Ordinary Moments – WordNerdMusings

Why is it so Hard to Trust God?

Ordinary Moments, Parenting, Spirituality

Trusting God. What a concept. Trusting an invisible God with every bit and breath of my life. I am terrible at it. He wants all of me, yet so often I do not give Him much of me at all.

How do we trust in someone we have never physically seen? Yet we can’t fully trust the humans we are able to see but they are not perfect like God.

Fear, pride, spiritual blindness, laziness, old wounds, perceived lack of time are some things that can block our ability to trust in God.

We “take stuff back”. We trust God for a while but then when things aren’t working out so well or moving fast enough, we stop trusting and return to worry, fretting and trying to fix it ourselves.

I would love to know the future. I can’t stand not knowing. I need to plan ahead and know what I should or shouldn’t do, which is basically impossible, therefore I am often paralyzed when making decisions.

Maybe that’s playing God. Precisely what Lucifer’s fall was and sin entering the world. Wanting to be God or even above God, is a big part of the mess we are in.

It seemed easier for me to trust God when I was younger and perhaps more naïve, like when I was pregnant with triplets.

The whole experience was a wild ride and God stretched me to the limits of trusting Him. There were many, many scary and difficult moments. And, I had no choice, three new lives were at stake and it was mostly out of my control.

Somehow by the grace of God I survived and so did the triplets.

But that experience was a positive life force, so maybe that made it easier. Trusting through sickness, grief, and hardship seems much more difficult if not seemingly impossible. There is not always new life at the end of it.

I am finding the last phase of life completely stressful, unnerving and challenging. There seems to be so much more I have to trust God about.

I thought I got good at trusting 30 years ago, so I was finished.

Lesson learned.

Not quite.

Like a young child trusts their father to take care of them, we need to trust God, our Father, to take care of us. Why is it so hard for us grown-ups? I’m a mother, I should know. But I am more used to mothering than being “mothered”.

We need to surrender to the God who loves us and made us. Who among us wants to willingly surrender? It is against human nature. Would you want to be in a fierce battle and be on the side that surrenders or loses??

We are wired to win.

Surrendering is not easy. It was not easy for Jesus to surrender to his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Surrendering means sometimes things are going to be very, very difficult. That is why it can be so hard to do.

…For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. (2 Chronicles 20:12)

I feel like lately I have trouble with trust because I have more years of life experience and am aware of so many more crazy things that can happen to people. There are a lot more stories to tell.

Over time I have also learned that when God wants me to trust and go deeper with Him, there is usually a reason and often one I don’t like. So I know I’m in the fire being refined and OUCH! nobody likes the heat of that.

My life is not my own anyway, as a Christian it is to be lived for Christ. We need to keep the focus on Him rather than ourselves.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

And yet, while looking back, God has come through for me many times in my life already so why don’t I trust Him? How foolish can I be? He has proven His faithfulness many times over. I need to recall these times when I am feeling defeated and doubtful.

This is a lot to swallow in my wretched humanness. It takes me years to learn things, and then I find myself re-learning the same things, over and over and over again. I think all of us have certain issues in our lives that we constantly battle and it takes our whole lives to work on them.

I am a quick learner, but perhaps not when it comes to some spiritual matters. Those go to the very depths of existence. That’s different than knowing the answers on exams or quickly picking up a new hobby or concept.

I will need to surrender and be tested like gold in fire and be beaten and struggle over and over again until I can say, like St. Ignatius of Loyola: YOUR LOVE AND YOUR GRACE ARE ENOUGH FOR ME.

And that, is a life-long journey.

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU! HELP ME TRUST YOU MORE!

PRAYERS FOR TRUST IN GOD:

Litany of Trust (click for prayer) Sisters of Life.org

St. Faustina Litany of Divine Mercy/Trust

Prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola:

Take O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me. I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.

And here’s another great song I used to play a lot at bedtime when I was first saved as a teenager. (Also a song we would play on guitar at Mass.) You can tell I really like this St. Ignatius prayer!

They That Wait Upon the Lord

Ordinary Moments, Patience, Spirituality

There is a song I used to sing at Prayer Meetings as a teen. These are the words:

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength

They shall mount up on wings as eagles

They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint

Teach me Lord, teach me Lord, to wait.

(Isaiah 40:31)

Waiting. Sometimes I think that’s all we do in life. You’d think I’d be good at it by now, but I’m not. I may even be worse at it the longer I live from having to put up with more.

Lately I do a lot of waiting, mostly for dental appointments.

I doubt there is any human on earth who likes to wait, unless the waiting is getting us out of something.

Waiting is a daily part of life. Waiting in grocery store lines. Waiting in traffic jams, waiting for a bus, a plane, an Uber.

Waiting for the chicken to cook. Waiting for the microwave to finish. How many of us stand there getting zapped? (not a good idea btw)

Waiting for vacations. Waiting for holidays, either to begin….or to end! Waiting for……….you get the idea.

Then there’s waiting for the big things like a pregnancy, a baby to arrive (or in my case, babies), waiting for healing of mind, body and soul.

Waiting for things that may or may not happen. Waiting for our eternal reward (no hurry there).

But the kind of waiting that bothers me the most is waiting on other people. Waiting for them to do what they said they were going to do. (pet peeve of mine when they don’t!)

Waiting for the right person to marry, for your little kids to get ready quickly when going out; waiting to graduate, to marry, to retire. Waiting for people to change (not necessarily going to happen).

So with all this exhausting waiting, how do we deal with it? Fret? Worry? Try to force change? Yeah I am guilty of all of those.

But the Bible says trust in God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

There is so much more God sees that we don’t.

But wait as we might it’s all in God’s good timing not ours.

Our timing is almost never God’s timing. But God’s timing is perfect. In hindsight I see many times where it truly was! I need to remember this when I am experiencing long-suffering.

The Greek word for patience or long-suffering is Makrothumia (out of 2 Greek words meaning “long” and “temper”) which in other words is remaining patient without being provoked to anger. Having a “long fuse” rather than a “short fuse”. Our old nature is short-fused unless we have the fruit of the Holy Spirit, one of which is Patience.

Fortunately, God is long-suffering with us sinners.

St. Monica was patient, never giving up praying years and years for her son to turn his life around. He turned out to be St. Augustine, one of the greats.

Sometimes we have to be patient because God is working on the other person(s) in the scenario. It’s something we often don’t think of. We figure we are ready for something now, but we have to wait until everything falls into place and this frequently involves other people and situations.

I have spent far too much time in my life waiting on other people rather than God.

Is this a sin? Then I am convicting myself. We need to wait on God alone, the author and finisher.

When I woke up and started writing these words that were flowing out of my head, the Donna Reed show from the 1950’s/60’s was on TV. Ironically that episode was about an elderly doctor who was scheduled to retire but really didn’t want to. His wife divulged he was feeling so useless that, “He sits there like a fireman waiting for the telephone to ring.”

Who are we waiting for? Man or God? Do we trust our future to God? Or do we keep waiting in front of a phone or a computer screen for something to happen. For that visit, that call, that text, that next “like” on social media.

Most likely nothing will happen if we do nothing. If I want to write a Substack article but never get around to doing it, it isn’t going to write itself.

Sometimes we sit there waiting when we should be moving on, or taking action. God will take care of us while we wait.

And keep in mind, sometimes waiting is not necessarily passivity either. Sometimes it’s an important part of the process.

A good prayer to start each day:

In the morning let me hear of your mercy, for in you I trust. Show me the path I should walk, for I entrust my life to you.” (Psalm 143:8)

So stop waiting and get on with life. God is in control. Trust in Him and put everything in His hands. He will answer your prayers in His timing.

And so the song continues:

“Help me not to rely on what others do, but to wait dear Lord for the answer from you.”

Restoration

Aging, Ordinary Moments, Spirituality, Wellness

A popular thing many people do is home restoration and I enjoy watching those home reno shows. I, however, do mouth restoration, which I do NOT enjoy.

Good teeth do not run in my family. Ever since I was a child, I was frequently at the dentist.

My mother would lug me onto the city bus to my first dentist when I was around age 7. Most women didn’t drive back then and most people certainly didn’t have two cars. The office was above a well-known ice cream parlor, so I would get a delicious treat there afterwards–the only good thing about the excursion.

But the office itself was creepy and dingy—very old-fashioned. I remember a hard non-reclining black chair produced without any type of comfort in mind. There was no novocaine! Ouch! Not to mention the spittoon. A horrible germ infested swirl of water for spitting out the crud in your mouth. I had to use those spittoons most of my life. And miraculously, I have survived!

Before too long my first dentist was killed in a car accident. After that we tried about every other dentist within walking distance from our home, many of questionable skill. The stories I could tell!!

My mother would complain they drilled too deep for the fillings (which they probably did as now I have very few natural teeth left.) I got my first crown in college, which sadly, that tooth is now long gone along with a few others.

I recently heard dentists are taught, “DRILL, FILL AND BILL”. Seemed about right to me.

Thankfully, modern dentistry is a far cry from years gone by. There is pain relief, more comfortable reclining chairs, computer-driven modern technology and X-rays. Some places have TVs and toys and books for children. I can listen to my music while the work is being done. You might even get a microwave-warmed neck pillow.

To my dismay, I am finding myself in need of a LOT more future dental work, therefore I have been musing a lot about restoration.

My recent surgical extraction, was psychologically traumatizing because I didn’t see it coming and I now have a gaping hole in my mouth forced to figure out what to do about it, if anything.

Essentially, a part of my body, even though small, is now GONE. Forever. Yanked out. I couldn’t control the tears rolling down my face while I was being stitched up. I thought of the Bible verse: And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. (Matt. 18:9) I think it really should refer to teeth.

Just as in my mouth, God plucks out and removes the bad and rotten things in our lives. He removes what is broken and heals and cleanses us restoring us through our life situations. Unlike at the dentist, we don’t always get pain relief during this process. Often we must suffer through God’s restoration process.

Besides repairing what is broken, the point of restoration is typically to improve something. God is the Great Restorer. The Master Builder. The ultimate fixer-upper handyman, of bodies and souls.

The restoration process is not fun. It’s not pretty. It’s sometimes downright bloody. Things are taken out, destroyed and changed to make room for the new, and hopefully improved, version of ourselves.

