How many times have I yelled out, "What's wrong with me?".  As my outer self withers, fades and becomes disfiguring, my inner self begins to share this same ugliness. 

Where is my hope?  Where is my love?  Where is my nourishment? 

In you, Dear Lord, I find my Hope and my Love.  Leave me not, O Lord, for my soul rests in You.  Amen.

"The Lord said to her in reply, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.' " - Luke 10:41-42 

The squirrel was positioned on the tree.  Couldn't decide whether to pounce and attack, or to quietly shimmy down and go some place else. 

These are decisions we often face.  Do you attack and criticize?  Or do you keep to yourself and walk away? 

The squirrel made the better choice.  It came down without a fuss and scampered away. 

What choice would you make?

"Blessed are the poor in spirit ... Blessed are they who mourn ... Blessed are the meek ... Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness ... Blessed are the merciful ... Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven." - Matthew 5:3-12 

I heard an interview with a player reflecting on being named to play in the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.  "Blessed," he stated.  "I am blessed."  He must have used the word "blessed" to describe his feelings at least a dozen times in the short interview. 

We are all "blessed" in one way or another.  We live in a democratic society; we own homes and cars; we have employment and schooling options; we have access to good health.  We can practice our religion freely; we are forgiven of our sins and transgressions; we have a Savior that died for us; we have a relationship with a God that loves us. 

We ARE "blessed."  How many times do you acknowledge it? 

Loving Father, I am Blessed.  I am truly Blessed.  Thank you.  Amen.


Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Happy Birthday!  Our blog is three years old.  For three years now, we've been sharing stories, prayers, inspirations and reflections while "looking at little life moments with a spiritual eye". 

Our top five posts in these three years are: 

• PATHS 
  
• STONES 
  
• THE CHAIR 
  
• LENTEN PRAYERS 
  
• ADVENT PRAYERS 
  

What was your favorite post?  Is there one that made you think, made you cry, made you laugh, made you dream, or made you pray?  Share  your favorite post in the comments. 

So are you ready?  Let's start another year!  Thanks for joining us.

Take a break and reflect on some spiritual thoughts. 

God sometimes takes us into troubled waters not to drown us but to cleanse us. 

You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. 

The closer you walk with God, the less room for anything to come between. 

Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ. 

In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus. 

Train yourself to find the blessing in everything. 


Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash

Go in peace, God be with you. 
Go in peace, be at rest with the saints and the angels. 
Now you are free.  Go in peace. 

You may have heard the above verse during the Final Commendation at a Catholic funeral.  The words are comforting, not just for the mourning but for all of us as well. 

We would do well to repeat these words throughout our days.  We can be at peace in our lives with the knowledge that God is with us.  "Let go and let God" we often hear.  With the Communion of Saints and our Guardian Angel, we ARE free and at peace ... if only we let ourselves be. 


Song text copyright 2004, Sarah Hart and Dwight Liles

A collection of thoughts to keep us "looking at little life moments with a spiritual eye". 

"I think love is the contrary of chilly." - Dr. Jerome Lejeune 

"You need to learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable." - The Word Among Us, July/August 2016, p. 96 

"The miserable have no medicine but hope." - William Shakespeare 

"[Wisdom] is the grace of being able to see everything with the eyes of God." - Pope Francis, General Audience, 9 April 2014 

"There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein 


Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

"Then God said: Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures ... God created the great sea monsters and all kinds of crawling living creatures with which the water teems ... God saw that it was good, and God blessed them, saying: Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas ... " - Genesis 1:20-22 

It was a breathtaking sight.  Two dolphins swimming in and out of the wake of the boat.  They were playing and dancing and just having fun!  All of this took place against the backdrop of a beautiful golden sunset mirrored in the calm water of the sea.  It was indeed a breathtaking sight. 

God saw that it was good. 

And so did I. 

(Photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico by Fort Myers Beach, Florida)

The Octave of Easter is an eight-day period set aside to celebrate one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith: the Resurrection.  It is a time of heightened jubilation and exaltation, when the joy within the Christian community is at a fever pitch.  The Octave of Easter extends from Easter Sunday until the Second Sunday of Easter. 

The Gospel readings during the Octave include some of the most beautiful passages of scripture from the time after Jesus’ Resurrection and his first encounters with his friends and disciples.  These readings remind us of the importance of Jesus’ Resurrection and the power of living out his message here on earth. 

Easter Sunday: Jesus' tomb is empty (Jn 20:1-9). 
Spiritual essence: Death is not the end of the story. 

Monday in the Octave of Easter: Jesus’ appearance to a number of women who were returning from the tomb (Mt 28:8-15). 
Spiritual essence: Our God is a God of surprises! 

Tuesday in the Octave of Easter: Jesus' appearance to Mary Magdalene who was weeping beside the entrance to the tomb (Jn 20:11-18). 
Spiritual essence: Walk by faith and not by sight. 

Wednesday in the Octave of Easter: Jesus' appearance to Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35). 
Spiritual essence: Always look for Christ in others. 

Thursday in the Octave of Easter: Jesus' appearance to the disciples huddled together in the Upper Room in Jerusalem on Easter Sunday night (Lk 24:35-48). 
Spiritual essence: Look for Christ in the midst of the mess. 

Friday in the Octave of Easter: Jesus' appearance to his disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Jn 21:1-14). 
Spiritual essence: Build your hopes on Christ. 

Saturday in the Octave of Easter: An account of multiple appearances, first to Mary Magdalene, next to two men on the road to Emmaus, and then to the Eleven who were at table together (Mk 16:9-15). 
Spiritual essence: True strength is sharing joy, love, hope, and kindness. 

Second Sunday of Easter: Jesus' appearance to the ten in the Upper Room on the first day of the week, and then seven days later, his subsequent appearance, not only to the ten, but also to Thomas (Jn 20:19-13). 
Spiritual essence: Doubt is not an enemy of faith, but disengagement is. 

"The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the just." - Proverbs 13:22 

It's enjoyable to look back at days gone by.  We're fascinated by watching old movies, listening to golden oldies, reading timeless novels, or hearing a wise man's story. 

How will you be known by the next generation?  What legacy are you leaving?  What will people say about who you are, what you did, what faith you shared? 

Dear God, like the classics from long ago, let my life unfold as its own unique classic in your kingdom.  Amen.