Monday, July 23, 2012

Too Inconvenient


      I do not know who wrote the following story, but it seemed appropriate as just recently, a woman who I know indirectly, despite offers of adoption, terminated the life of her child simply because pregnancy was inconvenient. 


      A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. “Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring home with me.” 
“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”
“There’s something you should know,” the son continued, “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.” 
“I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.” 
“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”
“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find a way to live on his own.” 
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know, their son had only one arm and one leg. 
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking, or fun to have around, but we don’t like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren’t as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. 

Monday, July 16, 2012

$86,400 Daily Deposit


by Unknown

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course! 

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow." You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today. 

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.  To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train. To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident. 

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. Remember that time waits for no one. 

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. 

Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

What if... there was no afterlife?

On the radio a few days ago, a DJ presented the question:  "Would you still be a Christian.... IF you knew that there was no afterlife?"  He asked this hypothetically to his Christian audience to gauge the importance of this belief in day to day living.  He wasn't interested in theological answers -- just an in the moment reaction.

The main response was: "No."

Many said if there was no afterlife, the hope that they have in Christ would be dead. While a Christian life promotes goodness in people, it is not impossible to be "good" outside of Christ.

I see what they are saying, but I disagree.

Without going into theology... I think that an afterlife is a great motivation for people to be good, that is, to have a relationship with Jesus -- like an award system.  However, one doesn't need the reward system to have a true relationship with Him. Likewise one doesn't need a reward system to be a "good" person.

For me the afterlife is a beautiful bonus.

I am glad, it is not hypothetical, but an actually reality-- because then one day my love for God will be made more perfect, and I will experience happiness more than I could possible imagine. However, I love God because He is God.

Therefore, I think that even if there was no afterlife, I would still try to have a relationship with Jesus, because Jesus is God.

The Incarnation, Passion, Death, and Resurrection was the proof of God's love.  If there was no life after death, then going into the theology of how things would be different will get very complicated, but I am sure that God --the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit -- would still have proved that He is our very Life.  Maybe, I would not be called "Christian" but I would hope to follow God with everything I have.

God is unchanging, eternal, all powerful, and not dependent on an afterlife for His creations.  He didn't need to create our souls immortal.  He could have created us like the insects. (I don't believe that insects, or dogs go to heaven.)  Does God not care about them?  Does He not still order them, giving them a part in His creation?  Did he not say that their existence was GOOD?

The fact that I, a miserable creature, was deemed worthy of existence is Divine Mercy and Goodness in action.  I am grateful for my existence and the opportunity to love God.  I owe Him everything.  He gave me life. Thus, my duty to follow His Commandments would not be lessened.

My question to the DJ's audience would be:

Would Moses still have lead the Israelites out of Egypt.... IF he knew he wouldn't ever see the "promised land"?

Monday, July 9, 2012

The Obstacle In Our Path


Author Unknown

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. 

Some of the kirig’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. 

Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. 

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. 

The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition. 

Sunday, July 8, 2012

The Builder – A Story of Forgiveness

by sexrespect on 2012/03/12 5:36 PM


The Builder – A Story of Forgiveness
Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work" he said.

"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence - an 8-foot fence - so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.

There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge... a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all - and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."

Author Unknown  

Second Letter to My Dearest Friend

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for this day.

Thank you for creating me: You called me into existence and are the reason for my very breath. I am nothing without You. I know that fully.

Please forgive me for all the times that I thought I knew better than You and acted against Your will for me. Forgive me for all the times I treated others wrongfully, because I thought my existence, my needs were more important than Your call for me to serve instead of being served. 

Jesus, You created me for a reason, a reason that I am not aware of. You thought it good to create me and to sustain me despite all my sins. Please let me know how to serve You.

Help me to know how to respond to Your call. I no longer recognize Your voice because it is a whisper and I have deafened my own ears with my own deadly noise. Please restore my hearing.

Please help me to see You. I deadened my sight, by refusing to look at You and instead gazed upon that which was bad for me. Please heal my eyes; please allow me to see Your face.

Please heal my hands. Prepare them to serve you. I injured them when I did evil works instead of the good that You created me for. I want everything I touch to glorify You.

Please heal my voice. I want to only speak in kindness and in truth. Do not let vileness come from my mouth.

Please heal my mind. Cleanse my from all evil thoughts, imaginations and desires.

Please heal my will. I want to say "yes" to You always.

Jesus, please bless all those who are aware of my existence. Please bless all those whose lives my life has affected, if even only for a moment. If someone noticed me in a parking lot, on a street, or even one who stumbles on my blog, or noticed me in any other way, I ask You to bless them more than You bless me.  Jesus, please especially forgive and pour out You grace and mercy on all those who I have slighted, offended or in anyway hurt. Please bless those whom I love.  Jesus, please consider all these people that have been in my life, or even momentarily aware of my existence. Please heal all these souls from their wounds, and free them from whatever blocks them from committing their life to You.

Jesus, my life is Yours to do with what You will.  Help me to not waste a single moment. Let all my moments be with You and for You. I love You.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Perfect Love (Mary's Song)

Often I wonder what it was like for those who lived with Jesus. What did those who walked among Him  experience? Could I stand by and watch Jesus die?

Probably not. I most likely would have fled like the Apostles. (I can't even watch "The Passion" all the way through. I close my eyes at the scourging and crucifixion.)

I am humbled to think of my own weakness. I know that my weaknesses effect my daily living.  I do not always stand by those who are suffering and offer comfort. In the midst of my own heartaches,  I put my own needs first.  I do not love with a perfect love.

This is why I admire Mary. Simeon predicted that a sword would pierce her heart. (Lk 2:35) Watching her Son die was this piercing. Mary could have fled. Yet, she stayed close to Jesus during her heartbreak. She was strong and faithful. She said "yes" to the cross.

Thank you Mary for being an example of strength and love. I imagine it was not easy forgiving those who tortured your Son before your eyes, or accepting in every moment that this was the Will of the Father.