We become a new person in Christ, like gold tested in fire. (1 Peter 1:7) We are a work in progress and being purified to become ever more beautiful than before.

I don’t know what level of function my ongoing mouth restoration will provide but hopefully at some point it will be better than it was before. This is where patience comes in, of which I have none.

I also care more about functionality than looks. That my teeth work, I’m out of pain, and that I can eat normally. And maybe, after the restoration, I will still have some teeth left to smile with!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder anyway. Someone could spend mega-dollars remodeling their house while another person could think it is the ugliest thing they ever saw.

Maybe that is how God is with us, we don’t have to look pretty, he sees beyond outward appearances to our heart and who we really are, who He made us to be. He sees our purpose and functionality for His Kingdom. He restores our soul for His honor and glory.

Restoration of any kind also involves high cost.

That is why many of us do not remodel our homes, or at least not all at once. My mouth is going to cost FAR too much with unknown return on my investment. My finances will probably limit how much restoration I can actually accomplish.

Likewise, when God restores us, there is also a cost. We must die to ourselves and our plans and seek His will. We must suffer. But unlike us, God is not limited in what He can accomplish.

The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little. (1 Peter 5:10)

As with any restoration project, you need the right people for the right jobs. Jesus is the right one for the task of our restoration—physically, mentally and most importantly, spiritually.

We need to be restored to a right relationship with Christ by turning from our sin and darkness, seeking forgiveness and trusting in him for our restoration.

So as my mouth is being restored (hopefully) I can be assured that I am also simultaneously being spiritually restored by the Great Restorer.

We can look forward to one day being fully restored for all eternity. And it will be even better than anything we could ever have imagined.

The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. (Psalm 23:1-3)

The Storm was Raging – and God showed up

Courage, Ordinary Moments, Spirituality

I usually don’t write off-the-cuff without a lot of editing nor do I usually finish an article in one day for whatever reason–too busy, things come up, lack of motivation, etc.

But my stress level is through the roof today so here goes. This will be more raw.

I had things on my to-do list today I had to put off because the sky this morning literally turned from day to night! A storm was looming but it looked more like the end of the world, it was that scary out there.

For hours.

And I was alone.

I was trying everything to remain calm. Praying like crazy. Repeating “Jesus I trust in you” over and over! Even splashing Holy Water around the house. Calm just isn’t in my personality or vocabulary.

I was imagining all sorts of potential crises.

Why am I like this?

The TV was on which made things worse! Continuous storm and tornado warnings no matter what channel I had on. It used to be that not every station would air these warnings. I finally had to turn the TV off and put on worship music! They want to make you crazy!!! Then the town tornado alarm went off! (Thankfully there is a way to turn off those ear-piercing weather warnings on cell phones.)

I vacuumed, washed dishes, whatever I could think of to distract myself, better than nothing, but didn’t help much.

I used every spiritual warfare tool that came to mind to try and relieve my out of control worry and stress.

“Satan flee from me in the name of the precious blood of Jesus!!”

I prayed to be cleansed of my sins in case I die.

Which leads me to the real issue….fear of death. Even as a believer I am afraid of death. It’s the great unknown. Nobody wants to die. Faith is one thing, but actually knowing what the afterlife is like from personal experience is another.

I thought a lot about my favorite Bible passage where Jesus calmed the sea and Peter walked on water. I prayed for Jesus to calm the storm raging outside. Which thankfully my area was not in the worst of it! (Matt. 14:22-33) Plus I did have an upcoming dental appointment looming while all this was going on and wondering what to do about that.

But! Jesus did calm the storm RIGHT AT THE TIME I NEEDED TO LEAVE and I was able to get there!

It’s hard for me to trust, easier said than done. God seems to be giving me a LOT of practice lately. I am weary of it. How much can I take? I feel like I’m at the end of what I can bear. I guess I haven’t learned my lessons yet.

Just as things were a bit calmer, (and well after my dental appointment) another storm blew through and it was even worse!! Super high winds, tons of rain literally falling in sheets. My husband was his way home from work and I was praying he would make it without incident (he did).

More worry! More anxiety! More praying! Where’s the flashlights? I hope they have batteries……just in case.

Phew! Finally made it through another round. The threat of storms is still not over for today, it remains dark and gloomy outside, nor is the threat ever over for the storms of life. Maybe I have to get used to it. Sometimes there just seems to be no end in sight when it comes to life’s situations. I could really use a break from all the storms of life hammering me lately, even for a day!

Then oddly at dinnertime, out of nowhere, the sun came out while it was still pouring sheets of rain. God gave me some light in the darkness! And! A double rainbow appeared! I couldn’t believe it! Sometimes storms can be over in an instant! They don’t last forever!

I threw on my raincoat and ran outside. I was so relieved and in tears seeing that rainbow. God blessed me with His visible sign that He was indeed taking care of me through the storm and all my stupidity and worry. I didn’t expect that at all. It was a beautiful gift I didn’t deserve. Thank you Jesus!

Thinking back on this scary, stressful day, I hope I will be better prepared for the next storm in life whatever it may be. Until then I prefer to have the night turn into day instead of the other way around. Jesus be with us through all the storms of life!

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matt. 11-28-30)

Cast all you anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Trust in Him at all times you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:8)

You Take Good Care of Me

Courage, Ordinary Moments, Peace, Spirituality

I was listening to the song “Sparrows” by Cory Asbury while I was plugged in to my music during a root canal at the endodontist. The following words jumped out at me, “the tree that’s planted by the water isn’t fazed by the fire so why should I be?” Cuz you take good care of me…”

I thought about how it applied to what I have been going through, especially lately. Jesus is the living water, if we are rooted and planted in Him we do not have to worry about the fire in our lives when it comes.

I’ve had many months of stressful dental situations and looks like I will be going through many more.

The night before the root canal procedure, which is not new to me, I was getting a sense of peace that everything was going to be ok, instead of my usual hysteria over dental work. This type of peace does not happen often for me so when it does, I take notice!

This is the peace only God can give. It has happened numerous times in my life. It is one way in which God shows up and speaks to me.

This is not to say I feel peaceful all the time since this occurrence, far from it, but at least I had momentary peace that passes all understanding to help me get through what will be an ongoing ordeal. So maybe it’s a sign I am going in the right direction and things will work out, even though so much is still up in the air.

Another time I felt this great sense of peace that can only come from God is when I was pregnant with triplets. What a time that was! One of the ultrasound measurements pointed to a possible issue with my son. As we were on the way to the doctor I got such a sense of peace that no matter what happens, it will be okay. Well thankfully everything did turn out okay! But it was a scary time I will never forget.

I think there are so many times in life where we all can look back and see how God took care of us in various ways and situations. “God-incidences” some people call them.

I suppose some might attribute it to fate or the stars being aligned or other such nonsense but God is more powerful than all that. Who made the stars? Who aligns them? He is the maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them – he remains faithful forever. (Psalm 146:6)

At least in writing this I may try to convince myself that an invisible God really is taking care of me at all times. It is me who doesn’t always believe it because sometimes doubts creep in.

If God can take care of me, He can take care of you too, if you are willing to put your trust in Him.

Do We Ask God for Enough?

Ordinary Moments, Spirituality

For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. (Matt. 7:8-11)

Sometimes I think we don’t ask God for things often enough.

The little, mundane things we may need help with throughout an ordinary day.

Maybe we don’t want to bother anyone to ask for help, much less God. Maybe we think we can handle things ourselves. Perhaps we view our need as a sign of weakness. Or maybe we feel we will owe something in return.

Often we can feel like our prayers are a Honey-Do list for God and we are asking for far too much, far too often rather than spending time listening. Being quiet with God is, of course, important. And perseverance in prayer is necessary.

But what about the everyday, ordinary stuff as we go about our days? Do we ask God for help right then and there?

I was driving to the store and I saw a freight train up ahead. I found myself praying to God that I wouldn’t have to wait at that train and also not be stopped by one on the way back home. I was already feeling fragile and the feeling of being trapped indefinitely can do me in with anxiety.

Lo and behold, the train ended before I got to the tracks and I drove right through! I was so relieved, “Thank you Jesus!” I seriously felt as if He had just parted the Red Sea just just for me! I was so grateful. And! I did not catch a train on the return trek.

It reminded me to ask for simple, specific things like this more often. I’m sure I won’t be able to avoid every train for the rest of my life, but it made my day and increased my faith.

I wonder how much help and favor I could have been getting in the past if only I had asked! God wants us to come to Him and depend on Him for EVERYTHING, each day, not just the big stuff or only when we’re desperate.

Notice in the above scripture from Matthew, Jesus says: “your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask.” He knows what we need ahead of time but He instructs us to ask. Because asking requires faith and trust.

Would you be inclined to help someone if they didn’t appear to need it or didn’t ask?

A mother can’t always help her child if the child doesn’t make their needs known. We can’t read minds. As it says in the scripture, we won’t give our child a snake if he asks for a fish. But the key is to ask because it never hurts to ask. We have free will. If we don’t ask, it can be our loss.

God is the Mighty One who made the entire universe and all that is in it. Imagine if our feeble human minds realized just how much power He has that we could tap into! It is mind-boggling. I think most of us are tapping into only a minuscule portion.

So don’t be afraid to ask God for exactly what you need, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. He desires for us to call upon Him in all things.

He is the God that cares for you! You never know how He may want to bless you! Even with something as simple as parting the “Red Sea” for a train!

HELP!

Ordinary Moments, Prayer, Spirituality

My most frequent prayer throughout each day is, “Lord Jesus, help me.” Only four short words, it sounds almost too simple or like it doesn’t “count” as praying, but it can be powerful!

Such a humble, basic prayer is perfect for when you are at the end of the rope, too scared or too sick to pray, or too anything for that matter.

It’s good for emergency situations as well as when things are just fine.

It never hurts to ask God for help as you go about your day or even before you need it!

Any time you call upon the Creator of the universe, you are tapping into the most immense power possible. How can you go wrong? Worst case, nothing will happen and you’ll be talking to yourself.

Pascal’s Wager surmises: if there is no God, you haven’t lost anything by believing. If there is a God, you’ve lost everything, including eternal happiness. Odds say it’s worth believing for anyone who has doubts.

