It was the second time in three months that our local community experienced the tragic deaths of more than one individual from a family. Last fall a car accident claimed the lives of three individuals in one car. This time it was a father and son killed in a snowmobiling accident. That funeral took place this morning.
As I stood and looked at the two caskets, I couldn’t even imagine the level of grief being experienced by the family. Mom and dad lost their young son as well as their 8 year old grandson. In an instant their lives were forever changed.
The precious gift of life is not something to take for granted. Pause for a moment to pray for your loved ones. Then, be sure to tell them how much they mean to you. Don’t assume that those close to you know that you love them. Take the time to tell them and to show them just how much you care.
Is being a man of faith exciting? Does being a man of God get your blood pumping like a Pony Express rider of old? Apparently, a lot of men aren’t too excited about the religious practice component of life. According to Luis Logoand The Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life about 11 million adult men in the U.S. were raised Catholic but left the faith. A Gallup survey reveals that 48% of men agree that “Mass is boring.” Gallup further reveals that only 33% of Catholic men pray on a daily basis.
Those statistics are sobering to say the least. The ripple effect is huge. How does a husband and father lead his family into the ways of righteousness and holiness if he is not a man of prayer himself? What is the foundation upon which a man builds his life if it is not built upon a relationship with God? How do we reverse the current trend we are witnessing?
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.
The cold, damp air seemed to set the tone for the day. I was tired and sluggish and the weather seemed to match my mood. I will also admit a certain level of anxiety because of today’s anniversary. Whether an attack is on our native soil or in a place like Benghazi, the anniversary of the 9/11 attack always spikes my apprehension about our citizens taking another hit.
Obviously, as I delineated all of the (terror) attacks on American soil in the last 20 years in my post yesterday, we are vulnerable to attacks at any time and on any day. It isn’t just on this one day. In yesterday’s posting I did not include any school shootings, the Aurora, Colorado theater shooting, and other events not labeled as terrorist attacks. The pain and loss of life in these crimes is also quite intense.
Reaching the evening hours with no reported attack has brought a sense of relief. At the time I am writing this I still have concern about the folks present for Thursday Night Football. I will be grateful when the stadium is empty and people have returned safely to their homes.
I had the privilege of being the keynote speaker this evening for the first meeting of the Bishop’s Guild in this new season. The topic that was chosen is the theme for this year’s Catechetical Sunday which will be celebrated on September 21. The theme is, Teaching About God’s Gift of Forgiveness. Hopefully, all of us are teaching about God’s forgiveness first and foremost through our own forgiving actions. I can only imagine the difficulty of some people in trying to forgive the perpetrators of the 9/11 attack. How do we find the strength to forgive when we have been hurt so tragically?
Thankfully, all things are possible with God. The love of God the Father, the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit is with us. That is how we manage to go on through the difficult days of life.
My evening with the ladies of the Bishop’s Guild was a splendid one. I am extremely grateful for each of you individually and as a group. You have blessed, and continue to bless, God’s people through your lives of faithful witness. Thank you for your dedication to Christ and the Church and the many ways you serve. Please know that your sacrifices are genuinely appreciated.
As we left the hotel following the banquet we were greeted with snowfall and 35 degree temperatures. It’s only September 11. I am not ready for winter. Thankfully, it is a short blast and then back into the 70’s over the weekend.
I am watching it snow, but I am still thinking “summer” as I remember how hot it was in Missouri in July.
Have you ever stood on the edge of a mountainside and simply pondered? Have you considered the ease of travel in modern times with paved roadways and engine-driven vehicles? What did the early settlers think as they traversed through the mountains on horseback, in wagons, and on foot? Did they stand at the base of a mountain and get discouraged about climbing the mountain and crossing it?
We all face obstacles in life. How do we typically respond to those obstacles?
At this stage of your life, are you where you are supposed to be?
