What Path Are You On?

   

  Many years ago, when Maps was a new app on my phone, my family and I had a funny experience. Our vacation was over, and we were heading to the airport. My son entered the airport information. As we drove down the expressway, I saw signs for the airport. "Should I get off here?" I asked my son.

  "No.  Just keep following maps.  It always finds the quickest route."  

  We drove for several more miles following the directions from "Maps." After taking a few more turns down what looked like a back road, the voice announced, "You have arrived. Your destination is on the left. Be prepared to walk two minutes." Stunned, we all looked to our left. Behind a very tall fence were the airport runways. We were close to the airport, but definitely not in the right place. What were we supposed to do? Abandon the car, climb over the fence, and run across the runways?! We can laugh about it now, but it was incredibly frustrating at the time. Circling back definitely put us on a time crunch.

  I share this story because I want everyone to check their path this week. Today's world offers many popular options.  Some paths will definitely lead you away from God.  Some will get you close.  But are you on the path that will get you inside the gates? Double-check the voice of scripture and listen to His guidance. God has a very beautiful, intentional path designed just for you.  Make sure the voice you are hearing is His. And don't short-change yourself on time; be sure you have plenty of time to correct for mistakes. 

 So let's double-check our position and direct our hearts toward heaven. God wants everyone to make it back home. In fact, He's waiting for us with open arms.

-Susan

Keep Striving

 

  I have a running game with the children I teach at the church. I bring to mind a previous Gospel story we discussed, share four statements about it, and ask them which one is correct. I make the game easy for them, so everyone will win a prize.  Last week, however, I was surprised by how many children answered the question incorrectly.  I thought the answer was very obvious.  While preparing for this week, I decided to quiz one of my sons with my question.  Again, I believed the answer was clear.  He said," Well, I think number two is the correct answer. 'If we want to be followers of Jesus, we need to make God our number one priority',  but I don't think number four is wrong."

  I look at the fourth statement.  It read, "There is nothing hard about being a follower of Jesus.  It's super easy." My eyebrows and voice raised at the same time. "You think being a Christian is easy? Really?  I certainly don't."

  "Yes, it is, " he answered.

  "So you have no problem with the ten commandments, forgiving others,  praying for your enemies, or being kind to those who mistreat you? What about always being honest? How's that going for you? Or proclaiming the Gospel to others?"

  My son started laughing. "Ok, I see your point."

  This week, ask yourself, "Which of Jesus' teachings do you find most difficult?"  Spend some time in prayer with the Holy Spirit discussing it.  For most of us, following Jesus is challenging.  It's challenging but not impossible.  The Holy Spirit will give us the necessary graces, but we must do the work and stay committed.

  Now that I have given this question more thought, I have decided to change the fourth statement.  Now it will read, "Following Jesus is impossible, and no one can do it."  That statement should be clearly wrong to all my students, and with the Holy Spirit's help, I will pray that anyone who has walked away from the faith will realize this as well. There is a prize to be won, and Jesus wants everyone to obtain it.

-Susan

Choose The Word

 

The other day, I had a song stuck in my head.  It certainly wasn't one of my favorite songs.  It was just one of those songs I had heard repeatedly on the radio.  I have no idea why this song came to mind. I couldn't get it out of my thoughts.  It was so annoying. But I can say the exact opposite has occurred as well.  In moments of pain, loss, fear, or frustration, words of scripture or songs from Mass have come to mind, bringing me comfort and hope.  The words we choose to listen to matter. 

 These days, it is more common to memorize memes or TikToks than it is to memorize scripture.  But I've found that memorizing scripture has helped me hear God's voice amidst all the noise. It's not about memorization but about internalizing the words and letting them guide your thoughts and actions. The more familiar I become with scripture, the easier it is for me to hear God.  Like an old friend, God can place an image, a verse, or a story in my mind when I am searching for answers or consolations.  These moments of truth speak volumes.  In just a few minutes, my dear friend reminds me of His unfailing love; sometimes, His thoughts help me grow beyond my pain.

 God has been speaking to us for thousands of years.  Open His Book, open your ears, and let Him breathe Life into your thoughts.  Both your mind and your soul will thank you for it!