Normally, prayer doesn’t cause God to swoop down like a Magic Genie and immediately answer all our requests or solve all our problems. I wish that were the case, but much of the time it’s hard to tell if He is helping at all. And some things just take time. Lots of time.

So we must trust and have faith and in the meantime it gives us the strength and courage to go on.

And it gives us hope. There is a lot to be said for hope. Hope is the fuel that keeps us going.

I am reminded of the 1960’s TV show I Dream of Jeannie. Even Jeannie wasn’t always able to get her Master, Major Anthony Nelson, out of trouble immediately, every time. She would sometimes be tied up in a situation or get locked in her bottle and other times she chose to ignore Major Nelson to teach him a lesson. Sometimes God needs to teach us a lesson.

But every now and then there are occasions where God does swoop down pretty quickly. One such time was when I was in the hospital popping out my youngest. I was in a drug-induced stupor but I did have a spiritual moment when things became too much to bear and I screamed aloud, “Oh Jesus help me!” A few moments later my daughter was born and the doc answered, “He did.” God spoke to me through the doctor and what a miraculous relief it was!

Plenty of people in the Bible are found calling out to Jesus for help, (not just women in childbirth). One of my favorite passages is when Peter was walking on the water and he started sinking and cried, “Lord, save me!” (Matt. 14:30) It was a short “prayer” out of desperation. Often we feel desperate.

Jesus Himself cried out to the Father in desperation for help before His crucifixion. We can take consolation that even Jesus, the Son of God, didn’t get the magic genie answer He was hoping for. He still had to suffer and die before there was a resurrection. (Luke 22:42-44)

God is our Father and wants to help us if we cry out to Him, just as earthly fathers help their children. If you painted a beautiful picture, you wouldn’t want your work ruined or destroyed. Just as God has created all of us as His beautiful works of art, His heart longs to alleviate our misery when we look to Him. He is always waiting, always ready to save us with open arms.

“Lord Jesus, help me” is a simple way to set our minds on God and remember He is with us in all the moments of life.

It reminds me that I am not in charge and I need His help. I belong to God, I am His. Constantly submitting to Him keeps my ego in check and opens me up to receiving the help and blessings He wishes to bestow upon me.

Apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

So next time you need help, whether you are having a crisis or just a normal day, think of Jesus. Ask Him for help and allow His power to flow through you. And pray, “Lord Jesus, help me.”

No Dishes in Heaven – change is inevitable

Aging, Ordinary Moments, Spirituality

I never liked “old” people. I found most of them wrinkly, gross and scary. I still do, except now I am one of them.

I liked working with preschoolers. They were small, cute, excited about everything and just loved you. But I always dreaded when we had to take our class of tots to interact with the senior day care attendees. The older adults behaved just like the preschoolers.

But when I had turned 65, I started feeling like I was officially “old”, on the younger side of the oldsters, but still, OLD. There is only one direction I am going in now and there’s no turning back. Quite frankly, it’s scary.

I have friends in their 70’s! And some have reached 80! This is a new world for me. I can’t say I like it. I do, however, like the wisdom I have gained and not caring about what others think.

Buying dishes, of all things, is what brought all this flooding to my mind. I have been wanting new dishes for yearzzz. Our old ones were chipped and well-worn by a family of 6. It was beyond time.

I had never really found any dishes I liked enough to buy, until now. And the price was great. And I had a gift card. I bought them. I was thrilled.

The minute I got home I started cleaning out my cabinets to make space for the new dishes. Then I realized they are larger and heavier. They don’t fit in the cabinet as well. I’m not even going to be able to put all of them in the same cabinet! I had to come up with another place to stash the rest. No easy task. This was a bigger project of rearranging the household than I had counted on. I was exhausted.

My joy started to turn into annoyance. What had I done? I should have just left things as they were. After all, it worked. Should I return them after years of hunting?

I felt like my entire life was turned upside down—changed—by something as silly as dishes. New dishes I had been longing for. How am I going to deal with this and actually enjoy them?

They are simple, white, and shiny without any pattern. Food looks more appetizing on white, doesn’t it? (It does.) I have to tilt the large ones sideways to get them into our too-small microwave. When the kids come to visit, they will probably wreck them.

After using these white ceramic discs that have traumatized my life for a few weeks now, I am getting a little more used to them. They no longer make me want to cry. Besides, I threw out the boxes so they can’t be returned.

I have to learn to live with the change.

I hope this isn’t a foreshadowing of a lot more changes I will have to learn to live with as I age! But alas, I’m afraid it is. Things that will be more challenging than fitting dishes into a cabinet! Life is full of change.

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.
~Alan Watts

Who thought dishes could be so stressful? That is the problem with “stuff”. Material things take our eyes off God.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)

These crazy dishes are teaching me a spiritual lesson. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. We are running the race, we don’t take extra baggage with us to weigh us down. The material things we accumulate on this earth aren’t important but who we fix our eyes on is.

I just hope there are no dishes in heaven.

Don’t Trust the Science

Culture, Ordinary Moments, Psychology, Science, Spirituality

Not everything has to be proven by a “scientist” or a study. Life itself is the best teacher.

This was very clear during the covid nonsense. Money, corporations, grants, powerful people, often dictate studies and their outcomes. “Follow the science” just meant follow what those who thought they were in charge said….or else.

Of course research can be important, especially when it comes to health matters, but during covid we saw how health related research didn’t matter.

There was plenty of evidence that certain medications helped covid, yet they were not allowed due to imposed “protocols”. Others got rich while patients became victims.

In regards to vaccines and autism, food allergies and the rest of the ever-growing list of childhood ailments, research obviously doesn’t matter to those who have something to gain by keeping humans ill. But my life experience tells me something is very wrong. (1 in 34 children now have autism? Do you really think our leaders want properly functioning brains?)

There is also plenty of research that masks do not work, but did anyone care during covid?

The problem with research is it can be manipulated, buried or destroyed. It can definitely be biased.

I learned this fairly early in life. I had a friend who worked tirelessly in a lab of a prestigious university. There was continuous pressure to get the outcome the professor wanted, no matter what. I was appalled. That goes against the very nature of science and research.

During covid the true scientific facts did not matter one bit and there are many examples other than covid. True science can be ignored or re-defined to serve the best interest of certain parties or agendas.

Even when truth and proof is available, people were lied to and believed the lies. The truth gets silenced, banned, deleted, termed “misinformation”. The masses allowed others to “teach” them rather than thinking or researching things for themselves.

This is why our own experiences and life is the best teacher. We don’t need to look outside ourselves to so-called “experts” for every answer to life’s issues. We are the experts of our own journey.

Through our own life observations we can identify falsehoods if we are paying attention and capable of critical thinking. (You wonder why they don’t like to teach critical thinking in schools?)

Don’t be fooled, people who have agendas of any kind, do use “science” and psychology to their advantage. They manipulate societies and create fear. Fear is control. Fear is big business. Just watch the TV ads.

People will also tell you don’t “judge”, it’s discrimination, you are being “divisive”. Don’t listen to this baloney! We need to make judgments in order to survive and not get taken in by nefarious people and agendas and to keep ourselves safe.

Making judgments is survival.

You constantly need to make judgments while driving, in business dealings, in finding a mate. You need to be able to judge the character of someone you are potentially going to spend the rest of your life with. When voting you need to make judgments about the candidates.

Good judgment is critical in daily life.

We begin to obtain good judgment through our failures and successes, our relationships, our faith.

“Judge not lest ye be judged” (Matthew 7:1-2) is a commonly misused Bible verse. Non-believers and people who want to push their agendas or make sin acceptable like to quote that verse. But what does it really mean? Even the devil can quote the Bible. The Bible becomes used for a sinful agenda rather than God’s agenda.

‘Don’t judge’ is often used as a way to validate sin. Jesus never condones sin.

And so what if we are “judged”? We are being judged by others our entire lives even if we don’t realize it. Why should that bother us? Sometimes we may even deserve judgment or learn how to improve because of it. Does that mean we should never make judgments about situations or people? I think not.

Therefore, judgment is necessary, but gets a bad rap.

This is not to say we will never make incorrect judgments. We need to use wisdom to make proper judgments to the best of our ability. Sometimes this may mean not drawing conclusions from looks or appearances alone. There is more to a book than its cover.

If we never “judge” and we trust everyone and everything, we could find ourselves in a very dangerous or deadly situation. If someone is coming at us with a knife we better make the judgment that the person might kill us and act immediately!

The entire legal system is based on judgment and even lawyers frequently make wrong judgments either in error or sometimes on purpose.

Only Jesus can accurately judge people because He can see their hearts, we cannot. We must rely on experience, outward signs and divine intervention to make our judgments. Yet He is the ultimate Judge and none of us will escape God’s final judgment at the end of our lives.

Many of us have heard our parents say, ”Don’t do that or you’ll learn the hard way” which was mostly used as a threat and to encourage obedience. But it is true, life is the great teacher. We grow through difficulty and “learning the hard way”. Someone else can attempt to spare us a bit of suffering by their warning, but ultimately we have to learn from our own experiences.

So trust your own judgments. If you are following Christ and a believer, the Holy Spirit will guide you.

You are the “expert” of your own life. You’ve earned your “degree” in the classroom of life. You don’t always need textbooks or studies to point the way.

Now go live your life, judge wisely and always continue learning!

I Could Just Cry

Ordinary Moments, Shopping, Spirituality

I could just cry. Because of the severe pain in my back and the kindness of a stranger.

I strained my back a couple of weeks ago and the pain and limited movement hasn’t gone away, but I needed to go grocery shopping. Somehow I would have to manage.

A lady behind me in line asked if she could go ahead of me since she only had two items. I said “of course”, because it always takes me forever to unload my groceries onto the conveyor belt.

To my surprise, she asked me if she could unload my cart for me, seemingly out of gratitude, which was unusual in itself. I was so thrilled because my back was killing me! I told her I really appreciated that since I was in a lot of back pain and she became all the more glad to help! I was so grateful she was sent my way, like an angel!

Perhaps it’s because I mumbled one of my “God help me” prayers that I would get through shopping somehow, not really expecting it to be answered. Never underestimate the power of prayer!

Even though the woman appeared somewhat rushed, I could tell she was making a conscious effort to look deeply into my eyes, not just a quick glance. It made me feel like I mattered.

