As I spoke last week sharing my faith and knowledge with my middle school students, I referenced Pontius Pilot and his line "What is truth?" to Jesus during The Passion.
In the setting of a Catholic school, (and the personality of many of these little ones I have in my life) the student's view of truth is still very black and white and a beautiful witness to that "faith as a child." You see kids have a trust (for better or worse) that teaches us all too often jaded adults that there is something good and desirable about believing one another and placing our mind, body, and/or heart in another's.
And this is beauty.
Beauty is a trust in our Creator's goodness. It is first recognizing beauty which means relinquishing our cynical, jaded, negative views to allow the positive, bright, and good to wash over us. It secondly is a trust that the good will prevail over the bad, that life will overcome death, that love will overcome pain and sorrow, and that truth will overcome deception.
I'm glad I wrote this last weekend because today I am all too jaded and blinded by bitterness. The negativity is a powerful vine that creeps in and cracks open a good foundation...don't let it! Continue to see the beauty around and especially in you.
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Crazy Beautiful Trust.
Life is Beautiful… crazy beautiful that is!
For anyone that knows me, I can get a little overwhelmed,
stressed, highly strung, etc. for no good reason and when one is so wound up
about x, y, and z they tend to miss the beautiful little things occurring in
their life (and sometimes even the big red flags that God is trying to show
them).
So I just wanted to take a conscience moment to be grateful
for a few of the beautiful and wonderful blessings in my life. Even though I
was aware and grateful in the moment for the following, part of me didn’t fully
embrace all the beauty because I felt there was something else to do when God
really just wanted to give me the energy, grace, and wisdom to truly do those
other things.
Thank you God and the people that let Him be a light in
them.
For a phone call from a friend in a different country.
For a letter from a friend who is starting her first year of
teaching as well.
For the many hugs I’ve received this week.
For a phone call from a friend who is Wise and Beautiful and
Inspiring.
“When you get older you
become wiser, not because you’re older, but because younger people come into
your life and teach you.”
May we all be Children of
God and Trust in His Goodness and Mercy. <3
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Happy Father's Day!
A Happy Father's Day for all those men who are biologically and physically fathers.
But an even more Blessed* Father's Day for all fathers of souls, who have laid down their lives every day for the concern of the salvation of their children's souls.
The two types of fathers are not mutually exclusive but rather than solely praise the physical fathers, I wish to point out the calling that all men are to be Fathers.
To all Men:
To my brothers in Christ (seminarians and dear male friends):
Even if you haven't committed yet to bearing the responsibility of fathering children's souls, you men have a great impact on their journey. Be men, be Fathers, lay down your life as Christ for the Church (Ephesians 5:25). Your lives illuminate to women how to live in God's blessedness. Thank you!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*In Matthew 5, Jesus uses Blessed to begin his Sermon on the Mount (aka the Beatitudes) because He preaches true happiness or true blessedness comes from being poor, meek, merciful, persecuted, etc., that is to lay down ones' life. At the end of the chapter, He encourages them to live the Beatitudes (the Blessedness) so that they "may be the children of your Father in heaven" and to "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." I encourage you to read Matthew 5 today and/or Ephesians 5 to nourish and inspire you as fathers.
But an even more Blessed* Father's Day for all fathers of souls, who have laid down their lives every day for the concern of the salvation of their children's souls.
The two types of fathers are not mutually exclusive but rather than solely praise the physical fathers, I wish to point out the calling that all men are to be Fathers.
To all Men:
- God called you in a tangible way to mirror His Love, His Fatherly Love, on earth.
- All men are called to be fathers.
- Some men (priests, religious brothers, and married men) have willfully responded to the call and taken the responsibility of bringing souls to God. THANK YOU!
To my brothers in Christ (seminarians and dear male friends):
Even if you haven't committed yet to bearing the responsibility of fathering children's souls, you men have a great impact on their journey. Be men, be Fathers, lay down your life as Christ for the Church (Ephesians 5:25). Your lives illuminate to women how to live in God's blessedness. Thank you!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*In Matthew 5, Jesus uses Blessed to begin his Sermon on the Mount (aka the Beatitudes) because He preaches true happiness or true blessedness comes from being poor, meek, merciful, persecuted, etc., that is to lay down ones' life. At the end of the chapter, He encourages them to live the Beatitudes (the Blessedness) so that they "may be the children of your Father in heaven" and to "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." I encourage you to read Matthew 5 today and/or Ephesians 5 to nourish and inspire you as fathers.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A glimpse through God's glasses
If I took a picture
of all the beautiful things I see,
the album would be a duplicate
of the eyes of God.
of all the beautiful things I see,
the album would be a duplicate
of the eyes of God.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Author
I started to write this blog not to be known but to be a light in this dark world.
