Practice What You Preach

I have long since come to believe that people never
mean half of what they say, and that it is best
to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.

Servant of God Dorothy Day

As I reflected on this quote by Dorothy Day, I found myself evaluating my own action. Do I practice what I preach? When I say I will do something do I complete it or do I make excuses for not completing what I started.

How often do I say I will do something, asking someone to rely on me, and then change my mind when a better opportunity comes along?

Happily I find that there have been few times when I have backed out of a commitment. That is not to say that I did not wish I could have called and said I changed my mind. I credit my parents for this. They taught me that reliability is a quality that one should be grateful for and one that I should treasure and strive to maintain.

I can be trusted to do as I say. I think that there are times in my Road to Providence that I would have gladly let someone else take my place. But as I look back I can see that the God of Providence put me on this road. I think the detours were lessons in perseverance and maturity. Along this road I still wander, taking side trips, often not a trip I was meant to take. But when I return to the correct path The Guide is there to lead me on.

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

One Thousand Gifts

Gifts
Precious Treasures
Given with love, affection
Welcomed with open arms and love
Presents

***+***

16. Glorious blue sky that as my sister-in-law says, offers another "Bluebird Day."

17. Laughter and its healing power.

18. The gathering of people as they witness unconsciously to their loving humanity.

19. Friends smiles.

20. The wonders of the universe.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Reflection on Trust

picture
from truthwithelegance

This very reflection on trust is where I am today. It speaks to me because I am in the back, I know it, but I want control. I want to fix it. I want it to happen now. I do not want to wait.

And then I was lead here.

God is to be trusted,
The God who called you to have fellowship
with his son Jesus Christ, our Lord.
1Corinthians 1:9

A poem compares our life with Jesus to two people on a tandem bicycle. It reads:

At first, I sat in front; Jesus in the rear.
I couldn't see him, but I knew he was there.
I'd feel his help when the road got steep.
Then, one day, Jesus and I changed seats.
Suddenly everything went topsy-turvy
When I was in control the ride was predictable--even boring.
But when Jesus took over, it got wild!
I could hardly hold on
'This is madness!' I cried out.
But Jesus just smiled--and said, 'Pedal!'
and so I learned to shut up and pedal--
and trust my bide companion.
Oh, there are still times
when I get scared and I'm ready to quit.
But Jesus turns around, touches my hand,
smiles, and says, 'Pedal!'"

I may trust Jesus too little, but I can never trust him too much.
Anonymous

~*~~*~~*~

The question for reflection, found in Mission 2000, B cycle, asks me why I find it hard to trust Jesus as I'd like. The fact is I trust him as long as life is beautiful, good, and going the way I think it should be going. But today is a day of thanksgiving for me. Yes, I have to thank him for the trial in which I find myself. I must trust him in his wisdom. I know he knows how to take care of me. Maybe my pride is in the way. Yes, pride. I want to fix it myself. Because of the pride, I see failure if I cannot help to heal the pain. When I read this I realized again that I am not GOD. I am the child He created and listening to my Father is what I must do. He's saying, "Let your brother, Jesus, do the work. You pedal!"

My life is full of contradiction. My family is full of diversity. We cannot all be alike, even if I wish it were so. So it is today that I offer again myself and family to the God who made us and let him know that I will start "pedaling" again.

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

One Thousand Gifts

Gifts
Precious Treasures
Given with love, affection
Welcomed with open arms and love
Presents

***+***

11. Thank God for the warmth of the sunshine.

12. For the gift of rest and quiet I am grateful

13. I am grateful for the gift of flowers that have volunteered this summer to grace the garden. They have been beautiful at a time when tending the garden has not been possible.

