god – Page 2 – Spiritual Sun Pennies

87) The Presence of God

While visiting with friends, I joined them for Sunday Mass. I don’t like to spend time critiquing a service, but rather to be grateful for the Mass, to give thanks and intercede for loved ones, to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament! I love to sing the hymns, and it was good to be there with those I love.

This day, however, I found myself grading everything – the pastor, the choir, the congregation – not what I want to be doing. The pastor was not a native and it was a real struggle to understand him, along with a sound system that wasn’t working correctly and was fluctuating between loud bursts and silence. The music leaders were difficult to hear, and tricky to follow. I was finding it challenging to enter in and be fully present to the liturgy, being distracted by what I was perceiving as a less than “quality” service. I’m ashamed to even admit it, as I recognize how uncharitable my attitude had become.

The moment came, however, when that all changed! It was at the time of consecration – the priest was saying the sacred words that changed the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ – and the atmosphere changed! God showed up! I could sense it in a very real and tangible way – His peace was there, His Presence permeated the room, and the liturgy became alive! I don’t know if others experienced this as I did, but it changed the entire service into a time of worship and gratitude, shifting my critical attitude back to one of thanksgiving and appreciation to be there! Praise God!

As I thought about this, it reminded me of other times when I had experienced God breaking through, and indeed changing the atmosphere. We used to have a small jail ministry that met monthly with the county prisoners, to offer them a time to gather and hear God’s Word. I clearly remember that almost without exception, about half way through our time together, God would show up! I would know this, and would let others know: God is here! He’s with us, and He wants us to know that He’s here! This seemed to usher in a time of grace, when the inmates became more open, and there were beautiful sharings of sacred moments in their lives.

It reminded me too of David Wilkerson’s book, THE CROSS AND THE SWITCHBLADE, about his calling to minister to the street gangs of New York. He would rent a space for a meeting, and would invite the gang members to attend. They were a very unruly bunch, to say the least, and his initial efforts to preach were met with loud interruptions and cat calls, and total disrespect. But then, something would happen! As he realized that his human efforts were ineffective, and of himself he could not control this crowd or succeed in sharing God’s Word, God Himself would show up! Not in the flesh of course, not that others could see Him, but He would make His Presence known. A hush would come over the room, the gang members would often find themselves in tears, and God would begin the work of changing hearts.

This is what I felt at that church service with my friends. It was as though a hush came over the congregation – you could hear a pin drop, and sense that something beautiful was happening in people’s hearts. We all left having been blessed and renewed, in God’s tender quiet way. I know in my mind that He is there with us always, but what a grace to truly know this in a deeper way that changes everything!

Lord God, thank You for Your Presence, with us always! Thank You that in unexpected and delightful ways You sometimes make that Presence known in a sensible fashion. Would that I may be open to recognize You at that time, to proclaim Your Presence and invite others in to receive Your Love and Mercy…

 Lord God, thank You for Your Presence, with us always! Thank You that in unexpected and delightful ways You sometimes make that Presence known in a sensible fashion.  Would that I may be open to recognize You at that time, to proclaim Your Presence and invite others in to receive Your Love and Mercy…

86) Sweet Hour of Prayer

How often the lyrics of a song come to mind with just the right words to bring hope and comfort when I need them! Or they may be words of peace and joy, of playfulness or mercy – not pre-meditated, but erupting spontaneously from the files in my memory bank. Many of them are hymns learned through the years, sprinkled among popular or folk music, contemporary praise and worship – so many blessed words!

What comes to mind today is a memory of a time of difficulty, many years ago, yet it remains so clear in my mind. The specific occasion of the trial eludes me, all I remember is driving aimlessly out in the country, fighting back tears and a deep sorrow from a relationship difficulty. In Ignatian terms, this would be a non-spiritual desolation, which could lead either to spiritual consolation, or spiritual desolation. Because the words of a hymn came to mind, the grace of spiritual consolation was given to prompt me to turn to God and receive His help to weather this current inner turbulence. The hymn is “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” written in 1845 by William Walford.

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

How often I need the reminder of the graces that come from the consistent practice of a daily hour of prayer! Prayer that is grounded in Scripture, where the living Word of God has the power to transform and re-align my clouded vision to conform to God’s perspective in any situation! As I heard the words of the hymn in my mind, and struggled to sing them through my tears, His holy peace began to filter back into my spirit, and I regained His perspective on the current time of distress. He knew, He was with me, and He would help me through this!

