recovery. Then there’s the pregnant mom with triplets who would prefer her babies were not too anxious to arrive. We need them to stay put until July and grow stronger. Then there’s a young man whose leg was amputated and his spouse stands at the side of his bed to offer reassurance and comfort. Once again, a young innocent man waits in prison for his appeal so that he can return home to his parents and friends. And let's not forget all our furry creatures like Tucker who needs prayers that his lame leg will get better.

On my knees I pray that God would take good care of these people. But what happens when it seems that God does not answer our prayers?

I am glad that God does not answer all my prayers the way I pray. Not only does logic and faith enter in but the story I wish to share with you a story that will convince you of its truth.

Somewhere and many years ago, I read of a young girl by the name of Amy. It seems that she often prayed to God that her brown eyes would be blue. Well, the next morning she rushed to the mirror and found that her eyes were still brown. She was really crushed. In trying to console her daughter the mother said that God did answer her prayer. It was with a "no". Many years passed and God called Amy into missionary service. She responded to the call and became a missionary to the country of India.

In the course of her ministry she was grateful that God had not answered her prayer the way she prayed. Now, dressed in the garb of the natives, her skin tanned brown, she could pass among the people and be extremely effective in her ministry. There were several times when she actually rescued some children. In from the danger of the temples of India. You see blue eyes would have given her away.

God prays for us as we reflect: “We do not know what we ought to pray for…: (Romans 8:26)

It is so important to always add, "Not my will, but yours be done, Lord" to our prayers. So, the bottom line is to pray, yes pray without ceasing, and to know that God will answer your prayer. It will be either with a "yes", a "no" or a "wait".

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that You do all things right. Amid difficulties and disappointments and the prayers that seemingly are not answered, may my friends be encouraged that You are there with them.

Sweetness of the Spirit

2010-04-10T16:57:00.005-04:00

The Parkside Neighborhood Watch is a volunteer group of residents paroling the streets to keep people safe. Their latest bulletin featured stories about a dozen cars being broken into because they were not locked. The message was simple, lock your doors, observe and report anything suspicious.

Well the disciples were acting a little suspicious. News comes to them that Jesus is alive and instead of everyone bolting with glee to the tomb we find our faithful paralyzed in their sandals. Locked behind closed doors. Why didn't they go looking for him?

Sometimes we tend to lock ourselves in. We refuse to go out because we're too ashamed, too blue, or too afraid we will run into someone and, frankly, we can't stand the thought. Sometimes we stay away from even church for the same reason.

Shame and fear are cousins. First cousins. If you are ashamed of something that is known already, you are afraid of being seen by people in whose eyes you will catch flickers of disapproval. If you are ashamed of something people do not yet know about, you are afraid that just by being out and about in public, someone will discover it, and it scares you half to death. For every last one of us, there are things we have done whose discovery we fear.

All of us have closets in our hearts, little chambers into which we toss the shameful things we've done and the shameful things we think we are that make us feel unworthy. We toss them all in the closet and lock the door so that what people can see is just the neat and tidy and orderly living rooms of our lives. But like the disciples, we fear that someone might inadvertently open the wrong door, and out our shame will tumble for all to see.

The disciples were ashamed of what they had done, they were ashamed of what their cowardice revealed about who they simply were as men. So they locked the door, telling them they were keeping the Jews out when really they were maybe keeping themselves locked in. But then Jesus did what he always does for anyone locked up in his own shame: he comes in anyway. He enters the room, he enters the heart, and he breaks into the shame.

Jesus says "Shalom." He speaks a word that is the opposite of fear and so squelches shame, puts away and banishes any thoughts the disciples may have had about Jesus' bearing a grudge. He was not out to settle any old scores but to create a whole new situation.

Jesus breathes the sweetness of the Holy Spirit upon us as we pray and reflect:

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock." (John 20:19).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are too afraid, too ashamed or too paralyzed by this or that feature of their life, the lock won't stop Jesus. He will appear right in the middle of our locked-up heart and before you even have the chance to say or do a blessed thing, he will say "Peace to you!"

Easter Begins in Nonsense

2010-04-04T08:23:00.004-04:00

The disciples heard the women’s words and heard the angel’s words but found them all to be nonsense. No one was anticipating or even hoping for a resurrection. They knew, as we do, that things like that don’t happen in this world, that the world is more or less predictable: dead people stay dead, and death is where it ends for all of us. After all is said and done they all believed this: Easter begins in nonsense.

Wit is the title of a remarkable made for television movie. It’s about a woman, Vivian Bearing, who is an English professor, whose specialty is John Donne, the sixteenth-century poet and clergyman. Vivian is dying of cancer and she is virtually alone, dealing with doctors and nurses and hospitals and researchers who convince her to submit to a particularly powerful and painful experimental regimen of chemotherapy. She loses her hair, loses weight, is dreadfully sick, and the chemotherapy doesn’t work. Her tumor shrinks but the cancer spreads. She is going to die. Throughout the story, John Donne’s "Holy Sonnets," keeps coming up in memory, Donne wrote:

“Death be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so . . .

Why swell’st thou then?

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,

And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.”

John Donne’s words keep emerging in her subconscious. But then, as death nears, someone finally speaks her name. Her professor and mentor, now an elderly woman, seeks her, finds her, alone in her hospital bed and says, "Vivian–is that you?”--and then does the most remarkable thing–removes her shoes and gets in bed and holds Vivian, cradling her head to her breast. She reads Vivian the book she has brought. It’s not John Donne; it’s a simple child’s book about love that will not let us go. It is about what John Donne wrote about. It is about love more powerful than death.

“Once there was a little bunny, who wanted to run away.

So he said to his mother, "I am running away."

"If you run away," said his mother, "I will run after you, for you are my little bunny."

"If you run after me," said the little bunny, "I will become a fish in a trout stream and I will swim away from you."

"If you become a fish in a trout stream," said his mother, "I will become a fisherman and I will fish for you."

"I will be come a rock,"

"If you become a rock, I will become a mountain climber and I will climb to where you are."

"I will become a bird and fly away from you."

"If you become a bird and fly away from me," said his mother, "I will be a tree that you come home to." (The Runaway Bunny, Margaret Wise Brown)

God prays for us as we reflect: “ “He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—length of days, for ever and ever. (Psalm 21:4).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends on this Easter who celebrate your life giving words. In the quiet of your heart, imagine Jesus crawling into bed with you, holding you close to his chest and speaking the words of everlasting life. "And death shall be no more, Death, thou shalt die." Death no longer rules. Jesus Christ is risen today.