Georgia On My Mind

When you think about this time of year, what do you think about?  Is it finding that rare gift for that special someone?  Is it reflecting on the many past holidays spent with your family?  How about those moments that make you stop and pause for a moment, about something you did or didn’t do?  Many of us recall the times when we were children and couldn’t wait for that day to get here so that we could open our presents.  Some of us recall our relatives who had that strange look or trait we laughed about or whispered quietly to each other as they passed on by.  Or maybe, we remember something we never received or of a relative that we had lost.  It is these kinds of memories we hold in the silence of our hearts.

We see the child’s eyes open wide at all the wonders of the season – the snowfall, the parades, the sights and sounds that stir them to emotion.  We remember how we reacted and were enlightened by their innocence and their ability to see everything as if it was new.  There are those of us though for which this season is lost.  We hold much regret and anger for those who have more than we do.  We are bitter to the point of alienating the ones that love us the most. 

There is a way to get through a hardened heart and a way to a childlike view of the world.  It is to think about how our shortcomings pale in comparison to the hardships Joseph and Mary had in the birth of the baby Jesus.  Imagine giving birth to your child sitting in a damp, cold and barren stable with no running water, no heat to keep the cold away and not much acceptance to the life you have lead or to you personally.

It reminds us that life is too short to dwell on the past and for us to not forget to live.  I think of this little boy who had insurmountable odds of survival, I am humbled.  And, I remember the ones that have gone before me who sacrificed their lives so that we would have a chance at a better one. 

There is one such person, especially this year that I mourn the passing of.  I remember what she did for us and for the many others who lives were blessed with her presence.  She was unselfish, kind to a fault.  I also remember fondly her talent for gardening and her ‘green thumb’.  She could plant a popsicle stick and it would flower.  Now, where is that miracle when I need it!  She would give of herself freely and hadn’t a bad word to say about anyone.  She lived her life by example and was a true hero to those who were touched by her deeds or by her radiant smile and for her love for those less fortunate.  She was a second mother to us after our mom passed away years before.  She exemplified what that little boy in a manger represented so long ago – hope, hope for a world without hunger or want. 

I promised the children of this fine lady that I would write it with them in mind.  This is for you and for everyone suffering a loss at this time of year.  Think about the good times and of the many things you did together.  You will find yourself recalling something funny and the memories and the laughter will come.  Ray Charles wrote a song many decades ago that flows through my mind as I remember her and of all the others that have passed on in my life.  And for her children, especially, this song is for you.

I said Georgia, Georgia
A song of you
Comes as sweet and clear
As moonlight through the pines

Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you

I said Georgia, oh Georgia
No peace I find
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind,

Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind…

May there be many such songs.  For Terry, Steve, dad and family may this Christmas bring you much joy.  May God grant us all the serenity to accept the things we cannot change – to change the things we can – and to know the difference.  Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year.  May the wind be forever at your backs and may His peace be with you, always.      

Thanks-For giving

According to the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, over 13,000 people are considered homeless.  More surprisingly, over 5000 of these had families with children.  Each and every year, more and more are being added to the ranks and sadly increasing at a rate of nearly 5% or more.  Many, through no fault of their own, are thrown into these ranks by either unfortunate circumstance or unforeseen elements.  I am greatly distressed by this fact and that it is children who suffer the greatest.  They are the lost ones, the innocent who need a chance to live out their lives – to dream – to hope – and to care.

I volunteer each year on Make a Difference Day at a picnic held for the local homeless at Goodale Park here in Columbus, Ohio.  To say that I am moved by the site of these people is an understatement.  I begin to realize just how interconnected we are and that our actions can have a profound impact on the lives of others.  By talking with us and sharing their experiences, we come to know about their situation and of how they became homeless.  It is the rich stories they tell and of how they continue to struggle with addiction, nervousness and anxiety.