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting heart to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Even as I remember this moment from many years ago, it becomes present to me now to remind me of the gift of prayer, and to strengthen the peace that God has put in my heart. He bids me seek His face, believe His Word, and trust His grace! “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you,” is His Word from 1 Peter 5:7. With Your songs in my heart, may I keep singing now and into eternity!

Thank You Lord, for inspiring men and women through the ages to put the truths of Your Word to music! Thank you for their transforming power to change the spiritual atmosphere and restore Your peace where there is anxiety and discord. May I not neglect daily time in Your Word to honor You and to receive Your grace to live a life of blessing for others…

85) Poem – God is Here

Saturday May 31
Driving from Plymouth to Madison
Talking out loud to Jesus in the car
“Jesus, I want to KNOW You!”

And my words stopped
Trailing off
My heart was moved
And I had to stop speaking

Billboard on the side of the road
“God Is Here”
“Random” billboard
With words I needed to see

God’s Word to my heart
Assurance of His Love
Of His Presence
Of His Love

Over and over
All I need to do
Receive His Love
And give it back to others

How do I do that?
Receive His Love?
In Adoration
At Holy Mass

In His Word
In praise and worship
In letting myself be loved
By those in my life

By remembering God’s faithfulness
His care for me
All through my life
All through my life

So Thank You Lord praise You
For stopping me
Even as I spoke
I spoke the words out loud

I think You want me
To do that more often
To say it out loud
And know that You hear me

I love You Lord
I want to KNOW You!
To know You, Jesus
With all that is within me…

84) I See You

On a recent pilgrimage / retreat, we were matched with a fellow pilgrim, whose identity we wouldn’t know until the end of the journey. It was suggested that we hold that person in our hearts, and during one of the quiet times during the trip, ask God for a word or image that would be meaningful for them. I had received words and images from others in prayer ministry, and recognized the gift this can be, so happily set aside a quiet moment to receive this grace for my secret fellow pilgrim.

As I prayed, the image of someone standing under a white blossoming tree came to my mind, and the Scripture where Jesus sees Nathanael under a tree and recognizes him as someone in whom there is no guile. I felt the Lord was saying to this person, “I see you. I know you. I know what’s on your heart. Come close to Me.” To test this thought and image, I returned to the exercise several times before the end of the pilgrimage, and the image and words remained true, and clear.

At the end of the pilgrimage, we gathered together and discovered who our secret partner was. I didn’t know her, and had not interacted with her on the trip. We were instructed to share what the Lord had given us for this person, so I told her what I had seen and heard. When I began, telling her Jesus had seen her standing under a white blossoming tree, she was visibly moved! She explained that at home she had a lilac tree that every other year had displayed beautiful purple blossoms, but for an unknown reason, this year the blossoms were white!

The words of Jesus, “I see you. I know you. I know what’s on your heart. Come close to me,” along with the image that was so very personal, were a blessed gift from God for my partner! There was no possible way I could have known she had a tree like that; God in His love and tenderness wanted her to know that He sees her, He knows her, He knows what she carries in her heart, and He desires that she come closer to Him! How much the Lord wants us to know that He knows everything about us, that He cares, and He desires an intimate relationship with us!

As is always the case when the Lord gives us the gift of bringing a blessing to another, the image and the words blessed me as well. God’s Word is filled with assurances of His love and and care for us. Ps 139 comes to mind here: “I have probed you and I know you. I know when you sit and when you stand. Your journeys and your rest I scrutinize. With all your ways I am familiar…”. These words from Scripture bring peace to our hearts, and when coupled with an image that only God could know, they are a powerful witness to the truth of His personal knowledge of us.

The second part of this word was the story from John 1:47 where Jesus declares “here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no guile.” I looked up the word “guile” and found this definition for the spiritual meaning of guile: “to be free of deceit, cunning, hypocrisy or dishonesty in thought or deed.” Ps 32:2 says “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no deceit (guile).” My partner struck me as just this sort of soul, which added another dimension to the story. The Lord knows her heart, and wants her to know she is blessed by the Lord for her pure spirit.

Praise God for this little prayer exercise that brought blessing to us both, and to others I have shared it with. How we desire to be seen, to be known, and to be called into deeper intimacy with Him! I’ll remember it whenever I see a white blossoming tree!

