I needs to be U

Passion Week

2010-04-01T13:52:00.003-05:00

What better time to focus on someone, besides ourselves, then the Passion Week. This will be one of the the few years that I will not be able to attend any of the services because of work. So I decided to really take some time then to just reflect on what the passion was like, what would it be like if I was in Jesus shoes, (sandals). I had the gift of being in the Holy Land this year and what a gift that is turning out to be. You really don't realize the impact it has on you until you get home and the different events that come up and you reflect, wow I have been there, in that spot, walking that same walk. Just to think that Jesus loved us so much that he gave his life for us, then showed us the Resurrection to seal that love. He not only suffered for us but then invites us to come be with him. Oh if I could only have such a love, such an unconditional love. As I walk this walk will I be the one on the side spitting and cursing, the one hiding, watching from a distance, or will I be the one underneath the cross with Mary. I wrote a little prayer in my prayer book that went like this; fail I shall, recover I must, Christ fell and I kiss the wounds upon His most sacred knees, because those wounds were caused by me. As He got up, so shall I, to walk again until I die. Jesus you are my strength, you are my hope, with love.
May this Passion Week find our footsteps in union with his, and maybe, in His mercy, we will come into the Kingdom with Him.

Rounded picture

2010-03-07T21:14:00.004-06:00

Have you ever tried to get a point across to someone, but instead they try to get their point of view across to you? What usually happens is both points of view may have their own merit yet neither party is willing to give an inch in fear of appearing to be giving in. I was discussing this same issue today and I came to a new point of view. So here is a thought to ponder; we are standing outside a building, we will say a church , and looking through the window in the front door we begin to share our view. Another person is standing outside the same church looking through a different window sharing their view, while still another person is standing outside the same church looking through the window in the side door sharing still another view. Ah yes same church 3 different views. Lesson I learned, share my view, but listen to the other views so that I get a better picture of the whole. Yet still, take the time to look into those other windows so that I might have a better understanding of the view they are expressing.

2010-02-09T15:31:00.002-06:00

ah yes, time passes but yet certain things never pass. Our annual tree viewing brought us into someones front yard this year. Out of the corner of my eye as we were zipping up the highways of northern Iowa I caught sight of this familiar face. Up the hill and a quick u-turn brought more question then I was beginning to think the adventure was worth. After several rubbing of my ears and shaking my head my mother came to the conclusion that I had found a new road to follow. Actually and old road that if some of you remember started way back. My earliest reflection was at the zoo in St Louis, but the earliest picture I believe was with her friends at the zoo in Pittsburgh, Pa.. So it goes as we rounded the corner and into the drive the big burly figure greeted us with his picture perfect pose. You just never know what you might find unless you adventure out and keep your eyes open. The road you follow may be were you want to go but the side trips along the way are what memories are made of. As the saying goes, take time to smell the roses or in this case to visit a friend. :)

Communion Calls

2009-11-29T01:06:00.002-06:00

Here it is a couple days after Thanksgiving, people are on the run before the turkey is back in the refrigerator. Christmas lights came on automatically at midnight Thanksgiving Day and now illuminate the streets. Cars are streaming up and down the streets with bags of Wal Mart, Target, K-Mart, JC Penneys to mention a few, crunched between the back doors or scrunched in the trunk. Credit cards are flying threw the scanners like an open fire hydrant getting cleaned out. We are on a mission, and if you look up that word it has various meanings. Which mission are we on; a task given to carry out, or communicating our faith?
That brings me to the subject of Communion Calls. Tonight was our turn to go to the homebound, of which I was dragging my feet on going. I thought it has been a full week already and I have several things I need to do and Communion Calls, which should be on the top of the list, was not on the top of my list tonight. I put myself together and forced myself out the door. I knew once I got started I would be fine but lots of forces were not wanting me to get started.
My first call was a senior lady that I have know for some time, she was not doing well and asked that we pray that she would just die. I tried to redirect her thoughts that Jesus must have felt the same way but that suffering has a great meaning and to use it wisely, maybe directed towards some member of her family.
Another stop was to a house on a two block long street, dimly lit and speckled with cars. I knocked on the door and was greated by a overprotective dogs barking. A younger lady answered the door and invited me in stating that her father was not able to receive Communion. I prayed with him and did a Spiritual Communion as he took every effort of energy he had to make the sign of the cross. His daughter exclaimed, well dad you finally got me to go to church, of which he follow with a weak drawn smile.
The final call I was greated by several people in a room maybe made for four. They directed me back to a back bedroom, there a lady laid in a very weak state who smiled and greated me. She who was very likely a cancer patient as well. She prayed with me and received Communion after I moved her hand to bring her back into awareness. I departed after an onstage walk through the living room again and bid all farewell as I progressed to the car.
This was an unusual night and I had a hard time putting together the season with the event. Is there an answer to this, I don't know. Maybe it is like the Church year, today is the end and tomorrow begins anew, Advent. Maybe it is an awareness of what is or is not important. Maybe it is nothing for me but that Jesus wanted to come to them in their time of need, to feed them to comfort them, to fill them with His love. Maybe in reading this you see a reason just for you. In any case, I pray for those people I was blessed to visit tonight, and ask for your prayers also, that they be filled with the peace, and strength they need at this time.

