The fire I’ve kindled burns less brightly.

While chatting with my sister recently, she and I had a heart-to-heart conversation about family. Family is a complex topic for me. In the middle of confiding in her my “issues” with certain extended family members, I recalled a cause I vowed to undertake about forgiveness. This is a measurement of how far I’ve come.

Let the conversion commence.

I don’t have a lot to add this week, as I’m still trying to discern a research paper topic for my Incarnate Word class which is really a Christology class in disguise. Ideas are welcomed. I did want to share a few reflections. 

Mother is such a lovely word

Last night I got to spend a beautiful hour in Eucharistic Adoration after spending a day of fasting. I can’t quite express the inner joy I found from this.  It really let me focus, particularly on my absent mother.

“Friends, they are jewels, twice as beautiful and few.”

A good friend and mother-figure of mine, J—, had a stroke this weekend.  I was devastated. This woman helped me with so much in my formative years and she helped my father to understand how to raise a teenage daughter.

Home to Rest

Tomorrow I head to Houston to finally bury my father’s ashes.  I am looking forward to spending time again in my home town.  I will need to rely on my home to help me through this.

Renewing Resilience

Father’s Day was a tough day.  I’m not sure why it hit me so hard this year.  Actually, I do know why: a lot of uncertainty in my life, a lot of change going on.  My ego is feeling pretty low because change is hard, but my soul feels at home in the humility of it all.

Last night, I couldn’t stand the whiplash of feeling strong and secure one moment and sad the next.  I spent some time in Adoration.  While I was trying to listen, calmness abounded.  Sometimes, I wish I could sleep in that chapel.  It never fails to calm me down.  It never fails to renew my resilience.

Lay It at the Foot of the Cross

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been noting how weak I feel in my faith. I was driving around today, running last-minute errands before I leave to visit family tomorrow, and I turned on my local Catholic radio station and there was this man relating a story about the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He was recalling a woman who told him that she was very angry with God because her child was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. He told her to take her anger to the foot of the cross. . .

My Papa Didn’t Raise No Fool

I was reading another blogger’s post this week (Come & See) and she brought to light John 14:1 (“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God and trust also in Me.”), which was also in the Sunday Gospel reading.  She was reflected deeply on this verse and it was a little contagious because all week I’ve been trying to take her approach about it.  And it’s already produced some pretty amazing results.

If Your Right Eye Offends

 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of

your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.  (Matt. 5:29-30)

This is the verse that my priest reminded me of during my last face-to-face confession. 

Red Letter Week

I had a blast celebrating my birthday in Houston this week.  On top of that, I have  buyer for my home.  It feels like a 50-ton piece of lead has been lifted.   Even the inspection yielded only two items to repair and both are relatively inexpensive at that, too.