Gregorian chants are rich and beautiful to my ears. Listening has, at different times, enhanced my inward spiritual journey. They have calmed in times of disturbance, lifted up in times when my heart was downcast, been sweet as honey when I have taken time to contemplate the beauty and Mystery of Christ, added peace and depth to my prayers...and so much more. Imagine my surprise to find the following:
Out of the mouth of babes!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Soccer
Even though my son played soccer his senior year of high school...you could put what I know about the game on a post-it note. Fortunately for me, he was the goalie so it was pretty obvious when he "did good"!
But, even I know enough to know that this is a pretty incredible kick...
From the Yahoo! Sports Blog: Down 3-1 to Hillsboro at halftime, the Wilmington girls soccer team seemed destined to fall to 2-6, all but eliminating them from postseason contention. But Wilmington star Lauren Lewis wasn't done yet, adding two second half goals as Wilmington's defense stiffened, pushing the game towards a tie with the final seconds ticking away.
That's when Wilmington somehow won a free kick on a penalty just over the Hillsboro side of the field. Without time to think, Amina Affini lined up a 40-yard free kick and gave the ball a boot ... and watched it sail in untouched, slipping above Hillsboro's goalie, who couldn't adjust her positioning from the ball's trajectory in time to keep it out.
The shot hit the back of the net with just 5.4 seconds left, leaving only a kick off and subsequent long ball back to Wilmington's own keeper to salt away an incredibly unlikely victory.
Way to go girls!
But, even I know enough to know that this is a pretty incredible kick...
From the Yahoo! Sports Blog: Down 3-1 to Hillsboro at halftime, the Wilmington girls soccer team seemed destined to fall to 2-6, all but eliminating them from postseason contention. But Wilmington star Lauren Lewis wasn't done yet, adding two second half goals as Wilmington's defense stiffened, pushing the game towards a tie with the final seconds ticking away.
That's when Wilmington somehow won a free kick on a penalty just over the Hillsboro side of the field. Without time to think, Amina Affini lined up a 40-yard free kick and gave the ball a boot ... and watched it sail in untouched, slipping above Hillsboro's goalie, who couldn't adjust her positioning from the ball's trajectory in time to keep it out.
The shot hit the back of the net with just 5.4 seconds left, leaving only a kick off and subsequent long ball back to Wilmington's own keeper to salt away an incredibly unlikely victory.
Way to go girls!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Better to
...light a candle than to curse the darkness. (Chinese Proverb)
Or
by Asbo Jesus
Two ways to say the same thing? Both involve candles, light and darkness...both have the same message as to how to rid yourself of darkness. But if it is emotional or spiritual darkness...who or what is your candle then?
Or
by Asbo Jesus
Two ways to say the same thing? Both involve candles, light and darkness...both have the same message as to how to rid yourself of darkness. But if it is emotional or spiritual darkness...who or what is your candle then?
Monday, September 27, 2010
Humility...
As a Youth Director, it is easy to get caught up in the everyday mechanics of the job. Planning fund raisers, making reservations, checking permission slips and medical releases and a thousand other little parts of what it takes to keep things moving along. But what of the lessons to teach? What about reaching out to one or more of your young people who you know is really hurting? Or perhaps taking a step or two on the wrong path? What about the example I set when I'm harried by the world and living life with a full time job, home and family to care for?
How much time do I spend on my knees (literally or figuratively) to fill my soul with the nourishment that comes only with time spent at the feet of Christ? How much time do I spend reading and studying, or attending a lecture or class so that I can learn and grow in my own faith walk? How much time do I spend just reveling in and enjoying my family and my life? For these aspects are as important (if not more so).
If I forget a permission slip, will the world end? If I don't get snacks for the next gathering, will anyone starve? If I don't print out the pictures from our latest trip, will anyone be hurt if they have to wait an extra week to see them? Of course the answer to all these is NO! Someone might think I'm a little less than organized, a little sloppy with my paperwork but no one is really hurt by any of this.
If I don't spend time nurturing my own soul, not only will I be affected, but all those around me. Those I am trying to teach and lead by example will see the shell, the shadow of me...not the developing, ever growing, ever reaching follower who places God as her first priority. To be lackadaisical with my own soul will have an impact on far more than just me...and God will call me to task for this.
I cannot describe the peace, love and joy (along with 50 other adjectives) that I receive leading and loving these young people. It is a gift and a treasure. How appalling would it to be to be anything less than Christ calls me to be, than God equips me to be in nurturing them? For in walking with them, I grow with every step.
How much time do I spend on my knees (literally or figuratively) to fill my soul with the nourishment that comes only with time spent at the feet of Christ? How much time do I spend reading and studying, or attending a lecture or class so that I can learn and grow in my own faith walk? How much time do I spend just reveling in and enjoying my family and my life? For these aspects are as important (if not more so).
If I forget a permission slip, will the world end? If I don't get snacks for the next gathering, will anyone starve? If I don't print out the pictures from our latest trip, will anyone be hurt if they have to wait an extra week to see them? Of course the answer to all these is NO! Someone might think I'm a little less than organized, a little sloppy with my paperwork but no one is really hurt by any of this.
