These roses were blooming last week right in front of my mom’s apartment. As we move into the month of November I am grateful for the beautiful fall season that we have had through October. On this Feast of All Saints Day may the glory of God shine within each of our hearts. We are called to be saints.
God chose us in Christ before the world began to be holy and blameless in His sight.
(See Ephesians 1:4)
I had the opportunity to attend an all-day seminar on Wednesday at Laramie County Community College entitled “Bridges Out Of Poverty.” This training was centered around the work and research of Ruby K. Payne, PhD. It has been more than 30 years since receiving my undergraduate degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice, but some of the same issues that I studied back then continue to perpetuate themselves year after year, decade, after decade, and from one generation to the next. Breaking the cycle of poverty is a complex and daunting task for all involved. This training reminded me of the many challenges that stand in the way of breaking free.
There are a variety of institutions which strive to make a difference. These include governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, private enterprises, and many church congregations as well. Coordinating these efforts to accomplish more than a band-aid approach is an arduous endeavor in and of itself. How do we utilize resources in the most productive manner possible? What role does the Church play?
The Cathedral of St. Mary provides sack lunches Monday through Saturday for anyone wanting one. There are no questions asked. Lunch is simply provided if a person wants one. The parish also provides assistance with rent and utility expenses. There are processes and interviews associated with seeking this type of financial aid. The parish works with other organizations and institutions in the community to address additional areas of concern for the poor and homeless as well. This includes, but is not limited to, education, employment, money management skills, health care, and transportation needs.
How does your local community address the needs of the poor and homeless? It is my hope that we (as Church) continue to do our part to be a bridge out of poverty.
I have always admired the Mississippi River. The writings of Mark Twain captured my attention at an early age, and field trips to Hannibal, Missouri during my elementary school years heightened my interest even more. I wanted to be part of the adventures of Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, and Becky Thatcher.
Standing near the Lock and Dam in Clarksville, Missouri last week, and watching a barge make its way through the narrow passageway, reminded me of those childhood fantasies of traversing the mighty Mississippi on my trusty home-made raft. How exciting would it be to find myself all the way down the river into New Orleans? The risks seemed minimal compared to the excitement of the adventure. Ah, youthful naivete!
Having time to think and ponder as I stood by the river was refreshing. I don’t want to ever get to the point where I stop hoping and stop dreaming of what could be. I will probably never go down the river on a raft, but what are some of the dreams still percolating in my mind? What do I want to accomplish in my family life? What do I want to accomplish in my ministry? What risks would I like to take in my personal and professional life?
I don’t want to limit my imagination with small thinking. I want to allow the power and grandeur of God to enhance and enlarge my thinking on a grander scale. I want to trust that the magnificence of the Holy Spirit which empowered the apostles is still the same Holy Spirit desiring to empower faithful followers today.
Are you excited about the possibilities in your life? Let us pray with fervent hearts and look expectantly for the glory of God to shine in our lives.
Let’s “roll on” with faith, hope, and love.
I stopped at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee last week on my way to Birmingham, Alabama. Although I passed by Nashville on a number of occasions in the past on my way to Florida, I never left the interstate to actually go into the city. I decided it was time to venture off the interstate and see a little bit of the city. The first stop was at the Grand Ole Opry House.
It was early in the morning and I was grateful for the peace and quiet. Although it would be fun to attend a show and enjoy the ambiance created by a musical celebrity, I will admit that I found the tranquility of the morning to be a pleasant experience. There were no crowds of bustling people, no vendors, and no celebrities. It was only my mom and I, and a groundskeeper off in the distance. The cool, crisp morning made it perfect for some quiet reflection.
The large guitars at the entrance of the main sidewalk are eye-catching to say the least. As I admired these over-sized musical instruments I couldn’t help but wonder about the number of people who have come to Nashville through the years in search of fame and fortune. As the song says, “It’s a long, hard ride.” How many dreams have been realized in the process? How many dreams have been crushed?
Although a career in music was never in the cards for me, I have long held on to a question posed by a teacher many years ago. She simply asked, “Do you have music in your life?” She was trying to impress upon a room full of teenagers the necessity of living life with joy and gusto. She said, “Even if you are singing the blues, it takes life and energy to feel the passion.” Her words come back to me from time to time when I feel myself getting a little sluggish in my day-to-day routine.
