"Now Has Come The Time..."

In the 1969 western cinematic classic, TRUE GRIT, John Wayne's seedy character declares, "Now has come the time for me to ride hard and fast."  This states that whether or not it has looked as though he has been taking it easy lately... things are about to seriously change.  It's about to get intense!  :) 
This can be said for myself.  I've been diligent in the years sense graduation, but now's the time to kick it into high gear and get a move on!  I've always been a great fan of enjoying the here and now, but that can also be dangerous and give way to procrastination.  (Boo!  Hiss!)  It's taken me a while to decide what I want to do in life, but more importantly... how will I go about obtaining that goal?  Well, now I've realized that the good Lord don't make junk and that I can reach for that star and leap for it. 

I guess what I'm typing about tonight is ... potential and realization.  Together... that can mean a break-through. So, no matter where you find yourself right now... look... who are you?  What can you do?  How can you help?  What's it gonna take?  Okay, well if you got an idea... saddle up and ride on.  You're burning daylight. 

Take care and God bless!

Preparation

Going to the grocery store, shopping, washing dishes, cooking, and signing Christmas cards.  All just part of a day.  I've been keeping busy on my day off.  My wife is in preparation for a major exam for school.  This is a very important exam.  Heck, it's broken up into two parts and taken on two separate days.  It's a whole lot of pressure on a person to excel, but pressure and a goal to set your sights on can make for some great results.  Trust me... I know her and the kind of test-taker she is.  You put this woman up against a test and she is a force to be reckoned with.  So yeah, she's in ultra study mode right now.  I'm not taking the test myself, but I am doing what I can to help her study.  Now, being a husband, that means that I fall short of my goal more often than not, but I work at it anyway.  hahaha  We all have something that we're preparing for or working towards... a race to run... a prize to be won.  Prayer and hard work... it's hard to find a better combination.  I apologize for it being such a long time since I last typed.  Take care and God bless. 

Christmas Lights

We can now officially start counting down the days until Christmas.  It's okay to pop open the little paper doors on your Advent calendars and eat the chocolate... one day at a time... ONLY.  I don't know about your town, but here... they are slowly beginning to pop up.  Their presence each evening brings a gentle warmth to my heart.  I'm speaking of course about one of my favorite things to see during the winter... CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.  They stand out in the darkness each night.  Some are wild and over-the-top, flashing to the music on a radio station.  Some are just a strand or two in a classic pine tree.  Others might those insane inflatibles, or best still... they might be as simple as a star or Nativity scene.  The tradition of Christmas lights have many stories, but basically they came about to illuminate and stand as a reminder of how Jesus Christ came into our world as a light in the darkness.  Sometimes it can be difficult to keep our focus, especially during the Christmas season.  But we must teach ourselves to see every little thing as a "road sign" pointing to God.  So, returning to "Christmas Lights"... who our what in your life serves as "Christmas Lights"?  What in your life are reminders that God exists?  ... during this time of year and always.  For me... it's my wife, friends, and family.  Looking up at the sky... just past the treetops... peering up into the sky.  Having a conversation with a friend or loved one I havn't spoken to in a long while.  These are just the tip of the iceburg of what I see as "Christmas Lights."  Take care and have a good one! 

GOOD NEWS CHALLENGE!

Today started out as a beautiful morning.  The sky was just perfect.  Rain set in for the rest of the day and cast a blanket of gloom upon the earth.  :(  Often in the news we only hear about the bad and negative things going on in our world.  Crooked politicians, shootings, war, child abuse scandals, and so much more.  Yes, we need to know what's going on in the world around us.  I know there are good things going on all around us.  The thing is that rarely does the good stuff make headlines.  So, that's my challenge to you.  Find something positive and good going on in the world around us.  Post that good news as a comment.  I know you'll find something great.  I'm just curious what's out there.  You've got this.  Good luck! 

Advent: Watch! Be Prepared!

Thursday, my wife and I went to morning Mass and during the consecration it hit me... "the way us Catholics have been celebrating Mass in the English speaking world for the past 40+ years is about to change." This weekend, the changes of the New Roman Missal took place and Advent began.  It's going to take time to learn the new changes, but I'm excited about the new richness that this brings to our experience at Mass.  So, Advent... Advent... Advent is a time for us to prepare.  Prepare for what?  We are called to live our lives and prepare to be with God.  Are we ready to die and be with God?  Give me ten minutes and I'll get back to you.  haha  So, how am I working at this?  My wife and I put up our Christmas tree and have decorated our home.  The nativity scene is up... minus the three wise men and baby Jesus.  So far, we're keeping up with our daily Advent readings and pray and meditate on their message.  I've been working hard lately to reconnect with family and friends I don't see often.  A phone call isn't as great as actually being with them, but it's better than nothing at all.  At work I'm focusing on ways to engage the teens and as always shift their attention to God and get them to prepare during Advent.  It's a challenge alright, but you set a goal... say a prayer, and push for it.  There's a lot on tap for all of us this Advent season, but I'm confident it's going to wild and wonderful. That's my thought for the day.  God bless and have a good one! 

COMMITMENT!

Film and theatre are great ways to express that which is difficult to express.  "1776" (the musical) and "Gods and Generals" both discuss the importance of COMMITMENT.  Watch both films andyou'll see how each gives a great contribution to the cause of commitment.  Sunday night, our Life Teen night was centered on Holy Orders and Matrimony.  Often, we hear, "my word is my bond,"and often... that bond is broken.  In Holy Orders and Matrimony, this is and must be true.  Once you commit to these... that is it.  It is the beginning of a rich and powerful life.  We are all called to be committed.  Commitment roots us and helps us focus during the storms.