If I don't spend time nurturing my own soul, not only will I be affected, but all those around me. Those I am trying to teach and lead by example will see the shell, the shadow of me...not the developing, ever growing, ever reaching follower who places God as her first priority. To be lackadaisical with my own soul will have an impact on far more than just me...and God will call me to task for this.
I cannot describe the peace, love and joy (along with 50 other adjectives) that I receive leading and loving these young people. It is a gift and a treasure. How appalling would it to be to be anything less than Christ calls me to be, than God equips me to be in nurturing them? For in walking with them, I grow with every step.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Prehistoric Art
I believe that art and music are created within the soul and are spiritual expressions...
For years I have been fascinated by the prehistoric cave paintings found throughout the world. I can't help but believe that those who were able to throw off the limitations of their time and create such beauty were truly close to God and the earth...
Whether the paintings were created as a form of storytelling, as a pictorial history or merely to beautify their living space...
I am pleased they have been preserved to be enjoyed even today...to check out one such site...visit here.
Enjoy!
For years I have been fascinated by the prehistoric cave paintings found throughout the world. I can't help but believe that those who were able to throw off the limitations of their time and create such beauty were truly close to God and the earth...
Whether the paintings were created as a form of storytelling, as a pictorial history or merely to beautify their living space...
I am pleased they have been preserved to be enjoyed even today...to check out one such site...visit here.
Enjoy!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Harvest Moon!
I've always thought it was called the "Harvest Moon" just because of the time of year. Little did I know it actually earned it's name because it allowed farmers to harvest into the night. Imagine picking crops by the light of the moon...(there ought to be a song in there somewhere!).
Last night was what they call a "Super Harvest Moon" and it won't happen again until 2029...When the summer sun starts setting this evening, it will blend with the rising autumn moon to produce a unique "360-degree style" twilight. The two low-in-the-sky light sources mix together and illuminate the sky all around you, unlike the typical one-at-a-time approach you usually see. And it's from this extra twilight lighting that the Harvest Moon gained its place in the celestial calendar. With farmers depending on moonlight to harvest their crops, they would note the autumnal full moon. Thus the phenomenon's name.
So, in case you missed it...like I did...here's a picture to enjoy!
(additional info from CNN Living)
Last night was what they call a "Super Harvest Moon" and it won't happen again until 2029...When the summer sun starts setting this evening, it will blend with the rising autumn moon to produce a unique "360-degree style" twilight. The two low-in-the-sky light sources mix together and illuminate the sky all around you, unlike the typical one-at-a-time approach you usually see. And it's from this extra twilight lighting that the Harvest Moon gained its place in the celestial calendar. With farmers depending on moonlight to harvest their crops, they would note the autumnal full moon. Thus the phenomenon's name.
So, in case you missed it...like I did...here's a picture to enjoy!
(additional info from CNN Living)
Fall is here!
Although there is something invigorating about spring...seeing the first green leaves on the trees, the first daffodils pushing through the ground, the smell of freshly turned earth...Fall is by far my favorite. It is as if God took His paintbrush and went wild!
To me, nothing compares with the riotous color of the leaves, the sharp bite of the first cold snap, the smell of wood smoke, the first frost, lawns decorated with pumpkins and chrysanthemums!
Need I say, today I am happy? It's the first day of fall!
To me, nothing compares with the riotous color of the leaves, the sharp bite of the first cold snap, the smell of wood smoke, the first frost, lawns decorated with pumpkins and chrysanthemums!
Need I say, today I am happy? It's the first day of fall!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
About You
A review of “About You” by Dick Staub
Why does God love us? We are fallen and bankrupt...definitely not what God had in mind during the Creation process. He made us in His image and placed us in the most beautiful place imaginable. Why weren't we satisfied?
In “About You”, Mr. Staub uses fresh, every day language to reveal what we've always known, way down deep. We've strayed from God and refuse (for lack of a better word) to fulfill our special calling in life. We have a destiny, and yet we attempt to avoid it. This whole process leaves us with a longing in our souls...a longing to go “home”. To be back in the garden, where we belong.
God sent Jesus to earth, not to make us Christian, but to make us fully human. Through sin we have become dehumanized and are diminished. “The good news is that Jesus can restore your soul, renew your mind, rekindle your creativity, reform your morality and rebuild your relationships.” A tall order, but nothing that Jesus cannot accomplish if we are but willing to receive the gift of new life from Him.
I must admit that I was skeptical before I began reading, but the author skillfully gives us the why, how and who in a way that made me feel confident that this is a goal that can be reached. God has already put everything into place, it is up to me to allow Him to guide me on the path to a fully human life.
#vb-aboutyou
Why does God love us? We are fallen and bankrupt...definitely not what God had in mind during the Creation process. He made us in His image and placed us in the most beautiful place imaginable. Why weren't we satisfied?
In “About You”, Mr. Staub uses fresh, every day language to reveal what we've always known, way down deep. We've strayed from God and refuse (for lack of a better word) to fulfill our special calling in life. We have a destiny, and yet we attempt to avoid it. This whole process leaves us with a longing in our souls...a longing to go “home”. To be back in the garden, where we belong.
God sent Jesus to earth, not to make us Christian, but to make us fully human. Through sin we have become dehumanized and are diminished. “The good news is that Jesus can restore your soul, renew your mind, rekindle your creativity, reform your morality and rebuild your relationships.” A tall order, but nothing that Jesus cannot accomplish if we are but willing to receive the gift of new life from Him.
