Five Surprising Places to Meet God

 

 

Many of us fall into the subtle trap of thinking the only place to find God is at church. If we’re not expecting to find God everywhere, we might just miss great opportunities for help, healing, and spiritual growth. Here are five places where God awaits you:

At Work

The relationships you have, the results you achieve, the quality with which you do your work can all be the stuff of holiness. Each day we “suit up and show up” at work we get opportunities to learn more about ourselves and to contribute our gifts to the good of the world.

In Difficult Relationships

It’s easy to love other people when everything’s going well. But when there are hurt feelings, mistrust, or clashing wills, relationships don’t feel very much as though they are of God. Yet it is at just those times, that we can witness the movement of God in our lives, leading us to healing, trust, and cooperation.

 

In Our Failings

 

We all like to be heroes. But it’s a given that each of us will fail in our lives. Nevertheless, when we hit our limits or even when we sin, we can turn to God for acceptance, mercy, and the strength to make amends and sin no more. In that turning to God and in our opening ourselves up to God’s grace and forgiveness, we become better people.

In Loneliness

Rather than trying to fill the emptiness with mindless entertainment or indulging our cravings, sit still and find God in the emptiness. It takes patience and courage and humility, but you will hear the “still small voice” of God even in the midst of your emptiness responding to your loneliness and restlessness with the only love that fully satisfies.

In Pleasure

Many people seem to think that if something’s fun, it must be at least partially wrong. Yet God gives us the world to live in and enjoy. In the words of St. Ireneaus, the “glory of God is a human being fully alive.” Therefore, pleasure is a place to meet God, whether it be the pleasure of nature, of playing, of loving one another, of beauty, or of the occasional overwhelming conviction that we are loved by God.

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends, that they experience your warmth in these surprising moments. The image comes from a Sonshine Friend who took this stunning photo in Maine. Take a moment to meet God in the glory of His creation.

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You’re invited to follow the link below to enjoy the beauty reflected in images captured in the photography of Father Matt.  Let the vibrancy of color and the clarity of vision refresh your spirit and elevate your mood.  Proceeds will support the ministries of our parish and comfort home:

www.frmatt.com

 

None Did Her In

 

Think about this for a moment: “Are Catholics depressing?” If you visit a museum in person or online and check out images of the Blessed Mother, you might easily get depressed viewing painting after painting portraying Mary with tears welling in her eyes and rolling down her cheeks. What’s that all about?

 

Some people refer to Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows, with images reflecting the struggles, the trials, and the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary: from the moment after the Angel invited her to become the Mother of Jesus to the many sorrows to come later, including:

 

-     The challenge of explaining to her fiancé, Joseph, and her family, all that the Angel Gabriel shared with her about her role in becoming the Mother of Jesus, and enduring the judgment of some in the community…

 

-     Not finding any room in an inn and the resulting less-than-ideal circumstances of giving birth in a cave, and then caring for a newborn in a manger…

 

-     The painful prophecy of Simeon speaking of how a “sword” would pierce her heart…

 

-     Yet another prophecy foretelling Mary at the foot of the Cross watching her only son die a humiliating, torturous death…

 

-     The sorrow and anxiety she experienced when Jesus was lost in the temple…

 

-     And other sorrows that we can imagine when she sees or hears how Jesus is misunderstood by the crowds in their home of Nazareth, and when she experiences the negativity of the various religious leaders of the day that Jesus encounters.

 

These events have not been recorded and shared with us for the purpose of depressing us.  Quite the opposite! We are called to remember and reflect on these events, in part, to help us realize that “good news” does not mean we are always going to experience happy, joyful things, or a pleasant, comfortable environment all the time. The Good News was and is that none of those challenges “did her in.” 

 

Yes, Mary encountered real sorrow. But they were never lasting sorrows. And that is the Good News for her and for us: God has never and will never abandon us.

 

So, you may be experiencing sorrow in our world today in one or many areas of your life, for example:

- Not being able to visit family in a nursing home

- Planning to “celebrate” Thanksgiving this year at home alone, without joining or inviting extended family or friends so as to maintain social distance

- Struggling with sorrow after the death of a close friend or family member ~ perhaps someone you were not able to see in person recently due to social distancing.

