Humble and loving service...

"We could, for example, keep ourselves from examining our neighbor's conscience..."
St. Andre Bessette, as quoted in "Living With Christ"

I love this guy.  Brother Andre Bessette was a humble doorman at a college in Montreal. From very humble beginnings, he served God faithfully in simple and concrete ways, visiting the sick and opening the door for visitors. He shows us that any job or ministry is holy if done for the glory of God and with great love. No matter what our job, the way we do what we do makes it holy, not how far up the ladder we climb or how big our name is on the marquee. My favorite story about St. Andre is this: Whenever there was a knock on the door he would hurry to open it, saying, "I'm coming Lord!" It seemed, to him, each visitor was Jesus, himself. Let's think about that this wintery Friday.  Each person we encounter is Jesus and how hospitable are we? Are we hurrying to answer the door? Are we doing our most mundane tasks with love and for the glory of God? And, as St. Andre suggests, the only conscience we need to examine is our own, right? St. Andre, pray for us! Love, heidi

What are we looking for?

"Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?"
John 1:38

That one sentence could be the title of a whole retreat right there! The two men had heard about Jesus and they were intrigued about what they'd heard. They followed him. Jesus had an aura that attracted people to him. And, most importantly, people have a need for a leader--like a shepherd for sheep. We see this all the time throughout history. People have an innate need to follow someone and Jesus was (and still is!) a wonderful Someone to follow.  Jesus asks us each day "What are you looking for?" And it is a wonderful question to pray with and jot down honest answers.  Are we looking for security, success, control? Jesus may not be the answer for us there.  Are we looking for comfort, sunshine and only gentle breezes? That may be closer, but Jesus doesn't promise us that kind of life.  Jesus shows us the fullness of life, death and resurrection. There it is.  The trinity of our human experience in three words.  And, as Fr. Richard Rohr frequently points out, nature has been showing us this continuously for millions of years.  Jesus showed us in his human form what nature has always shown us. We live, we die and we live again.  So, what ARE we looking for? Well, at this point, since I am alive, I am looking to Jesus to show me how to live that life in a more loving, compassionate way; loving others, thus loving God.  What are YOU looking for? Let's pray with that question. Love, heidi

Let it go...

"Beloved, we are God's children now, whatever we shall be has not yet been revealed."
1 John 3:2

Happy New Year! I've discerned my little "theme" for 2017 is "Let it go," (please don't sing the song from "Frozen")! I see it as a call to let go of a lot of things...stuff, certainly, as that is a recurring theme for me every year, but this year I feel called to let go of more. I feel called to let go of plans for the future--only God holds my future. Me, making plans, just distracts me from what God may have in mind for me. So, no more counting Mondays until retirement! And, as wise daughter Jeni pointed out one time, my clients deserve someone working for them who isn't counting Mondays!  I feel I need to let go of fear and hold on to hope, especially as our government changes. I feel I need to let go of what may hold me back in loving others fully and compassionately. Some of that may be an odd fear of rejection, but also, just plain laziness.  So, while I don't like to do New Year's resolutions, per say, I do like to narrow down my focus for doing better through the new year.  And this year, it is to Let it go...(oh no, there's that song again!)  Love, heidi

Love makes holy...

"Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love..."
Colossians 3:12-14

St. Paul gives us a great recipe for living in a family in today's second reading...a good way to celebrate today's Feast of the Holy Family! Pray-as-you-go offered an invitation to consider our own families, too...how holy do they feel?  Just as the Holy Family we celebrate today had its difficulties, so do our families, certainly.  As I pondered our family, I didn't have to think too far back to remember the loud screams and great peels of laughter coming from the Mario Kart game, just a week ago. I remembered the enjoyment of hearing each other's adventures and the relief when weary travelers arrived after a harrowing trip to get there. We are a family...not perfect, but very, very holy--because of the love that we share. Our love makes us holy.  And with that, I pray that you have a Happy New Year and I'll see you in 2017! Love, heidi

Let it start in me...

"We're singing Glory, Glory, let there be peace, let there be peace.
We're singing Glory, Glory, let there be peace, let it start in me."
Matt Maher, "Glory (Let There Be Peace)"

I've been enjoying this Matt Maher song all season, and I hope they continue to play it on the radio, even after the holidays. As our calendar changes to a new year, peace seems such a long way off, unattainable, really. But the fact is, we, ourselves need to be the change agents we seek in our world. Each one of us can pray for peace within our own hearts and then we can spread that peace throughout our circles of influence. Each one of us will find ourselves in an environment today that needs us to bring peace to it. Could it be stopping gossip in the office? Could it be visiting a person who is stuck at home? Could it be smiling at a stranger? Could it be reaching out to a friend we haven't seen in a while? Let's pray with this song (link below) and invite God's peace into our own hearts. God is always so happy to answer that prayer! Then let's really be aware of every place we visit today where God's peace, through us, may be extended out to others.  "Let it start in me. Let it start in me!" Love, heidi
Glory (Let There Be Peace)

In the midst of joy...

"But if we walk in the light, then we have fellowship with one another..."
1 John 1:7

Merry Christmas! (It's still Christmas--hooray!) So, I had a long bus ride yesterday and I found it to be very contemplative. Last week's ride was much less so--I visited with other passengers and made new friends. But yesterday was much more quiet and led to lovely contemplation; just like today's Gospel of the Holy Innocents.  Right in the middle of the festive Christmas readings, we hear a very dark and tragic story. As I was riding yesterday, basking in the fresh, wonderful memories of a fabulous time, I overheard a conversation of another passenger describing the holiday as "painful" to whomever was on the other end. It's not all poinsettias and mistletoe, Friends. And the Gospel reminds us of that.  In the midst of our holiday joy and glow, others are suffering.  And what are we to do with that? Be aware, for one thing. Watch for folks that may need a call or a shoulder. Let's go out of our way to reach out to those who may not feel so merry and bright. We are to be Jesus' hands and feet, comforting, consoling, welcoming, and including those around us.  Can we open our eyes today? Love, heidi