2009-09-26T23:11:00.002-05:00

What do I have to offer???? can normally be found in "what do YOU need?"

I received a letter from a sponsor boy the other day and would like to share that simplicity of his life with you. His is about 13 years old and he writes; Cordial greeting full of love and happiness hoping may God always protect you. He continues on with a school report that classes are getting harder but he is doing good. He is learning English and enjoys it along with working on computers. This is the part that caught me; everything is turning green and giving new life to all the plants and the trees. This is the season on which my brother and I go to look for fruits in the afternoon. All the afternoons are great because I enjoyed from all the nature of that surrounds me.

As I had time to spend with my sons this last weekend that same thought crossed my mind. I remember taking that breath of fresh air, listening to the trees and feeling the warmth of the sun. I thought what a beautiful day (which overshadowed the pain of the ball going into the trees).

How often we rush through life, missing those simple gifts God has given us to experience His love for us. Thank you Yony for reminding me to take time to enjoy the beauty of not only nature, but of our family as well.

Pride/Humility

2009-08-30T01:05:00.002-05:00

Not a story I would normally share, but worth the humility for the lesson it taught. The story starts off as a normal day when (I need some little ones to help put some color in this story) I decided to venture to the garden to reap my toils. As pride has it, boy this garden looks good, and over the fence I go. Picking the choice goods and back over the fence, except this time, left foot out first. Even as I did it I thought; not a good idea, but no problem, except when I went to lift the right leg over the fence, now a problem. Pant leg caught on the fence and as the world moved up to meet me, or was it me moving down, I remember the adjusting thought of how exactly was I going to land. The sound my shoulder made on impact suggested that my previous decision was not a good one. Doctor visit, Xray, Doctor visit, and how about some therapy. Ok I can handle that, does that include golf, I think you know the answer to that.

Well, first to the computer for some research, shoulder therapy, ah yes, I will get a jump on things. A week goes by and the phone call comes in to schedule my therapy. Set up with a nice young lady, Jill, who is new to the field but very good. She did all the checks then came the time for the exercises. As she dished them out I informed her I have been doing all of them already. She was good with that and made a couple suggestions on the procedures.

After a couple weeks working with me I decided that I was done. Jill asked me how I was doing and then had me do some of the exercises. Naturally I did more, longer and harder that she asked for. She suggested I take it easy as it was not a good idea to go overboard on these exercises. I informed her that I did not have much patients for inabilities and she laughed and said that she could see that. From that point on she took me through several different exercises and did her own pushing. When we got done she said I will see you in a couple days and I said lets stretch it out. We came to an agreement of ten days with the understanding that if I was having any trouble I was to call and come it, (that aint going to happen).

Now to the meat of this blog. My ten days passed but not without their problems. For the first few days I could hardly move my shoulder and I did not exercise it because it was so tender. After a few, I can't believe I am taking pain pills, I knew I had to start exercising before I had to go back. My arrival was greeted by Jill's friendly question of how I was doing. I smiled at her and said not bad but a little sore. She smiled, and I asked her if she was trying to teach me a lesson, again a smile. I told her she really worked me over on the past visit and I was really sore, again only a smile. I guess I know who is in control here. She worked with me and I backed way off. She asked me how I was doing and I told her I wasn't going to tell her, after what she did to me last week, I had learned my lesson. She responded with her normal smile and suggested some exercise along with the comment not to overdo it.

I left that day with a different outlook; a respect for her and what she was doing and a more humble look at me and how I should be doing it. So the saying goes; never to old to learn, and I add never to young to teach it.

