Seat Plan Generator
2 months ago
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
For as much as I was glowing the blessings of the past few days, today's little 'glitches' remind me to not get too comfortable. Between network outages, headache inspiring conversations, spilled soup (thank goodness it wasn't milk or I'd have to cry!), it's been a day! And that was after going to confession and a brief moment of adoration. As we fight our way to Jesus, Lord knows that the devil fights us even harder.
It's sure a good thing that there were moments of consolation in prayer this morning, where the voice of God began to answer some prayerful questions I'd been asking (ok, ok, pestering) Him with forever. And as I look out the window while I work, it seems that the sun is shining and it is another beautiful summer day. Now if only those pesky animals that helped Snow White clean the dwarves' house would come and clean mine...
Apparently, I'm more of a Cinderella than a Snow White for now. ;-)
It's sure a good thing that there were moments of consolation in prayer this morning, where the voice of God began to answer some prayerful questions I'd been asking (ok, ok, pestering) Him with forever. And as I look out the window while I work, it seems that the sun is shining and it is another beautiful summer day. Now if only those pesky animals that helped Snow White clean the dwarves' house would come and clean mine...
Apparently, I'm more of a Cinderella than a Snow White for now. ;-)
Today is one of those days. No, I don't mean that in a bad way for once! It is one of those absolutely beautiful perfect summer days where it is not too warm or cool, sunny with little cottonball clouds amidst a bright blue sky, trees of green and wildflowers lining the drive into work. It is one of those days - the kind where there is no doubt God is smiling on us despite the aching headache, late work night and rushed day. It's a day where you can't help smiling no matter the other little glitches. I can definitely take more of those!
Today comes after another day where things didn't start off so great, but then, everything started lining up. If you've ever seen Just My Luck (and I'm a little ashamed to say I watched it on tv the other night), I felt a little like lucky Ashley. Sure, I missed the priest by five minutes when I went down to the Solanus Casey Center, but there's always tomorrow. And yes, my computer was giving me all kinds of headaches as I was trying to finish a project for work, but there were creative ways around it. And sure, the travel-wedding dress I took in to get altered ended up being two sizes too big. Always a good thing except when they tell you it will cost just as much to alter the dress as you paid to buy it. And yet, they offered me a size exchange for a dress that was of equal value which, at the end of the day, I like even better than the one I'd originally bought - and it doesn't need any alterations! Now, you can't get much better than that as a bride to be, let me tell you. Are there other headaches (literal and proverbial)? Um, sure - that's life. All in all, not so bad a day, especially once the project was all complete and set at the end of the night...and I mean the end.
Yes, that led to a bit of sluggishness this morning as I headed out for appointments and work, but it was worth the effort to not have to worry about it through the day. Unfortunately, I also received a phone call first thing in the morning from a friend, early enough that I had to check the message immediately since I'd missed the initial call. Sure enough, it was not good news, which is what I figured from the "early" hour of the phone call - my friends know before 9 a.m. is not my best time of day....make that 10 a.m.! It turned out that her father had passed away suddenly the night before, and I was the one she thought of to call, both for prayer and to let everyone know. This makes friend #2 who has called me to be the point of contact for such news.
Now, some may get a complex. I admit, even I wondered why I was the one they chose, aside from the fact that my own father died while I was still in college. That wondering turned to quite a bit of humility in the end - that they would think of me to trust with that news and to do what was necessary is actually an honor. I can only hope that my prayer and response brings a little peace to an otherwise tumultous time. For FriendG I hope that I can be a better friend as she works through the loss, and for KFriend, I pray that I might let God use me as he chooses and not shy away from my own brokenness.
All in all, a pretty blessed week so far...
It'd been a crummy week so far. Partly it's the February funk, and partly, it's things I can't even put words to, or shouldn't in public. Tonight, as much as I did NOT want to leave the house, I had to, and I'm glad I did.
I had a lovely dinner with a friend, where we tried to sort through and solve all our problems which really only resulted in laughter. Then I ran into Anna Bahnahnah, my World Youth Day roomie, who I hadn't seen in a very long while which was quite a lot of fun. I got prayed over without asking, which I needed. I had a nice long hour of prayer, which I needed. And on the way home, I saw fireworks. Sure, it's the middle of February and there's no reason anyone would set off fireworks, but there they were. And they made me smile in the midst of trying to sort out some things that made me uneasy.
It's nice when the little things catch you by surprise and bring a smile to your face...God is good.