I must admit that I was skeptical before I began reading, but the author skillfully gives us the why, how and who in a way that made me feel confident that this is a goal that can be reached. God has already put everything into place, it is up to me to allow Him to guide me on the path to a fully human life.
#vb-aboutyou
Monday, September 20, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Shofar
I knew about the Shofar...having read Jewish history and of Jewish tradition. It plays an integral part in some of their services and the use of a Shofar dates back thousands of years. A classic Shofar is made from a ram's horn and the horn is still used today.
Imagine my surprise and delight when I actually heard one blown in person for the first time. No, I was not attending Synagogue...but a United Methodist Youth gathering in Greensboro, NC...in 2007. Without getting into detail about why we were there, each of the nightly gatherings began with the blowing of the ram's horn. It sent chills...
In honor of Yom Kippur...hear it for yourself!
Imagine my surprise and delight when I actually heard one blown in person for the first time. No, I was not attending Synagogue...but a United Methodist Youth gathering in Greensboro, NC...in 2007. Without getting into detail about why we were there, each of the nightly gatherings began with the blowing of the ram's horn. It sent chills...
In honor of Yom Kippur...hear it for yourself!
"g'mar chatimah tovah"
Today is Yom Kippur,the Day of Atonement. It is one of the holiest days of the year for Jewish people and the themes of the day are atonement and repentance. Read here of the history and tradition...
A story of forgiveness on Yom Kippur...
Just so you know...
The appropriate greeting for Yom Kippur is g'mar chatimah tovah, “May you be sealed for a good year in the Book of Life.”
A story of forgiveness on Yom Kippur...
Just so you know...
The appropriate greeting for Yom Kippur is g'mar chatimah tovah, “May you be sealed for a good year in the Book of Life.”
Friday, September 17, 2010
Jazz....
While I know Jazz is an acquired taste and not everyone loves it but, you can't deny that this girl really can sing Billie Holiday...oh and she's only 16!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
A Prayer in Remembrance...
Lord,
Source of Life, Creator of all flesh,
From out of the depths we call unto you.
Protect us from the hand of all our enemies.
Comfort Your children who now stand alone
without parent or brother or sister or child.
Strengthen us to stand with those orphaned by this attack on our country.
This country, our country, shelter of peace to the downtrodden,
which has gathered in millions of the peoples of the world
stands as a beacon of light and justice,
but has been dimmed with horror and tragedy.
New York and Washington, shining cities,
Diminished like Jerusalem after the destruction of the holy Temple,
still need Your comfort, and our aid;
help us to maintain our courage and our efforts to support our people.
Strengthen the hands of those who defend this country,
and those who try to maintain peace against such attacks.
Teach us to speak to our children
with love and support and courage and understanding,
for we are all fearful, although their fears may not be our fears.
Gain for us a heart of wisdom,
that we may act out of compassion and thoughtfulness,
and not out of anger or prejudice.
Accept with mercy our prayers for our country and
its government for its president, judges, officials and
institutions who faithfully toil for the good of our country.
May they, with Your guidance, lead us back to lives
of peace in a land we have come to love.
Amen
Source of Life, Creator of all flesh,
From out of the depths we call unto you.
Protect us from the hand of all our enemies.
Comfort Your children who now stand alone
without parent or brother or sister or child.
Strengthen us to stand with those orphaned by this attack on our country.
This country, our country, shelter of peace to the downtrodden,
which has gathered in millions of the peoples of the world
stands as a beacon of light and justice,
but has been dimmed with horror and tragedy.
New York and Washington, shining cities,
Diminished like Jerusalem after the destruction of the holy Temple,
still need Your comfort, and our aid;
help us to maintain our courage and our efforts to support our people.
Strengthen the hands of those who defend this country,
and those who try to maintain peace against such attacks.
Teach us to speak to our children
with love and support and courage and understanding,
for we are all fearful, although their fears may not be our fears.
Gain for us a heart of wisdom,
that we may act out of compassion and thoughtfulness,
and not out of anger or prejudice.
Accept with mercy our prayers for our country and
its government for its president, judges, officials and
institutions who faithfully toil for the good of our country.
May they, with Your guidance, lead us back to lives
of peace in a land we have come to love.
Amen
Friday, September 10, 2010
In Memory of 9/11
Be Thou My Vision
~ Irish Hymn, c. 8th century
~ Translated by Mary E. Bryne, 1880-1931
~ Versified by Eleanor H. Hull, 1860-1935
Stanza 1:
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Be all else but naught to me, save that Thou art.
Be Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Both waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Stanza 2:
Be Thou my Wisdom, Be Thou my true Word;
Be Thou ever with me and I with Thee, Lord;
Be Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son;
Oh Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Stanza 3:
Be Thou my breastplate, my Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my whole Armour, Be Thou my true might;
Be Thou my soul’s Shelter, Be Thou my strong Tower:
O Raise Thou me heavenward, Great Power of my power.
Stanza 4:
Riches I need not, nor man’s empty praise,
Be Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Be Thou and Thou only, the first in my heart,
O High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
Stanza 5:
High King of Heaven, O Heaven's bright Sun!
O grant me it's joys, after victory's is won!
