Perfect summer Friday song!

Great song from Joy Williams--check it out!

Doesn't get better than this!

The under-ordinary

"In fact, Scripture goes even further and says that God often chooses to break into our lives not merely through the extraordinary or ordinary, but through the under-ordinary!"

Sr. Melannie Svoboda, "In Steadfast Love"

"Under-ordinary?"  What in the name of a summer Friday is that? Under-ordinary are the times when we are struggling.  We maybe going through a loss, be it a loss of a person, job, home, security; a time of struggle.  It may be a time of hunger in our lives, or weakness.  Things aren't going as they should.  We are in turmoil.  Under-ordinary.  We long for an ordinary day when we could just go through the day as usual.  But, instead, this "thing" is causing our lives to turn upside-down, and we can no longer be ordinary.  "Ordinary" would look great from where we are.  And that, according to Sr. Melannie, is when God may be most visible to us.  God certainly is in our midst in all the times of our lives, but there are times when we may feel God more closely.  We may be too caught up in the dancing of the extraordinary times to notice God dancing with us, but God is there.  We may not think of God in the ordinary days, when we get up, do what we do, come home and go to sleep.  But God is there, too.  It may be that when we are at our weakest, we finally can see God, with an arm around our shoulder.  May your weekend be anything but under-ordinary!  Love, heidi

God in the new adventure!

"While all of Israel crossed over on dry ground, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord remained motionless on dry ground in the bed of the Jordan until the whole nation had completed the passage."

Joshua 3:17

Isn't this the most wonderful image?  The priests, carrying the Ark, step into the river and the river stops.  The priests proceed into the middle of the river bed and the people of Israel pass by on the dry ground, until all are on the other side.  So, God, in essence, goes before them, paving the way for them, then waits until they are all safely passed over.  Incredible.  Think of this each time we tackle a new adventure! Think of God going before us, clearing the way for us to embark safely.  Think of passing by God, as God holds back any fearful obstacles.  Think of God showing that much care and concern for us and our new adventures!  Maybe we are not taking on a big, new adventure at this time, but really, every day is an adventure, isn't it? And, God goes before us.  God may be teaching us how to go around obstacles, by allowing them to get in our way, but God is still there in our midst, cheering us on. Love, heidi

Cheerfully give!

"For God loves a cheerful giver."

2 Corinthians 9:7

Oh, you mean we have to be cheerful about it?  That sometimes seems like a tallish order!  Giving is sometimes hard enough.  I was thinking about this and, even though the usual connotation could be about giving alms and such, I was thinking of the hardest thing for me to give and that could be giving love to others.  So, the message for me today is to give love to others...cheerfully.  Oh, it's easy to love those I love! (That is not as weird a sentence as it may appear!) But it is harder for me to love the harder folks.  (likewise that sentence).  It's easy to love the people who love me back, who smell nice and don't carry a sign asking me for money.  It's easy to love those who think the way I think and believe the same things I believe in.  It's easy to love THOSE folks.  I can give my love cheerfully to them.  It's the others...

So, today, let's think of what is the hardest for us to give away.  And let's think about this call to, not just to give it, but to give it cheerfully!  And, how can we do this? Love, heidi

Strength from struggle

"Life is so different when you are convinced that everything is purposeful."

Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen, "This is the Day the Lord Has Made"

This reflection today was stunning in its simple wisdom.  I think I would wiggle it around to say something more like, "Life is so different when you believe God works in every situation," which is much the same but with a tiny tweak.  Fr. Stinissen is saying in the entire reflection that, through the worst and most difficult times of our lives, we grow and mature.  We exceed what we have done before and grow into new strength.  I have seen that many times in my own life and I'm sure you have too.  And those are the times I feel God works most diligently in us, giving us everything we need to, not simply get through the difficulty, but come of out it with new vigor.  Even our tough times have purpose.  They are helping us find resources, deep within, that will serve us, and even others, later.  Such a brilliant message for a waning summer Tuesday!  Love, heidi

Stick your neck out!

"'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' He said, 'Come.'"

Matthew 14:28-29

Sometimes, you just have to get out of the boat.  That is just it.  I remember, so many years ago, when I was getting ready to go off to graduate school, far away, where I didn't know one person.  It was all so scary to me, and yet, exactly what I knew I was supposed to do.  At the height of my nervous anxiety, I went to mass and heard this gospel, about Jesus walking on the water and calling Peter to join him.  "Come," Jesus beckoned me to Michigan.  I was reassured that Jesus reached out and grabbed Peter as he faltered walking on the sea.  Jesus would also carry me along difficult days to come.  My dear friend, Mary Rau had a saying, "Behold the turtle--he only makes progress when he sticks his neck out."  We are continuously called to stick our necks out.  We are continuously called to get out of the boat.  Rest assured that we are safe!  Love, heidi