For many of the children, however, the stories are far more disturbing.  I cannot imagine what it would be like, especially in the formative years, to have your foundation stripped from beneath your feet.  Not to have a home to go to, food to eat or even clothing for that cold winter night must seem like an insurmountable hill for many of them to climb.  A child needs that strength and stability that only a family can provide in order to grow and become that person God intended.  I look into their eyes on this day and I wonder how I would react in such a moment.  Would I be as strong and steely eyed as they are or would I fold to the pressures of the environment around me.  The answer bothers me because I tend to shy away from my problems and find myself hiding from society when the world looks and acts particularly frightening and unforgiveable. 

I recall how my mother was so welcoming to those less fortunate and that I should, as my duty as a human being, let everyone into my heart.  I found myself outside my comfort zone on this particular day and was apprehensive.  I was particularly taken aback by a young woman who approached us and told us about living in a shelter and having no shoes to wear for her children.  My inhibition began to melt away as all I could think about was how blessed I was to have such a loving and caring base of friends and family to fall back on.  I shed a tear.  I remembered also that Jesus was homeless and depended on the kindness of strangers and of His asking for us to give of ourselves to those who need it most.

By opening up and by just listening, I begin to understand that these people and their children are no different than the rest of us.  They share the same hopes and dreams for their families.  I recall what Blessed Pope John Paul II once said, that “dialogue leads to a recognition of diversity and opens the mind to the mutual acceptance and genuine collaboration demanded by the human family's basic vocation to unity.”

They seek that common thread that we seek, to be together in society and to be recognized, to be wanted, to be cared about and to be loved.  God is all around us, He sees us in our best and worst moments.  He is watching and waiting for us to make the first move.  It is our responsibility as citizens of this planet to give to those who need it most and to bring His message to everyone within the sound of our voice. 

At the end of this day and every day, the response I want to hear from those families is “thanks for giving”.  I hope I have touched a life and brought a little happiness into the eyes of that child staring back at me, waiting for me to give them a hug and acknowledging that they were important to someone - someone like me, someone like the countless people helping today, someone like God.

May the Lord watch over them and keep them safe, may they walk in His serenity and light, may they have many sweet dreams and may His peace be with them, always.

Knight Of Our Life

The things we hold onto in life are not the same things we take with us into heaven.  We are collectors of a sort, gathering items and storing them away for that rainy day.  We forget that that day may never come and what we are left with is just a pile of stuff that has no real meaning.  It is the memories we leave behind, of the good we spread and the lives we touch that are important to God.  He cultivates our relationship with Him throughout our time here on earth.  He is looking to us to see how we respond to His call and succumb to the environment so active around us.

I was posed with an interesting question one day and I was drawn aback by it.  “If you knew that this was your last night here on earth, what would you do and who would you like to see?”  The answer continues to haunt me to this day.  I found myself telling this person that I would like a chance to undo all the wrongs I have done in my past and atone to in person those people I have offended.  I would ask for their forgiveness, for their blessings and most importantly, for their love.

What I failed to realize is that it is God sets the stage, hires the actors and orchestrates the play.  He is the Director of the cast and tells the story.  The story is of your life, how you impacted others and in the way you responded to their needs. 

By becoming a part of something greater than yourself, you are moved to action and stirred to emotion to not just sit by and watch, but to be an involved part of whatever or whomever you choose to help. 

About 3 years ago, I became involved with a new parish and was approached by gentlemen of the Knights of Columbus and was asked if I would like to join this fellowship.  I had always been a fan of their work and saw this as a way of getting to know the church community.  There were so many suffering, needing people wanting a better life and I found that these men gather together in order to bring a smile to someone’s heart, food to the table and much, much, more.  The dedication they show is an example of how God can work in all of us. 

I became involved in many of the Knights causes, but singled out some that touched my heart and that I felt I could make an impact.  I realized through much prayer and action, that life is a circle.  There is no beginning, no ending, just limitless spirits that flow around us.  I began to see that to defend such life is to be an advocate for those who might not have the best intentions in their hearts.  As I was praying, a thought occurred to me, what would such a conversation be like, between the child in the womb and its mother?

“Hello mommy, it’s me.  I was wondering what you might be thinking about?”

“Are you excited about me coming?  What is the world like out there?”

“Are their stars in Heaven?  How about earth?”

“Does daddy know I’m coming?”