Thank you Lord, for your gift of the Holy Spirit which puts into our minds a word or image to bring blessing to another. Grant us this gift of the Spirit that we may be agents of Your love and mercy to our brothers and sisters, drawing us both into a deeper intimacy with You…

83) It is Well

Our parish hosted a recent Day of Reflection focused on the theme “It is Well.” The theme corresponded to the beautiful hymn, “It is well with my soul,” written by Horatio Spafford in 1873. I was especially blessed with Fr Wratkowski’s reflections about just what it means “to be well.”

He began with the story of the writing of the hymn, a tale of deep faith in God in the midst of tragedy. Horatio and Anna Spafford had experienced financial disaster after the Great Chicago fire, but were now able to plan a trip to Europe to visit family and friends, and to celebrate Christmas in Paris. Horatio had to wait to finish some necessary business, but bid Anna and their four daughters bon voyage and Godspeed on the French steamer SS Ville de Havre.
Off the coast of Newfoundland their vessel collided with an English ship, the Loch Earn, ripping a huge hole in the hull, and causing so much damage that their ship sank within 20 minutes. Fr Wratkowski spoke of how before the ship sank, Anna gathered her children to pray, seeking God’s help. She prayed not only to be spared, but “for the grace to endure whatever might come.”

What came was the tragic loss by drowning of all four of their daughters, with Anna alone surviving. She was rescued by a life boat, and ten days later arrived in Cardiff, Wales, where she sent a telegram home to Horatio with the simple message “Saved Alone.”

He took passage on a ship to join her as soon as he could, traveling the same sea route where his children had perished. The captain of the ship called him when they came to the very spot where his daughters had drowned, and it was there that Horatio looked not down at the sea, but up to Heaven where he trusted his loved ones to be, and the words of the beautiful hymn, “It is well with my soul,” began to live in his heart.

He arrived and joined his grieving wife, and also met with their close friend, evangelist Dwight Moody. In relating their story to him, they were able in faith to say, “It is well. God’s will be done.” This phrase remained in Horatio’s heart, and was the kernel of grace that produced the words of the hymn. There’s much more to the story, and well worth reading, as from this tragedy the Spafford family’s life bore great fruit in service of God’s people.

There’s a beautiful YouTube presentation, with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing the hymn, and a theatrical re-enactment of the story that includes “the rest of the story.”

There are so many hymns that we’ve come to know and love. How much more this one means to me now that I’ve heard the story behind it’s composition. I return again to one of my favorite Scriptures, Romans 8:28. “All things works together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Praise God for His Word, for HIs Promises, and for the grace to endure whatever may come, knowing that nothing is outside of His Providence.

Thank You Lord, for the beautiful witness of faith that has been handed down to us throughout the centuries, and inspires us to trust You in all circumstances. Help me to remain close to You always, and know that indeed, it is well with my soul…

****************

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain: It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!— My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll, No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, The sky, not the grave, is our goal; Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord! Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.

81) Sunsets and Clouds

At our weekly Bible study, we were sharing thoughts about how the Beauty of Creation fills our hearts with consolation. One of the ladies commented about a friend who had a great view of the outdoors from his house, and often took photos of the sunset and then sent them to others, with a note of gratitude for this gift from God.

One of the fellows made a joke about cloudy skies, how they obstructed that lovely sunset. This was countered with the claim that often the clouds actually enhanced the beauty of the sunset. Her comment, “without clouds it’s the sun going down, and that’s it, but with the clouds the sunset lasts longer and is even more beautiful.”

We had also been speaking of the faith of those who experience many and grave trials, yet stand firm in their faith; perhaps stronger than if there had been no trials. All of this seemed to lead naturally to the reality that for our faith to grow strong, we need these trials and challenges. How we respond hinges on many variables, leading to the importance of developing an attitude of praise and thanksgiving before the hard times come.

The book PRISON TO PRAISE by Merlin Carothers was shared with me almost 30 years ago, and has helped me immeasurably in adopting this attitude of praise! I practice it in the small and simple difficulties of daily living, and now when bigger challenges arise, my response of praise rather than complaint comes more quickly. The Christian classics repeat in so many ways that to really trust God means to thank Him for each and every trial, as well as for the obvious pleasant blessings He brings us each day. If we really believe that “all things work for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28), then to praise and thank Him in all circumstances is the appropriate and sole response we are to give.

