The Road To Heaven

 

  I had dreamed of going to Montana for years. In fact, it was on my bucket list. Halfway through the vacation, my family and I drove from the southern border of Montana to the northern border to hike in Glacier National Park. It was one of the most beautiful drives I have taken. I was drinking Diet Coke and belting out song after song on my "Jesus Jams" playlist as I wound through the mountains and open meadows. Every turn in the road was more beautiful than the last.

 This road was definitely less traveled.  I only occasionally passed other vehicles. The road was a series of ups and downs that kept my heart racing to the beat of the songs.  At times, the road seemed to climb straight up, and all I could see were the blue skies above me and puffy white clouds.  I couldn't even see where the road was taking us.  I smiled widely, turned to my daughter in the front seat, and said, "I don't know where this road is taking us, but it feels like we are going straight to heaven!"  We just kept laughing and singing as these ups and downs continued for an hour.  It was an exhilarating ride.  I felt like God was with us the whole time as we admired the beautiful world He created.

  Even now, I smile when I think about that drive. Glacier Park was stunning.  Glacier was the destination, but I feel the journey there is an important part of the story and has taught me a lot as well. The twists and turns, the highs and lows, and the inability to see what lay ahead seemed to capture my life metaphorically.  I am doing my best to steer toward heaven, but I feel the journey is incredibly important.  God's beauty is all around me through every high and low, every valley, and every green meadow.  God is right beside me. The path I am on often looks like the road less traveled, but with God beside me, I know it is the path He has chosen for me.

-Susan

Is That the Holy Spirit?

 

  My granddaughter and I were swinging in the backyard when I looked up and spotted a white bird high in the sky. My first thought was, “Oh my gosh, is that the Holy Spirit?”   My one-year-old granddaughter did not reply. 

  Now I know you may think I’m crazy, but hear me out. I have never seen a white bird in my backyard. I have seen robins, blue jays, cardinals, sparrows, ducks, and hawks, but never a white bird. Although you could easily argue this case otherwise, my heart wants to believe the Holy Spirit hovers around me. In fact, I love that idea. 

  We recently celebrated the feast of Pentecost, but why not celebrate it every day? Our Baptism marked and changed our lives in ways we can’t even comprehend. We sometimes say too casually that we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit at our Baptism. The Divine chooses to dwell in us. That should make our heads spin and our hearts swell. To say God is generous is an understatement. God has given us everything we need to live holy lives. He believes we can do it. Shouldn’t we live as if we believe this as well?

  So I say with confidence, “I saw the Holy Spirit today.”  He was flying over my neighborhood.  He is present in my granddaughter’s smile, and He was present in my daughter’s hands earlier that morning as she helped me. I see the Holy Spirit everywhere, and it fills me with joy! Join my enthusiasm for the Holy Spirit, and be sure to look for Him in your life as well!

-Susan

It's All About The Details

 

  

This past spring, I had the opportunity to hike with my sister on several beautiful trails in Arizona. To my delight, the timing was perfect for seeing the cacti bloom. I was captivated by the different flowers. I snapped picture after picture of these delicate blooms (almost to the point of driving my sister crazy). I was pleased when I returned home and noticed I had captured more than just the flower in one of my pictures.

 What I hadn’t noticed while taking the picture was the bee pollinating the flower. It made me realize that the beauty of God’s creations is even more amazing when you notice the details. It’s so easy to take for granted everything that God has created.

 
 Please join me this week in praising God! Take a closer look at your life. Remember some of your sweetest memories and notice how God was present. Recall a very difficult time in your life and how God helped you through it. What may have seemed like a coincidence or good luck was actually God arranging all the details just so. Take a deep breath in and blow it out. We live and breathe because the breath of God desires you and loves you.  You are an amazing person, and the intricate fingerprint of God is all over you.  We have been blessed with millions of tiny, unnoticed details. Don’t take God for granted this week. Take a closer look at our wonder- working God and love Him even more!

-Susan

Feast Of The Sacrad Heart Of Jesus

 

 "O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord."

  As I bow down to honor you today, I beg You to pour Your Love and Mercy upon the Church and the whole world. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You!

-Susan

Your True Presence

 

 Reverently, I walk down the Church aisle. Is this just another ordinary Sunday? Never. My God is calling me forward. Who am I to be invited to receive Jesus?  I am no one special, not at all worthy, yet He loves me anyway.  My heart hears Him call my name.

  Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. I often repeat these words slowly over and over before and after receiving the Holy Eucharist.  I hope that by repeating these words, I will be able to grasp their meaning.  This gift, this moment, this Holy Eucharist is beyond my comprehension, and yet I boldly receive, because I so desperately need Him.  

  Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Jesus gives me all of Himself; why do I give so little in return? Change me, Jesus. My love is too weak.  Strengthen and enlighten me with Your True Presence. Please keep loving me more than I deserve. 

-Susan

Ready To Serve

 

  Often,  as I am getting ready for work, a recurring thought comes to mind, "Why do I have to go to work today?  Why can't I just be independently wealthy?" Those thoughts quickly fade as I put on my uniform and run out the door. Even though I enjoy entertaining the idea of a life of leisure, I know that is not where I will find true happiness. The other day, as I was praying the rosary, I had an epiphany. While meditating on the wedding at Cana, I suddenly realized, "I want to be a servant like those at the wedding."

  Those servants were exactly where God wanted them to be. They instinctively listened to Mary's command, "Do whatever He tells you." They trusted that Mary had insight they lacked. I want to be just like that.  I want Mary to lead me directly to Jesus. I want to hear Jesus' instructions and follow them without question. I want to do Jesus' Will, even when it's hard and I don't understand how it will all work out. 

  I brought this new feeling into prayer later that night. "Jesus, I'm sorry. I complain a lot about having a better life." I closed my eyes and waited for a response. 

  In the moments of prayer that followed, I saw Jesus shake his head and smile at me. "My child, I want that for you, too, but not just yet. If you follow my ways, you will no longer be serving at the wedding feast; you will be sitting with me at the table. I promise you will be happier than you could ever imagine. But right now, I need these jars filled with water. Can I count on you?"

 I returned His smile and replied, "Absolutely."

-Susan

This Is Deeply Personal

  

  The Feast of Pentecost marks the birth of the Catholic Church. The Holy Spirit guides the whole Church, but just as importantly, the Holy Spirit uniquely guides and inspires you. The Holy Spirit can be an incredible wind, but often is a soft whisper. The Spirit speaks every language and moves every heart in a deeply personal way.  Does the Holy Spirit need to send tongues of fire into your life? Usually not, because the Holy Spirit has been speaking to you since your baptism. You know His voice. You know His love.  The Holy Spirit doesn’t need to make grand gestures; He just needs us to be more attentive.  The power of God lives within us. Have you discovered how to say “yes” to the Holy Spirit?

 Mary’s “yes” to the Holy Spirit changed the world forever. We should imitate Mary by saying “yes" to the Holy Spirit every day.  Perhaps we could find simple ways to invite the Holy Spirit to work through us.  We could pray, "Holy Spirit, I give you permission to use my heart to love others. Use my ears to hear and respond to others' needs.  Use my mouth to speak words of comfort,  to encourage peace and justice, and to preach the gospel.  Open my mind, Holy Spirit, to God’s wisdom and make me more aware of all your movements within me."

 Holy Spirit, you know me better than I  know myself. I desire to know you this way as well. This desire is deeply personal. I am yours, Holy Spirit, and I am eternally grateful that you are all mine as well. Holy Spirit, go ahead and love me as much as you can, because I desire to love you this way, too!

-Susan