View From The Top

 

 This past week I had the opportunity to run away to the mountains in Virginia. It was a week of hiking, mountain biking, zip-lining, horseback riding, and golfing. In other words, I got to run away from my everyday responsibilities and just play in the sun as I did in my childhood. It was fabulous! One afternoon we rode two chair lifts and then hiked to the summit. It isn't hard to feel close to God on a mountain.

 Being on top of a mountain is breathtaking and changes your view of the world. As I looked over the edge, my everyday worries and problems were too small to keep in focus. Instead, I just marveled at the beautiful world God had created. As a gentle breeze chased the sun's heat away, I was entirely at peace. Life is filled with big and little moments. It is filled with moments when you feel big and moments when you feel small. I was utterly content being very small, on top of a large mountain, loved by a merciful, omniscient, almighty Father. I felt very blessed.

 Most people would agree climbing down a mountain is more manageable than climbing up. Physically, I would agree this is true. The tricky part about climbing down, though, is remembering the perspective God shared with you while you were at the top. As your feet hit street level and everyday stress bogs you down, remind yourself that you are small. On bended knee and with a whispered prayer, God can carry you back to the top of the mountain. He never tires of sharing His peace and love with us. Just being a child with God is the best!

-Susan 

My Mother Is So Beautiful!

 

 While I'm babysitting, my one-year-old granddaughter loves to look at the pictures on my wall, especially the ones of her mom. Several times a day, we go over to the wall, and she smiles when she sees her mom. It makes my granddaughter, Angelina, so happy to gaze at her mother's face. It is reassuring for her to remember her mother's love, even when she can't see her. Then she turns her attention to another wall. Next, she points to my picture of Mary, and we say "Hi" to our mother in Heaven too. My granddaughter may not yet understand how blessed she is to have Mary as her heavenly mother. Still, she is filled with happiness, gazing at Mary.

    Tomorrow we will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary! What a glorious day! Mary is assumed body and soul into Heaven and is crowned Queen. God is so generous with His love. He celebrates Mary's pure heart by allowing us to be loved by her as well.

 I encourage everyone to spend some quiet time with Mary tomorrow. Find a way to gaze upon the beauty of her soul. Let her love heal and strengthen you. Talk to her heart to heart. Don't be afraid to ask her for a little motherly advice. It would bring her great joy!

-Susan

 

It's a True Crime

 After returning home from a family wedding across the state, I was shocked to find half my outdoor Rosary was missing. The Rosary was made out of two-inch blue stones and laid right in front of my statue of Mary. Who would take half of a Rosary? Also, the three rocks with the words printed on them were missing.  The three rocks were "Trust," "God," and "Love." Are you kidding me?  Trust God's love is the Divine Mercy message.  Was this the work of Satan? I was fuming. Theresa suggested we check the house security cameras, which began our full-blown investigation. 

 It wasn't long before we discovered who did it. The crime occurred in the middle of the day while we were away. The criminal looked right at the camera as he took one stone and another. He shoved them in his mouth, ran away, and then returned for more. It was one of the neighborhood squirrels!

 Why would he do this? If I knew he was out evangelizing the squirrel community, I could jump on board with him, but I feared this may not be the case. Theresa googled the habits of squirrels and found that they usually buried their treasure and then marked the area. "I bet you it's under a leaf," Theresa deducted. 

 "Theresa, we have hundreds of leaves in our yard. There is no way we will find them," I replied. Theresa paid no attention to my pessimistic attitude. Within a few minutes, she found one of the buried rock beads. Unfortunately, we did not discover anymore. 

 As I collected the remaining rocks in front of Mary, I wondered if it made her sad. I thought about this the rest of the day. Is it possible that squirrels aren't the only creatures that gather Rosary beads and then hide them? Is it possible people do that as well? Perhaps not in the ground, but forgotten somewhere in a drawer. That, too, is a crime. 

 Then I had an idea. Maybe we could start a neighborhood watch. We could pull out our rosaries daily, pray with Mary, and encourage our neighbors to do so. That way, we could be assured that no more rosaries would get buried again! Satan may have gotten to this squirrel, but let's help Mary step on that snake's head and allow God to have the last word.

-Susan

 

Let's Go!

 

  Just days before my nephew's wedding, I received a text from my sister. Need prayers to St. Anthony. The groom's ring has been lost! I texted back, "I'll go visit St. Anthony right now." I looked at my two prayer warriors sitting next to me. "Come on, girls, we need to pray with St. Anthony!" I quickly explained the situation to my one-year-old and three-year-old granddaughters.

 "Let's go!" said Isabella, and the three of us headed for the backyard.

  I began the prayer with, "Hi, baby Jesus! Hi St. Anthony, we need your help!" The girls listened while I talked with baby Jesus and St. Anthony. Finally, I finished with "Amen."

 Isabella looked at me and said, "I think we should pray a little more." Of course, I was more than happy to oblige. 