Summer Travel

2009-08-05T15:50:00.003-05:00

On our way across Iowa to the middle of the state to a small town of Boone Iowa there is a slight side trip to Williamsburg Iowa along the way. Unlike the long ago past which placed the car in the ditch and the two of us in the hospital, this one only put my checkbook in the ditch and my bank account in the hospital. All in all there were some good buys and lots of "how does this look" that need to be answered.
On our arrival at Boone we were greeted by the local police, I am sure that is why they were sitting at the side of the road. We pasted a stock car race and went up and down the main street searching for a motel, church, and the train station. What we found was the motel was full and every time we crossed the tracks we had to wait for a train. I have never seen so many trains in one day, it must have been every half hour that one went through that town. The motel search took us around the countryside, corn, beans, old farm house, old cities, wait, I think we are running out of gas. My co-pilot is somewhat laughing although it is getting darker and darker and she worried that something is going to happen and we will be stuck out here in the middle of nowhere. Ah yes a hundred miles later and we are back in Ames which I was informed was only about fifteen miles from were we started, no comment.
The adventure was great, the train ride memorable, the weekend delightful, even the nine holes of golf in Marshalltown, of which someone beat me on the last two holes.
Final words, take time to enjoy Gods creation, take time to enjoy your spouse, take time to just take time. If there is only one thing I received from my visit to the homebound and care facilities is everyone I have spoken to have said the same thing, take time, life is too short to waist it. I am blessed to know the things I know and am more blessed to be able do the things I do with the one that God has blessed me with as I becomes U, sharing our life and love together, it is worth working for, it is worth waiting for. I pray you all get to experience it.

Grandparents

2009-07-30T05:06:00.002-05:00

Hey you.... no I am grandpa... hey you... no I am grandpa..... hey you.... whatever... what? Or grandma... no I am grandpa..... grandma---- and so on.... giggle.
What is it like being a grandparent, hmmm, it is like being a parent once removed. You have the responsibility of still being a parent but you have the joy of bending those rules that you couldn't when you were a parent. You get to enjoy the little goofs instead of correcting them you ad to them to make them more goofy. The spills and accidents become the joy of I have something to do besides clean up my messes. Instead of being looked at as the bad guy or the iron hand, you have this little bunch of joy out of no where grab you and hug you, then run away. There is so much more but each one will experience it just as you experience being a parent, one day at a time, some good, some better, and some great. As a grandparent very seldom do you experience those parent days of; not so good.
On the lighter side, there is this wonderful relief of not being mothered by a wife who loved and loves being a mother. Thank you for grandchildern Lord, you have given me a break.... :) :) I can actually drop something now and pick it up myself. As she puts it, I should be thankful that she wants to do it for me..... I AM.... ( I need my diaper changed) her comment (I am not ready for that yet).
So I learn from the grandchildern, smile a lot, play a lot, enjoy a lot, and have a melt down every now and then, then go back to; smile a lot, play a lot, and enjoy a lot.
Thank you parents for the gift of teaching us how to be parents, and thank you parents for the gift of making us grand parents, it is truely an honorary degree....

Beautiful Picture

2009-06-14T20:21:00.002-05:00

How many times have you looked at a picture and just are in awe at its beauty. Sometimes we look at peoples lives and say the same thing. Everything seems to be in place everything seems to be what you want your life to be like. But what we don't see a lot of the time is what went into making that picture or that life. The background, the foundation, is hidden from clear view by the subject matter.
We were at a meeting the other night were got into a conversation with a man in his 40. He owns his own business and is doing very well with it. He is married and has 4 children of which the oldest is a teenager and the youngest I believe was eight. He is Vietnamese, has a house, car, and is doing well financially. He is active in his parish and is called on by the Priest whenever there is a marriage problem within the Vietnamese community. He goes and talks to the couple which is having problems and tries to help them work out their differences. His own family meets for 2 hours every Friday night around 8pm at the kitchen table for what they call a, "no parents night". Every one sits down, parents included, and tells what they have been doing all week, what was good and what was bad, and what they might need help with. There is more but I think you can image what the picture looks like.
Now for the background. This picture was started when this man came to the United States, maybe around the age of 19. He did not know anyone, he could not speak English, he had no money, or higher education. When asked what he did, he said " he prayed". Every morning when he got up he prayed that he would have a good day and every night he prayed in thanksgiving for all that the day had brought him. He asked Mary to watch over him and to protect him. He learned English from listening, and watching television and from other people around him. He said every day he still prays in the morning for help in the day and every night prays in thanksgiving for all his blessings. When he is asked to go visit a troubled family he said he prays to Mary that she will put the words in his mouth, and use him to help this family in need. Then when he is done visiting with that family he prays in thanksgiving to Mary for helping him and using him to help that family.
As we go through life enjoying God's picture album, I guess we have to remember at one time it was a blank canvas.

