The "Little Way"...

"Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household...'"

Luke 10:5

 

In my work I mostly go into the homes of my clients to mark appliances or find other ways to help them function independently in their daily lives.  Some houses are warm, cozy and welcoming, others--not so much.  The other day, I found myself crawling around on the floor of an office, which was in a garage, to plug in a new phone for the client.  Some days this job isn't glamorous at all!  I bristled at the idea of hunting, on my hands and knees, for the phone jack and then I hit my head on a low table. Ouch! But, in reality, this is exactly what God wants me to do. God wants me to put myself aside and serve the people I am there to serve. Maybe if I'd thought to bring a bit of peace to this garage first, I would have had a better attitude. Our saint du jour is St. Therese of the Child Jesus, and her "Little Way" of doing small things for God, with love, is exactly how we can serve God in our daily lives.  Even if that includes crawling around on a garage floor.  Especially if it means crawling around on a garage floor!  Love, heidi

Invitation to love...

  "Jesus answered him, 'Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.'"

Luke 9:58
 

Jesus is inviting his would-be followers (and us) into a life of uncertainty. And that's scary, isn't it? I have a nest...a lovely little nest that I'm comfortable and cozy in and enjoy every day.  Does it keep me from following Jesus? I have to live somewhere, right? Our need for security and certainty can keep us pre-occupied and distracted about our lives in this world.  There is a delicate balance between planning and saving for the future and answering Jesus' call to live for the Kingdom now and helping those who have less.  I wrestle with this constantly! I think this conundrum is what Jesus is asking us to pray about today with this reading.  How far out on a limb am I willing to go to follow Jesus? Does what I have keep me from loving Jesus fully? And by that, loving others fully?  A good question to take to prayer...love, heidi

Encounter Jesus

"Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him and said of him..."

John 1:47

 

On Pray-as-You-Go this morning they did a guided imagery with this reading and it was lovely.  Can you fill in your own name in this sentence?  By what name does Jesus call you as you walk toward him? What does Jesus say to you? Can you say anything or are you awestruck? How do you feel when all this takes place and how do you respond to Jesus?  This can lead to an amazing prayer time!  I invite you to take a few minutes, in silence, and just play this scene out in your head. Have your own conversation with Jesus and experience whatever God has planned for you!  This can be an awesome time for you and Jesus together...Love, heidi

Greatest and least

"For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest."

Luke 9:48

 

For as often as we have heard this lately, we sure still find ourselves jockeying for position, don't we?  I notice it in all areas of my life--work, social, friends, family.  We want to be heard, recognized, appreciated, acknowledged; all of it.  Jesus so often points out the way to really succeeding in this world is through serving each other and that can be so hard to do! Recognizing that it is NOT about us and more about the Other is a difficult pill to take. Especially when so much of our media focuses on the loudest, richest, and showiest.  My memories of watching much of the pope's visit focus on the children eager to greet him, the tenderness of his gaze, the smiles and joy; not so much on the pomp and regality.  One little boy, during the pope's lunch at the homeless shelter Friday, with his note for the pope, captured my heart.  Those considered by society to be the "least" are really the greatest.  A lesson for the disciples then. A lesson for us now.  What do we do with it?  Love, heidi

The key to communication

Yesterday, during our staff in-service, we were told the key to successful communication is in three words: acknowledge the other. Acknowledge the person with whom you are talking.  Isn't that exactly what Jesus did the whole time he walked the earth? That's why Jesus didn't just heal people, indiscriminately, as he moved through a crowd.  He stopped, looked into their eyes, asked them what they wanted him to do, heard their stories, touched them.  He acknowledged them and had relationships with them, although perhaps, briefly.  We can see that as we watch Pope Francis move through his visit in the US.  It was so moving to see him beckon a little five year old girl to come over to the popemobile so he could bless her and acknowledge her. We can spend a lifetime learning to let another person feel we acknowledge them and care about what they are sharing with us. So, today, as we move through our newly autumn Thursday, let's be very aware of acknowledging all we meet.  Even if it is just a nod and a smile as we pass by them on the sidewalk or in the hall.  Every single person is valuable and well worth acknowledging!  Love, heidi

Mercy, not sacrifice

"Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'"

Matthew 9:13

 

We all will do well to listen to Jesus, here, and do the same. Pope Francis has declared a Year of Mercy, beginning later this year. There are already signs that this Year will have real legs on it--signs of forgiveness and reconciliation from the church toward those who feel on the fringe. The pope has already shown that this Year of Mercy is not just a nice idea to get his name in the papers. The Year of Mercy is a chance for each one of us to look deep inside and see where we can extend forgiveness and mercy in our own lives.  Are there past hurts we can forgive and, thus, really put in the past? Are there people with whom we haven't talked in a while we can reach out and reconnect? Are there people with whom we struggle that we could embrace? What will the Year of Mercy look like in our own lives? What can we do to spark merciful change? Real Mercy. Real Forgiveness. Real Change. "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."  Love, heidi