Great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Mwari mubastiri wangu...
means "God is our helper". These African women find God's help at the Prayer Tree
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Slow Down...
By Asbo Jesus
Why is it so hard for us to slow down and take time? Even on days we're not "working" we spend our time running at breakneck speed trying to accomplish all kinds of tasks or worse, fun!
Years ago the children and I visited some folks who near and dear to me...they lived in Detroit. We flew up for the weekend and had a lovely time...but no time to savor what was happening. We were due to fly out mid-afternoon on Sunday (around 2-ish)...
We rose early Sunday morning so we could visit the zoo and have lunch in Canada before heading to the airport...(you heard me right)...needless to say our plane took off while we were stuck in the tunnel under the river.
I appreciated the fact that they were trying to show us as much of their part of the world as possible in a short period of time...and I could probably have said...whoa, stop, slow down...let's see one or the other but not both. But I didn't. Fortunately there was a plane for us to catch later in the day and we made it home without any other incident.
Whenever I find myself rushing through work or play, I stop to think of this particular weekend...it was a joy to visit with those we love, it was great to visit places we'd never been but you're not supposed to come home exhausted!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Shoulder Angels
Speaking of Angels
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Thursday, October 02, 2008 8:40 AM
With all the recent talk of archangels and guardian angels, 7-year-old Stephen has heavenly bodies on his mind.
This morning he looked skeptically over his right shoulder.
“Where does my angel sit?” he wanted to know. “Is it on this shoulder? Or is this the devil’s spot?”
I read this little snippet here this morning and it made me remember some of my favorite cartoons when I was a kid. Time and again one of the characters would be trying to make a momentous decision and up would pop the 'angel' and the 'devil'...one on each shoulder. Of course the 'devil' would encourage the character to be mischievous, selfish or bad while the 'angel' would encourage sweetness, kindness and virtue.
God leads and directs us...that still small voice mentioned in the Bible. I tell the youth that if they ask for God's guidance and listen closely, He will give it. Personally it is usually a "feeling" in my gut. Now while I know that doesn't sound too "holy", it's the best way I can put it. That same feeling that warns you if you're in danger, or if you've just said something you shouldn't, or if you've treated another badly. However you describe it, this is the way I feel the Holy Spirits' direction. It's practical and it works for me.
But still, wouldn't it be nice if we had the shoulder option from time to time? I try always to follow the maxim that if I have to convince myself to do this or that, I probably shouldn't but to actually have a heavenly being on my shoulder and whispering in my ear would sure help out once in a while. Of course I would never take the 'devils' advice!
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Thursday, October 02, 2008 8:40 AM
With all the recent talk of archangels and guardian angels, 7-year-old Stephen has heavenly bodies on his mind.
This morning he looked skeptically over his right shoulder.
“Where does my angel sit?” he wanted to know. “Is it on this shoulder? Or is this the devil’s spot?”
I read this little snippet here this morning and it made me remember some of my favorite cartoons when I was a kid. Time and again one of the characters would be trying to make a momentous decision and up would pop the 'angel' and the 'devil'...one on each shoulder. Of course the 'devil' would encourage the character to be mischievous, selfish or bad while the 'angel' would encourage sweetness, kindness and virtue.
God leads and directs us...that still small voice mentioned in the Bible. I tell the youth that if they ask for God's guidance and listen closely, He will give it. Personally it is usually a "feeling" in my gut. Now while I know that doesn't sound too "holy", it's the best way I can put it. That same feeling that warns you if you're in danger, or if you've just said something you shouldn't, or if you've treated another badly. However you describe it, this is the way I feel the Holy Spirits' direction. It's practical and it works for me.
But still, wouldn't it be nice if we had the shoulder option from time to time? I try always to follow the maxim that if I have to convince myself to do this or that, I probably shouldn't but to actually have a heavenly being on my shoulder and whispering in my ear would sure help out once in a while. Of course I would never take the 'devils' advice!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Holy Ground
Words by Woodie Guthrie
Take off, take off your shoes
This place you’re standing, it’s holy ground
Take off, take off your shoes
The spot you’re standing, its holy ground
These words I heard in my burning bush
This place you’re standing, it’s holy ground
I heard my fiery voice speak to me
This spot you’re standing, it’s holy ground
That spot is holy ground
That place you stand it’s holy ground
This place you tread, it’s holy ground
God made this place his holy ground
Take off your shoes and pray
The ground you walk it’s holy ground
Every spot on earth I trapse around
Every spot I walk it’s holy ground
Every spot it’s holy ground
Every little inch it’s holy ground
Every grain of dirt it’s holy ground
Every spot I walk it’s holy ground
What is Holy ground? Where is it? According to the song above, it's every spot on earth. Believe that? Who made the earth? Can we limit the area that's considered Holy ground? We are taught to call upon the Name of the Lord, whenever and wherever we need or desire...if we call upon Him it is a natural conclusion that He is there with us. When we stand in the presence of God, we are on Holy Ground.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Who is responsible?
Relativism (A theory that holds that conceptions of truth and moral values are not absolute but are relative to the persons or groups holding them.)is permeating our entire lives and the end result is tragic indeed. God intended for us to depend upon laws,reason and moral standards to be the creatures He created.
