Hello world-wide-web,
Thank you Jesus for all prayers answered, for travelers safe departure and return, for healthy births, for all those suffering from addiction and are in denial, a special intention for those with doctor's appointments-your healing, Lord, always-for a continued mending of the Gulf, for those who are in the hospitals and nursing homes, for everyone who has no one to pray for them, and most of all, Heavenly Father, thank you for the many blessings and mercy you bestow on each and every one of us everyday. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
I received a rather unusual phone call from my g-y-n this past May.
He asked me, "How would you like to be in a commercial?"
"Sure."
(I didn't know what the commercial would entail, but when someone asks you to be in a commercial, ride in a sleigh drawn by huskies, or go to NYC's Times Square for NYE, you just say 'yes.')
By saying 'sure,' my doctor informed me, I was accepting an offer from Baylor Hospital to describe the service I'd been given while in one of their facilities recently (see "I heart nurses," blog for more info on my hospital stay).
My famous, or infamous, he he, appointment was set for June 18th, in the afternoon, but I wasn't ready for 'distinction' until I loaded two cute outfits in my car and ran by Regis at Collin Creek Mall in Plano for a quickie hairdo.
Upon my arrival at the studio a good-looking guy greeted me and escorted me to the 'green' room. The room was in fact green, but that wasn't what first caught my attention when the door was opened. What first caught my attention was the honking huge television that dwarfed the green room. I recovered quickly from the size of the TV to notice two comfy couches and the people sitting on this lovely furniture.
A distinguished gentleman in a finely tailored suit sat on one of the upholstered, while two attractive blond women sat on the love seat opposite him. When I entered the room one of the women hastily said, "Please sit here, I need to go anyway." The woman I sat next to was the person in charge of marketing for this project; turns out she is also the person who organizes juice and coffee for my district's convocation in the Fall. She and I chatted politely and she gave me a beautiful blue Baylor bag with goodies inside as a thank you for participating.
My claims to fame were two-fold: first, glamour shots of me, then the filming of the commercial. But not until I had my make-up session. Baylor hospital hired professionals to do make-up on their volunteers, and touch-ups during the filming. Anyone who knows me, knows I don't like wearing make-up and this was no exception, even though the woman who did my make-up was sweet and flattering. She had a thing for people's eyes and took lots of time in highlighting mine. Thankfully the make-up didn't feel heavy on my face.
The glamour photo shoot was fun. The good-looking guy that I met when I first walked in was my photographer.
"What kind of music do you like?" He asked me.
"Rock," I flashed a bright smile.
"Cool, we were already listening to rock on Pandora so we won't need to change the channel." (There were two other guys besides the photographer in the room.)
I was asked to sit on a bar stool in different positions. We took a few serious pictures, and then I had a blast making silly faces as the camera *clicked* away. I didn't realize it at the time, but people outside of the room could see the shenanigans going on in the studio! Funny. I had a good time and I hope they were laughing too.
The commercial was a bit more grueling, serious and intense. I walked into a different studio where my make-up was refreshed. Not much laughing in this room. I stood alone, under bright lights. There were two men sitting at the camera. Behind these men was a long table where the woman interviewing me, a couple of other important looking people, and the make-up artist sat. I was only to look at the camera and answer her questions in complete sentences. She prompted me with a question, and then I answered. If she needed more information, she prodded me with more questions. I had to go into some detail about why I was in the hospital; details I will spare the reader. There were a couple of 'signature' statements I had to make; at the beginning I had to say, "My name is Debi ---- and this is my story." And at the end say, "I'm Debi ---- and that is my story." I was not allowed to mention the name of my doctor, or even Baylor. A couple of those sentences I had to re-do.
I then switched gears to do the whole thing again, but this time in Spanish. I liked the Spanish questioner best. She was gentle and less abrupt. She also seemed to be listening to my story. The Spanish didn't seem to take as long, I'm not sure why that was; I guess it was partly because my interviewer knew how to get what she needed from me.
The most agreeable moment for me was when the interviewer asked me what I wanted to say to women about their health. You'll need to watch the commercial to see how I answered.
I was on a high when I left. Wow. What an experience. The commercial should be released sometime this Fall - November/December. I will be given a copy of all the photos taken and the commercial itself. I'll see if I find any photos or even the commercial worth posting.
Until next time my friends, stay healthy!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Monday, July 5, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Art of watering the Lawn
Hello world-wide-web,
Thank you Heavenly Father for choosing me. It has made all the difference in the world. Prayers for all marriage, parents, children, healing in the gulf, singles, addicts and anyone else who needs a prayer said for them. In Your Name, Amen.
My Aunt Rosa, on my mother's side of the family, was my hero growing up in El Paso. My family moved around a lot when I was little, but no matter where we were, my Aunt Rosa came to visit. It was awesome. It meant new clothes, a new hair do and just pampering in general.
I cried for three days straight when she died.
She taught me about credit, have I told this story before? Well I'll stop now and tell you that I'm mentioning her b/c I 'invoke' her spirit sometimes when I have chores to do: she was an expert at wrapping gifts..and diplomacy. As Catholics, this is what I believe the "Communion of Saints," means to us; our connection to our ancestors, those who have passed. I was reminded of the times my Aunt Rosa used to water the front lawn at our house on Hawthorne Street. I used to sit on the magnificent, bricked, sturdy, front porch and watch her wave the magic wand that was the water hose. It was as if the elements were at her command. Immediately after turning on the water hose a cool breeze appeared and tousled the tall evergreen trees that were on either side of the path to the entrance of my grandmother's house. My Aunt took her time as she watered each and every plot of earth. It was an act of love.
So tonight as I turned on the water to the hose at my house, and the wind kicked up joyously, I thought of her and asked her to be with me as I watered each and every part of my yard. I could feel her presence as I am facing my house and beginning on the left hand side, by the front window. There are a few plants, but mostly dirt, which I drench because this land is important to the health of my foundation. I relax as the water flows out of the nozzle, thanking each and every plant for being in my yard and growing. I make sure I soak each area thoroughly, just like my tia (Spanish word for 'aunt') did. It's fun to watch the geckos run out from their hiding places, or the occasional surprised flutter of a butterfly as the water chases it. The neighbors to the right of my house are in their upper years so I water their bushes as well. I see no boundaries, really, between our two yards. I have a rather large fern plant growing towards the front of the lawn and all its spikes nod in agreement as the water pours over them lovingly. I notice that some of the water's muscles are creating a 'dark chocolate with Carmel in the middle' dirt affect, in the symbol of a "V". The darker section engulfing the lighter portion.This tells me I am not soaking enough, so I go over the same place until the affect is made no more. When I am on the other side of my house, at the corner where my bedroom is, there is a precious, tiny, frog 'sitting' and watching me as I water the surface around him, careful not to flood him out of his wonderful perch. Whenever I come to a tree, I thank it's tough, thick bark and strong roots, sloshing the water as if I were washing a pet elephant. I love it's shade and how pretty it makes the front of my house appear. It took me about an hour to do the 'water ritual'. I thank Rosa for accompanying me around my house. A simple act of giving glory to God's creations appointed to my care. I hope I am doing them justice.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Thank you Heavenly Father for choosing me. It has made all the difference in the world. Prayers for all marriage, parents, children, healing in the gulf, singles, addicts and anyone else who needs a prayer said for them. In Your Name, Amen.
My Aunt Rosa, on my mother's side of the family, was my hero growing up in El Paso. My family moved around a lot when I was little, but no matter where we were, my Aunt Rosa came to visit. It was awesome. It meant new clothes, a new hair do and just pampering in general.
I cried for three days straight when she died.
She taught me about credit, have I told this story before? Well I'll stop now and tell you that I'm mentioning her b/c I 'invoke' her spirit sometimes when I have chores to do: she was an expert at wrapping gifts..and diplomacy. As Catholics, this is what I believe the "Communion of Saints," means to us; our connection to our ancestors, those who have passed. I was reminded of the times my Aunt Rosa used to water the front lawn at our house on Hawthorne Street. I used to sit on the magnificent, bricked, sturdy, front porch and watch her wave the magic wand that was the water hose. It was as if the elements were at her command. Immediately after turning on the water hose a cool breeze appeared and tousled the tall evergreen trees that were on either side of the path to the entrance of my grandmother's house. My Aunt took her time as she watered each and every plot of earth. It was an act of love.
So tonight as I turned on the water to the hose at my house, and the wind kicked up joyously, I thought of her and asked her to be with me as I watered each and every part of my yard. I could feel her presence as I am facing my house and beginning on the left hand side, by the front window. There are a few plants, but mostly dirt, which I drench because this land is important to the health of my foundation. I relax as the water flows out of the nozzle, thanking each and every plant for being in my yard and growing. I make sure I soak each area thoroughly, just like my tia (Spanish word for 'aunt') did. It's fun to watch the geckos run out from their hiding places, or the occasional surprised flutter of a butterfly as the water chases it. The neighbors to the right of my house are in their upper years so I water their bushes as well. I see no boundaries, really, between our two yards. I have a rather large fern plant growing towards the front of the lawn and all its spikes nod in agreement as the water pours over them lovingly. I notice that some of the water's muscles are creating a 'dark chocolate with Carmel in the middle' dirt affect, in the symbol of a "V". The darker section engulfing the lighter portion.This tells me I am not soaking enough, so I go over the same place until the affect is made no more. When I am on the other side of my house, at the corner where my bedroom is, there is a precious, tiny, frog 'sitting' and watching me as I water the surface around him, careful not to flood him out of his wonderful perch. Whenever I come to a tree, I thank it's tough, thick bark and strong roots, sloshing the water as if I were washing a pet elephant. I love it's shade and how pretty it makes the front of my house appear. It took me about an hour to do the 'water ritual'. I thank Rosa for accompanying me around my house. A simple act of giving glory to God's creations appointed to my care. I hope I am doing them justice.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Whimsical pictures
Hello world-wide-web,
Lord, thank you for my family and friends, and their health, and all blessings you've bestowed on me. In Your Name. Amen.
