Monday's Blessing
Deuteronomy 30:19

"I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live."

It's spring. One of my favorite times of year. With the winter hibernation behind us, we venture outside admiring the beauty beginning to bloom all around us while whispering silent prayers of thanks.  It's a time rebirth. Where we get into that reorganizing mode, take long walks outdoors, and of course reevaluate our lives.   

We spend long hours of contemplation wondering if we are on those right stepping stones.  Evaluating if we are destined to the blessings that are promised from our Lord.  Questions are a flurry in our minds. Should I move? Should I change jobs? Am I in the right relationship? Am I doing what God has planned for me? If so, why am I still not happy? What do I need to do to make things better?

Reorganizing, reevaluate, regroup.  And on and on the circle goes. Sometimes it seems that path is going in circles, too.

We all want to succeed in life.  No one sets out to fail or wants to fail.  But I do believe failure can be an important stepping stone on the way to success.  Failure certainly teaches us what not to do, which is equally important as to knowing what we are to do! It's all in the eye of perception. 

Look at how many times Thomas Edison failed before he invented the incandescent lightbulb.  There are many stories circulating saying he failed 700 times, 2,000 times, 6,000 times, 10,000 times.  No matter how many attempts he made, everyone agrees the number is staggering.  But he never gave up.  Edison has been noted to have said in all his efforts he never failed-not once; he just had to go through many, many steps to get it right! That is the determination and mindset that we all need.

I've often wondered why some people do great things.  They seem to have everything they need while others have little and learn to live with less.  What I do know is each person's outcome is directly dependent on God.  God has planted our purpose in each of us.  Sometimes, unfortunately, it may not be what WE FEEL it should be.  But he definitely knows what makes our heart sing.  

I was talking to my bugman the other day.  We were talking about the fine items some people are blessed with.  He explained that his sister is blessed.  Well, actually very blessed with about 3.4 million dollars.  She owns quite a bit of property up north that she and her husband must care for. He also added that she said, "The rich life isn't all that it is cracked up to be, John.  Look at where you are.  Do you have friends you can trust?  Is your family loyal to you down there?  When you're as rich as us you don't have that trust.  Even your own family is quick to sue you when things don't go as planned.  It is like we live in a bubble only trusting each other here in our house. Not the greatest way to live sometimes.  Oh sure, we can take trips, buy what we want, but honestly at the end of the day there is no one else to share it with.  We can't trust that our family and friends care for us personally or if it's just for our monetary worth."

I want you to take a look at your life right now where you are at this moment.  Are you happy? If not, what do you need to attain happiness?  Is it something reasonable, not completely outlandish? Then pray now with me that God grants you that purpose.  Gives you the tools you need to proceed and do his will.  God gives everyone equal opportunity.  He said, "I have set before you life and death...choose life." Fear is in the category of death; faith and progress fill us with life.  It is your choice. Find what makes you happy...... and pray it is God's stepping stones that do so.  

This Week's Meditation:

Teach me to say "Give me my stepping stones, Lord."

Pray:

Help me to realize and trust God has me on the right path.
Teach me to trust that you will guide me every step of the way. 
Remind me that everything else will fall into place.  

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always

​Lent is the six week period leading up to Easter. It’s one of the most important times of year for many Christians around the world, particularly those within the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox traditions, held at a similar level of importance to Advent – the build up to Christmas.

While Advent is a celebration and a time of great anticipation, Lent is more frequently seen as a time of solemn observance and preparation for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter. From its start on Ash Wednesday until its conclusion on Easter Sunday, Lent has been a traditional time for fasting or giving something up or abstinence. Just as we carefully prepare for events in our personal lives, as a wedding, or birthday; a commencement Lent invites us to make our minds and hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ life, death and body resurrection.

When does Lent start?

Because Lent follows the liturgical calendar, the exact date that Lent falls each year changes. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is always held 46 days (40 fasting days and 6 Sundays) before Easter Sunday.

