Baxter gets adventurous sometimes and wants to go exploring. Since his world is confined to the house where we live, he has a rather limited reach for his curiosity. He has the run of most of the first floor, so there’s little to peak his search for the new and unknown there. However, the basement is another matter. Sometimes he sits in front of the basement door and cries to have it opened. Once granted access, he can be gone for a long time. This nearly windowless underworld of furnaces, washers and dryers, storage closets and some old furniture is fascinating to him. He likes to sniff around, visit any space where the door is cracked open, and find a comfortable spot on a chair or couch for a token cat-nap. When he has had enough of this strange world, Baxter returns to the main floor satisfied and content with his familiar surroundings, but happy for the opportunity to visit a strange land for a while.
Did the Magi feel the same when they returned from their visit to Jesus? They had to leave their familiar surroundings to follow the star. They confronted a new ruler with suspicious motives in Herod. They finally arrived at the place where Jesus was staying and fulfilled their journey’s purpose, to offer simple gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, marking their respect for the newborn king. Their curiosity set them off on an adventure, and their faithfulness to its objective brought them back satisfied. Mission accomplished.
Such is the journey faith marks out for us. We set out looking for something still unknown to us, and our curiosity and inquisitiveness won’t let us rest. We want to explore more about what makes life matter, about how we and all of creation came to be. We wonder what will become of us when we mess up in life or when we are a mess of withering, dying life. Our search leads us into new areas with new questions, new ideas and new practices to follow. We sometimes follow strange ways in our explorations, but we somehow find the course again and continue the journey.
Eventually, we meet the Christ, sometimes as a child, sometimes as a person in physical or spiritual need, sometimes as an elderly person—He takes many human forms. Always, the Christ comes as an encounter with grace that shows us there is a loving mystery deep within and among the circumstances in which we find ourselves. This mystery fascinates us, encourages us, and leads us to new encounters where we come to understand that goodness, truth and beauty are one in God. God shares these with us as signs of His life, and they keep us going until we eventually come home to God. But when we return, the journey we have taken has made all the difference. We are changed, converted by grace, part of a new creation, remade as children of the loving Father of all.
So as Christian believers, we are Magi on a search, looking for more from life and hoping to find it in the encounters we have throughout our life’s journey. Our underworld is no basement like Baxter’s. It is the divine underpinnings we discover to any true love and concern. Finally, we come home again, grateful for the journey, with the companions we met along the way, and the Christ we found at the end.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
DIET RESTRICTIONS
Baxter is on a diet again. The veterinarian suggested that I change his food to a metabolic weight control formula. When I took him for a weigh-in after a month, he gained 2 oz. So much for that idea. Baxter likes his new food, so I am still trying to see if it kick-starts his metabolism. I am skeptical, but ever hopeful. Baxter is simply looking for something to eat. He doesn’t know he is on a diet. He just knows when his stomach feels empty, and he lets everyone around at that time know that he has that feeling.
None of us likes to feel discomfort. We find ways to get rid of that feeling as soon as possible. We take a pill. We eat or drink or do both. We shop or spend money on gambling. We take a day off or simply stay in place and quit working. Whatever it is we find a way to sooth ourselves, to quiet the nagging feeling of displeasure, to change the situation so that we can feel alright again. We don’t like a sense of being ill at ease or unsatisfied, and we do what it takes to restore our sense of well-being and satisfaction.
Herod was uncomfortable with the Magi’s visit because he wanted no rivals to his power and position. He tried to trick them into being his accomplices in getting rid of the unpleasant threat, but God’s Spirit put them on the right track, a different way home. Growing more uncomfortable with his unknown competitor, Herod orders the death of all Hebrew boys under two years of age. He lashes out from his discomfort, and he makes many lives miserable and sad.
Contrast this picture with that of Simeon and Anna when the infant Jesus is presented in the temple. They are overjoyed. The hopes of their long lives are fulfilled, not by anything they accomplished nor possessed, but by seeing the fruit of God’s work beginning to unfold. Their prayer was hungry for the grace of salvation, and it stayed unsatisfied for many years. But now their souls’ appetites are satisfied in the Word become flesh in their arms. God is faithful.
Christmas tells us it’s good to be hungry for the right things, but dangerous to ourselves and others to desire the wrong things. Herod’s life ends in a tragedy of loneliness fostered by the distrust and hatred of his own people. Simeon’s and Anna’s lives are blessed by God in their old age, because they sought a sign of what God was doing to save them, and eventually, the whole world. The right diet—one rich in prayer, fidelity and the vision of faith—feeds our desire for God’s presence in our lives. The wrong diet of power seeking ambition and jealousy will just make us anxious, bitter and destructive. Eat well this Christmas season.
None of us likes to feel discomfort. We find ways to get rid of that feeling as soon as possible. We take a pill. We eat or drink or do both. We shop or spend money on gambling. We take a day off or simply stay in place and quit working. Whatever it is we find a way to sooth ourselves, to quiet the nagging feeling of displeasure, to change the situation so that we can feel alright again. We don’t like a sense of being ill at ease or unsatisfied, and we do what it takes to restore our sense of well-being and satisfaction.
Herod was uncomfortable with the Magi’s visit because he wanted no rivals to his power and position. He tried to trick them into being his accomplices in getting rid of the unpleasant threat, but God’s Spirit put them on the right track, a different way home. Growing more uncomfortable with his unknown competitor, Herod orders the death of all Hebrew boys under two years of age. He lashes out from his discomfort, and he makes many lives miserable and sad.
Contrast this picture with that of Simeon and Anna when the infant Jesus is presented in the temple. They are overjoyed. The hopes of their long lives are fulfilled, not by anything they accomplished nor possessed, but by seeing the fruit of God’s work beginning to unfold. Their prayer was hungry for the grace of salvation, and it stayed unsatisfied for many years. But now their souls’ appetites are satisfied in the Word become flesh in their arms. God is faithful.
Christmas tells us it’s good to be hungry for the right things, but dangerous to ourselves and others to desire the wrong things. Herod’s life ends in a tragedy of loneliness fostered by the distrust and hatred of his own people. Simeon’s and Anna’s lives are blessed by God in their old age, because they sought a sign of what God was doing to save them, and eventually, the whole world. The right diet—one rich in prayer, fidelity and the vision of faith—feeds our desire for God’s presence in our lives. The wrong diet of power seeking ambition and jealousy will just make us anxious, bitter and destructive. Eat well this Christmas season.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
FAVORITE FOOD
Baxter loves salmon. If I unwrap a fillet on the kitchen counter, he begins to react. His nose goes in the air. His tail is at alert. He stands on his hind legs with his paws on the cabinet drawers trying to get a peak at the delicacy. He meows loudly, rubs up against my leg, and then starts pacing, anxious to get a taste of the first morsel. There is no doubting it. Baxter’s favorite food is salmon.
Christmas is a time for us to enjoy our favorite foods as well. Much time is spent preparing the special holiday dishes and pastries. Some of these are once a year specialties. The tastes and aromas of these foods bring back memories of past Christmases with family and friends. They remind us of our heritage, of cherished loved ones who have passed, of long conversations around the table and the tree as Christmas day draws to a close. We taste more than the food. We taste what makes life worthwhile in our favorite foods of Christmas.
The Eucharist we celebrate at Christmas also holds some special tastes for us. At the Lord’s table on this feast, we come to realize God’s inescapable nearness to us. Born of a woman, nurtured as an infant, this is no divine warrior conquering the world by brute force. This is the divine child, soft and tender, claiming our attention by His innocence and melting our hard hearts by His vulnerability. This is God made simple, not as a naïve minor protected from the responsibilities of the adult world, but as a pure union of God and humanity in perfect harmony. Our carols sing of Him, but His birth first sings to us of how God is glorified in our flesh by bringing peace to all. If our souls can receive this wonderful mystery in the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation, life begins to taste sweet and rich to us despite its harsh and cruel side.
For many people, Christmas tastes sour because it recalls the losses, disappointments and unfairness of life. The gaiety and celebration of the season stands only as a reminder of these bitter realities. But putting Christ in Christmas draws us deeper into the celebration. What makes this day a feast is the taste of God’s delight in us who are so weak and fickle, and yet so lovable. This is what the Father saw in the Son’s birth, and what He sees in everyone born of His Son’s Spirit. It is better than all the cookies and candy, special cakes and spiked concoctions we can make. Yes, Baxter, it is even better than salmon. It is the joy of Christmas, the joy of God in our hearts, the holy laughter at sin and evil which, try as it might, can never win.
Christmas is a time for us to enjoy our favorite foods as well. Much time is spent preparing the special holiday dishes and pastries. Some of these are once a year specialties. The tastes and aromas of these foods bring back memories of past Christmases with family and friends. They remind us of our heritage, of cherished loved ones who have passed, of long conversations around the table and the tree as Christmas day draws to a close. We taste more than the food. We taste what makes life worthwhile in our favorite foods of Christmas.
The Eucharist we celebrate at Christmas also holds some special tastes for us. At the Lord’s table on this feast, we come to realize God’s inescapable nearness to us. Born of a woman, nurtured as an infant, this is no divine warrior conquering the world by brute force. This is the divine child, soft and tender, claiming our attention by His innocence and melting our hard hearts by His vulnerability. This is God made simple, not as a naïve minor protected from the responsibilities of the adult world, but as a pure union of God and humanity in perfect harmony. Our carols sing of Him, but His birth first sings to us of how God is glorified in our flesh by bringing peace to all. If our souls can receive this wonderful mystery in the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation, life begins to taste sweet and rich to us despite its harsh and cruel side.
For many people, Christmas tastes sour because it recalls the losses, disappointments and unfairness of life. The gaiety and celebration of the season stands only as a reminder of these bitter realities. But putting Christ in Christmas draws us deeper into the celebration. What makes this day a feast is the taste of God’s delight in us who are so weak and fickle, and yet so lovable. This is what the Father saw in the Son’s birth, and what He sees in everyone born of His Son’s Spirit. It is better than all the cookies and candy, special cakes and spiked concoctions we can make. Yes, Baxter, it is even better than salmon. It is the joy of Christmas, the joy of God in our hearts, the holy laughter at sin and evil which, try as it might, can never win.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
THE FOUNDLING
As you know, Baxter was a foundling. I got him at a rescue center when he was only four months old. His parents were unknown. He probably would not have made it to adulthood, unless someone brought him to the no-kill shelter. I don’t know who that was. I just know that their care and kindness allowed Baxter and me to find each other. The rest is history, as they say. If anyone tells stories about me after I am gone, Baxter will be part of the narrative, and vice versa. That’s what happens when a genuine relationship of caring and sharing is formed—even across species. We become part of each other’s life story.
God is looking for such a relationship with each of us. He wants to become part of our life stories, and He wants to include us in His story. So He meets us on our terms. “And the Word became flesh and lived among us,” Saint John wrote. God took on our humanity in Jesus. He was born, lived and died as a human being, all so that we could connect with Him and know the meaning and purpose for living.
When Jesus was born, a special and unique process of divine revelation began. Now we see God in human ways, and we see our human ways from a divine perspective. We identify the divine presence in human works of justice and mercy, of compassion and forgiveness. We see divine inspiration in our search for cures for diseases, in our efforts to live in peace, and in the men and women who arise among us who are truly wise and magnanimous. We name the divine power at work when good comes out of evil, when truth prevails over deceptions and falsehoods, when we find a hidden beauty in the midst of the ugliness of poverty, war and death. When God embraced our humanity in Jesus, not just the Son of God was born. The whole human race was given the chance to be born again of God.
Christmas says to us, “We are orphans no longer. We have a name in God.” When the First Son was born to us, God adopted everyone who responds to His love as sons and daughters, and so all human beings are called to be brothers and sisters in Christ. We are related in grace to the Holy One, and our lives are intertwined with God and each other in a holy communion. Bethlehem is a much bigger story than we first imagined it to be. What happened there continues to play out in human history until the end of time. We contribute to this unfolding when, in the particular circumstances of our lives, we try to live faithfully.
When I found Baxter he had no real name. The shelter staff called him “Elmer”, but I knew that wasn’t the right name for him. I called him “Baxter”, and now he knows his name and responds when I call. God gave us each our names when we were baptized in Christ. Please respond when He calls, and add your own piece to the Christmas story.
God is looking for such a relationship with each of us. He wants to become part of our life stories, and He wants to include us in His story. So He meets us on our terms. “And the Word became flesh and lived among us,” Saint John wrote. God took on our humanity in Jesus. He was born, lived and died as a human being, all so that we could connect with Him and know the meaning and purpose for living.
When Jesus was born, a special and unique process of divine revelation began. Now we see God in human ways, and we see our human ways from a divine perspective. We identify the divine presence in human works of justice and mercy, of compassion and forgiveness. We see divine inspiration in our search for cures for diseases, in our efforts to live in peace, and in the men and women who arise among us who are truly wise and magnanimous. We name the divine power at work when good comes out of evil, when truth prevails over deceptions and falsehoods, when we find a hidden beauty in the midst of the ugliness of poverty, war and death. When God embraced our humanity in Jesus, not just the Son of God was born. The whole human race was given the chance to be born again of God.
Christmas says to us, “We are orphans no longer. We have a name in God.” When the First Son was born to us, God adopted everyone who responds to His love as sons and daughters, and so all human beings are called to be brothers and sisters in Christ. We are related in grace to the Holy One, and our lives are intertwined with God and each other in a holy communion. Bethlehem is a much bigger story than we first imagined it to be. What happened there continues to play out in human history until the end of time. We contribute to this unfolding when, in the particular circumstances of our lives, we try to live faithfully.
When I found Baxter he had no real name. The shelter staff called him “Elmer”, but I knew that wasn’t the right name for him. I called him “Baxter”, and now he knows his name and responds when I call. God gave us each our names when we were baptized in Christ. Please respond when He calls, and add your own piece to the Christmas story.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
CAT TRICKS
I read an interesting little piece about cats a few weeks ago. Did you know that there is a Moscow Cat Circus? Yes, a professional clown began training cats in 1971 to do tricks like walking tightropes, riding bicycles and balancing on mirrored disco balls. Many of these “stars” were rescued strays whom their trainer took in and worked with to get them to perform these feats that seem beyond the characteristics of the species. Trained dogs? Of course, they will do anything for attention and to please their masters. Trained cats? Are you kidding me? But according to the article, even cats can perform beyond their native instincts to the astonishment of their audiences.
So there is hope for us. Looking at the terrible things that human beings do to each other—torture, slavery, drug selling, murder—we can lose our faith in the goodness of human nature. Add to these the fraud, deception, theft, and general meanness we can pull on each other, and there is little wonder that a recent survey said that trust among Americans is at an all time low. Only one third of us have any trust in our fellow citizens, down from 50% in 1971. But remember, no one expects cats to do circus tricks, but they do. How can we hope for more from each other?
By relying upon what God showed us about ourselves when He became flesh and dwelt among us. In God becoming human in Jesus, God uses our human nature to reveal His love and goodness. Jesus speaks words of forgiveness and healing, new life and hope when others want to condemn, reject and despair of human renewal. Jesus touches what others abhor, eats with sinners and tax collectors, and talks with strangers and Samaritans. These are all human ways to connect with others on a divine plain. He is not afraid of what might happen or distrustful of the outcomes. He enters into human interaction to show the divine link that can connect us to each other.
This kind of human encounter over God is tricky at times. Remember how the Scribes and Pharisees tried to trap Jesus. Remember how His own disciples ran off when He was in trouble with the authorities. But Jesus mastered the trick of walking the tightrope of human searching and desire to land on the other side, the place where God is found as the secure platform where anyone can stand, even if one is nailed to a cross. For Jesus, this kind of relationship with each other in God isn’t entertainment. It is the meaning and purpose of life, and the sign of eternal life to come.