I finally took pictures of these wondrous statues around Deep Ellum.
Strummin' on the ole banjo...
Just chillaxin'
Heart these cute chickies and they reflect their goodness everywhere.
...and also with you!
Peering through the musician. How often does one get a chance to do that?!
Hello from behind the arm of my robot. Yes, mine.
Bushy had to copy me!
A birdie landed on his arm.
Hmmm
I'm almost as tall!
Go John, go!...
John posturing.
This birdie is hopping through the photos!
Look at those delightful feet.
If you get a chance, go to Deep Ellum and check out these adorable images live. It's worth the look.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Photos of the World Cup Experience
Hello world-wide-web,
Thank you Jesus for good friends and fun times! In Your Name. Amen.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Thank you Jesus for good friends and fun times! In Your Name. Amen.
As you look out from the giant HD screen, this is what you see...
It was Hell Hot, but worth it! USA!
Those crazy Body Painters! God Bless 'em! We were lucky to get seats next to these guys!
I could have used these later in an argument with Bushy.
U-S-A!
Crazy Body painters on one side, and this guy on the other! :)
Loved sharing the WC experience with these characters.
Look out now, you are on Candid Camera. We were trying to capture a photo of the flag.
This is what you saw from where we were sitting. I think this was taken shortly after Dempsey scored our goooooaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllll!
As were were leaving this guy was waving the US and Mexican flag, tied together. Nice.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Rules to live by
Hello world-wide-web,
Prayers for everyone I said I'd pray for and anyone else who needs some prayers and of course for healing in the Gulf. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Since I'm not working this summer - except in re-organizing my house - and I'm procrastinating on reading the text for my Ethics class, I have lots more time to post blogs. Aren't you a lucky reader!
This was sent in a email to me and I think it's worth sharing:
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want. (!!!)
FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.
FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married .
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.
Twenty-one reminds me of something a good friend asked me when my mom was out of town, "Don't you miss not having your mom around? I don't like it when my roommates is gone." I did miss my mom, but I absolutely relish being by myself. Afterall, if I can't stand being with myself, why would anyone else want to be with me?
God bless!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Prayers for everyone I said I'd pray for and anyone else who needs some prayers and of course for healing in the Gulf. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Since I'm not working this summer - except in re-organizing my house - and I'm procrastinating on reading the text for my Ethics class, I have lots more time to post blogs. Aren't you a lucky reader!
This was sent in a email to me and I think it's worth sharing:
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want. (!!!)
FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.
FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married .
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.
Twenty-one reminds me of something a good friend asked me when my mom was out of town, "Don't you miss not having your mom around? I don't like it when my roommates is gone." I did miss my mom, but I absolutely relish being by myself. Afterall, if I can't stand being with myself, why would anyone else want to be with me?
God bless!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Kobe Bryant Dream
Hello world-wide-web,
Heavenly Father please heal the Gulf. In Jesus' name. Amen.
I am disappointed the Celtics didn't win last night, and here's the dream I had about Kobe and Pau Gasol.
Kobe is teaching the class I'm taking. There are many pages of the exam he's created for us, and it is on paper that is cut in half. I happen to find his answer sheet and take it with me to my desk. I am sitting next to Pau Gasol, hoping he won't notice I'm cheating and tell his buddy Kobe. All of the sudden Kobe is sitting in front of me, also taking the test(!?). After taking the test, Kobe and I go to his house. I am checking my test on the car ride over to Kobe's and Kobe almost catches me with the answer sheet. I am making all kinds of corrections to my answers. Kobe did look over at me strangely a couple of times, but seemed disinterested in what I was doing, thankfully.
Kobe lives in the 'hood! There is no other way to describe his house; it's run down, with paint peeling from the walls. He also has three white kids: a girl and two boys. For some reason I decide to help the kids clean their rooms, which are a mess. I go to the girls room first and help her make her bed. The bedrooms are small and they are on either side of the kitchen. Then there's the tiny dining room area...Throughout this dream Kobe is in his basketball jersey and shorts.
Enjoy your dreams!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Heavenly Father please heal the Gulf. In Jesus' name. Amen.
I am disappointed the Celtics didn't win last night, and here's the dream I had about Kobe and Pau Gasol.
Kobe is teaching the class I'm taking. There are many pages of the exam he's created for us, and it is on paper that is cut in half. I happen to find his answer sheet and take it with me to my desk. I am sitting next to Pau Gasol, hoping he won't notice I'm cheating and tell his buddy Kobe. All of the sudden Kobe is sitting in front of me, also taking the test(!?). After taking the test, Kobe and I go to his house. I am checking my test on the car ride over to Kobe's and Kobe almost catches me with the answer sheet. I am making all kinds of corrections to my answers. Kobe did look over at me strangely a couple of times, but seemed disinterested in what I was doing, thankfully.
Kobe lives in the 'hood! There is no other way to describe his house; it's run down, with paint peeling from the walls. He also has three white kids: a girl and two boys. For some reason I decide to help the kids clean their rooms, which are a mess. I go to the girls room first and help her make her bed. The bedrooms are small and they are on either side of the kitchen. Then there's the tiny dining room area...Throughout this dream Kobe is in his basketball jersey and shorts.
Enjoy your dreams!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Monday, June 7, 2010
Summer dreams
Hello world-wide-web,
Thanks, Lord, for bringing Mom and Carlton home safely from EP. Thank you for all prayers answered, for the wonderful ending to a fantastic academic/school year - you blessed me with some great students this year, Lord - and for overall health and happiness in my life. Special intentions for the BP spill and healing in the gulf, for marriages, for all singles, any prayers I've been asked to pray for, for the troops, and in thanksgiving for the health of loved ones and my friends. In Jesus' name. Amen.
For the summer I'll be posting dreams I have, as I find them quite entertaining and hope you do as well.
A good friend of mine, Issa, is about to have a baby and here's a dream I had about this wonderful occurrence: she and her husband fly to Pakistan to have the baby there, so they invited me and a few other friends to join them. We arrive and Issa is immediately put in a huge room with other pregnant women. The room is the size of a small theatre, complete with comfortable theatre seats, which is where Issa, her husband, me, and the other friends sit to wait. We are waiting for Issa to begin her contractions in earnest and have her baby. Instead of facing a movie screen, though, we are looking through a huge window. We are on the second floor and if you look down from this window you can see the Paki citizens running to and fro. I still have the distinct impression that Issa is having a girl, but she never delivers during the dream; women all around us are having babies though and they are quickly wheeled out of the room when they are in the middle of contractions.
The second dream I had is about a costume shop. But this is no ordinary costume shop. It is a shop that rents Super Heroes. Not the actual Super Heroes, as they have more important things to do than attend a celebration of any sort, so this store rents the robots of Super Heroes. The Super Hero that was prominently featured in my dream was Iron Man. I'm watching a commercial of the Iron Man Robot at a kid's bday party. Everyone is standing around the robot as he does Iron Man stuff: flying around and making balloon animals for the kiddies.
Wishing you Super Summer Dreams - real, dreamed, or imagined.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Thanks, Lord, for bringing Mom and Carlton home safely from EP. Thank you for all prayers answered, for the wonderful ending to a fantastic academic/school year - you blessed me with some great students this year, Lord - and for overall health and happiness in my life. Special intentions for the BP spill and healing in the gulf, for marriages, for all singles, any prayers I've been asked to pray for, for the troops, and in thanksgiving for the health of loved ones and my friends. In Jesus' name. Amen.
For the summer I'll be posting dreams I have, as I find them quite entertaining and hope you do as well.
A good friend of mine, Issa, is about to have a baby and here's a dream I had about this wonderful occurrence: she and her husband fly to Pakistan to have the baby there, so they invited me and a few other friends to join them. We arrive and Issa is immediately put in a huge room with other pregnant women. The room is the size of a small theatre, complete with comfortable theatre seats, which is where Issa, her husband, me, and the other friends sit to wait. We are waiting for Issa to begin her contractions in earnest and have her baby. Instead of facing a movie screen, though, we are looking through a huge window. We are on the second floor and if you look down from this window you can see the Paki citizens running to and fro. I still have the distinct impression that Issa is having a girl, but she never delivers during the dream; women all around us are having babies though and they are quickly wheeled out of the room when they are in the middle of contractions.
The second dream I had is about a costume shop. But this is no ordinary costume shop. It is a shop that rents Super Heroes. Not the actual Super Heroes, as they have more important things to do than attend a celebration of any sort, so this store rents the robots of Super Heroes. The Super Hero that was prominently featured in my dream was Iron Man. I'm watching a commercial of the Iron Man Robot at a kid's bday party. Everyone is standing around the robot as he does Iron Man stuff: flying around and making balloon animals for the kiddies.
Wishing you Super Summer Dreams - real, dreamed, or imagined.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Answered! Life's 25 toughest questions
Hello world-wide-web,
Jesus thank you for all answered prayers. Lord, forgive us for not taking better care of this precious Earth you gave us. Please help us figure out a way to stop the oil spill in the Gulf; please Jesus, we need your help!Guide and bless all those who are suffering from any kind of addiction. In Your Name, Heavenly Father. Amen.