Ash Wednesday is the day after Shrove Tuesday, which in the US is more commonly known as Fat Tuesday.

What do Christians do during Lent?

​These days, Christians around the world observe Lent in many ways. Many from more orthodox and traditional denominations will still observe the fast strictly, beginning with the wearing of ashes on Ash Wednesday and abstinence of meat, fish, eggs and fats until Easter Sunday.

Others will choose to give up just one item for Lent, more commonly a ‘luxury’ such as chocolate, meat or alcohol. It is also becoming increasingly common for people to give up other things in order to refocus their faith during this time; such as watching TV, going to the gym, even social media.
Many Christians also use Lent to study their Bibles and pray more intensively, making use of the many devotional books and courses now available to. Not sure what to Give up?  Try  40 things you can do for Lent. 

Sundays during Lent are very important to Christians around the world. Where the Monday to Saturday of each of the six weeks are concerned with fasting and abstinence, the Sunday is a celebration symbolic of Christ’s resurrection. Instead of fasting, Christians hold feasts in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice.

What does Shrove Tuesday mean?

Shrove Tuesday comes originally from the word shrive (meaning “absolve”).

As the last day before the Lent, Shrove Tuesday was a day of self-examination where Christians would consider what sins they needed to repent of and what changes to their life or spiritual growth they would focus on during the fast.

While Shrove Tuesday was a day for the purification of the soul, it also had a practical significance too, from which would emerge our modern day traditions.

In preparation for Lent centuries ago, those observing the fast would use Shrove Tuesday to also purify and remove from their house any of the items that they were foregoing for the 40 days. Traditionally this included meat, fish, eggs, fats, milk and sugar – so Shrove Tuesday became the final blowout before Lent began!

The gorging on rich foods on Shrove Tuesday also gives us the alternative name of Mardi Gras (meaning ‘Fat Tuesday’ in French), which in turn has grown into a whole carnival feast in Louisiana.

Why is Ash Wednesday called Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday begins Lent. The day gets its name from the traditional blessing of the ashes taken after the burning of Palm branches (or crosses made from Palm leaves) from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations. In some churches the ashes are used to draw a cross on the head of people to mark the beginning of their Lent fast. The drawing of a cross is often done while repeating the words “Repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15) or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19).

What is Holy Week?

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week – the last week of Lent leading up to Easter. On Palm Sunday Christians everywhere remember Jesus’ triumphant arrival in Jerusalem. Church services will often include a procession of palm branches, symbolic of the ones laid at Jesus’ feet as he rode into the city. Palm crosses will also be distributed on this day, to be kept until the following year’s Ash Wednesday as a reminder of the death and resurrection of Jesus..

As Holy Week draws to a close and Easter approaches, we have Holy Wednesday, commemorating Judas Iscariot’s intent to betray Jesus; Holy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples in which he predicts his betrayal by the following denial by Peter; and Good Friday, the day on which Christians around the world remember Jesus’ crucifixion and burial.
With Good Friday over, Christians look forward to Easter Sunday, the day on which Jesus rose from his tomb.

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” Mark 16:5

​St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. He was born in Roman Britain and when he was fourteen or so, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans but Patrick turned to God and wrote his memoir, The Confession. In The Confession, he wrote:

"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain and was reunited with his family.

​A few years after returning home, Patrick saw a vision he described in his memoir:

​"I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: 'The Voice of the Irish.' As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea-and they cried out, as with one voice: 'We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.'"

The vision prompted his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years, and was later ordained a bishop and sent to take the Gospel to Ireland.

Patrick arrived in Slane, Ireland on March 25, 433. There are several legends about what happened next, with the most prominent claiming he met the chieftan of one of the druid tribes, who tried to kill him. After an intervention from God, Patrick was able to convert the chieftain and preach the Gospel throughout Ireland. There, he converted many people -eventually thousands - and he began building churches across the country.

He often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity and entire kingdoms were eventually converted to Christianity after hearing Patrick's message.

Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.

He died at Saul, where he had built the first Irish church. He is believed to be buried in Down Cathedral, Downpatrick. His grave was marked in 1990 with a granite stone.
In His Footsteps:

Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. So complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission, he feared nothing -not even death.

"The Breastplate," Patrick's poem of faith and trust in God:
​
"Christ be within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ inquired, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger."

​Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer.

Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday, and is chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too.

Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, "Repent and believe in the Gospel."

​Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God.

Writings from the Second-century Church refer to the wearing of ashes as a sign of penance.

Priests administer ashes during Mass and all are invited to accept the ashes as a visible symbol of penance. Even non-Christians and the excommunicated are welcome to receive the ashes. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's palm Sunday Mass.

​It is important to remember that Ash Wednesday is a day of penitential prayer and fasting. Some faithful take the rest of the day off work and remain home. It is generally inappropriate to dine out, to shop, or to go about in public after receiving the ashes. Feasting is highly inappropriate. Small children, the elderly and sick are exempt from this observance.

It is not required that a person wear the ashes for the rest of the day, and they may be washed off after Mass. However, many people keep the ashes as a reminder until the evening.

Recently, movements have developed that involve pastors distributing ashes to passersby in public places. In some cases, ashes may be delivered by a priest or a family member to those who are sick or shut-in.

​Why we receive the ashes

Following the example of the Ninevites, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told

"Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return."

Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.

The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins -- just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of forty days' penance and sacramental absolution. Later, all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion. In earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a penitential procession.

​The Ashes

The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance.

Monday's Blessing
Isaiah 6:8

"........Here I am; send me."

Feel in need of a new adventure?

You're not alone.

God has placed a craving for adventure in our souls.  That adventure is calling us to try something we've never done before.  It is prompting us to do something different - stepping out of the ordinary- maybe even something on the edge.  That call you're feeling definitely does not have the "hey, stay home safe" kinda ring.

But then our mind rebounds and tangles with reality.  

"Well, yes, Lord I'd like you to use me.  But just a reminder I've got three kids at home.  I don't want anything that will be too overwhelming."

"I feel the need to do something monstrous.  I want you to show me what I'm built for.  But, you know my job is causing me to work 60 hours a week.  I can't fit in too much extra time. I'm already exhausted."  

"Lord, I feel the winds of change barreling down on me.  I am ready to move on.  Please let me check with my husband or wife first."

Adventure seeks our heart, but reality claims our mind.  None of the late thrill seekers in life were ever harbored down with "what abouts". When adventure is to be claimed, total immersion must be sought.  Adventure is never found by convenience.  We are not able to pick the terms of our journeys.  

Years back I became sick with a chronic illness.  I was looking for a way "out".  A way to slowly fade into the reality of life that would be easiest.  A simple remote job to pay the bills.  A bike to ride along the beach each morning. Instead, I felt I had an adventure on way.  I didn't know how I could handle this.  I didn't know if I'd have the ability to complete the journey.  

But God had me in his hand and no matter how I tried to live the life of reprieve there was none to be found.  Instead he guided me directly into a role that even my medical professional was skeptical.  "How can you do this?  With your illness?" he questioned.  

But God wanted me in special needs.  He also gave me everything I needed to know with little or no research.  He wanted me to run a school as a haven for those less fortunate in the traditional school system.  And let me tell you, when God wants you there, the only way is up up up.  He holds your hand hand and gives you messages every step of the way.

If you are sitting there right now, knowing you are destined for a new adventure, then claim it. He will not let you fail.  I can attest to that as the odds were stacked against me.  He will lead completely and every little detail will fall into place.  He sees where you can be.  He not only sees what you are capable of of, but he sees what you can do with His help.  

This Week's Meditation:

Teach me to say "Here am I; send me."

Pray:

Help me to realize that and adventure awaits.
Teach me to trust that you will guide me every step of the way. 
Remind me that everything else will fall into place.  

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always