14. For the gifts that Jimmy and Kelly have and thanksgiving for the God who brought them together.

15. In gratitude for the strength to grow in faith when I would rather just quit.

~~~^j^~~~

For all these and more
I say,
"Thanks be to God!"

High On Life!

Two Miles High
Rocky Mountain National Park, 2009

Yesterday was one of those days when I felt the intimate presence of Christ. It was "Journey Wednesday." I really appreciate these days so much since I started this journey.

First, I attended Mass surrounded by loving, caring friends. It is important to me, today, as I reflect on it that, even though we were all there for different reasons, we were all there united as one. One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church!

Yesterday's journey had stops along the road, side trips. There was the scheduled visit with Sr. Dorothy. We had a wonderful meeting and discussion of "mission and ministry." We mapped our future together after this year of discernment on my Road to Providence. She graciously agreed to continue as my spiritual director and then she offered our first lesson for discussion. We will meet again in October.

My letter of commitment is written, evaluated, edited and typed. It will be mailed for approval to Sr. Mary Alice and Sister Diane next week.

On the way home, I stopped in Freelandville to visit a former neighbor, Jane, who was just recently admitted to the nursing home there. God love her, she is 89 years old and though she was weak and tired. She was still "Aunt" Jane, the lady who lived next door, the lady I'd have coffee with on her back porch all summer until Fall really arrived and she'd have to drink it indoors. A grand lady she is. I will visit her again soon!

I drove by the old house in Bicknell. It's still that lovely house I fell in love with 30 years ago, but it's not the same for someone else's personality has cared for it. God bless them.

Finally, last evening we had dinner with Fr. John Silva. He is a young priest with energy, vigor and a sincere love of our Savior and the Church. It is such a joy to be with young men who have accepted the call and answered it with enthusiasm and joy! Please God, in his busy life, offer Fr. John sufficient time to rest and recuperate, so that his vitality will not dim.

~~~^j^~~~
For yesterday and today, I say,
"Thanks be to God."

Patience In the Line Of Duty

"Let them look up and see no longer us,

but only Jesus!

Stay with us,

and then we shall begin to shine as You shine;

so to shine as to be a light to others."
Attributed to Blessed Mother Teresa of Caluctta

For days it has been a challenge at work not to get discouraged. We are short handed and there has not been anyone hired yet to replace the girl who left. The fact is, I'm tired of listening to one of the girls complaining about how much work she has to do.

I guess that just doing my job, offering to help her when I can and being cheerful is about all I can do. We are all in the same boat. I have learned though that complaining doesn't make the work any easier or make it less a challenge. Just do it and be done with it.

I've also found that though the grass may appear to be greener on the other side, it usually is not. I know what I have to deal with in this job...don't want to learn a new one.

So, I will smile and try with all my might to shine. It is less painful, even if it is still exhausting. If Jesus can stretch out his arms for me. The least I can do is embrace my job and those with whom I work with patience and perseverance.

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Visit In Him We Live And Move And Have Our Being for the whole prayer!

Prayer

We believe that God is present everywhere and that
the eyes of the Lord gaze everywhere on the good and bad.
We should, though, be totally convinced that this is so
when we are present at the Divine Office.

Saint Benedict

The Gift of Saint Benedict
by
Verna A. Holyhead, SGS
Lynne Muir

And so if gazing on the good and the bad the eyes of the Lord are gazing, they must ALWAYS be on me. This requires conviction on my part. And the question for me is, "Am I present to Him?"

Yesterday, was a taxing day at work. We were really short handed as we have never been before. There was only the two of us to take care of the patients, take phone calls and make referrals for two doctors and the nurse practitioner.

Calling on the presence of God was a constant prayer it seemed yesterday. I prayed to the Holy Spirit for guidance and courage. I invoked the name of the Lord to help me with the most difficult patients. And on a number of instances I truly did invoke, "Glory be to God!" in sincere thanksgiving.

Yes, indeed yesterday was a day FULL of prayer! I believe that I can say with all sincerity that yesterday was one of those days when we were in real communion, God and me.

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!!

One Thousand Gifts

Gifts
Precious Treasures
Given with love, affection
Welcomed with open arms and love
Presents

***+***

So here it is again, Multitude Monday and time to share the gifts with which I have been blessed.

6. Blue skies and cool breezes. In the summer these are not to be ignored.

7. The smell of newly stained wood. It smells so clean and pure.

8. Gerber daisies. They were not planted but rose on their own this year to decorate our garden.

9. Duchess napping. Watching her doze relieves tension and causes relaxation.

10. Fresh, red, ripe tomatoes from the Ackerman garden. With a dish of cottage cheese they are sooooo good.

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!