I never wanted this blog to be about me, the author, but rather show that The Author is there in any and every moment, even the dark ones.
I wanted to always be genuine but sometimes I have to write to convince myself.
With that said, I just want to say today, I know I am not alone, so you, the one who has just stumbled upon this, is not alone either. The Author only writes Love stories; keep reading.
This chapter may not be your fairy tale moment but is necessary in your story. Embrace it and keep going. You may feel you know where this story is going or that no matter how it ends this chapter has gone on far too long to redeem this book.
Keep reading.
There are days when we put down our story, we curl up and don't want to read anymore. Keep reading.
The Author is not done writing, so don't stop reading.
I never wanted this blog to be about me, the author, but rather show that The Author is there in any and every moment, even the dark ones.
I wanted to always be genuine but sometimes I have to write to convince myself.
With that said, I just want to say today, I know I am not alone, so you, the one who has just stumbled upon this, is not alone either. The Author only writes Love stories; keep reading.
This chapter may not be your fairy tale moment but is necessary in your story. Embrace it and keep going. You may feel you know where this story is going or that no matter how it ends this chapter has gone on far too long to redeem this book.
Keep reading.
There are days when we put down our story, we curl up and don't want to read anymore. Keep reading.
The Author is not done writing, so don't stop reading.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
baby
You always keep growing, changing.
Some can look on that cynically,
as you have nothing to hold on to,
or as, you have no roots that stay.
Can you ever know...
can you ever know
another?
Can you ever know your self
when you keep growing, changing?
But I think it's something quite
miraculous,
Something not just to
behold.
It's Life.
It's Living,
growing, changing.
Some can look on that cynically,
as you have nothing to hold on to,
or as, you have no roots that stay.
Can you ever know...
can you ever know
another?
Can you ever know your self
when you keep growing, changing?
But I think it's something quite
miraculous,
Something not just to
behold.
It's Life.
It's Living,
growing, changing.
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Picture This.
Grey.
Rocky, muddy, bare trees, dead leaves, climbing up and down and around a hill, foggy, misty, cold, damp and in the low 40s.
A small group of religious pilgrims are praying a scriptural rosary, walking through nature. They're praying the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary to be exact. They are followers of The Cross; they are following a crucifix on a large wooden cross.
A young boy, small and around the age of 7 or so, begs his daddy to carry the cross, and his father lets him.
The 4th Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus Carries His Cross.
So the boy struggles at each Hail Mary picking up the cross that's probably half his body weight to the next bead, the next scripture. As Jesus faltered with His Cross, so too this little boy struggles with the weight of this cross. Half-way through the decade, almost knocked over, the boy stumbles and his father reaches out to steady him and the cross. The scripture follows "and Simon the Cyrene helped Jesus carry his cross," and the father continues to hold the cross and hold the weight.
The father helps carry the cross with the boy the rest of the way and I understand Simon the Cyrene carrying the cross with Jesus; I understand how Jesus was able to even carry the cross: the Father is always holding the cross, bearing the weight, and steadying us on our journey.
What a beautiful picture it was indeed.
Rocky, muddy, bare trees, dead leaves, climbing up and down and around a hill, foggy, misty, cold, damp and in the low 40s.
A small group of religious pilgrims are praying a scriptural rosary, walking through nature. They're praying the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary to be exact. They are followers of The Cross; they are following a crucifix on a large wooden cross.
A young boy, small and around the age of 7 or so, begs his daddy to carry the cross, and his father lets him.
The 4th Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus Carries His Cross.
So the boy struggles at each Hail Mary picking up the cross that's probably half his body weight to the next bead, the next scripture. As Jesus faltered with His Cross, so too this little boy struggles with the weight of this cross. Half-way through the decade, almost knocked over, the boy stumbles and his father reaches out to steady him and the cross. The scripture follows "and Simon the Cyrene helped Jesus carry his cross," and the father continues to hold the cross and hold the weight.
