HAPPY ADVENT ALL!
Keep Us From Pettiness
Keep us, O God, from pettiness; let us be large in thought, in word, in deed. Let us be done with faultfinding and leave off self-seeking. May we put away all pretenses and meet each other, face to face, without self-pity and without prejudice. May we never be hasty in judgment and always generous. Let us take time for all things; make us to grow calm, serene, gentle. Teach us to put in action our better impulses-straightforward and unafraid. Grant that we may realize it is the little things of life that create difficulties; that in the big things of life we are as one. Oh, Lord, let us not forget to be kind. Amen.
Nov 25, 2008
Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. ~W.J. Cameron
As we all prepare for this most blessed season of the year, I was able to experience the true gift of Thanksgiving. That is, I was able to give something of myself to a family who was very much in need. It is no secret what a mess our country is in when it comes to financial matters. This time of year tends to be difficult on many but we are facing challenges at high numbers this year. Which means, the self serving luxuries I am so used to basking in need to be brought to a minimum. A practice many of you have already perfected. I, however, have not. I am among the many people who frequently complain and outwardly express the stress I feel over buying Christmas gifts. Now, don't get me wrong. I am not one to try and rush through Thanksgiving and be a scrooge at Christmas. I just know that in order to buy what I want for the people I love, I need to start early. And I do love shopping for others' gifts. Which is why already, so early in the season, money has been stressing me out lately. But I always seem to find a way to make ends meet and still have some left over. Many cannot say the same.
I had the great gift today of purchasing an entire Thanksgiving meal for a family who is in need. Many of us contribute to these kinds of food drives. Drives that are absolutely essential. I was able to deliver this food myself and actually meet the people who will get to eat it. I stood face to face with a woman who fights so hard to get by and just has not been able to defeat her Goliath. I have so much respect for her. It is times like this that I wish I did make a lot of money. In the time I got to speak with this woman, I just wanted to give her anything I had to help ease her pain. She accepted the meal I provided for her with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. In the ten minutes I was with her, I think she hugged me 6 times. I waste so much time complaining about my own situation, which is not a bad one at all. I wish everyone in the world could experience a moment like this one. I wish everyone of you can have a moment in your life when you realize, life is much better than we could ever see it as.
I am blessed. I pray your thanksgiving feasts are delicious and shared with great people. But please, please do not forget those who have less than we do. Pray for the generosity in our world to expand and the needs of our brothers and sisters to lessen.
I had the great gift today of purchasing an entire Thanksgiving meal for a family who is in need. Many of us contribute to these kinds of food drives. Drives that are absolutely essential. I was able to deliver this food myself and actually meet the people who will get to eat it. I stood face to face with a woman who fights so hard to get by and just has not been able to defeat her Goliath. I have so much respect for her. It is times like this that I wish I did make a lot of money. In the time I got to speak with this woman, I just wanted to give her anything I had to help ease her pain. She accepted the meal I provided for her with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. In the ten minutes I was with her, I think she hugged me 6 times. I waste so much time complaining about my own situation, which is not a bad one at all. I wish everyone in the world could experience a moment like this one. I wish everyone of you can have a moment in your life when you realize, life is much better than we could ever see it as.
I am blessed. I pray your thanksgiving feasts are delicious and shared with great people. But please, please do not forget those who have less than we do. Pray for the generosity in our world to expand and the needs of our brothers and sisters to lessen.
Nov 12, 2008
If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention. ~Author Unknown
Dear Society,
I am writing this letter to let you know that I am really annoyed with what you have done to our youth. I sat in Panera today and listened to four girls in varsity jackets talk about various kinds of alcohol and multiple parties in which they were wasted. I am tired, Society, of you making our kids feel like they need to constantly be something different. I work every day to change their minds and make them see that all you give them is garbage. So far I have gained their respect and I know they feel the truth in their hearts, but you never give them the chance to change. These four girls made me feel so sad because if their conversation went elsewhere, they brought it right back to these toxic decisions. How did you get to be so strong? So powerful? So convincing? Did you have this much power over my generation? Am I part of the reason my students seem to struggle constantly with the battle of being their true age vs. an age they believe possesses an ability to be invincible?
Society, I do not care how many people are on your side or how many people you may convince of your "truth". I will not ever bow down and let you win. My students are gifts beyond measure. They are not to be boiled down to a weight, an IQ, a trend or brand. They are more than that. So while you try to push them into a category, a stereotype, a brand name I will be right there pulling them out into the truth. I will be fighting the very words and feelings you have poured into their minds. I will speak to their hearts. I will search the depth of who they are and empower them to be anything without you. I will make them see what you hid from me for so many years. I will let them see their worth.
Move on, Society. Change your ways and your approach. These kids, this generation, they may listen to you for a little while. But, when they can see their own worth and the strength they possess, they will win. Your lies and pressures are not going to prevail.
I am writing this letter to let you know that I am really annoyed with what you have done to our youth. I sat in Panera today and listened to four girls in varsity jackets talk about various kinds of alcohol and multiple parties in which they were wasted. I am tired, Society, of you making our kids feel like they need to constantly be something different. I work every day to change their minds and make them see that all you give them is garbage. So far I have gained their respect and I know they feel the truth in their hearts, but you never give them the chance to change. These four girls made me feel so sad because if their conversation went elsewhere, they brought it right back to these toxic decisions. How did you get to be so strong? So powerful? So convincing? Did you have this much power over my generation? Am I part of the reason my students seem to struggle constantly with the battle of being their true age vs. an age they believe possesses an ability to be invincible?