Without these standards, we are adrift and lonely and cannot connect to those around us. Today, we are not required to look at an issue and determine what is best for our community as a whole, we look only to how it affects us. What it means to ME. A community is made up of people who do not require everyone else to bend to their will...it is not I, I, I. Until we feel the all encompassing need to look through the eyes of another...to reach out a hand to another...to love another things will not change.
A few years ago the Wall Street Journal stated: "The U.S. has a drug problem and a high school sex problem and a welfare problem and an AIDS problem and a rape problem. None of this will go away until more people in positions of responsibility are willing to come forward and explain, in frankly moral terms, that some of the things people do nowadays are wrong." (Editorial, December 12, 1991)
Who are "people in positions of responsibility"? Do you read that quote and think "well, the government should do this"? Or do you see these "people" for who they really are...government officials, sure, but also parents, grandparents, family, teachers, ministers, coaches, Scout leaders, Sunday School teachers, mentors, ...friends? We are all responsible, and we are all failing at our task.
I, for one, am hoping and praying and working to break the cycle within my circle of influence. If not us, then who?
Without these standards, we are adrift and lonely and cannot connect to those around us. Today, we are not required to look at an issue and determine what is best for our community as a whole, we look only to how it affects us. What it means to ME. A community is made up of people who do not require everyone else to bend to their will...it is not I, I, I. Until we feel the all encompassing need to look through the eyes of another...to reach out a hand to another...to love another things will not change.
A few years ago the Wall Street Journal stated: "The U.S. has a drug problem and a high school sex problem and a welfare problem and an AIDS problem and a rape problem. None of this will go away until more people in positions of responsibility are willing to come forward and explain, in frankly moral terms, that some of the things people do nowadays are wrong." (Editorial, December 12, 1991)
Who are "people in positions of responsibility"? Do you read that quote and think "well, the government should do this"? Or do you see these "people" for who they really are...government officials, sure, but also parents, grandparents, family, teachers, ministers, coaches, Scout leaders, Sunday School teachers, mentors, ...friends? We are all responsible, and we are all failing at our task.
I, for one, am hoping and praying and working to break the cycle within my circle of influence. If not us, then who?
Friday, September 3, 2010
Prayer
Prayer is an integral part of our spiritual life and faith experience and yet, it seems to be the part we struggle with the most. I also struggle...too often, I find myself existing on "bullet prayers"...you know those that rise quickly when there is a need...we shoot it hastily to God and then go on our way. While these types of prayers do have a place in our journey, God does not want us to live on them. He asks for time spent, purposefully, in communion with Him.
Father Jacques Phillipe has the following insights into prayer:
Q: You describe mental prayer as “just spending time” with God, like two people in love would, but this can often feel like nothing is happening. Could something be happening interiorly despite the feeling that there isn’t? Or even during times when one is distracted?
Father Philippe: The life of prayer is much deeper than the intelligence or the senses can perceive. Even when prayer is poor and distracted, provided that it is made with sincerity and faith, God can communicate secretly with the soul. He puts into it the treasures of light and the power of peace that is often made manifest at other times in life instead of just during prayer itself. And if one perseveres despite times of aridity, there will always be moments when God visits and makes his presence felt.
Q: In today’s world, many people just don’t seem to have time to spend half an hour or an hour in silent prayer. How can it be fit in? Does it always have to be practiced in a church?
Father Philippe: When one activity is considered vital, we find time to do it. The fundamental question is “what are our priorities?” We must be convinced that God will give us a hundred-fold the time that we devote to him in prayer. If we give part of our time to God with fidelity and perseverance, even just a quarter of an hour ever day, our life will be more peaceful and more fruitful.
We can pray at a church, as there is a lot of grace when praying in the presence of the Holy Sacrament, but we can also pray in a corner of our room in front of an icon, out in nature, or even on the bus or the subway.
Q: Many people only want to pray when they have an interior prompting to do so. Why is this not helpful both in prayer and in arriving at true interior freedom?
Father Philippe: All love relationships need, in order to grow, a choice for fidelity. If a husband loves his wife only when he feels the spirit to do so, the relationship will remain superficial, on only an emotional level. Fidelity and perseverance allow love to move beyond merely the sentimental and to become something very beautiful and rich, a life shared, a mutual gift of persons, one to another.
In every love relationship there are times of crisis and difficulty, but if we persevere with fidelity, the love will become stronger and truer.
For more, visit here
Prayer is very personal requirement and something we should never neglect!
Father Jacques Phillipe has the following insights into prayer:
Q: You describe mental prayer as “just spending time” with God, like two people in love would, but this can often feel like nothing is happening. Could something be happening interiorly despite the feeling that there isn’t? Or even during times when one is distracted?
Father Philippe: The life of prayer is much deeper than the intelligence or the senses can perceive. Even when prayer is poor and distracted, provided that it is made with sincerity and faith, God can communicate secretly with the soul. He puts into it the treasures of light and the power of peace that is often made manifest at other times in life instead of just during prayer itself. And if one perseveres despite times of aridity, there will always be moments when God visits and makes his presence felt.
Q: In today’s world, many people just don’t seem to have time to spend half an hour or an hour in silent prayer. How can it be fit in? Does it always have to be practiced in a church?