Yahoo news is mostly amusing and I don't ever find anything on it worth posting, but that changed when I read this article from Reader's Digest. Remember Reader's Digest? I think of the Digest as a potpourri of great literature, well, maybe not great literature, but certainly thought provoking and intelligent. Okay, mostly intelligent...Just enjoy the article, please.
Is love ever forever? When do kids become adults? Why is the line you're in always the slowest? Mysteries of the universe -- solved. Advice columnist Jeanne Marie Laskas weighs in.
1. Can love really last a lifetime?
Absolutely -- but only if you chuck the fairy tale of living happily ever after. A team of scientists recently found that romantic love involves chemical changes in the brain that last 12 to 18 months. After that, you and your partner are on your own. Relationships require maintenance. Pay a visit to a nursing home if you want to see proof of lasting love. Recently I spoke to a man whose wife of 60 years was suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease. He came to sit with her every day and hold her hand. "She's been my best friend since high school," he told me. "We made a promise to stick together." Now, that's a love story.
2. Why do married folks begin to look like one another?
Watch any two people who like each other talking, and you'll see a lot of mirroring. One smiles, and so does the other. One nods or raises her eyebrows, and so does the other. Faces are like melodies with a natural urge to stay in sync. Multiply those movements by several decades of marriage, all those years of simultaneous sagging and drooping, and it's no wonder!
3. Can a marriage survive betrayal?
Yes. It takes time and work, but experts are pretty unanimous on this one. In her book The Monogamy Myth, Peggy Vaughan estimates that 60 percent of husbands and 40 percent of wives will have an affair at some point in their marriages. That's no advertisement for straying -- but the news is good for couples hoping to recover from devastating breaches of trust. The offended partner needs to make the choice to forgive -- and learn to live with a memory that can't simply be erased. Infidelity is never forgotten, but it can gradually fade into the murky background of a strong, mature marriage.
4. Why does summer zoom by and winter drag on forever? Because context defines experience. As Albert Einstein once said: "When you are courting a nice girl, an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder, a second seems like an hour."
5. Do animals really have a sixth sense?
Or seventh or eighth! A box jellyfish has 24 eyes, an earthworm's entire body is covered with taste receptors, a cockroach can detect movement 2,000 times the diameter of a hydrogen atom -- and your dog's sense of smell is up to 100,000 times greater than yours (some dogs have been known to smell human cancers). It's safe to say that animals experience a much different world than we do.
6. Why does the line you're in always move the slowest?
Because you're late for your kid's band practice, and you curse your luck and envy those speeding by. Conversely, when you're in the fast line, unfettered by stress, you don't even notice the poor schlubs in the slow lane. Good luck rarely commands one's attention like bad luck. (See answer on buttered toast, "The Ultimate Test," below.)
7. By what age should you know what you want to do with your life?
Any moment now. This used to be a question the young asked. Now it's a quandary for baby boomers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that younger boomers have abandoned the American ideal of picking a job and sticking with it. Between the ages of 18 and 36, these boomers held an average of 9.6 jobs. That's a lot of exploration. The wisdom of elders in all cultures seems to be this: There's nothing to do with a life but live it. As Gandhi pointed out, "Almost anything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."
8. Where do traffic jams come from?
Scientists are hard at work on this one, studying computer models of the physics of gridlock and inventing all new traffic-light algorithms. Some of them postulate that the rhythms of automobile traffic are influenced by the same cyclical forces that cause waves in the ocean. For the average commuter, though, it may be helpful to think of it this way: congestion. There are just too many darn people trying to do the same thing at once. (Flush every toilet in a single office building simultaneously, and see what happens.) All of this by way of saying: Buy a newspaper, load up some favorite tunes on your MP3 player, and take the bus.
9. When is your future behind you?
When you stop chasing dreams. So don't stop!
10. Do you have to love your job?
No. Love your children, your spouse and your country. Love your parents, your neighbor and your dog. Loving is too important an emotion to attach to the way you make a living. But it's OK to strive for satisfaction. According to a recent Harris Poll, across America 59% of workers say they are extremely, somewhat or slightly satisfied with their jobs, but a depressing 33% feel as if they've reached a career dead end. If you're among the latter and thinking about a new job, consider the fact that employees in small firms said they felt more engaged in their work than did their corporate counterparts.
11. Can a man and a woman ever just be friends? For a short time perhaps. Making the friendship last requires that you find each other at least vaguely repulsive. Good luck!
12. When do you take away Grandpa's car keys?
Twenty-two states currently require frequent testing for senior drivers. The American Medical Association and the AARP, however, say safe driving has more to do with functional ability than age. True, seniors are more at risk for reduced vision, hearing loss and impairments associated with arthritis -- but all of these conditions depend on the individual. So when it seems to you that Pop is becoming a danger to himself and a danger to others, tell him straight. Point out that his reactions have slowed or his judgment is losing its edge. Suggest he not drive anymore. Be firm, but at the same time, don't treat him like a child. Allow him his dignity. Offer him a ride.
13. Do siblings who fight really end up liking each other?
I surveyed my older sisters, both of whom have vivid memories of how I tripped, pummeled, and whacked them with various large plastic dolls (hey, they started it -- they teased me!), and both confirmed my suspicion that nowadays they like me just fine. I sure like them. All the experts will tell you that fighting among siblings is normal. The key is how parents handle it. Rule No 1: Don't take sides. Never get into a discussion of who started what or what is more fair. Stop fights with a time-out for all offenders. My mother would send us to separate rooms. So we invented string phones and a pulley system to transport necessary treats and toys. And whatever we were fighting about was forgotten.
14. How do you know when to end a friendship?
As soon as you get that sneaking suspicion that it never really began.
15. Why do we turn into our parents when we swore we wouldn't?
Because really, when all is said and done, we admire them.
16. Can a half-empty person become a half-full person?
A current theory is that people have an "emotional set point." Some folks are just made happier than others. Pessimists will see this as bad news, believing it really doesn't matter what you do -- they are never going to be any happier. But there is hope -- as any optimist will see! Happiness has more to do with how you construe the events in your life than the actual events themselves.
17. When do kids become adults?
Biologically, it's happening earlier; emotionally, it seems to be happening later. Nowadays puberty occurs in females between ages 8 and 14, between 9 and 15 in males. A generation ago, when you turned 18, you were out the door and on your own. Now we see kids in the Boomerang Generation coming home to Mom and Dad after college, hoping for a hand with bills, laundry, meals and other responsibilities of adulthood. It's cute for a while, less adorable the older the kid gets.
18. Can a mother be friends with her teenage daughter?
No. Most teens aren't ready for anything close to a mature friendship. According to current research, the brain continues to develop into a person's 20s. Mothers often want to befriend their daughters; fathers, their sons. But this is not in anyone's best interest. Teenagers need to form identities distinct from their parents. That means: lots of privacy, even some secrets. It's usually easier for a teenage girl to befriend the friend of her mother, and it's usually best for the mother to leave it at that.
19. Does money really buy happiness?
No. Because happiness isn't for sale. Many people get tripped up by this one, amassing wealth only to find themselves cycling into a bottomless pit of unsatisfiable yearning. Turns out, joy and misery are not that far apart when it comes to very big wads of cash. Consider the case of a Kentucky couple who won $34 million in 2000. Thrilled to be released from the demands of their boring old jobs, they frittered their fortune away on fancy cars, mansions, all the usual stuff -- losing everything that mattered in the process. They divorced, he died of an alcohol-related illness, and she died alone in her new house just five years after cashing the winning ticket. When it comes to happiness, only people you love, and who love you, can bring it. If you have enough dough to buy yourself a luxurious yacht, but no real friends to sail with, you're sunk.
20. Can spenders and savers stay married?
Sure -- and they won't run out of things to talk about either. Disagreements over money are a leading cause of divorce, so experts advise lots of work around this issue if, financially speaking, you've found yourself married to your opposite. Tip: Always talk in terms of "ours" instead of "mine" or "yours," and work your strengths. The saver should be allowed to draft the budget; the spender gets to be in charge of vacations, celebrations and ordering extra toppings on the pizza.
21. Is money the root of all evil?
No. Greed is. Elvis nailed this one when he said, "Sharing money is what gives it its value."
22. What do you do if you see a parent berating a child?
Cringe. Take a deep breath. If you truly believe you can help the situation, approach as someone showing sympathy -- not as an accuser or member of the parent police. Empathize with the overstressed parent. Suggest that he take a deep breath. Tell him it worked for you.
23. Why is it so hard to say you're wrong?
Because it often involves saying, "I'm sorry," which is even harder. Throughout history people have found it easier to stop speaking to one another, punch, slander, shoot and bomb rather than apologize. Tip: Next time just say, "Whoops," and see what happens.
24. When should you reveal a secret you said you wouldn't?
It's a matter of damage control. Is the person who asked you to keep the secret in danger of hurting himself or others? If so, intervene. Otherwise, mum's the word.
25. Does the toast really always fall buttered-side down?
Scientists in the Ask Laskas Kitchen conducted a study for which they first toasted an entire loaf of bread, one slice at a time. They buttered each slice, and dropped it from a variety of heights ranging from tabletop to ceiling. Among their findings: A dropped piece of toast never lands on its edge; stomping your foot and yelling "Darn!" does not change a thing; and the floor in the Ask Laskas Kitchen is not nearly as clean as we'd like. Well, life's like that. Never as neat as you'd like it to be. But keep buttering your toast. And savor every slice you've been given.
