It wasn't just Jesus died on the Cross... but it was love...

And as we end the month of the Sacred Heart and enter into the month of the most Precious Blood, let us remember that His wounds are the most powerful weapon of Love that exist...

A Summer Saint I love.. a little early (July 14th Feast Day)...

Did it early because I think I'm going to shut this down permanently... looks like no one comes here anyway...
Oh Sweet Jesus... I trust in You. +

Ave Maris Stella

A prayer I say daily, although I admit I almost always stop at 'SHOW THYSELF A MOTHER!' and simply keep repeating it like a crybaby... somehow its an easy line to cling to... 

The hymn Ave Maris Stella (Hail Star of the Sea) printed below in English is a wonderful tribute, both in prayer and song, to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The original Latin text dates back to around the 8th- 9th centuries although it has been attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153). It was a particular favorite of those chanting it as part of the Divine Office (the Liturgy of the Hours) in the Middle Ages.

Hail, bright star of ocean, 

God's own Mother blest,

Ever sinless Virgin,

Gate of heavenly rest.

Taking that sweet Ave 

Which from Gabriel came,

Peace confirm within us,

Changing Eva's name.

Break the captives' fetters,

Light on blindness pour,

All our ills expelling,

Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother;

May the Word Divine,

Born for us thy Infant,

Hear our prayers through thine.

Virgin all excelling,

Mildest of the mild,

Freed from guilt, preserve us,

Pure and undefiled.

Keep our life all spotless,

Make our way secure,

Till we find in Jesus,

Joy forevermore.

Through the highest heaven

To the Almighty Three,

Father, Son and Spirit,

One same glory be. Amen.

Promises To Those Who Sing:
“Ave Maris Stella”

During a riot at Rome, a mob came to the house where St. Bridget lived; a leader talked of burning Bridget alive.  She prayed to Our Lord to know if she should flee to safety.  Jesus advised her to stay:  “It doesn’t matter if they plot Thy death.  My power will break the malice of Thy enemies:  if Mine crucified Me, it is because I permitted it.”  Our blessed Mother added:  “Sing as a group the AVE MARIS STELLA and I’ll guard you from every danger.”

Love is not pompous, it is not inflated,
 it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Although on the Cross, it sure felt to Jesus like He was failing.

Only Love transforms the world.

Love is Never Rude...

It just isn't.

Only Love transforms the world.

Love Is Not Jealous...

Only Love transforms the world.

Love is kind...

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008

Love is kind...

Kindness can be really powerful. 

Pope John 23rd was known throughout the world for his kindness. He was ordained an archbishop and sent to Bulgaria for 10 years to work among people in a country that was mostly Orthodox and highly hostile to Catholics -but he broke right through the barriers because he was so kind to them. Then he was sent to Turkey to work among the Muslims who also were very hostile to Catholics, but he somehow broke through their hostilities with the same weapon of kindness. Then he was sent to Greece -a country that was an arch-enemy of Turkey, and when a famine broke out in the country he used the tool of kindness to convince the Turks to give the starving Greek children over the equivalent of $100,000 of aid. During WWII -through his witness of kindness -he convinced a Catholic Nazi to help him save 24,000 Jews from Turkey. And when he was sent to an atheist Paris after the War, he was able to connect with the post-Christian era elite simply through the words of kindness. The single virtue of kindness itself -lived out fully by Pope John 23rd -did wonders to change the world.

Love is kind. Do one extra act of kindness today for each person you work with, meet, live with -or for a person who is especially difficult for you. Do one act of kindness, and you will be doing an act of love that can change the world.

Only Love transforms the world.

Love is Patient...

originally WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008

Love is Patient...

A priest once looked at this icon I painted and simply stated, 'Jesus was incredibly patient on the Cross.' He was simply tortured and waited to die loving us. We must be patient like Him.

Embrace one situation today with extra patience -show your love through the silence, the listening, the sacrifice, the waiting that this act demands. And offer this patience up for the person you know needs it most in life.

Only Love transforms the world.