Our Lady of the Snow

2009-06-02T02:04:00.003-05:00

Here we are, June already. The month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which brings to mind a little story to share.
It was back several years ago a lady had asked me to do a retreat to Our Lady of the Snow down by St. Louis. I told her we would see what the cost would be and talk about it for a future retreat. As it went, a couple years passed, but we finally put together a package and the end of October we gather some 25 people on a bus and headed for Our Lady of the Snow. We could not have picked a more beautiful time to go as the leaves were changing and the Church was full of roses (completely full) in memory of the feast of All Souls. When we arrived we were going to do the Stations of the Cross, but as all good plans go for some reason or another the grounds which were suppose to be lit up were totally dark. We were informed later that they were changing over from their summer schedule to their winter schedule. As the story goes on I did not know much about this place but in an introduction we were told the site were the founder was buried was in the Mary Garden. I went down the road and located it and went in, knelt down by Mary's statue and the tomb of the founder and prayed for all who were on this retreat and that it would be a good retreat. It was pitch dark, because of the previous mentioned light problem, so I got up and carefully walked out of the garden. When I got to the corner I noticed a rose bush and I turned back around and said this prayer: "Dear Jesus I offer you red roses all wet with the dew of your grace, let every word, every thought, every action and my heart I give as their vase. I make this offering through Mary your mother whose heart is so sinlessly white, whiter than the wings of the angels who dwelt and prayed here all night. Dear Jesus I ask you but one favor, that you inflame my poor heart with your love, so while I toil in this valley my spirit may dwell far above". At the very moment that the last word came out of my mouth the lights came on and I found myself amidst a garden full of rose bushes. A powerful prayer, oh yes, but the power was that my prayer was heard and I was not to worry, we got them there and He would take care the rest.
Sometimes the Lord has to give me a pretty strong sign to get me out of the picture so He can do what needs to be done.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Have Mercy on us and forgive us our sins.

2009-05-27T14:54:00.002-05:00

Can hardly believe a month has slipped by already. They always say the older you get the faster it goes or is it, the older you get the slower, you, go. Whatever the case may be that is what this little blog is about as well.
There are several things that come up and I think; wow, that was a good lesson, but of those things very few do I retain. One did happen the other day at the Kahl home. After Mass was over I usually help get those in the wheel chairs down to the elevator for lunch. There were just a few there this day and I had taken one down already and when I got back into the Chapel I did not see another. I turned to sit down and looked up again and there was a lady in a wheel chair trying to move it. My first thought was how did I miss seeing her, then I went up to help her. I told her I was sorry that I did not see her and asked if she wanted some help and she responded with a direct, yes. I started to push her and stated to her that her chair was really hard to push and she reaffirmed that and that she really appreciated me helping her because it was really hard for her to move. I took a quick glance at the brakes as I was pushing and did not notice them locked, I pushed a little further and took a closer look and for sure the one brake was on. I stated to her that her one brake was on and that was why it was so hard to push, she acknowledged and we went on.
My thought, how many times do we struggle with challenges in life, drugging ahead, when all we have to do is stop and take the brake off.
In my case the brake has been on so long that it is almost worn off.... I am going to have to get it replaced so "I" doesn't run into "U".

2009-04-20T13:16:00.002-05:00

"I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord." Ezekiel 37:14

This happened to be one of the reading we had to refer to today in our Bible Study on Acts. Hmmm. "I need to be U" has a new meaning now. Sometimes we don't always think that what we do has an effect on those around us. The spirit of the Lord dwells within us and has the capability of using us to bring about love for others. That whole chapter 37 of Ezekiel is packed with examples of life today. Without God we are just a heap of dry bones, with God and His spirit dwelling within us we are alive.

Our next session is on Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Our leader said that it will have a lot to do with the Holy Spirit. He also stated that being as we have been together as a group for a couple years that he would like to bring in any experience we might like to share. Then he said something I haven't heard in a long time and that was; "remember that the gifts you have been given were given to be shared with others so that to strengthen and build others in their faith." These same words I used with a man that roomed with men in Medugorje. He was single, quiet, and lived with his mother. For some reason he was called to Medugorje and he expressed that frustration to me as we talked over dinner a couple nights. On the third night he said nothing. After dinner was over I sat and waited drinking a glass of wine and just mixed in light conversation. When everyone else had got up and left the table except this man I asked him what had happened. His response was the normal nothing, only his voice told a totally different story. I pressed him to open up and talk about it. He did just that amidst tears of joy and the gift that had been given to him. When all was done he said that he couldn't tell anyone back home. I asked him why, and he expressed that everyone would think he was crazy (Jesus). It was then that I gave him the same words that had been given to me; "you have been given a gift now you must share it." It wasn't until a couple years later that I ran into this man again and I could not help but ask him if he ever told anyone. He not only told someone but also talked before a couple groups with his testimony.
A story yes, but a little meaning as well. When I give Communion a lot of times I end with the prayer; may Jesus continue to be our guiding light and our eternal hope. Today as we ended our Bible study my prayer was for our families and that we as parents may continue to be a guiding light to our children.