So, now you know! God bless!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Jesus thank you for all answered prayers. Lord, forgive us for not taking better care of this precious Earth you gave us. Please help us figure out a way to stop the oil spill in the Gulf; please Jesus, we need your help!Guide and bless all those who are suffering from any kind of addiction. In Your Name, Heavenly Father. Amen.
Yahoo news is mostly amusing and I don't ever find anything on it worth posting, but that changed when I read this article from Reader's Digest. Remember Reader's Digest? I think of the Digest as a potpourri of great literature, well, maybe not great literature, but certainly thought provoking and intelligent. Okay, mostly intelligent...Just enjoy the article, please.
Is love ever forever? When do kids become adults? Why is the line you're in always the slowest? Mysteries of the universe -- solved. Advice columnist Jeanne Marie Laskas weighs in.
1. Can love really last a lifetime?
Absolutely -- but only if you chuck the fairy tale of living happily ever after. A team of scientists recently found that romantic love involves chemical changes in the brain that last 12 to 18 months. After that, you and your partner are on your own. Relationships require maintenance. Pay a visit to a nursing home if you want to see proof of lasting love. Recently I spoke to a man whose wife of 60 years was suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease. He came to sit with her every day and hold her hand. "She's been my best friend since high school," he told me. "We made a promise to stick together." Now, that's a love story.
2. Why do married folks begin to look like one another?
Watch any two people who like each other talking, and you'll see a lot of mirroring. One smiles, and so does the other. One nods or raises her eyebrows, and so does the other. Faces are like melodies with a natural urge to stay in sync. Multiply those movements by several decades of marriage, all those years of simultaneous sagging and drooping, and it's no wonder!
3. Can a marriage survive betrayal?
Yes. It takes time and work, but experts are pretty unanimous on this one. In her book The Monogamy Myth, Peggy Vaughan estimates that 60 percent of husbands and 40 percent of wives will have an affair at some point in their marriages. That's no advertisement for straying -- but the news is good for couples hoping to recover from devastating breaches of trust. The offended partner needs to make the choice to forgive -- and learn to live with a memory that can't simply be erased. Infidelity is never forgotten, but it can gradually fade into the murky background of a strong, mature marriage.
4. Why does summer zoom by and winter drag on forever? Because context defines experience. As Albert Einstein once said: "When you are courting a nice girl, an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder, a second seems like an hour."
5. Do animals really have a sixth sense?
Or seventh or eighth! A box jellyfish has 24 eyes, an earthworm's entire body is covered with taste receptors, a cockroach can detect movement 2,000 times the diameter of a hydrogen atom -- and your dog's sense of smell is up to 100,000 times greater than yours (some dogs have been known to smell human cancers). It's safe to say that animals experience a much different world than we do.
6. Why does the line you're in always move the slowest?
Because you're late for your kid's band practice, and you curse your luck and envy those speeding by. Conversely, when you're in the fast line, unfettered by stress, you don't even notice the poor schlubs in the slow lane. Good luck rarely commands one's attention like bad luck. (See answer on buttered toast, "The Ultimate Test," below.)
7. By what age should you know what you want to do with your life?
Any moment now. This used to be a question the young asked. Now it's a quandary for baby boomers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that younger boomers have abandoned the American ideal of picking a job and sticking with it. Between the ages of 18 and 36, these boomers held an average of 9.6 jobs. That's a lot of exploration. The wisdom of elders in all cultures seems to be this: There's nothing to do with a life but live it. As Gandhi pointed out, "Almost anything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."
8. Where do traffic jams come from?
Scientists are hard at work on this one, studying computer models of the physics of gridlock and inventing all new traffic-light algorithms. Some of them postulate that the rhythms of automobile traffic are influenced by the same cyclical forces that cause waves in the ocean. For the average commuter, though, it may be helpful to think of it this way: congestion. There are just too many darn people trying to do the same thing at once. (Flush every toilet in a single office building simultaneously, and see what happens.) All of this by way of saying: Buy a newspaper, load up some favorite tunes on your MP3 player, and take the bus.
9. When is your future behind you?
When you stop chasing dreams. So don't stop!
10. Do you have to love your job?
No. Love your children, your spouse and your country. Love your parents, your neighbor and your dog. Loving is too important an emotion to attach to the way you make a living. But it's OK to strive for satisfaction. According to a recent Harris Poll, across America 59% of workers say they are extremely, somewhat or slightly satisfied with their jobs, but a depressing 33% feel as if they've reached a career dead end. If you're among the latter and thinking about a new job, consider the fact that employees in small firms said they felt more engaged in their work than did their corporate counterparts.
11. Can a man and a woman ever just be friends? For a short time perhaps. Making the friendship last requires that you find each other at least vaguely repulsive. Good luck!
12. When do you take away Grandpa's car keys?
Twenty-two states currently require frequent testing for senior drivers. The American Medical Association and the AARP, however, say safe driving has more to do with functional ability than age. True, seniors are more at risk for reduced vision, hearing loss and impairments associated with arthritis -- but all of these conditions depend on the individual. So when it seems to you that Pop is becoming a danger to himself and a danger to others, tell him straight. Point out that his reactions have slowed or his judgment is losing its edge. Suggest he not drive anymore. Be firm, but at the same time, don't treat him like a child. Allow him his dignity. Offer him a ride.
13. Do siblings who fight really end up liking each other?
I surveyed my older sisters, both of whom have vivid memories of how I tripped, pummeled, and whacked them with various large plastic dolls (hey, they started it -- they teased me!), and both confirmed my suspicion that nowadays they like me just fine. I sure like them. All the experts will tell you that fighting among siblings is normal. The key is how parents handle it. Rule No 1: Don't take sides. Never get into a discussion of who started what or what is more fair. Stop fights with a time-out for all offenders. My mother would send us to separate rooms. So we invented string phones and a pulley system to transport necessary treats and toys. And whatever we were fighting about was forgotten.
14. How do you know when to end a friendship?
As soon as you get that sneaking suspicion that it never really began.
15. Why do we turn into our parents when we swore we wouldn't?
Because really, when all is said and done, we admire them.
16. Can a half-empty person become a half-full person?
A current theory is that people have an "emotional set point." Some folks are just made happier than others. Pessimists will see this as bad news, believing it really doesn't matter what you do -- they are never going to be any happier. But there is hope -- as any optimist will see! Happiness has more to do with how you construe the events in your life than the actual events themselves.
17. When do kids become adults?
Biologically, it's happening earlier; emotionally, it seems to be happening later. Nowadays puberty occurs in females between ages 8 and 14, between 9 and 15 in males. A generation ago, when you turned 18, you were out the door and on your own. Now we see kids in the Boomerang Generation coming home to Mom and Dad after college, hoping for a hand with bills, laundry, meals and other responsibilities of adulthood. It's cute for a while, less adorable the older the kid gets.
18. Can a mother be friends with her teenage daughter?
No. Most teens aren't ready for anything close to a mature friendship. According to current research, the brain continues to develop into a person's 20s. Mothers often want to befriend their daughters; fathers, their sons. But this is not in anyone's best interest. Teenagers need to form identities distinct from their parents. That means: lots of privacy, even some secrets. It's usually easier for a teenage girl to befriend the friend of her mother, and it's usually best for the mother to leave it at that.
19. Does money really buy happiness?
No. Because happiness isn't for sale. Many people get tripped up by this one, amassing wealth only to find themselves cycling into a bottomless pit of unsatisfiable yearning. Turns out, joy and misery are not that far apart when it comes to very big wads of cash. Consider the case of a Kentucky couple who won $34 million in 2000. Thrilled to be released from the demands of their boring old jobs, they frittered their fortune away on fancy cars, mansions, all the usual stuff -- losing everything that mattered in the process. They divorced, he died of an alcohol-related illness, and she died alone in her new house just five years after cashing the winning ticket. When it comes to happiness, only people you love, and who love you, can bring it. If you have enough dough to buy yourself a luxurious yacht, but no real friends to sail with, you're sunk.
20. Can spenders and savers stay married?
Sure -- and they won't run out of things to talk about either. Disagreements over money are a leading cause of divorce, so experts advise lots of work around this issue if, financially speaking, you've found yourself married to your opposite. Tip: Always talk in terms of "ours" instead of "mine" or "yours," and work your strengths. The saver should be allowed to draft the budget; the spender gets to be in charge of vacations, celebrations and ordering extra toppings on the pizza.
21. Is money the root of all evil?
No. Greed is. Elvis nailed this one when he said, "Sharing money is what gives it its value."
22. What do you do if you see a parent berating a child?
Cringe. Take a deep breath. If you truly believe you can help the situation, approach as someone showing sympathy -- not as an accuser or member of the parent police. Empathize with the overstressed parent. Suggest that he take a deep breath. Tell him it worked for you.
23. Why is it so hard to say you're wrong?
Because it often involves saying, "I'm sorry," which is even harder. Throughout history people have found it easier to stop speaking to one another, punch, slander, shoot and bomb rather than apologize. Tip: Next time just say, "Whoops," and see what happens.
24. When should you reveal a secret you said you wouldn't?
It's a matter of damage control. Is the person who asked you to keep the secret in danger of hurting himself or others? If so, intervene. Otherwise, mum's the word.
25. Does the toast really always fall buttered-side down?
Scientists in the Ask Laskas Kitchen conducted a study for which they first toasted an entire loaf of bread, one slice at a time. They buttered each slice, and dropped it from a variety of heights ranging from tabletop to ceiling. Among their findings: A dropped piece of toast never lands on its edge; stomping your foot and yelling "Darn!" does not change a thing; and the floor in the Ask Laskas Kitchen is not nearly as clean as we'd like. Well, life's like that. Never as neat as you'd like it to be. But keep buttering your toast. And savor every slice you've been given.
