A Heavenly Place

Grotto Falls on Trillium Gap Trail, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Tennesee. This trail climbs 520 feet and is shaded by large American beeches, silverbells, and maples.

A Heavenly Place

Stream along Caves Cove Road in Great Smoky Mountain National Park

A Heavenly Place

Sunrise on Newfoundland Gap in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, North Carolina

A Heavenly Place

Sunset on Clingman's Dome in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, North Carolina

The Journey Home

I still make “house calls” and on this Sunday afternoon I had been invited to the home of Norbert who quite literally is going home to God. Greeted by his beloved spouse Mary at the door, I sat next to this gentleman who spoke in a whisper about his life. He greeted me with the words: “Blessed Be the Name of the Lord.” He shared his faith, his love for his family and talked about the many journeys he had taken in his lifetime to the Vatican, Australia, England, Scotland and Ireland.

His stories reminded me of returning down the mountain in the Smokies that faithful morning when I started up the trail in pitch darkness. The trek home proved more difficult than expected. Sliding on loose shale, I came across those roots never seen on the journey in the dark. I wondered how many dangers we have escaped known only to God who watches and protects our steps from falling down a cliff.

Hikers were now coming up the trail and it was interesting to note the differences in how prepared these folks had come for their journey. Some were seasoned hikers using their ski poles to maneuver around the rocks and steep hills. Other hikers wore mini-packs that contained their feed of trail mix, water and supplies. Then came the “tourist” ill prepared for the journey ahead. These poor folks were gazing at the trail like the top was just around the corner, when in reality it would be another three hours up the mountain. Walking in sneakers, no water, no food, no poles just pulling along their children like a visit to the mall. They had no clue what difficulties lie ahead. What a contrast to the Appalachian enthusiastists who were marching along in their high tech alpine boots, lightweight walking poles, hydrator water systems and GPS. To my shock, I witnessed a person wearing sandals and shook my head thinking that this might be a good time to call the park rangers.

On the way down the trail, I spotted those streams that I heard in the darkness of the still morning. I had missed their sublime beauty and only feared falling into the drink. At the end of our life’s journey, we might regret to think of the many opportunities we missed to see the beauty of God’s creation. We have our excuses like paying the bills, working overtime. However, at the end of our life when the miserable disease takes away our independence, we make an amazing discovery. The gift of God’s love comes in our faith and it is our family’s love that provides the most hope for joy and happiness. My homebound friend Norbert came to this revelation as I anointed him with Sacrament of the Sick and gave him Holy Communion.

Sometimes the unknown sends us into a panic and we fear the worse. However, our need is to witness to hope and persevere. Despite the disease that makes us sick to our stomach and helpless, there is our guide pointing out the way in which we will not stumble nor get lost. We might have suffered much violence and pain and depression, but our guide asks us to surrender these fears and hurts and take his hand for the journey ahead that leads to eternal life.

God prays for us as we reflect:” And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness.” (Isaiah 35:8).

Lord, I pray for my Sonshine Friend, Norbert, and all the Sonshine souls we will pray for this coming Sunday. Our vocation is to be a gift of Your healing love here on earth, to walk carefully, to protect, conserve and pass on the Your compassionate love for future generations.

Into the Light

It’s 5:45 in the morning and pitch black on the trail. The Smoky Mountain National Park ranger suggested hiking the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail to catch the sunrise over the mountains. Only problem, it’s a 2.5-mile hike that takes an hour and a half. If one wants to see the morning glow, you need to begin this odyssey in the dark. The ranger made me swear to take a flashlight or better yet a headlamp. He warned about the dangers on the trail or coming across a black bear in the wilderness.

I borrowed a flashlight from the rectory that had the logo printed with the words St. Mary’s Hospital. Was this an omen? The experienced ranger knew this trail’s dangers were its infestation of nasty roots, boulders, water hazards and native furry creatures.

My trek began cautiously with flashlight in hand in pitch darkness. The light reminds me how God leads, showing us the way despite all the obstacles along the way. In the dark, I could hear a stream that paralleled the trail. Pointing the light off the path, it showed that the banks of the stream were only a few feet away. So image this scene, I am engulfed in complete darkness, walking over gnarled roots, around jagged boulders and keeping my distance from the banks of the stream, and yes, the batteries in the flashlight are glowing dim. Despite these dangers, the sound of the stream was like something “holy” calming my nerves and telling me not to be afraid.