Skip the schedule and read the quotes... "The Pilgrim"

originally: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2006

"Strannik" -The Pilgrim

As most of you know, I leave again November 1st. It has been such a blessing to be at home for such a long time -watching Bobby's kids, helping with retreats, and just being available to people. I first will be traveling to Ireland to give some parish mission talks next weekend at Fr. Tom Ryan's parish (some of you remember him as our 'Irish Missionary' at St. Thomas for about 10 years). After that I will be traveling to England for a few days to meet and speak with some University students. Then it is on to Poland where I will be serving for a few months -praying, meeting with people for spiritual direction and giving retreats (I especially ask for prayers for my retreat over Christmas/New Years for 60-80 students on the vocation of men and women). Hopefully all will work out with my visa and I will be able to then spend 3 months or so in Russia (February-April?) serving the people who I grew so close to those 2 years I lived in Siberia. And after returning to Poland I will most likely be returning home again sometime later on next summer (although that all must be planned out yet).

As always, I entrust all my work to your prayers, and I want to promise you that you all will be in mine as well. In Jesus, we are always united as one.

Strannik" is the Russian word for a holy pilgrim. As I re-read some writing of Catherine Doherty the past few weeks (see the link), I saw how my life which seems very strange to some, actually makes quite a bit of sense to her. When people ask what I do, I often answer that I am a 'pilgrim hermit' -one who tries to live the contemplative life in the midst of the world, bringing Jesus to people one heart at a time. I thought I would share with you a few quotes from her book:

“Out of some depth unknown to them (pilgrims) hear a voice. They may not see Him who called, but they know. They know who it is who called and they cannot resist. They have to arrive. They have to go out of big cities, out of beautiful surroundings, out of rich houses with soft and downy couches, away from wine, song… they had to go. They had to go and nothing could hold them back…Those pilgrims have a strange way of listening… Half the time they don’t know where they are going, and many in the beginning don’t even know why. But this persistent strange voice, that was no voice at all, spoke distinctly, though it wasn’t audible.”
“A pilgrim goes to preach the gospel with his life –person to person –to anyone at any time. There is no rush. There is no rush at all...

"...It is a strange pilgrimage. It is utterly unhurried. It is a pilgrimage whose only goal is the heart of God… It seems, therefore, that the pilgrimage of such people is formless. It is formless! Now he is here, helping somebody build a house. Then when the house is built he moves on, walks long stretches, until God places before him another (work). And the pilgrim stops again. And again he performs that which is of need to someone else. Maybe it will take him weeks. Maybe he appears to settle there wherever it is, but he never settles. He is always on the march. His particular task finished, he moves again. There is no settling down for such a pilgrim. Sometimes it may take him years to do what God asks of him…but his heart is always waiting for the next call..."

“The pilgrim has a heart that must encompass the world.”

Love you all, in Jesus. Amen.

Fiat.

Pleasant Place and Hope

originally WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2008

Pleasant Place and Hope

Those of you who visit Mom and Dad's house will notice a great increase in 'baby security.' Cupboards now have locks, doors have 'baby proof' handles (how did Mom do it with 13 kids without such great inventions?), volume control is in effect during nap time and after 8pm (I think Dad likes that one, since he's an early sleeper too) and the fridge is FULL of fun, colorful food. BJ, Ali and the four little ones have brought new life to the house. 

Things at the Kloska Headquarters are crazy and joyous. And the sudden 'mood-lift' is greatly appreciated by all, I believe, after such a downer week last week. Yes, the world may seem like its going to hell in a handbasket, BUT, when you have those little footsteps, little knocks at your bathroom door, little breaths on your face as you cuddle a sleeping baby... those things can't help but remind you that God has hope for this world -and His hope, His answer to all of our prayers, is right within the souls of these little guys we trip over daily (BJ actually ended up on the kitchen floor this morning as Oliva played dinosaurs under his feet). 

So just a note on this Wednesday night: The answers to our prayers are little seeds of grace, which God has sent His angels to plant in the hearts of many little ones in this world. Who knows, someday abortion may be ended by President Abe Swick and an explosion of vocations may be ignited in the Church by Mother Superior Anna Marino. Jesus told Mother Teresa once that He sent someone with the cure to AIDS and this child was aborted. Maybe all of our prayers and fasting have saved that one child's life who will then be instrumental in saving and changing the world. That's what I've been thinking about while doing Lexi's hair and changing Luke's diaper. Hidden in their lives is great hope -for through them God will answer our prayers. He already is. 