So, now you know! God bless!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Mom is on vacation!
Jesus, thank you for blessing my mother and brother to arrive safely in El Paso. And Lord, I ask that you bless me with an even greater understanding of my mother as she stays with family for three weeks. Help me, Lord, to put our relationship in a new perspective, infusing our relationship with compassion, patience, love, and a sense of humor. Jesus, I pray too that all travelers/drivers safely arrive to and from their destinations. I'm praying special prayers for some people who have asked me to pray for a family member, Lord; remember them and heal them, Lord, as only you can. In Your Name, Amen.
As I was just telling Jesus, my mom, who has lived with me for six years, took a much needed vacation - at the prompting of my brother - yesterday. She probably hasn't seen her family in EP for at least as long as she's lived with me. Mom is 78. She doesn't like to fly and she was anxious about the drive to EP. It's a long drive, and the weatherman said it was going to rain. Fortunately, the rain held off, thanks Lord, and once mom is settled in at her sister's I think she will really enjoy spending time with her family. Normally she only stays for a week, but I think these three weeks will be a real treat for her. Her absence at my house has been interesting for me. I spent most of Thursday, after Carlton and mom left, thinking about my mother and how I felt about her being away. I began to think about how much parents, for good or bad, influence our lives. Now, I've lived alone before, so arriving to an empty house is no big deal for me. When I lived alone, I didn't have a dog, so Toby is an added bonus. Although Toby, poor thing, has to stay outside during the day, because mom isn't home to let him in and out of the backyard. I think it's cruel to have him cooped up all day in the front room, especially since I have a nice big backyard. He doesn't seem to mind, though, and is really happy when I'm home, as dogs normally are when their masters arrive from work.
I was sad when mom left and I wonder how much I'll do, or not do, while she is away. It's nice to know I don't "have to" do anything, not really, while she is vacationing. For example, if I don't feel like washing dishes, they don't get washed until I want to, and I'm okay with that.
I even *gasp* contemplated not going to church, but that was only a joke in my head. However, this does mean I don't need to get up early for anything and certainly not because someone else is awake in the house. I have tremendously enjoyed the quiet of my house. Mom usually has her t.v. blaring, in Spanish and English. I'll be able to study, read, and write, all in the quiet of my home!
One big goal I want to accomplish: organizing my kitchen. Yes, one day next week, or even the weekend, I will go through all the drawers, cabinets, etc and just throughout unused, unwanted things and keep all the necessities.
I must tell you, dear reader, and I would be remiss if I don't mention this: I wonder if mom's absence is God's way of preparing me for her death. Yes, morbid, so I won't dwell on it it too much, other than to say, I know I will appreciate my mom more than ever when she returns.
I think I did my mom right on Mother's day: I cleaned out her car, and vacuumed and wiped down the interior, took her car through a car wash, filled her car with gas, and bought her a dozen roses. Oh, and gave her some spending money for EP. I can only hope my actions let my mom know that despite our feuds, she is really loved and appreciated.
Hug your mom if she's close and tell her you love her; or call your mom, tell her you love her and then hang up. :) I mean really does anything more need to be said? :)
Remembering that we live finite lives doesn't need to make us sad; knowing we live finite lives forces us to realize we need to make every moment count.
God bless you all, each and every one.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Sunday, May 9, 2010
So much to be thankful for!
Hello world-wide-web,
Jesus, as you already know, Mother's Day can be an unhappy day for some people; some are reminded of mother's who are in Your care now; some do not have a good relationship with their mother; and still others who are struggling to regain good contact and start anew with their mothers. Throughout all of this, Lord, we look to Your mother, our Blessed Mother, for guidance. She is the role model of all mothers for us: the kind, loving, encouraging, and epitome of unconditional love for her children, Mother. Please help us Lord, to love everyone like You love them, to see people as You see them, Lord. And Jesus, on Mother's Day I am also reminded of Mother Earth. Please have Mercy on Us for not taking care of this wonderful planet you gave us. Please show us the positive that can come from the oil spill in the Gulf of La. Heal that area, Lord; restore it to the natural and magnificent habitat it was before this spill, and show us how we can help. Thank you, Jesus. In Your name. Amen.
I have been truly blessed. The best news this past week, for me, was the refinancing of my home. But instead of going 'on and on' about the refinancing, I want to recommend someone to you, dear reader, if you are in the market to refinance your home. Christina Partida at Envoy Mortgage is fantastic. I wrote a letter to Chrisitina's boss, Adrienne, and am enclosing it so you can 'see' just what a great agent Christina is and how she can maybe help you.
Hello Adrienne,(Chrisina's boss)
My name is -- and I want to tell you about one of your employees, Christina Partida. But before I do that, I need to give you some background information about how I met Christina. I don’t know if you believe in Divine Intervention, Adrienne, but I do.
I received many offers to refinance my home, as I’m sure many people did, and I was fairly skeptical about using any of these companies, especially with the housing crises raging.
I also remained skeptical and unwilling to go with any of these businesses because they didn’t have the correct mortgage information for me; all of them that is, except one: Christina’s firm. This is when I met Christina; she ‘happened’ (this is the Divine Intervention I’m talking about) to answer the phone when I called and inquired about their programs to help people refinance.
Adrienne, I immediately felt comfortable with Christina. She is easy to talk to, sweet, knowledgeable, and above all, caring. She asked me what I wanted most with regard to my mortgage, and I told her a lower APR rate, as well as the amount of time to repay the loan decreased– less than 30 years. She was able to deliver the former, and though I didn’t get the latter, I did refinance my house for less than what I originally paid for my house, AND I didn’t need to put any money down for the refinance. A true miracle was worked by Christina, not to mention an additional $400 taken off the amount I was going to owe on my house…I didn’t know exactly what God had in store for my interactions with Christina, because if I had, I would have praised the Lord for her in the beginning, as opposed to now, once I’ve seen all the hard work she put into my case.
As I’m sure you are aware, Adrienne, Christina was disturbed by the lack of integrity her previous company showed in their dealings and knew she could not continue working for such an organization. During this terrible transition, when Christina was harassed and threatened, she kept in constant contact with me and kept me abreast of all that was going on with her and her previous employer. She impressed me with her poise and professionalism in these difficult circumstances.
When she began working for Envoy, Christina wasted no time in getting back to my situation; more than once did Christina drive from Carrollton to Garland to pick papers up and, when she learned that I had been in the hospital for a minor operation, she brought me roses!
Adrienne, I just want you to know you have an outstanding worker in Christina. She is a huge asset to your company. I will dedicate an FB posting to Christina and your company this coming week, and will probably also post a copy of this letter on my blog. May God continue to bless Christina, your company and you, Adrienne. Christina, thank you for all you did for me. (I will not post your last name, Adrienne, on FB or my blog, for privacy’s sake)
Christina Partida
Envoy Mortgage
9)834-3326 cell
cpartida75@gmail.com
She speaks 3 languages! English, Arabic, and Assyrian
Be blessed everyone! :)
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Jesus, as you already know, Mother's Day can be an unhappy day for some people; some are reminded of mother's who are in Your care now; some do not have a good relationship with their mother; and still others who are struggling to regain good contact and start anew with their mothers. Throughout all of this, Lord, we look to Your mother, our Blessed Mother, for guidance. She is the role model of all mothers for us: the kind, loving, encouraging, and epitome of unconditional love for her children, Mother. Please help us Lord, to love everyone like You love them, to see people as You see them, Lord. And Jesus, on Mother's Day I am also reminded of Mother Earth. Please have Mercy on Us for not taking care of this wonderful planet you gave us. Please show us the positive that can come from the oil spill in the Gulf of La. Heal that area, Lord; restore it to the natural and magnificent habitat it was before this spill, and show us how we can help. Thank you, Jesus. In Your name. Amen.
I have been truly blessed. The best news this past week, for me, was the refinancing of my home. But instead of going 'on and on' about the refinancing, I want to recommend someone to you, dear reader, if you are in the market to refinance your home. Christina Partida at Envoy Mortgage is fantastic. I wrote a letter to Chrisitina's boss, Adrienne, and am enclosing it so you can 'see' just what a great agent Christina is and how she can maybe help you.
Hello Adrienne,(Chrisina's boss)
My name is -- and I want to tell you about one of your employees, Christina Partida. But before I do that, I need to give you some background information about how I met Christina. I don’t know if you believe in Divine Intervention, Adrienne, but I do.
I received many offers to refinance my home, as I’m sure many people did, and I was fairly skeptical about using any of these companies, especially with the housing crises raging.
I also remained skeptical and unwilling to go with any of these businesses because they didn’t have the correct mortgage information for me; all of them that is, except one: Christina’s firm. This is when I met Christina; she ‘happened’ (this is the Divine Intervention I’m talking about) to answer the phone when I called and inquired about their programs to help people refinance.
Adrienne, I immediately felt comfortable with Christina. She is easy to talk to, sweet, knowledgeable, and above all, caring. She asked me what I wanted most with regard to my mortgage, and I told her a lower APR rate, as well as the amount of time to repay the loan decreased– less than 30 years. She was able to deliver the former, and though I didn’t get the latter, I did refinance my house for less than what I originally paid for my house, AND I didn’t need to put any money down for the refinance. A true miracle was worked by Christina, not to mention an additional $400 taken off the amount I was going to owe on my house…I didn’t know exactly what God had in store for my interactions with Christina, because if I had, I would have praised the Lord for her in the beginning, as opposed to now, once I’ve seen all the hard work she put into my case.