Baxter is no circus entertainer. His tricks are mundane and casual. But they do hint at possibilities for his species I never thought could happen. Jesus’ human tricks open possibilities for us that we never imagined from our cynical and depressed point of view. Give our humanity a chance to shine with divine potential. Jesus shows us how. Just practice, practice, practice Gospel ways, and one day we may all be surprised at what God has made of us.
So there is hope for us. Looking at the terrible things that human beings do to each other—torture, slavery, drug selling, murder—we can lose our faith in the goodness of human nature. Add to these the fraud, deception, theft, and general meanness we can pull on each other, and there is little wonder that a recent survey said that trust among Americans is at an all time low. Only one third of us have any trust in our fellow citizens, down from 50% in 1971. But remember, no one expects cats to do circus tricks, but they do. How can we hope for more from each other?
By relying upon what God showed us about ourselves when He became flesh and dwelt among us. In God becoming human in Jesus, God uses our human nature to reveal His love and goodness. Jesus speaks words of forgiveness and healing, new life and hope when others want to condemn, reject and despair of human renewal. Jesus touches what others abhor, eats with sinners and tax collectors, and talks with strangers and Samaritans. These are all human ways to connect with others on a divine plain. He is not afraid of what might happen or distrustful of the outcomes. He enters into human interaction to show the divine link that can connect us to each other.
This kind of human encounter over God is tricky at times. Remember how the Scribes and Pharisees tried to trap Jesus. Remember how His own disciples ran off when He was in trouble with the authorities. But Jesus mastered the trick of walking the tightrope of human searching and desire to land on the other side, the place where God is found as the secure platform where anyone can stand, even if one is nailed to a cross. For Jesus, this kind of relationship with each other in God isn’t entertainment. It is the meaning and purpose of life, and the sign of eternal life to come.
Baxter is no circus entertainer. His tricks are mundane and casual. But they do hint at possibilities for his species I never thought could happen. Jesus’ human tricks open possibilities for us that we never imagined from our cynical and depressed point of view. Give our humanity a chance to shine with divine potential. Jesus shows us how. Just practice, practice, practice Gospel ways, and one day we may all be surprised at what God has made of us.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
WINDOW WATCHING
Baxter loves to look out the window. He has different reactions to the view. Sometimes when the birds are active, he is darting about, ears perked, chirping and pawing at the window. If another cat comes into the yard, he goes ballistic. This is serious business for him. He stalks it, and if the critter decides to come face to face on the glass with Baxter, then it’s war. Baxter hisses, spits, claws at the pane and gets thoroughly upset, remaining agitated long after the fellow feline has moved on.
But sometimes Baxter just sits quietly and stares. I don’t know what he is seeing, but he seems to find a view that brings him peace and contentment. He will stay this way for a long time, if he is undisturbed. He almost falls into a trance. If I come up to him on the windowsill and pet him at these times, he purrs and purrs. He’s the sight and sound of complete tranquility.
Perhaps we need to find this kind of view for ourselves. Especially as we enter into the hustle and bustle of preparations for the Christmas holiday, we can get lost in all the planning and activity. There is so much to do that we hurry through life doing it all. We forget the reason for the season. We forget to look for the marks of Christmas in the world around us -- peace, joy, wonder, blessing. We see only all the other cats of Christmas invading our territory at the grocery store, the mall, or on the road, and our dander is raised. Why are they in my way? How dare them compete with me for the same stuff!
"And the Word became flesh and lived among us…” but we have to look for it. We can’t see this Christ if we are preoccupied with ourselves and our agenda. We need to clear the view of distractions from our likes and dislikes, our social obligations and society’s expectations, and look for the beauty that lies hidden in all the hassles. Stop and stare at the quiet wonder of a soft snowfall. Listen to the silence when everyone has gone to bed. Feel the warmth of a nice cup of tea or cocoa. Appreciate the kind word, the courteous gesture, the heartfelt greeting, the hopeful songs of the season. These are the signs that He lives among us, sharing our lot and lightening its burdens. When we take the time to recognize them, they calm us, fascinate us, and open for us a new world where peace, joy, wonder and blessing are still possible.
Follow Baxter’s example. Look outside your world, and see the small but wonderful beauty of the divine.
But sometimes Baxter just sits quietly and stares. I don’t know what he is seeing, but he seems to find a view that brings him peace and contentment. He will stay this way for a long time, if he is undisturbed. He almost falls into a trance. If I come up to him on the windowsill and pet him at these times, he purrs and purrs. He’s the sight and sound of complete tranquility.
Perhaps we need to find this kind of view for ourselves. Especially as we enter into the hustle and bustle of preparations for the Christmas holiday, we can get lost in all the planning and activity. There is so much to do that we hurry through life doing it all. We forget the reason for the season. We forget to look for the marks of Christmas in the world around us -- peace, joy, wonder, blessing. We see only all the other cats of Christmas invading our territory at the grocery store, the mall, or on the road, and our dander is raised. Why are they in my way? How dare them compete with me for the same stuff!
"And the Word became flesh and lived among us…” but we have to look for it. We can’t see this Christ if we are preoccupied with ourselves and our agenda. We need to clear the view of distractions from our likes and dislikes, our social obligations and society’s expectations, and look for the beauty that lies hidden in all the hassles. Stop and stare at the quiet wonder of a soft snowfall. Listen to the silence when everyone has gone to bed. Feel the warmth of a nice cup of tea or cocoa. Appreciate the kind word, the courteous gesture, the heartfelt greeting, the hopeful songs of the season. These are the signs that He lives among us, sharing our lot and lightening its burdens. When we take the time to recognize them, they calm us, fascinate us, and open for us a new world where peace, joy, wonder and blessing are still possible.
Follow Baxter’s example. Look outside your world, and see the small but wonderful beauty of the divine.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
THAT HUNGRY FEELING
Baxter can’t tell time. I wish he could because he has no idea when it is time to eat. When he feels hungry he wants to eat. It doesn’t matter what the schedule for eating is. If he feels that his stomach is empty, he wants his craving satisfied, and he takes no excuses for why he isn’t being fed. He cries, drags the feeding dish, rubs up against my legs, and stares me down, all in an attempt to get what he wants. When I try to explain to him that he has to wait, he ignores my words. No clock is going to tell Baxter when to eat. His internal clock is the only one he reads, and when it is set on empty, he wants it reset to full. Baxter works on a three period day: feeding time, sleeping time, and getting ready to sleep or eat. That’s it. No explanations needed or accepted.
Although we can and do tell time, we sometimes act like Baxter when we are looking for something to satisfy our lives. We don’t want to wait. We want immediate gratification for our need, and we can’t understand when others can’t or won’t deliver it to us. We get impatient with ourselves or others, and we can become so focused on what we desire that nothing else seems to matter. Until we get what we are looking for, we are dissatisfied and frustrated with what we have. We get ahead of ourselves and lose a sense of the good and valuable things we have at our disposal now.
But sometimes we have to wait on God. He will not work on our schedule, but He sets
His own timetable for His blessings and grace in our lives. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and sometimes God’s delays later reveal a purpose and meaning we couldn’t grasp when we wanted our satisfaction and happiness. Waiting teaches us so many things. We learn that everything doesn’t have to happen at once. We can deal with our issues one at a time. We learn that it takes time to mature and gain insight. The quick fix or easy answer is sometimes shortsighted. We learn that waiting isn’t a waste of time. It is time to take in the bigger picture, to include more people in solving the problems, to test out the possibilities before we commit to one, to face things calmly and carefully. Taking time to reflect well on what we want is never time wasted. It is time to measure our desires against God’s desires for our true happiness.
Because he can’t tell time, Baxter is forced to act on impulse to get what he wants. Knowing there is time, we can place it on our side and use it to live better and more graciously. Take the time God gives us to know Him, ourselves and each other in His light, not to hurry through life but appreciate its meaning and savor its richness and bounty. Baxter, you don’t know what you’re missing!
Although we can and do tell time, we sometimes act like Baxter when we are looking for something to satisfy our lives. We don’t want to wait. We want immediate gratification for our need, and we can’t understand when others can’t or won’t deliver it to us. We get impatient with ourselves or others, and we can become so focused on what we desire that nothing else seems to matter. Until we get what we are looking for, we are dissatisfied and frustrated with what we have. We get ahead of ourselves and lose a sense of the good and valuable things we have at our disposal now.
But sometimes we have to wait on God. He will not work on our schedule, but He sets
His own timetable for His blessings and grace in our lives. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and sometimes God’s delays later reveal a purpose and meaning we couldn’t grasp when we wanted our satisfaction and happiness. Waiting teaches us so many things. We learn that everything doesn’t have to happen at once. We can deal with our issues one at a time. We learn that it takes time to mature and gain insight. The quick fix or easy answer is sometimes shortsighted. We learn that waiting isn’t a waste of time. It is time to take in the bigger picture, to include more people in solving the problems, to test out the possibilities before we commit to one, to face things calmly and carefully. Taking time to reflect well on what we want is never time wasted. It is time to measure our desires against God’s desires for our true happiness.
Because he can’t tell time, Baxter is forced to act on impulse to get what he wants. Knowing there is time, we can place it on our side and use it to live better and more graciously. Take the time God gives us to know Him, ourselves and each other in His light, not to hurry through life but appreciate its meaning and savor its richness and bounty. Baxter, you don’t know what you’re missing!
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
HIDING IN PLACE
Last week, Baxter had an appointment at the veterinarian to have his weight checked. I don’t
know how he figured out that he was going, but he did. As soon as I put on my jacket for the trip, he took off and hid under the bed. I tried to call him out, but he didn’t respond. I tried bribing him with treats, but he wasn’t biting. I tried a firm, scolding tone of voice, but to no end. Finally, I had to move the bed and corner him, pick up his eighteen plus pounds, and shove him in the pet carrier for the twenty minute trip. He was not happy. He cried and cried the whole way there. Maybe he knew he would flunk the weight loss contest, or maybe he didn’t like the other cats that were in the waiting room. Whatever it was, Baxter was not subtle about his upset over the visit. The shambles left from chasing him around the bedroom was clear evidence of that. However, once he was in the examining room, he resigned himself, and became quiet and docile with the doctor.
We get that way sometimes as well. We try to hide from facing our issues. We spend a lot of time and energy trying to avoid them. When we are finally forced to face them, we may at first get upset about the whole situation. We blame friends and family for our predicament; we blame the experts who are trying to help us; we blame “life” for our bad luck and its woes. We do everything we can to hide from our problem and to avoid taking steps to address it. We fume and fuss until we are cornered by the issue, and then, we might resign ourselves reluctantly to doing something about it. In the meantime, the world around us may be in a shambles for our stubborn recalcitrance.
What that drives us to this state may vary. It may be a drug or alcohol addiction. It may be a tattered relationship. It may be financial stress or job tension. Maybe we are worried about our children’s suspicious behavior. Whatever it may be, hiding the problem from ourselves and others doesn’t solve it. It only increases the anxiety. Our imaginations start to think the worst, and we increase our worry through fear that someone might find out about our issue. Hiding in place doesn’t fool anyone, not even ourselves. It just delays the inevitable.
Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb when everyone else was worried about the stench. He named the woman at the well’s marriage issue when she said nothing about it. He told Martha to calm down when she was upset with Mary’s work ethic. Jesus called out His own follower when that disciple objected to the woman who anointed His feet. He told the Zebedee brothers that it was not for Him to give them privileged places in the Kingdom, except the place of sacrifice and suffering through service. Jesus speaks to the issues of people’s lives in His ministry. Whether it is about faith and trust, honesty, envy and jealousy, greed or ambition, Jesus won’t allow people to hide their true motivations behind pious words and gestures. He exposes people to their own hearts, so that He can change them with His grace.
For Baxter, the scale doesn’t lie. He can’t hide from its numbers and what they indicate he needs to do. For us, it is the Lord who confronts us with the truth of our lives and what we must do to live faithfully and fruitfully. There is no hiding from it.
We get that way sometimes as well. We try to hide from facing our issues. We spend a lot of time and energy trying to avoid them. When we are finally forced to face them, we may at first get upset about the whole situation. We blame friends and family for our predicament; we blame the experts who are trying to help us; we blame “life” for our bad luck and its woes. We do everything we can to hide from our problem and to avoid taking steps to address it. We fume and fuss until we are cornered by the issue, and then, we might resign ourselves reluctantly to doing something about it. In the meantime, the world around us may be in a shambles for our stubborn recalcitrance.
What that drives us to this state may vary. It may be a drug or alcohol addiction. It may be a tattered relationship. It may be financial stress or job tension. Maybe we are worried about our children’s suspicious behavior. Whatever it may be, hiding the problem from ourselves and others doesn’t solve it. It only increases the anxiety. Our imaginations start to think the worst, and we increase our worry through fear that someone might find out about our issue. Hiding in place doesn’t fool anyone, not even ourselves. It just delays the inevitable.
Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb when everyone else was worried about the stench. He named the woman at the well’s marriage issue when she said nothing about it. He told Martha to calm down when she was upset with Mary’s work ethic. Jesus called out His own follower when that disciple objected to the woman who anointed His feet. He told the Zebedee brothers that it was not for Him to give them privileged places in the Kingdom, except the place of sacrifice and suffering through service. Jesus speaks to the issues of people’s lives in His ministry. Whether it is about faith and trust, honesty, envy and jealousy, greed or ambition, Jesus won’t allow people to hide their true motivations behind pious words and gestures. He exposes people to their own hearts, so that He can change them with His grace.
For Baxter, the scale doesn’t lie. He can’t hide from its numbers and what they indicate he needs to do. For us, it is the Lord who confronts us with the truth of our lives and what we must do to live faithfully and fruitfully. There is no hiding from it.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
SENSITIVE SPOTS
Baxter has his sensitive spots: under the chin, behind the ear, on the back of his neck. When I scratch these areas, he just begins to purr and purr, his eyes roll back in his head, and he stays still in a trance-like state for a long time. But one spot Baxter would guard carefully from any touch or stroke is his belly. He would jump and run at first, if I tried to get near his soft, white underside. I later read that, unlike dogs, cats’ bellies are very sensitive, and they guard them fiercely. They feel vulnerable there, and they don’t allow anyone near for fear of getting hurt. I knew I had Baxter’s trust and confidence when, after a few years, he would roll over and have me rub his belly while he offered a dreamy purr. We were safe with each other, and he let me know it.
We all have our sensitive spots. I am not talking about places on our bodies, but places in our lives where we don’t allow just anyone access. These may be cherished memories of good times now past. These may be feelings of anger and resentment that we fear another will use against us. These may be failures we recognize but hide from others’ attention and judgment. They may be treasured mementoes which we think appear cheap and insignificant to others, but hold precious thoughts and feelings for us. Whatever they may be, these sensitive areas are guarded from others because we don’t want them abused by public notoriety or exploited for selfish gains. We hold them in private and keep them secret.
Yet, it is precisely these vulnerable spots in our lives that have the potential to form bonds for us. Think about it. On formal, official, dressed up occasions at work or for organizations we support, everyone acts properly but the conversation is conventional and staged. “How are you? What are the children doing now? Where are you living, working, vacationing, retiring?” It’s nice talk, for sure, but nothing that matters much for people who may never see each other again. We keep the sensitive subjects off limits because there is no opportunity to follow through with casual acquaintances.
But we need to connect on a deeper level. We need to let someone know what we cherish, what matters to us, how we feel about our successes and failures, who holds a dear place in our biographies. Trusting another with this kind of information about us connects us in a way that is strong and lasting. We become friends, confidants, soul brothers or sisters.
Trust God with your heart. Let Him into your life’s most sensitive secrets. He listens carefully and respectfully. He won’t condemn you for your confessions of wrong-doing. He will only forgive you and help you to be a better, more responsible person in the future. Trust God with your happy moments as well as your sad ones. He will expand your happiness, and lighten the burden of your sadness.