Children show us the face of God -and His Presence with us is enough of a reason to rejoice. Last night Sarah kept calling her new baby cousin Noah 'Baby Jesus' -and that is exactly how God wants for us to care for and love all children. If it breaks my heart to hear Noah cry and I sacrifice everything to simply serve and love him -this love in my heart is actually God's Love in my heart. He created me to run to Him, crying through Noah's voice. And just as a baby's cry is the voice of God, calling forth His love from my heart, so our cry to God is actually the Holy Spirit praying within us, calling forth His answer of Love and Mercy. And if one drop of God's Love is so powerful in my heart (where I suffer if I cannot console the baby crying in my arms), how much more powerful is the totality of God's Love which IS listening to our cries. Just as a mother hears and runs to her crying child, so much more does God love us, hear us and run to console and help us. He does not abandon us. He does not leave us crying. He is here, speaking gentle words of love to us -it is just that sometimes we look in the wrong places to find and hear Him. He is speaking to us through the littlest ones we care for everyday. And His word to us is HOPE.

Anyway, these were just a few thoughts I had tonight at the end of a long day and I thought I would share them with you. Children are such a joy for this world -and a gift -even when they cry (especially when they cry), for through our love and care for them, we can see a reflection of God's love and care for us. God will hear our cries in this dark world -He has heard our cries -and you all (as parents) have the grace to be God's hands, forming the little souls which will carry His medicine, light and resurrection into this world.

This is the lesson I have been reminded of this week through BJ, Ali and the kids. And I think that remembering this is something all of us can benefit from. Sunday is the day when everyone comes to visit Mom and Dad -and there are sometimes 40 little 'beacons of hope' running around here. Well, yesterday I said to Kathy that life with BJ, Ali and the kids is a perpetual Sunday. And as I think about it, it is a beautiful truth. Children are a perpetual Sunday -as we remember Jesus' Resurrection on Sundays, children give us the same hope. 

Welcome back to the neighborhood, Kentucky Kloska's! Its great to have you home. And if any of you readers are needing a little hope, you can come visit us for dinner -there are enough little footsteps in this house for everyone!

ps. I'd post some pictures (because there is nothing more fun to see on the blog than family pictures), but my camera went to the Philippines for a year to do some missionary work.

Sometimes you've gotta look 'Up'!

originally THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2009

Sometimes you've gotta look 'Up'!

So often this is what we see in life...

When THIS is the true Reality!



(The same house, different perspective.)

There are Divine Realities taking place in all circumstances of our lives much greater in the heavens than what we see (or focus on) on earth.
Sometimes, we just have to 'look up.'
Just a thought...

A Baby's 'Need' for Love

originally TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008

The Importance of a Baby's Cry, The Gift of a Parent's Love and Russian Orphans

When a person looks at a very new child who has just been born, one can see that this child is so delicate. Something as delicate as a tiny infant God asks parents to protect, care for, nurture and love. A child is totally dependent upon his parents for everything he needs. Imagine what it would be like to be a sick adult, who could do nothing for himself. You are lying in a hospital bed and you need someone to feed you, someone to clean you, someone to warm you, someone to change your diaper. And the only voice you have left to explain your needs is a cry. That cry would be seen as the greatest gift you have -for without it you would be totally incapable of expressing your needs to others. Someone who loved you dearly -who stayed by your bedside to care for you night and day -would come to understand the differences in your cries -what noise you made when you were hungry and what noise you made when you were in pain. This scenario is the predicament of every baby. And God entrusts a child to the most sensitive and powerful love of a Mother and Father. Yet a parent's love has a responsibility -for if they do not respond in love to their child's cries, the child will stop crying and could slowly fail to thrive (begin to die) from a lack of his physical needs being met or from the depression resulting from the lack of emotional needs being met.

An experiment was once done in America with new babies. It was a very bad experiment. A group of researchers took two groups of children who had just been born. To one group they gave all that the children needed physically, but they did not allow for them to be held or cared for emotionally. They would be fed by bottles being propped up and never touched or spoken to during the day or night. The other group of children were given the same physical care as the first, but also had an additional thing –someone spent a few hours everyday holding them, especially when they were being fed. The first group of children almost died and they had lots of medical problems simply because they had not been given the physical and emotional responsive love that they needed. Love is so important for a little child.

I remember hearing another similar story about the orphanages in England after World War II. There were many orphans left from the war and so numerous ‘Homes for Children’ were opened throughout the country. There was a great epidemic in that most of the infants in these orphanages died. The cause of this death was very simple. Although the caretakers at the home were physically caring for these children’s needs, there were not enough people to simply hold them, talk to them and give them physical love in that way –and so they began to die. This was true in all the orphanages in England –all the orphanages except one. What was different about this one orphanage? It was a cleaning lady. In this one particular orphanage there was a very sensitive, selfless, maternal cleaning lady. And after she worked her 8 hours everyday she would spend another 6 hours or so going from room to room and spending a few minutes holding each of the abandoned babies. She was not able to give all her attention to all of them, but she tried to at least give all of her attention to each one of them as she held them for a few minutes. And in the end not one of those babies died.