As I’m sure you are aware, Adrienne, Christina was disturbed by the lack of integrity her previous company showed in their dealings and knew she could not continue working for such an organization. During this terrible transition, when Christina was harassed and threatened, she kept in constant contact with me and kept me abreast of all that was going on with her and her previous employer. She impressed me with her poise and professionalism in these difficult circumstances.
When she began working for Envoy, Christina wasted no time in getting back to my situation; more than once did Christina drive from Carrollton to Garland to pick papers up and, when she learned that I had been in the hospital for a minor operation, she brought me roses!
Adrienne, I just want you to know you have an outstanding worker in Christina. She is a huge asset to your company. I will dedicate an FB posting to Christina and your company this coming week, and will probably also post a copy of this letter on my blog. May God continue to bless Christina, your company and you, Adrienne. Christina, thank you for all you did for me. (I will not post your last name, Adrienne, on FB or my blog, for privacy’s sake)
Christina Partida
Envoy Mortgage
9)834-3326 cell
cpartida75@gmail.com
She speaks 3 languages! English, Arabic, and Assyrian
Be blessed everyone! :)
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Thursday, May 6, 2010
What would happen if Jesus took a day off?
Hello world-wide-web,
Thank you Jesus for all of your goodness, mercy, and love. You are truly the King of Kings. I adore you, love you, and appreciate all you do for my family, friends, strangers, and me. All things in Your Name, amen.
A good friend of mine is having a baby shower this weekend, and instead of giving cards, it's been requested that we give books to build the baby's library. I love to give books! I was at HPB and found some lovely books, including one entitled, "Jesus' day off." I wanted to copy and paste it here, but it would take up too much space on my 'puter, SO you'll just need to click on this link and read it for yourself.
Jesus' day off
Carlton thinks the author handles Jesus too flippantly, but since he's an agnostic I am discounting what he thinks.
I found the book refreshing and the perfect way to introduce a young mind to Jesus.
Tell me what you think.
God bless you, dear reader, today and always!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Thank you Jesus for all of your goodness, mercy, and love. You are truly the King of Kings. I adore you, love you, and appreciate all you do for my family, friends, strangers, and me. All things in Your Name, amen.
A good friend of mine is having a baby shower this weekend, and instead of giving cards, it's been requested that we give books to build the baby's library. I love to give books! I was at HPB and found some lovely books, including one entitled, "Jesus' day off." I wanted to copy and paste it here, but it would take up too much space on my 'puter, SO you'll just need to click on this link and read it for yourself.
Jesus' day off
Carlton thinks the author handles Jesus too flippantly, but since he's an agnostic I am discounting what he thinks.
I found the book refreshing and the perfect way to introduce a young mind to Jesus.
Tell me what you think.
God bless you, dear reader, today and always!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Go on, be silly!
Hello world-wide-web,
Jesus, thank you for prayers answered and for all the good things that happen in the world. You are in control, Lord. Msgr Don, on the feast day of St Catherine Sienna this past week, said in his homily that St. Catherine was a mystic that spoke to you, Jesus, on a regular basis and that she asked You, "Why don't people believe in You?" Lord, you replied, "Because people don't believe I'm that good." Jesus, help us believe that you are that good. In Your Name, Lord, Amen.
Most of my time has been consumed by the Group Therapy class I'm taking. Thank goodness there are only three weeks of the semester left, so I can chill, not study, and be lazy before my next class, Ethics, in June (don't care right now what that start date is and I'm not posting it, he he).
I want to share with you one of the techniques we're learning about called Rational Emotive Behavior, or REB. This technique, unlike the other theories we are learning about, has humor as one of the methods to use with clients (a pity the others don't take humor as seriously, lol). I am ALL about the Humor. I'm doing my best to constantly become a funnier person...
But I want to tell you about some 'shame-attacking exercises' REB recommends. I encourage you to do some of these things and have fun with them; if you do try them, post on here how the 'experiment' went, as I'm curious about people's reactions and yours. :)
('Shame attacking exercises', btw, is the rationale that anxiety oftten results from shame, guilt, embarrassment, and self-damnation.)
1. Walk through a park singing at the top of your voice.
2. In a crowded elevator, tell people that you are glad they could attend this important meeting that you have called. (I want to try this one!)
3. Talk to animals, and pretend they are talking to you. (I already do this one...)
4. Ride in a crowded elevator facing the rear wall.
5. Tie a ribbon around a banana and "walk it" down a street.
6. In public, shout out the exact time by saying, "The time is 11:11 and 20 seconds."
7. Go to a drugstore, and in a loud voice say to the pharmacist, "I want to buy ALL of your condoms, and since I use so many of them, you should give me a special discount!"
and for all the people who like 'bathroom humor':
After finishing a meal in a restaurant, say, "Ah, I feel a fart coming on." Please don't use this one when you're having a meal with me, though, okay? ;)!
All right, you have your assignment.
Enjoy life! :)
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Jesus, thank you for prayers answered and for all the good things that happen in the world. You are in control, Lord. Msgr Don, on the feast day of St Catherine Sienna this past week, said in his homily that St. Catherine was a mystic that spoke to you, Jesus, on a regular basis and that she asked You, "Why don't people believe in You?" Lord, you replied, "Because people don't believe I'm that good." Jesus, help us believe that you are that good. In Your Name, Lord, Amen.
Most of my time has been consumed by the Group Therapy class I'm taking. Thank goodness there are only three weeks of the semester left, so I can chill, not study, and be lazy before my next class, Ethics, in June (don't care right now what that start date is and I'm not posting it, he he).
I want to share with you one of the techniques we're learning about called Rational Emotive Behavior, or REB. This technique, unlike the other theories we are learning about, has humor as one of the methods to use with clients (a pity the others don't take humor as seriously, lol). I am ALL about the Humor. I'm doing my best to constantly become a funnier person...
But I want to tell you about some 'shame-attacking exercises' REB recommends. I encourage you to do some of these things and have fun with them; if you do try them, post on here how the 'experiment' went, as I'm curious about people's reactions and yours. :)
('Shame attacking exercises', btw, is the rationale that anxiety oftten results from shame, guilt, embarrassment, and self-damnation.)
1. Walk through a park singing at the top of your voice.
2. In a crowded elevator, tell people that you are glad they could attend this important meeting that you have called. (I want to try this one!)
3. Talk to animals, and pretend they are talking to you. (I already do this one...)
4. Ride in a crowded elevator facing the rear wall.
5. Tie a ribbon around a banana and "walk it" down a street.
6. In public, shout out the exact time by saying, "The time is 11:11 and 20 seconds."
7. Go to a drugstore, and in a loud voice say to the pharmacist, "I want to buy ALL of your condoms, and since I use so many of them, you should give me a special discount!"
and for all the people who like 'bathroom humor':
After finishing a meal in a restaurant, say, "Ah, I feel a fart coming on." Please don't use this one when you're having a meal with me, though, okay? ;)!
All right, you have your assignment.
Enjoy life! :)
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wylie's Angel
Hello world-wide-web,
Jesus, may you take the soul of Wylie's Angel straight to Your Heart. In Your Name. Amen.
Dear Readers,
We live in a caring world.
The actions of the Wylie community towards the special needs boy whose body was found near Lake Lavon last Thursday, the 14th, shows me we live in a caring world. According to a Dallasnews.com article on April 20th, "...volunteers (of Wylie) canvassed the neighborhood with an image of the brown-eyed, brown-haired boy in hopes that someone might recognize him. That's also why Malorie Martinez started a Facebook page she's calling, "Wylie's Angel," to get the boy's picture distributed as widely as possible."
But the FB page serves another great purpose: we (i.e. society) can openly mourn for Wylie's Angel. We may not have known this sweet little boy, but we resonate with sympathy for his tragedy.
We all want to be known, don't we? And I don't mean 'known' in a celebrity famous sort of way, but known, for our likes, dislikes, by people we care about and who care about us.
Even if we didn't know Wylie's Angel when he was alive.
We know him now.
You will be remembered Little One.
It's innate, I think, to care for each other in times of tragedy.
I wasn't near NYC when 9/11 happened, but that event changed lives, and for the better. I felt more compassion and patience toward my fellow human beings. This is no different.
On a collective consciousness level we sensed something was wrong with what happened to Wylie's Angel. We want to make things right, even in death.
We are all precious.
Be with the Angels, Wylie, and RIP.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Jesus, may you take the soul of Wylie's Angel straight to Your Heart. In Your Name. Amen.
Dear Readers,
We live in a caring world.
The actions of the Wylie community towards the special needs boy whose body was found near Lake Lavon last Thursday, the 14th, shows me we live in a caring world. According to a Dallasnews.com article on April 20th, "...volunteers (of Wylie) canvassed the neighborhood with an image of the brown-eyed, brown-haired boy in hopes that someone might recognize him. That's also why Malorie Martinez started a Facebook page she's calling, "Wylie's Angel," to get the boy's picture distributed as widely as possible."
But the FB page serves another great purpose: we (i.e. society) can openly mourn for Wylie's Angel. We may not have known this sweet little boy, but we resonate with sympathy for his tragedy.
We all want to be known, don't we? And I don't mean 'known' in a celebrity famous sort of way, but known, for our likes, dislikes, by people we care about and who care about us.
We know him now.
You will be remembered Little One.
It's innate, I think, to care for each other in times of tragedy.