Father Philippe: When one activity is considered vital, we find time to do it. The fundamental question is “what are our priorities?” We must be convinced that God will give us a hundred-fold the time that we devote to him in prayer. If we give part of our time to God with fidelity and perseverance, even just a quarter of an hour ever day, our life will be more peaceful and more fruitful.
We can pray at a church, as there is a lot of grace when praying in the presence of the Holy Sacrament, but we can also pray in a corner of our room in front of an icon, out in nature, or even on the bus or the subway.
Q: Many people only want to pray when they have an interior prompting to do so. Why is this not helpful both in prayer and in arriving at true interior freedom?
Father Philippe: All love relationships need, in order to grow, a choice for fidelity. If a husband loves his wife only when he feels the spirit to do so, the relationship will remain superficial, on only an emotional level. Fidelity and perseverance allow love to move beyond merely the sentimental and to become something very beautiful and rich, a life shared, a mutual gift of persons, one to another.
In every love relationship there are times of crisis and difficulty, but if we persevere with fidelity, the love will become stronger and truer.
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Prayer is very personal requirement and something we should never neglect!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Diets
So many of us struggle with body image issues...and the young woman in this story is no different. What is different is what caused her to loose all those unwanted pounds...
The Un-Diet by Susan A Kamas
No, Sue, honest, you don't look fat," my sister said. It was the first day of my new job at a local lawn care company and I was in a panic. "Are you sure?" I turned sideways in front of the mirror and sucked in my stomach. She had to be lying. My skirt was biting into my waistline, and I couldn't button my jacket. How had those extra pounds gotten there?
I'd always been vigilant about my weight. One careless remark when I was ten years old, "Oh, isn't she just a cute, chubby thing?" did it. I could read between the lines, f-a-t. Living in a family of skinnies, this certainly wouldn't do. And so began a lifetime of dieting. The hard-boiled egg diet took me through my preteen years and then it was on to high school with the grapefruit diet. My early career days were marked by the cabbage soup diet - much to the dismay of my coworkers. All of these kept me from being fat. But I needed to be thin. So I experimented with the Target Zone diet, Weight Watchers and the Pyramid diet. And once I even tried fasting.
Just a few carefree months of living diet-free, like the rest of my gal pals, resulted in my present dilemma - starting my new job feeling like a blimp. I took one last look in the mirror. Drats! The outfit needed something. I know! I quickly knotted a brightly colored scarf around my neck; let them focus on that instead of those holster hips down below. There was nothing else I could do about it now; I grabbed my keys and purse and flew out the door.
As soon as I walked into the office, my boss gave me my first task. "Here Sue, take these notes out into the warehouse and sort them by name. Each lawn specialist has their own labeled slot in the mail center." She gave me an encouraging smile and went back to typing.
I opened the door and my jaw dropped. There in front of me stood the most handsome guy I'd ever seen. His muscles rippled as he hoisted a huge bag of fertilizer over his shoulder. I waved. He grinned. I felt some chemistry. I slipped back into the office. "Who's the cute guy out there with the blonde hair?""That's Bruce," the secretary in the corner said, "and he's dating someone."
From then on, I volunteered to do the notes each day and every other menial job that involved traipsing through "the guy area." If that meant putting up with the horrid chemical smells in the warehouse, so be it. I got to see Bruce. I wanted to look my best for him, so every morning I was up at dawn, camouflaging those extra pounds. Black was in, prints were out, and by the time I was done primping, I almost believed I had a chance.
And one day it happened. He sauntered over as I was slipping notes into the slots. "Hey Sue, what're you doing Friday night?" Bruce smiled and his tanned face crinkled. This gorgeous guy was really asking me out! "I'm not sure," I tried my best to sound nonchalant. "Besides, I heard you're dating someone." "Nah, nothing serious," he put his hand on the wall behind me, bringing us closer together. "Well . . ." I hesitated, hoping he couldn't hear my heart thundering in my chest. "C'mon, just burgers and a movie," he pressed, "how about it?" "Okay," I said, feeling giddy, "sounds like fun." We had a blast together, and he asked me out again. And again. With each date we grew closer, and within a few weeks we were an item. I was enjoying myself so much I forgot to worry about weight, exercise or that much hated four-letter word: d-i-e-t.
About a month later, Bruce came over to meet the family. It just happened to be the day my younger sister was going to the prom. She looked gorgeous as she drifted down the stairs in a swirl of peach silk, her blonde hair cascading around her shoulders. I looked at Bruce, who obviously agreed; his mouth hung open as he watched her sweep into the room. I looked from my thin, beautiful sister to my great-looking boyfriend, and I wanted to disappear. What did he see in a chubbette like me anyway? I pasted a smile on my face until my sister left for the dance. Then I clomped downstairs to the family room, threw myself on the sofa and bawled my eyes out.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Bruce sat next to me and pushed my bangs back, trying to look into my eyes. "What are you crying for?" "I–I–I'm ssssooo fat," I turned away from him. "Why are you dating me anyway? You don't belong with someone that looks like me. My sister's more your type," I blubbered. "Sue, your sister is a real cute kid, but she's way too young for me. Besides, she's not my type - you are, and I think you're beautiful." I turned over as tears continued to dribble down my face. "But I have to lose this extra w-w-weight. I feel so fat and ugly-y-y-y. I don't know what you see in me." All the pain I'd experienced feeling like the chubby one in my thin, perfect family washed over me. Bruce gathered me in his arms and just held me.