“Mommy, who is God and why is He talking to me?”

“He’s telling me everything will be alright and to not be afraid of the dark.”

“Mommy, what is dark?”

“Oh, I see.  God is telling me that I am going to a better place.”

“Where is that mommy?  Is it our house?”

How do we answer this child?  Each one of us carries a hole in our heart.  Is this just a coincidence?  If we believe that all life is precious, then why do choose who is and who is not to live?  Isn’t that God’s decision to make with us and beside us?  Here is hoping that when we are faced with the decision about our own lives, we will be a kind.  Let us hope and pray that we have the “Knight of our life”.  Let us hope that our sins will be forgiven and those we have wronged will forgive.  I wish to be remembered as someone who cared and who made a difference – one child, one man, one woman, one family at a time.

May God bless you and keep you.  May He protect the children wanting life among the living and may His peace be with you, always. 

Reminiscing

Scents, aromas and pictures (still or moving) can influence our memory and make it as vivid and as real as it can ever be.  I was sitting at home one evening and a sudden gust of melancholy overtook me.  My parents and my experiences with them came flooding back in my mind.  I thought of the days when they first met and how they wanted to share a life together.  I thought of all the vacations we took together and of the conversations we had when they were older.  I also thought of the end times when they were most vulnerable and I remember their strength, their faith and their smiles.

It is amazing to me that something as simple as a reminder can stir us to tears or to laughter.  The environment permeates with the pulse of our spirit.  It is as alive as we are present in this world.  It affects us in ways we cannot humanly imagine.

It is not God’s plan for us to dwell on the past and forget to live.  But for me, at least, when these thoughts come to me, I seem to be, for a moment, paralyzed.  Then, as if someone was calling my name, I awaken and am back in the world.  Temporary or not, this kind of memory can influence how we cope with good times and with the trials He places before us in our everyday lives.  It molds us, shapes us and moves us to compassionate impulses. 

Blessed Pope John Paul II once said, “It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be ground down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal.”

For it is our spirit, our parent’s spirit, His spirit that we can use to be better stewards and kinder to our fellow human beings.  By remembering something wonderful, we are stirred to positive action and by remembering a tragedy; we are guided to wisdom and learn how to manage our emotions.

Perhaps, by just listening when things are at their calmest, we can hear Him speaking to us.  He is leading us to a life of prayer, a more content life, a more fulfilled life, a more spiritual life and a life worth remembering.

For our loved ones who are deceased, for all the soldiers protecting us, for all those needing His help, we will think of them fondly, saying a prayer and recalling those wonderful memories that were shared.  An excerpt from a song the Little River Band wrote over three decades ago sums up what I keep in my mind:

Well that's the way it began, we were hand-in-hand Glen Miller's band was better than before

We yelled and screamed for more

And those Porter's tunes made us dance across the room

It ended all too soon

On the way back home I promised you'd never be alone
Hurry, don't be late I can't hardly wait I said to myself when we're old

We'll go dancing in the dark, walking through the park and reminiscing…

 Friday night it was late, I was walking you home

We got down to the gate, I was dreaming of the night

Would it turn out right?

Now as the years roll on, each time we hear our favorite song

The memories come along

Older times we're missing, spending the hours reminiscing

Hurry, don't be late, I can't hardly wait

I said to myself when we're old

We'll go dancing in the dark, walking through the park and reminiscing…

May we all have found memories of our loved ones and may their spirit guide us and hold us forever.  May the wind be at our backs and may His peace be with you, always.

I Rise

Events in time can play an important role in how we are formed as people.  Sometimes we experience something that changes our perspective on life.  That, in turn, shapes us.  It reminds us that we are a product of not only the environment that surrounds us but by the spiritual world that unites us all.  Our roles in society reflect this ability to adapt and change.  Most of us believe that we either make our mark on this world or stay in moderate seclusion.  I believe that we all contribute in some way to the needs of others and are therefore a part of a much bigger picture, a much larger world. 

One day, I found myself looking into the sky and wondering what the saints must think of us down here and how we are so pre-occupied in trying to reach for the stars.  What we think of rising here on earth might not be a distance but in the time between the dream state and our own awakening.  Sights, sounds and noises can affect our awareness. 