Many days we can think the world has gone full-on mad, filled with self-centered, rude, crazy and evil people, but in actuality, there are still many more truly kind and helpful people in this world.

The interaction with this unknown woman spared my back a bit and made me want to continue the kindness cycle and be kind to someone else. And isn’t that what it’s all about?

As an added bonus, it is now making me think more about the topic of kindness which is not usually in my train of thought, since I am generally not one for positivity.

All this from one brief interaction with a stranger who decided to lend a helping hand. A fellow human being that I will probably never see again but who has profoundly touched my life with her simple act of kindness.

How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it. George Elliston

What stops us from being kind? Maybe sometimes we are afraid to reach out. We don’t want to get involved, we feel embarrassed, or we don’t want to risk rejection. Perhaps we are in physical pain, as I was, or hurting in some other way. (Actually, after this incident I did try to do a kind deed in the parking lot, but it didn’t work out. I will have to look for another opportunity.)

I know it’s been said many times before, but it is often good to opt for kindness. Remember those Random Acts of Kindness books? They are collecting dust on my shelf. Kindness makes the small, ordinary moments in our day become sacred. It is also good for the well-being of both parties and has a positive ripple effect.

You never know what people may be going through and you might just make their day or even change another person’s life. It can mean more to them at that moment than you’ll ever know. I think my simple encounter at the grocery store has changed me and I may just dust off those books for inspiration.

I could still just cry, out of pain, but also out of joy and a restored faith in humanity.

So let us all forge ahead and choose kindness. How can you show someone kindness today?

Marred, Like My Kitchen Table

Ordinary Moments, Parenting, Spirituality

marred – damaged or spoiled to a certain extent; made less perfect, attractive, useful, etc. (dictionary.com)
marred – to ruin or diminish the perfection or wholeness of (Merriam Webster)
marred – blemished by injury or rough wear (wordnik.com)

This describes my kitchen table. It has been marred over the years and looks quite beat up with scrapes and scratches, dents and dings.

When we were first married, we bought the kitchen nook set “naked” meaning we had to refinish it. It was a beastly project, sanding, staining, polyurethane-ing over and over until it was just right. Young and in love while trying to save money, I was game to try it. I will tell you now, I would never undertake such a project again.

But this kitchen nook set, with its handy storage benches, has served us well over the years and 4 kids later.

Recently, upon glancing at my marred kitchen table, years of memories came flooding over me. The table’s wear is proof of years gone by. That table had “lived” in 3 different locations and one day a fourth, as I want to give it to my youngest who excitedly treasures the thought of refinishing it back to good as new. She has done these types of projects before, and unlike me, enjoys them.

Besides, with its marred surface and memories, it should stay in the family. Memories of triplets eating around the table with their booster seats, endless craft projects, dinners with friends & family, carving pumpkins, birthdays celebrated and still future memories to be made. A kitchen table has turned out to be a very emotional place rendering it invaluable.

No Caption

But aren’t we all a bit like that table? Marred in some way? Whether by the ups and downs of life, handicaps or failings, disease or sin. We are all marred by the scars of life.

But Jesus can restore us no matter how badly we have been marred, just as my daughter can restore the wooden table. Wood can be refinished, just like us.

We are molded by the hands of God like the potter molds clay. We are weathered and worn and beat up like the table but we still have value. Jesus is the great refinisher. Makes sense, since He was a carpenter’s son.

What has been marred in us can be restored. We can appreciate who we have become through our scars, dents and dings because they have made us more beautiful and who we are today.

My daughter may choose a different color of stain, but it will still be the same table underneath. Over the years we may look or seem different, but we are still who God made us.

We can always have hope in Christ for our restoration and refinishing.

I was fascinated (and relieved) when I learned many cultures deliberately include an imperfection in their artwork, rugs, pottery, etc. In Japanese aesthetics, for instance, it’s known as “wabi sabi”, a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. It is found in many forms of Japanese art.

Our flaws make us unique, just like each piece of crafted artwork. If we look beyond the imperfections we can see the beauty in ourselves and others.

I could cover my kitchen table with a cute or frilly tablecloth to hide the wear and tear and protect it from further abuse, as I have at times, but now I prefer to keep it “naked” with all its dings and dents and memories. I don’t have to worry about ruining it, because it is already seasoned and each scrape and dent will add a new flavor.

Now, every time I look at my kitchen table, it reminds me of life lived and that nothing and none of us is perfect, and that’s okay.

A bruised reed He will not break…. (Matthew 12:20)

Yet, Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:7)

But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; (2 Corinthians 7-9)

Dogs, the Horror

Culture, Ordinary Moments, Parenting, Pets

In 2020, my son acquired his long awaited first pet, a six-week-old puppy. He wanted to bring it over to our house. We were horrified. My husband figured if we ever wanted to see our son, we would have to let him bring the dog.

I don’t like dogs.

I am afraid of dogs.

I know nothing about dogs.

I awaited the arrival of this creature called “Mochi” with a tinge of excitement but mostly fear and horror.

When “she” arrived, she was cute enough, but what a fireball of energy!!! Jumping, running, wanting to play and bite. Everything was new and exciting. She was an exhausting furry whirlwind. I was fearing for my life!

Along with Mochi came two huge bags of dog “necessities” such as toys, blankets, food, a potty training bell, which I didn’t even know existed. It was just like when I had to lug my infant triplets over to someone’s house with all their paraphernalia. And when my youngest arrived on the scene we had to drag along her green plastic rocking horse, or let’s just say, we would not have had a pleasant time.

This dog was just like a baby, or even worse! More work than three babies at once! It required CONSTANT attention until luckily it took a BRIEF nap under my laundry basket, which momentarily confined it.

The puppy also needed to be trained. To go potty OUTSIDE (when she pressed the bell with her paw), to sit, stay, lie down and most importantly, not to bite! As I observed my son initiating the training process, I was struck by the simplicity of it. Do this, in other words obey, and you are rewarded. It didn’t take much thought. Just please the guy in charge and life is good.

Since it was 2020, it was during the scamdemic and I noticed training the dog was a lot like people in those days (and unfortunately some still in 2025). People behaved just like dogs! How many didn’t think at all and just obeyed? Do this or that and you will be rewarded. Hey you get to live!

Maybe.

It was pretty scary to watch humans give up their freedom, thoughts and opinions for “free stuff” or for a perceived reward. Living to please whoever they thought was in charge. Conditioned, just like a dog. (Remember good old Pavlov’s dogs? The basis for the theory of classical conditioning in psychology.)

Even with the dog we sometimes say the word “treat” to manipulate its behavior and don’t pan out with the treat. During the scam people were lied to and manipulated.

Apparently it was so much easier for most people to be told to “sit”. Just sit in your house and don’t leave. “Stay” 6 feet apart. “Lie down” all your freedoms and opinions. Then you might get a treat. Pathetic.

The dog also has a crate (aka “cage”) for times when it needs to chill, be punished or be confined when the humans leave so it doesn’t get into trouble. When you say “go home” to the dog, it knows to go inside there. It obeys, because after all that is what the owner wants. I have observed that dogs like it in the cage and feel safe and secure in there. Kind of like how people are told to swaddle their infants in a blanket for security.

This is not unlike people during the scamdemic. They willingly stayed in their ~~cages~~, oops, homes, during the scam and felt secure there. Seeming to think death would pass them over because they were obedient.

Humans are lucky. We have the gift of knowledge, a brain and higher thought processes than an animal. Yet we so often waste this gift.

I watched in horror as most people just shut down their brains and lives during the scamdemic. No one had to comply with that insanity or lock themselves up. If no one had, things would have turned out quite differently.

Humans have choices and opportunities. A dog has no choice, he is basically a slave, at the mercy of his owner. During the scamdemic, people became slaves to the government and evil tyrants by their own choice or inaction.

We have FREEDOM. We should not take this for granted and preserve it at all costs, even unto death!

I observed a lot of people acquired dogs or other new pets during the scamdemic. (Perhaps they got so much government handout money they were able to afford it.) The people across the street got two dogs. My son later obtained a second dog as well.

This is how people entertained and pacified themselves instead of fighting for freedom? And since their kids were stuck home from school, a new pet was a great way to occupy them. Perks like this made staying home seem more desirable, covering up the tyranny and evil that it actually was.

I am glad my son has his dogs. He always wanted one as a child and loves them dearly and they bring him immeasurable joy. It teaches him how to take care of something and be responsible.

Now, five years later, the dogs have even stolen my heart, which I never thought possible. Life is full of surprises.

But dogs should remain dogs and people should act like free thinking humans, not obedient dogs, no matter what is going on in the world around us.

Baby Mochi going to her new home

Mochi the golden doodle

Speculation – is it worth it?

Culture, Ordinary Moments, Spirituality, Wellness

There is so much speculation in news reports, most of which never happens or at least not the way it was proposed. Part of it is to hook the reader or to spread false rumors for some gain or even to create worry about some future event.

Your head can be spinning from information overload which can lead to worry, stress, bad decisions or sleepless nights.

No one can predict the future. We can only guess or make judgments based on facts or previous experience.

If we reach retirement age, we will obviously need income, so we need to plan. Yet at the same time we must realize our plans can be foiled in a myriad of ways. The money system can crash, disasters strike, an unexpected illness hits. The list is endless.

Preparation is good and necessary, worry is not.

We should, of course, prepare for a trip by packing. We should have emergency items like flashlights, radios, batteries and water on hand for a storm or other disaster. This is being responsible and also just common sense.

We can take a warning from the Parable of the 10 Virgins in Matthew 25.

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.”
(Matt. 25:1-4)

The foolish virgins who did not bring oil for their lamps were not prepared and were locked out of the wedding feast while they went to look for oil.

Speculation about the future, at its worst, can paralyze us into complete inaction.

We need to consider various outcomes when we have a decision to make but unreasonable speculation digs a hole we can’t easily climb out of. Worrying about endless imagined scenarios does us no good. We must use our best judgment based on the facts at hand.

Nothing in life is 100% guaranteed, but we can trust in Jesus and that He will take care of us no matter what situation we find ourselves in. That He does promise.

It is too stressful to constantly worry about the future. We need to live in the present and not worry about tomorrow.

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27)

This moment is the only time granted to us and we should not waste it by speculating about what could happen in the future, much of which doesn’t even matter or won’t ever happen. Things have a way of taking care of themselves.