Then I felt something wet trickling down my neck. Puzzled, I pulled away and looked at Bruce. He was crying with me! "I don't ever want to hear you call yourself fat or ugly again. No one talks that way about the woman I love, and I love you just the way you are." He leaned in and our tear-streaked faces met in a tender kiss. That was the moment I fell in love with Bruce. Two months later, he slipped an engagement ring on my finger and on bended knee asked me to be his wife.
Dreams of a fairy-tale wedding filled my head, starting with my dress - I had to find the perfect gown. Too bad there isn't time for just one more diet, I thought longingly, but with the wedding only six months away, it wasn't possible. I visited every bridal salon within a thirty-mile radius, searching for the ideal style to flatter my fuller figure. I tried on every type of wedding dress imaginable, until I finally found it - the gown of my dreams. "Can you wrap it up?" I asked as I gazed at the white confection of beaded satin and delicate lace. "Oh no, miss," she said. "We'll keep it here since you'll have to come in for several fittings between now and the wedding."
She was right. But, surprisingly, at every fitting, the seamstress had to take my gown in, not let it out. "Are you on one of those new liquid diets?" she asked as she marked the alteration with straight pins. "No," I said. Funny, I hadn't even thought about dieting. Come to think of it, my clothes were looser lately. And I couldn't recall the last time I'd stepped on a scale.
Eight weeks later, on a perfect June day, I slipped into my wedding dress feeling radiant. I floated down the aisle thinner than I'd ever been. I beamed at my husband-to-be, waiting for me by the altar, and I knew it was all thanks to him. Bruce loved me just as I was, and that was the only diet I ever needed.
Isn't it amazing what love can do?
This story was posted at Chicken Soup for the Soul
The Un-Diet by Susan A Kamas
No, Sue, honest, you don't look fat," my sister said. It was the first day of my new job at a local lawn care company and I was in a panic. "Are you sure?" I turned sideways in front of the mirror and sucked in my stomach. She had to be lying. My skirt was biting into my waistline, and I couldn't button my jacket. How had those extra pounds gotten there?
I'd always been vigilant about my weight. One careless remark when I was ten years old, "Oh, isn't she just a cute, chubby thing?" did it. I could read between the lines, f-a-t. Living in a family of skinnies, this certainly wouldn't do. And so began a lifetime of dieting. The hard-boiled egg diet took me through my preteen years and then it was on to high school with the grapefruit diet. My early career days were marked by the cabbage soup diet - much to the dismay of my coworkers. All of these kept me from being fat. But I needed to be thin. So I experimented with the Target Zone diet, Weight Watchers and the Pyramid diet. And once I even tried fasting.
Just a few carefree months of living diet-free, like the rest of my gal pals, resulted in my present dilemma - starting my new job feeling like a blimp. I took one last look in the mirror. Drats! The outfit needed something. I know! I quickly knotted a brightly colored scarf around my neck; let them focus on that instead of those holster hips down below. There was nothing else I could do about it now; I grabbed my keys and purse and flew out the door.
As soon as I walked into the office, my boss gave me my first task. "Here Sue, take these notes out into the warehouse and sort them by name. Each lawn specialist has their own labeled slot in the mail center." She gave me an encouraging smile and went back to typing.
I opened the door and my jaw dropped. There in front of me stood the most handsome guy I'd ever seen. His muscles rippled as he hoisted a huge bag of fertilizer over his shoulder. I waved. He grinned. I felt some chemistry. I slipped back into the office. "Who's the cute guy out there with the blonde hair?""That's Bruce," the secretary in the corner said, "and he's dating someone."
From then on, I volunteered to do the notes each day and every other menial job that involved traipsing through "the guy area." If that meant putting up with the horrid chemical smells in the warehouse, so be it. I got to see Bruce. I wanted to look my best for him, so every morning I was up at dawn, camouflaging those extra pounds. Black was in, prints were out, and by the time I was done primping, I almost believed I had a chance.
And one day it happened. He sauntered over as I was slipping notes into the slots. "Hey Sue, what're you doing Friday night?" Bruce smiled and his tanned face crinkled. This gorgeous guy was really asking me out! "I'm not sure," I tried my best to sound nonchalant. "Besides, I heard you're dating someone." "Nah, nothing serious," he put his hand on the wall behind me, bringing us closer together. "Well . . ." I hesitated, hoping he couldn't hear my heart thundering in my chest. "C'mon, just burgers and a movie," he pressed, "how about it?" "Okay," I said, feeling giddy, "sounds like fun." We had a blast together, and he asked me out again. And again. With each date we grew closer, and within a few weeks we were an item. I was enjoying myself so much I forgot to worry about weight, exercise or that much hated four-letter word: d-i-e-t.