The father helps carry the cross with the boy the rest of the way and I understand Simon the Cyrene carrying the cross with Jesus; I understand how Jesus was able to even carry the cross: the Father is always holding the cross, bearing the weight, and steadying us on our journey.
What a beautiful picture it was indeed.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Radical
I'm not talking about the square root operation or the irrational number. I'm talking about the extreme, not mediocre, not average way to live.
RADICAL.
Pause for a moment and think to yourself what does it mean to you to be radical.
To me it is the courageous and fearless attitude to not conform. Now this could be a two-edged sword. On one hand being radical and not conforming could be a hindrance to unity. But if we are United in the Spirit and the Church and are Radical for Christ then we fearlessly follow Him and are not afraid to stand out against society's suffocation of material, selfishness, and immorality, but courageously and joyfully live who we are which is Radical to society.
It pumps me up to see people of all ages and especially the young thirsting and trying to be Radical for Christ. It's happening. Don't believe me because you don't see it around you? Then you try and be a little radical today. Perhaps you can stand up for someone, something you believe in. Remember that we can be Radical and Not Afraid because Christ sent His Spirit in us. Not I Lord, but You that Live in me. RADICAL!
RADICAL.
Pause for a moment and think to yourself what does it mean to you to be radical.
To me it is the courageous and fearless attitude to not conform. Now this could be a two-edged sword. On one hand being radical and not conforming could be a hindrance to unity. But if we are United in the Spirit and the Church and are Radical for Christ then we fearlessly follow Him and are not afraid to stand out against society's suffocation of material, selfishness, and immorality, but courageously and joyfully live who we are which is Radical to society.
It pumps me up to see people of all ages and especially the young thirsting and trying to be Radical for Christ. It's happening. Don't believe me because you don't see it around you? Then you try and be a little radical today. Perhaps you can stand up for someone, something you believe in. Remember that we can be Radical and Not Afraid because Christ sent His Spirit in us. Not I Lord, but You that Live in me. RADICAL!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Communication Received is best Responded with a Smile.
E-mails from spiritual directors, religious sisters, and holy women of God equates to feeling extremely blessed and joyful! :)
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Snow Day.
The world stops for a moment, a morning, an afternoon, a day or two. In this silent and beautiful gift, people of all ages become children again. The excitement of such a mysterious sight, even though science and natural knowledge has long foretold and explained this precipatory event, is still a mystery.
It stirs the hearts of fond memories and days with family and friends celebrating togetherness. Plans are cancelled; care-free timelessness is shared; no longer are we anxious and busy with lists of to-dos. Rather, we are living simply, enjoying what seems to be the "more time in the day" that we always wish for albeit its mocking contradiction to physics.
How can it be so beautiful, so captivating?
It stirs the hearts of fond memories and days with family and friends celebrating togetherness. Plans are cancelled; care-free timelessness is shared; no longer are we anxious and busy with lists of to-dos. Rather, we are living simply, enjoying what seems to be the "more time in the day" that we always wish for albeit its mocking contradiction to physics.
Today we celebrate; a snow day!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Open.
I was talking to a beautiful woman today and the conversation went something like this:
Beautiful Woman: You just have to be open.
Me: Well sure I do and I can say, 'Yes Lord I am open,' but how do you really BE open?
Beautiful Woman: To be open is to read God in every day.
Ahh.. Being open to God is surely all of those things that you already know. Being patient, listening, and most of all trusting. But when perhaps you feel you are already doing all of those things it comes to your intention and your outlook. Where is God today?
He is EVERYWHERE. So in what ways is He speaking to you?
Be aware of them. Give God the Glory for them.
"And the Word became Flesh."
HE is present today. HE is in one another and HE is the author of all, writing a story right now. Enjoy. :)
Beautiful Woman: You just have to be open.
Me: Well sure I do and I can say, 'Yes Lord I am open,' but how do you really BE open?
Beautiful Woman: To be open is to read God in every day.
Ahh.. Being open to God is surely all of those things that you already know. Being patient, listening, and most of all trusting. But when perhaps you feel you are already doing all of those things it comes to your intention and your outlook. Where is God today?
He is EVERYWHERE. So in what ways is He speaking to you?
Be aware of them. Give God the Glory for them.
"And the Word became Flesh."
HE is present today. HE is in one another and HE is the author of all, writing a story right now. Enjoy. :)
Monday, December 06, 2010
HOLY SPIRIT!!!