God always gives us the strength we need when we need it, and not before. What is needed is trust.

When the Israelites were wandering around in the desert, God gave everyone enough manna for that day only. The ones who gathered extra for the next day, found it rotten. (Exodus 6:16-20)

Taking another lesson from the Parable of the 10 Virgins:

“Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matt. 15:13)

Many like to speculate about the end times, but this is foolish. We do not know the day or the hour. Live out God’s will for you TODAY, which is the only time you DO have and you will be ready for whatever is to come.

Take your life back and put your trust in Jesus and…

STOP SPECULATING!

Resource: The Present: The Gift that Makes you Happier and More Successful at Work and in Life, Today! by Spencer Johnson

PRAYER:

Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather look to them with full hope that, as they arise, God will deliver you out of them. He has kept you hitherto, – do you but hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all things; and, when you cannot stand, He will bear you in His arms. Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

— St. Francis de Sales

Just an Ordinary Day

Ordinary Moments, Psychology, Spirituality

1-16-2023

It’s Ordinary Time. If you are Catholic, you know what that means. The Christmas season is officially over, (sigh of relief!) but don’t get too excited, it’s almost Lent. “Always something” as we like to say. And so it is in the Church, and in life.

As I get older, I appreciate the ordinary much more. I even prefer it. Just an ordinary day, what is more blessed than that? A day where nothing extraordinarily good, or bad, happens. I’ll take it!

Years ago, someone told me to be thankful for an ordinary day because she had just gotten word that a friend’s child was helicoptered to the hospital and sadly it was no ordinary day.

It was a reminder that we must count our blessings each day for we don’t know what tomorrow, or even the next minute, will bring. (This awareness riddles me with constant anxiety but that is another article.)

Ordinary doesn’t have to mean something negative, however. We often think ordinary is boring, nothing special, even worthless.

But ordinary can mean life is good and as it should be. Often, getting through a regular day has enough adventure of its own!

One statistic states that 60% of our day is composed of routine tasks so we need to make them count. We can notice the sun on our face while we’re outdoors running errands, we can do a random act of kindness for someone, or we can make it a point to be more conscious of the beauty around us.

A few years ago there was a row of beautiful sunflowers in my neighborhood, so I walked over to take some photos. We can find extraordinary moments in each day if we but notice.

Our daily routines give us a rhythm and flow I have only come to appreciate the older I get. When I was young, I thought most old people were in a rut. I was looking to the ones that seemed more what psychologist Abraham Maslow referred to as self-actualized. Now I know that rhythm and flow can give us more peace and security, more contentment.

Routines reduce our stress because we know what to expect. It’s nice not to have to face a crisis or big decision every day. That is the beauty of an ordinary day. Life is easier when we don’t have to think about our every move and we know our toothpaste will be there when we reach for it.

We do God’s will in the midst of ordinary. It is our earthly calling. Many saints of old and monks in monasteries today live simple lives offering their mundane tasks, such as routine cooking and cleaning, up to God. We need to learn to welcome the ordinary and seek God there because most of our moments really are quite ordinary.

If we can’t find the meaning and magic in the mundane, we will miss so much of what life and God has for us.

So don’t curse the boring and the ordinary, it is often a good place to be! Don’t get wrapped up in always looking for something better or greater, because it is in the simple, regular moments of our lives that we can find meaning and God.

So go embrace the ordinary! You will be richer for it.

Follow Me and Take Up Your Cross

Ordinary Moments, Spirituality

I wasn’t going to “do” Lent, but am finding Lent is going to “do” me.

I keep getting images of Jesus and His suffering.

I ponder if I really am living like all the comforting (and challenging) little Bible verses we make pictures of to display on our pages.

Particularly this one, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

It makes me think, “oh no, more suffering is on the way”, or that maybe I should deliberately inflict some kind of suffering upon myself to become more holy as the saints and some Catholics like to do. But then I realize that each day, even when it’s not Lent, we all have crosses to bear.

Some days our crosses are heavier than others, but they are there. Life is full of challenges. We don’t need to purposely add to them because trouble is always lurking somewhere. From bad news, relationship issues or everyday life stuff like the fridge going on the blink or unexpected car repairs. “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)

And actually, we often create our own unnecessary crosses when we worry, don’t forgive someone, do something we shouldn’t, or cling too tightly to this world.

I feel prompted to try to give up worrying for Lent. I never give up stuff for Lent. Only once in high school when I was getting a daily candy bar out of the vending machine. I stopped for Lent just to prove to myself I could refrain (and to save money).

But since this time Lent is “doing me” giving up worrying, one of my crosses, is on the agenda. Egads. Do you know how impossible that is for me? But with God all things are possible.

Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

Just today I had PLENTY of chances not to worry, but I worried. The flesh is weak, what is needed is trust. Trust in our Savior.

When I was a young person going to prayer meetings, I will never forget a story someone told the group. They said we all have our crosses in life to bear and oh how we wish we didn’t have them and we plead with Jesus to take them from us. (Just as Jesus prayed in the Garden: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”) Luke 22:42

As the story continues…..Jesus took them to the “Used Cross Lot” and you could look around and trade your cross in for a different one. Turns out, after looking over all the various crosses, the person decided they would keep the cross they had.

Our crosses often don’t look so bad when we see what others have to bear. Plus, not only that, our crosses are designed specifically for us, teaching us the lessons God needs us to learn and for our unique journey, growth and life purpose. Someone else’s cross just would not do.

But the good news is, Jesus is there alongside us to help us carry our crosses. He Himself has been there. And the best news of all is, He rose from the dead. He has overcome the cross. There will be a resurrection. For you and for me, and for all who believe.

Now go pick up your cross and carry it faithfully, for that is what the Father wills until we reach our heavenly home.

God’s Children

Ordinary Moments, Parenting, Spirituality

“Let the children come to me and do not hinder them. It is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” Mark 10:14

I was reading that Bible passage one day as my children were noisily playing in the room below. I thought about how the adults wanted to hinder the children from going to Jesus; how sad. How many times do we hinder ourselves from going to Him? We are too busy, too afraid, too embarrassed or too proud to need Him, whatever the reason.

But the kingdom of God belongs to children because they are naturally receptive, loving, unburdened by the world’s cares. When children play, they enter all kinds of worlds we adults no longer know. We get stuck in our busyness, stress, affluenza, and the kingdom isn’t about any of that. Interestingly, the next section in the Bible is about the danger of riches!

I mentioned this Bible story to my children and my youngest blurted out, “Me want mama!” Precisely! To desire Jesus as much as a child desires mama, because to a child mama is life, just as Jesus is life to all of us.

Are You Using Your Potential?

Ordinary Moments, Potential, Psychology

Some claim it’s a myth we only use ten percent of our potential. I don’t know how this can be accurately measured, but how much of your potential do you think you use? My guess is most of us only tap into a small part of our potential at any given time even though our brains contain 100 billion neurons!

The days blend into weeks, months and then years and perhaps we feel like we accomplish so little besides trying to get through another day. Is that enough? Quite frankly, some days it is.

There is an I Love Lucy episode that hits the nail on the head as far as potential goes. Lucy has set out to bake bread and decides to use 13 cakes of yeast rather than the three the recipe called for, assuming more has got to be better. As we can see in the clip, that isn’t always the case and not what should be motivating us.

Tiny granules of yeast have the potential to make things rise but things didn’t turn out too well for Lucy as we see in the exaggerated size of her loaf of bread.

In birthing our potential, we have to grow from within, like the yeast. This is not always fun, for the oven is hot, but if we wait the required amount of time, we will reap the results. We must keep the end goal in sight, scrumptious perfectly golden bread.

Jesus teaches about potential first in the Parable of the Mustard Seed and then again in the Parable of the Yeast! (Matt 13:31-33)

With potential also comes responsibility. Humans have the potential to do good or evil. There are two sides to every coin. Either the seed is sown and grows tall and strong, or it withers without the right conditions and care. If the yeast is at exatly the right temperature, it spreads within the bread causing it to properly rise, but if the yeast is put in too high a temperature, it dies and the bread will turn out flat as a pancake. One bad seed can spoil the whole batch.

But maybe achieving our potential isn’t about doing great, amazing things each day and making new discoveries for the world to behold. Maybe the potential in each day is much simpler than that, like going grocery shopping for your family, being kind to a stranger, tending to your home or job responsibilities—wherever you are planted for that day. Most days in life aren’t going to be skyrockets and fireworks exciting.

St. Therese of Lisieux and her Little Way says: “Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love.” and Mother Teresa of Calcutta is known for saying: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” and “It’s not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts.” Both these saints were proponents of simplicity in life and fulfilled their potential through their daily tasks.

But as comforting as the words from these two great saints sound, I often feel like it justifies copping out. It’s almost too simple so when I lack motivation, their words can allow me to be satisfied with mediocrity rather than striving to grow or attain a goal. It can be good to have at least a bit of dissatisfaction in life or we won’t aim higher.

So how do we become motivated to reach our potential when it is easier to just cop out or procrastinate since there are always a myriad of distractions and excuses?

WAYS TO STAY MOTIVATED TO REACH YOUR POTENTIAL

First, we need to step out of our comfort zone. Don’t get stuck in a daily rut. Try new things once in a while.

Second, we need to discipline ourselves not to waste too much time on things that rob our time such as technology.

Also, try to turn your fears and weaknesses into your greatest strengths or at least find ways to work around them. If you have a rebellious streak, turn that into something positive and be bold toward a cause you are passionate about.

Find a mentor if appropriate, or analyze what successful people you admire have done.

Learn how to do things you never thought you could do in order to achieve your goals. Consider taking a class to learn new skills.

Create actual concrete goals. The SMART Framework is a popular method used by businesses.

And the most important piece of advice: NEVER GIVE UP!

In the end, it’s the tiny seeds we plant each day that matter, as the saints realized. We don’t always see the growth of our efforts as they are taking place, just as the farmer doesn’t stand over his seeds until they grow into a mature crop. He keeps busy sowing more seed or he won’t reap a harvest.

I suspect most of us never use 100 percent of our potential at any given time in life, but we can keep trying to use our gifts in the small moments of each day. Don’t be satisfied to just survive, but thrive as you inch closer to your goals. And remember to be kind to yourself if you feel defeated, tomorrow is another day.