In a few weeks another birthday will arrive for me. Some of the goals I set as young man have been reached, but others have not yet come to fruition. (One of the goals was to be financially independent by the age of 40. I missed that one by a long shot.) As I was thinking about some of those things this morning I realized that I am not yet where I want to be in many areas of my life. I started to get discouraged by that but then remembered John Maxwell’s line, “When you’re through improving, you’re through.” As long as we are blessed with the gift of life, we continue to move forward in our journey toward God.
I began revisiting my goals this morning and making some adjustments to them. I also began reviewing some material that I have accumulated through the years on leadership. I found several pages of quotes that provided plenty of food for thought. Many of these were in John Maxwell’s book, Leadership 101. A few of them really struck me as being pertinent at this stage in my life.
“The highest purpose for faith is not to change my circumstances but to change me.”“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”“People do not follow programs; rather, they follow leaders who inspire them.”“You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.”“A leader takes people where they want to go. A GREAT LEADER takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”I have been blessed with some extraordinary people in my life through the years who have helped me grow in faith, in knowledge, and in understanding. They have been an asset in encouraging me to strive for that place where I ought to be. In turn, I have been striving to be that great leader who helps others get to where they ought to be. I know I still have much work to do in my earthly pilgrimage.The key to successful leadership is influence–not position or authority. The question I am asking myself I will also pose to you. Are you exhibiting a positive influence for those around you?
My family has moved quite a few times in the last 15 years. Each time we land in a new place it seems I get more and more disorganized. Boxes go unpacked and things go missing for years. Today, we tackled some of those unpacked boxes and I can’t believe the things I relocated. Some of these items I had actually searched for on numerous occasions, but today was when they were found.
One folder that I found had resources that I used for various talks in my early years as a deacon. Another one had some of my homework in it from when I was in formation and even classes I took following ordination. One class I took after ordination was entitled, “Teaching Religion To Children.” An assignment we received in that class was quite unique. Each student was given a cartoon picture and we had to compose a prayer based upon the picture. I received a picture of Winnie-the Pooh singing and dancing and enjoying the contents of his honey pot. Here is the prayer I composed 15 years ago based upon that picture.
PRAYER OF WINNIE-THE-POOH
I blow on my trumpet a melodius chord And make a joyful noise unto the Lord That is what Scripture tells me to do Hello Lord, it’s me–Winnie-the-Pooh
Oh God, it is with all my heart and soul I pray That I may never find myself going astray But sometimes, as quick as a wink Oops–I guess I didn’t think
Please guide me until the journey’s end And always be my faithful and loving friend Protect Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore too And don’t forget me–Winnie-the-Pooh
I ask you to give me so much grace That I see heaven–not that other place And Lord, I don’t know if this is right or not But for now, I simply pray for a full honey pot
I have been to hell and back. Okay, I have been to Hell, Grand Cayman but I have not been to Hell, Michigan. I have been to Purgatory, Colorado but have not been to Purgatory, Maine. It has been more of a challenge to get to heaven. I have not been to Heaven Heights, Massachusetts nor have I been to Paradise in Newfoundland, Canada. If I want to see paradise it would probably be easier to go to Paradise, Utah or Paradise, California since they are both closer. Led Zeppelin was going to lead us on the “Stairway to Heaven,” but apparently it is a difficult road since the band “Spirit” has now sued Zeppelin for “lifting the opening notes of Stairway to Heaven.”In Wyoming we have our own piece of Hell about 45 miles from Casper. It is interestingly called “Hell’s Half Acre.” That is interesting because the area encompasses about 320 acres. (Maybe there was an attempt to minimize hell’s influence to a half acre.) According to some of the local historians the area was actually known as “The Devil’s Kitchen” back in 1833. Thus, the area has been connected to the realms of hell in one fashion or another for nearly 200 years. Interesting and odd names for towns and locations can attract attention, but do they make us stop and pause to consider the deeper realities? A parade float created to resemble a saloon with plenty of alcohol flowing creates an image in and of itself. Add a sign “Hell’s Half Acre” with a depiction of the flames of hell and the image increases in intensity. Maybe Billy Joel had a point when he sang, “I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints because sinners are much more fun.” Then again, he may have never considered the ultimate consequences for living a lifestyle contrary to the teachings of the Gospel. Reflections on the “four last things” used to be a serious matter. We pondered death, judgment, heaven, and hell and recognized the significance of walking humbly with our God. In modern culture we seem to see a much more casual attitude regarding these eternal issues. It almost appears that we don’t even believe in the existence of hell although Sacred Scripture certainly refutes that proposition.