As I watched the fireworks celebrations this past July, I was reminded of Mary and of her assumption into heaven.  We all live our lives as the rocket does – we are forged by fire, existing in a raging flame as we rise into the sky – we let off a brilliant show of light and love – then we fall back down to the ground as a simple piece of ash and dimming with each second.  Mary, on the other hand, lived a life of sacrifice, a life of hope, a much different life than the rest of the human race.  She never fell back to earth.  She rose into eternity with Christ.  But do not fret, we too will be taken into Heaven on that last day, but based on the needs of those around us and in the nature of how a small or large measure we lifted a giving soul.

Saint Alphonsus de Liguori once said that “now death came; not indeed clothed in mourning and grief, as it does to others, but adorned with light and gladness. But what do we say? Why speak of death? Let us rather say that divine love came, and cut the thread of that noble life. And as a light, before going out, gives a last and brighter flash than ever, so did this beautiful creature, on hearing her Son's invitation to follow him, wrapped in the flames of love, and in the midst of her loving sighs, give a last sigh of still more ardent love, and breathing forth her soul, expired.

This reminds me of those fireworks we watched as they soared into the sky, flashed their brilliance of color and light, then faded as the embers caught the night sky.  And like those brilliant flashes, we exist and glow for only a short time here on earth.  But for Mary, hers will be a star that never extinguishes, a memory that will last forever.

One day, we will follow in the footsteps of our blessed Mother.  To everyone within the sound of my voice and in the ability to hear Christ’s call, we humbly say to ourselves:

To the eastern sun I rise,

To the soul that roams free I rise,

To His honor and majesty I rise,

To our faith in all we love and cherish I rise and,

To my journey on that last day, I - will - rise.

May we come to Mary in prayer and may she become our guide.  May the sky ever reveal its true colors and may His peace be with you, always.

Weep not...

They say when the outside air is cold; our inner body is the warmest place to be.  Perhaps in our limited understanding of its makeup we judge this to be a purely mechanical act but I am one of many of faith who believes it is an act of spirituality.  There is definitely someone or something attending to us on a daily basis.  Whether you are one who seeks truth through evidence or one that seeks knowledge through truth you cannot be denied explanation.  The fountain of life remains contained, subordinate and willful to the stream until it is ignited by thought, deed, word or unexplainable action.

Our history is stained by the blood of others and amazingly it is this same blood, flowing through our veins, that is the very means by which we receive redemption.  How ironic it is to see people killing one another only to try and save them with the same blood that flows within them?  We are a society bent on the destructive nature of the soul and in its healing power. 

There cannot be light without dark, life without death, but there it is, flowing inside each of us.  A sacrifice of love, pure love, not angry passion was His way of reaching each one of us.  Residing in us all is the life giving blood of His compassion and the saving power of His grace.  Why then, do we try to explain its meaning?  We all try and attach some cosmic relevance to its creation but never seem to arrive at a result we can be satisfied with?  We are constantly left with more questions than answers.  Perhaps that is the way Jesus wants it.

By always trying to strive to be better stewards of our bodies, we are constantly growing; evolving into what He would like us to be.  There is no destination without a journey and the blood that flows through our veins can tell an amazing story.  This chapter in our life can be a short one, but without the risk, the adventure, and the living there can be no meeting with Him in eternity.  To be complete is to make us whole, to make us want to accomplish great things before our time on this earthly plain is done.  Each and every Sunday, across the world, we consume His very essence and living nature.  It mixes with our own, flowing together, making up a communal society in which we all hold the same serum.  Shouldn’t this make us a part of each other? 

Warmth of this divine blood signifies a love relationship with God.  By bringing Him into our hearts, we allow ourselves to be subject to His will.  Emotions like empathy, righteousness, grace and faith seem to become more a part of our lives.  This is no coincidence since it is Jesus himself that is present in this unique sharing.  As families, we give our hearts, minds and love to each other through these simple acts of kindness and come closer to His design for each and every one of us.  Remember, we are all made up of the same essential things, just mixed together differently and presented in a greater light. 