Until we become intimate with God, attending Eucharist is a formality we play out each Sunday. Once we allow God to touch the secret, sensitive parts of our lives, Eucharist becomes a meal full of divine warmth, gratitude and closeness. He who died on the cross and rose from the dead has nothing to hide. He invites us to touch His wounds and share our wounds with His. He offers us His hopes for a redeemed world and shows us our place in it. He reveals the glory of a life transformed in grace and calls us to the same transformation. If we are open with God, we form a bond with Him that is deeper and more lasting than any human contact we have made.
When God touches our sensitive spots, we don’t purr. We just find peace.
We all have our sensitive spots. I am not talking about places on our bodies, but places in our lives where we don’t allow just anyone access. These may be cherished memories of good times now past. These may be feelings of anger and resentment that we fear another will use against us. These may be failures we recognize but hide from others’ attention and judgment. They may be treasured mementoes which we think appear cheap and insignificant to others, but hold precious thoughts and feelings for us. Whatever they may be, these sensitive areas are guarded from others because we don’t want them abused by public notoriety or exploited for selfish gains. We hold them in private and keep them secret.
Yet, it is precisely these vulnerable spots in our lives that have the potential to form bonds for us. Think about it. On formal, official, dressed up occasions at work or for organizations we support, everyone acts properly but the conversation is conventional and staged. “How are you? What are the children doing now? Where are you living, working, vacationing, retiring?” It’s nice talk, for sure, but nothing that matters much for people who may never see each other again. We keep the sensitive subjects off limits because there is no opportunity to follow through with casual acquaintances.
But we need to connect on a deeper level. We need to let someone know what we cherish, what matters to us, how we feel about our successes and failures, who holds a dear place in our biographies. Trusting another with this kind of information about us connects us in a way that is strong and lasting. We become friends, confidants, soul brothers or sisters.
Trust God with your heart. Let Him into your life’s most sensitive secrets. He listens carefully and respectfully. He won’t condemn you for your confessions of wrong-doing. He will only forgive you and help you to be a better, more responsible person in the future. Trust God with your happy moments as well as your sad ones. He will expand your happiness, and lighten the burden of your sadness.
Until we become intimate with God, attending Eucharist is a formality we play out each Sunday. Once we allow God to touch the secret, sensitive parts of our lives, Eucharist becomes a meal full of divine warmth, gratitude and closeness. He who died on the cross and rose from the dead has nothing to hide. He invites us to touch His wounds and share our wounds with His. He offers us His hopes for a redeemed world and shows us our place in it. He reveals the glory of a life transformed in grace and calls us to the same transformation. If we are open with God, we form a bond with Him that is deeper and more lasting than any human contact we have made.
When God touches our sensitive spots, we don’t purr. We just find peace.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
CATNAPS
Since he is a cat, Baxter takes catnaps. He sits or lies still with his eyes half open, quiet and peaceful. He tries not to drift off, but sometimes he can’t help himself. His head tilts. He raises it. It tilts again. He tries to keep it up, but then, he gives in and lets it fall. He goes to sleep, but he has one eye opened and his ears cocked. If a loud noise is made or a bright light comes on, Baxter is again upright and awake.
These catnaps are in contrast to Baxter’s full out, heavy duty sleep. Now he is into serious shut eye. He usually curls himself into a ball with his paws over his eyes. He snores, or makes funny breathing sounds. Almost nothing arouses him from these altered states of consciousness. Noises, lights, calling his name, or even announcing treats, all are lost on his deep and total sleep. Even when he finally comes back to wakefulness, it takes a few minutes for him to get oriented again. He yawns, blinks and stretches before he realizes this isn’t part of his cat dream. This is the real world. Welcome back to life, Baxter.
In our faith, we sometimes take catnaps. A brief prayer for help or in thanksgiving, a quick note to say we care, a phone call or a small kindness are all ways that we keep in mind that God is with us throughout the day. These “little things” can mean a lot, as the old song says, because they make our faith very concrete, pointed to a particular moment, situation and person. We see in the here and now the ever-present God of all eternity. Like a catnap, these brief reminders keep our faith going through the day while we continue our normal routines.
Sometimes though, we need a full time-out. A brief pause, a few words aren’t sufficient to nourish and refresh our faith. We need to enter more deeply into the silence of God’s mystery and get lost in its depths. We need to raise more penetrating questions about the nature of God and who we are as His children. We need to confront in heart and mind what is not of God in our world—evil, death, deceit, destruction—and ponder who is God in the face of such darkness. We need long periods of quiet prayer, a retreat time, a long walk in nature or substantial time alone before the Blessed Sacrament. Like deep sleep, these periods rejuvenate our spirits to carry on the work of living the faith.
So learn from Baxter. Take a moment when you have it. Take a long break when you need it. Then we will live our faith more fully each day.
These catnaps are in contrast to Baxter’s full out, heavy duty sleep. Now he is into serious shut eye. He usually curls himself into a ball with his paws over his eyes. He snores, or makes funny breathing sounds. Almost nothing arouses him from these altered states of consciousness. Noises, lights, calling his name, or even announcing treats, all are lost on his deep and total sleep. Even when he finally comes back to wakefulness, it takes a few minutes for him to get oriented again. He yawns, blinks and stretches before he realizes this isn’t part of his cat dream. This is the real world. Welcome back to life, Baxter.
In our faith, we sometimes take catnaps. A brief prayer for help or in thanksgiving, a quick note to say we care, a phone call or a small kindness are all ways that we keep in mind that God is with us throughout the day. These “little things” can mean a lot, as the old song says, because they make our faith very concrete, pointed to a particular moment, situation and person. We see in the here and now the ever-present God of all eternity. Like a catnap, these brief reminders keep our faith going through the day while we continue our normal routines.
Sometimes though, we need a full time-out. A brief pause, a few words aren’t sufficient to nourish and refresh our faith. We need to enter more deeply into the silence of God’s mystery and get lost in its depths. We need to raise more penetrating questions about the nature of God and who we are as His children. We need to confront in heart and mind what is not of God in our world—evil, death, deceit, destruction—and ponder who is God in the face of such darkness. We need long periods of quiet prayer, a retreat time, a long walk in nature or substantial time alone before the Blessed Sacrament. Like deep sleep, these periods rejuvenate our spirits to carry on the work of living the faith.
So learn from Baxter. Take a moment when you have it. Take a long break when you need it. Then we will live our faith more fully each day.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
TIMELESS
Baxter can’t tell time. I wish he could. If he could, then I hopefully wouldn’t have to endure his cries to eat an hour before his feeding time. On numerous occasions I have told Baxter it’s not time now for dinner, but he simply ignores my assertions. When he feels hunger in his belly, he will not be deterred. The time of day doesn’t matter. Only the feeling in his stomach counts, and that feeling makes him shout in cat talk, “FEED ME!” Nothing else matters when Baxter feels hungry. The whole world becomes focused for him on the feeding dish which he demands to be filled. He paces around it, pulls at it, and cuddles up to it with his head—all in hopes of satisfying his immediate craving.
We can’t tell time either, at least not God’s time. If we could read the eternal clock of the divine, we might not be so anxious and upset about what is happening or not happening around us. We want what we want when we want it, and we won’t take any reasons for a delay or substitution. But God sometimes operates on a different time table. He unfolds our lives at a pace measured by what we need now to grow in His grace and wisdom. That sometimes means that we don’t get the normal object of our desires, so that we can desire a different object and begin to value things differently. We find a new normal. Lose a job, get seriously sick, fall in love, or discover a new talent, and we can be stopped in our tracks. Suddenly, our priorities change, and some of what was once critical for our daily happiness and satisfaction is no longer sought after or even crosses our minds. What drives our time and attention shifts, and we follow a new course in our daily living.
Such transitions are not always easy. We may feel lost for a while, not knowing what we are looking for or where to find it. We may feel unsure of ourselves, wondering what is going to happen to what we worked for long and hard. We may worry about the unknown future and our ability to handle it. All of this because we can’t tell time, God’s time.
God’s time allows us to learn what we need to cherish and hold onto, and what we need to relinquish. God’s time is not even. Sometimes events cascade quickly, and sometimes they are painstakingly slow in showing us what’s to come. God’s time moves us. We don’t determine its length or direction. We must accept its course when it unfolds. But one thing is sure. God’s time will come for every one of us, and if we are watching and waiting for it, we will be changed for the better when it happens. And when the last hour of God’s time strikes, we will be transformed forever into the timeless realm of eternity.
So don’t worry about what we are to eat or drink, our Father knows what we need and He will grant it. Worry that we are ready for the time God has planned for us, and can enter into it with peace and hope. If Baxter could tell time, he would know that another meal is coming without fretting and fussing about it. If we begin to tell God’s time in our living, we too will know that we are cared for and loved no matter what comes our way.
We can’t tell time either, at least not God’s time. If we could read the eternal clock of the divine, we might not be so anxious and upset about what is happening or not happening around us. We want what we want when we want it, and we won’t take any reasons for a delay or substitution. But God sometimes operates on a different time table. He unfolds our lives at a pace measured by what we need now to grow in His grace and wisdom. That sometimes means that we don’t get the normal object of our desires, so that we can desire a different object and begin to value things differently. We find a new normal. Lose a job, get seriously sick, fall in love, or discover a new talent, and we can be stopped in our tracks. Suddenly, our priorities change, and some of what was once critical for our daily happiness and satisfaction is no longer sought after or even crosses our minds. What drives our time and attention shifts, and we follow a new course in our daily living.
Such transitions are not always easy. We may feel lost for a while, not knowing what we are looking for or where to find it. We may feel unsure of ourselves, wondering what is going to happen to what we worked for long and hard. We may worry about the unknown future and our ability to handle it. All of this because we can’t tell time, God’s time.
God’s time allows us to learn what we need to cherish and hold onto, and what we need to relinquish. God’s time is not even. Sometimes events cascade quickly, and sometimes they are painstakingly slow in showing us what’s to come. God’s time moves us. We don’t determine its length or direction. We must accept its course when it unfolds. But one thing is sure. God’s time will come for every one of us, and if we are watching and waiting for it, we will be changed for the better when it happens. And when the last hour of God’s time strikes, we will be transformed forever into the timeless realm of eternity.
So don’t worry about what we are to eat or drink, our Father knows what we need and He will grant it. Worry that we are ready for the time God has planned for us, and can enter into it with peace and hope. If Baxter could tell time, he would know that another meal is coming without fretting and fussing about it. If we begin to tell God’s time in our living, we too will know that we are cared for and loved no matter what comes our way.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
THE MUTT
Baxter is a mutt. That’s not his official classification. According to his veterinary records, he’s a domestic short-hair, but we all know that is a fancy term for “Mutt”. He comes from common background. His parents are unknown. He was picked up off the streets as a kitten, and spent the first few months of his life in a shelter with other unwanted and unidentified felines. So there is no blue blood to this beast, only common cat features shared by millions of others of the species.
That is why his characteristics and antics speak to so many. He doesn’t try to put on airs about his exceptional qualities and skills. He has none. He is a typical cat. He loves to eat, sleep and play. He sometimes craves affection, and sometimes he seeks solitude, not to be bothered. He surprises me at times, and then he sometimes is so predictable. He has his own peculiar quirks which distinguish him, but he also has the instincts common to any cat. There is nothing extra special about Baxter—except to me.
Baxter and I have lived through some significant moments together--the death of my parents, three transfers, anniversary celebrations, holidays and parties. These times shared have created a bond between us that, at least from my perspective, makes Baxter a special cat. His pedigree doesn’t come from his blood-line but from the life-line we trace in common. We share a history together, and the shared stories contained therein, where we played a part for each other, tell us who we are and how we matter to each other.
Now if that is what can happen between a person and his or her beloved pet, just think of what this can mean between us and our God. We start out as God’s “Mutts”, lost, alone, frightened, and all thrown together in this common lot of human history. But we gain our pedigree in baptism, and distinguish ourselves as disciples by living out our lives in faith. So we share whatever life brings with God, and together we write another chapter to the story of salvation begun in Adam and Abraham and fulfilled in Christ. That is, if we invite God into our lives as a partner, companion and friend. If we bite the hand that feeds us His very Body and Blood, if we don’t come into God’s house for protection from the cold, harsh elements of our world, if we won’t allow God to name us as His sons and daughters in Christ, then we remain unknown strays, thought by many as common and disposable.
Mutts are lovable pets, and they become most loyal once tamed by care and safety. That’s how God sees us and wants to treat us. Give Him a chance to change your life, and lend Him a hand by helping others see God in your service.
Archived reflections can be found at: http://sschurchbv.blogspot.com
That is why his characteristics and antics speak to so many. He doesn’t try to put on airs about his exceptional qualities and skills. He has none. He is a typical cat. He loves to eat, sleep and play. He sometimes craves affection, and sometimes he seeks solitude, not to be bothered. He surprises me at times, and then he sometimes is so predictable. He has his own peculiar quirks which distinguish him, but he also has the instincts common to any cat. There is nothing extra special about Baxter—except to me.
Baxter and I have lived through some significant moments together--the death of my parents, three transfers, anniversary celebrations, holidays and parties. These times shared have created a bond between us that, at least from my perspective, makes Baxter a special cat. His pedigree doesn’t come from his blood-line but from the life-line we trace in common. We share a history together, and the shared stories contained therein, where we played a part for each other, tell us who we are and how we matter to each other.
Now if that is what can happen between a person and his or her beloved pet, just think of what this can mean between us and our God. We start out as God’s “Mutts”, lost, alone, frightened, and all thrown together in this common lot of human history. But we gain our pedigree in baptism, and distinguish ourselves as disciples by living out our lives in faith. So we share whatever life brings with God, and together we write another chapter to the story of salvation begun in Adam and Abraham and fulfilled in Christ. That is, if we invite God into our lives as a partner, companion and friend. If we bite the hand that feeds us His very Body and Blood, if we don’t come into God’s house for protection from the cold, harsh elements of our world, if we won’t allow God to name us as His sons and daughters in Christ, then we remain unknown strays, thought by many as common and disposable.
Mutts are lovable pets, and they become most loyal once tamed by care and safety. That’s how God sees us and wants to treat us. Give Him a chance to change your life, and lend Him a hand by helping others see God in your service.
Archived reflections can be found at: http://sschurchbv.blogspot.com
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
RUNNING AWAY
Baxter has certain odd behaviors. One of his strangest is associated with his bathroom habits. After Baxter makes his deposit in the litter bank, he jumps out of the box and makes a mad dash either under the bed or into the front room. This reaction has become so routine that when I hear or see his Olympic sprint, I know what lies waiting for me to clean. Why he makes this sudden run is beyond my understanding. Maybe he is trying to convince himself that he didn’t do what he did. Perhaps he thinks, “If I get away quickly, no one will know who left the deposit in the litter box. I can pretend it was somebody else. Maybe my house servant will think a strange cat visited and used my clean bathroom.” Baxter has some strange thoughts at times--as do we.
We may think, “If I run away from my problem, it will go away. If I pretend I’m not involved, maybe they will miss me and blame someone else. If I leave a mess behind me, I can deny responsibility for it.” We can try to play escape artist with our real life problems, and turn to another situation, another person, another set of beliefs and practices to avoid facing the consequences of our choices. But it doesn’t work. We can run away from a particular messy encounter, but we can’t run from the common denominator of our problems—ourselves. If we have a problem and don’t take ownership for it, we are very likely to run into the same kind of problem again in a different circumstance. We are agents of our own fate when we decide how we respond to whatever comes our way in the course of living. Only by accepting that God gave us freedom and understanding to make our way through life, will we grow along the way by learning from our mistakes and changing our course of action. We may find ourselves in a mess at times, but only we can clean it up and move on. If we don’t, we get stuck making the same messes in new settings.
God says, “Use your head; make a decision; take action. Seek counsel from a trusted confidant to confirm your insights and gain courage to act. Be open to change. Take responsibility for your actions and their consequences. I am with you no matter what happens.” With this message rooted in our faith, there is no need to run away from our problems and nothing gained by doing so. Embracing them becomes the fertile ground where God will yield the fruits of grace in our lives.