-Susan

  

 

  

Is The Static Getting To You?

 

  My daughter came in from outside, plopped down on the couch, saying. "Mom, there is something wrong with the radio in my car.  It's all static.  I don't know what to do.  I really don't need to deal with another problem right now."  

 My advice was not very helpful:  "You'll have to have someone look at it and determine whether it can be fixed or if you need to have it replaced."

 "Do you know how annoying it is to just hear static?"

 My daughter's question lingered with me for a while.  Sometimes, the world's noise can get to us, especially when praying.  How do we tune into God amidst all the distractions around us? Just like turning a radio to a specific frequency, tuning into God means focusing our thoughts and prayers on Him, blocking out the 'static' of the world. Some days, this can be a real struggle. If the station you're tuned into has static, don't be afraid to try a new channel.  You don't always have to listen to the 'Oldies' station. Discover a saint you are unfamiliar with and see what prayer they like singing.  Tune into a meditation. Psalm, or Christian artist.

 Sometimes, finding a quiet spot to be with God can be helpful.  Rest your head on His shoulder and say nothing at all.  Let His love permeate and rejuvenate you.  Don't let your relationship with God go static; allow it to be dynamic. Spending Eternity with God isn't just for the future.  Eternity can begin right here, right now.  We just need to tune into God.

-Susan

  

Conflict Resolution

 Conflict. We all experience it. Whether in our families, at work, our small communities, our own countries, or the world. Conflict is almost as old as peace, but there was peace first.  In the beginning, there was peace among all of God’s creatures. But one apple, one bite, one snake changed everything. 

 So, how do we restore that peace?  God still desires that we live in harmony.  The Ten Commandments could be viewed as an anti-conflict ten-step resolution program to live peacefully with one another.  There is a room in every Catholic Church where Jesus calls us to deeply consider embracing the program. He knows there will be setbacks, but He will give us the grace to succeed. 

 God has been dreaming of peace on this earth for a long time.  Let’s do our best to commit ourselves to this ten-step program and see if we can make God's dream a reality. Imagine being part of the team that makes God’s dream come true. Wouldn’t that be the best birthday present we could give the newborn King?  Advent is coming, are we ready to change?

-Susan

Prayers Needed

    

 "Please pray for us!" has been a recurring plea this week. It has been a week of unsettling news for my family, with a few members in the hospital. Being a patient or a patient's family member is a challenging journey.  It's difficult to relinquish control, wait for tests, and ponder the path ahead. But prayer is our anchor, reminding us that the Lord is always with us. We're not alone, nor do we have to face this illness alone. Personal prayer is transformative, but what about intercessory prayer?  Do we really need it? Absolutely!

 Praying for one another is what our faith calls us to do.  We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. We want the Lord to be vividly present to our loved ones.  Often, we know from experience how much grace, love, and support are needed to get through difficult situations. The power of each person's prayer is immeasurable! Other people may pray for graces we didn't even realize we needed. We all have our favorite saints, and by asking others to pray for you, you may be surrounded by an army of saints! And sometimes, in our weakness, we need an army to pray for us.

 Never underestimate the help others can give you through their prayers or the difference your prayer can make. The Lord said, "When two or more are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them." This week, let's gather together in prayer. Let's pray for ourselves and for each other.  We all need God's healing in one way or another.

 -Susan

Out With The Old, Go Bold!

 

  Lent is only a few days away. Perfectly, Ash Wednesday is on Valentine's Day, a day we devote to those we love. Unfortunately, most people don't get excited for the season of Lent. Many of us feel thrown off guard as if it snuck up and yelled, "Surprise! It's Me, Lent!" Sometimes, a mild form of panic or dismay creeps in, asking, "What will you do? What are you giving up?" Fortunately, there are so many beautiful ways to grow closer to Christ. Please pray about it. Don't make this important decision on your own.

 I want to suggest going bold this year. Do something new. Choose something difficult. It's okay if we come up short. It doesn't mean we failed. It just means we have yet to perfect that particular attitude or action. It doesn't mean we should give up or settle for something more manageable. Sometimes, a failed attempt means we need to approach the challenge differently.