Cherish your life here and pass on that love to another who needs it more than you.  I am reminded by something the great Father Faber once said, “the precious blood is a flowing fountain of spiritual gifts that will never run dry”.  So weep not, for tears shed from divine grace can become a raging river; a river of love, a river of sanctity, a river of everlasting life.

May His blood flow through each of us and bless us.  May the wind be forever at your backs and may His peace be with you, always.

Going Beyond Duty

Honor, Courage and Commitment.  These are words we often bandy about and take for granted.  We never seem to take the time to realize their significance and meaning.  Some of us know it, some of us sense it, some even rely on it but for some of us, for a very select few – we live it.  Day in and day out, these select few put into practice the principles by which our very nature is founded.  They do the things we do not have the courage to do or to even dare think about so that we may have the freedom to pursue our endeavors and to go about our daily lives in a sense of relative ease and comfort.  They are known as the proud, the doers and the makers.  Simply put, they are marines.

I had the honor this past May to take part in some of the most moving ceremonies I will ever experience in my lifetime.  My nephew Justin had just finished boot camp and we traveled to Parris Island to be with him at his graduation.  What a sight, it was like being in a city within a city.  We were obviously in one of the safest places on the planet surrounded by defenders and people of faith. 

We arrived in the morning and got our first glimpse of these men as we saw them and our nephew going by on their “motivational run”.  He looked tall, he looked humble, he looked reverent, he looked like a marine. 

Later, the families gathered in the practice hall anxiously awaiting the arrival of their loved one.  A long silence, then the bay doors opened and in they marched.  It was at that moment I realized what they had gone through, months of sacrifice and trial to arrive at this time and place – my heart raced and I shed my first tear.   This was a rite carried on for over 200 years, history being made in front of our eyes for a select few to witness.  I felt honored to be allowed to be such a small part of this ceremony.  I will never forget it.

As they were released, the families all raced down to greet them.  It made my heart full.  I got up and close to our nephew for the first time.  I hugged him and told him how proud I was and that I loved him very much.  He seemed like a changed person.  He stood true; he seemed to be sure of himself, he spoke with respect.

We talked throughout the day about the phases of his transformation – learning the values of belonging to a group rather than to just yourself, of giving one’s heart to God and in the love for everything that exemplifies duty and love of country.  We learned about the leap of faith to the ultimate test of the ‘crucible’ when he finally relinquished the title of recruit to become known as ‘marine’.  This symbol is a symbol worn by thousands who went before them, passing on the mantle of commitment.

The next morning, we arrived to see the raising of the colors, our flag.  After, a soloist played ‘Amazing Grace’ on his saxophone and I wept yet another tear.  I was never more proud of my country as I was at that precise moment.  Then came graduation.  Again, my heart was full as I saw these young men marching onto the parade grounds, in unison and with a depth of intrepidity as they passed by us.  We listened to the band playing, each one a marine and foremost a soldier.  A wonderful tribute played not only to us but to them.  I began to swallow a little harder as they then stood at attention, clicking their heels together, sounding as one – an echo that would have been heard not only there but all over the world.  Look out, there are marines coming! 

Such is the life these brave young men have led these past months and it was our privilege to let them outshine us all.  For is not for us to reason why, but to just believe.  God has a plan for each one of us, we just need to listen and He will guide us to where we are supposed to be.  The famous theologian Roger Williams once said that ‘the greatest crime in the world is not developing your potential.  When you do what you do best, you are helping not only yourself, but the world.’

By our hearts we are strengthened, by our deeds we are acknowledged, by our faith we are renewed, by our courage we are moved to action and by our love we are true – true to our family, our new family, our marine family.  We are part of a much larger picture in the eyes of Christ.  Always carry that with you, my nephew, and He will never let you down.

Few of us experience a life changing moment.  I received such a blessing that day.  A gift handed down to me from God in the form of some wonderful men and women.  They are known only by their last names because names are not as important as how we speak of them.  If I could become half the man Pvt. J.R. Thomas is now, I would consider myself truly blessed.  My admiration for him and what he has accomplished will never waver with time.  He has gone beyond duty and for this our country will be forever grateful, forever eternal.  Semper Fidelis!  Go devil dawgs, ooh-rah!