How is the music in your life?
The Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, Alabama is a very interesting display of handiwork. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The grotto sits on a four acre landscaped park and contains more than 125 miniature replicas of biblical structures and world famous buildings. It is located at Alabama’s only Benedictine Abbey with a church and monastery.
Thank you Brother Joseph Zoettl for creating this beautiful work of art. Pictures really don’t capture the scene, but here is a sample of what I had the opportunity to see.
This picture was taken along the banks of the Mississippi River in Clarksville, Missouri on Thursday, October 23. Although the trees outside my office here in Cheyenne have lost all of their leaves already, going southward brought a second chance to see some more fall colors.
It has been a wonderful fall season. Although we received a dusting of snow here in Cheyenne on September 11, the weather since then has just been fabulous.
While watching the news on TV can be depressing with reports of attacks in Canada, a hatchet attack here in the U.S., and another shooting in a school, I appreciated the opportunity to disconnect for a while and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. In the midst of the trials and tribulations of life there is also much good. What would happen in our world if we each made a commitment to live our lives in a state of perpetual gratitude? I think it would make a phenomenal difference. Are you grateful for all of God’s gifts? Take time today to thank God for some of those gifts. Be specific. Name the gift and give God thanks specifically for that gift. I invite you to share your list in the comment section.
I drove by this church last week in Clarksville, Missouri and was saddened by the deteriorating condition of the structure. I can only imagine the number of lives that were touched through the years inside this building, but it would appear that the days of vibrancy for this congregation have passed. I don’t know the history of the church since its founding in 1886, but I was simply struck by image it placed in my mind in regard to my personal faith journey. Am I living my faith with joy, or am I tired, worn out, and broken down in need of significant repair and healing?
Today’s Gospel (Matthew 22: 34–40) encourages us to live out our faith journey with zeal. “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” That was only the first half. The second part says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Living out these two great commandments requires a fervent prayer life, diligent study, and active discipleship and service to others. Simply going to church on Sunday is not enough. A sincere faith in God compels us to live out these commandments each and every day of the week. If we think we are finished for the week after attending church on Sunday, we are sadly mistaken. That is just the beginning.
If we become complacent and content with simply going through the motions of church attendance and nothing more, we are living a falsehood. It is a window dressing so to speak. It takes more than attendance at church to be a Christian–it takes commitment. If you are feeling tired and worn out from the journey, ask God to give you strength. Our future looks bright when we walk in faith, hope, and love.
I apologize for the absence of posts in the last week. This time I really was on vacation, and it truly was nice to get away for a few days. In addition to getting some “down time,” I also have new pictures for quite a few upcoming blog posts. As you can see by the picture on the left I made it to Irondale, Alabama. This trip was on my mom’s bucket list and it finally came true.
My mom has watched EWTN programming for years and especially appreciates watching the Mass on TV when she is unable to get out and go during inclement weather. She has frequently mentioned that she would like to see where the taping and production all takes place. I tried to take her last year for her 90th birthday, but an ice storm struck the southern states and impeded our travel. This time we had beautiful weather. We made it into the chapel on Sunday evening just in time to pray the Liturgy of the Hours with a few other folks. It was an intimate gathering that closed with benediction.
We had the opportunity to enjoy many sites along the way and I will be sharing these experiences with you in the days ahead. My favorite stop was the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. There are signs asking that no pictures be taken in the interior of the church and I obeyed those signs, but I would certainly recommend making a visit to the shrine if you are ever in the neighborhood.
Today we celebrate the Memorial of St. Jerome. The famous quote attributed to St. Jerome is one that sticks firmly in my mind. “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” That may seem a bit harsh, but if we give it some serious reflection it makes a lot of sense.
We have the opportunity to have easy access to the Sacred Scriptures in the current age. Many of us own multiple copies of the Bible and have electronic versions on our computers as well. Are we using any of them? Is the Bible collecting dust as a centerpiece on a coffee table, or is it simply lost on a bookshelf somewhere?
My encouragement to you today is to create a habit of reading the Bible. Study it. Pray with it. God readily speaks to us in the depths of our heart when we read, pray and reflect upon the Sacred Scriptures. How well do you know the Scriptures? How well do you know Christ?