Fr. Jim's Summer Journaling

Are we more than Sunday Catholics?

2008-09-01T22:36:00.012-04:00

If we take the time to be quiet, if we develop habits of daily prayer, we will discover a place for God in our hearts. We will then be in touch with a spirit of gratitude that will fill our heart and spirit. We will live each and every day with an attitude of gratitude. We will be immersed in the mystery of God’s love for us. We will desire to share that love with others no matter what the cost. The cross will be not a fearful component of life. The cross will open us to a further awakening of our inner journey, the fire in our belly, the wellspring of eternal life that is within us.

The gospel challenges to be more than Sunday Catholics. Are we willing to be the followers of the crucified Christ as well as the risen Christ? What disappointment have you experienced this past week? What suffering have you or someone close to you had to wrestle with this past week? Have you been able to experience the presence of Jesus in the midst of the disappointment, struggles, and questions of this past week? Do we believe that Jesus is with us in the dark valleys as well as the green pastures of life?

For me the answer is YES! God is to be found in the questions and struggles of life.

Experiencing God in Summer Activities

2008-08-15T00:40:00.003-04:00

I so enjoy the days of summer. There is more time to be and do that which I enjoy and that which breathes life into my spirit. I spend more time with family in moments of relaxation; I find more time to do a little golfing; I spend more time smelling the flowers and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation; in prayer I spend time in wonder and awe knowing God’s presence in all of life.

Where have I experienced God recently? I spent time with my sister Sue and my brother-in-law Don. My older sister, for years upon years, has been confined to a wheel chair with the crippling disease of MS. Her spirit remains strong in spite of the significant limitations of her life. I discover God’s presence in my sister Sue as she laughs and enjoys the simple pleasures of life.

I discovered God’s abiding presence in going to a Red Wing ball game with my nephew Matt and Michelle and their four enthusiastic children who are loyal baseball fans. Their grandfather Larry came with us as well. Baseball is America’s game, and it is also a great way to experience the joy of family.

In case you are worried that I’m getting a big head, know that my golf game teaches me humility in spades. It’s amazing how hitting a little white ball can be such a challenge. Fortunately, wandering around a golf course is an opportunity to experience the beauty of God’s creation. But yes, God can be found in the sand traps of life.

Celebrating Mass down at Camp Stella Maris with the excitement and energy of the campers and counselors is indeed a God moment. What is lacking in solitude is made up for in the faith-filled joy and wonder of our youth. Thanks be to God for the presence of our youth among us.

Summer time is a time for weddings. Almost every weekend, I have the joy of presiding at the wedding of a couple filled with dreams and hopes for their life together. Thanks be to God for the faith that brings two people to the altar of God to begin their life together. Families come together to celebrate their son/daughter’s life defining commitment.

In summer time, there is more time to read, pray, and relax with friends and to know the joy of a simple meal. While there is a side of me that is a high energy person, I also value time to “Be still and know that the Lord is God.” (Ps 46:10)

May you too enjoy these remaining days of summer. I invite you to take a moment to share how you experience God on these summer days.

How did you begin your day in prayer?

2008-07-29T14:00:00.003-04:00

At the crack of dawn this morning, I was sitting on the rectory deck with a cup of coffee in hand and my dog on my lap. Next to me was my prayer book, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the morning paper. In my morning prayer, I gave thanks to God for the beauty of the day. With each breath that I took, I was breathing in the Holy Spirit and breathing out the fears and anxieties that keep me from more completely trusting in God’s abiding love for me.

I begin each day in prayer thanking God for the faith we share as a parish community. In and through the human brokenness of each of us, we believe that God’s love for each of us is unending. May we always recognize our need for God’s healing grace, and God’s unconditional desire to share His love with us.

How did you begin your day in prayer this week?

To Live a More Balanced Life, Make These Four Assumptions:

2008-07-25T13:36:00.002-04:00

For the body, assume you’ve had a heart attack; now live accordingly.
For the mind, assume the half-life of your profession is two years; now prepare accordingly.
For the heart, assume everything you say about another, they can overhear; now speak accordingly.
For the spirit, assume you have a one-on-one visit with the Lord Jesus every quarter; now live accordingly.

In what ways do you try to live a more balanced life?

A Summer Reflection

2008-07-14T11:37:00.001-04:00

I sought my God and my God I could not find
I sought my soul and my soul eluded me.
I sought my brother/sister to serve in their need,
And I found all three – my God, my soul and thee.

There are many ways to discover God in the midst of life. For some, God is to be found in the stillness of our prayer. In the words of the psalmist: “Be still and know that I am God.” In the quiet of the morning before the busyness of the day, I seek to experience God in the morning sunrise. It provides a spiritual anchor for the day and places the whole day in the context of my discipleship of the Lord Jesus. For others, as suggested by the above reflection, God is found in the ways we love and serve others. In those times of service, we become aware of our God and the deepest meaning of our lives. The actions of service can lead us to the awareness of prayer. So too, the movements of prayer within us can lead us to lives of service.

Our spirituality can begin with action or with prayer. We need to be true to who we are. But the journey of faith must involve both dimensions of life: prayer can lead to service or service can lead us back to prayer.

Why Journaling?

2008-06-27T23:49:00.003-04:00

In our spiritual journey there are many ways to pray. What is most important is that we make time each day to pray. If you are too busy to pray, you are too busy. One way is simply to write down a few thoughts each day. Taking the time to recognize the movement of the Spirit in your life, and to give praise and thanks to God for your many blessings, is a wonderful form of prayer.

Try it this summer! Journal on your own--in your own handwritten journal, on your computer, or even share some of your thoughts here on this blog.

Start with this simple question: Where did I experience God today?