I wasn't near NYC when 9/11 happened, but that event changed lives, and for the better. I felt more compassion and patience toward my fellow human beings. This is no different.
On a collective consciousness level we sensed something was wrong with what happened to Wylie's Angel. We want to make things right, even in death.
We are all precious.
Be with the Angels, Wylie, and RIP.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Friday, April 2, 2010
The United Nations of Good Friday
Hello world-wide-web,
Happy Good Friday everyone. Heavenly Father, thank you for dying for us so we can be free of sin and eternal damnation. A special prayer for those who have died; I pray they are now resting comfortably with you in Heaven. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Every year for the past three years, my mom and I have visited seven churches on Good Friday. This year was not any different. Mom heard about the tradition from some ladies at church many years ago. Normally the visits were done on Holy Thursday, but since I only get Good Friday off from work, we visit the churches on GF.
Since we're visited the churches in Dallas, and some in Ft. Worth, this year I decided to stay fairly close to home. We live in Garland, and our first stop was St Mary's Malankara, which is close to downtown Garland. I didn't realize it when I found this church on the web, but it is a Catholic Indian (people from India) church. At first I wondered if it was still a Catholic church because there is a realtor's sign in front of the church, but when we got out of the car and walked to the front of the church, there was a beautiful marquee with the Blessed Mother holding Jesus, and times of the masses. We spoke to a gentlemen sitting outside of the church: was there a service going on? He said yes, but it was okay to go into the church. I was hesitant, but mom wanted to go inside and pray. We walked in and a kind woman at the entrance of the church - there were two doors closed to the actual church area - told us that men sat on the left side and women on the right. There were shoes strewn about the entrance of the church, so I took off my shoes as well. Inside the church, but sitting at the back, was a man and a woman chanting prayers, their voices carrying over a loud speaker. Many of the women had veils on and traditional Indian dress: long pants, long dresses covering the pants. They looked gorgeous. The men were dressed nicely as well; everyone wearing mostly black. Mom and I found a spot to sit, but I was uncomfortable with staying long. I got up from our seat when some women came to sit with us - we may have taken their seats - and went to the entrance of the church again to wait for mom. I asked one of the women at the back of the church what the English equivalent was of the prayers being said. She didn't know. I asked her how long the prayers lasted and she said from 8:30 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon. She was very gracious. I stopped asking questions when I realized my curiosity may have appeared rude. The church was filled with people, some staying and some leaving. Mom only stayed a few more minutes and then we were on to our next church, which was Sacred Heart in Rowlett.
For some reason I was expecting the church to be packed with people, like the Indian church was, but it wasn't. There were three parishioners working in the gym and parish center, but no one else was visiting. The most impressive item of this visit was outside: a gorgeous statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Coincidentally our next church was also named Sacred Heart, but it is in Plano, and belongs to a Chinese congregation. Unfortunately the church was closed, but I managed to snap some photos of the stunning statue of Jesus in front of the church, and then a photo of the Blessed Mother, in a gazebo, with a rosary in hand at the back of the church.
St Jude, in Allen, is ginormous! And Mom and I couldn't be on a better schedule! As we entered the church, the Stations of the Cross had just begun and were being shown on two large screens on either side of the altar. If you weren't fortunate enough to get a missal of the Stations, you had only to look at one of the screens to see which Station was being prayed! The Stations were phenomenally painted and hung from large frames around the church. Because the church was packed, Mom wound her way to the left side of the altar and found us a spot. A woman with two small children smiled as she moved over to give us room to sit. She happily give us her copy of the Stations of the Cross. The Stations were printed on what I can only describe as a pamphlet. After the service the priest asked everyone to keep the pamphlet if they wanted to, and I'm posting my favorite picture from it, "Veronica wipes the face of Jesus." I took a photo of the church from outside, but the photo fails to capture the enormity of the church. St Jude in Allen. If you haven't been, go! You will feel God's presence.
Our next trek took us to Our Lady of Angels, also in Allen. Once again mom and I had great timing. This parish too was just beginning the Stations. Several different people helped the priest with the prayers and this added to the experience. I'm enclosing a photo of a magnificent statue of angels this church had in its courtyard.
I find the churches mom and I visit by googling them. Having said this, please keep in mind the web sometimes doesn't offer much in the way of describing the location of the church. Which brings me to our sixth church. After driving around a Frisco neighborhood for at least an hour or so and calling my brother to make sure I had the right place, mom and I parked in front of someones house. I know. How strange does this seem? Can a person's house be a church as well? A church named St Clement of Alexandria? Mom and I arrived just as the owner, a woman, arrived. I smiled as I approached her, "Hello, my name is D and this is my mom, M. We're looking for a Catholic church, a St Clement of Alexandria?" The woman said nothing as she grabbed her mail from the mailbox and went into her house. Mom and I couldn't leave fast enough.
Our last church visit returned us to Garland. This church is Vietnamese. The grounds surrounding the church are very large. It's a pretty church and clean too. I used their restroom and it was spotless. The statue of their pieta is striking and impressed me the most.
A good friend of mine from church once told me that just by walking into a church you are blessed. Walk into one of these churches sometime, except the sixth one, hehe, and you will surely be blessed.
Happy Easter everyone!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Help is always available for you
Hello world-wide-web,
Heavenly Father my mother has told me that Holy Week is the Holiest of Holy weeks in the year, and that whatever we ask for in Jesus' name during this time will be answered. Now Jesus, I know this must be true, because she's a mom AND a widow, and I know how you are partial to both, so I'm asking for some extra guidance, love, patience, and compassion be sent to all marriages. As always, Lord, thank you. Thank you for Your mercy, Your kindness, and for being with us every single day. In Your Name, Lord. Amen.
I've become a fan of "30Rock" - thanks Carlton for getting me hooked on it - and an episode a few weeks ago had a funny scene in it. Tina Fey's character, Liz Lemon, or LL, went to the dentist and her friend/co-worker Jack, Alec Baldwin, took her home and looked after her because she was still sedated from the surgery. I use the term 'looked after' loosely because Jack admits to Liz that while she was still sedated she put a waffle in the DVD player and called for a massage from craigslist. (Liz is talking to Jack on the phone, asking him if she put the waffle in the DVD player, when a man starts banging loudly and roughly on her door. She yells in her best imitation of a man's voice, "You're too late. We've already killed her!" Jack comments, "Well played Lemon.")Jack may not have been very good at taking care of his friend, but he was there for her in her time of need.
It's great to have a support system, but what if a person doesn't have a support system? Where does a person go for support, or to talk to someone objective about their problems? Church, yes, but what if you're an agnostic, or atheist? Pray? Definitely, but as I've said in previous blogs, 'sometimes you need someone with skin.' I am going somewhere with this line of questioning, and those of you who know I'm pursuing a master's in counseling have an idea where.
Another answer (though not as noble as the given answers) to the above questions is watching t.v. sitcoms like "Cougartown" which is about a recently divorced woman who owns a real estate business and has a funny, intelligent, teenage son; neighbors who are happily married and raising a son; another neighbor who is cute and has a major crush on her; her former hubby, who is also still madly in love with her; and a single woman who works with her in the real estate business and is kind of white trash; or perhaps "Modern Family,"(which I love)is more your style with it's hip gay couple; the older man who is married to a young Latina who has a son from a previous marriage; a 'normal' family: husband, wife, and three adorable kids; a nerd, a princess, and a boy.
If people aren't watching the "small box," to find solace, maybe they are happy being unhappy, or they're drinking themselves silly to cope...
I'm arguing that something is going on in the collective consciousness of t.v. land. By watching "Cougartown," or "Modern Family," or other similar programs, the viewer can question relationships, possibly even find the shows experiences cathartic. Oprah has been 'healing' the world for years. I envision good things coming from all the actor's 'genuineness'. Perhaps people will eventually Be Real, or, at the very least, go to a therapist and Get real. I know the wheels of my argument are about to fall off, but hear me out: therapy is a good thing. If you've been thinking about going, go. If you haven't thought of therapy, why not? It was Socrates who said, "The unexamined life is not worth living."
If the stigma to seeking counsel lifts through some 'osmosis' of a sitcom's
character(s), which, again, I think it can, lives change, and all for the better. God wants us to be our best selves. Therapy can help.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Sunday, March 14, 2010
I heart nurses
Hello world-wide-web,
Thank you Lord for nurses, your angels on earth. I pray that all nurses know how appreciated and loved they are by their patients, and may they always feel Your Spirit working through them, renewing them, and giving them the will to keep working long after their energy has left them. Thank you also Lord, for my health and for the health of those around me. Thank you for all you do for us; we can't ever thank you enough. In Jesus' Name. Amen
I went to the hospital for a planned surgery this past Friday.
Before I continue, I must make a confession here to Brett (oops), I mean Brent; I lied to you Buddy, when I told you I was having my tonsils removed. I can't believe how gullible some people are, God bless them. :P
I won't go into any details about why I was there or that I spent the night.
I will, however, talk about how I think nurses are Da Bomb. I've failed to realize how amazing nurses are and what a demanding profession they have to fulfill. Let me make up for this failure now by saying how much I admire and appreciate nurses. Friday happened to be a really busy day for the nurses on my floor too. There are intercoms, fortunately or unfortunately, in every room and there isn't a way to cover them up or turn them down, so you pretty much have to hear every page that is made. But my nurses were the kindest, most compassionate people. If you get the opportunity to meet a nurse when you are out and about, or at a party, or if you go to the hospital like I did, please make sure you tell them how much you appreciate them. When I found out my nurses were done with their shifts, I told them good-bye, thanked 'em and gave them God's blessings. They really did their best to make sure I was comfortable and in want of nothing. I don't particularly care for hospitals, but this visit made me appreciate we have hospitals and the wonderful people, angels really, who work inside them.
