Empty Hands

St. Therese teaches that we must come before God with empty hands.  Sometimes offering things up is bearable, like doing an act of kindness for someone.  But there's also the times where things like an inconvenient illness can be hard to cope with.  

But this beloved saint of mine teaches us not to think of what we merit, but to see everything as a blessing from God- even the hard things!  And then, when it seems unbearable, we can give God the nothing in our giving.

Know that I pray for this nothing that you might have (no pun intended), that you may have the strength to bear it.  Amen.

The time of the election is coming to a close.  I have been praying for it all day!  For the next four years, we will be determining the fate of millions of unborn babies.  Will we set up laws to protect them or to sentence them to a brutal death because no one was able to support their mothers? 

Now is the time to trust in God as we prepare to face the next four years with whatever our new president has in mind.  Let us pray that he or she be open to the Wisdom of God according to what is best for the people. 

America, we are still one nation under God!

It is hard to accept things sometimes.  Do you think it was easy for me to leave the monastery?  Everyone has their own, personal story.  Change is not always fun.  But, because we choose to face them, they are filled with hope.
Trust is essential, as well as doing things to help oneself.  Set goals and keep God in decisions.  Let Him speak to you. Even if you don't know what He would say, let Him look down from the cross and love you- let Him love you to death.
It's a lot about listening, but it is also about deciding.  The rough times will pass.  The sun will rise again.
Again I repeat: The sun will rise again.

Apparently November is a good month to be storywriting, because that is what a certain website challenges many of us with.  (nanowrimo.com)  50,000 words is not easy, but I was able to accomplish just this while I was sick last year.  It gave me a goal to work towards.  I’m telling you, the last 10,000 words were not easy.

It’s November 3 and I have only written 400 words so far.  I’m behind!  But I like the challenge.  I don’t see 50,000 to be a realistic goal while I’m busy with school, youth group, and more important writing deadlines; otbut I like the idea of actually completing a story.  I feel all set with my peanuts and m&m’s from Halloween sales at the desk beside me! 

It’s always good to set goals.  They motivate us and encourage us to become better.  Even if, like me, the last segment is the hardest, it gives us that final push to end well.  Happy writing!

All Saints Day

            This past Tuesday, we celebrated the Feast of All Saints.  God be Praised!  Sometimes I wonder what it means to be a saint.  I have a two-pointer answer:

·         to live the message of the gospel and

·         that we can intercede for others from Heaven after we die. 

As St. Therese once prayed to Jesus: “I want to be a saint, but I feel so helpless.  Be yourself my sanctity!”  We are all called to take on the Way of Jesus.  After all, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

            My religious community I used to belong to (The Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary in Tyringham, MA) have a long tradition of drawing one of the beatitudes.  We read about each one in the gospel on this special day. It helps each of the sisters to reflect on and to be assured by the one they chose.

            The witness of the saints inspires us to live the gospel in our own lives.  And it is not a hard way, so long as one feels open to the challenge.  It is the way of self-sacrificial, joy-filled love!  God be Praised!

Encountering the Lord

This is a quick thought for today.  In this Sunday's gospel, we hear about Zaccheus and his encounter with the Lord.  Do you ever feel small and unnoticed?  Jesus sees you.  He is very interested in you.  We can all have our personal encounters with Him.  How do you experience Him today?

Making Choices

My class and I at school were recently awarded with our Business Fast Track Program certificates.  Whew!  Some of us have continued on with other classes while everyone else has gone forth to their job searching.  While waiting for the perfect job to come along, I have continued on with other classes and volunteering at my school.

There are many choices we make in life, and we need to be unafraid of the positive or negative consequences.  For example, I had to leave behind St. Vincent de Paul Center in order to focus on a future career.  I still see my friends at church and they are happy for me.  I’ve embraced helping at youth group, and a new set of friends have cheered me on when I have had to defend the faith we so love. 

Having support helps, but it is also about having a goal and going after it.