Lost and Found

Ordinary Moments, Psychology, Saints, Spirituality

Don’t you hate losing things? I feel like I spend one third of my life looking for things I’ve misplaced around the house. Why is this? I consider myself pretty organized. Sometimes I get the brainy idea to move something to a “better place”. That usually backfires when I can’t remember where the better place is. Alas, we are creatures of habit.

Just for fun I searched “lost items” on the internet. I couldn’t believe how much I found (play on words?!). This is obviously a common problem because there are Youtube videos on how to find your lost objects and Wikipedia instructions with 13 steps complete with photos. There was even a TV series entitled Lost (2004-2010). Who knew?

There are also videos on topics such as the “20 Most Wanted Lost Objects in the World” and even a website lostify.com which is an online lost and found for people or objects. This is going a little too far, perhaps.

Lost objects already result in lost time looking for them. Ironic. It’s double the loss. Do people actually need directions on how to find something? It makes me feel like the Alzheimer’s is coming on and I’ve lost my mind, if I would need to resort to a video on how to find things! All we have to do is LOOK.

Some people turn to Saint Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of lost objects, for help when they can’t find something. As the story goes, Anthony lost an important notebook which was then later returned to him by the monk who had it all along. I must admit, Saint Anthony has often come through for me and a whispered prayer of desperation is a lot quicker than watching a video!

Psychology Today magazine has published articles about how to find your lost stuff and reports we spend a total of two and a half days per year searching for lost items! (Personally, I think it’s more!) Sixty years of life, for example, multiplied by two and a half can equal 150 days of your life spent looking for things!

Although sometimes hunting for lost things can be fun, like children searching for Easter eggs or a good game of Clue, looking for our lost stuff is typically not all fun and games. For some it is even a career if you happen to be a detective, or an archaeologist digging up treasures from the past.

Losing a shopping list or TV remote isn’t as important as losing something valuable like jewelry, money, or a sentimental family heirloom which can’t be replaced.

There can often be serious consequences for losing things. Losing your car keys can make you late for work or an appointment. Losing a Drivers’ License, credit card or Social Security card can be a gain for thieves and a nightmare for you.

Lost wedding ring? Lots of sitcom episodes about that.

Worse yet, is losing something that is alive like a pet or child. Anyone who has ever lost a child at the store knows it’s the longest 5 minutes of your life while you think of every horrific scenario imaginable.

This brings me to the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matt. 18:12-14). Of course you will go look for that one child (or sheep)! So many times we ramble about life like God’s lost children. How He longs for us to seek and return to Him, just as the father in the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) welcomed his son back home with open arms. The father was always waiting and hoping. Luke 15, verse 32: “…your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”

There are times we feel lost in life, like the prodigal son. We don’t know which way to turn. We are uncertain about the future. We need a map or gps so we don’t get lost getting to our destination. In order to not become spiritually lost, the Bible is God’s map for our lives. In His Word we can find everything we need to stay on course.

Mary of Magdala was looking for Jesus after he rose from the dead and was no longer in the tomb, but He was right there with her and she didn’t recognize Him. (John 20:11-18)

Jesus is always right there with us and how often do we fail to see Him or forget He is there? Unlike lost objects, we never have to search far and wide for our Heavenly Father.

Jesus, who is eternal, is the most important thing we should be seeking. More important than any temporary material item we have lost on earth. If we lose our salvation, everything we have lost in our earthly life would pale in comparison.

Let’s not stay spiritually lost. If you haven’t done so, you can give your life to Christ and He will guide you to salvation so you won’t be lost eternally. This is the most important thing you could ever do.

The hymn “Amazing Grace” says it well, “I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind but now I see.” Let us always see Jesus with us, and we will never have to be lost again.

Quit Grumbling and Complaining?

Ordinary Moments, Psychology, Spirituality

January 8, 2024

I know I should be thankful I have enough food to eat, but four days after Christmas I was still eating multitudes of mushrooms. I don’t like mushrooms. I barely tolerate them. Yet every Polish food item we bought this year had mushrooms. Mushroom pierogis, mushroom dumplings, mushroom soup. I was ready to pull my hair out!

I walked around grumbling about crumbs and feeling like the Israelites eating manna in the desert. I can totally relate.

Mushrooms, every single day. Although 4 days doesn’t compare to 40 years, I don’t understand why God would get mad at the Israelites for being tired of eating manna. Wouldn’t He have liked some variety once in a while? (Exodus 16:1-36)

Their complaining probably angered Him because He was the provider of all their needs and got them out of Egypt, and yet they were not thankful or appreciative enough. We are all like the Israelites sometimes.

Along with my mushroom “manna”, every sink in my house has been giving out. First it was the kitchen sink spraying water all over the place since before Thanksgiving. It’s like I was taking a shower and simultaneously washing the walls every time I turned it on. At least the walls are clean.

The last straw was when the bathroom sink started the same thing while brushing my teeth!! How much can a person take? (In case you are wondering, I found out the aerator on the bottom of faucets needs to be replaced periodically.) So guess what my husband finally went shopping for? He even ordered an aerator from the kitchen sink manufacturer and it came the very NEXT day!! I had suffered too long.

Even when I tried NOT to eat mushrooms, it didn’t work out so well. I decided to eat some scrambled eggs with leftover Swedish pancakes. A refreshing contrast, I hoped. But alas, I found mysterious gray strands in the syrup on the pancakes I was eating. MOLD?! Whatever it was, I wasn’t going to eat any more of it! Perhaps God was teaching me a lesson for dissing the mushrooms. He did get mad at the Israelites, after all.

All these are very minor annoyances in the grand scheme of life, but every day it seems like there is just one annoying thing after another, pounding on me like a hammer. Like today, I get ready to eat some cereal and I find my unopened container of milk is leaking in the fridge so I had to dump it, clean up and switch my menu. It’s like somebody is trying to tell me something.

Let’s get psychological about this for a moment. Is my dissatisfaction serving some need? Am I enjoying complaining? Could I make the choice to not let life’s annoyances bother me? Perhaps, but I am not one to suffer in silence. There is some value in venting. So I think complaining does have a purpose and can get you what you want if you know where to draw the line or are persistent enough.

Even God broke down and gave the Israelites some meat for a month after all their complaining. Although He made sure He gave them so much meat they couldn’t stand it anymore! Variety is the spice of life I say. (Numbers 11:1-35)

Complaining did serve a purpose in my case. It got my husband fed up enough to buy the doggone aerators. Persistence can pay off. Remember the parable of the persistent widow in the Bible? Her persistence paid off just because the judge became weary of her continuous asking. She didn’t give up until she got what she wanted. I say, “You go, girl!” (Luke 18:1-8)

And then there’s Luke 11:5-8 which is the story of the man who bothers his friend at midnight for some bread. The man and his children are already in bed and he did not want to be disturbed. Jesus says, “I tell you if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.”

As illustrated, persistence can be a good thing. We need it to succeed in life, but how often do we quit before we reach our desired goal or outcome?

Upon reading further in Luke, Jesus shows us we also need persistence in prayer. There have been things I have had to pray for for years before I received an answer. Therefore, persistence can help increase our faith.

Complaining often gets a bad rap, but it can pay off. Businesses, like the kitchen faucet place, have Customer Service departments. The legal system also deals with complaints, and a “no” can turn into a “yes” with the right argument.

Also, some people are better at getting results than others. My son has a knack for complaints resulting in positive outcomes. One time he had reservations at a restaurant and had to wait an extra 20 minutes. He made a formal complaint and was rewarded with a $100 gift card of which I was the happy recipient of a free lunch. There is a time for everything. Sometimes there is even a time for complaining.

It’s a new year. I never do resolutions. To be honest, I don’t think I am at the point where I am serious about giving up my grumbling and complaining either. But, it’s something to think about in case I get inspired to turn over a new leaf. Wish me luck. And next year I am going to make sure we do better holiday meal planning with far less mushrooms!! It will be one less thing to complain about.

Who Am I that My Lord Should Come to Me?

Ordinary Moments, Spirituality

And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Luke 1:43

Those are the words Elizabeth cried out in the Holy Spirit when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, came to visit her.

Elizabeth’s son, John the Baptist, was to prepare the way for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who am I that my Lord should come to me is a phrase that has been in my head quite a lot lately. Not the exact phrase in the Bible, but similar.

Why would Jesus come to me, a nobody? A fallen human like everyone else dressed in the filthy rags of sin. But when I think about it, my Lord continuously comes to me in so many ways I don’t deserve.

He comes as:

A babe in a manger

A King

The Savior of the world

As my light in the darkness

As my strength

my hope

my help in affliction

As my healer

my Redeemer

my Father

Through the Holy Spirit

As the Bread of Life in Communion to sustain me

As the Prince of Peace

Jesus truly comes to us, He seeks us out, quietly. But we have to notice. And we must welcome Him into our lives like Elizabeth welcomed Mary into her home.

Who am I that my Lord should come to me? After these prophetic words during Mary’s visit, Luke 1:5-80 is the only mention of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth.

But God fulfilled his purpose through Elizabeth when he allowed her to become pregnant with John the Baptist in her old age after being barren.

I had difficulty achieving pregnancy like many women in the Bible, and then was surprised with triplets.

Many times our purposes are unbeknownst to us. Only God knows. We don’t have to be great or do great things. Most of us are just pretty lowly, but who knows how we may be impacting others and fulfilling God’s plans, just like Elizabeth.

Jesus was a baby in a stable. No one expected, a King, the God of the Universe, to appear as a baby! He surprised everyone. God’s ways are not our ways.

In Matthew 18:12-14, Jesus has 99 sheep but seeks after the one that is lost.

We are God’s children. He longs for us. He fervently pursues us. We are His lost sheep waiting to be found. We are each His special one out of the 99 and He will not rest until He finds each one of us.

As Christmas approaches, how is the Lord coming to you? Will you notice Him? Will you welcome Him into the home of your heart? Not just at Christmas, but every day of the year?

Time to Laugh or Cry? You Decide

Ordinary Moments, Spirituality

I’m not a Jolly Jane when I wake up in the morning. All my problems and worries immediately come flooding into my brain. Or, I am angrily awakened by neighborhood noise such as garbage trucks, landscapers, or birds chirping in the nest they decided to build right outside my bedroom window.