So don’t run, Baxter. We all know who did it. Relax. I’ll clean it up.
We may think, “If I run away from my problem, it will go away. If I pretend I’m not involved, maybe they will miss me and blame someone else. If I leave a mess behind me, I can deny responsibility for it.” We can try to play escape artist with our real life problems, and turn to another situation, another person, another set of beliefs and practices to avoid facing the consequences of our choices. But it doesn’t work. We can run away from a particular messy encounter, but we can’t run from the common denominator of our problems—ourselves. If we have a problem and don’t take ownership for it, we are very likely to run into the same kind of problem again in a different circumstance. We are agents of our own fate when we decide how we respond to whatever comes our way in the course of living. Only by accepting that God gave us freedom and understanding to make our way through life, will we grow along the way by learning from our mistakes and changing our course of action. We may find ourselves in a mess at times, but only we can clean it up and move on. If we don’t, we get stuck making the same messes in new settings.
God says, “Use your head; make a decision; take action. Seek counsel from a trusted confidant to confirm your insights and gain courage to act. Be open to change. Take responsibility for your actions and their consequences. I am with you no matter what happens.” With this message rooted in our faith, there is no need to run away from our problems and nothing gained by doing so. Embracing them becomes the fertile ground where God will yield the fruits of grace in our lives.
So don’t run, Baxter. We all know who did it. Relax. I’ll clean it up.
Friday, October 4, 2013
FETCH
Although Baxter sometimes exhibits canine characteristics which are a mystery to me, the game of “fetch” isn’t one of them. When I throw a toy for Baxter to retrieve, I only get half of the chase. Baxter runs after the object, but once there, he loses interest and walks away in another direction that catches his fancy more. I suppose he figures that if I threw the toy, it was up to me to get it. After all, Baxter knows he is not my manservant. He’s my cat—my master.
But then I found a new game that changed the terms of the chase. If I take a piece of kibble and throw it in any direction, Baxter takes off after it. Even if it slides under a piece of furniture, he keeps pursuing it, reaching with his paw to try to snag the morsel, rolling on his back to get at it. Then, when he has chomped down that piece, he runs back to me, looking eagerly for another round of the game and ready to run at the next toss of food. This is the best I can do to get Baxter to exercise. It is his version of a treadmill.
What are we willing to pursue with energy and resolve? How easily do we quit the chase? What keeps us coming back for another chance at the race? These are questions we have to raise about our faith and our call to evangelize others. Believing in the God of Jesus is not easy today. There are so many distractions. The pleasures available in our modern world, the pressures of the work place and careers, the problems of contemporary families and communities all serve to derail the race towards something greater in life. Like Baxter running after the toy, we soon lose interest in the holy by the allure of all these other concerns. Unless, we are hungry.
A single piece of kibble can get Baxter to run, find it and come back for more, and so with our faith. A small moment can trigger a hunger for more of God in our life. Holding our infant child or grandchild, feeling remorse over a friendship lost or a sin unforgiven, sensing an emptiness inside that no job, hobby or pleasure can fill, these things can whet our appetite for the holy if we follow their lead. They hold within them God’s call to come closer, probe more deeply, find the lost piece that can nourish our lives.
Pay attention to what living tosses our way. It’s not just a game of fruitless chasing. It holds morsels of divine life discovered when we bite into them with the taste of a seeker of faith. Help others to join in the pursuit. Encourage friends and family who have questions about where is God in this crazy world and what good does He bring to our living. Our questions are God’s way of passing His life and love to us to stir our taste for them. Unless we raise them and pursue them, we will never find the true nourishment of faith that can satisfy them
.
For Baxter, the secret to the game of fetch is to throw something ahead of him that feeds him. Then he will come back for another round. The same holds for us in our journey of faith. Go for it!
But then I found a new game that changed the terms of the chase. If I take a piece of kibble and throw it in any direction, Baxter takes off after it. Even if it slides under a piece of furniture, he keeps pursuing it, reaching with his paw to try to snag the morsel, rolling on his back to get at it. Then, when he has chomped down that piece, he runs back to me, looking eagerly for another round of the game and ready to run at the next toss of food. This is the best I can do to get Baxter to exercise. It is his version of a treadmill.
What are we willing to pursue with energy and resolve? How easily do we quit the chase? What keeps us coming back for another chance at the race? These are questions we have to raise about our faith and our call to evangelize others. Believing in the God of Jesus is not easy today. There are so many distractions. The pleasures available in our modern world, the pressures of the work place and careers, the problems of contemporary families and communities all serve to derail the race towards something greater in life. Like Baxter running after the toy, we soon lose interest in the holy by the allure of all these other concerns. Unless, we are hungry.
A single piece of kibble can get Baxter to run, find it and come back for more, and so with our faith. A small moment can trigger a hunger for more of God in our life. Holding our infant child or grandchild, feeling remorse over a friendship lost or a sin unforgiven, sensing an emptiness inside that no job, hobby or pleasure can fill, these things can whet our appetite for the holy if we follow their lead. They hold within them God’s call to come closer, probe more deeply, find the lost piece that can nourish our lives.
Pay attention to what living tosses our way. It’s not just a game of fruitless chasing. It holds morsels of divine life discovered when we bite into them with the taste of a seeker of faith. Help others to join in the pursuit. Encourage friends and family who have questions about where is God in this crazy world and what good does He bring to our living. Our questions are God’s way of passing His life and love to us to stir our taste for them. Unless we raise them and pursue them, we will never find the true nourishment of faith that can satisfy them
.
For Baxter, the secret to the game of fetch is to throw something ahead of him that feeds him. Then he will come back for another round. The same holds for us in our journey of faith. Go for it!
Thursday, September 26, 2013
HAPPINESS
I think I can honestly say that Baxter is a happy cat. Of course, he can’t attest to this condition for himself. At least, he can’t do so in a language we can all understand. Nevertheless, I would draw this conclusion from Baxter’s life situation. He lives under all the conditions needed to be happy.
First, Baxter is certainly well fed and sheltered. His weight is evidence enough of the former, and his many comfy chairs, pillows and blankets around the house give clear evidence of his warm and plush environment. Baxter’s life conditions are anything but “roughing it”. They are more like the Taj Mahal of the catdom.
Next, Baxter is safe. He is protected from physical threats because he never ventures forth into the unsecured world of streets, cars and other beasts. To his chagrin, he visits the vet at least once a year for his vaccinations and check-up. He is sheltered from most loud noises and unfamiliar sights and sounds, so his anxiety is held in check for the most part. Baxter’s world is a safe one where he can sleep secure and thrive when awake.
Finally, Baxter has companionship and community. Although he spends a lot of time alone, when I am home with him he gets large doses of attention, pampering and conversation. I am vigilant in knowing where he is every minute we are together. Sometimes he wants his own space away from me, which is fine, but I still want to know in what part of the house he has taken up his private meditation. He gets brush strokes, scratches and pets from me at various times throughout the day, just to let him know I care. Often, we have conversations, or at least, exchanged comments. For instance, Baxter says, “Meooooooooooooow” (Translated, “I want to eat.”). I respond, “It’s not time yet.” Or Baxter cries out with a deep baritone groan like “Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!” (Translated, “Here comes a hairball.”) I shout, “Not on the rug!” Sometimes the conversations are sweet and affirming. I say, “Baxter, you are the best. I love you.” He answers with “Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” from the bottom of his toes. In all these ways, we pay attention to each other and make connections with each other throughout the day.
Isn’t this the picture of happiness: to have our basic needs met, to feel safe and secure, to share life with mutual care and personal affection? Think about it. If we have these things with our home, family, friends and community, we have all the ingredients for a happy life. But do we appreciate what we have, and work at enhancing these dimensions of our life together? Sometimes we take these things for granted and spend our time and energy complaining about what we don’t have, things that won’t deepen and broaden our happiness—material luxuries, fame, status symbols or some personal preference. We need to realize the precious gifts that food, clothing, shelter, safety and companionable communities are and be grateful for having them. Then we have to help others who lack these fundamentals to happiness find them for themselves. These are the basics of God’s blessings for us, and if we have them, we are rich in grace. We dare not take them for granted, but we must share them to allow God’s blessing to grow among us.
Baxter, you’re a lucky cat, and I am a lucky cat servant. God has blessed us all.
First, Baxter is certainly well fed and sheltered. His weight is evidence enough of the former, and his many comfy chairs, pillows and blankets around the house give clear evidence of his warm and plush environment. Baxter’s life conditions are anything but “roughing it”. They are more like the Taj Mahal of the catdom.
Next, Baxter is safe. He is protected from physical threats because he never ventures forth into the unsecured world of streets, cars and other beasts. To his chagrin, he visits the vet at least once a year for his vaccinations and check-up. He is sheltered from most loud noises and unfamiliar sights and sounds, so his anxiety is held in check for the most part. Baxter’s world is a safe one where he can sleep secure and thrive when awake.
Finally, Baxter has companionship and community. Although he spends a lot of time alone, when I am home with him he gets large doses of attention, pampering and conversation. I am vigilant in knowing where he is every minute we are together. Sometimes he wants his own space away from me, which is fine, but I still want to know in what part of the house he has taken up his private meditation. He gets brush strokes, scratches and pets from me at various times throughout the day, just to let him know I care. Often, we have conversations, or at least, exchanged comments. For instance, Baxter says, “Meooooooooooooow” (Translated, “I want to eat.”). I respond, “It’s not time yet.” Or Baxter cries out with a deep baritone groan like “Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!” (Translated, “Here comes a hairball.”) I shout, “Not on the rug!” Sometimes the conversations are sweet and affirming. I say, “Baxter, you are the best. I love you.” He answers with “Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” from the bottom of his toes. In all these ways, we pay attention to each other and make connections with each other throughout the day.
Isn’t this the picture of happiness: to have our basic needs met, to feel safe and secure, to share life with mutual care and personal affection? Think about it. If we have these things with our home, family, friends and community, we have all the ingredients for a happy life. But do we appreciate what we have, and work at enhancing these dimensions of our life together? Sometimes we take these things for granted and spend our time and energy complaining about what we don’t have, things that won’t deepen and broaden our happiness—material luxuries, fame, status symbols or some personal preference. We need to realize the precious gifts that food, clothing, shelter, safety and companionable communities are and be grateful for having them. Then we have to help others who lack these fundamentals to happiness find them for themselves. These are the basics of God’s blessings for us, and if we have them, we are rich in grace. We dare not take them for granted, but we must share them to allow God’s blessing to grow among us.
Baxter, you’re a lucky cat, and I am a lucky cat servant. God has blessed us all.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
CATNIP
Catnip makes cats crazy. Sometimes Baxter cries to have some. When I put a pinch on his scratch pad, he sniffs it, claws it, rolls in it, and then eats it. He becomes totally engrossed by its lure and the effects. As he has gotten older, those effects have become more subtle. As a kitten, he would drool when he got some catnip. As a spry adult, he would caress the nip and stay with it for a long time. As a mature fellow now, Baxter seems less dramatically affected by the herb, but he still craves it at times and soon becomes calm after eating it. Catnip is Baxter’s drug for happiness, peace and contentment. He becomes a different cat for a while when he has a sniff or taste.
What does this for us? What do we use to escape the hassles of our ordinary day, the dilemmas of our life choices, or the conflicts with our friends and family. We know that some people literally turn to drugs to ease the confusion and pain. It often starts with pain killers left over from a recent surgery or illness. Sometimes it comes with a casual offer from a peer, fellow worker or friend. We are curious about what it is like. We are looking for something to give us a little relief from life’s troubles and struggles. We don’t know where to turn, so we take what comes our way. In this drug infested world, that is all that it takes to start down a path that leads to threatening and destructive behavior for ourselves and others.
It’s easy and it’s everywhere. Let’s not kid ourselves. Drug abuse is in our community, among our church members, within our families and in our neighborhoods. Whether its alcohol abuse, prescription addictions, or illegal substances, whether we drink it, snort it, inject it or smoke it, we are vulnerable to liking the effects of many powerful, mind and mood altering substances that are all around us. These effects deceive us. In our pressure cooker world, they seem to bring peace and calm. In our struggling to love and understand each other in our relationships, they seem to bring clarity and care. In our search for meaning and happiness in living, they offer an easy answer to emptiness and aimlessness. Like much of the evil we encounter in our world, drugs don’t lure us directly. They disguise themselves as good things to help us. Only when we are hooked, do the destructive effects of these devil dealers become evident, usually to those who stand by helplessly and watch, not knowing what to do.
But we disciples of Christ are not left helpless and hopeless. Our faith gives us resources to use in the face of evil. We pray, making ourselves aware of a power beyond ourselves that can bring true peace and happiness without abusing any substances. We come together to allow each other to see that we are not alone in the face of evil. Christ’s Spirit unites us to stand together for what is right, good and genuinely helpful for others. We act in the name of the Lord Jesus. We don’t expect to change an evil situation and the lives affected by it overnight. But we must take steps in a positive direction. We must show people that things can be different than they experience them right now. We believe in the power of good to touch people and motivate them, and we don’t give up on anyone, no matter how many relapses or mistakes they have had. We keep calling them to take responsibility for setting their lives on a positive course, and we will help them help themselves along the way.
Too bad the drug problem isn’t catnip. We could just laugh at its effects and carry on as usual. Our problem is a life and death matter for many that affects the safety and security of our whole community. Don’t turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to those caught in the evil of substance abuse and addiction. For what we do to the least, we do to Christ Himself. Together we can find our way led by the Spirit to do what is needed to make a better place for us all.
What does this for us? What do we use to escape the hassles of our ordinary day, the dilemmas of our life choices, or the conflicts with our friends and family. We know that some people literally turn to drugs to ease the confusion and pain. It often starts with pain killers left over from a recent surgery or illness. Sometimes it comes with a casual offer from a peer, fellow worker or friend. We are curious about what it is like. We are looking for something to give us a little relief from life’s troubles and struggles. We don’t know where to turn, so we take what comes our way. In this drug infested world, that is all that it takes to start down a path that leads to threatening and destructive behavior for ourselves and others.
It’s easy and it’s everywhere. Let’s not kid ourselves. Drug abuse is in our community, among our church members, within our families and in our neighborhoods. Whether its alcohol abuse, prescription addictions, or illegal substances, whether we drink it, snort it, inject it or smoke it, we are vulnerable to liking the effects of many powerful, mind and mood altering substances that are all around us. These effects deceive us. In our pressure cooker world, they seem to bring peace and calm. In our struggling to love and understand each other in our relationships, they seem to bring clarity and care. In our search for meaning and happiness in living, they offer an easy answer to emptiness and aimlessness. Like much of the evil we encounter in our world, drugs don’t lure us directly. They disguise themselves as good things to help us. Only when we are hooked, do the destructive effects of these devil dealers become evident, usually to those who stand by helplessly and watch, not knowing what to do.
But we disciples of Christ are not left helpless and hopeless. Our faith gives us resources to use in the face of evil. We pray, making ourselves aware of a power beyond ourselves that can bring true peace and happiness without abusing any substances. We come together to allow each other to see that we are not alone in the face of evil. Christ’s Spirit unites us to stand together for what is right, good and genuinely helpful for others. We act in the name of the Lord Jesus. We don’t expect to change an evil situation and the lives affected by it overnight. But we must take steps in a positive direction. We must show people that things can be different than they experience them right now. We believe in the power of good to touch people and motivate them, and we don’t give up on anyone, no matter how many relapses or mistakes they have had. We keep calling them to take responsibility for setting their lives on a positive course, and we will help them help themselves along the way.