Society, I do not care how many people are on your side or how many people you may convince of your "truth". I will not ever bow down and let you win. My students are gifts beyond measure. They are not to be boiled down to a weight, an IQ, a trend or brand. They are more than that. So while you try to push them into a category, a stereotype, a brand name I will be right there pulling them out into the truth. I will be fighting the very words and feelings you have poured into their minds. I will speak to their hearts. I will search the depth of who they are and empower them to be anything without you. I will make them see what you hid from me for so many years. I will let them see their worth.
Move on, Society. Change your ways and your approach. These kids, this generation, they may listen to you for a little while. But, when they can see their own worth and the strength they possess, they will win. Your lies and pressures are not going to prevail.
Nov 11, 2008
Eliminate physical clutter. More importantly, eliminate spiritual clutter. ~D.H. Mondfleur
This past weekend I took 60 freshmen and sophomore students on a retreat that was led by 12 juniors. Now, many of my own family members and friends are very good about recentering their own spirituality by going on retreats. I must say, I don't do that. I think the last overnight retreat I attended was when I was in FrancisCorps. Although, I find that ministering is a challenge to my faith and a unique opportunity to reflect on my own spirituality. These retreats are, in some way, my way of taking a step back and letting my students teach me.
The theme song for the weekend was a song called Majestic. There is one part that says "I Will Worship You!" It is funny, the song is very Jesus-y. But, I know these kids well enough to know that they are just normal teenagers. The kind that we all roll our eyes or curse at in malls. The kind that skip out on leaving tips at a restaurant. The kind that fall in love for a week and then do it again next week. And yet, watching these kids stand in a circle and joyfully sing the words "We will worship You!" makes them seem so innocent. So, simple.
I know many of you have your own children and you can see how they grow up so fast. I know these kids for 4 years of their lives, if I am lucky. And in those 4 years, they are pressured to be all the things I pray they don't become. But, over the course of one weekend, I can step back and see how powerful and inspiring God's love is. I can sit back and feel like what I do, all I teach can make a difference in their lives. I don't know the spirituality of each one of you who read this, but I know that being able to see how God can work in the course of one weekend makes me want to open my eyes more to all He does. These kids may not always be able to focus on Him in their lives but they will always know that He did at one point. And maybe that will be enough for them to search for Him a little more. I know it was enough for me.
Nov 6, 2008
Oh yes, Jordan still lets his shirt blow in the wind!
Who wouldn't want a screen of that size with Jordan's face?! (Don't answer that!)
We were so close to them for this part....awesome seats!
I can almost reach out and pet him.....lol Don't judge me!
Come on...they look good for 40s!!!
This is my friend Mary....it was her actual birthday...maybe for my birthday someone can get my backstage passes? haha Riiiiight!Finally getting some pictures up from the most awesomest concert ever! :) I know some of you were well over New Kids over 15 years ago. But, there is something very cool about getting together with people who have been missing the 90s....people who are willing to reconnect with the memories...people who sincerely think they will still marry one of the New Kids. lol Here are some pictures that make me smile!
Enjoy! (I really wish my older brothers checked my blog...I fondly remember Ter and Rick enjoying my NKOTB cd's the most!!!)Nov 3, 2008
The most important political office is that of the private citizen. ~Louis Brandeis
A Prayer for our Nation's Election
O God, we acknowledge You today as Lord, Not only of individuals, but of nations and governments.
We thank You for the privilege Of being able to organize ourselves politically And of knowing that political loyalty Does not have to mean disloyalty to You.
We thank You for Your law, Which our Founding Fathers acknowledged And recognized as higher than any human law.
We thank You for the opportunity that this election year puts before us, To exercise our solemn duty not only to vote, But to influence countless others to vote, And to vote correctly.
Lord, we pray that Your people may be awakened. Let them realize that while politics is not their salvation, Their response to You requires that they be politically active.
Awaken Your people to know that they are not called to be a sect fleeing the world But rather a community of faith renewing the world.
Awaken them that the same hands lifted up to You in prayer Are the hands that pull the lever in the voting booth; That the same eyes that read Your Word Are the eyes that read the names on the ballot, And that they do not cease to be Christians When they enter the voting booth.
Awaken Your people to a commitment to justice, To the sanctity of marriage and the family, To the dignity of each individual human life, And to the truth that human rights begin when Human Lives Begin, And not one moment later.
Lord, we rejoice today That we are citizens of Your kingdom. May that make us all the more committed To being faithful citizens on earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.Amen.
www.catholic.org/prayers
O God, we acknowledge You today as Lord, Not only of individuals, but of nations and governments.
We thank You for the privilege Of being able to organize ourselves politically And of knowing that political loyalty Does not have to mean disloyalty to You.
We thank You for Your law, Which our Founding Fathers acknowledged And recognized as higher than any human law.
We thank You for the opportunity that this election year puts before us, To exercise our solemn duty not only to vote, But to influence countless others to vote, And to vote correctly.
Lord, we pray that Your people may be awakened. Let them realize that while politics is not their salvation, Their response to You requires that they be politically active.
Awaken Your people to know that they are not called to be a sect fleeing the world But rather a community of faith renewing the world.
Awaken them that the same hands lifted up to You in prayer Are the hands that pull the lever in the voting booth; That the same eyes that read Your Word Are the eyes that read the names on the ballot, And that they do not cease to be Christians When they enter the voting booth.
Awaken Your people to a commitment to justice, To the sanctity of marriage and the family, To the dignity of each individual human life, And to the truth that human rights begin when Human Lives Begin, And not one moment later.
Lord, we rejoice today That we are citizens of Your kingdom. May that make us all the more committed To being faithful citizens on earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.Amen.
www.catholic.org/prayers
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