Passion

2009-04-15T15:27:00.003-05:00

Last week being Passion week drew a clearer meaning at our Legion of Mary meeting. The reflection was on things of our life that have caused us pain and take those memories and relate them to Jesus and what He endured. Last week alone brought me a cane to use, a shoe needed to be repaired costing twice as much, a sore on my ankle, and a couple hours extra every night at work with some added attitudes to fill in. When Saturday came I thought of that reflection that was given at the beginning of the week and I thought how very little suffering I had really had. God took all that suffering Jesus did and it was turned into good, in that it save mankind. I thought what could this little suffering I had done bring about. It was then that I offered it up. If I offered it up to be put together with others who did the same I truly feel, like the Passion, we will come into a deeper meaning of the Resurrection, for it is in giving that we receive.
May this Easter season be one of joy with a deeper understanding that we are to follow Christ footsteps in order to come into the fullness of God's love for each of us. The Lord is with me to the end. Lord, your love endures forever. Psalm 138:8

Priest

2009-04-06T15:02:00.004-05:00

There is always so much negative reporting going on that sometimes I think it would be good to just have a positive news channel which only highlights the negative. Catholic priest are one that have taken a real hit when it comes to negative reporting and I feel if you put the numbers together you will find the good that has come from them never really gets recognized. It was a Catholic priest that went to my parents and encouraged them to keep me in catholic school and paid my tuition. I was a catholic priest that taught me these key words, that we made fun of in school, to analyze and adapt. It was a catholic priest that welcomed us and introduced us to other members of the parish when we had to move into another town. It was a catholic priest who heard that our children were going to different schools and made all the arrangements possible to get them into one school. It was a catholic priest that heard we were having some financial problems that came over to our house and offered us some financial aid. It was a catholic priest that spoke to us in time of need and helped us get through some difficult times. It is a catholic priest that is my spiritual director and helped me, directed me, and encouraged me then heard my confession and absolved me.
There are many many more examples that would highlight the good works of catholic priest, these are just a few of my own. The major one is that their hands are blessed and they offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, bringing us the gift of the Holy Eucharist. He can bring us the gift of forgiveness through the Sacrament of Penance, and bring us the Sacrament of the Sick. Blessed be his hands, and may he also be blessed in the fullness of Gods Grace to strengthen him.
Prayer for our priest, support them, encourage them, for without them we loose Jesus!!!!

2009-03-31T14:27:00.003-05:00

Just a short thought for the day. I often am saying "God what do you want of me" but never really hear an answer. I may have found one the other day while listening to a Catholic radio station. The person being interviewed stated that God talks to us all the time and when that time comes that we see Him face to face we will hear a voice that is very familiar to us.
As we rush into the hustle bustle of life and fill our day with computers, television, phones, work, and play I wonder how we will ever be able to hear that voice.
I suggested to a friend that I could use this idea to tell my wife that she has to be quiet because I need to hear what God has to say to me, and the friend said maybe God is using her to tell you!!
Hmmm..

2009-03-29T21:54:00.002-05:00

I find myself in searching for answers to every question only to find more questions unanswered. Maybe by moving them to words in front of me and listening to my thoughts as I formulate them these seemly complex questions will turn into simple answers.
I visited a 92 year old man last week finding him in his room crying for help. As I sat down next to him and talked to him he seem to be comforted as he laid his head on my should and calmly asked for help. I sat with him for about 15 minuets riding the flow of ups and downs until the aid came in and proceeded to put him to bed. As I left the room I ran through my mind some of the words spoken, the I love you, to you need to help me, and I felt sadden at how such a persons life had changed over the several years I had visited him.
This week I returned to visit him only to find a picture on the chair along with a large print Bible and a box of personal belongings. His passing gladden me in that he would not be suffering anymore, but his friendship and kind words I will never be able to replace.
I may have shared time with him but he shared his life with me.