Open our eyes and minds!

"Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace; you have fulfilled your word. For my eyes have witnessed your saving deed displayed for all peoples to see..."

Luke 2:29-31

 

Simeon had been waiting for the promised Messiah his whole life and now he was an old man, still waiting. When Joseph and Mary bring the baby Jesus to the temple Simeon takes little Jesus in his arms and says, "OK, this is the promised Messiah...that's all I need to see."  God gifted him with the ability to recognize who it was he had longed for his whole life.  Like Simeon, we long for Jesus, too.  Unlike Simeon, we do not have to wait long for Jesus, but we can see Jesus every single day.  Last week I had the privilege of seeing Jesus in a gentleman in a small town about an hour from here. The gift to me was in the recognition and the fact that I had some things that could help the man.  I drove away knowing I had encountered Jesus and wasn't THAT awesome? That was just one guy, one day.  Jesus will be in my day today, too.  I just pray I can recognize him!  Everyday God fulfills the Word in our lives, just like with Simeon.  Our eyes will witness God's saving power today--let's keep them open to see and our minds open to recognize!  Love, heidi

Right here, right now...

  "Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you."

Mark 5:19

 

The man, who had been possessed by Legion and healed by Jesus, had asked if he could come along with Jesus and his disciples.  All of us, who experience a powerful encounter with Jesus immediately want to join in, don't we?  We feel so different on the inside, we want to make noticeable changes on the outside too.  We want to leave the boats and fishing nets on the shore and just walk away with Jesus.  But, Jesus teaches here that the way we are to serve God may be by going home and just doing what we do.  We may be called to minister to our own little circle of influence, meet the needs of our own peeps.  That may either be hard for us to hear, or a huge relief!  We don't have to travel far away to serve God as we desire to serve God.  We may be called to serve God, right here, right now, right where God has placed us.  Today, this winter Monday, let's keep in mind that we can celebrate and serve God best right where we are, in the daily grind of today.  It's a brand new month and we are inching closer to spring, so let's give God the glory for that!  Love, heidi

Planting in January?

"Jesus said to the crowds, 'This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow...
Mark 4:26

 

It's a good time to think, pray and ask ourselves: what kind of seeds are we scattering in our own lives? Fr. James Wallace in "Give Us This Day" today points out that seeds may be difficult to tell apart--good seeds may look just like bad seeds.  They all bear fruit, one kind or another, so we need to be careful what seeds we are planting in our world today.  Are we planting seeds of negativity, mistrust, doubt, or (God forbid) hate? Or are we planting seeds of compassion, caring for others, service, or love? What we plant, we will receive...our seeds will sprout and grow, yielding the corresponding fruit. How we treat others will come back around to how we are treated ourselves.  Let's get out there and plant some wonderful, loving seeds on our Friday!  Love, heidi

Multiple my light!

"Jesus said to his disciples, 'Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not on a lampstand?'"

Mark 4:21

 

One thing I've learned in my years finding low vision aids for people with vision loss is this: light makes all the difference.  The magnifiers with built in lights are the ones that help the most.  Even a tiny bit of light can make a difference in a dark environment.  Which I find comforting at a time when I may not feel particularly "bright" myself.  We all have times when we may not feel we are shining as we should, don't we?  I may not feel as bright and shining as I know God made me to be.  But, even a tiny bit of light can make a difference in darkness.  Even if we don't feel as shiny some days, God can multiply our light and use the little we may bring to the situation to help others.  We just need to show up and bring what we've got.  Lord, I know you gave me the light in the first place...please multiple my light to help others! Love, heidi

Air into the fire...

"For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands."

2 Timothy 1:6

 

We all remember peak spiritual experiences that pepper our ordinary lives and give us hearts burning with love for God, don't we?  During these times we have such a powerful sense of God's presence, right there with us and we wonder how we could ever feel lost or separated from God. Ever.  And then, there's the January Tuesday with all the struggles of our everyday lives.  These are the days St. Paul talks about with his young friend, Timothy.  Except Timothy is facing a much more challenging test than we will likely face this day.  Still, St. Paul's words to Timothy are meant for us too. This day we may be called upon to make a big difference in the lives of someone else.  This day is the day the Lord has made, and even though it may seem usual and ordinary, it is far from it!  For God is asking something very important from us today...God is asking us to do all we do in love with God and with love for others.  And there is nothing ordinary about that!  So, in our prayer today, think of the hot embers of a campfire or old-fashioned fireplace fire.  Think of using bellows to gently blow air into the embers. Watch the flames begin to dance.  Think of all God's gifts you have now set free, in yourself--for others.  Love, heidi

The gift of a sunset

Pedro Arrupe, SJ, one time the superior general of all the Jesuits, tells a moving story of visiting a very poor slum in Latin America, He celebrated mass for the people and, afterward, was invited to the home of one of the congregation. He puts it this way:

"I was undecided; I didn't know whether to accept or not, but the priest who was with me said, 'Accept, Father, they are good people.' I went to his place; his house was a hovel nearly on the point of collapsing. He had me sit on a rickety old chair. From there I could see the sunset. The big man said to me, 'Look, sir, how beautiful it is!' We sat in silence for several minutes. The sun disappeared. The man then said, 'I didn't know how to thank you for all you have done for us. I have nothing to give you, but I thought you would like to see this sunset...'"

Fr. James Martin, SJ, "My Life with the Saints"

Love, heidi