It is very important to always give both physical and emotional love to children, whenever they need it. It is a parent's responsibility to answer their children's cries in great love -day or night. And such a response -whether it be a soft word or song or prayer spoken by the parent or whether it be the simply touch of their presence in the night -can not only affect the physical thriving of a child's development, but also deeply affects how they learn to trust people, and ultimately God later on in life. It has a spiritual aspect on a child as well. If a child had a parent who always responded to his cries for help in love, then he will later more easily trust that God (in whose image his parents are) also will care for him in all of his needs. And the parent, sometimes exhausted from responding to so many cries (especially in the night) is able to offer this as a sacrifice (and the time holding their baby as a midnight prayer for his little soul) and greatly affect, protect and help their baby’s soul through such prayer of selfless love. This is the way that our Father in Heaven loves us.

But not all babies are born into loving, Christian families with parents willing to live their duty of self-sacrificing love -responding to their baby's cries at any time, day or night. Some babies are born into families who do not know God and His call for us to love our children as He loves us. Some babies are abandoned by their parents and placed in orphanages all over the world -and having worked in some of these I know that because of the great number of children left to one or two caretakers, these children are simply left crying often and eventually turn inward and stop communicating. How does this emotional wound look?

Dr. Sears -a father of 8 and pediatrician for 40+ years explains the 'Shutdown Syndrome' that can happen to children when they are left to 'cry-it-out':

Parent tip: Babies cry to communicate – not manipulate.

"Out" What actually goes "out" of a baby, parents, and the relationship when a baby is left to cry-it-out? Since the cry is a baby's language, a communication tool, a baby has two choices if no one listens. Either he can cry louder, harder, and produce a more disturbing signal or he can clam up and become a "good baby" (meaning "quiet"). If no one listens, he will become a very discouraged baby. He'll learn the one thing you don't want him to: that he can't communicate.

Baby loses trust in the signal value of his cry – and perhaps baby also loses trust in the responsiveness of his caregivers. Not only does something vital go "out" of baby, an important ingredient in the parent- child relationship goes "out" of parents: sensitivity. What happens if you "harden your heart," view the cry as a control rather than a communication tool and turn a deaf ear to baby's cries? When you go against your basic biology, you desensitize yourself to your baby's signals and your instinctive responses. Eventually, the cry doesn't bother you. You lose trust in your baby's signals, and you lose trust in your ability to understand baby's primitive language. A distance develops between you and your baby. So, not listening and responding sensitively to a baby's a cry is a lose-lose situation: Baby loses trust in caregivers and caregivers lose trust in their own sensitivity.

THE SHUTDOWN SYNDROME

Throughout our 30 years of working with parents and babies, we have grown to appreciate the correlation between how well children thrive (emotionally and physically) and the style of parenting they receive.

"You're spoiling that baby!" First-time parents Linda and Norm brought their four-month-old high-need baby, Heather, into my office for consultation because Heather had stopped growing. Heather had previously been a happy baby, thriving on a full dose of attachment parenting. She was carried many hours a day in a baby sling, her cries were given a prompt and nurturant response, she was breastfed on cue, and she was literally in physical touch with one of her parents most of the day. The whole family was thriving and this style of parenting was working for them. Well-meaning friends convinced these parents that they were spoiling their baby, that she was manipulating them, and that Heather would grow up to be a clingy, dependent child.

Parents lost trust. Like many first-time parents, Norm and Linda lost confidence in what they were doing and yielded to the peer pressure of adopting a more restrained and distant style of parenting. They let Heather cry herself to sleep, scheduled her feedings, and for fear of spoiling, they didn't carry her as much. Over the next two months Heather went from being happy and interactive to sad and withdrawn. Her weight leveled off, and she went from the top of the growth chart to the bottom. Heather was no longer thriving, and neither were her parents.

Baby lost trust. After two months of no growth, Heather was labeled by her doctor "failure to thrive" and was about to undergo an extensive medical exam. When the parents consulted me, I diagnosed the shutdown syndrome. I explained that Heather had been thriving because of their responsive style of parenting. Because of their parenting, Heather had trusted that her needs would be met and her overall physiology had been organized. In thinking they were doing the best for their infant, these parents let themselves be persuaded into another style of parenting. They unknowingly pulled the attachment plug on Heather, and the connection that had caused her to thrive was gone. A sort of baby depression resulted, and her physiologic systems slowed down. I advised the parents to return to their previous high-touch, attachment style of parenting—to carry her a lot, breastfeed on cue, and respond sensitively to her cries by day and night. Within a month Heather was again thriving.