May God guide you on your journeys in life, may the wind be at your back and may His peace be with you, always.  God bless and God speed. Amen.

That Maiden Journey

Do you remember the time when you finally sat down and talked with your parents?  As they spoke about their lives, you had that moment when you discovered just how little you knew about them.  Theirs was a life so rich and colorful as any could be.  They became two of the smartest people as we began to look at them in a much different light.
 

Some of my greatest inspirations came from my mom.  She was the most humble and kind person I will ever know.  She was smart and capable of handling anything we dealt out and for having ten children, I call that a feat of legend domain.  She believed as much in the needs of others as she did in her faith and acted appropriately.

I will never forget her.  She will always be my best friend and I miss her companionship each and every day.  But I know that she is with me in spirit and is guiding me.  I hear her in a whisper to make my bed, wash the dishes, clean the house and to be a kinder person to my family and friends.

Such is the unselfish life of a mother – loving, giving and sacrificing.  Mother Mary, for all her wisdom, was the model by which all earthly mothers follow.  She held nothing back when it came to the needs of her son.  Nothing was too great for her to give of herself and of her time.  She spent her life relinquishing the spotlight so that He could carry out His role.

That is a lesson we could all follow as parents and people of Christ – to allow our children and family to outshine us, to find their purpose here on Earth.  We hear so much about what Mary and what all mothers’ give away each day.  Remember, they are not meant to be a timid devotion but a presence.  We go to them for love and affection but forget that they are intercessors and warriors for God.  They are our avenue by which we can reach the very ears of Christ.

We are sometimes so enamored by their beauty and grace, and rightfully so, that we miss the rhyme behind the reason.  Mothers are the strength behind the throne, silently commanding the stage but doing so with love and care.  Blessed Pope John Paul II once said that “Motherhood shows a creativity on which the humanity of each human being largely depends; it also invites man to learn and to express his own fatherhood. Thus women contribute to society and to the Church their ability to nurture human beings". 

Mothers, in that sense, hold our hands for a while and our hearts forever.  We begin to understand our responsibility to prayer and sacrifice, not only for ourselves but for all humanity.  We go along life with its many twists and turns but magically seem to always come back full circle to that maiden journey called home. 

May God bless you and keep you.  May Mother Mary guide you and pray for you.  May the wind be at your backs and may His peace be with you, always.

 

The Ghost Rider

Rebirth, renewal, remembrance and reflection are all ways in which each of us can contribute some small act of kindness towards our fellow man.  By allowing ourselves to be absorbed into the warmth of the Spirit, we come to realize that all other things seem to pale in comparison to the embodiment of His being.  Life is what it is all about.  We are born, live and die within the confines of this space.  But when we pass on, we enter into a realm that is eternal.  Jesus gave such a precious gift when He died on the cross and though His resurrection became the Sacrificial Lamb of God, Christ our true light.  He created a gateway to the human soul, through His spirit, by which we could now enter into the very nature of Heaven. 

Not since this time had man ever contemplated praying through another to God.  His son became our guide and our savior into a world so largely occupied by people who would not believe or fathom such a sacrifice.  As for those who trusted in His mercy, their Christian fire had now become a holy flame.

Burning brightly in our hearts is that light by which we measure our personal relationships with God.  What we fail to recognize is the gift He gave to us in the form of the Eucharist.  Each and every day, He is here with us, celebrated in the power of a simple prayer and in the power and promise of innocence and redemption.  Most times, what we fail to recognize is that we are already one with Christ.  We are as much a part of Him as He is of us.

We are the soul of the church; we give ourselves to Him freely and without reservation.  We invite Him into our heart not only to consume our inhibitions but to create a sense of belonging so that we may use His strength in helping to cope with many of life’s challenges.  It is this flame that lights the candle by which we are guided to, like the stars in the night sky. 