 

The key is following Mary’s example by not losing our faith and abandoning Jesus when we, too, encounter sorrows. Instead, as Mary did, let us cling to Him ever more tightly, trusting that what He has done for our mother, He wants to do for each of us as His beloved sons and daughters.

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that we realize You hear our every prayer, dry every tear, and hold us close when we feel “done in.”

 

You’re invited to follow the link below to enjoy the beauty reflected in images captured in the photography of Father Matt.  Let the vibrancy of color and the clarity of vision refresh your spirit and elevate your mood.  Proceeds will support the ministries of our parish and comfort home:

www.frmatt.com

 

 

 

 

 

Fr. Matt's Photo Website

 

 

About a month ago, an international photographer and longtime friend said: “When are you going to have a website with your photos.” To myself I said, whose he kidding, I’m no professional. But… and that’s no excuse, his needling was the motivation to learn how to design a photo website.

 

So, humbly, the following is the “bio” I wrote for the website, and directions how to download Fr. Matt’s Photography:www.frmatt.com

 

“In my next life, I will be an award winning, nationally acclaimed photographer. My work will feature stunning images seen in many of the country’s most prestigious publications. My landscape images will have earned a reputation as one of the finest nature and outdoor photographers in the country.

 

However, I am a ’late bloomer.’ I have humbly served for 43 years as a Catholic hospital chaplain, trauma first responder, parish priest and shepherd to a flock in a rural Wyoming County, NY.

 

I have studied with the help of two gifted photographers, OJ Roth and Brandon Vick, to be a landscape photographer along with my dynamic spiritual stories to focus on capturing the natural beauty of a location. My images highlight the stunning beauty of our national parks, botanical gardens and artistic stain glass designs. Some recent projects include photographing, Glacier National Park, Banff Provincial Park, Picture Rock National Lakeshore, Bryce National Park, Antelope Canyon, as well as, historic lighthouses, covered bridges and stain glass designs from nationwide cathedrals.

 

My goal is to help you fall in love with the locations I visit by sharing my vision and passion through unique photography. I offer imagery with a dynamic storytelling twist to my parishioners, Sonshine Friends and fine art clients.

 

You can see my work by visiting my website and read about my journey on my popular blog Fr. Matt’s Sonshine: http://fathermatt.blogspot.com and my photos: Fr. Matt’s Photography: www.frmatt.com

 

My wish is that these photos find a happy home so that they can be loved and enjoyed for many years. I will use a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these images to support a comfort home for the dying on the grounds of my church and to support the many ministries of our faith community.”

 

We need your support to continue the awesome ministries of our parish.

You can help by forwarding this website: www.frmatt.com to your friends, neighbors, co-workers and email lists of fans and supporters. 

 

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that we truly are grateful for the beauty of Your creation. May we praise you and give thanks for all the gifts you shower upon our family and friends.

Power of Prayer

                                                        

Where does your power come from these days? I sat in front of my computer this morning and when I clicked, the screen was dead. Thank God I knew it was not a “blue screen” which means a bad bug got into your system

 

Rather, I had left my power cord back in the office and my computer had run out of gas. well, not literally, but you get the idea. So, I borrowed another power cord and plugged into the outlet, hit the switch, and for a few moments waited for the power to come on. We’re at 7% as I write this reflection.

 

So, I give you this thought for today. When things go dark, when you are running out of energy, or when you’re pulling out your hair worried about kids on the bus going to school this morning say this prayer and pass it on.

 

Lord, we pray for our students and teachers this morning going back to school. We pray for their health and safety as classrooms and schools have been modified to allow for proper social distancing and hygiene. We pray for the janitorial staff and cafeteria workers, as well as the office staff; we pray that you would keep them safe and protected from the virus. Please protect the families of the students and teachers as they return home each day; please slow the spread of the virus so that it would not infect these families. Lord, we pray for the energy of their teachers that they will be able to plan their lessons and teach all their students, also that the students will be able to learn and keep up with their lessons. We pray for their spiritual growth, in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

 

Now that you drove your kids to school or sent them off on the bus, get yourself a cup of coffee and have a good cry. It will help to relieve your stress and bring you closer to God. Now that’s the power of prayer.