About a month later, Bruce came over to meet the family. It just happened to be the day my younger sister was going to the prom. She looked gorgeous as she drifted down the stairs in a swirl of peach silk, her blonde hair cascading around her shoulders. I looked at Bruce, who obviously agreed; his mouth hung open as he watched her sweep into the room. I looked from my thin, beautiful sister to my great-looking boyfriend, and I wanted to disappear. What did he see in a chubbette like me anyway? I pasted a smile on my face until my sister left for the dance. Then I clomped downstairs to the family room, threw myself on the sofa and bawled my eyes out.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Bruce sat next to me and pushed my bangs back, trying to look into my eyes. "What are you crying for?" "I–I–I'm ssssooo fat," I turned away from him. "Why are you dating me anyway? You don't belong with someone that looks like me. My sister's more your type," I blubbered. "Sue, your sister is a real cute kid, but she's way too young for me. Besides, she's not my type - you are, and I think you're beautiful." I turned over as tears continued to dribble down my face. "But I have to lose this extra w-w-weight. I feel so fat and ugly-y-y-y. I don't know what you see in me." All the pain I'd experienced feeling like the chubby one in my thin, perfect family washed over me. Bruce gathered me in his arms and just held me.
Then I felt something wet trickling down my neck. Puzzled, I pulled away and looked at Bruce. He was crying with me! "I don't ever want to hear you call yourself fat or ugly again. No one talks that way about the woman I love, and I love you just the way you are." He leaned in and our tear-streaked faces met in a tender kiss. That was the moment I fell in love with Bruce. Two months later, he slipped an engagement ring on my finger and on bended knee asked me to be his wife.
Dreams of a fairy-tale wedding filled my head, starting with my dress - I had to find the perfect gown. Too bad there isn't time for just one more diet, I thought longingly, but with the wedding only six months away, it wasn't possible. I visited every bridal salon within a thirty-mile radius, searching for the ideal style to flatter my fuller figure. I tried on every type of wedding dress imaginable, until I finally found it - the gown of my dreams. "Can you wrap it up?" I asked as I gazed at the white confection of beaded satin and delicate lace. "Oh no, miss," she said. "We'll keep it here since you'll have to come in for several fittings between now and the wedding."
She was right. But, surprisingly, at every fitting, the seamstress had to take my gown in, not let it out. "Are you on one of those new liquid diets?" she asked as she marked the alteration with straight pins. "No," I said. Funny, I hadn't even thought about dieting. Come to think of it, my clothes were looser lately. And I couldn't recall the last time I'd stepped on a scale.
Eight weeks later, on a perfect June day, I slipped into my wedding dress feeling radiant. I floated down the aisle thinner than I'd ever been. I beamed at my husband-to-be, waiting for me by the altar, and I knew it was all thanks to him. Bruce loved me just as I was, and that was the only diet I ever needed.
Isn't it amazing what love can do?
This story was posted at Chicken Soup for the Soul
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Oil and water...
When one thinks of Nuns and surfers in the same sentence, oil and water might come to mind. Whatever would cause such a pairing? Try beautiful beachfront property, gnarly waves and a fund raiser...
From the NY Post:
Surf's up, Sister!
Sister James Dolores, 73, gives her best surfer-girl pose in Stone Harbor, NJ, where her Pennsylvania convent owns a beachfront retreat called Villa Maria by the Sea.
"I'm really getting the hang of this," said the spritely, no-nonsense nun. "No one ever thought they'd see me on a board."
Though Sister James, of Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, doesn't actually hang 10, the nun has a special relationship with local surfers, and her mother house will host its 15th annual Nun's Beach Surf Invitational on Sept. 11. The proceeds go to the maintenance of the breathtaking, 6½-acre, 150-bedroom waterfront complex.
"My heart is not big enough to express all the gratitude for all of this help," she said.
Though it might seem like a strange alliance, the pact between surfer and nun in Stone Harbor was forged more than 60 years ago when local surfers approached the retreat asking if they could ride its waves. The nuns own the pristine, block-long strand between 111th and 112th streets.
The nuns warmly greeted the beach bums, and the swath of surf was soon dubbed "Nun's Beach." The sisters often sit on the beach and even draw spiritual inspiration watching the wave-riders.
"It's very peaceful," said Sister James, the retreat's property manager. "You see how the water holds them up, balances them and if you ride with the water, it will get you where you want to go. That's how it is with the grace of God."
Bill Deger, now 64, and his surfing buddies once coaxed an 83-year-old nun onto a surfboard.
"One of her life's dreams was to be able to surf," Deger, 64, said of the late Sister Loyola. "So we got her out in knee-deep water and held her on. She loved it. It was an incredible experience."
But in 1996, a small group of surfers led by Larry Gehrke and Deger decided it was time to give back to the nuns -- by running a contest to help fund the re treat's upkeep.
The event has got ten so popular that the staff has capped the number of contestants at about 100, though hundreds of spectators attend. All money -- from the $35 entry fees to the hot dogs and sodas sold by the nuns -- go to the convent, which uses the proceeds to fix plumbing, replace tile and update bedrooms and exteriors.
"The surf contest is the single most important event for raising awareness of our presence here and who and what we are about," said Sister James.
The $15 T-shirts are the biggest money-maker. They are redesigned every year and tourists snag shirts with images of nuns praying on boards, hanging 10 Hawaiian-style, and surfing over an American flag. All the images are based on Sister James.
"The only time I've ever been surfing is on these T-shirts," she quipped.
But will Sister James finally hit the waves this year?
"I keep telling them, one day I'm going to paddle out on a board and surprise them all."
God does work in mysterious ways!
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