A Good Tiredness

 

As the East Coast prepares for the perfect storm, my Jersey friends have buttoned down the hatches and left town. I am reminded about a story when a large van pulled up in the church parking lot. A bunch of teenagers got out. They were part of the youth group. They got out with bedrolls and paraphernalia and, they looked awful. They looked like refugees. They were dirty and smelly. clothes messed up. They all looked like that they just came from bad brawl. It was the most awful bunch of kids you have ever seen, and kids from the church. I said, “What’s this?” I knew they just returned from Hurricane Katerina. There for one week, along with other groups, they helped the people clean up and repair homes, and clear out tons of debris. Now they were back home sittings on their bags, waiting for their parents to pick them upon, I said to one of the boys, “Are you tired?” He said, “Man, I’m dead, I’m more than tired!” But then he added gospel words without realizing it: “But this is the best tired I have ever felt.”

Why the best? Because he had loved his neighbor as himself and in the loving he had found God. I guess the old Persian proverb has it right after all:

“I sought my God, my God I could not see. I sought my soul, my soul eluded me. I sought my neighbor and I found all three.”

The Lord watches over us as we pray: “In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of the thundercloud, and I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” (Psalm 81:7).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are in harms way. Keep them safe and bless all the emergency rescue teams who you call upon to save their neighbors.,

Resilient Community

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. We must do something about father, said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor. So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.  When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, What are you making? Just as sweetly, the boy responded, Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so shock the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Two young men, James and John asked Jesus a favor. They simply wanted a special place next to their teacher. This was their best friend’s response.

It is one thing to love when you feel love around you, when others understand you and are grateful for your person and gifts; it is quite another when everything around you speaks of misunderstanding, jealousy, coldness, and hatred.

It is one thing to maintain your ideals when they are shared by others, when the Gospel works for you, when principle works out in practice; it is quite another when it seems you are alone in some ideal and when the Gospel appears to be delivering more death than life.

It is one thing to be gracious when those around you are respectful, warm, and fair; it is quite another when everyone seems bitter, disrespectful, jealous, and cold.

It is one thing to bless others when they want to receive that blessing, when they hang on to your every word, when they want to be in your company; it is quite another when their very glance speaks of loathing and when they avoid you when you come into a room.

It is one thing to forgive others when that forgiveness seems fair, when it isn't impossible to swallow the hurt, when the wound dealt you is not mortal; it is quite another to forgive someone when it isn't fair, when the wound dealt you is mortal, when the life being murdered is your own.

It is one thing to give your life over to family, church, community, and God when you feel loved and supported by them, when they seem worth the sacrifice, when you get a good feeling by doing it; it is quite another thing when you do not feel support, when it doesn't seem worthwhile, and when you feel no other reason for doing it except truth and principle.

This teacher reminded his students that the special placed they requested would come with what Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. It requires a passion of the heart, not an endurance test for his body.

I am counseling a young mom who has struggled with PTSD and depression the result of being abused many years ago. She found her way back to church. She said she met the minister’s wife and something inside her made her feel very comfortable with this person. The minister’s wife invited her to join the church’s woman’s group on a Tuesday morning. She sat in the parking lot of the church a long time before she decided to get out of her car and go inside to join the ladies. The women were simply asked to share what was their highs and lows for the week. Our mom shared that she was preparing for surgery in a week and afraid of the results. Three women out of he blue offered to bring dinner for her and her child. She was shocked by this outpouring of compassion to a stranger. Then another woman shared that she was taking care of her Alzheimer’s husband but lost her in-home care services due to lack of money. At that moment, this mother shared that she had experienced working in a group home for adults and offered to come a couple of hours to sit with her husband so that the lady could do some errands. At that moment, she felt more like her old self. Within each of us is the seed of divine love that God has placed in our hearts and we simply have to be present to respond to his call to service. This is the essence of the Gospel message to his young disciples,that we are at our best when we serve rather than being served.

In a few moments, you will experience Holy Family at their best serving you a dinner with lots of meatballs and sauce to thank you for your generous support of this reborn Catholic community. (Note: over 200 visitors came to enjoy a delicious dinner). Please remember that we are truly grateful for your presence, prayers and compassion. We welcome you back, especially all who use to call this your “home parish” of St Nicholas. Our mission statement says, “open doors, open minds and open hearts.” We are a Catholic community that respects the pope and our Catholic roots, celebrates the same seven sacraments for over 122 years and live in this spirit everyday in our homes, on our farms and in this beautiful church.

The people of Holy Family are no strangers to rejection or the bitterness of jealousy or coldness of those who walk away from us. But we a resilient community and choose to follow the Jesus on the cross and giving ourselves to Jesus without bitterness, without self-pity, holding our Catholic ideals intact, gracious, respectful, forgiving, without losing our balance, Jesus meaning, or living His message. This is our test and we face it daily here at Holy Family and I am proud to serve as their Shepherd and thank you sincerely from my heart for your ongoing support.

The Wooden Bowl

 A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. We must do something about father, said the son. I have had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor. So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.  When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, What are you making? Just as sweetly, the boy responded, Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so shock the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

I have learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.  I have learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you will miss them when they are gone from your life. I have learned that making a 'living is not the same thing as making a life. I have learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I have learned that you should not go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back sometimes. I have learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you but, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

Finally, I have learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.  I have learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

God is walking with us this morning when we pray: “You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.” (Exodus 30:29).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they welcome into their homes anyone who feels empty and alone. Make our hearts generous with your spirit of love and understanding.

Autumn Prayer

 

As I walk into the stream, I am searching for the shot that expresses the essence of Autumn. There is much color, but I also see the bends in the creek and the stones that shine above the waters. This is our life journey, filled with possibilities that come from  walking in the hands of God where we find inner peace. Offer this Autumn prayer and imagine yourself walking along with me through this stream.

God of the seasons, there is a time for everything; there is a time for dying and a time for rising. We need courage to enter into the transformation process.

God of autumn, the trees are saying goodbye to their green, letting go of what has been. We, too, have our moments of surrender, with all their insecurity and risk. Help us to let go when we need to do so.

God of fallen leaves lying in colored patterns on the ground, our lives have their own patterns. As we see the patterns of our own growth, may we learn from them.

God of misty days and harvest moon nights, there is always the dimension of mystery and wonder in our lives. We always need to recognize your power-filled presence. May we gain strength from this.

God of harvest wagons and fields of ripened grain, many gifts of growth lie within the season of our surrender. We must wait for harvest in faith and hope. Grant us patience when we do not see the blessings.

God of geese going south for another season, your wisdom enables us to know what needs to be left behind and what needs to be carried into the future. We yearn for insight and vision.

God of flowers touched with frost and windows wearing white designs, may your love keep our hearts from growing cold in the empty seasons.

God of life, you believe in us, you enrich us, you entrust us with the freedom to choose life. For all this, we are grateful.

God is walking with us this morning when we pray: “Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees in the woods will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord.” (Psalm 96: 12-13).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they welcome this beautiful season of Autumn that we develop a greater understanding of how much we need to befriend inner darkness.