I've been away from blogging for a while, mainly because it seems the comment section gets used by advertisers and sinners. I didn't want to be a conduit for such.
Then Katrina came to town. I had relatives (pronounced: "evacuees" in my home seeking shelter. I found myself getting nervous and stressed with the change in my "normal" routines. Then, I would think how much they had to be stressed due to the total change in their "NORMAL" state of being. Shame is such a good instructor.
New Orleans, and all that we love and hate about it, was, is, and will be a special place. The Mississippi and Alabama gulf coast is special. The gulf coast areas of the former "Spanish-west Florida" has more in common with each other across the state borders than these areas have with the norhtern parts of their respective states. Katrina has become another bind that ties these areas together and waves our way of life in front of the rest of the United States and the world. We really are more like a Carrebean country than a New England "Yankee."
9/04/2005
5/17/2005
Well said. Well Lived.
The other day at mass, Father spoke of a man nearing the end of life. When asked about his fear of death, the man responded, "I am not afraid of dying so much as I am afraid of not having lived well."
What a remarkable comment. Talk about food for thought. How many of us feel the same way?
Knowing we have tried to live a good life, we face the end with hope of being eternally at peace with God. But, even with the knowledge that we may get into heaven, there may still be something left to undone. There may be the letter left unwritten, the painting not quite finished, the chore not quite done, the word not yet spoken, the love not returned. What do we do with these unfinished parts of our lives? Who will pick up our tools and complete our tasks?
Right now I can think of dozens of things I need to do. There is the door that needs repair, the ceiling that needs touch up, the essays to be written and revised, the stories to tell, the cheeks to kiss, the fences to mend, the bridges to rebuild, the gates to unlock, the television to turn off and the family to love with all of my heart and all of my passion.
Finally, there is the confession to make, the one where I turn everything over to Jesus and ask for his forgiveness and his help in living right....and living well.
What a remarkable comment. Talk about food for thought. How many of us feel the same way?
Knowing we have tried to live a good life, we face the end with hope of being eternally at peace with God. But, even with the knowledge that we may get into heaven, there may still be something left to undone. There may be the letter left unwritten, the painting not quite finished, the chore not quite done, the word not yet spoken, the love not returned. What do we do with these unfinished parts of our lives? Who will pick up our tools and complete our tasks?
Right now I can think of dozens of things I need to do. There is the door that needs repair, the ceiling that needs touch up, the essays to be written and revised, the stories to tell, the cheeks to kiss, the fences to mend, the bridges to rebuild, the gates to unlock, the television to turn off and the family to love with all of my heart and all of my passion.
Finally, there is the confession to make, the one where I turn everything over to Jesus and ask for his forgiveness and his help in living right....and living well.
4/26/2005
Parents to Ashes
Why is it that parents insist on sending their children to catechism, but don't make them go to mass?
Why do some insist on getting their forehead marked on Ash Wednesday, but don't go to mass the following Sunday?
It seems that so many are afraid to take chances with the outward signs, but fail to make the inward journey. Our world is most importantly that part of us that is within us. Before we can seek to know what is in the world, we must seek to know what is in us.
Parents,
Do not be afraid of what will happen to your child if they do not attend religious education, but, be very much concerned about what will happen to your child if they do not attend mass. Praying in mass, before the Holy Eucharist, should be the highlight of your family's week. If you spend that time with them on Sunday mornings, you won't need to worry about catechism. Don't make them go, SHOW them how to go.
Why do some insist on getting their forehead marked on Ash Wednesday, but don't go to mass the following Sunday?
It seems that so many are afraid to take chances with the outward signs, but fail to make the inward journey. Our world is most importantly that part of us that is within us. Before we can seek to know what is in the world, we must seek to know what is in us.
Parents,
Do not be afraid of what will happen to your child if they do not attend religious education, but, be very much concerned about what will happen to your child if they do not attend mass. Praying in mass, before the Holy Eucharist, should be the highlight of your family's week. If you spend that time with them on Sunday mornings, you won't need to worry about catechism. Don't make them go, SHOW them how to go.
4/10/2005
The View
I have the fortune of having my computer set up next to a rear window in my home. As I sit here, before the pixels, patterns, and atoms dancing in front of my eyes, I can glance to my right and watch the squirrels and mocking birds eating sunflower seeds. It's a peaceful thing to watch as the sun rises above the tree-line to the east and all the world wakes up.
The squirrels and the birds in my back yard have more to eat this morning than many on some Caribbean islands. Doesn't that sound strange. Islands in the Caribbean, those tropical paradises we go to in our margaritta tinted dreams. Tourist filled playgrounds where a pina colada has more sustenance than a next door child's daily meals. Where we sit on peaceful beaches and watch the sun rise out of the ocean, there sits a small child, hoping, wishing, and praying, that the world WILL wake up.
Click on Food For The Poor to find out and do more.