There are many travelers on this road and we are constantly being visited.  Without us knowing or recognizing it, we are haunted by their fragrance.  The smell permeates us, binds us, and comes to us in so many different ways.  Have you ever felt the need to do something but you did not know why?  Have you ever discovered yourself in a strange place but do not know how you arrived there?  This is His spirit alive in everything around us, in every being roaming the earth throughout time.  We are called by its warmth and by our compulsion to give unceasingly through acts of kindness and prayer.  I can tell you now in the prime of my life that I am constantly amazed at the capacity of the human heart; in the way God moves us towards Him like the rise and fall of the tide along the shore.  

We need to come to Him and never waver.  When Jesus says to repent and believe in the Gospel, He is inviting us to become a part of something larger than ourselves.  He is telling us that though the body lies still, the soul and spirit roam free; like an excerpt from an old Stan Jones song it sings to what was preached:

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name

"If you want to save your soul from hell a riding on our range'

Then cowboy change your ways today, or with us you will ride

Tryin' to catch the devil's herd, across these endless skies" 

Yipie i-oh, yipie i-ay!  Ghost riders in the sky

Ghost riders in the sky

Ghost riders in the sky…

May the Holy Spirit travel within each and every one of us, may we go along for that eternal ride and may His peace be with you, always.

The Father's Way

Joseph, much like Jesus, lived a life of sacrifice and humility.  He cared not for what material possessions he had but concentrated on the needs of those around him.  This simple act of courage, I believe, defines the man and his role in our society.  His is the ‘nom de plume’ or the name usually hidden from most of life’s invitations.  But, rest assured, his presence is felt and heard by those who are around him, love him, respect him and admire him.  He claims not to boast of his accomplishments.  He would rather remain anonymous and sit in the shadows knowing that his efforts in this life will be seen and rewarded by God.

This time of the year is especially important to men because it signifies the importance of Jesus and of the life He led.  His was a lesson by example and not an arrogant blessing of the people that surrounded Him.  It is much like father’s today that carry that torch of enlightenment from Saint Joseph.  Ours is to be a way of truth, a way of gathering, a way of faith and a way of love.  

Pope Benedict XVI once said that “to be a father means above all to be at the service of life and growth”.  Through much hardship and happenstance, we experience what it means to be human.  This brings us closer to not only Christ but to ourselves.  By serving others, we are reminded of what we have to be thankful of and of what seems to be in limited supply – a home, a job, a family, food on the table and clothes on our backs.  When we are thinking selfishly, we need to be reminded of such blessings. 

As fathers, we are just ordinary people that are often relied upon to do extraordinary things.  But these acts need not be acts of bravery or periless flight, they can be as easy as sitting down and reading with your daughter, playing catch with your son or saying prayers with the family.  What we seem to expect of ourselves is often far less than what our children expect of us. 

During our lifetime, we are constantly being shaped by the environment around us.  Our family looks to us to be the calm in a sea of storms.  They see how we react to tragedy and triumph as they transform themselves into images of us.  We are the mold by which they shape their lives and it is up to us to allow them the freedom to do so.

By letting our children make mistakes, it allows them to develop a way of coping with life.  I learned from my own experience that failure is often a catalyst for success.  There we find the knowledge to accomplish great things and to grow in faith to God.  Saint Joseph had such an outlook on life.  We, and him, are products of such sacrifice.  Surround yourself with the things in life that matter.  As a famous prayer once said, “May He grant you the serenity to accept the things you cannot change; courage to change the things you can; and the wisdom to know the difference”.  For this is our way - man, woman or child – the Father’s way, forevermore.

May you follow the way, the truth and the light.  May you have a humble and joyful Lent, may the wind be at your backs and may His peace be with you, always.

Through The Everlasting Candlelight

Family, memories of being young, holding on to one another and of love are just a few of the things we cherish about home.  We simplify our lives so that we can share it with our children.  We ask them to follow the light of a candle, burning brightly in our hearts, to a place where they can meet a Holy Family.

Our lives begin truly with the birth of a child.  They seem to completely change our perspective on life and ground us in reality.  We start to see our service to them as a needed and wanted sacrifice.  It is here that we find that rare gift of unconditional love that only time can caress and measure.  We teach our children to present themselves in the greatest light and by coming to Him in worship and following in his path; they become what they were meant to be, by His choice and their given talents.