No really, If my heart could explode on to this page (screen) I'm not even sure if it would come close to the magnitude the Holy Spirit consumes my life and the lives of those I love and am surrounded by.
Especially in light that the Holy Spirit is the Spouse of Mary (and the by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived a son, Jesus), it is beautiful to focus on the Holy Spirit as an indwelling in us. Ya know, "through Him, with Him, IN Him, IN the unity of the Holy Spirit..." In fact we are consumed with that same indwelling and in a sense are pregnant too, pregnant with the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes we can be heavy hearted or feel that we are bearing a heavy load especially as a deadline, climax, or radical conversion point approaches. Well in fact we are. We, like Mary, are pregnant, long-expecting, bearing a load that may be trying but produces fruit like none before. The fruit we produce is the Fruit of the Spirit by the Gifts of the Spirit that the Holy Spirit has conceived in us by the Grace of Himself that is the Spirit while Mary produces THE Fruit of the World, Jesus Christ Our Lord.
So, we too, say YES and receive and then give of that Gift so that the Fruit in our lives and for our lives is a resounding hymn that speaks of our gratitude for Him.
All Glory Be to God, the Holy Spirit.
No really, If my heart could explode on to this page (screen) I'm not even sure if it would come close to the magnitude the Holy Spirit consumes my life and the lives of those I love and am surrounded by.
Especially in light that the Holy Spirit is the Spouse of Mary (and the by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived a son, Jesus), it is beautiful to focus on the Holy Spirit as an indwelling in us. Ya know, "through Him, with Him, IN Him, IN the unity of the Holy Spirit..." In fact we are consumed with that same indwelling and in a sense are pregnant too, pregnant with the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes we can be heavy hearted or feel that we are bearing a heavy load especially as a deadline, climax, or radical conversion point approaches. Well in fact we are. We, like Mary, are pregnant, long-expecting, bearing a load that may be trying but produces fruit like none before. The fruit we produce is the Fruit of the Spirit by the Gifts of the Spirit that the Holy Spirit has conceived in us by the Grace of Himself that is the Spirit while Mary produces THE Fruit of the World, Jesus Christ Our Lord.
So, we too, say YES and receive and then give of that Gift so that the Fruit in our lives and for our lives is a resounding hymn that speaks of our gratitude for Him.
All Glory Be to God, the Holy Spirit.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Blessed in the Ordinary
Today was just a beautiful day of ordinary events.
I came to realize that all of the happenings of my life today were extremely ordinary, routine, day-to-day occurrences but the fact that I get to experience them is quite extraordinary. I am so blest! I don't think I can stress that enough.
It started with Mass (in communion with Awesome Saints like St. Andrew!), then prayer and Adoration (silence and time to gaze at The Most Beautiful, Christ Himself), followed by filling up my car with gas and grocery shopping filling my cart half with fall produce of 3 types of squashes and eggplant the other half with cheese and a little turkey and sausage and bread (how fortunate am I to leisurely grocery shop and run errands and not worry about not having food to eat or any means to go to work), next came dropping off the recycling (it's nice to feel like a good citizen of Mother Earth), and then to the post office (mailing packages to make someone smile always feels good), then breakfast (fed when most people in the world go hungry), work (yay for helping students understand Calculus), sending e-mails (the invention of the internet connects us and makes us able to progress so rapidly; it's incredible), quick hello to the roommate who was making dinner for both of us, prayer with Jesus exposed, dinner with the most amazing roommate with no other distractions and then a fun conversation of reliving our junior high and high-school days that made us feel like little girls again, a cookie and a brownie and a glass of milk for her and i respectively and off to bed for her and a little math homework for me and then prayer and bed.
I almost want to cry how simple but Beautiful it truly was. This day didn't have any life-changing moments or super-memorable points for years to come but it also didn't have any struggles, drama, tension, or difficulties. Today was such a gift from God who Loved me in each little moment and event.
I came to realize that all of the happenings of my life today were extremely ordinary, routine, day-to-day occurrences but the fact that I get to experience them is quite extraordinary. I am so blest! I don't think I can stress that enough.