Babies thrive when nurtured. Every baby has a critical level of need for touch and nurturing in order to thrive. (Thriving means not just getting bigger, but growing to one's potential, physically and emotionally.) Babies have the ability to teach their parents what level of parenting they need. It's up to the parents to listen, and it's up to professionals to support the parents' confidence and not undermine it by advising a more distant style of parenting, such as "let your baby cry-it-out" or "you've got to put him down more." Only the baby knows his or her level of need; and the parents are the ones that are best able to read their baby's language.

Babies who are "trained" not to express their needs may appear to be docile, compliant, or "good" babies. Yet, these babies could be depressed babies who are shutting down the expression of their needs. They may become children who don't speak up to get their needs met and eventually become the highest-need adults."

Now what does all this have to do with Russia? The orphans of Russia -with the lack of proper caretakers -are left swaddled in cribs and rarely cared for by personal contact day or night. They do 'cry-it-out' all the time and this has resulted in the Shutdown Syndrome. Many adoptive parents have reported the negative impact this has had even on their adoptive children as they grow older. As all of you know, it is very difficult to restore trust once it is broken... and that is all the more true when the trust is broken in one's childhood. At the urging of adoptive parents, some missionary priests from Eastern Siberia have began to program to help children -babies -so that they will not be left to cry and fail to thrive in the orphanages in their city. With the grandmothers in their parish not receiving a livable pension, they put together a program where Americans can 'sponsor a grandmother' who will receive $60 a month and be sent into these orphanages 12 hours a week to simply hold, speak and respond to and be with these babies and children. This program can not only be the difference in their physical survival, but the love of these grandmothers will be the basis of these children learning trust -and ultimately will help break the barriers that otherwise would be built between them and the possibility of knowing, loving and trusting God in heaven. The greatest argument for atheism that I heard in Russia was, "God never heard my cries as a child, so why should I believe in Him now?"

If you are interested in donating to this important mission, please click here.

Why I Love Spring...

originally SUNDAY, MAY 04, 2008

Why I Love Spring...

I've always considered Fall my 'favorite season,' but I've noticed the past few years that when Spring rolls around I seriously consider changing my mind about that. On the 'beautiful scale', the purples, whites and pinks of Spring are serious competition (in my little mind) to the yellows, oranges and reds of Fall. As I walk around our block praying everyday, my soul finds a rare joy in the amazing beauty our Father paints around us, which so few stop to thank Him for (yes, Bobby, I ended my sentence with a preposition). I feel so close to His loving Hands as I see Him transform the world of nature around me each Spring. He is so creative -who ever thought of purple trees? When I was little and I read Dr. Suess books about fish on purple and red trees I always thought he was so silly, but our Father in heaven is a little silly too -because every Spring He paints our trees purple and pink and white.

All this beauty leads me to spiritual thoughts as I walk and pray. First, I think about how each flower and bud on a tree is a sign that our Father in heaven thinks that the world should go on. He is constantly giving life around us and constantly 'making all things new.' Here sin has destroyed our world in so many ways, but He is always healing the world by making things new. The harsh winter seems to kill all life outside in Northern Indiana, but secretly, hiddenly, in the early months of Spring the Father is already giving new life where old life has died. Little buds (imperceptible to most people rushing and running through life) begin to appear on trees, then flowers and leaves -the Father makes all things new in a very beautiful way. It reminds me how God did not create the world just once, but how He is continually creating it over and over, in new ways. How patient He must be to continually heal and fix His beautiful creation that gets destroyed. Just as how during the night, when we sleep, God creates new cells in our body to replace the old ones that died -during the Spring He reaches down from heaven and replaces all that died in nature another time -year after year. This beauty in the trees and bushes, animals and flowers simply reminds me how close God is to me as I sleep -smoothing out the wrinkles on my face and smoothing out the wrinkles on my heart. Day after day -He remains close -holding me, forming me, making me new. His work is not always visible at first -just as the buds are missed by most people in our busy world -but they are there, they are flowering, and in His time they will bear fruit.