It’s 6:05 and the pre-dawn light comes into focus. The rocks and roots are barely in focus, but I still need the light to help me safely up the mountain trail. The obstacles remind me of the fears that accumulate during our life’s journey. The suffering comes in many forms, the exhaustion of caretaking loved ones or battling some miserable disease. The fear of losing our retirement pension, our jobs or our homes. The illusion that chemicals can cure all our ills or that "stuff" brings happiness and the peace. These are the boulders that will trip and make us fall despite our best efforts to stay upright.

The flashlight keeps me on course, but the trail grows steeper and harder to hike. Sometimes "life" gives us more than we can bear. It is more than a “moderate hike” for we feel our heart pumping hard from all the strain. It is time to take a rest.

It’s 6:15 and the path grows clearer. The rocks and roots are visible without the flashlight. The climb takes me away from the stream and climbs to a tunnel in the cliff. Stone steps wind up the mountain with a steel cable that serves as a handrail. This is a much tougher climb than the ranger led me to believe. The whining points out that I’m not in shape for this kind of journey. Still, my hope is to take some pictures of the sunrise. If we are mindful of the spirit, we would know what to do when we are feeling overwhelmed by the journey. Patience, patience and more patience. The hike continues up and more up, climbing over boulder after boulder. Finally, the climb leads out of the woods and into a clearing where the morning light pours over the autumn trees. It’s a stunning shot as the morning light makes this scene “holy and majestic.”

God prays for us as we reflect: “Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.” (Proverbs 3:23).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends whose journeys take them to the limits of their endurance. May your light lead us on a path where we will not stumble nor fall. May the voice of the spirit like the sound of a running stream breathe new life into our weakness and give us strength for the journey ahead that leads to our home in heaven.

Into Your Hands

At a rehearsal dinner, the dad of the groom shared the story that his son found his daughter-in-law in cyberspace. The couple had listed their bios on “Match.com.” The groom noted that his bride-to-be enjoyed tennis, travel and cooking. Something inside of him made him want to “wink” cyberspace lingo for “replied to the email.” While cyberspace became the hook, I believe it was the prompting of the Holy Spirit that brought this couple together to the altar. The groom‘s mom told the story that after she met the bride she whispered to her son ”this is the one.”

I asked this couple to make a “bucket list” of things they wanted to do throughout their married life. At the rehearsal dinner, they added to their list the desire to travel to all 50 states. Their honeymoon in Hawaii would get them off to a grand start on their quest.

At the wedding service, this couple chose the Sermon on the Mount, the teaching of the Beatitudes that would mirror God’s love in their home. What a wonderful sermon and task they had chosen-to live in harmony, to weep with the mournful, to laugh with the joyful, to not be conceited. They had accepted the call to be humble.

Before the wedding, I had a blood test scheduled at the lab. I arrived early, but there were ten senior citizens ahead of me. So I read my Cook’s Illustrated magazine picking out a recipe for the weekend, However, my quick visit turned into an emergency. It seemed one of the seniors fainted in the middle of their blood test. I knew something was wrong when I overheard the receptionist say: “passed out.” A half hour later a patient was being hauled out the door of the lab on a gurney. People were impatient and complaining because they were in a hurry. Probably, other weddings to go to.

When it was my turn, the nurse verified that “two patients” had fainted that morning. I simply told her that it was not her fault and that she was doing a great job. Never felt that needle prick, but she looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said, “Can I have a hug?” We need to practice to be “walking sermons.”

That’s the way of married life, the Beatitudes say that when things don’t go as planned, when there are delays or cancellation, mistakes or a spouse acts like a jerk, that’s the moment you can choose to “be like Christ.” This means to forgive and move on in such a way that your partner knows in their gut and heart that they made the right choice. Live humbly, pray for one another, be fair and honest all the time, let go of past grudges and resentments. God wants us to be joyful but only do if we are in need: hungry, searching, willing to change, willing to risk.

God prays for us as we reflect: “Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.” (Psalm 31:5).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who live in harmony with their spouses. May their journey become a quiet, peaceful walk as they strive with your strength to live in the spirit of the “be-atitudes.” Let me add a special prayer for those friends separated that “in the meantime” of their life they find good friends who are willing to shed tears and walk with them as they search for healing and strength.