Celebrate everyone's gifts!

"Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?"

Matthew 20:15

 

Of course, whenever I read this reading, I think of my little friend, Helen.  She was a late-comer to the field and yet is enjoying her full day's pay now in heaven.  Bless you, Helen, please pray for me!  But this time reading it, I had other thoughts.  Why is it so hard for us to celebrate the good fortune of others? Why is it hard to acknowledge the great gifts of others if they seem to threaten us and our little gifts? Maybe they bring out our insecurities a bit? When someone young and zealous comes along at our work, for example, and has fresh, new ideas and a better grasp of technology; why can't we rejoice and be glad in that? Why do we see it as a threat to ourselves and our own cozy little position?  It is easier to down-play the gifts of others instead of stepping up ourselves, isn't it?  We really need to see that God gifts all of us; we all have unique and exciting talents.  But when the gifts of others seem to bring out our insecurities, there is a problem.  Lord, help me to rejoice in the gifts of others and celebrate that all are given talents.  Our goal should be, not to measure our gifts against those of others, but to rejoice in You and your great generosity!  Love, heidi

Woman flees to the wilderness...

"The woman herself fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared for her by God."
Revelations 12:6

As I listened to this reading last night at mass, my ears perked up at this part. "Wow," I thought. "That sounds like me! Woman fleeing into the wilderness!" I am so blessed to be able to make a silent retreat at Marymount Hermitage over in western Idaho for the next several days, so I am fleeing to the wilderness myself...definitely to a place prepared for me by God. In today's reflection in "Reflections for Ragamuffins," Brennan Manning says, "...everything that happens to us has been designed to teach us holiness." Isn't that amazing?  You will all be in my prayers while I'm on retreat and I will be listening intently to the Holy Spirit so should have many new tidbits to share when the Heidi-grams return next Wednesday. Blessings to you all and enjoy your summer weekend! Love, heidi

Believe in miracles!

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior..."

Luke 1:46-47

No matter what we believe, exactly, about the Virgin Mary, today's Feast of the Assumption tells us to believe in miracles.  It doesn't just suggest that miracles could have occurred, or it's OK to believe in miracles, it TELLS us to believe in miracles.  The miracle of Mary's Assumption is just a glimpse of what heaven and Jesus returning in Glory will mean for all of us.  While there is murkiness about Mary's death, there is scriptural evidence about how she lived.  She lived her life in faith, ever available for God to use in the plan of salvation.  Mary's "Yes," echoes all throughout the Gospels, and The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) is one of the most beautiful passages in all of scripture! So, today's let's celebrate the miracle that is Mary, her life, her Assumption into heaven, and her companionship with us.  She is never far from us, a loving Mother, leading us into relationship with her Son.  Love, heidi

Words that "bind"

"Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven."

Matthew 18:18

Have you "bound" anything lately?  That seems to be kind of weird language to us but let's look into it.  Matthew says that when we bind something, it is bound on earth and in heaven.  That seems like an incredible power but what does it mean?  "The Word Among Us," reflects on it and suggests that what we say, how we forgive, even our self-talk can be included in this "binding."  In thinking about it, I can say some pretty awful things about other drivers!  Could I be more forgiving of them and remember the times I have made dumb mistakes while driving?  Could be.  Also, gossip could be another situation where what we say can "bind" another person.  We can put someone in a bad light while talking to others and really influence how others feel about that person.  Is that a form of binding, too?  Certainly.  If what we say is binding on earth and in heaven, what if we tried to make positive comments instead of judgmental, possibly hurtful comments?  Whether speaking to someone or about them to others, let's take a second to realize that what we say can build up or tear down another person.  Even thinking negative thoughts to ourselves can establish a pattern of negativity.  Let's try to think positive thoughts about ourselves and others today!  And let's remember St. Maximilian Kolbe's feast day today and pray, with him, for all who are imprisoned.  Love, heidi

Beautiful Blog!

Today, I would like to call your attention to a wonderful blog written by a childhood friend of mine, JoDee Theade Ahmann called "Lessons From My Daughter."  I have added JoDee's beautiful blog to my list on the right side of this page but will also give you the link at the end of this post.  I encourage you to curl up and start her blog from the very beginning.  Your spiritual life will soar learning about JoDee's daughter Christina, her beautiful faith in God and love for Jesus. Enjoy!
  Lessons From My Daughter

Happy to let God lead...

"It is the Lord who marches before you and will never fail you or forsake you. so do not fear or be dismayed."

Deuteronomy 31:8

I remember learning the Exodus story as a kid and thinking it was pretty unfair that Moses didn't get to go into the Promised Land with the Israelites when the time came.  But I read it today with different eyes.  Moses seems perfectly content to let the people go into the Land of Milk and Honey with Joshua.  Moses was old and tired.  He had wandered with these cantankerous people for forty years.  He was done and probably glad to turn them over to someone else.  But, more importantly, Moses knew that God would continue to lead them and that was who they needed now.  The people looked to Moses, but Moses knew God was behind every saving action that had occurred for forty years.  He was just the middle man.  This verse applies to us in our comings and goings too.  I don't know how many times I have ventured into a challenging situation and prayed, "Please help me with this one...it may be over my head!"  So, today, if a situation or challenging circumstance arises, remember what Moses tells the Israelites, "It is the Lord who marches before you and will never fail or forsake you..."  Blessings on your day! Love, heidi