 The next day I received another message--the ring had been found! I shared the good news with Isabella. Her eyes got so big with amazement as she exclaimed, "It worked! Our prayers worked!!"

 I'm sharing this story because I think it's important to pray with each other and for each other. If there are children in your life, let them hear you pray. Let them know God wants to be a part of their daily lives! Prayer doesn't have to happen just at bedtime, or a meal, or during Mass. As children of God, we are blessed with the privilege to talk with God anytime, anywhere. Praying not only connects us to God, but it also connects us to one another, including the saints in heaven. It is through prayer that we resemble small children. We stretch out our hands, and our soul screams, "Up!" Our loving Father reaches down, picks us up as He wraps His arms around us, and holds us close. Prayer allows us to rise up regardless of how God chooses to answer our prayers.

 This week let your enthusiasm for prayer go unchecked. "Let's go!" climb into your Father's arms and let Him love you and all those you keep in your prayers.

-Susan

Do You See It?

   As I walked through the park, I saw this fun pattern on the path. It’s frustrating when others don’t see things the same way. My dog had no interest in it. He was too focused on his dream of catching a squirrel. Other people walked right passed it, busy with family and friends. I was fascinated with it.  It looked like a piece of art, but there was much more to this black and white picture. I realized I only saw a small part of the picture because I focused on the ground. I didn't look up. 

 Once I did look up, my whole perspective changed. I could see the sun's brilliance as it poured its light through the branches of the trees. I realized I initially only saw a tiny portion of the beauty surrounding me. My eyes were fixed on the ground instead of heaven. 

 I fear I make this mistake more often than I admit. God's Plan isn't always clear to me because I'm looking in the wrong direction. I tend to focus on the details in front of me rather than trying to see the bigger picture. I need to trust God because I can't always see through the trees, and sometimes leaves unknowingly filter out the light around me. Loving God is more than a beautiful image to behold. Loving God requires the heart, the mind, and the soul to search for the Truth. It also requires sacrifice and sometimes standing alone. 

 Definitely look for God's beauty while traveling the road of discipleship. However, keeping your chin up is also a good idea, so you do not miss the eternal vision God has planned for you. 

-Susan

And My Heart Soars

The beauty of the trees, 

the softness of the air, the fragrance

of the grass speaks to me.

The summit of the mountain,

the thunder of the sky, 

the rhythm of the sea speaks to me.

The strength of the fire, the

taste of the salmon, the trail of

the sun, and the life that never

goes away, they speak to me.

And my heart soars.

-Chief Dan George Tslei-Waututh

 

  I saw this poem while on vacation this past week. It just really hit home. Summer is a great time to rediscover how incredibly beautiful God made this world. I am just in awe! I watched a deer gently descending towards the edge of the river, turtles bobbing their heads above the water before diving down, and a red tail hawk flying overhead while kayaking. It felt like a creation prayer enfolding in front of me. I felt very blessed to be wrapped up in this prayer.

 You don't even have to leave your own yard to experience the beauty of God. His beauty is all around us. So be sure to slow down long enough this summer to take a stroll with God and let Him open your senses to His creative power. 

-Susan

That's Alarming

 

  Recently, I had the opportunity to spend a few days visiting with my sister. One night my sister made dinner reservations at a beautiful restaurant along the river. We had been checking the radar all day because there had been a forty percent chance of rain later in the evening. However, the sun was shining when we were seated at our outdoor table, and we took our time ordering to enjoy the beautiful evening. We had just finished our salads when everyone's phones simultaneously raised a blaring alarm. My sister looked down at her phone. "You've got to be kidding! A tornado was spotted about 30 minutes away. A severe thunderstorm and tornado warning are now in effect!"

 We looked around. It had become cloudier, but still, there was no rain. Just as our entrees were served, so was the rain. Fortunately, the wait staff could make room for us inside the restaurant. The storm blew through as we finished our meal, clearing the city streets.

 Often life's storms can completely blindside us. A financial or health crisis, loss of a loved one, or a betrayal can knock us off our feet. Our perspective may be very cloudy while the storm rages around us. Unfortunately, no phone alarms warn us to take cover and move to safety as life unravels. So how can we protect ourselves? We can't. Pain, in some form or another, is a part of everyone's life. It can't be avoided, but there is something you can do today to ease the storms in your life. Take the time to build up your relationship with God today. Prayer guides us along God's path. We may have to walk through some dark stretches, but we will walk with God. Having an active prayer life doesn't take away the pain of the storm. Still, it teaches us to call out to God amid our sufferings and trust Him to direct our steps, whether it lasts days, weeks, or even years. God will never abandon us.

 We were fortunate that the tornado changed its course that night. We didn't, however, avoid the thunderstorm. The rain pelted us as we ran the ten blocks back to my sister's place. We were dripping wet when we finally arrived, but we were safe. That storm was only a minor inconvenience. It wasn't life-altering. But what has been life-altering for me is my prayer life. It has gotten me through some very dark times. I know it will do the same for you.

-Susan