Too bad the drug problem isn’t catnip. We could just laugh at its effects and carry on as usual. Our problem is a life and death matter for many that affects the safety and security of our whole community. Don’t turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to those caught in the evil of substance abuse and addiction. For what we do to the least, we do to Christ Himself. Together we can find our way led by the Spirit to do what is needed to make a better place for us all.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
BRUSHING BAXTER
Each evening I call Baxter to get his coat brushed. He comes at once and purrs his way through my vigorous stokes up and down his body. I follow this routine to minimize the number of hairballs he and I must endure. Getting all the loosened hair away from him and collected in a wire brush so that it can be disposed of benefits both of us. Baxter doesn’t have to undergo the convulsive hacking of spitting up non-digestable hair, and I don’t have to clean up after the episode. It’s a win-win for the two of us.
We all need to get rid of useless and annoying stuff that clings to what we wear to protect us and keep us warm: ideas and attitudes that hold us back from accepting new challenges in our lives; biases and prejudices which prevent us from giving others a chance to help and succeed; fears and apathy that prevent us from making a better life for ourselves and others. These are just some of the loose hairs that we carry around with us each day. They get on everything we do and say, and when we take them inside ourselves, they become obstacles to nourishing our spirits on God’s grace. They clog our minds and hearts from thinking clearly and openly, from feeling free to respect and love others. They entangle our other thoughts, feelings and actions, so that we lose the good we could do because of the deep-seated junk we have consumed in grooming ourselves.
But there is help. God has provided a brushing of sorts to get rid of these loose hairs that can gag us. It’s called the Sacrament of Penance. This sacrament is meant to change our minds and hearts by calling us to a deep conversion in living the vision of the Gospel we profess. Too often we approach this sacrament on the surface, and just run through the routine list of our sinning. But the sacrament calls for something more vigorous than a list of typical piccadillos.
The loose hairs we carry with us are hidden in the coats we wear. They have to be vigorously brushed out, if we are to begin to free ourselves of their effects. We brush our souls not by becoming scrupulous about every little detail of our lives. Oftentimes, this is a way to distract ourselves from the loose ends we carry with us. We gather these only by going deeper and broader in our examination of conscience. We need to ask ourselves the wired questions: What keeps me from doing what my heart is telling me is right? Whom or what do I avoid dealing with and why? What are my common excuses for doing things differently? What am I passionate about, and is my commitment directed to the right things?
These are the kind of prickly questions that will get rid of the entanglements that clog up our lives from receiving the love and care God offers to us. The Sacrament of Penance raises such questions for us if we use it well. It can free us from the useless strands of selfishness hidden in the usual appearance we present.
Baxter comes running when I call him to be brushed. God is calling us to free our souls from loose thoughts, words and actions which prevent us from absorbing the rich graces He offers for nourishment. Come when He calls. Don’t run away!
We all need to get rid of useless and annoying stuff that clings to what we wear to protect us and keep us warm: ideas and attitudes that hold us back from accepting new challenges in our lives; biases and prejudices which prevent us from giving others a chance to help and succeed; fears and apathy that prevent us from making a better life for ourselves and others. These are just some of the loose hairs that we carry around with us each day. They get on everything we do and say, and when we take them inside ourselves, they become obstacles to nourishing our spirits on God’s grace. They clog our minds and hearts from thinking clearly and openly, from feeling free to respect and love others. They entangle our other thoughts, feelings and actions, so that we lose the good we could do because of the deep-seated junk we have consumed in grooming ourselves.
But there is help. God has provided a brushing of sorts to get rid of these loose hairs that can gag us. It’s called the Sacrament of Penance. This sacrament is meant to change our minds and hearts by calling us to a deep conversion in living the vision of the Gospel we profess. Too often we approach this sacrament on the surface, and just run through the routine list of our sinning. But the sacrament calls for something more vigorous than a list of typical piccadillos.
The loose hairs we carry with us are hidden in the coats we wear. They have to be vigorously brushed out, if we are to begin to free ourselves of their effects. We brush our souls not by becoming scrupulous about every little detail of our lives. Oftentimes, this is a way to distract ourselves from the loose ends we carry with us. We gather these only by going deeper and broader in our examination of conscience. We need to ask ourselves the wired questions: What keeps me from doing what my heart is telling me is right? Whom or what do I avoid dealing with and why? What are my common excuses for doing things differently? What am I passionate about, and is my commitment directed to the right things?
These are the kind of prickly questions that will get rid of the entanglements that clog up our lives from receiving the love and care God offers to us. The Sacrament of Penance raises such questions for us if we use it well. It can free us from the useless strands of selfishness hidden in the usual appearance we present.
Baxter comes running when I call him to be brushed. God is calling us to free our souls from loose thoughts, words and actions which prevent us from absorbing the rich graces He offers for nourishment. Come when He calls. Don’t run away!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Chats with Charlie
At the end of the day, when I get home, I often see Charlie perched in our front window watching all the passers-by. As I pull in the driveway, he watches my car intently. Sometimes, I wave from the car, but I am not sure if he sees me. He watches the car closely, and just as I pull in the garage, his head disappears behind the curtains. I know exactly where he is going when he does this. He is waiting for me at the top of the stairs. When he sees me, his tail wags like crazy and his mouth opens in a sort of smile. He stays there until I greet him with an “hello” and a pat on the head.This happy hello is one of the reasons I love having a dog. It is pretty great to have someone so glad to see you. The funny thing is, I am not the only one who receives such a friendly greeting. All who come to our house are greeted with this exuberant tail wagging and doggy smile! In the short time Charlie has been with us, I have yet to see a person that was not offered this warm welcome. To him, each person is a chance for a new friend, a playmate, or at the very least, another hand to pet him.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if WE would greet each other this way? Certainly when we see our loved ones, our family and friends, we are smiling and warm. But, what of the folks we don’t know? The ones who are different than us? The ones whom we disagree with, or even dislike?
Part of our mission as disciples of Christ is to reach out to others - not just the ones who believe what we believe, or think like we think. When we commit to this discipleship, we are to see every human being as a child of God. This is no easy task! Yet, time and again, we find it in the Scriptures. Love one another, love thy neighbor, love thy enemy. Jesus tells us that when we do this, we do it to HIM. So, this loving each other isn’t just some humanitarian effort, it is literally loving God. Every face you see is the face of God. Perhaps they don’t know it, but you can. It all begins with a simple hello.
Christy Cabaniss
Parish Minister
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
ANOTHER FURRY GUEST: FLUFFY
GUEST COLUMNISTS
Baxter’s friends won’t allow him to enjoy his vacation in peace. They are hounding or making other sounds and gestures toward him to give them a chance. Since he is on an hiatus from his literary production, they want to fill the gap. Baxter, being the affable and easy-going fellow he is, has agreed. So for the next few weeks, while Baxter basks in the sun and lays about the pool, some of his friends will put their “two cents worth” of wisdom to the pennies worth of Baxter’s thought. Hopefully, our thoughts about God, ourselves as God’s people, and the practicality of the parish will grow. Enjoy these other voices from the pew. We need to listen to each other as we try to find our way to God in this crazy world.
ANOTHER FURRY GUEST: Fluffy
The latest furry friend who wants his chance to share some wisdom is Fluffy, our rabbit. Fluffy’s relationship to our family is unique. He is definitely part of the family. We feed him and care for him and spend time with him. However, unlike our house cats, he has a life separate from ours. He has his own house in the back yard. Most of the time we have no idea what he is up to, and he doesn’t have the faintest idea what goes on in the house. Often, he will jump to the front of his “front yard” to greet us; other times, he stays in his house.Recently, we have been in closer contact than usual with Fluffy. We built him a bigger house. He has gone from apartment living to a nice straw-filled condo. He loves his new home, but during construction he was very annoyed. We upset his routine and got way too far into his personal space. That same week we found out that Fluffy had a cut on his face, and he needed salve applied once a day. When it comes to physical contact, a little rub behind the ears is one thing. However, being lifted up, held tightly, washed off, and having stuff rubbed on your face, are quite another thing. He communicated this clearly by the scratches I have on my arm and an unfortunate incident that befell my wife’s shoes. (You really don’t want to know.)
Fluffy reminds me of a lot of people in our lives. They may not be in our immediate family, but they are connected to us in real and strong ways. Maybe they are relatives, neighbors, co-workers or fellow parishioners. We are called as Christians to keep those connections strong, to be there and help when we can. Sometimes our loving kindness in welcomed, often it surprises people. And sometimes we will even be pushed away, because we are getting too close. It seems to me we must always respond when these opportunities arise. Fluffy knows that we are nearby when he needs us. Hopefully, our two legged neighbors feel the same way.
Scott Martin
Director of Faith Formation
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Chats with Charlie
GUEST COLUMNISTS
Baxter’s friends won’t allow him to enjoy his vacation in peace. They are hounding or making other sounds and gestures toward him to give them a chance. Since he is on an hiatus from his literary production, they want to fill the gap. Baxter, being the affable and easy-going fellow he is, has agreed. So for the next few weeks, while Baxter basks in the sun and lays about the pool, some of his friends will put their “two cents worth” of wisdom to the pennies worth of Baxter’s thought. Hopefully, our thoughts about God, ourselves as God’s people, and the practicality of the parish will grow. Enjoy these other voices from the pew. We need to listen to each other as we try to find our way to God in this crazy world.
Since the cat is away, perhaps it’s time to let the dogs play! So, please let me introduce Charlie. He is a two-year-old, only dog, adopted from the Humane Society of Westmoreland County just 15 months ago. He looks to be a golden retriever and cocker spaniel mix, but since he was picked up without any kind of identification as a stray in Greensburg, we may never know. What we do know, is that he is a sweet, friendly, silky soft companion and a great addition to our family.
When we adopted Charlie, one of the first things we had to do was give him a name. This was not a difficult task for us, because we had been considering adding a dog to our family for some time. “Charlie” had been the unanimous decision of the family, no matter if the dog were a puppy from a breeder, or a rescue animal. What was interesting was that this dog, who was estimated to be two years old, took immediately to his new name. There was no resistance, no hesitation. He immediately perked up his ears with wagging tail when called “Charlie.”
As humans, we have given names and nick names, titles, and many other forms of address. No matter the many different names we have, one will always be with us. “Son.” “Daughter.” Our heavenly Father calls each of us His children. Some of us have heard this name from infancy, some have just realized that this is a name they have a share in. No matter your place on the journey, being called a child of God is the marker of a relationship. In the relationship, you are called by name to join the family of God. Is this call clear? Is it one that you recognize? And, what are you called to do?
For many, the call is not clear. In this busy world, it can even be difficult to hear God’s voice. But, if we can quiet the noise, and quiet ourselves, we can begin to hear the call. It takes practice, but soon you are able to recognize the voice, moving you to what is good and loving. And, what is that voice calling you to do? Well, for each of us it is different, but as children of God, there is one call we share in common. The call to discipleship. We are issued this call not just as students, but as children of the teacher. That is a very special place in this classroom of life!
So, as you enter into the summer months with their play, relaxation, and vacations, try to take a few moments to quiet it all and listen for the call. And, when you hear it, come with ears perked and tail wagging!
Christy Cabaniss
Parish Minister
Baxter’s friends won’t allow him to enjoy his vacation in peace. They are hounding or making other sounds and gestures toward him to give them a chance. Since he is on an hiatus from his literary production, they want to fill the gap. Baxter, being the affable and easy-going fellow he is, has agreed. So for the next few weeks, while Baxter basks in the sun and lays about the pool, some of his friends will put their “two cents worth” of wisdom to the pennies worth of Baxter’s thought. Hopefully, our thoughts about God, ourselves as God’s people, and the practicality of the parish will grow. Enjoy these other voices from the pew. We need to listen to each other as we try to find our way to God in this crazy world.
Since the cat is away, perhaps it’s time to let the dogs play! So, please let me introduce Charlie. He is a two-year-old, only dog, adopted from the Humane Society of Westmoreland County just 15 months ago. He looks to be a golden retriever and cocker spaniel mix, but since he was picked up without any kind of identification as a stray in Greensburg, we may never know. What we do know, is that he is a sweet, friendly, silky soft companion and a great addition to our family.When we adopted Charlie, one of the first things we had to do was give him a name. This was not a difficult task for us, because we had been considering adding a dog to our family for some time. “Charlie” had been the unanimous decision of the family, no matter if the dog were a puppy from a breeder, or a rescue animal. What was interesting was that this dog, who was estimated to be two years old, took immediately to his new name. There was no resistance, no hesitation. He immediately perked up his ears with wagging tail when called “Charlie.”
As humans, we have given names and nick names, titles, and many other forms of address. No matter the many different names we have, one will always be with us. “Son.” “Daughter.” Our heavenly Father calls each of us His children. Some of us have heard this name from infancy, some have just realized that this is a name they have a share in. No matter your place on the journey, being called a child of God is the marker of a relationship. In the relationship, you are called by name to join the family of God. Is this call clear? Is it one that you recognize? And, what are you called to do?
For many, the call is not clear. In this busy world, it can even be difficult to hear God’s voice. But, if we can quiet the noise, and quiet ourselves, we can begin to hear the call. It takes practice, but soon you are able to recognize the voice, moving you to what is good and loving. And, what is that voice calling you to do? Well, for each of us it is different, but as children of God, there is one call we share in common. The call to discipleship. We are issued this call not just as students, but as children of the teacher. That is a very special place in this classroom of life!
So, as you enter into the summer months with their play, relaxation, and vacations, try to take a few moments to quiet it all and listen for the call. And, when you hear it, come with ears perked and tail wagging!
Christy Cabaniss
Parish Minister
Thursday, June 13, 2013
SURPRISE VISITS HELP US GROW
GUEST COLUMNISTS
Baxter’s friends won’t allow him to enjoy his vacation in peace. They are hounding or making other sounds and gestures toward him to give them a chance. Since he is on an hiatus from his literary production, they want to fill the gap. Baxter, being the affable and easy-going fellow he is, has agreed. So for the next few weeks, while Baxter basks in the sun and lays about the pool, some of his friends will put their “two cents worth” of wisdom to the pennies worth of Baxter’s thought. Hopefully, our thoughts about God, ourselves as God’s people, and the practicality of the parish will grow. Enjoy these other voices from the pew. We need to listen to each other as we try to find our way to God in this crazy world.
SURPRISE VISITS HELP US GROW
It was May of 2007. My daughter was out on the front lawn when all of a sudden, a small, orange kitten popped out from behind a bush and mewed, “Hello”. The little cat looked emaciated. You could count every rib and see every bone up her spine.
“Can we keep it?” my daughter asked. “We have two cats,” I responded. “I’m not interested in having a third.” Over the next few weeks, the orange tabby would visit us several times a day. She would climb up on my wife’s lap and position herself so that each paw would wrap around my wife’s neck, and she would sleep there for what seemed to be hours.
A few weeks passed, and we were getting ready to leave for vacation. My children asked the obvious question. “What are we going to do about Pumpkin?” Even though she still lived under a nearby garage, she now had a name and was putting on weight because of the dish of food and water that was left for her daily. “If she is around when we get home, we’ll take her to the vet to be spayed, get all of her needed shots, and get her filthy ears cleaned,” I bargained. We went on vacation, not knowing if the future would include Pumpkin, but worrying about her from afar.
I tell you the story about Pumpkin because it reminds me of the role of Pastoral Council in our parish. As Pastoral Council members, we don’t know what the future holds for our parish. Nevertheless, our role is to come together and help Monsignor Statnick strategically plan, using the seven essential elements of parish life as a guide. Those elements are: Evangelization, Worship, Word, Community, Service, Stewardship, and Leadership. All of these elements work together in parish life, each nurturing and supporting the other. As with any strategic plan, an idea or objective is brought to the council. The council then prays about the idea. We begin a discussion and discernment process and eventually come to a consensus. We are not a governing body, so no votes are taken on any issue.
To give you an example, last fall, we asked parishioners to complete a survey. That survey had a number of questions related to the seven essential elements. Based on the results of that survey, we determined that the parish needs a committee of people who are interested in helping to facilitate programs and activities that not only bring our parishioners together, but connects us in service to our entire community. Our goal is to provide service and activities to reach those who do not attend Mass or those who are looking for a place to worship. It’s just one part of what we do, but an important part of helping to insure the future and sustainability of our parish. However, we always look for our best ideas, support, and involvement to come from you. Feel free to offer them to any member of our Pastoral Council listed in the bulletin.