KIA Sorento has a cute commercial airing now with a monkey and other assorted toys taking over the Sorento and going to Vegas, with a tune from The Heavy called, "How you like me now?" As I'm writing this blog, those words, How you like me now, are playing over and over in my head. I think that's what I was thinking at certain times when the nurses took care of me. I think they would answer with a smile and say, "Just fine." Not many people can do what they do, or the way they do it, and make it feel okay.
Have you thanked a nurse today? Or prayed for one? Well, what are you waiting for?
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Why go to mass?
Hello world-wide-web,
May God bless you and keep you, always. In Jesus' name. Amen.
I've been listening to a CD of a mission St. Joseph did last year, during Lent, I think, with Fr. Dennis Corrado. I want to share with you Father's reasons for attending church:
1. It's not good to be alone. Scripture has already told us. It's unnatural to be alone. We naturally seek companionship. Intimacy. Friendship. Support. It's in us. To be spiritual requires that we not do it alone. We wake up the consciousness of our souls, of who we are, not as an independent ego; it is natural for us to find ourselves in union with others. So that when people say, "I'm spiritual," it often means they are unwilling to make a commitment to be in communion with others, in some form. Some expression of unity.
2. Why should we go to church? So that we can take our place with other humans in humility. There are very few places in our lives where we can come in anonymously and silently and sit in the company of other human beings and realize our connection, humbly. I'm one person and I wish I could do more good than I can do. But when I sit in your company, I feel the power of our unity and possibility...I am only one out of 6 billion, but we belong to an international institution that stands for something powerful. Flaws and all, mistakes and all, sins and all, and I want my place to remind me of how small and insignificant I am, but how important I am in the company of others. To take my place, where I belong, with my fellow humans.
3. Because GOD calls me here. I am convinced that we are called here. That is a choice, but it's also a call. Our scriptures tell us that GOD knows us better than we know ourselves. What does the scripture say? Before I knit you in your mother's womb, I knew you. It's a great thing, is it not, to be known? That's why we Catholics do not believe in reincarnation. We are unique. Uniquely loved, uniquely identified and uniquely called. We are called to be a part of a community. Called by name. Are we free to reject the call? Of course.
And you know, a lot of women, if there are single women here who are trying to figure out if they can be in relationship, know that one of the hardest thing to get guys to do today is to make a commitment. Nobody wants to make a commitment. You know there's this kind of prolonged adolescence that we have in our society now. That is not, I think, particularly healthy. Stepping up to the plate and accepting responsibility and making commitment is a very healthy spiritual thing. It makes you say, "I'm an adult. I'm not a kid." I'm not excluding fun, hah?, but I believe one of the worst things about organized religion is that it is always so sad. Church is not entertainment. We learn through humor more than we learn through tears, but, answer the call. Listen for the call to be part of a believing community.
4. When we were little my father used to hit us when we were bad and since we were faster than him, we would run out of the house and he'd say, "You can run, but you can't hide." Well that's a message for all of us, we're all running, where are we hiding? How do you hide from GOD? Who knew us before we were formed in our mother's womb? So why are we trying? Why aren't we listening? Why aren't we saying yes? 'Because pride goeth before the fall.' Because we think that if we make our own choices, if we do what we want, when we want and how we want, we'll be happier. Well so did Adam and Eve thought that. And they wound up with fig leaves. (laughter)
5. Spirituality is not a private search for what is highest in ones' self, but it is a communal search for the face of GOD. In other words: worship divinity and link to humanity. Now where have we heard this in another form in the scriptures? Love GOD. Love your neighbor as yourself. That's the key. We are searching for the face of GOD. However you call GOD. I'm not so concerned in talking about this topic, that we identify ourselves by a particular religion. Although I am proud of Roman Catholicism, I'm committed to Roman Catholicism, and I want it to be as good as it can be. There are many, many paths to GOD. I believe that if I'm going to link with humanity, I have to seek something greater than myself. One of my ancestors in the faith used to say that, "The search for GOD, for divinity, begins within the heart," but it doesn't stay there. It goes beyond the heart. You should belong to a church because GOD is calling us here.
6. You want to go to church because church, religion, helps to dispel fantasies about ourselves. We all have them, don't we? We all have an image of ourselves, which is made-up. We never see ourselves for what we are, do we? We often rely on others to give us an image. Church is a place where alot of the fantasies actually get dispelled because we're challenged not only by the word of GOD, but by the diversity and differences among us. We see ourselves more clearly when we're in the company of people who are not exactly like us.
7. I think the mistake of a lot of younger people is that they don't think that we have dreams, as you age, and that's another reason why we come to church. To dream. To dream with others. Our religious tradition honors dreams. Joseph takes Mary to his side because he dreamed it. He's told in a dream 'trust, trust, trust,' and he believes the angel in his dream. The Magi avoid murder by Herod because they're told in a dream to go home by another way. To dream alone often makes the dreams stay dreams. To dream with others can make them become a reality. That we dream that there will be a world of justice, we dream that there will be a world of peace; we dream that there will be compassion for those who have less, we dream that the poor will be honored; that's our corporate dream. If we dreamed it alone, we probably could do very little, but dreaming it in union with one another, gives us a strength to make that dream a reality, and also that GOD will speak to us in dreams.
8. The language of liturgy is a heightened language. It's not supposed to be ordinary language. So that when you come into church, the language that we use is poetic; it's supposed to make us in a certain sense, leave that familiar behind and enter into a different level of reality. To encourage us to think more deeply. And you know life is so fast, and so cruel and so unfair, that one needs a place of rest in which to dream. I'm sure that as I'm speaking your mind is going from place to place, and I might say a particular word that leads you to a particular thought that leads you down a path, all of that has an energy which will effect both of us, all of us.
9. I want us to go to church because tens of thousands of people before us believed in it. The saints; do you think that all of the thousands of people that believed in our religious tradition were fooled? Were they fooled? Were they wasting their time? That some how or other there was this great big magic show that they bought into? My parents inspired me to live this tradition. Because they lived honorable lives. And because they were honorable, I wanted to be honorable, and I felt that they learned their honorableness through their affiliation in church. Not entirely, but it shaped their moral values which then shaped mine, and to continue to be committed to that, allowed me to be part of a long procession of faithful people. That convinces me that even when I have doubts about the leadership of the church, and how they express it, and I've told you I have plenty of problems with the way the church talks; I have plenty of problems with the way they don't seem to be responsive to our needs. There are statements that they make that I think, "Oh GOD, why don't they shut up?" BUT I also realize that my departure will diminish the possibility of it changing.
10. I say to my cousins who don't go to church, "WE MISS YOU! Your cynicism, your distrust, your anger, your fear, is needed in the community. So that those can be used to challenge those either in leadership or in the pews. How else are we going to get better, unless we have the whole mess together? And if everyone who is hurt or a disbeliever, or has questions, books out the door, how will those questions ever be addressed? We need the presence of people who are vital enough to say, "I believe, help my unbelief."
I'll be at the 5 o'clock mass with my mom on Saturday. Look for us...we'd love for you to pray with us, join in the procession...
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Lent - it's not about God or Jesus
Hello world-wide-web,
Heavenly Father, bless all eyes that are reading my blog. In Your Name. Amen.
Did my title get you thinking? he he Of course Lent is about God and Jesus, but I'm not going to tell you what I'm 'adding' or 'giving up,' or any of that, since I think that's personal and the bible reading today mentions how we should act like nothing is going on with us. I know I paraphrased the bible verse(you don't think I know the gospel, but I do!!!), but you get the idea.
I want to tell you about a past Lent.
I had the time and desire many years ago to visit a nursing home. My goal was to visit someone three to four times a week for about an hour. I chose a nursing home that wasn't close to my house so I could have time to offer prayers for those I was about to visit. Sometimes I spent the hour with one person, or visited various people who needed a friend. I prayed with them, spoke with them, or read to them. Have you heard the saying, "You may not remember what people say, but you do remember how they made you feel."? Well I will always remember how Mary made me feel. For some reason during one of my visits with her the conversation turned to movies. I asked her what her favorite movie of all time was and she said, "Gone with the Wind." I admitted to her, somewhat sheepishly, that I'd never seen it. "What?! You have to watch it - it's a great movie. I have the tape here; we'll watch it together." "Really? You want to watch it again?" "Sure, I never get tired of it." I hesitated. Could I count this as a visit if we watched a movie? "C'mon," she pleaded, "Look for it over there, by the television. Put it in the VCR. I'm ready to watch it." (Yes, it was a VIDEO!) I did as she said. If you've never watched it, you need to rent it. It's a great film. It took me four days at an hour a day to watch it with her, but it was worth it, and Mary did in fact seem genuinely happy watching it.
Except for the pleasantries we shared upon my arrival - where I asked her how she was and mentioned how we didn't need to watch the film if she wanted to chat - we really didn't talk. She didn't want to visit, she wanted to watch. Strange as it may sound, I felt close to Mary in our quiet viewing of the film. I think she felt close to me. That film will always hold a special place in my heart, as will the time I spent with Mary.
When Easter arrived, I bought some lillies and took them to the women I'd visited during Lent, thanking them for allowing me to spend time with them.
It was after this Lent that I understood what Lent meant.
Enjoy your Lenten ride, however bumpy, and remember what awaits you at the end of your trials: a glorious Easter!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
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