I had a lovely dinner with a friend, where we tried to sort through and solve all our problems which really only resulted in laughter. Then I ran into Anna Bahnahnah, my World Youth Day roomie, who I hadn't seen in a very long while which was quite a lot of fun. I got prayed over without asking, which I needed. I had a nice long hour of prayer, which I needed. And on the way home, I saw fireworks. Sure, it's the middle of February and there's no reason anyone would set off fireworks, but there they were. And they made me smile in the midst of trying to sort out some things that made me uneasy.
It's nice when the little things catch you by surprise and bring a smile to your face...God is good.
I somehow seem to think that I need to get something profound out of every day. In reality, that doesn't always happen, even when I do slow down and spend some quiet time in prayer. Sometimes, my biggest revelation is "hey, at least this day didn't totally suck."
Of course, as I was sitting in Mass yesterday, the thought hit me that I complain and criticize an awful lot - not so much publicly I hope - but enough of it that I know it's something that affects my own perspective. Then the voice of God came to me saying, "Instead of criticizing, pray." Ok, so it wasn't a big booming voice - no James Earl Jones over the loudspeaker - but that quiet whisper when you know the truth of it and still resist it. I mean, is it really complaining, or just venting so you don't dwell on it?? What do you mean I am rationalizing my behavior?
Anyway, so I did have one deep thought. And as much as profundity makes me grow, it's the laughter that soothes the soul. Monster Friend is moving away, and as thrilled as I am for her, I know I will miss the laughter that always ensues. Good thing I have her blog to read!! That got me thinking of the moments I remember over the years, especially as friends from grad school are posting pictures from back in the day, and it is hands down the moments that brought with them laughter. The tears I remember too, don't get me wrong. But the stronger memories are those moments filled with gut-busting laughter, where I'm laughing so hard I'm trying not to pee my pants! Maybe if I laughed more, my gut would bust out smaller....hmmmm....maybe not.
And that brought me back to complaining...well, not actually complaining, but thinking about complaint and criticism. None of it actually moves me forward - the venting may release some steam, but I usually just end up all scrunchy in the end (to use a Phoebe-esque description). I guess that whole "release it into prayer" and move on to something funny (ok, I added the last bit myself - that wasn't so much God) isn't such a bad idea after all.
Of course, as I was sitting in Mass yesterday, the thought hit me that I complain and criticize an awful lot - not so much publicly I hope - but enough of it that I know it's something that affects my own perspective. Then the voice of God came to me saying, "Instead of criticizing, pray." Ok, so it wasn't a big booming voice - no James Earl Jones over the loudspeaker - but that quiet whisper when you know the truth of it and still resist it. I mean, is it really complaining, or just venting so you don't dwell on it?? What do you mean I am rationalizing my behavior?
Anyway, so I did have one deep thought. And as much as profundity makes me grow, it's the laughter that soothes the soul. Monster Friend is moving away, and as thrilled as I am for her, I know I will miss the laughter that always ensues. Good thing I have her blog to read!! That got me thinking of the moments I remember over the years, especially as friends from grad school are posting pictures from back in the day, and it is hands down the moments that brought with them laughter. The tears I remember too, don't get me wrong. But the stronger memories are those moments filled with gut-busting laughter, where I'm laughing so hard I'm trying not to pee my pants! Maybe if I laughed more, my gut would bust out smaller....hmmmm....maybe not.
And that brought me back to complaining...well, not actually complaining, but thinking about complaint and criticism. None of it actually moves me forward - the venting may release some steam, but I usually just end up all scrunchy in the end (to use a Phoebe-esque description). I guess that whole "release it into prayer" and move on to something funny (ok, I added the last bit myself - that wasn't so much God) isn't such a bad idea after all.
Between scheduling some days off and getting all nostalgic in the last post, I began to think about the great summer vacations of yore...or yesteryear - either sounds like more idyllic times than the giant whirlwind that dominates my appointment book in the present. In fact, I can't think of the last time I even took a real summer vacation. I'm not talking a few days off here and there where I get things done around the house, or have guests - I mean the classic "get in your car, take a roadtrip and don't deal with the 'real world' for at least" a week kind. Ok, ok, I suppose the spring trip to Ireland a couple years ago could challenge that last statement, and maybe the fall cruise 6 years ago, but that was twice in the last 10 years (and technically they weren't "summer" vacations).
