worn out

I'm worn out. I have to realize I can't manage things.......anything.

It is all yours, Lord.

I throw in the towel..............and I know You will catch it.

Listening

Today I thought of the Lord always listening and speaking too.
He listens to our twittering and comments from time to time to us.
Don't we know when. And sometimes he speaks volumes in silence.

Help me, Lord, to hold back.

Lord, help me not to tell everyone exactly what's on my mind. They can live very nicely without knowing it. Help me to hold back, Lord. Some things need only be between us.

Still traveling

Where am I on my road to eternity.....I was born into a family of faith ......lost my way and found it and where am I now......I would say Damascus is seen in a foggy way........my eyesight is definitely impaired. But I'm still traveling.

Today I've been fitful, Lord. I want to be contrary. I'm like a child. I want everyone to know things just aren't quite right and, more importantly, neither are they. I'm fitful, Lord. I'm sorry.

Few Words

Today at my Holy Hour I said "Oh, Lord" and I'm not sure what I meant but I knew He did. I think I meant Oh, Lord, I'm tired, I'm worried and you finish the rest, Lord. At least that's what I think I meant.

Lives of the Saints

I love the Breton Fisherman's Prayer:

God be good to me,

my boat is so small

and the Sea is so wide.

I don't know about you but to me this is an image so familiar .......we

saw Jesus calming the sea and walking on water. I can see his arm

outstretched to me, being good to me.

Thomas Merton and Father Philip

I met Father Philip Schuster, O.S.B., one summer when he was substituting for our Chaplain here at the nursing home. During the week, I am a sacristan so I would talk a bit with Father Philip.
Father Philip was here about a week. Probably during that time our conversations didn't amount to more than an hour but I've decided it really takes a very short time to know all about a person. I knew Father Philip.

Later, I learned he was an author, a retreat master and a teacher. It was interesting but I knew Father Philip was more and then I remembered a quote I had heard long ago. It was a quote by Thomas Merton: "A saint preaches sermons by the way he walks and the way he stands--the way he picks things up and holds them in his hands." I think Thomas Merton knew Father Philip too.


Father Philip Schuster O.S.B died on June 10, 2002. He was a victim of a shooting at Conception Abbey.

Everything I ever wanted to know about being a Catholic came from my
Mom and Dad. They weren't content with feeding and clothing me. There were bigger issues.

There are so many wonderful things about Catholicism...if I were trying to get someone interested in the Church, I might start with the Saints.
Anyone who likes a good story, and who doesn't; and likes the main character to be a good guy will love the Saints.

I have an opinion on everyone; you might call it a diagnosis. Will I ever learn... as if anyone could be summed up. We are all fascinating creatures who can barely understand ourselves, let alone our neighbors.

I remember hearing so often about the mystery of God. But isn't God so very clear, really. Is it to our advantage to say we don't understand? He is understood by a child's heart, why not ours?

I think I know something about the Mercy of God. I can't put into words but it is something tangible. To me, it is inseparable from the Peace of God.

When I was learning the Baltimore Catechism answers I was happy. They still make perfect sense to me. I'm still Catholic and I'm still happy.

I know your Face without seeing it, Lord. I have felt your gaze. I have not
returned it but I have felt its warmth. This was your mercy.

Small wonders, miracles, really, each day dished up for us by the Creator of the universe and we are filled to the brim and go away without even a thank you. We are used to super-sizing.

I like to think of you, Lord, preparing small gifts each day for us. You, who parted the Red Sea and raised Lazarus from the dead, taking the time to make little beautiful thoughts occur to us in our cluttered modern minds.

Looking straight on at things I really don't give God His due. I decided just the other day that the most wonderful things I see are seen out of the
corner of my eye. These things I was unprepared to see are placed just so for my absolute delight. Endearing proof of my God.