Pumpkin’s future is secure. As I write this, she is sprawled out in front of an air conditioning vent allowing the cool breeze to blow on her belly. At her veterinarian checkup last month, we learned that Pumpkin is a pound overweight. We switched her to ‘weight control’ cat food. She and her feline sister, Pauper, have outsmarted us. They each eat twice as much food.
Cliff Gorski
Pastoral Council
Baxter’s friends won’t allow him to enjoy his vacation in peace. They are hounding or making other sounds and gestures toward him to give them a chance. Since he is on an hiatus from his literary production, they want to fill the gap. Baxter, being the affable and easy-going fellow he is, has agreed. So for the next few weeks, while Baxter basks in the sun and lays about the pool, some of his friends will put their “two cents worth” of wisdom to the pennies worth of Baxter’s thought. Hopefully, our thoughts about God, ourselves as God’s people, and the practicality of the parish will grow. Enjoy these other voices from the pew. We need to listen to each other as we try to find our way to God in this crazy world.
SURPRISE VISITS HELP US GROW
It was May of 2007. My daughter was out on the front lawn when all of a sudden, a small, orange kitten popped out from behind a bush and mewed, “Hello”. The little cat looked emaciated. You could count every rib and see every bone up her spine.
“Can we keep it?” my daughter asked. “We have two cats,” I responded. “I’m not interested in having a third.” Over the next few weeks, the orange tabby would visit us several times a day. She would climb up on my wife’s lap and position herself so that each paw would wrap around my wife’s neck, and she would sleep there for what seemed to be hours.
A few weeks passed, and we were getting ready to leave for vacation. My children asked the obvious question. “What are we going to do about Pumpkin?” Even though she still lived under a nearby garage, she now had a name and was putting on weight because of the dish of food and water that was left for her daily. “If she is around when we get home, we’ll take her to the vet to be spayed, get all of her needed shots, and get her filthy ears cleaned,” I bargained. We went on vacation, not knowing if the future would include Pumpkin, but worrying about her from afar.
I tell you the story about Pumpkin because it reminds me of the role of Pastoral Council in our parish. As Pastoral Council members, we don’t know what the future holds for our parish. Nevertheless, our role is to come together and help Monsignor Statnick strategically plan, using the seven essential elements of parish life as a guide. Those elements are: Evangelization, Worship, Word, Community, Service, Stewardship, and Leadership. All of these elements work together in parish life, each nurturing and supporting the other. As with any strategic plan, an idea or objective is brought to the council. The council then prays about the idea. We begin a discussion and discernment process and eventually come to a consensus. We are not a governing body, so no votes are taken on any issue.
To give you an example, last fall, we asked parishioners to complete a survey. That survey had a number of questions related to the seven essential elements. Based on the results of that survey, we determined that the parish needs a committee of people who are interested in helping to facilitate programs and activities that not only bring our parishioners together, but connects us in service to our entire community. Our goal is to provide service and activities to reach those who do not attend Mass or those who are looking for a place to worship. It’s just one part of what we do, but an important part of helping to insure the future and sustainability of our parish. However, we always look for our best ideas, support, and involvement to come from you. Feel free to offer them to any member of our Pastoral Council listed in the bulletin.
Pumpkin’s future is secure. As I write this, she is sprawled out in front of an air conditioning vent allowing the cool breeze to blow on her belly. At her veterinarian checkup last month, we learned that Pumpkin is a pound overweight. We switched her to ‘weight control’ cat food. She and her feline sister, Pauper, have outsmarted us. They each eat twice as much food.
Cliff Gorski
Pastoral Council
Thursday, May 30, 2013
A GOOD APPETITE
There is no question about Baxter's appetite. He is ready to eat at any time in any place with almost any faire someone is willing to offer. You could say that Baxter lives to eat. He orders his day around the two regular feeding periods, and he always seems to wake up and find me when I am at the table for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It doesn't matter that these are not his meal times. If there is a meal in the vicinity, it is Baxter's time to eat. He certainly has a hardy and insatiable appetite.
But this bottomless pit that is Baxter's stomach can get him into trouble. He gobbles down his food. There is no savoring the taste. It is all about quantity and feeling full. Keep the kibble coming and he's happy. But sometimes, Baxter eats so much so fast that he can't digest it, and he ends up "losing his lunch," as we say. I read once that cats have many less taste buds on their tongues than we humans have, so Baxter is not all to blame for his ravenous and gorging appetite. He doesn't have the apparatus to appreciate the full taste of his food.
But we do. Especially, we have the faculties to savor the most precious and tasty meal of all, the one that feeds our spirit, the Eucharist. I am not talking about the physical aspect of the Lord's supper of course. I am referring to the full ritual that feeds many aspects of our spiritual lives in the liturgy of the Eucharist. Do we appreciate and savor all that the Eucharist offers us each Sunday?
It brings us together as God's family. We do not eat alone. We share the Body and Blood of the Lord. Ours is a common food, so that through the one bread and one cup we can become one in Christ. We hear God's Word at this meal. The readings from Sacred Scripture are not appetizers to nibble at before the main course is served. They are part of the substantial nourishment God offers to feed our lives of faith. We need to listen carefully to them, ponder them, raise questions about their meaning, and find the current message for us in these ancient texts. The Eucharistic meal is a sacrifice. It is not just fellowship with each other that is celebrated at the altar. It is fellowship with God, hard won on the cross of Christ, that is recalled and renewed at each Eucharist. We are one because Christ's death and resurrection released the Spirit to us and the whole world. That Spirit works at every Eucharist to allow us to share the very life of God in this sacred meal. Given this gift then, we are charged to take God's life into the way we live each day in our homes, work, and civic community. At each Eucharist we celebrate, we are taken into God's sacrifice for us in Christ, so that we can live in the same sacrificial way in the world and continue God's salvation as our lives become His instruments.
Baxter loves to eat a lot of food quickly. We need to take the time to taste deeply of the food that feeds our souls at the Eucharist, so that we can cherish its richness and receive its full nourishment. We hunger for the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. Don't leave Mass malnourished. Make the effort to savor the Lord's supper prepared for us
VACATION TIME
Baxter is threatening me with a law suit for unfair labor practices unless I give him the vacation time he has due. So his lessons in faith and life will be missing for the summer months. If you need a dose of Baxter through the summer, the reruns are on his blog. Come fall, he will be back with more of his foibles and antics.
Baxter wishes his readers a pleasant, peaceful and refreshing summer. He knows that he is blessed with a good home, a loving care giver, and fans who follow him. He thanks God for all of these blessings, and he hopes you do the same for yours. A grateful life is a happy one, and Baxter is one, happy cat. He hopes you are too.
"MEOW" TO ALL UNTIL THE FALL!
But this bottomless pit that is Baxter's stomach can get him into trouble. He gobbles down his food. There is no savoring the taste. It is all about quantity and feeling full. Keep the kibble coming and he's happy. But sometimes, Baxter eats so much so fast that he can't digest it, and he ends up "losing his lunch," as we say. I read once that cats have many less taste buds on their tongues than we humans have, so Baxter is not all to blame for his ravenous and gorging appetite. He doesn't have the apparatus to appreciate the full taste of his food.
But we do. Especially, we have the faculties to savor the most precious and tasty meal of all, the one that feeds our spirit, the Eucharist. I am not talking about the physical aspect of the Lord's supper of course. I am referring to the full ritual that feeds many aspects of our spiritual lives in the liturgy of the Eucharist. Do we appreciate and savor all that the Eucharist offers us each Sunday?
It brings us together as God's family. We do not eat alone. We share the Body and Blood of the Lord. Ours is a common food, so that through the one bread and one cup we can become one in Christ. We hear God's Word at this meal. The readings from Sacred Scripture are not appetizers to nibble at before the main course is served. They are part of the substantial nourishment God offers to feed our lives of faith. We need to listen carefully to them, ponder them, raise questions about their meaning, and find the current message for us in these ancient texts. The Eucharistic meal is a sacrifice. It is not just fellowship with each other that is celebrated at the altar. It is fellowship with God, hard won on the cross of Christ, that is recalled and renewed at each Eucharist. We are one because Christ's death and resurrection released the Spirit to us and the whole world. That Spirit works at every Eucharist to allow us to share the very life of God in this sacred meal. Given this gift then, we are charged to take God's life into the way we live each day in our homes, work, and civic community. At each Eucharist we celebrate, we are taken into God's sacrifice for us in Christ, so that we can live in the same sacrificial way in the world and continue God's salvation as our lives become His instruments.
Baxter loves to eat a lot of food quickly. We need to take the time to taste deeply of the food that feeds our souls at the Eucharist, so that we can cherish its richness and receive its full nourishment. We hunger for the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. Don't leave Mass malnourished. Make the effort to savor the Lord's supper prepared for us
VACATION TIME
Baxter is threatening me with a law suit for unfair labor practices unless I give him the vacation time he has due. So his lessons in faith and life will be missing for the summer months. If you need a dose of Baxter through the summer, the reruns are on his blog. Come fall, he will be back with more of his foibles and antics.
Baxter wishes his readers a pleasant, peaceful and refreshing summer. He knows that he is blessed with a good home, a loving care giver, and fans who follow him. He thanks God for all of these blessings, and he hopes you do the same for yours. A grateful life is a happy one, and Baxter is one, happy cat. He hopes you are too.
"MEOW" TO ALL UNTIL THE FALL!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
PET VOLUNTEERISM
Pet owners are volunteers. They not only volunteer to have a pet, but they volunteer to do all that it takes to care for the pet. That's a load. For starters, each of us has to be a cook, a plumber, a chauffeur, a personal shopper and a nanny. We feed our furry friends, clean up from the daily bathroom routine, walk or drive them to various appointments, buy toys and treats according to their preferences, and train and educate them in the practices of civility to make living together pleasant. We do all of this without getting a dime for our services. We love our pets. That's why we do what we do for them. I wouldn't think of billing Baxter for my services. (I wouldn't have much luck collecting my fee anyway.)
We expect to offer service for those we love, but with one exception. We love God, and we love the Church God gave us to carry on His work in the world. But volunteering to do God's work in the Church is another matter. We are all so busy. We have our work, our families, our children's and grandchildren's sports and performances, our social life, and our own interests. How can we find time for more? We go to Church each Sunday. What more can anyone ask?
The Church depends on the good will of its members to carry out its mission. This mission is very broad and diversified. It involves service at the altar, care for the sick and less fortunate, formation and education of the young, and special attention to the needs of the elderly. It calls for help with larger community efforts beyond the boundaries of Church membership, and the Church needs to support itself financially in all these efforts like any nonprofit organization--paying staff, utilities, maintenance and repairs, and the cost of materials to execute its programs. For all of this, volunteers are the backbone of the Body of Christ. They hold it together and keep it moving forward in its mission to announce and witness to what God has done for all humanity in Jesus' life, death and resurrection.
Baxter usually doesn't ask for the services he desires (with the exception of more food). I just provide them knowing his needs. But it can't work that way in the Church. We can only do all that the Church is called to do if we each and all do our part. After all, the Body though one has many members, and each member, Saint Paul reminds us, is part of the one Body. So we are connected. We can't pretend our contributions don't matter. We either do our part, or a part will be missing from the work of the Body. We are needed, and we need to take our part seriously and offer our service freely, generously and cooperatively. Ours is a common effort with separate parts. So we work together, but with each one's different talents and gifts contributing to the overall project. There is no room for competition or one-up-manship in the Church. Like the pet owner's service to his or her charge, we do it out of love, not counting the cost.
The Church needs this kind of volunteer just as your pet does to survive. Sure it's a burden and effort at times, but it is also a joy and blessing, knowing that we are doing something good, not expecting to be rewarded except with the love we generate in serving others. We do it for our pets. Won't we also do it for our God who loves us and lives in His people, the Church?
We expect to offer service for those we love, but with one exception. We love God, and we love the Church God gave us to carry on His work in the world. But volunteering to do God's work in the Church is another matter. We are all so busy. We have our work, our families, our children's and grandchildren's sports and performances, our social life, and our own interests. How can we find time for more? We go to Church each Sunday. What more can anyone ask?
The Church depends on the good will of its members to carry out its mission. This mission is very broad and diversified. It involves service at the altar, care for the sick and less fortunate, formation and education of the young, and special attention to the needs of the elderly. It calls for help with larger community efforts beyond the boundaries of Church membership, and the Church needs to support itself financially in all these efforts like any nonprofit organization--paying staff, utilities, maintenance and repairs, and the cost of materials to execute its programs. For all of this, volunteers are the backbone of the Body of Christ. They hold it together and keep it moving forward in its mission to announce and witness to what God has done for all humanity in Jesus' life, death and resurrection.
Baxter usually doesn't ask for the services he desires (with the exception of more food). I just provide them knowing his needs. But it can't work that way in the Church. We can only do all that the Church is called to do if we each and all do our part. After all, the Body though one has many members, and each member, Saint Paul reminds us, is part of the one Body. So we are connected. We can't pretend our contributions don't matter. We either do our part, or a part will be missing from the work of the Body. We are needed, and we need to take our part seriously and offer our service freely, generously and cooperatively. Ours is a common effort with separate parts. So we work together, but with each one's different talents and gifts contributing to the overall project. There is no room for competition or one-up-manship in the Church. Like the pet owner's service to his or her charge, we do it out of love, not counting the cost.
The Church needs this kind of volunteer just as your pet does to survive. Sure it's a burden and effort at times, but it is also a joy and blessing, knowing that we are doing something good, not expecting to be rewarded except with the love we generate in serving others. We do it for our pets. Won't we also do it for our God who loves us and lives in His people, the Church?
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
FAVORITE THINGS
Baxter has favorites. First on the list is salmon. He goes crazy when I unwrap the package and get the filet ready for the grill. He can hardly contain himself. His nose is in the air trying to get a full whiff of the delicacy. Then he starts begging and crying. Even before it is cooked and served, he is craving a piece. He won't let the delight out of his sight. He sits and stares while I am heating the grill and marinating the portion. Then when it is ready to be served, he swerves around my legs turning on the charm to have me hand over a generous morsel. He always wins.
We all have our favorites. Whether it is particular foods we love, or clothes we like to wear, or people we enjoy being with, or activities we like to engage in, we are attracted to these favorites, and no substitute quite fills the bill as well. They bring joy to our lives. They brighten a dark day and bring comfort to a difficult situation. They help us relax. Nothing can substitute for them. Others might try to convince us to go for something different, but if we do, we often go back to the tried and true. Once we have found a favorite, it's not easy to give it up for another alternative. Our favorites become part of what makes us who we are.
God has favorites too. Not food or clothes or hobbies, but a special part of His creation—people. We humans stand out from all the other works of God's hand as made in His image and saved in His grace for a special place in God's Kingdom. But when God picks favorites, it works a little differently than we might expect. You see, God picks every person as His favorite. No one is loved more than another in God's eyes. We are each loved fully and totally for who we are in His sight. No one is better or worse in deserving God's love, because no one can earn this love. It is free and unconditional. Our closest way to get a handle on this love is to think of loving parents. No matter what their children do or whatever happens to them, good parents love their children still. They may not like what they did. They may object to their life style or company, but there is no abandoning one's children, no disconnecting from the relationship created at conception, no condemning who they are, even if their behavior is judged wrong.
God is the Father of every human being. So we are all His favorites. There are no comparisons here. God can't love some one or some group more than another, any more than parents can love one of their children more than the rest of them. But God's love is a challenge to His children. We are called to treat each other as God treats us. This is a tall order for us who pick favorites by excluding what we don't like. How can we include everyone with respect and good will as part of our family? We can't do it on our own devices. We are too selfish, fearful and insecure. But with God's grace, we can have a taste of loving as God loves us--freely and unconditionally, where everyone is a favorite and no one is excluded.