The road we travel and the road we seek for others is a road than can diverge into so many directions.  It can take us off the beaten path to a wonderful, spiritual place or it can take us away from ourselves and away from our destiny.  During our lifetime, we make choices and hopefully, the right ones.  We learn from our mistakes and wish only the best for our children.  But life is seldom a straight line, often seen as crooked and wavering as time makes of it.  We can only guide them and hope that they come to the realization that through God anything is possible.

His light is a beacon by which we measure our successes and failures.  He waits for us as we awaited the arrival of our firstborn, in empathy and understanding that we are human and as such, are fallible and subject to the environment we choose to exist in.  Blessed Pope John Paul II once said, “The family, more than any other human reality, is the place in which the person is loved for himself and in which he learns to live the sincere gift of self”.

By a seemingly endless practice of devotion and love, to God and to one another, we come closer to the design He has in store for us as followers and children of Christ.  We depend on that love to remove doubt and uncertainty in times of trial and triumph.  The answers we seek are there; if we are only brave enough to look through ourselves.  It brings to mind those famous last words, “Do as I say and not as I do”.  And surprisingly, this is often the answer to many an argument we have with our kids.

Though self-reflection, through prayer and supplication, through love and through life we come together.  We are part of a much bigger picture, a part of a much larger family.  The universe is so vast but wonderfully contains only one Holy Family.  Let us follow the flame that burns so brightly to guide our way.  We come through the circle of life and back to where we all began, tracing our eternal beginnings and our existence…through the everlasting candlelight.

May God keep our families together and bring us closer to the Holy Family.  Celebrate our children and their time with us.  May He, mother Mary and father Joseph, be always at our side and may His peace be with you, always.

O Sanctissimi Nominis

What’s in a name?  Sweet as a rose or not, our memories are often brought on by the senses we choose to enrapt ourselves in.  The sights, the sounds and the interaction with one another can change our perspective in many ways.  We have all heard that we are a product of our environment.  We can end up with riches or mire in poverty. 

Names have a big role to play in this adventure we call life.  Success is measured, in this world, often by the titles we hold.  We think that stature is all important but we forget that what we call ourselves is not as important as how we live our lives and of the people we touch along the way.  I believe we are judged not by what we accomplish but by the good we leave behind.

Many of us have riches but no faith.  Many have faith but no riches.   For most of us, rich or poor, we lie somewhere between the light and the darkness.  We seek happiness but realize that it comes with a price.  Sacrifices must be met, goals must be achieved and mountains need to be climbed to arrive at what we wish to become.

We go through life seemingly without a clue, believing in anything that makes our material life seem fulfilling.  Often what we find is a feeling of wanting.  Is this enough?  Is this all that there is?  Is there more?  Is there someone or something watching out for me?

The answers are there, if we can only stop for a moment and let the rush of life catch up with us.  Look up, look within, there is somebody looking back at you, waiting for you to respond.  He has always resided in our hearts and our minds; we have just been too busy to listen.  He waits the day of our return like a jubilant child.  His name is Jesus, His name is Savior, His name is home.

Through prayer and supplication, we find that many of the things we thought we needed in life are not as important as we originally thought.  Material needs become secondary to the very nature of being with Him and in the adventure of finding our true self.  It can be very uncomfortable, but the process of reshaping us into His image can often be fraught with the fire by which we are forged. 

 
It is important to remember that through these trials, “It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; He is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is He who provoked you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is He who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is He who reads in your heart your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle.

It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an idea, the refusal to allow yourselves to be ground down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal.” – Blessed Pope John Paul II.

Live your life as today were your last here on Earth.  Measure your success by what you leave behind as virtue, honor and love.  Your name is not as important as how others speak of it.  But for Jesus, His is a name by which every knee should bow, by which every ember should glow, a most holy name, His and eternal, forevermore. 

May you find the way, the truth and the light.  May you feel the gentle breath of the Holy Spirit and may His peace, God’s peace, be with you, always.