Prioritizing!

Sometimes it's difficult to accept that we have our priorities a little randomized.  The best I can explain this is that, maybe we have prioritized things, but not planned out our schedules appropriately to reflect those priorities.  

For example, my part-time job requires me to work late...my full-time job has me getting up early.  While I really enjoy beginning my day with Mass, I have to get up even earlier in order to do so.  This all winds up leaving me so exhausted between jobs that I end up dosing off, and not really getting anything done.

I have decided that the solution is to find a daily Mass in the evening that I can attend and preferably serve at after my day job, thus allowing for more consecutive time sleeping.  This logical conclusion may seem simple, but it has been difficult to come to.

I realized tonight that perhaps I have become so attached to serving at one church, that the thought of going elsewhere had eluded me all this time.  I pray that I can find a daily evening Mass close by with folks who are as eager to let me serve as those at my current parish.  For the time being I will continue to endure this suffering for Christ.

Trusting in Him!

I am so honored that for almost the last year, I have been blessed to share my thoughts with our local Knights of Columbus council.  Several months after being ordained Deacon, our previous council Lecturer, asked me if I would take over for him.  After reading many people's interpretation of this position, I have come to feel that it has taken on a richer meaning here.  Each month, I try to present those brother knight of our council who can make it with a reflection of sorts.

Tonight will be a little different than the way I have done this in the past.  Usually I spend some reflective time in prayer and let the Lord write something for me to share.  This time I have been guided to a topic but given no words.  I feel confident that the words are within me and I will allow the Holy Spirit to bring them out as I speak.  My fear of public speaking should help prevent me from going too long.  I can't wait to see what He will say through me tonight!

911

Heavenly Father...Thank you for forgiveness and another day!  Each day is a blessing that we sometimes forget to appreciate.  Please help me battle the wickedness in the world and in my own heart, especially as we remember those who lost their lives in NY 11 years ago this day.  Thank you for the strength of all the brave men and women who searched for survivors and those who have since that time put their lives on the line and even given them up to remind us of the sacrifices that must be made for freedom!  May God bless America!

Open your eyes!

Another amazing weekend full of volunteer work, great food, great spiritual conversations, and great people.  God did a great job of reminding me this weekend, that while I am definitely open to the possibility of being called to the clergy, I need to remain open to the possibility for a relationship.  Though it was not the first time, I was presented with a person I felt attracted to this weekend, and as usual I'm pretty sure I blew that by leaving even though I saw a sparkle in her eyes that I have only seen a few times in my life.  I can be open to the "possibility" all I want, but that doesn't mean that I have the courage to open my mouth.

Most of the time these situations have presented themselves recently (and been passed right on by), I have found out soon after that it was not likely a good idea anyway.  In recent times this has also been accompanied by confusion of what is in store for my future.  I realized today though that I truly feel that God is reminding me to be open to all possibilities, and He will show me the right path when the time comes.

Lord, Keep my eyes open to all the doors that you unlock.  Help me to experience all that you wish for me on my journey in this life.  Amen!

Goals!

Sometimes we get a bit caught up in looking to the future, or looking at our past.  I am probably one of the most guilty of this as anybody.  It's easy to get hung up on the choices of the past, forgetting that those struggles have made us who we are.  It's easy to look into to the future for the direction we hope for it to take.

The important thing to remember is to focus on today!  Are we holier, or closer to where we want to be today, than we were yesterday?  If not, what do we need to do about that?

The best approach that I can think to use is to; look to the future for a goal, remember the struggles of the past, and make each day a step closer to the goal.  If we focus on the goal or the struggles, we become discouraged.  If we focus on the here and now that we can control, we have already met the goal, because we are doing the best we can.  Even just a small step will be a giant leap, because God will take the larger step from His end.

I am a 4th degree Knight of Columbus who tries to help bring a spiritual side to our monthly 3rd degree meetings, and a daily altar server.  If I deepen one other persons spiritual life, or inspire one young man to stay close to the altar and pursue the seminary, I will count my life as a success.  My goal is to do much more than that, but the most important part for me is that I achieve what God wants me to achieve.

Giving

Today has been an incredible day!  I had one of my most productive days at work in a long time.  After work, I donated my 8th pint of blood in the last two years.  It was an odd realization to know that I have donated a gallon of blood in such a short amount of time.  I can only hope that it has been helpful.

When I arrived at home, my nephew informed me that our last name means "dove."  With this knowledge I realized that my full name means "Christ like noble dove."  I can only hope that in the end I can live up to my own name.  With my volunteer work and blood donations and service to the church, I feel that I am taking a small step in the right direction.  I say small because I believe I have a long way to go.  I just want to enjoy the journey and with Jesus at my side, I know I will.

Irish Fest

It was so great yesterday to see the number of people who willingly came out and embraced the heavenly rain we had in Kansas City last night.  As a volunteer, I was so happy to see so many having a good time.  What really makes it even better from my perspective is that I realized that part of Sunday morning's agenda for the Irish festival includes Mass at 9:30.  How great is it that such a large public event downtown, includes Mass?

As much as this world seems to be turning its back on God, it is incredible to see such a great opportunity to share our faith.  I can only hope that celebrations such as these can provide a powerful witness to those who may be choosing to reject or ignore the Will of God.