Perhaps you have had a time or two when you were thinking of someone and then they call or stop by. That’s how it was tonight when I got in touch with a friend. She had been on my mind and I had been on hers. We had a great phone conversation and talked about how have ESP. I think it is more like God’s promptings and shows how connected we truly are to one another.
I Found God connecting with a friend.
It was a very rainy, stormy day today. In the afternoon, I went out to pick up some lunch for us and my mom’s friend who was over for piano day. I thought I was in between downpours, but I was very wrong. In some places, a whole lane was covered by a small river. Cars were going very slowly and carefully at most intersections as the water was running swiftly into pools a couple of inches deep. It was an interesting drive to Chick-fil-A. When I reached the drive through, there were a couple of people taking orders standing under the overhang. Then I saw some strange small tents walking around. They were a kind of weather pod that the employees wore if they were out in rain. The rain tent covered the person’s entire body, with their legs and feet coming out from the bottom. Those who were delivering the food to cars would keep the food in the pod so it wouldn’t get wet. Then, they would unzip an opening and pass the food into the car window. It was ingenious and hysterical at the same time. The young people who were wearing them seemed to have a good time and the people in the cars were enjoying the show. It was funny and uplifting for a very stormy day.
I Found God today in humor in a stormy day.
When I went to church this morning, I was surprised to see about 20 priests on the altar. It was the first Mass for a young priest who was recently ordained. The congregation was full of family and friends as well. It was a beautiful celebration. The music really add to the holiness and reverence with a full choir, cantor, organ, piano, and various wind instruments. When it came.time for the Consecration, you could have heard a pin drop as all eyes were on the host and chalice. I imagined what it might have been like for the new priest to utter the words for the first time that transformed the bread and wine to the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. I thought how fitting it was that today was the feast of Corpus Christi. At the end of Mass, before the final blessing, the priest said a few words and had gifts for his family. For his 4 sisters, he had a framed picture of St Joan of Arc who – as the priest explained – was the epitome of strong feminity. He then made a presentation to his parents. He explained that when he was ordained, his hands were anointed with Holy Oil. He then clasped his hands and let it soak in. Afterwards, he dried his hands on a cloth called a manutergium. He gave that cloth to his mother. He presented his father with the purple stole that he wore when he heard his first Confession and talked about how he will extend mercy as his father did to him as he was growing up. The new priest then tearfully said that when his father and mother die, he will wrap their hands in the cloths and when they stand before Jesus and are asked, “What have you given me?” they will answer, “I gave you my son.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the church after that. The whole celebration was such a holy, joyful event that I didn’t even realize almost 2 hours had passed.
I Found God today in the celebration of the First Mass of a newly ordained priest.
This afternoon I texted my son’s to see if they were doing anything and perhaps wanted to get together. The older one responded that his wife was getting ready to make lasagna. The younger one said he and his girlfriend were going to run errands. A few minutes later, my younger son and his girlfriend were at my house. She had made some banana bread and they brought some over to share. We were one of the errands. It was a fun and delicious surprise.
I Found God today in a surprise visit from my son and his girlfriend.
This morning I read a scripture that stayed with me all day. It is beautiful, but challenging as well:
Ephesians 4:29-32 Never let evil talk pass your lips; say only the good things men need to hear, things that will really help them. Do nothing that will sadden the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed against the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, all passion and anger, harsh words, slander, and malice of every kind. In place of these, be kind to one another, compassionate, and mutually forgiving, just as God has forgiven you in Christ.
I Found God today in His encouraging words.
The other day I made plans to take my daughter in law and granddaughter to the park. I was happy that my mom felt up to coming too. The weather was perfect – not too hot or too cool and the wind was not blowing. We started at the playground. My granddaughter is very cautious. I remembered that when we took her last year, she was very nervous about exploring the different structures. This time, she was still very careful, but was also more brave. I could see her trying to figure out how to climb on things and get from one area to another. She was stretching herself and pushing her boundaries all on her own. The park also had a water area with more things to climb on. There were fun animals that shot water out and could be spun around. Fountains of water came up from the ground all around. My granddaughter loves water and it didn’t take long before we ended up there. We watched her figuring out how to manipulate the water spouts while just having fun and making friends. It was a joy and blessing to see how she is growing and learning.
I Found God today seeing the growth in my granddaughter.
Yesterday I attended a memorial service for a friend’s mother. She and her husband lost 3 of their parents in about a year and a half. I thought about them the rest of the evening and dreamed about loved ones who have died. I woke up this morning feeling might low. I felt that it doesn’t really matter what I do or how I do it, we are all going to die in the end anyways. I didn’t want to entertain those thoughts or follow them any further, so I put on an app and prayed the rosary. During the prayer, the scripture 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 came up:
“And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about: Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
This has been one of my favorite scriptures for a long time. I remembered that the pastor read these words at the memorial service yesterday. I was immediately grateful for God’s words and His timing as I pondered them further. Yes, we will all die, but this world is not all there is. In this life we have the ability to love those around us and help each other through. We have the opportunity to get to know our God who created us and loves us. We have capability of working our way towards Heaven and helping others to do so as well so we can be all together again. Our life here is short, but eternity awaits us on the other side. When I looked up the above scripture, I read the verses that followed:
“. . . thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Your labor is not in vain.
I Found God today reminded that death is not the end.
A friend contacted me this morning asking for prayers for her husband who is in the hospital. As I read through the previous texts, I realized many of them were regarding prayers – asking for them and promising them. I feel that praying for people is the best way we can express our love for one another and stay connected to them, especially when we are far apart. Many times, when I pray for people, I envision God holding them close. I think about God caring for them and their current struggles. I remember how much God loves them. I know have been comforted by friends’ prayers when I needed them most, and I hope my friend is comforted now in mine.
I Found God today in reciprocating prayers.
My mom and I have been slowing going through some of my dad’s snapshots. I call them that, because his best photos are enlarged and many of them are matted and/or framed. What we are looking at are envelopes of prints. I am grateful that they are mostly categorized. My dad was a very organized person. And he kept everything. As we are going through them, my mom is choosing those that are meaningful to her in some way. They may have people in them, good memories, or are just interesting or different. As I have admired my dad’s beautiful photography on the walls and in assorted displays, he would tell me that he took hundreds of pictures to get that one good one. I can see and appreciate that now more than ever. More and more when I look at my dad’s pictures, I feel like I am seeing the world through his eyes. There are themes as to what interested him and how he composed his pictures. Even now, I continue to learn from and about my dad.
I Found God today connecting with my dad.
I went to Mass this morning to a church I don’t normally attend. Evidently I sat in the family section. Or perhaps it was just a representation of the parish. In any case, I scooted by a woman with 4 children to get into the pew. In a few moments, a man with 3 children came in beside me. Behind me was a woman with a pretty young baby, judging from the sound of it’s cries. She had a couple other adults with her. In front of me was a family with 7 kids. After a few minutes, another family with 4 children sat in the row in front of them. The more I noticed these large families, the more I saw. I enjoyed watching the interaction between the siblings and parents and those around them. The little girl next to me had a Barbie. She played quietly with the doll through the whole Mass, unless she was responding to some of the prayers, or laughing along when people were laughing. The little boy in front of me had a stuffed bird. As he meandered back and forth on the pew, he spotted the little girl with the Barbie. They waved to one another and the doll gave the boy a high five. She would wave the doll around and he would smile. However, his parents didn’t think this was appropriate and they kept dragging him in front of them. When he could squirm away, he went right back to the little girl. Yes, I did pay attention to the Mass celebrating the Feast of the Holy Trinity today. And I enjoyed watching the families.
I Found God today in the interaction of children.