Secondly, when I walk and pray and watch the trees turn colors, I think about the 'seasons of the soul' -and how these change in seasons are like our spiritual lives. There are moments in our spiritual lives like the Spring -full of life and flowers, full of grace and God's presence. These set our hearts on fire with love.

Then comes the 'Summer' -the graces of Spring carry us into the Summer -it is hot, but life is full, days are long, and graces abundant. We may have crosses, but we also feel the grace we need to carry them. We want to be martyrs, perfect wives and mothers, holy businessmen, willing to endure all we need to in order to be saints spreading His Love.

After the Summer 'Fall' arrives in our soul. The graces of Spring are beginning to die and the heat of Summer takes it toll -we become weak and begin to 'die' under the weight of the Cross. We still have glimpses of God's presence in our memory and the beauty of the fruit of our work in Summer is before us. But day by day, the leaves fall off, we are naked -we are cold -we are weak -and suddenly we feel like we are alone.

This is the season of Winter. At first the snow and ice may seem pretty. At first we don't panic too much in our souls when things freeze over, for we know that Jesus told us we would suffer in this way if we follow Him. We feel dead, but we have hope because we remember that this is His will and that this kind of season will bear a great harvest of graces in Spring and fruit in the Summer. But then Winter drags on... the snow gets heavier, the nights seem longer, and the cold goes deeper. It is not just our feet that are frozen anymore -the cold moves up our bodies and finally, right before Spring, it seems to even overtake our mind. We can't remember anymore why we suffer as we do. We can't remember God's love, His touch, His graces from the Spring so many months before. We simply feel pain, confusion, abandonment and at times teeter-totter on the precipice of hopelessness. We feel we can do nothing and we see no purpose of our lives. We are lost and our heart and soul seem dead. Dead and forgotten. This happens in every person's spiritual life -it can happen in every relationship of love (in marriage, in deep friendship, in families) -this deep, cold winter is where our Love is tested and purified. All God wants for us to do is try to endure... try to be faithful... try to breathe fiat.

And then Spring comes again. Our hearts are so frozen that we might not at first feel the first drops of rain that fall upon us to melt us. Our hearts have become so limp in the darkness that we might miss those buds that start to grow forth. But suddenly -like the first warm sunny day after a long Winter -everything seems beautiful. The grass is green, the trees turn purple, pink, yellow, white and red. Things aren't as we expect, but they take our breath away. And we realize, that we had not died abandoned in the night -instead, Christ took us so close to His Heart pierced open on the Cross that we simply felt the cold suffering pain pouring from its water and blood -and through this gesture of His, we were brought closer, deeper, more one with Him, more in His image, more able to receive the new graces of Spring again. It was His death that kissed us, and just as we 'died' with Him -He enters in to share His resurrection with us too. Little deaths, little resurrections -that is how the seasons of the soul go.

That's why I love Spring. And that is why I get so happy when I see beauty like the trees in these pictures. There is hope after the winter, after the storm. God is daily reaching into our lives, our hearts, even into our bodies to create them anew. Stop for a moment today and feel that touch of His Fatherly Love -that touch that we so often miss because we are running around too 'busy.' And thank Him for that Love. Thank Him for that beauty. And thank Him for purple and yellow trees.

Amen.

God's simple beauty

originally MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2007

God's simple beauty

How often do we stop to really appreciate God's hidden beauty in everything He created? Often people will gawk at something extraordinary, like a sunset -but how often to we search for and appreciate God's amazing beauty in our everyday, ordinary lives? If you don't do it daily, it is worth taking a few minutes everyday to do. It will change your life. It will teach you to be thankful for little things, it will give you happiness for a second or two, and it will raise your thoughts to God's living presence among us. You know, God did not just create the world once -He is touching, forming and creating the world continually, now -every moment. And it is amazing how everything God makes, He makes beautifully.