I bet when God looks at the whole expanse of humanity He has created or will create, He gets excited to take all of us into His life. Baxter's excitement pales in the face of God's on this point. What a wonderful God is ours!
We all have our favorites. Whether it is particular foods we love, or clothes we like to wear, or people we enjoy being with, or activities we like to engage in, we are attracted to these favorites, and no substitute quite fills the bill as well. They bring joy to our lives. They brighten a dark day and bring comfort to a difficult situation. They help us relax. Nothing can substitute for them. Others might try to convince us to go for something different, but if we do, we often go back to the tried and true. Once we have found a favorite, it's not easy to give it up for another alternative. Our favorites become part of what makes us who we are.
God has favorites too. Not food or clothes or hobbies, but a special part of His creation—people. We humans stand out from all the other works of God's hand as made in His image and saved in His grace for a special place in God's Kingdom. But when God picks favorites, it works a little differently than we might expect. You see, God picks every person as His favorite. No one is loved more than another in God's eyes. We are each loved fully and totally for who we are in His sight. No one is better or worse in deserving God's love, because no one can earn this love. It is free and unconditional. Our closest way to get a handle on this love is to think of loving parents. No matter what their children do or whatever happens to them, good parents love their children still. They may not like what they did. They may object to their life style or company, but there is no abandoning one's children, no disconnecting from the relationship created at conception, no condemning who they are, even if their behavior is judged wrong.
God is the Father of every human being. So we are all His favorites. There are no comparisons here. God can't love some one or some group more than another, any more than parents can love one of their children more than the rest of them. But God's love is a challenge to His children. We are called to treat each other as God treats us. This is a tall order for us who pick favorites by excluding what we don't like. How can we include everyone with respect and good will as part of our family? We can't do it on our own devices. We are too selfish, fearful and insecure. But with God's grace, we can have a taste of loving as God loves us--freely and unconditionally, where everyone is a favorite and no one is excluded.
I bet when God looks at the whole expanse of humanity He has created or will create, He gets excited to take all of us into His life. Baxter's excitement pales in the face of God's on this point. What a wonderful God is ours!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
EASY TRANSITIONS
One of the characteristics that has endeared me to Baxter is his adaptability. He has been through five moves in his twelve years with me. Knowing cats' love for routine and familiar space, I was always a little anxious each time I introduced Baxter to a new home. Would he feel safe and secure again so that his eating, sleeping, grooming and bathroom habits that I came to count on would continue? Each move I worried that I would end up with a "troubled" cat--one who would stop eating (Fat chance!); would groom excessively and harm himself; would "mark" his new turf; would become hidden and aggressive when sought after. Baxter never came close to any of these neurotic symptoms. He might hide under the bed for a day or two when he first was introduced to his new digs, but after that, he was back to his old self, exploring the new terrain and staking out his favorite sleeping spots. With each change, Baxter found and made a new home.
Now I helped him in these transitions. I made sure that he knew I was sharing the new space as I had done the old. I would talk to him, pet him, play with him and give him a little extra attention at first. I tried to notice what he preferred--where he wanted me to place his food bowl, his litter box, and his scratch pad with the cat nip--and I tried to accommodate these preferences. Baxter and I helped each other make a home for ourselves.
That's a secret to all sorts of transitions we need to make in life. We have to make changes from time to time. It is the nature of being alive. But we can help each other through these changes if we are just sensitive to what the other person might need. In that regard, we aren't that different from other living creatures.
We need to feel safe. We need to know that we will be cared for in the new setting. We need time and space to adjust, but we need to avoid self-destructive behaviors in adjusting. We need some touchstones of the familiar in our new digs, especially people who stay with us throughout our lives. But there is something different about us human beings from the other creatures of this earth. We need to know that God goes with us and is as present, powerful and loving in this new setting as He was in the previous circumstances of our lives. In that sense, God is the home we take with us no matter how strange the new situation might be for us. Our Catholic Eucharist reflects this truth because its basic ritual is the same throughout the world, even if the language and style may vary.
The Book of Ruth reads, "Wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge, I will lodge". This is God's promise to us whenever we face some major transitions in our lives. The familiar, the reassuring, the comforting presence is just a prayer away. The helping hand of a fellow believer should be just an ask away. And with these two pieces in our luggage, we can find a home again when our world changes.
Now I helped him in these transitions. I made sure that he knew I was sharing the new space as I had done the old. I would talk to him, pet him, play with him and give him a little extra attention at first. I tried to notice what he preferred--where he wanted me to place his food bowl, his litter box, and his scratch pad with the cat nip--and I tried to accommodate these preferences. Baxter and I helped each other make a home for ourselves.
That's a secret to all sorts of transitions we need to make in life. We have to make changes from time to time. It is the nature of being alive. But we can help each other through these changes if we are just sensitive to what the other person might need. In that regard, we aren't that different from other living creatures.
We need to feel safe. We need to know that we will be cared for in the new setting. We need time and space to adjust, but we need to avoid self-destructive behaviors in adjusting. We need some touchstones of the familiar in our new digs, especially people who stay with us throughout our lives. But there is something different about us human beings from the other creatures of this earth. We need to know that God goes with us and is as present, powerful and loving in this new setting as He was in the previous circumstances of our lives. In that sense, God is the home we take with us no matter how strange the new situation might be for us. Our Catholic Eucharist reflects this truth because its basic ritual is the same throughout the world, even if the language and style may vary.
The Book of Ruth reads, "Wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge, I will lodge". This is God's promise to us whenever we face some major transitions in our lives. The familiar, the reassuring, the comforting presence is just a prayer away. The helping hand of a fellow believer should be just an ask away. And with these two pieces in our luggage, we can find a home again when our world changes.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
CAT AND MOUSE
Because Baxter is a house cat, he never has the pleasure of being on the hunt. I can see his stalking and prowling instincts at work sometimes, but toy rodents and birds only go so far in keeping these active and alert. Maybe that is why he makes up his own cat and mouse game trying to capture me in his scheme. Here's how it works.
Baxter's automatic feeder revolves with a new meal at 4:30 every afternoon. I keep the food supply replenished and reset the timer in the feeder to be sure this happens. I have often witnessed the mechanism work to deliver the 1/4 cup of kibble to its eager client. Yet, if I am not present for a particular feeding, Baxter starts to play tricks with me when I come home. He tries to deceive me into offering another meal. He begins with his mournful look followed by his piercing cries of hunger. One would think he hadn't had food in days, when, in fact, it was an hour ago. Then he rubs up against me and the feeder to charm me into an unplanned portion. Sometimes his act is so good, I begin to doubt myself. I open the lid to check the number of empty and full compartments. Sure enough, the feeder is as efficient as clockwork, but Baxter is trying to trick me into another meal, one that is unplanned, undeserved, and certainly unneeded. Instead of hunting for his food, Baxter's domesticated instincts now drive him into tricking for more treats. He pretends the scheduled meal never happened and feigns hunger pains and neglect, hoping this masquerade will get him more than he needs.
We can play the same game with each other and with God. We make ourselves out to be neglected and abused, thinking that others will feel sorry for us and give us what we want. We play the "poor victim" card, trying to trump any other needs and concerns with our own. We want attention, and we do whatever it takes to get it. We play ourselves off against others, so that our interests and demands are heard above theirs and dominate the agenda. After all, how can anything be more important than my needs and concerns. Otherwise, no one loves me or cares about me. Like Baxter, we can play this part well.
But God is up to our tricks, and He won't play along. He doesn't feed self pity or the deception to get it. To God, everyone is precious and deserves respect, but no one is the center of the universe. God lives and acts from the center as our Creator and Redeemer. We are here to serve God by serving each other's real and genuine needs. This may not always please or satisfy them, but it will help to keep them well spiritually and personally. Refusing to be tricked or manipulated into satisfying our own or others' selfish egos allows God to use us for genuine service in His name. The areas of real poverty in body and spirit need fed by us, not the overindulgence of our pride seeking arrogant recognition. Feeding such instincts only leads to spiritual heart attack and eventual death.
Cat and mouse games are for feral creatures and unevangelized humans. Disciples don't play games with each other, but they serve each other as Other Christ's, fed together at the one table of the Lord and sent to invite others to that feast.
Baxter's automatic feeder revolves with a new meal at 4:30 every afternoon. I keep the food supply replenished and reset the timer in the feeder to be sure this happens. I have often witnessed the mechanism work to deliver the 1/4 cup of kibble to its eager client. Yet, if I am not present for a particular feeding, Baxter starts to play tricks with me when I come home. He tries to deceive me into offering another meal. He begins with his mournful look followed by his piercing cries of hunger. One would think he hadn't had food in days, when, in fact, it was an hour ago. Then he rubs up against me and the feeder to charm me into an unplanned portion. Sometimes his act is so good, I begin to doubt myself. I open the lid to check the number of empty and full compartments. Sure enough, the feeder is as efficient as clockwork, but Baxter is trying to trick me into another meal, one that is unplanned, undeserved, and certainly unneeded. Instead of hunting for his food, Baxter's domesticated instincts now drive him into tricking for more treats. He pretends the scheduled meal never happened and feigns hunger pains and neglect, hoping this masquerade will get him more than he needs.
We can play the same game with each other and with God. We make ourselves out to be neglected and abused, thinking that others will feel sorry for us and give us what we want. We play the "poor victim" card, trying to trump any other needs and concerns with our own. We want attention, and we do whatever it takes to get it. We play ourselves off against others, so that our interests and demands are heard above theirs and dominate the agenda. After all, how can anything be more important than my needs and concerns. Otherwise, no one loves me or cares about me. Like Baxter, we can play this part well.
But God is up to our tricks, and He won't play along. He doesn't feed self pity or the deception to get it. To God, everyone is precious and deserves respect, but no one is the center of the universe. God lives and acts from the center as our Creator and Redeemer. We are here to serve God by serving each other's real and genuine needs. This may not always please or satisfy them, but it will help to keep them well spiritually and personally. Refusing to be tricked or manipulated into satisfying our own or others' selfish egos allows God to use us for genuine service in His name. The areas of real poverty in body and spirit need fed by us, not the overindulgence of our pride seeking arrogant recognition. Feeding such instincts only leads to spiritual heart attack and eventual death.
Cat and mouse games are for feral creatures and unevangelized humans. Disciples don't play games with each other, but they serve each other as Other Christ's, fed together at the one table of the Lord and sent to invite others to that feast.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
THE GNAT OF GRACE
The other day Baxter was lying on my lap in a trance as I scratched behind his ear. (He loves me to scratch that spot!). Suddenly, he perks up, sits up straight with eyes wide open, and he is following something. At first, I can't see it. Baxter is bobbing up and down, back and forth, and I can't figure out what is exciting him. He ignores me and is totally occupied by whatever he sees moving around him. Nothing I do gets his attention back. He is riveted to the flying phantom that ruined his entranced pleasure. Once hooked, he was not to be deterred until he captured the elusive object.
It was a tiny gnat! I finally caught sight of the bugger and invited it to its final fly-by. Once gone, Baxter settled back to his lap of luxury with another session of behind the ear massage therapy. O, what a life!!!
The Risen Lord is sometimes like that gnat. He comes to us unexpectedly, seemingly out of nowhere, and we can't figure out what He is at first. We are lost in whatever entrances us at the time, and we don't see the tiny movement of a different kind of being. Unlike cats, our sensors are often so absorbed with the present situation that we can't acknowledge anything outside our current interest or concern. We need to develop a sixth sense fostered by our faith--a sense of the mysterious in the midst of the ordinary, a sense for the transcendent among the mundane, a sense for the holy in the little things, as Saint Theresa, the Little Flower, urged. The transformation of resurrected life comes from within, from the midst of things, from noticing another dimension to life almost hidden within the pleasures, problems, people and events of daily life. Its hints are often as elusive as a gnat, and its energy and persistence are like this tiny nuisance. It is the power of grace breaking through the numbness of our souls to bother us, to wake us up, to get us moving to God's urgings in our lives. But unlike a gnat, we can't just swat this pesky divine invader away. He is always there, and He won't go away or die. He rose from the dead to be with us until the end of the age.
So look again. He's there. He won't let us alone. If the grave couldn't contain Him, our indifference certainly can't. He doesn't sting or bite. He just wakes us up to something bigger and better, deeper and stronger than ourselves. We are moved "by the Love which turns the sun and the other stars" as Dante described it. It is flying unseen and silent all around us. Wake up and rise up with it.
It was a tiny gnat! I finally caught sight of the bugger and invited it to its final fly-by. Once gone, Baxter settled back to his lap of luxury with another session of behind the ear massage therapy. O, what a life!!!
The Risen Lord is sometimes like that gnat. He comes to us unexpectedly, seemingly out of nowhere, and we can't figure out what He is at first. We are lost in whatever entrances us at the time, and we don't see the tiny movement of a different kind of being. Unlike cats, our sensors are often so absorbed with the present situation that we can't acknowledge anything outside our current interest or concern. We need to develop a sixth sense fostered by our faith--a sense of the mysterious in the midst of the ordinary, a sense for the transcendent among the mundane, a sense for the holy in the little things, as Saint Theresa, the Little Flower, urged. The transformation of resurrected life comes from within, from the midst of things, from noticing another dimension to life almost hidden within the pleasures, problems, people and events of daily life. Its hints are often as elusive as a gnat, and its energy and persistence are like this tiny nuisance. It is the power of grace breaking through the numbness of our souls to bother us, to wake us up, to get us moving to God's urgings in our lives. But unlike a gnat, we can't just swat this pesky divine invader away. He is always there, and He won't go away or die. He rose from the dead to be with us until the end of the age.
So look again. He's there. He won't let us alone. If the grave couldn't contain Him, our indifference certainly can't. He doesn't sting or bite. He just wakes us up to something bigger and better, deeper and stronger than ourselves. We are moved "by the Love which turns the sun and the other stars" as Dante described it. It is flying unseen and silent all around us. Wake up and rise up with it.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
SHEDDING SEASON
We are into the shedding season now. Baxter is getting rid of those extra layers of hair as summer approaches. Needless to say, that means that there is a lot of extra cleaning at this time of the year. Pet him and your hand collects a coating of hair. Brush him and the instrument is loaded with excess hair loosened with every stroke. Sometimes Baxter can just be moving from one spot to another, and if the sun is shining brightly, I can see the floating tufts of hair follow him as he goes. Thankfully, the shredding season lasts only a couple of weeks, so it is all manageable. There is no way around it, so I just accept it as part of cat care, and buy some extra lint rollers to avoid looking like a feline cousin.
This is shedding season for us as well. We are shedding the heavy, bulking coats of winter for shorts and sandals. We are leaving behind the salt and snow shovels for mulch and garden tools. We are abandoning the indoors with their TV and computers, for the patio tables and lawn furniture of the back yard. Nature affects the way we go about our lives, shedding the protections from winter for the lighter, freer style of warm summer days and evenings.
Easter calls us to shed some other coats as well. Look to the first disciples for examples. They had to let go of some of their ideas about God and His ways. No one expected the resurrection of Jesus as the first followers encountered it. They were looking for a Messiah who would free them from the Roman yoke and make them proud and prosperous again. They were set free, but from more than military and political subjugation. They were set free from their sin and from the fear of the powers of evil. They felt like they had more of life's blessings, so they needed less of its material possessions and shared what they had more generously. Their pride grew, but it was not in what they had done. They came to witness to what God had done in Jesus for them and for everyone who would accept Him. They had to shed those ideas that covered up how God really was the Lord of Life, and they had to travel more lightly with a deeper commitment to the power of God's grace to change others and the world. Shedding their image of an avenging, mean-spirited God allowed them to be free of their fears, generous with their lives, and hopeful that God's ways would prevail, even if they didn't know how at the time.
