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Today at Mass I had the unique experience of feeling the love our Lord Jesus has for each one of us, but in a unique way that He seemed to just be singling me out. But before I get to that experience I want to address the idea of experiencing God's love.
It is an awesome reality that there is an all knowing, all loving God that really cares about me. That desires to spend time with me and walk with me wherever I go. But sometimes through the hustle and bustle of life, I run too fast, I don't stop to smell the flowers and look around and experience the truth, beauty, and goodness that surrounds me each day. For instance, I love art. I enjoy going to a museum and looking at a piece of art, examining it for the artist intention and hopes and dreams that are filled in the mingling of colors and shapes. It is amazing that each time the brush goes across the canvas, that there is a desired intention, an end that the artist is working towards. Each color, each line is one more step towards the perfection of the creation that started in the mind of the painter. So when I am looking at a piece of art, I start to contemplate and experience something that takes me out of myself into the minds and hearts of others
In a sense, this is what happens when I take a moment (or longer) to dive into the art of Divine Artist. I look at my own life and the life of others as a mere painting in the making. We have a purpose, we have an end in which we were intended to move towards. I might have an experience of joyfulness or loneliness or frustration, but each of these are strokes that the Divine Artist is brushing upon my canvas. He is either allowing things to happen to me because He knows that I can make it through them or He graces me with consolation, but in a word, He paints with peace. Often, we are too frantic in our modern world to slow down and see that all things are working according to his purpose (Romans 8:28) or that there is nothing that He cannot make good! There is no need to discouragement when you are a child of God. There is no need for despair, even in our darkness moments, because the Divine Artist is fashioning us into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and making us who we are meant to be. Be not afraid of being put in the hands of the potter (Jeremiah 18:4-6) for He will make you into who you have always desired to be and even more.
As so, as I knelt before an image of the Divine Mercy today after I received Holy Communion at the Holy Mass, I saw the Lord Jesus seem to walk out of the photo and start taking steps towards me. There is nothing that I can do that can keep Him away from walking towards me...now I have the choice, do I start walk towards Him, do I stay where I am, or do I run away? I choose to run at Him...He is also walking towards you, what will you choose?
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
From Bored to Overwhelmed
Do you ever sit around on a Sunday afternoon and think about how you have nothing to do? You start to complain to yourself and maybe your roommates, husband or wife, or children about how bored you are and that you feel like you got nothing to do. Someone might make a joke back saying, "I find something for you to do." But you don't take up their offer because you are not searching for some type of work or even something to to even do. What! I thought you were bored, I thought you were looking for something to do! And here I am offering you something to do and you don't even want to give it a shot...What the heck is wrong with this situation?
Maybe you didn't ever desire something to do, maybe this lethal boredom that you are struggling with is just leading you to look for the next pleasurable kick. Yeah, your right! There is nothing wrong with pleasure, but does the pleasure bring meaning to your life. Do you feel that you have something of worth...and even more that you are someone of worth! Why do we seem to lose the excitement that should come with life? You say, "I thought life is suppose to be like it is in the movies or what I see on TV or what the latest Budweiser ad. Well, I don't really believe life is suppose to be like that, but I mean...don't you...umm, think life should be that exciting...you know, like it is in the movies and stuff."
It's not that you are wrong that life should be exciting like the movies, tv, and even advertisement. What I would propose is that you are shooting too low. The kind of excitement that we can get from The Bourne Identity or 24 is only a glimpse of the excitement that we receive when living a life in and for Jesus Christ.
Not only does Jesus give us a purpose, "For I know the plan I have for you..." (Jeremiah 29:11), but he will take us places that we never dreamed of going. It is not that Jesus satisfies our deepest desires, but he overwhelms them! "Our cups will overflow" (See Psalm 23) in Jesus Christ. We can't possibly even start to grasp the plans He has for us. Maybe this is hard for you to grasp...I understand, I am from the Show-Me state. But I know that when I search in the depths of my heart I find a searching, a longing that has not been answered by solely the path of pleasure and success. Remember the Rolling Stones! "I can't get no satisfaction. What about Bono and U2, "I still haven't found what I am looking for."
But it was the Beatles who got it right, "All we need is Love." But it wasn't what they thought. God is Love! He will overwhelm our deepest desires with this love, if only we start to take a step towards Him. We cannot delay! We must take one little baby step in his direction and then commit our entire lives to Him. His love will pour into our hearts like a mighty river. We will find ourselves refreshed and peaceful! If you have never done this, go into a quiet place, a chapel or your room...wherever and sincerely poor your heart out to God, asking him to be your All in All, to be the Lord of your life and your heart. If you have done this before, do it again...Everyday. There must not be a day go by that we don't turn to our Father in Heaven and ask for His Love to overwhelm our hearts. But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him," (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Maybe you didn't ever desire something to do, maybe this lethal boredom that you are struggling with is just leading you to look for the next pleasurable kick. Yeah, your right! There is nothing wrong with pleasure, but does the pleasure bring meaning to your life. Do you feel that you have something of worth...and even more that you are someone of worth! Why do we seem to lose the excitement that should come with life? You say, "I thought life is suppose to be like it is in the movies or what I see on TV or what the latest Budweiser ad. Well, I don't really believe life is suppose to be like that, but I mean...don't you...umm, think life should be that exciting...you know, like it is in the movies and stuff."