My sentiment is frequently something like: Ugh, another depressing day on planet earth. I didn’t ask to be here.

I tend to lean negative so I doubt I will ever be one of those people who excitedly jumps out of bed ready to greet a new day. I guess I can’t help but see reality. A teacher I would share my woes with in high school would tell me, “Life isn’t always a bowl of cherries, sometimes it’s the pits!” Exactly. I don’t like to sugar-coat things.

Growing up, I was influenced, albeit a little too much, by my grandmother who repeatedly warned in German, “After laughing comes crying!” (Nach dem Lachen kommt das Weinen.) In other words, don’t get too happy because something bad is right around the corner to steal your joy. As if being punished for daring to be happy. I suppose this is understandable from someone who had a traumatizing life and survived World War I and World War II.

To this day, I commonly walk around with a sense of doom hanging over me. People refer to it as “evil forebodings”. A nagging feeling that something terrible could happen at any moment.

This kind of thinking does paralyze a person and sometimes prevents them from getting things done. It also makes for stressful vacations.

“Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8

Many years ago, someone suggested I flip the words in my grandmother’s saying to “After crying comes laughing”. I was stunned. I never thought of that! Yet at the same time, I was also kind of angry. That’s not how the saying goes!

Maybe I wasn’t ready to hear that back then. That one phrase was so ingrained in me and had taken over my life for so long. It takes a lot of concerted effort to change thoughts and habits we have had for years.

I only recently made the connection that there is a Bible verse that is the exact opposite of my grandmother’s words! “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” (Psalm 126:5) It’s amazing! Can it actually work the other way around?

I am further reminded of the man in the Bible that was healed at the pool of Bethesda. He had been sick for 38 years. He sure was stuck in his situation.

Jesus approached him and asked him, “Do you want to be healed”? The man replied by giving excuses that he couldn’t get his mat into the healing waters and that there was no one to help him, but he did want to be healed. (John 5:1-15)

Maybe you are stuck in a bad job, a bad relationship, or have a chronic illness. Whatever it is, there are many reasons that can keep us “sick” or stuck.

We must ask ourselves: Do we want to get well? Do we want things to change? At what cost? It may not just be due to a lack of courage or laziness. Is our “sickness” serving some purpose or benefit?

If we do want to be healed, we must “pick up our mat” as Jesus instructed the man at the pool of Bethesda. Getting up and walking, is the first step on the journey to recovery or change. It’s not always easy or instant, but it is possible.

Jesus offers us healing for our bodies and our souls. Do we want to laugh again after crying? Do we want to reap joy after sorrow? Jesus asks all of us:

Do you want to be healed?

So let us say with David in Psalm 30, “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

The Power of Laundry

Ordinary Moments, Parenting, Spirituality

I bought a sign for my laundry area at the dollar store recently that reads, “Laundry, sorting out life one load at a time.” It just spoke to me so I didn’t think twice about grabbing it. Words of wisdom found at the dollar store! Hooray! Laundry truly is a lot like life, isn’t it?

Don’t we all have many loads at a time to deal with, whether it be laundry or life’s burdens? Don’t we sometimes feel like “throwing in the towel”? (Which would just create more laundry.)

Perhaps sometimes we feel like we are on the spin cycle. Everything is too much. We feel like we are getting tossed about, everything moving too fast. Our lives and minds spinning out of control. Where is the stop button?? Pull out the plug!

We have all had times like that. I feel dizzy just thinking about it.

In life, as with laundry, we have to sort things out. There are decisions to be made. Big things like where to work, where to live, how to treat an illness, as well as all the little things on our to-do list, such as what to make for dinner. So it is with laundry, we must sort the colors or they bleed and we end up with a big, ugly mess, a heap of ruin. Not looking at all like what we had wanted or hoped.

Mom Moment when
college kids return
home for Christmas.

We wash one load at a time and then it is clean (and maybe put away) but there will always be another load to take its place. One thing you can be sure of, laundry is certain to pile up again, a healthy sign of life lived. Laundry doesn’t disappoint, it always returns, like a dear and loyal friend.

My son played baseball for many years. I would dread washing his baseball uniform as there were always grass stains to deal with. I had to find the right stain remover and scrub and scrub and hope for the best. Life, too, will stain us. We need to try to scrub away our bad habits and failings. As humans, we all carry the stain of sin. But Jesus, our Savior, has bled for us and will wash us clean if we ask. “If we acknowledge our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrong-doing.” (I John 1:9)

Picture the laundry rinse cycle or standing in a refreshing downpour, drenching us and cleansing us. I have a Precious Moments picture I stitched in my bathroom that says, “He cleansed my soul”. O how sweet it is. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2) Also words the priest prays during Catholic mass.

Laundry also has to get hung up or dried. Life often hangs us up. Time passes, clothes become out of style or worn and so do we. We get wrinkled, physically and figuratively. We may have to iron out the wrinkles now and then. Hopefully we won’t get put away like the clothes, or left in a forgotten heap.

Personally, I don’t mind doing laundry. Menial tasks are the stuff of ordinary life with their own rhythm and flow. Plus they are great procrastination tools. Nothing like vacuuming when I am putting off something else. But I must admit I was glad when all of my kids were away at college doing their own laundry. Sorting out the fabric and colors of their own lives. It is no longer my job.

In doing a bit of research on laundry, I came across a business called “Life Without Laundry”. At the top of the website they ask, “Can you imagine a Life Without Laundry?” and then they list services for pick up, delivery, etc. so that you don’t ever have to do your own laundry.

My answer to that is “no thank you”! I can’t imagine a life without laundry.

I prefer not to hand over my dirty laundry to someone else. I will deal with my own loads and relish every minute. The dirty and the clean. The wet and the wrinkled. It is part of my cleansing journey. It is my load to carry and mine alone. No one else knows how to sort out the fabric of my life.

So my advice is to appreciate those loads of laundry piling up, for you never know what treasures you may find. People have been known to find money in their pockets they have forgotten about. My son once got a new phone because I washed and ruined the one he left in his pants pocket!

I think I will go hunt down some laundry now! What about you?

Here’s a snippet of inspo I found along the way:

https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-year/lent/ash-wednesday/life-laundry/

Wait! There’s more! Here are some tips for your laundry day pleasure!

https://tide.com/en-us/how-to-wash-clothes/how-to-remove-stains

https://assets.ctfassets.net/ajjw8wywicb3/1nid5bL6SmTJiy0ACpJZ9c/66ab4c2f45f25d8e5171c90205f79cb0/Tide-Your-Guide-to-Decoding-Laundry-Symbols.pdf

If Not Now, When?

Ordinary Moments, Parenting, Patience, Spirituality

As a mother and wife, I have heard the words, “Not now” or “I’ll do it later” far too often. It drives me crazy because when I ask someone to do something, that is when I want it done, not at a future time (or more likely, never).

I have a note jotted in frustration from 2012 while in the thick of raising four children. It says: ‘Not now’ is the answer to a lot of things around here! “Do your homework”. Not now. “Try on these pants I bought you.” Not now. To the husband, “Let’s just relax for a while.” Not now. Well if not now, WHEN??

I am reminded of Bartleby’s famous words “I would prefer not to” from the book Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville. Bartleby remains expressionless as he responds, “I would prefer not to” to basically everything he is asked to do at work. This is about the only thing I remember from college English and literature classes. It struck a nerve.

I can’t help but wonder what God thinks when we don’t do what He asks. I’ve heard it said He will find somebody else. I think of that when I see many of my ideas taken flight by other people.

It took me 40 years, like the Israelites wandering around in the desert, to finally get around to doing some more writing. I always felt a nagging sense that is what I needed to be doing. Saying “I would prefer not to” to the master of the universe isn’t a good idea. The ramifications are a lot worse than not taking out the garbage when asked, or not trying on those pants!

When I was younger, I would get so bent out of shape trying to discern God’s will for my life. As if it were a one-time decision. I couldn’t come up with anything that felt right (except maybe writing) and many doors were slammed shut in my face. I still think I may have made the wrong decision when I was offered a newspaper writing job after high school and didn’t accept it. I have always wondered what direction my life would have taken if I had. I feel like I am living my “Plan B” because I missed that particular opportunity. But who knows, I only have the present. The past is gone and the future is not guaranteed.

Now being able to look back over the years, I think we have many purposes throughout our lives. God’s will is a continuous journey with many twists and turns along the way. Many times I think I didn’t even realize a lot of the things I was doing were actually God’s will for that time or at the very least, laying the groundwork for the future.

For instance, I worked as a preschool teacher for a time, but only looking back realized it was part of the path God had for me because I ended up raising triplets plus a fourth child. That time spent working with preschoolers prepared me for my vocation of motherhood. I was able to use the skills I had developed to run my household. Triplet babies needed a schedule, if for no other reason than my sanity. We had meals, craft time, nap time, outside time, music time, story time. I had an entire repertoire of crafts and activities at my fingertips. I was ready for the challenge!

Sometimes even the waiting is part of God’s plan, because His timing is perfect, which I learned battling infertility. Also, sometimes God has to prepare the other people that will be involved in our fulfilling His will. There’s so much behind the scenes that we don’t know or may never know.

All these situations in life take time, patience and trust that we are exactly where God wants us to be at that moment, even if it seems like nothing is happening. Joyce Meyer, whose ministry helped me a lot during my infertility days, likes to say “Learn how to enjoy where you are on the way to where you’re going.” That is another way of saying, live in the present.

So how do we become motivated and get things done sooner rather than later? After my 40 years of desert wandering, I am the last one to ask.

First, I think we have to want something bad enough. Also, we need to conquer fears that may be holding us back. Deadlines are my best motivator. Now that my days on earth are obviously numbered, I feel more like I better get to writing if I don’t want to stand at the Pearly gates (which I just learned is derived from Revelation 21:21) and have to say to God, “I was going to do it….later”. I more and more want to be able to say, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” 2 Tim. 4:7

So what is it you have been putting off? Don’t put it off for 40 years like I did. Whether it’s pursuing a career, improving your health, learning how to play an instrument, re-uniting with someone you are estranged from, whatever it is, there is no time like the present and that is why it’s fittingly called the “present”.

