Feeling Gratitude

Random Act of Kindness

 

Directions

The airline pilot announced over the intercom, "Folks, I've got good news and bad news for you. The bad news is … we're lost. The good news is … we're making great time!"

It's too easy to live our lives like that, isn't it? Always a bit too busy. In a hurry to accomplish the day's tasks. Rushing around but not clear exactly where we want to ultimately end up.

It's been provocatively said, "Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon." The problem is they know they would like to accomplish something important with their lives or they would like to make a certain income or they would like to be happy. But when it comes to making the journey toward those destinations, they feel stuck. In short, they are lost.

Author and speaker Danny Cox, in his book SEIZE THE DAY (Career Press,1994), tells of a man who made a great success of his life in spite of tremendous hardships. The moment that ultimately turned this man's life around was when he sat down and asked himself four important questions:

1) What do I really want? He didn't want to just sleepwalk through life, nor look back someday and feel regret.

2) What will it cost? In time, money and commitment.

3) Am I willing to pay the price?

4) When is the best time to start paying the price?

Answer these four questions and you will be clear on the direction you want to take your life.  Commit to these answers and you'll make great time.

Solemnity of the Ascencion of the Lord

Today we celebrated the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. John L. McKenzie, S.J. explains the Ascension of Jesus as “the transfer of His risen, glorious body to ‘heaven’, i.e., to the world of the divine; it implies His corporeal survival, His final glorification, His departure from the material universe.” The Ascension is Jesus’ exaltation and glorification, the sign and seal of the ultimate

accomplishment of His mission.”

Over the years I have reflected on the Ascension and often wondered what the disciples felt at the time of the Ascension. Many of them had witnessed the death of Jesus on the cross and then encountered the resurrected Christ. Their joy at seeing Jesus after the resurrection must have been overwhelming. Now at the Ascension, they are losing him again, forever, or at least until the Second Coming.

When I was a young man discerning my vocation, I often went to daily Mass at a local parish near the hospital where I worked. Once, on the Feast of the Ascension, I was at Mass and the priest began his homily with the statement “He is gone! He is not here.” I got stuck on “he is gone,” and cannot remember the rest of the homily. What I do remember from that Mass is a profound sense of sadness and loss that I have never forgotten. Of course, we all know that although Jesus left our material universe, in St John’s gospel he promised that he would not leave us orphans. Jesus told the disciples and he tells us that “I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you” (John 14:19-21). So, while the Ascension marks the end of Jesus’ physical time on earth, it marks a new beginning for us and our relationship with God.

Next Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost. During these days leading up to Pentecost please pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our Church and on all of us so that we can follow Jesus’ instructions to preach the gospel of the kingdom “throughout the world as a witness to all nations” (Matt. 24:14).

Lord our God,

your Son Jesus Christ lives in your glory

to be nearer to us through his Holy Spirit

and to be near to all people through us.

Give us the Holy Spirit,

that we may have the courage

to help you save the world by serving it

and by building up your kingdom

of justice, truth, and love,

in the name of him whom we await,

Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord

and our Savior for ever.

Amen.

Indifference

Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel got it right when he said:

The opposite of love is not hate,
     it's indifference.

The opposite of art is not ugliness,
     it's indifference.

The opposite of faith is not heresy,
     it's indifference.

And the opposite of life is not death,
     it's indifference.

Nothing will kill a dream or douse the fire of a good idea more quickly than indifference. To whatever endeavor you commit yourself, be on guard primarily against that spirit-quenching attitude of apathy.

At what do you wish to succeed? A project? A job? A relationship? A personal mission? A financial goal? A life purpose? Each one of us has a fire in our heart for something. It's our goal in life to find it and keep it lit.

In order to succeed greatly, one must care greatly. For indifference is no match against a well-attended fire in the heart.

The Best Day of My Life!

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever.  There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate!

Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger. 

I will go through this day with my head held high and a happy heart. I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts:

the morning dew, 

the sun,

the clouds,

the trees,

the flowers,

the birds.

Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people.  I'll make someone smile.  I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know.

Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down.  I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for them and how much they mean to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me. 

I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine. 

And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens.  I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be... 

the best day of my life, ever!

Little Things

Bicycle on Ceiling

A bicycle hanging from the ceiling cannot achieve its intended purpose.

The same thing can be said of The Bible sitting on the shelf in your room!

Be a Good Listener