It's not that you are wrong that life should be exciting like the movies, tv, and even advertisement. What I would propose is that you are shooting too low. The kind of excitement that we can get from The Bourne Identity or 24 is only a glimpse of the excitement that we receive when living a life in and for Jesus Christ.
Not only does Jesus give us a purpose, "For I know the plan I have for you..." (Jeremiah 29:11), but he will take us places that we never dreamed of going. It is not that Jesus satisfies our deepest desires, but he overwhelms them! "Our cups will overflow" (See Psalm 23) in Jesus Christ. We can't possibly even start to grasp the plans He has for us. Maybe this is hard for you to grasp...I understand, I am from the Show-Me state. But I know that when I search in the depths of my heart I find a searching, a longing that has not been answered by solely the path of pleasure and success. Remember the Rolling Stones! "I can't get no satisfaction. What about Bono and U2, "I still haven't found what I am looking for."
But it was the Beatles who got it right, "All we need is Love." But it wasn't what they thought. God is Love! He will overwhelm our deepest desires with this love, if only we start to take a step towards Him. We cannot delay! We must take one little baby step in his direction and then commit our entire lives to Him. His love will pour into our hearts like a mighty river. We will find ourselves refreshed and peaceful! If you have never done this, go into a quiet place, a chapel or your room...wherever and sincerely poor your heart out to God, asking him to be your All in All, to be the Lord of your life and your heart. If you have done this before, do it again...Everyday. There must not be a day go by that we don't turn to our Father in Heaven and ask for His Love to overwhelm our hearts. But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him," (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Monday, July 13, 2009
A Not so Ordinary Extraordinary Ordinary Day
As of today, I started living full-time in Colorado. It is kind of a funny situation right now. Most of my things will be in boxes for the next 6 weeks as I travel from Colorado back to Kansas City and then to Madison and the Twin Cities throughout the next month and a half. I will live in a house almost an entire month, without really calling it home. But all this is in a day's work for a modern day missionary.
Today was my first day working out of the office. Of course, this is moving week around the office and people things are in boxes all over the place and then the office seems kind of barren from people on mission trips, vacations, or taking classes. But I am still of awe of the fact that I am able to sit in an office and down the hall in the office building is our Lord Jesus in the tabernacle in our chapel and the fact that the President of FOCUS, Curtis Martin, just stops in to give me a hard time and have a five minute strategic conversation with my colleague and me. It was an amazing day full of energy and hope.
I wonder if things ever seem normal in an environment where life seems so extraordinary. I am sure they will, if I lose the eyes of faith. You see...through the eyes of faith every day, every moment is extraordinary. But this is the daily struggle we must enter into...How does an office of daily communicants live in extraordinary joy so that the entire office building might be set aflame with the love of Christ...what a beautiful thought, but this is not just a thought, it is my desire. It is Jesus' desire for the world, that at His name all knees shall bend!
Today was my first day working out of the office. Of course, this is moving week around the office and people things are in boxes all over the place and then the office seems kind of barren from people on mission trips, vacations, or taking classes. But I am still of awe of the fact that I am able to sit in an office and down the hall in the office building is our Lord Jesus in the tabernacle in our chapel and the fact that the President of FOCUS, Curtis Martin, just stops in to give me a hard time and have a five minute strategic conversation with my colleague and me. It was an amazing day full of energy and hope.
I wonder if things ever seem normal in an environment where life seems so extraordinary. I am sure they will, if I lose the eyes of faith. You see...through the eyes of faith every day, every moment is extraordinary. But this is the daily struggle we must enter into...How does an office of daily communicants live in extraordinary joy so that the entire office building might be set aflame with the love of Christ...what a beautiful thought, but this is not just a thought, it is my desire. It is Jesus' desire for the world, that at His name all knees shall bend!
Friday, July 10, 2009
A Theme Quote for the Year...