The present is a gift, to ourselves and those around us, if we accept it and not let it sit idle. We should treasure and celebrate the present. If not NOW, when??

Book: The Present: The Gift that Makes you Happier and More Successful at Work and in Life, Today! by Spencer Johnson

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/21-instant-ways-to-live-in-the-moment.html

Live with Hope

Ordinary Moments, Spirituality, Wellness

“My soul, be at rest in God alone, from whom comes my hope. God alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not fall.” Psalm 62:6

Welcome to 2026. (I still feel stuck in the 1980’s somewhere)

I don’t like beginning a new year. It makes me nervous.

I worry about what could happen in the future. Will it be good? Bad? Surely there will be some of both.

Worst case scenarios run through my mind like water out of a faucet, but even so, I am usually more than ready to let the previous year go. Why? Because I hope the new year will be better than the last. And that is the gist of it — HOPE.

We can hope for many things. Hope that America is finally going in a better direction in many ways, with a stronger leader now in charge, as opposed to an improperly elected, dementia-stricken, corrupt puppet controlled by the deep state that wants to destroy this great country.

Hope that people realize the precious gift of freedom and protect it at all costs. Never falling for any scamdemic lies, fear and tyranny ever again.

Hope that believers will rise up for what is right and not allow themselves to sit back or become intimidated by the opposition.

Hope that people come to their senses and choose human life as a priority and stop worrying about ridiculous things like global warming. (Yes, the original name proponents now look foolish using. Changing names and definitions doesn’t change reality, sorry.)

Hope that Christ’s church will have a revival like never seen before.

Hope that we and our loved ones stay safe and healthy and all our needs will be met.

The list is endless…

And so we dare to hope, because the alternative is despair.

Hope in light over darkness.
Hope in right over wrong.
Hope in good over evil.
Hope in the unseen.
Hope in miracles.
Hope in eternity.

But our hope must be rooted in Christ. For Jesus is the only one who can save us from the mess we have made and the struggles we find ourselves in. We are never alone. He is our only true hope.

So no matter what befalls us, remember, there is always hope; if not in this life, then in the life to come. We can’t go wrong with hope. Never give up HOPE!

STILLNESS

Ordinary Moments, Peace, Spirituality

“My soul, wait in stillness, only for God—from Him comes my salvation.”

Ps. 62:2 (TLV-Tree of Life Version)

In preparing our hearts for celebrating the birth of our Savior, it is difficult to obtain peace in the midst of worldly Christmas preparations like shopping, meal prep, relatives and adult children descending upon us….perhaps pets and grandchildren as well. These can be happy times, but also stressful and certainly not the picture that comes to mind when we think of “stillness”.

Often, when I have experienced stillness, it has come as a welcome surprise in the least likely places.

Once, believe it or not, a sense of stillness came over me in the midst of IKEA (a gigantic, bustling four-story home emporium). Maybe it was necessary for survival in that place (!) but I still recall the time I was sitting in a snack area with my four young children and it was extremely crowded and noisy. It seemed like over-consumption and greed was everywhere. I started thinking about how the quietness of God was in stark contrast to the frenzy I was experiencing at that moment. It was then that I started to feel God’s presence and a deep sense of stillness in the midst of the madness. No one around me could see the stillness I had found in my soul, but oddly enough, it was there.

Other times I’ve experienced a profound sense of stillness in more expected places, for instance after a heavy, night-time snowfall. The snow covers the earth like a thick white blanket, absorbing the sounds of the world, and it feels so cozy and still, compared to a typical night. I just love the “sound” of it!

In my younger days, I visited Yellowstone National Park and our group decided to hike to the top of Mt. Washburn for the sunrise, starting out in the dark of night. This was way out of my comfort zone but once we got past the timber line, there were no cars roaring in the distance, no birds chirping or any of the myriad of daily sounds we have grown accustomed to. There was complete and utter silence hanging heavy in the air. I will never forget this ultimate experience of stillness and have never experienced anything like it since.

Stillness isn’t just the absence of noise or problems.

The goal is to find stillness in the midst of the madness of daily life. It is a state of being. It comes from deep within us, from the very core of our being. We must wear stillness like a favorite sweater or pair of snuggly pj’s. We must know it, befriend it, and embrace it, so that we can call upon it like a dear and familiar friend. It is a place of peace, rest, and tranquility no matter what is going on around us. And in the stillness, we will find God.

So as we prepare for Christmas, let us in stillness wait. Waiting not only to celebrate the birth of our Savior, but for whatever may be birthed within us from this sacred stillness in our soul.

“Be still and know that I am God!”
(Psalm 46:11)

In All Things Give Thanks

Gratitude, Ordinary Moments

Nov. 18, 2022

“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians: 16-18)

‘Tis the season for Thanksgiving. A holiday most everyone in America seems to celebrate, no matter their religious beliefs. The time to think about what we are grateful for. It sounds so cliché. A gratitude journal? Been there, done that.

Probably a better way to cultivate gratitude is to make it a habit so that it becomes second nature every day of the year.

This is, of course, easier said than done. Perhaps we should have a gratitude buddy, like an exercise buddy, to keep us accountable all year.

A good place to start, is by being thankful in the everyday mundane stuff of life.

Many years ago, when I was on bed rest while pregnant with triplets, I wasn’t allowed to do much of anything. I was thankfully(!) allowed to take a daily shower. But that was it. It got to the point where I was longing to do even the simplest task, like washing dishes. That would have been sheer bliss!

It was then that I vowed to always remember what a blessing it is to be able to do something as simple as washing dishes. This challenge was put to the test soon after, when I found myself endlessly washing baby bottles because we had no dishwasher. I think a person could go to heaven just for that!

I am happy to report that I still frequently remember to be thankful when I wash those dirty dishes. A trick that can also help is putting a picture of Jesus by the kitchen sink.

“Each small task of everyday life is part of the total harmony of the universe.”
St. Therese of Lisieux

Another challenge of the above scripture verse is, “in ALL circumstances give thanks.” That doesn’t mean just when times are good, it means even when tragedy strikes or we just don’t feel like it.

It takes discipline to make gratitude a habit, but it will help us in the long run and can provide health benefits as well.

I really enjoy the following video by Fr. Mark Goring, which is about being thankful while grocery shopping. Maybe it will inspire you and be something to keep in mind while shopping for our Thanksgiving feasts. It is a reminder that every occasion in life is an opportunity to practice gratitude and that our prayers can have far-reaching effects that we may never know.

May we, then, humbly make this our prayer:

“O Jesus, eternal God, thank You for Your countless graces and blessings. Let every beat of my heart be a new hymn of thanksgiving to You, O God.”

From the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul, entry 1794

Mindful Pancakes

Ordinary Moments

On a recent trip out of town we had three great choices of where to go out for breakfast. We ended up at the place I rarely get a chance to visit that has a country shop I love, yet I was still thinking maybe we were missing something better at the other possibilities. One place was highly recommended by my daughter’s boyfriend who eats there weekly, and the free hotel breakfast was also better than usual that day, so I was feeling rather tormented.

Normally, I would be ranting endlessly about how we should have chosen one of the other places because I am always seeking perfection, which is not possible this side of heaven. However, this time I actually made the conscious, mindful choice of just trying to be satisfied where I was. Satisfied that I was at this particular place in time, even though the menu choices weren’t overflowing with things I would have preferred. I decided to just enjoy the unseasonably warm day on the road and the time with my husband and the blessing that we were there, together. Not to mention it also spared my husband a lot of grief to not have to listen to my typical indecisive rant, setting a better tone for the rest of the day.

As it turned out, the pancakes I ordered were probably the best I ever ate! They were SO delicious! Crunchy, yet fluffy and moist!! I thought, wow, we ended up at the right place after all, and it was as if I was rewarded for my efforts to be content (which believe me, is no easy task!) My husband had tasted the pancakes off my plate and he loved them too and kept stealing bites! I even saved the leftovers and ate them later in the car. Turns out he bought a box of their special pancake mix to bring home but I bet they won’t taste as good as the ones we ate that warm, fall day.

And so it goes…….how to be mindful in the moment and satisfied that no matter what life brings we are supposed to be in that time and place, appreciating the little blessings in each day or accepting whatever difficulties come our way. I will see if I can keep this up and turn over a new leaf, as I write this while the autumn leaves are turning colors and falling.

Phillipians 2:14 “Do everything without grumbling or questioning,..”

Screens

Ordinary Moments, Spirituality

I was gazing out my kitchen window as I was eating breakfast one morning after a summer rainfall. The window didn’t have a screen at the time, but I decided to open it anyway. I was amazed at the difference in the clarity of the view without the screen or the window glass! The trees appeared clearer, the greens more vivid and bold. Everything looked better and fresher after the cleansing rain.

From time to time in our lives we should “open a window” so to speak. All too often we view the world through our particular screen and view life through our clouded experiences. We screen out the things we don’t like and maybe even pull down the window shade! Screens definitely have a purpose, they provide a filter against unwanted pests, but the trade-off is they can skew the clarity of the view.

It’s like rearranging the furniture in a room, we get a new perspective. Maybe a chair is in a new place in front of a different window view. We see things in a new way from a new angle. It’s good to do the same in our lives once in a while. Open the “window” and check out the view with an open mind. Maybe we will see something we didn’t before and will learn something new.

As it turned out, we spent extra money on a new screen for that window which provided a more “natural” view with less visual interference. I highly recommend it!

God’s Opportunities

Ordinary Moments, Parenting, Spirituality

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Matthew 7:7

When my son was a little boy he would find money almost everywhere he went. He even had a small collection of foreign coins. Part of the reason was that he was looking! He looked under store shelves, in vending machines, in the dirt and sand at playgrounds. Sometimes he didn’t even have to look very far, money was on the ground right in front of him!

One day I noticed his piggy-bank was full of pennies and I said, “See how all those pennies add up.” He responded, “I know, I know.” Guess I wasn’t telling him anything new, but the incident made me realize I had found many pennies in my life but I had stopped picking them up. Suddenly those pennies reflected the lost opportunities in my life. How sad to think I could have not only been a bit richer financially, but more importantly, richer in opportunities.

I now pick up those pennies and let them remind me to take the opportunities that come along in life. I encourage you to do the same. And as for my son, not surprisingly, he now has a job in finance!