The squirrels and the birds in my back yard have more to eat this morning than many on some Caribbean islands. Doesn't that sound strange. Islands in the Caribbean, those tropical paradises we go to in our margaritta tinted dreams. Tourist filled playgrounds where a pina colada has more sustenance than a next door child's daily meals. Where we sit on peaceful beaches and watch the sun rise out of the ocean, there sits a small child, hoping, wishing, and praying, that the world WILL wake up.
Click on Food For The Poor to find out and do more.
4/08/2005
A Mission
Sunday, I listened as a Missionary spoke of the poor and hungry in the Carribean.
Imagine waking up with no food in your home. Imagine waking up with no home. Imagine waking up with no clean water to drink. Imagine mixing dirt with grass to make a patty to eat.
Imagine...
I spent more on ink pens last year than most of those people earn in a year. I leave more on my plate at dinner than they have to eat all day. I have spent enough on my children's tennis shoes to feed several families for a year.
Imagine waking up with no food in your home. Imagine waking up with no home. Imagine waking up with no clean water to drink. Imagine mixing dirt with grass to make a patty to eat.
Imagine...
I spent more on ink pens last year than most of those people earn in a year. I leave more on my plate at dinner than they have to eat all day. I have spent enough on my children's tennis shoes to feed several families for a year.
4/05/2005
The Passing of a Pope
John Paul II. For many, nothing else needs be said. For some, not enough can be said. For me, I am almost without words because I know nothing can really express how I feel.
On all the things I've heard on the media, I have lots to say. First, it always amazes me how unfamiliar so many people are with the topics they try to cover for the media. I don't mean just on religion or especially Catholocism, but in general, so many newspeople or walking blank sheets of paper with no real knowledge or background on the subjects they try to cover. When meida people talk about John Paul II being a "Traditionalist" or a "conservative", what do they think the leader of the Roman Catholic Church is suppose to be?
When they say John Paul was steadfast on moral issues such as stem-cell research, capital punishment, sex and marriage, what do they think "religion" really is?
I know in these modern times, especially in the US where we basically have too much time, too much food, and too much "free will", people tend to dream about some Valhala where everyone has everything they desire. But, what about those places where what one desires is just to survive another day, to have clean water to drink, to have a bowl of rice to eat, or a drop of cornmeal to taste? Jesus didn't come to comfort the comfortable, He came to comfort the sick, the poor, the hungry, the grieving. Remember, He came to make the comfortable uncomfortable, and to comfort the uncomfortable. The one wearing the shoes of Peter can do no less. We should expect and pray for no less.
Traditionalist. Conservative. God, I hope so!
Rest in Peace John Paul. You are finally home.
God Bless the College as they prepare to elect our new shepherd.
On all the things I've heard on the media, I have lots to say. First, it always amazes me how unfamiliar so many people are with the topics they try to cover for the media. I don't mean just on religion or especially Catholocism, but in general, so many newspeople or walking blank sheets of paper with no real knowledge or background on the subjects they try to cover. When meida people talk about John Paul II being a "Traditionalist" or a "conservative", what do they think the leader of the Roman Catholic Church is suppose to be?
When they say John Paul was steadfast on moral issues such as stem-cell research, capital punishment, sex and marriage, what do they think "religion" really is?
I know in these modern times, especially in the US where we basically have too much time, too much food, and too much "free will", people tend to dream about some Valhala where everyone has everything they desire. But, what about those places where what one desires is just to survive another day, to have clean water to drink, to have a bowl of rice to eat, or a drop of cornmeal to taste? Jesus didn't come to comfort the comfortable, He came to comfort the sick, the poor, the hungry, the grieving. Remember, He came to make the comfortable uncomfortable, and to comfort the uncomfortable. The one wearing the shoes of Peter can do no less. We should expect and pray for no less.
Traditionalist. Conservative. God, I hope so!
Rest in Peace John Paul. You are finally home.
God Bless the College as they prepare to elect our new shepherd.
4/02/2005
2/20/2005
Out in the Field
Lent is 2 1/2 weeks old. I am reading Thomas Merton's "The Other Side of the Mountain." I went to our parish mission Thursday night. Fr. Louie is speaking about the Eucharist. I have been through many lents in my days. Many were looked at with complaining eyes of a young boy worried about having to give something up. My eyes are much older and I see many things differently, but I have to admit, with the help of Thomas Merton and Louie Richard, this is the best lent I have ever experienced...and experience is the correct word. Lent is not something to live through, it is something to experience. Early morning masses. Evening missions. Late night readings and prayers...
"A pilgrimage is a journey with a story."
A journey is a quest.
A quest is search.
A search is mission.
A mission is my pilgrimage, my journey, my quest and my search.
Peace, love and happiness to all.
God Bless, US.
"A pilgrimage is a journey with a story."
A journey is a quest.
A quest is search.
A search is mission.
A mission is my pilgrimage, my journey, my quest and my search.
Peace, love and happiness to all.
God Bless, US.
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