 Introspection can be challenging. Recognizing and confronting our shortcomings can be discouraging, but it shouldn't be. Remember, God is in love with you. Where we see weakness, God sees opportunities to grow. He takes great delight in helping us do more than we ever thought imaginable. We might think, "Oh, no, it's Lent again (big sigh). What am I going to do this year?"

 God, on the other hand, is revving up for the big season. God is bubbling with joy as He says, "It's Lent again! Let me show you what I know is possible this year! I Am so excited to grow closer to you!" 

-Susan

DISALLUSIONED BY DEMONS?

 

 It's that time of year when walking down your neighborhood street can make you feel like you are in the middle of a horror story. As I take my daily walk praying the Rosary, I can't help but feel all those demons are trying to distract me. And to be honest, they have caught my eye. Some decorations are fun, but plenty are disturbing. I wonder if they realize how many families with children are in the neighborhood.

 As you might guess, I'm not into horror stories. I did, however, recently pick up a book about spiritual warfare. I was almost afraid to read it because exorcisms scare me. Still, I fear there are too many demons plaguing our society and families. I wanted to know how to protect my children and grandchildren. I wondered if I was strong enough for such a task.

 Fortunately, the book concentrates more on the interior life of those in our families. How can we help each other strive for holiness? What weapons should we use to fight the demons around us? Not surprisingly, many of the answers focused on the Eucharist and Mary. 'The Rosary is a powerful weapon against evil.'

 So, am I strong enough to fight the demons in the world? Not by myself. But I know who my Father is. I am a child of God. My soul is marked by the waters of Baptism. The Holy Spirit dwells in me, I am fortified by the body and blood of Christ, and I am consecrated to Mary. The battle is waging all around me and my family. It is my job to fight. With my Rosary in my hand, I'm ready to fight the good fight. Can I count on your help as well? 

-Susan

 

Loving and Mending

 

 My granddaughter asked me to fix her favorite doll, Dolly. She had a small rip in the arm. She watched me closely as I sewed up the area to ensure I was doing it right. When I finished, my granddaughter was so happy and lovingly hugged her doll. “Honey,” I said, “I noticed another little area with some loose stitches. Can I also take care of that area before it becomes a hole?”

 “What?” My granddaughter replied. “I didn’t even see that.” She examined the doll carefully. “Yes, you can fix it. I don’t want anything to happen to her.” A few minutes later, Dolly was all stitched up and looking marvelous. My granddaughter was thrilled.

 I wish people were as easy to fix when they are torn. It’s hard to watch people we love hurting. It’s also hard to warn someone to reconsider their actions because you fear things may begin to unravel. It’s also tough being the one who is falling apart.

 I used a needle and thread to fix Dolly. Dolly couldn’t fix herself. She needed someone to love her enough to ask for help. Moved by love, our prayers can tug on God’s heart to heal those in need. We may not know where to begin, but God does. Perhaps making you aware was His first move. “Love one another” isn’t just a beautiful scripture passage; it is the thread God chooses to hold us all together.

-Susan

Can You Hear His Voice?

 

 I was talking with a friend about her one-year-old toddler. She revealed that when her son was frustrated, he would bang his head against a wall. "Why would he purposely choose to hurt himself? I spend all day wondering how to make him happy, and this is what he chooses to do." Most parents can relate. We want what's best for our children. It's hard to watch them make a poor decision. But, unfortunately, we can't make our children or others listen to us. We can talk louder so they hear us, but we can't make someone listen. Listening is a choice.

 I wonder if God ever feels this way? Like my friend, He spends all day giving us what we need to be happy, and we sometimes make poor decisions. We may not be banging our heads against a wall, but our choices may be self-destructive. This is why prayer is vital so we can be tuned in to God's voice.

 Over and over, God calls us to a life of holiness and love. Even when we choose to go our own way, God never gives up on us. He continues to pour His love and grace into us. Sometimes we may feel lost, but God never leaves our side. We are His beloved children, and He is calling us to draw near to Him. We have so many choices in front of us every day. Listening to our loving Father should be the obvious choice. Let's choose God and see if life becomes sweeter and more peaceful.

-Susan