It started with Mass (in communion with Awesome Saints like St. Andrew!), then prayer and Adoration (silence and time to gaze at The Most Beautiful, Christ Himself), followed by filling up my car with gas and grocery shopping filling my cart half with fall produce of 3 types of squashes and eggplant the other half with cheese and a little turkey and sausage and bread (how fortunate am I to leisurely grocery shop and run errands and not worry about not having food to eat or any means to go to work), next came dropping off the recycling (it's nice to feel like a good citizen of Mother Earth), and then to the post office (mailing packages to make someone smile always feels good), then breakfast (fed when most people in the world go hungry), work (yay for helping students understand Calculus), sending e-mails (the invention of the internet connects us and makes us able to progress so rapidly; it's incredible), quick hello to the roommate who was making dinner for both of us, prayer with Jesus exposed, dinner with the most amazing roommate with no other distractions and then a fun conversation of reliving our junior high and high-school days that made us feel like little girls again, a cookie and a brownie and a glass of milk for her and i respectively and off to bed for her and a little math homework for me and then prayer and bed.
I almost want to cry how simple but Beautiful it truly was. This day didn't have any life-changing moments or super-memorable points for years to come but it also didn't have any struggles, drama, tension, or difficulties. Today was such a gift from God who Loved me in each little moment and event.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Serving Joy
"The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking, but of justice, peace, and the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves Christ in this way pleases God and wins the esteem of men. Let us, then, make it our aim to work for peace and to strengthen one another." -Romans 14:17-19It has been too long since I have updated and today's reading from Morning Prayer is a great starting point to ponder. Especially on a day when we focus on eating and drinking, we give thanks for these things but, we are deeply grateful for those of justice, peace, and joy.
I, myself, am a fan of joy! I am a fan of all the forementioned virtues, but knowing that the kingdom of God is a matter of joy, a gift of the Holy Spirit, makes my heart burn deeply with gratitude and Love. In this time of joy shared by one another may we aim to serve Christ in whatever way He asks us to serve one another for the Glory of God and our Salvation.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
On my drive back from Tulsa late this morning I was surprised with how much beauty I had missed on the way up there. This always seems to happen after spiritual direction and really in any situation after unloading a heavy burden or even a slight inconvenience. When you let go of your burdens you are able to receive so much more which can include more responsibility sometimes but often includes so many gifts.
So back to my drive. There I was traveling along the 1 or 2 miles of side road that I travel before getting on the highway meanwhile spotting some absolutely breathtaking colors of fall foliage on the trees. When this question came to me.
Why is it that certain trees are purely brightly colored on every leaf while planted right next to a tree that is completely brown and another completely green? Do these cluster of trees not receive the same amount of light, do they not have roots in the same soil, are they not watered in the same way? Then why do they produce different colors?
You see though, we are very much like these trees. Though we experience different events and happenings in our lives we also share quite a bit of similarities. Many of us have similar upbringings (roots) and get educated in similar manners (nourished) and receive the same Love from the Father (the sun/Son). Yet we all show many different colors. Why is it that one or two trees outshine the others in the realm of beautiful colors. It is because they are receptive to the nourishment they are given.
Ahh. Receive. In a similar manner that I opened my eyes to receive the beautiful gift of the picturesque landscape before me, letting go of our burdens, our plans, our independence, depending on the Father and Trusting in the Lord allows us to receive whatever He has for us.
Receive the picture the Lord has for you and become a beautiful color of Love in this world.
So back to my drive. There I was traveling along the 1 or 2 miles of side road that I travel before getting on the highway meanwhile spotting some absolutely breathtaking colors of fall foliage on the trees. When this question came to me.
Why is it that certain trees are purely brightly colored on every leaf while planted right next to a tree that is completely brown and another completely green? Do these cluster of trees not receive the same amount of light, do they not have roots in the same soil, are they not watered in the same way? Then why do they produce different colors?
You see though, we are very much like these trees. Though we experience different events and happenings in our lives we also share quite a bit of similarities. Many of us have similar upbringings (roots) and get educated in similar manners (nourished) and receive the same Love from the Father (the sun/Son). Yet we all show many different colors. Why is it that one or two trees outshine the others in the realm of beautiful colors. It is because they are receptive to the nourishment they are given.
Ahh. Receive. In a similar manner that I opened my eyes to receive the beautiful gift of the picturesque landscape before me, letting go of our burdens, our plans, our independence, depending on the Father and Trusting in the Lord allows us to receive whatever He has for us.
Receive the picture the Lord has for you and become a beautiful color of Love in this world.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Perspective
Life is beautiful in one perspective, but sometimes looking at it through a different light can be quite breathtaking.
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