The Sky Is The Limit

  My sister invited me to come stay at her summer house last month.  It is in a quiet little town a few hours away from my home.  The first night there she said, "It's a clear night and I want to see the comet everyone's talking about.  Do you want to come?"
  "Sure." I answered.  We got into her car and drove to the top of the bluff.  When we stepped out of the car and looked up, I was in awe.  I had never seen so many stars in my life.  It was breathtaking.  Within a few minutes we found the comet just below the Big Dipper. It was an exciting discovery!  As I stood there gazing at all those stars, I thanked God for sharing this moment with me.  It was so beautiful and peaceful.  The night sky looked so much different than it did back home.
  While I was praying  today, I was suddenly reminded of that night.  I felt there was a connection between that beautiful night and my pray life.  Sometimes when I pray, I feel like I do when I'm at home looking at the stars.  I can only see a few possibilities, because my vision is limited.  God, however, is full of possibilities!  That's why it is so important for me to spend time away from everything else and just be with God.  God helps me to see that there are possibilities that I have not even imagined.  God's ways are so much higher than my ways.  I need to trust Him.  That night, my plan was to see the comet, but I realize now, that sometimes God may want to open my eyes to see a much bigger picture.

-Susan

The Moment

 Saturday was my Dad’s Memorial Mass.  His death occurred several months earlier when our diocese was in lock down due to the coronavirus, and we were not allowed to gather for mass or funerals.  The fact that his home parish offered us the date of August 15th seemed like such a blessing. August 15th is the day we celebrate the Assumption of Mary into heaven and my Dad had a great devotion to Mary. 
 I spent the day wondering about "the moment" you leave earth. I imagined what Mary must have felt to see the face of Jesus, her beloved son and her Messiah.  Her joy, I’m sure, had to be beyond any words.  Mary was carried body and soul into heaven and crowned Queen of Heaven.  To hear the angels sing on that day must have been amazing!
 Although for the rest of us, the resurrection of our bodies will occur at some later date, our souls will be able to gaze upon the face of Jesus after we leave this world.  Imagine the joy we will feel!  I’m sure it will be beyond words for us, too!  
 The loss of my dad weighs heavy on my heart, but knowing that he was joining the angels' voices as all of heaven celebrated the Assumption of Mary, makes me smile.  It is ironic that death is painful only for the living, for the dying it is the beginning of eternal happiness. My Dad knew this. He thought we should always remember the promises of our faith at a funeral.
 We ended my Dad's Memorial Mass with the song "Soon and Very Soon".  It was one of my Dad's favorites. We all clapped with the beat as we sang, and at the song's end we clapped even louder.  After Mass, the organist told me that was one of the most uplifting funeral masses she had ever experienced.  I smiled and said, "That is exactly the way my Dad wanted it to be!" 

-Susan

God's Amazing Grace

 

  I had the opportunity to experience some amazing Lake Michigan sunsets this summer. This was one of my favorites because the bagpiper played Amazing Grace as the sun slowly dipped into the horizon. It was a perfect way to end my evening. I love photographing sunsets. I can easily take over 20 pictures because it just gets more and more beautiful with each passing minute. 

  I think that’s what spending eternity with God will be like as well. I think each moment will be more beautiful than the last. All the trials and sufferings we endured will fade away and the Son will shine with radiance. I am looking forward to experiencing the Amazing Grace God has in store for me!

-Susan

Answering the Question

  For some time I have been very intrigued with the conversation between Jesus and Pilate just before Jesus was scourged.  I often meditate on their conversation when praying the Rosary or the Chaplet of  Divine Mercy.  Today I just wanted to focus on the very first question Pilate asks Jesus, "...Are you the King of the Jews?" (John 18:33)
 "Jesus answered 'Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?' (John 18:34).
  Pilate doesn't directly answer the question Jesus asks.  He instead sidesteps the question. "Pilate answered, 'I am not a Jew, am I?  Your own nation and chief priests handed you over to me.  What have you done?'" (John 18:35).
  I sometimes wonder how many times I have sidestepped the questions Jesus ask me?  I am often, like Pilate, preoccupied with my own problems.  (What has Jesus done for me?   Couldn't He just solve my problems?). Jesus isn't interested in the politics of the day or popular opinion, He is interested  in something so much more important.  He wants to know if He is my King?  Is He the King of my heart?  Are we there yet?  Do I want that as much as He does?   What is the Truth?

-Susan