I remember one long train ride I had in Poland this past winter. I was returning from Warsaw to Wroclaw and my 6 hour train ride turned into a 9 hour train ride because of the snow and frozen tracks. Our windows steamed up from the heat, but it did not matter much because the dirt flying up from the tracks as we raced along had already covered our windows from the outside. Since reading on a train makes me sick, staring at the person across from me scares most passengers, and falling asleep is not prudent when I am traveling alone -the only place I could rest my eyes as I prayed was on my frosted over, fogged up, dirty window. But God really touched me through such a seemingly meaningless and ordinary thing. I began to truly contemplate the great beauty of each of the snowflakes frosting over the dirt, hidden beneath the fog. And I was really amazed at how God created them in such detail and in such beauty. Chances were that no one would ever notice His little masterpieces -and I am sure billions of such snowflakes have existed without a human's second thought. But even if His work was to be ignored (or covered by dirt for that matter) -He still made it beautiful, because He is God. And God simply is beautiful. This thought inspired me to strive to do everything in my life -regardless if it is noticed or not -in great love, peace and beauty (in imitation of my Creator). If I close a door, I should take that extra second to do it beautifully, in love, full of peace -so it does not slam. If I walk -I should walk with love, in beauty. If I raise my glass to drink -I should do it in beauty, in peace and in love for God. Such a thing might sound crazy to most of you, but taking a deep breath and trying to live simple moments more purposefully can really transform your heart (as well as those around you). Of course a person will most likely not remember this all day everyday, but if he deliberately does this a few times everyday (or one time everyday) -it is enough to deepen his life a bit, and give it an extra moment of rest and joy with God.

Anyway, those were my reflections on a really long and tiring train ride. I only thought to share them with you because I found these cool pictures that I took of a dying flower on our back porch a month ago. Sometimes when things look ugly at first glance, we need to take time to look deeper -because the beauty of God's presence is there.

Overcoming Evil With Good

originally TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 06, 2007

Overcoming Evil With Good

Driving home after 9am Mass this morning, I did something I never do -I turned on the radio. Dr. Dobson was airing a talk given by Chuck Colson at a Christian Conference about transforming culture. It was mighty powerful. The gist of what he was preaching was, "Overcome evil with good -and live the Truth." Sometimes when I see all the evil and problems around me in the world I feel drowned and helpless to do anything. This was an important message for me to hear -so simple and yet strong. And so I wanted to share with you all this morning two of the powerful stories that he used to illustrate his point.

The first one had to do with soldiers in Iraq. He spoke about how some famous reporter went over to Iraq and went to the hospital barracks to interview soldiers about the war. He was stunned when an insurgent was brought in wounded, and the army doctors were working furiously to save him. He had lost so much blood that he was on the verge of death, and the hospital had no more to give him. The doctors went out and asked the GIs if they would donate blood to save the insurgent's life. Fifty soldiers showed up and 33 pints of blood was able to be collected. When the reporter asked one of the soldiers how he felt about his blood being given to an insurgent, the soldier replied something like, "I don't care who it is given to -all that is important is that we save human lives." That had to have been a Christian soldier.

The second story is even more powerful. It took place in Poland during the Communist rule in that country. Everyday tens of thousands of Poles listened to Father Popieluszko preach from St. Stanislas' Church. He would have huge outdoor Masses that were broadcasted on Polish Radio, as well as from Munich on 'Radio Free Europe.' In 1984 the Communists kidnapped Fr. Popieluszko, tortured him by gouging out his eyes and ripping off his finger and toe nails and then killed him and threw him in a river. At the news of his death, tens of thousands of people gathered in the squares. Were they finally going to revolt? No. If you listened closely you could hear their voices shouting in unison, chanting, "We forgive you." Just 30 days later, his murderers were arrested and imprisoned. And a short time after that Communism crumbled in Poland. His cause for beatification was opened in Rome in 1997. (Click on the headline for the original BBC story.)

Lesson for today: "Overcome evil with good."

As St. Paul says:

"Let love be sincere;

hate what is evil, hold on to what is good;

love one another with mutual affection;

anticipate one another in showing honor.

Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Rejoice in hope,

endure in affliction,

persevere in prayer.

Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly."

-Romans 12:5-16

Every human life encounters sufferings, problems and evil. What separates the 'boys from the men' is how we handle these encounters. We should always do it as Christians, with Jesus and as Jesus would handle them.

Wisdom from 'Baba Anna' -GOD is in charge...

originally SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2007

Wisdom from 'Baba Anna' -GOD is in charge...

This is 'Baba' Anna (Babushka Anna). In 1941 when she was 18 years old the Russians took her from Germany and sent her here to Siberia. She will be 84-years-old this year. She is one of the many we serve here with German, Polish or Eukrainian roots.

My favorite quote from the other night when she stayed at the monastary:

"I don't know when I'll die. Whatever God wants. You know, I'm not my own Master. ONLY God is my Master... no one else. Eat, child, eat eat!!!"

Aunt Mary Reality Check

originally TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2007

Aunt Mary Reality Check

This post is for all the young people (aka -young teenagers and 20-somethings) who read the blog. This is not necessarily only for my older neices and nephews, but for any young person who finds themselves here (I know of a few who visit this blog). If you are an adult, you can pass this over after pointing it out to your son/daughter.