My closing questions for today are simply these:
Where do we draw the line in regard to our attitude toward spiritual things? Do we find ourselves too casual, too serious, or just right? Do we have an understanding of where to draw the line between the cultural idea of “fun” and outright “blasphemy?”
The rodeo clown has an important role to play in the safety of the participants. It isn’t always an easy task and I am sure there are times when the heart rate of the clown must skyrocket. Getting a bull’s attention at close range is not necessarily what I would call fun. I could see myself having a great desire to jump and hide in the barrel at the first sign of danger. (Thus, I sit in the stands as a spectator rather than as a cowboy or a clown.)I am not a rodeo clown, and yet, there are still times that I would like to jump in a barrel and hide. The difficulties and anxieties of life can take a toll and weigh me down. Although running away and hiding can seem appealing, it is generally not the most effective means of coping. There has to be a healthier and more productive manner in which to address the problems of day-to-day life.One thing I was taught years ago was that I am responsible for my joy. If I believe that I am a child of God I should be filled with joy. If I allow my joy to be taken away by others or by the difficult circumstances of life, I am walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit. It took a lot of years before I started grasping the real depth behind that thinking. I finally started to understand a little bit of it when I distinguished the difference between happiness and joy. Problems may be filling my days and I find that I am not necessarily happy about the way things are going. However, I should still have the joy of the Lord despite the difficulties.I am grateful for the gift of prayer. The older I get the more I realize that God really does speak to us in the depths of our being. There is grace; there is strength; there is peace and contentment when we engage in the act of prayer. Let us walk boldly in faith. “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.”(2 Timothy 1:7)
The Missouri River in St. Charles, Missouri has long been a point of interest for me. I have enjoyed walking in Frontier Park soaking up the solitude along the river, and I have also participated in some of the festivities in which thousands of people have gathered in that same location. The power of the river can be fierce when flooding, and it can seem quite tranquil at other times. Regardless of the circumstances, the river demands respect. This weekend I experienced only the heat, the humidity, and the bugs. Other than a few other tourists and a couple of joggers all was quiet on the riverfront. I appreciated the opportunity for a little reflection time without a lot of distractions. I have written about my personal journey before, but being back in St. Charles this week brought back the memories a bit more vividly. It was on July 17, 1986 when I was diagnosed with cancer the first time. I spent 52 days in the hospital over the course of a four month period. St. Joseph Health Center looks out over the Missouri River, and many times I stood in one of the lounge areas of the hospital and watched the river flow. I was angry at even the river. It seemed like a replica of my life because it was flowing right on by and there was nothing I could do about it. The frustration of such a predicament was beyond my understanding and the bitterness within me continued to grow. It got to the point where I watched people walking on the sidewalks below and resented them for being healthy. I could not believe this was happening to me.
Thankfully, God is patient. I spent a lot of time in the simple chapel at the hospital. Slowly, God touched my pain and brought the healing that can only be found in Him. I was broken in so many ways, but nothing is beyond the scope of the Divine Healer. It is difficult to imagine that I eventually would come to the point where I would help start a support group for patients and their families coping with a life-threatening illness. Our group met successfully once a month for more than ten years. I even became part of the hospital staff as a chaplain for a short time as well. God certainly moved me from a place of despair to a place of hope, and then threw me into an arena completely out of my comfort zone. The end result was a tremendous learning experience and a powerful blessing to my eventual ministry as a deacon many years later.