Sometimes when surprised by a trial, I forget! That’s when I need friends who also want to live praising God, and who will remind me of this Truth, and set me back on the right path. I’ve come to appreciate the cloudy sunset even more as I experience that it is indeed evermore beautiful, and that it lasts longer!

Lord God, thank You for sunsets, thank You for clouds, thank You for teaching me how to live a joy-filled life praising and thanking You in all circumstances! Thank You for companions on the journey to remind me and lift me up when I forget! May I live a life of praise, trusting in the Good God in every kind of weather…

80) Praying for the Dead

November is a month dedicated to prayer for the dead, with visits to a cemetery on my “to do” list. I’m grateful for the wisdom of the Church to teach me about this, with the reality of communion with the holy souls awaiting our prayers to speed them on the way to purification and union with the Trinity. Knowing that they in turn are praying for us, for me, is a source of comfort and deep gratitude as I acknowledge the truth of the communion of the saints! The veil is often so very thin, and I’m especially aware of this amidst the gravestones.

I’ve always loved cemeteries! This was especially true during the covid isolation days. We couldn’t congregate indoors, and the parks and public spots available for social distancing were often crowded. I desired more space, and found the cemeteries to be the perfect answer – quiet, few people around, and the awareness of being on holy ground with the saints 🙂 I’ll stop and read some of the epithets, wondering what their life on earth was like, and what it’s like to be united now with those who have gone before them. Homecoming celebrations in Heaven are the best kind!

Again and again I’ve been reminded of the great value of “remembering death,” memento mori. This last week our Marian Servant community was blessed with a Day of Reflection led by Fr Daniel Klimek, who confirmed this beautifully as he spoke of the value of meditating on Christ’s Passion, uniting our sufferings with His on the Cross. This leads so naturally to the reality of our own death, and desiring the help of the saints to live this life well and so be united with Christ in Eternity.

I’m headed out soon to pray in the cemetery at our parish church, and one day this week I’ll join a friend to pray by her husband’s grave. Mentally I’ll spend some time visiting the family graves back in my hometown, praying for the repose of their souls, and seeking their intercession for family and friends who don’t yet know the Lord, His Love and care for them.

Lord God, may I be ever mindful of the shortness of this earthly life, grateful for this gift of life, especially eternal life with You! May my prayers help to speed holy souls on their journey to you, even as they offer prayers for us here and now. “Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”

68) Poem – Come Holy Spirit!

Easter season

Extending to Pentecost

Basking in the Resurrection

Waiting for the Spirit

I’ve come back to Galilee

Here at the cabin

In the Upper Room

Gazing out on the Lake

The water’s really high

Wind is picking up

Waves washing on the shoreline

Whitecaps out on the Lake

Come Holy Spirit!

Fill me anew!

Baptize me again

Each and every day

Fresh in filling of Your Spirit

I can’t really Live without it

Your Life within me

Making all things New

National Renewal

Calling for a Nine Year Novena!

Pentecost 2033

Calling every Christian

Pray for Your Mercy

Pray for Your Peace

Only You can save us

From the disorder in our lives

Re-order us to Your Love

Receive It and give It back

To everyone we encounter

All beloved of You

Wind is blowing stronger

Trees bending and waving

Bowing to Your Power

Proclaiming Your Praises!

Thank You Lord, Praise You!

Preparing our hearts

Preparing for Your coming

Today, and every day

Preparing our Nation

Turning hearts back to You

Source of All we long for

Your peace within our hearts

“Acquire interior peace

And many will find salvation

Near you”

St Seraphim of Sarov

Come Holy Spirit

Fill me With Your Peace

How much our broken world needs You

Fill me afresh today!

Peace as prelude to Union

Union with the Holy God

You made us to be one with You

One with Holy Trinity!

67) Self-reliance or Surrender

Self-reliance, or Surrender?

I’m watching my grandchildren as they’re learning how to do things for themselves, growing in confidence as they manage simple tasks like drinking from a cup and using eating utensils. Their achievements are met with encouragement and praise with each new skill mastered. Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, all smile and applaud as the little ones soak in the love that is being showered upon them, helping them to risk trying the next challenge presented. “Good job, Honey!” “Way to go, Buddy!” And as the kids are becoming more and more articulate, we hear “I did it!,” accompanied by a well deserved smile and self-satisfaction.