I know most of you just like to look at pictures here, and actually reading what is written is considered too much work, but I'm hoping you will make what I write today an exception since it is written specifically for YOU.

First of all, I want to remind you all that although I'm a missionary, I'm actually cool - Why am I cool? Well, I'm cool because I climb mountains, I walked through snake and alligator infested marshes in Africa AT NIGHT and because I've ridden in the backseat of a nice, white Mercedes driven by 3 or 4 members of the mafia in Russia and actually enjoyed a conversation about God with them. I've met Hollywood movie stars, lived in a cave in the middle of the desert for 3 months and walked through the streets of Harlem at night. I just want to remind you, that although I may be a bit of a dork, I've been around the block a few times, and so you can't say I don't know anything about 'real life'. I'm a really cool dork. So you really should listen to me.

So, why am I writing you here on the blog? I just want to give you a reality check. American culture lies to you guys about everything, and I just want to make sure you remember a few important truths:

1.) Violence is not funny. Songs about violence are not funny. Movies about violence are not funny. Other people's pain is not funny. If you use such things to make you laugh, there is something sick and wrong with you. If you don't believe me, I'll take you to a war-torn country with me and leave you there alone to experience why violence and pain is not funny. I've picked up bloody people on the street and I've had to calm the look of horror in the eyes of children who have witnessed or experienced what you think is funny. Blood, murder, revenge and hatred are not funny. Don't joke about such things -either in your conversations on MySpace and FaceBook or by the movies you watch or the music you listen to.

2.) Sex is not funny and it is not something that should be taken casually. 'Playing around' or performing sexual acts (or things that should only be enjoyed in marriage) is not cool. It actually destroys you. It destroys how you think, how you speak, how you treat people. It destroys your body and emotions. Your jokes or actions or conversations today destroy the person who will be your greatest treasure tomorrow (your future wife or husband). Sex is really beautiful -don't destroy it. You'd never water a plant with a $1000 bottle of wine. Don't waste the gift of your body and soul on people who really don't care about you (and just want to use you for pleasure.)

3.) Its actually NOT COOL to cuss or say bad words. It does not make you more intelligent or attractive. It makes you ugly. If you want to expand your vocabulary -learn another language. French, Italian and Hungarian are all beautiful languages which will enchant all those who hear you speak them. And if you want something more wild and crazy, learn Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba -or any of the other tribal African languages.

4.) Getting drunk is not cool. It destroys you. I've seen the most beautiful people turn into wild animals who can't control themselves when they are drunk. I've stepped over COUNTLESS bodies of people who DIED from accidentally drinking too much. I've cleaned their wounds. Plus, getting drunk and driving (or speeding recklessly) is a MORTAL sin (you can look it up in the Catechism #2290 if you don't believe me). Getting drunk and then receiving Communion is like mocking the blood of Jesus.

5.) Smoking and dipping are not cool. Think of Uncle Bobby -he's got cancer and he's never had a cigarette in his life. He's never chewed either. Do you really WANT to suffer as he is now because you gave yourself cancer? Its medically proven that such things give you cancer. But, if you get cancer, it might be good because the suffering would teach you why what I wrote in numbers 1-5 are correct -and cancer could save your soul.

6.) Oh... and #6 -PLEASE do NOT play around with anything that even could remotely be evil (don't even read horoscopes). This includes music that is evil, movies that are evil, games that are evil (including video games) or websites that are evil. You aren't strong enough to fight the power in such things and satan doesn't care if you are 'playing around' or 'serious' -he'll use any in he can to snag your soul. I've had to accompany a few young people to priests for deliverance or exorcisms because they 'played around' with evil things.

Remember that when you die you are going to stand before GOD and go through EVERY moment of your life, every word you spoke, every website you visited, everything you did or thought. Remember this: death is pretty close. You could get cancer tomorrow or die in a car crash. Live remembering that life is not a joke, and you will have to answer to God for it. With every moment you live right now, you are choosing where you will spend eternity.Please look at your and your friends' music, video games and 'MySpace and FaceBook pages' and correct them accordingly.

I love you guys and I'm not saying you are doing these things, I'm just saying I know what the world is telling you about them. And the 'world' you live in is a bunch of liars.

What I have written here is the Truth. I just want to remind you of it LOUD and CLEAR! I pray and suffer for you -and I truly LOVE you.