Any grand excursions in the past 10 years (minus Ireland & the cruise) have all revolved around my conference schedule. Going to San Francisco for a conference? Great! I'll take an extra day or two to see it. Vancouver, B.C., Orlando, Boston, New York, New Orleans, Dallas, Chicago...all the same. Now don't get me wrong - it's a great way to get to see places and I loved the opportunities, but a vacation it is not.
Have we [and by we, I really mean "I"] gotten so busy that we forget that part of the greatness of life is to actually enjoy it? Working for the Church, it sometimes gets difficult to say no to things, even if they are meetings, because it all somehow feels innately important...as though by missing an opportunity, you are somehow slacking on God's time. Yet, we are not so important that God's work would not get done if we took a little time off. I mean, even HE rested on the 7th day! A friend of mine reminds me that the Church, and Christianity for that matter, will survive without me.
Now I don't intend to extend that to the notion that we don't need to respond to what God calls us to do. As tempting as it seems at times, a vacation from life is not so grand. Knowing me, I'd get terribly bored, in fact. The fact of the matter is this though - the reason we burn out is because we let the candle burn too long...sometimes at both ends! To better shine our light, perhaps we need to give ourselves some room to breathe, and let someone else carry the torch for a while. (I know, I know...that was just a horrifying string of mixed light/fire metaphors)
Needless to say, I haven't mastered yet the balance of giving my all while still making time for the little things in life...including laudry, cleaning and all that jazz. In fact, maybe passing the torch means realizing that I can't find time to do all the household tasks and hiring a cleaning service from time to time when my schedule gets a little nutty. Either way, something's gotta give, as they say, and I'd rather it not be my sanity!
So, rather than get frustrated about not having time to take off to do the things I need or want to do, I suppose I will one day learn to plan ahead and set my limits. After all, it may seem against my nature to not be available when people need to meet, but this girl wouldn't mind the sweet smell of a good old-fashioned, weeklong, get-away-from-the-world summer vacation, either!
[Imagine Bono's dulcet tones here...or listen to them for real HERE (no need to download, just push play)!]
Ok, ok, I'm not really going to discuss the merits of the song either musically, philosophically, theologically, or any other "-ally." I'm just saying it is a gorgeous day outside. One of those perfect, not too hot, not too cold, crisp-bright-blue-sky-with-cottony-billowy-bright-white-clouds kind of day.
It's days like these that make me realize that I should always carry my camera with me. I was fortunate enough to be able to take an afternoon walk down a gravel trail in the middle of town, and though it was a short one, the beauty of creation still left me in awe of God. Experiences like that leave me a little torn - do I just let myself soak in the grandeur or do I try to capture one miniscule iota of it on film so I can always remember it? Today the clear (and only) choice was the first.
Taking a moment to breathe in the summer-scented air, revel in the cool shade of the trees, listen to a babbling brook (see? I'm not the only thing that babbles), gaze through the translucent waters of the "river" - to experience the harmony of nature and know that I am a special part of it, grander than all the grandeur of the rest of creation - that is a humbling thought. Moments like these remind me that I should make time for more moments like these.
Taking a moment to breathe in the summer-scented air, revel in the cool shade of the trees, listen to a babbling brook (see? I'm not the only thing that babbles), gaze through the translucent waters of the "river" - to experience the harmony of nature and know that I am a special part of it, grander than all the grandeur of the rest of creation - that is a humbling thought. Moments like these remind me that I should make time for more moments like these.
To immerse myself in even a half hour of God's creation unveils a new perspective on the world, though that perspective may not last as long as I like, or as it should. It does, however, remind me that everything, everything, is a gift from God. The coffee in my mug, the mug itself, the roof over my head, the chair I sit in, this computer - every last bit of it is a gift that comes forth from the gift God gave us in creation. Without that first moment, everything else would cease to be.
As much as these "things" are gifts, how much more so the people in our lives. After all, creation was made complete by the creation of man and woman - made in the image and likeness of God, though not Gods in themselves. How mindblowing and awesome a notion! Certainly makes a gal wonder if the choices she makes, from spending her money to spending her time and energy, are worthily reflecting that image and likeness.
It's a great relief to know that through the generosity of love from God in his Son, I don't have to get it right all the time or right away. The point is that my heart should be striving for perfection. And a day like today reminds me that perfection in that sense is often found in simplicity. It is in the simplest things that wonder and awe, and the grace of our Lord, are often showered upon us, quite apart from our own doing.
Hmmm, I know many a Detroit Tigers fan (and fans of other teams I'm sure) who'd be in agreement with God's sign...though perhaps not the foam finger. ;)