In the world of faith my focus has become self-surrender, as the Word “without Me, you can do nothing,” (John 15:5) echoes often in my thoughts. I’m wondering how this transition takes place, and thinking it needs to begin right at the start. Helping the little ones know that everything good comes from the Creator, from the Good God Who loves them and gives them the ability to do anything. Knowing that He created us to learn and to grow, to use the gifts He’s given us, and that indeed all is gift from Him. And to know too how pleased He is with their abilities and progress, that He too is cheering them on, and whispering “God job, My beloved daughter!” And “Way to go, beloved child of My Heart!” My own heart desires to hear them respond, “See what God has helped me to do!” And to know in their hearts that He is their constant help, that their accomplishments are pleasing to Him, and that He is always looking at them with love and encouragement.

I recently heard Debbie Herbeck share how she encouraged her daughters, beginning at age 3, to look in the mirror each morning and repeat, “I am a beloved daughter of God.” To teach them right from the start that they have been created by a Good God, Who loves them unconditionally, and will help them do all that they ever need to do, so they may become all they have been created to be.

One of the primary obstacles to union with God is said to be “self-reliance.” How we need to teach the little ones the necessary skills to master as they grow, within the framework of God’s provision. As they grow, to help them to grasp the gift of the Holy Spirit Who enables them to function beyond their natural abilities, and accomplish “exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or imagine,” (Eph 3:20), all for the Glory of God!

It seems it goes back to recognizing that they are not doing anything alone, but always with the help of the Good God who loves them. As I’m becoming more aware of my own littleness, of my own nothingness, perhaps this reflection is for me. I’m that little child, weak and helpless, but empowered by the very Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus from the tomb!

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. (Rom 8:11) Praise God Who calls me to be always God-reliant and not self-reliant!

Lord God, thank you for reminding me of Your ever-present help and strength to do all You ask of me, as I watch our grandchildren learning new skills. May we all know that indeed nothing is possible without You, not even the next breath we take, that we may live in the attitude of gratitude for all that you enable us to do and be, for Your praise and Glory…

65) Resurrection

First Glorious Mystery – the Resurrection

This mystery recalls a time of great sorrow and at the same time great hope – a reliving of the paschal mystery in my life. Our marriage was crumbling after 36 years of what I had thought was a good marriage – how could I be so blind? The soul searching and unraveling of our life together brought painful truth into the light, but with the anguish came a new and deeper relationship with the Lord, and the promise of new life in Him.

As I was trying to process the struggle we were experiencing, I took a few days to go up to our cabin in the North Woods. On the drive, I listened to a tape by Paula D’Arcy, which spoke of her journey to a deeper trust and surrender to the Lord. She related the story of her family’s kitchen table, made of sturdy oak, and always there, like an anchor for the family. She did her homework there, ate there, entertained friends there – it was at the heart of the family life. Then she had a dream, and in the dream the table vanished. When she awoke, she recognized the dream as a call for a deeper surrender and reliance on God alone. The title of the tape was about the second half of the Christian life – the first half has a solid structure, like the table, and the second half calls for the removal of that structure, and total dependence on God. It was a good message for me to hear, and I thanked God for sending me the tape.

When I got to the cabin, I went for a walk back to a little lake in the woods. When I turned a bend approaching the lake, I stopped short. A huge oak tree, which had been there forever, lay broken and fallen on the ground. I had climbed that tree as a child; our four children had each climbed it in their turn; there was even a photo us sitting at its base on my refrigerator at home. I went closer to look, and found that the tree was hollow, just as our marriage seemed to be.

I cried, and then I smiled, recognizing God’s hand and timing. He had prepared my heart on the way north with the tape, and now he was showing me this fallen oak tree. Surely He knew every detail of our lives, and He would be with both of us through this present turbulent journey.

When I got back to the cabin, I opened the Bible and this verse jumped out at me: Isaiah 6:13 “…he will be like the stump of an oak tree that has been cut down. The stump represents a new beginning for God’s people.” The Bible at the cabin was a different translation than my one at home; the wording of this version was a perfect gift from God to me.

It’s been a difficult road, but the image of the oak tree remains with me as a sign of God’s care and hope for the future. God promises new life and resurrection glory; I’m experiencing that more and more as I put all my trust in Him…

Lord God, thank You for preparing my heart and giving me the strength to endure the trials of life. May my trust in You grow stronger each day, that I may be a witness to Your faithfulness and mercy, and experience the power of Your Resurrection ~

(Re-visit from Rosary Reflections, First Glorious Mystery)