I had no idea back then where the road would lead. I wasn’t even sure I would survive the cancer–or the harsh chemotherapy treatments. It was a lesson in perseverance, but more importantly, it was a lesson in trust. The setbacks, the infections, the loss of a paycheck, the loss of independence, the loss of dignity, and so much more bombarded my mind. I probably wouldn’t have been ready to hear the question at that time, but 17 years later when the question came, I needed it then too. “Are you still praising God?” Life is not always easy, but it is blessed.
Today, I celebrate 28 years of survival since the first diagnosis of cancer. It was an expedition I didn’t choose, but it resulted in quite an adventure. This week when I looked at the statue of Lewis and Clark in Frontier Park, I had a deeper appreciation of their courage. How do you stand at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and embark on an unknown journey? Sometimes, we step out in faith. Let the glory of God shine forth!
Living most of the first 40 years of my life in Missouri I guess it will always be considered home regardless of where I hang my hat. It is 850 miles from my current home to my old stomping grounds, and this weekend I made that trek once again.
As I get older the trip gets a little harder, but if I can get other states to follow Wyoming’s lead it could be quicker. On some of the rural areas of Wyoming the interstate speed limit was raised to 80 MPH on July 1, 2014. I got to enjoy a little less than 30 miles of that in Wyoming before hitting the Nebraska border. Nebraska officials–I enjoy your state. However, I could still enjoy it at 80 MPH rather than the current 75 MPH. It’s just a suggestion.
I made the 14 hour drive on Friday and then the whirlwind of activities began the following day. I presided at the graveside service on Saturday morning where we buried the cremains of my brother-in-law Jerry at a small rural cemetery in Millwood, Missouri.
Then it was on to my mom’s house. I picked her up so we could go to the 5:00 P.M. Eucharistic Liturgy in which good friends were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. Congratulations JOANNE and ROSCO! It was a marvelous celebration and your family is simply a delight to be around. It was enjoyable to catch up with so many people I had not seen in years. The picture below is out of focus. That is due to the guy working the camera–not due to the subjects in the picture. (I should have taken more than one picture.)
It was an honor and a privilege for me to offer the invocation and prayer of blessing before dinner. Thank you Boone for the invitation to do so. Eventually, the festivities closed on Saturday and I took my weary mother back home so she could get some rest for the next day.On Sunday morning I picked my mom up and we headed to O’Fallon for my cousin’s 60th anniversary as a Precious Blood sister. Sr. Rose Marie Dobelmann is my first cousin, but she has also been a mentor to me. After I was ordained a deacon in 1999, I went to school for an additional year receiving specialized training in the administration of religious education programs. In 2000 I landed my first job as a Director of Religious Education. Although I had completed the schooling, I was scared as I entered into my first role. Sr. Rose Marie provided me with the guidance and support I needed to eventually become competent (I hope). Her years of experience and wisdom were a tremendous blessing to me as I began this new ministry.
Sr. Rose Marie has touched the lives of many people in her 60 years as a sister. She continues to lead faith discussion groups with women at All Saints Parish in St. Peters, Missouri. Based upon the number of those women present at her celebration, Sr. Rose is still touching lives and sowing seeds of faith. Thank you for your faithful witness to Jesus Christ. (Thank you Fr. Pat Ryan for your generous hospitality in hosting the dinner for Sr. Rose. Thank you also for inviting me to offer the invocation and prayer of blessing prior to dinner. It was a privilege to do so, and it was also a pleasure to serve as a deacon at Mass with you.)On Monday I spent time catching up with some work and clearing up a few e-mails that needed attention. I did get a little rest before heading back to Wyoming early this morning. As you probably know, vacation is not always restful. In closing, I simply offer my thoughts and prayers to the farmers along the Mississippi River. I saw some beautiful looking crops, but unfortunately, many of them were standing in flood waters. I know the difficulties of farm life and the costly venture of farming bottom land. Getting a flood in July is certainly devastating. Please know of my prayers for you.
