Storms of Life

It’s 3:45 a.m.  Under normal circumstances I’d be working on a book at this hour, but this morning I needed to get back on the right spiritual path.  You see, when faced with challenges, I sometimes end up sitting on my pity-pot instead of standing strong with faith. 

On Monday, my eighty-seven-year-old father took a nasty fall and broke his hip which will send him into surgery on Thursday and a lengthy rehabilitation.  His unfortunate accident is joined with my eighty-two year-old uncle’s (who also lives with us) diagnosis of colon cancer and my husband's pinched nerve that rendered his right arm and hand useless until the medication starts working … requiring him to be off work for a week.  

Being overwhelmed at this point is definitely an understatement.  Rising above these recent challenges is difficult but thanks to the Holy Spirit, I was reminded of my own words in Embrace the Morning – Rosary Meditations to Calm the Storm which I temporarily seemed to have forgotten:   

"Agony in the Garden

Luke 22:39-42: Then going out he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not undergo the test.” After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.

Jesus, in his agony, remained steadfast in accepting the Father's will. We too are faced with agony in our life and need to hold fast to the belief that God is with us. He will not saddle us with more than we can endure. In His mercy, He gives us the fortitude to withstand anything that comes our way – if we let Him.

Jesus, in your agony you turned to the Father in faith and trust, knowing He would never forsake you. When I am faced with challenges in my life, may my faith and trust emulate yours."

Advice I Would Give My Younger Self

A while back I was asked to write a guest post on the topic, “Advice I Would Give My Younger Self,” I didn’t hesitate, thinking it would be a breeze.  Either it was lack of sleep or too few cups of coffee (both, I think) because it took a while before realizing the enormity of the assignment.  You see, my younger self was a mess.  I should have had Self Will Run Riot tattooed on my forehead rather than the butterfly on my derriere.  (Tattoos on women are commonplace now but not in a small-town in the 70’s.)

Recalling my past antics (and cringing), the advice I would tender would be to listen to your parents, remain close to God, pay attention to the little voice in your head and last but not least … love and respect yourself.  Had I done those things I would have avoided decades of pain due to alcoholism and the subsequent consequences … promiscuity, unplanned pregnancies which led to abortion, estrangement from family and multitudes of failed relationships, all leading to a suicide attempt and institutionalization. 

Pretty gloomy, huh?  Well, don’t pull out the Kleenex … Through the grace and mercy of God, love and support of my family and some very good programs, I was able to climb out of the well of darkness into the light.  I followed the advice I would have given my younger self and am nearing eighteen years of sobriety, in a wonderful marriage, active in my church community and became a caregiver to my parents.  (Who would have ever imagined they would trust me with their care, let alone move in with me!). 

I would be remiss if I didn’t add one more pieces of advice:  Forgive yourself.  If you can’t, you’ll never quite reach the top of that dark well.  You’ll always live in the shadow of remorse and regret and miss out on the joyous and wonderful life God wants you to have.

Becoming Numb to Tragedy - With Exceptions

I was saddened by the tragedy in Roseburg yesterday.  I ask that you join me in praying for the souls lost, people injured, witnesses traumatized and families devastated. 

What saddened me more was a quote from the President.  “I’d ask the American people to think about how they can get our government to change these laws, and to save these lives and let these people grow up.”  He also said, “That given the frequency of mass shootings, people had become numb to this.”

What about the unborn, Mr. President?  Shouldn’t we be saving their lives and giving them a chance to grow up as well?  You speak about how people are becoming numb to mass shootings but aren’t you just as numb as to the barbarism at Planned Parenthood? 

Abortion also takes the lives of innocent children and the mothers and those involved in the abortion decision are injured, traumatized and devastated.  We now have proof babies suffer during the procedure, that Planned Parenthood manipulates their process to harvest organs and mothers are misled or coerced into signing donor forms.

Mr. Obama expressed outrage over the massacre, but why isn’t he directing the same towards Planned Parenthood?  Just as the shooter deviously orchestrated the massacre in Roseburg for some ill-perceived ideology, Planned Parenthood orchestrates their barbarity for profit.  But instead of outrage, the President, and his political allies don’t bat an eye.  In fact, they deny the truth, support the barbarism and continue to fund the organization with taxpayer dollars.

What’s wrong with this picture?