Most people don't think of their years in the same way that I do. The world sees the year starting on January 1st and the Church starts during the first week in Advent (usually late November or early December). However, I see my year a little different, because of the line of work I am in. Teachers and students would understand. Yes at the ripe old age of 27, I think of life in semesters still. What I would like to say is that I think I have picked a theme quote for the year! (Meaning this next school year) It is from St. Catherine of Siena
Catherine of Siena once said, "If you are what you are meant to be, you will set the world afire." I love this quote, because it points to each of our own unique and personal, but universal call to holiness. It has flooded my own prayer life in recent days and I have found myself coming back to this quote time and time again in the past several weeks.
Catherine of Siena has always been close to me. I pray through her intercession everyday. I first encountered this wonderful saint in college when I read her dialogues with God the Father for a class I was taking. I have also read many of her letters throughout the last several years, as well. So one of my new year's resolutions (remember that my year is just starting) is to make more post on the blogs. (I pray that you might read them and find some sort of enjoyment) I use to write stories and letters to my friends in college, maybe I will get back into that creative habit. I will post more of my "new year's resolutions" as they come, but it is my hope to become what I am meant to be, because there is nothing greater that we can do, but set the whole world afire with the love of Jesus Christ!
Catherine of Siena once said, "If you are what you are meant to be, you will set the world afire." I love this quote, because it points to each of our own unique and personal, but universal call to holiness. It has flooded my own prayer life in recent days and I have found myself coming back to this quote time and time again in the past several weeks.
Catherine of Siena has always been close to me. I pray through her intercession everyday. I first encountered this wonderful saint in college when I read her dialogues with God the Father for a class I was taking. I have also read many of her letters throughout the last several years, as well. So one of my new year's resolutions (remember that my year is just starting) is to make more post on the blogs. (I pray that you might read them and find some sort of enjoyment) I use to write stories and letters to my friends in college, maybe I will get back into that creative habit. I will post more of my "new year's resolutions" as they come, but it is my hope to become what I am meant to be, because there is nothing greater that we can do, but set the whole world afire with the love of Jesus Christ!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Reflecting during Michael Jackson's Memorial
I hardly ever get a chance to sit back and relax and turn on the TV. Today was one of those days. As I was flipping through the channels, I started to realize a trend...the same thing was on almost every station. Today is the memorial service of Michael Jackson. I had a moment to pray for the repose of the soul of the "King of Pop" as I listened to one of my favorite singles by him, "Will you be There?" from the 1993 Dangerous Album. During my short minutes of reflection, I thought of how I would listen to Michael Jackson's music with my mom and my dad growing up. I thought of how we would sing loud and proud in the car to "You are not alone" or "Man in the Mirror." I had a brief chuckle as I thought of us dancing around the kitchen as if we were in the "Thriller" video. There is no doubt that Michael Jackson's death has left a lasting imprint upon my own life, as well as the life of millions of people.
Michael Jackson's life was not easy. He did something that many African American children of his time could only dream of. However, there is no doubt that there were many decisions that he made nearing the end of his life that no one (including himself) was proud of. But it is not this negative light that we want to look at as we have an opportunity to reflect upon life, but that fact that even the "King of Pop" must die. C.S. Lewis reflects in his book The Weight of Glory upon how we as humans think about death. It is not that we don't think we will die, it is that we forgot that it is coming. This is why the good Christian is called to think about his or her death daily. Remember this is not some morbid daily routine we are called to, but an interaction with the Divine Face in which we hope to see clearly for all eternity upon our departure from this passing world.
Back to Michael Jackson. We are given a moment in time where we all must honor him for the gifts that he has offered our world during his time here. But our reflection must not just stop with giving honor to Jackson's life but come back to our own experience. Are we pursuing the truth with all our heart? Do we strive to know the Lord God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength? How do we treat our neighbors? The answer to these questions will reveal our next step in our own joyful pursuit. Whatever the answer is for you...move forward and closer to God, for that is who our hearts long to see.
Michael Jackson's life was not easy. He did something that many African American children of his time could only dream of. However, there is no doubt that there were many decisions that he made nearing the end of his life that no one (including himself) was proud of. But it is not this negative light that we want to look at as we have an opportunity to reflect upon life, but that fact that even the "King of Pop" must die. C.S. Lewis reflects in his book The Weight of Glory upon how we as humans think about death. It is not that we don't think we will die, it is that we forgot that it is coming. This is why the good Christian is called to think about his or her death daily. Remember this is not some morbid daily routine we are called to, but an interaction with the Divine Face in which we hope to see clearly for all eternity upon our departure from this passing world.
Back to Michael Jackson. We are given a moment in time where we all must honor him for the gifts that he has offered our world during his time here. But our reflection must not just stop with giving honor to Jackson's life but come back to our own experience. Are we pursuing the truth with all our heart? Do we strive to know the Lord God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength? How do we treat our neighbors? The answer to these questions will reveal our next step in our own joyful pursuit. Whatever the answer is for you...move forward and closer to God, for that is who our hearts long to see.
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