Easter changed everything for the first disciples, and it can do so for us. But we have to shed our cold, wintry hearts; our stubborn, closed minds; and our selfish, greedy attitudes. In this way, our lighter spirits will allow the power of divine love to heal us and bring us peace. Baxter's lighter coat leaves tufts of hair around the house, but our lighter spirits leave a reordered world where we can all find hope and confidence in God again. If we put up with a little shedding of our egos, we will feel more comfortable in the warmth of divine love.
This is shedding season for us as well. We are shedding the heavy, bulking coats of winter for shorts and sandals. We are leaving behind the salt and snow shovels for mulch and garden tools. We are abandoning the indoors with their TV and computers, for the patio tables and lawn furniture of the back yard. Nature affects the way we go about our lives, shedding the protections from winter for the lighter, freer style of warm summer days and evenings.
Easter calls us to shed some other coats as well. Look to the first disciples for examples. They had to let go of some of their ideas about God and His ways. No one expected the resurrection of Jesus as the first followers encountered it. They were looking for a Messiah who would free them from the Roman yoke and make them proud and prosperous again. They were set free, but from more than military and political subjugation. They were set free from their sin and from the fear of the powers of evil. They felt like they had more of life's blessings, so they needed less of its material possessions and shared what they had more generously. Their pride grew, but it was not in what they had done. They came to witness to what God had done in Jesus for them and for everyone who would accept Him. They had to shed those ideas that covered up how God really was the Lord of Life, and they had to travel more lightly with a deeper commitment to the power of God's grace to change others and the world. Shedding their image of an avenging, mean-spirited God allowed them to be free of their fears, generous with their lives, and hopeful that God's ways would prevail, even if they didn't know how at the time.
Easter changed everything for the first disciples, and it can do so for us. But we have to shed our cold, wintry hearts; our stubborn, closed minds; and our selfish, greedy attitudes. In this way, our lighter spirits will allow the power of divine love to heal us and bring us peace. Baxter's lighter coat leaves tufts of hair around the house, but our lighter spirits leave a reordered world where we can all find hope and confidence in God again. If we put up with a little shedding of our egos, we will feel more comfortable in the warmth of divine love.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
PURRFECT PEACE
Perhaps nothing is as distinctive about a cat than its purr. It's an automatic response to contentment and pleasure in the species. Baxter purrs at the drop of a hat. Scratch his neck or chin or back, and he purrs. Turn on the faucet for a drink, and he purrs. Offer him a treat, and he purrs. He sometimes purrs for no apparent reason. He just rolls over on the floor and purrs, or sits looking out the window purring. I guess Baxter is a happy cat.
And his happiness is contagious. When I pet Baxter and he begins to purr, it is therapy for any stress, frustration or upset I might be feeling. Hearing that soothing sound and feeling the quiet vibration through his body communicate a peace and contentment that I can't resist. No matter how bad the day might have been, it seems to be calmed by that distinctive tone and rhythm. It says that a better condition is only a scratch away. It puts the troubles of the day into a different perspective. Hearing that sound and feeling that tickle says there's a better time ahead, another chance at getting it right. Forget what is past, and enjoy the little pleasures of the present moment. Tomorrow, we can begin again, fresh and hopeful.
The risen Lord wants to have a similar effect on us. He says time and again in His resurrection appearances, “Peace.” Despite our fears, despite our pain and disappointments, despite the marks of past hurts, despite the threats we face and the worries they create, “Peace.” This word of resurrected life is not a casual greeting like “Hello.” It's an invitation to come and sit for a while. Listen to the sound of God speaking to us. Feel the deep sense of peace that comes with knowing that the worst has happened, and we didn't just survive it. We were transformed by it. We have become a people of God's very own Spirit. We are claimed by the divine life in baptism and that mark can never be erased. It vibrates in our souls when our conscience guides our thoughts and deeds, when our instinct is to do the generous thing and not the self-serving one, when we find a reason to begin each day with hope that good things still await us. We feel it when we forgive another, when we have compassion for the poor and suffering, when we find the courage to stand up to wrongdoing and injustice. We hear the Lord's peace when we listen in silence to our own hearts, and they are full of a presence that overwhelms us. Like the purr of a cat, the peace of the Risen One is contagious. It gets inside us and changes our outlook, disposition and actions. It is new life.
And his happiness is contagious. When I pet Baxter and he begins to purr, it is therapy for any stress, frustration or upset I might be feeling. Hearing that soothing sound and feeling the quiet vibration through his body communicate a peace and contentment that I can't resist. No matter how bad the day might have been, it seems to be calmed by that distinctive tone and rhythm. It says that a better condition is only a scratch away. It puts the troubles of the day into a different perspective. Hearing that sound and feeling that tickle says there's a better time ahead, another chance at getting it right. Forget what is past, and enjoy the little pleasures of the present moment. Tomorrow, we can begin again, fresh and hopeful.
The risen Lord wants to have a similar effect on us. He says time and again in His resurrection appearances, “Peace.” Despite our fears, despite our pain and disappointments, despite the marks of past hurts, despite the threats we face and the worries they create, “Peace.” This word of resurrected life is not a casual greeting like “Hello.” It's an invitation to come and sit for a while. Listen to the sound of God speaking to us. Feel the deep sense of peace that comes with knowing that the worst has happened, and we didn't just survive it. We were transformed by it. We have become a people of God's very own Spirit. We are claimed by the divine life in baptism and that mark can never be erased. It vibrates in our souls when our conscience guides our thoughts and deeds, when our instinct is to do the generous thing and not the self-serving one, when we find a reason to begin each day with hope that good things still await us. We feel it when we forgive another, when we have compassion for the poor and suffering, when we find the courage to stand up to wrongdoing and injustice. We hear the Lord's peace when we listen in silence to our own hearts, and they are full of a presence that overwhelms us. Like the purr of a cat, the peace of the Risen One is contagious. It gets inside us and changes our outlook, disposition and actions. It is new life.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
A SURPRISING POSSIBILITY
I have mentioned before that Baxter is a creature of habit. He likes routine and the familiar, yet, every once in a while, Baxter surprises me. He starts something new. Recently, he began to lie on a table I use when I want to eat dinner in front of the television. He never bothered with it before, but now it has become one of his favorite spots. Sometimes he surprises me with his eating preferences. Usually, Baxter is a strict kibble cat food muncher with some salmon, chicken or tuna thrown in occasionally for a special treat. But then, out of the blue, he will beg for some vegetable I’m eating. Asparagus and cabbage seem to tickle his fancy, and sometimes a bit of carrot. I guess variety is the spice of life, so Baxter wants a dash of something different from time to time to season his diet.
God works with us that way as well. He has a set routine that He usually follows. Sunday Mass, the ten commandments and teachings of the Church, the practice of the works of mercy, and the cultivation of the virtues are the hallmarks of our ongoing Christian formation. Yet, from time to time God throws a surprise into the mix. He gives us something new to chew on from our faith perspective. Maybe it’s an unexpected blessing like a job promotion, a windfall of wealth, a cure for a chronic health condition or a reconciliation of a longstanding hurt or misunderstanding. On the contrary, maybe the surprise is bad news--the loss of a job, a life-threatening diagnosis, a break in a life-long friendship or the end of a marriage. We can’t predict what lies ahead for us in life, and when it comes our way, we have to be ready and willing to incorporate the event into our faith. That might call for some adjustments in the way we see God and in the way we see ourselves.
With God, we may welcome the positive things as signs of His goodness to us, the good people. But when it comes to the hardships, then we ask, “Why me?” We don’t deserve such affronts to our happiness. After all, we go to church and live correctly. Where is our reward? With ourselves, we may begin to doubt our goodness and the significance of our lives. What did I do to deserve this hardship? I don’t know if I can handle this condition. What can I do to make it better or even get rid of the burden?
The death and resurrection came as a surprise to the first disciples. While Jesus tried to tell them that things would fall apart in Jerusalem, they didn’t want to hear it. While He gave them clues to the new life that would be won by His suffering and death, they couldn’t conceive of what He meant. Good Friday to Easter Sunday was a roller coaster ride for the disciples. Dashed to the lowest point they had known in their discipleship and raised to the splendor of an unimaginable victory over sin and death, they had to be disoriented and confused by the events they witnessed. Nothing was routine here. The worst and the best had happened within three days. Now what do they do?
They had to change their ideas about God and themselves. They had to see life’s pain, suffering and loss not as God’s punishment but as the dark side of God’s abiding presence, supporting and sustaining them. They had to see themselves not as the victims of life, but as partners with God in overcoming the powers of darkness. They had to change their way of living the faith. No longer could they be simply observant believers. They had to become apostles of the new way, the Way Who is Jesus become the Christ to save us. They received the very Spirit of God through the transformation of Easter. Now, they had to learn to live by that Spirit, so that they could share it in all they said and did.
Baxter surprises me from time to time. We all surprise each other occasionally. But God’s surprise at Easter is the greatest of all. Don’t miss it or reject it. Embrace it, and it will eventually change your life.
God works with us that way as well. He has a set routine that He usually follows. Sunday Mass, the ten commandments and teachings of the Church, the practice of the works of mercy, and the cultivation of the virtues are the hallmarks of our ongoing Christian formation. Yet, from time to time God throws a surprise into the mix. He gives us something new to chew on from our faith perspective. Maybe it’s an unexpected blessing like a job promotion, a windfall of wealth, a cure for a chronic health condition or a reconciliation of a longstanding hurt or misunderstanding. On the contrary, maybe the surprise is bad news--the loss of a job, a life-threatening diagnosis, a break in a life-long friendship or the end of a marriage. We can’t predict what lies ahead for us in life, and when it comes our way, we have to be ready and willing to incorporate the event into our faith. That might call for some adjustments in the way we see God and in the way we see ourselves.
With God, we may welcome the positive things as signs of His goodness to us, the good people. But when it comes to the hardships, then we ask, “Why me?” We don’t deserve such affronts to our happiness. After all, we go to church and live correctly. Where is our reward? With ourselves, we may begin to doubt our goodness and the significance of our lives. What did I do to deserve this hardship? I don’t know if I can handle this condition. What can I do to make it better or even get rid of the burden?
The death and resurrection came as a surprise to the first disciples. While Jesus tried to tell them that things would fall apart in Jerusalem, they didn’t want to hear it. While He gave them clues to the new life that would be won by His suffering and death, they couldn’t conceive of what He meant. Good Friday to Easter Sunday was a roller coaster ride for the disciples. Dashed to the lowest point they had known in their discipleship and raised to the splendor of an unimaginable victory over sin and death, they had to be disoriented and confused by the events they witnessed. Nothing was routine here. The worst and the best had happened within three days. Now what do they do?
They had to change their ideas about God and themselves. They had to see life’s pain, suffering and loss not as God’s punishment but as the dark side of God’s abiding presence, supporting and sustaining them. They had to see themselves not as the victims of life, but as partners with God in overcoming the powers of darkness. They had to change their way of living the faith. No longer could they be simply observant believers. They had to become apostles of the new way, the Way Who is Jesus become the Christ to save us. They received the very Spirit of God through the transformation of Easter. Now, they had to learn to live by that Spirit, so that they could share it in all they said and did.
Baxter surprises me from time to time. We all surprise each other occasionally. But God’s surprise at Easter is the greatest of all. Don’t miss it or reject it. Embrace it, and it will eventually change your life.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
EXCITEMENT FOR LIFE
There is no question when Baxter is excited. His eyes dilate; his ears perk up; he paces; he makes different sounds, a mixture of meows and chirps. His full attention goes to the object of his interest whether a bird, another cat, a bug, or the leaves blowing in the wind outside. When Baxter is on high alert there is no distracting him, and even food won’t deter him from following his focus for the moment. When whatever caused the excitement passes, then Baxter is back to his old ways—eating and sleeping with an occasional scratch and lick for diversion.
Does anything excite us? That’s an important question as we celebrate Easter. This feast of the victory of Christ over sin and death is the centerpiece of our faith. It is the source of our hope in a power that prevails no matter what life brings us. It is the sign of God’s unrelenting and unconditional love for us and the world despite our efforts to jilt this love. Easter comes into our lives with the energy of the Holy Spirit to encourage us to live our faith despite the obstacles and contradictions it encounters. It calls us out of the rut that routine, lethargy and sin can dig for us. As the first Easter was a surprise to everyone who encountered its evidence—the soldiers, the women at the tomb, Peter and the other disciples—so this Easter holds something unexpected and new for us as well.
But we won’t discover this new life if we don’t pay attention. We don’t have automatic instincts like a cat to alert us, but we do have a desire in our hearts that was placed there by God. We yearn for a better life, a meaningful life, a safe and just world, life after death. But all too often, this yearning shrinks. Life’s losses take their toll on hope and meaning. Life’s unfairness makes us cynical and skeptical about the possibilities for a better world. The threats and dangers we hear and see in the news make us fearful and suspicious of each other. Death touches us so personally at times, and in such a devastating and unpredictable way as well, that we can’t imagine something beyond it. Our heart’s desire grows cold.
The fire we light at the Easter Vigil is meant to rekindle the spark God placed in our hearts. This is the light of Christ proclaimed in the darkness and sung in the Easter proclamation. This is the warmth of God’s love moving through human history in the accounts of our faith in the scriptures. This is what moved our candidates to approach the Church to ask for full communion and the fire of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. This is what draws us to the Eucharist to feed the fire of divine love often on the presence of the Risen Lord we share.
We need to allow Easter to waken us to the fire within, placed there by God and nurtured by His Spirit. It is more than candy and flowers and springtime. It is the meaning and purpose of our lives, and the reason we go on with hope and confidence when others may despair and give up. For Christian believers, Easter gives a jolt to our hearts putting them into rhythm with God’s ways and allowing us to walk together with the Lord.
Baxter gets excited over such silly things—birds, bugs, other cats and flying leaves. We have profound realities laid before us in the Easter mystery. Will we allow ourselves to get excited?
Does anything excite us? That’s an important question as we celebrate Easter. This feast of the victory of Christ over sin and death is the centerpiece of our faith. It is the source of our hope in a power that prevails no matter what life brings us. It is the sign of God’s unrelenting and unconditional love for us and the world despite our efforts to jilt this love. Easter comes into our lives with the energy of the Holy Spirit to encourage us to live our faith despite the obstacles and contradictions it encounters. It calls us out of the rut that routine, lethargy and sin can dig for us. As the first Easter was a surprise to everyone who encountered its evidence—the soldiers, the women at the tomb, Peter and the other disciples—so this Easter holds something unexpected and new for us as well.
But we won’t discover this new life if we don’t pay attention. We don’t have automatic instincts like a cat to alert us, but we do have a desire in our hearts that was placed there by God. We yearn for a better life, a meaningful life, a safe and just world, life after death. But all too often, this yearning shrinks. Life’s losses take their toll on hope and meaning. Life’s unfairness makes us cynical and skeptical about the possibilities for a better world. The threats and dangers we hear and see in the news make us fearful and suspicious of each other. Death touches us so personally at times, and in such a devastating and unpredictable way as well, that we can’t imagine something beyond it. Our heart’s desire grows cold.
The fire we light at the Easter Vigil is meant to rekindle the spark God placed in our hearts. This is the light of Christ proclaimed in the darkness and sung in the Easter proclamation. This is the warmth of God’s love moving through human history in the accounts of our faith in the scriptures. This is what moved our candidates to approach the Church to ask for full communion and the fire of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. This is what draws us to the Eucharist to feed the fire of divine love often on the presence of the Risen Lord we share.
We need to allow Easter to waken us to the fire within, placed there by God and nurtured by His Spirit. It is more than candy and flowers and springtime. It is the meaning and purpose of our lives, and the reason we go on with hope and confidence when others may despair and give up. For Christian believers, Easter gives a jolt to our hearts putting them into rhythm with God’s ways and allowing us to walk together with the Lord.
Baxter gets excited over such silly things—birds, bugs, other cats and flying leaves. We have profound realities laid before us in the Easter mystery. Will we allow ourselves to get excited?
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