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God’s Service

Posted by eph21920 on April 9, 2020 in Answer, Connected, Eucharist, Faith, Humility, Lent, Service

As we enter into the Triduum, I admittedly have been struggling the past few days. I can’t even really explain it, but likely a combination of many factors – every day stress topped with a lack of social interaction, missing my friends and other family members, not being able to attend Mass or receive the Eucharist, being super vigilant to prevent disease that just a trip to the grocery store or “essential needs” causes extreme anxiety. Yesterday, a friend suggested I was walking with Jesus through His Passion. Perhaps that as well. My parents and I tuned into my previous parish for Mass tonight. I always love listening to the priest there. He talked about how Holy Thursday is about humble service. That is a concept I understand all too well and work towards every day. But, the priest brought out another point. The God of the Universe came to the Earth He created in order to serve US. The priest talked about how Peter didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet. Jesus responded that if he didn’t, Peter would not be able to enter into His Kingdom. We must humbly allow God to serve us – to fill us with the things we need to live the life He gave us. I will try to do that especially this Holy Triduum.

I Found God today in a reminder to allow God to serve me.

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Medical Miracle

Posted by eph21920 on April 8, 2020 in Answer, Doctor, Friends, Healing, Miracle, Prayer

Last month, a friend’s mother was hospitalized with dizziness and high blood pressure. At that time, they thought she might have been on the verge of having a stroke and did plenty of testing. They found that she had markers for bone cancer and sent her home to follow up with assorted specialists. Since then, she has had more tests and scans, all pointing toward the same diagnosis of a bone cancer. As they were doing one scan, they continued to ask if she was in pain. Actually, since the hospitalization, she has been feeling better and better. I gave her some holy water from Lourdes a while ago as she was being treated for large areas of skin cancer on her head and neck. At one point they found another spot, but she kept putting the holy water on in and when it came time to treat it, it was gone. She has been continuing to bless herself with the holy water through her current ordeal. After the last scan that she had, the doctor scheduled a phone appointment to go over the details of all the testing. I talked to my friend today after the phone call. Her first sentence was that her mother is a miracle. Evidently the cancer doctor said he was very confused. He said that all the markers were there for the bone cancer, but they didn’t find any. In fact, the markers now were non-existent. He said that this is not how these things go. Typically for the type of cancer they anticipated, she would have the disease in other parts of her body. But, they found nothing. He was baffled. My friend and her mom knew it was due to prayers and the holy water.

I Found God today in a medical miracle.

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Music Speaks

Posted by eph21920 on April 7, 2020 in Family, Life, Marriage

April and May bring the celebrations of my parents’ wedding anniversary and both of their birthdays. Today they received a box in the mail from my mom’s sister. After carefully unwrapping layers of bubble wrap we came to beautifully framed artwork. Reading the note revealed that the piece had been sewn by my cousin’s wife. My aunt had seen the quote and asked if she could create it. The fabric is stitched with a piano keyboard and the phrase, “When words fail Music speaks”. It is so fitting for them as they recall so much of their lives together through music. It was a very beautiful, personal, and thoughtful gift.

I Found God today in a beautiful, fitting gift.

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A Real Mask

Posted by eph21920 on April 6, 2020 in Answer, Friends, Generosity, Grateful, Sick

We have been told to wear a face mask now when we go outside of the house for our essential needs to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. My parents and I watched some videos that described how to sew them and how to make some without sewing. My mom sewed for years and years and made most of our clothes as we were growing up. She even made a sports jacket for my dad and later a swimming suit for me. Last year, we brought her old sewing machine from the cabin and got it in good working order. Our plan was to get out the materials and sew some masks over the weekend. However, my mom started having stomach issues and just has not been up to sewing. We made some of the no-sew variety and my brother tried one when he went out today. He said that it worked ok. However, this evening, a friend who is an excellent seamstress let me know that she had made some for me. She came over and dropped them off. They are wonderful and will be very effective. I am so grateful for her friendship and her generosity.

I Found God today in my generous and talented friend.

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Solemn Palm Sunday

Posted by eph21920 on April 5, 2020 in Connected, Faith, Hope, Opportunity, Priest, Struggles

It was very strange to celebrate Palm Sunday today without being in a church. Earlier this week, our pastor sent an email with times for the Holy Week Masses to be live streamed. Then they would be available to watch later as well. He also included worship aids and ideas of how to celebrate at home with more meaning. We took his suggestion and made one of our tables into a home altar. The idea for Palm Sunday was to find a branch or large leaf to represent the palms and place it on the altar. I looked around outside for a while. The tree branches are still bare and the leaves on the ground were crumpled and wet. So, we decided to simply use the palms from last year. My parents wanted to see the Mass that was celebrated by Pope Francis, so we watched that one. Later I watched the homily given by the Deacon from our parish. Both of the men brought out the same theme. Most of Jesus’ friends left and/or betrayed Him in His time of great need. The challenge is for us not to leave Him. Especially during this time of great concern with chaos all around, and the inability to come together, we need to stay awake and vigilant. Let’s not let this opportunity slip through our fingers. I appreciated the message.

I Found God today with a faith boost to stay vigilant.

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Technicolor Dreamcoat

Posted by eph21920 on April 4, 2020 in Family, Fun, Joy, Laughter, Music

A couple of days ago, we learned that a site on YouTube would be showing musicals by Andrew Lloyd Webber each weekend. It started this weekend with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Donny Osmond as Joseph. I had never seen this entire show, only clips. My mom felt certain that she and my dad had seen a stage performance at some point. After dinner, we got it up on the big TV and all enjoyed the show. It was just plain fun, uplifting entertainment.

I Found God today enjoying uplifting entertainment.

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Stations for Pandemic

Posted by eph21920 on April 3, 2020 in Connected, Faith, Jesus, Prayer

Early in the day, we decided we wanted to pray the Stations of the Cross. So, this evening we searched online for the different options – of which there are many right now. We came across the Stations of the Cross with prayers that were specific to the current pandemic so we prayed along with that one. It was led by Bishop Robert Gruss from the Diocese of Saginaw. I enjoyed being able to meditate on the sacrifice of Jesus while making the connection with the current state of the world.

I Found God today praying the Stations of the Cross.

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God is Still With Us

Posted by eph21920 on April 2, 2020 in Answer, Bible, Death, Eternity, Faith, Hope, Lent, Life, Priest, Struggles

A family friend called this morning and told me that her sister suggested she listen to the homily from her parish. Our friend listened to it and thought I would really enjoy it as well, so she told me how to find it. My parents and I sat down this evening and listened to it. The Mass was from this past Sunday about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. He talked about how Jesus wept with the people who were mourning and that God weeps with us even now. God is with us in all our turmoil. He said as we approach Holy Week, we may feel that we are living in the “Friday” as when Jesus was crucified and died. But we need to remember that Sunday – the day of Resurrection – is still coming. Jesus raised people from the dead in the Gospels and continues to do so even now. At one point he paraphrased a reflection he had seen regarding Nagasaki:

“I said, “God, I hurt.” And God said, “I know”. I said, “God I cry a lot.” And God said, “That’s why I gave you tears.” I said, “God I’m so depressed.” And God said, “That’s why I gave you the flowers.” I said, “God, I’m so lonely.” And God said, “That’s why I gave you family.” I said, “God, but my family died.” And God said, “So did mine. I saw mine nailed on a cross.” I said, “But God, your family lives.” And God said, “So does yours. Mine is on my right and yours is in the light.” I said, “God, I hurt. And God said, “I know.”

The priest reminded us that whatever hurts us, God it with us. When we hurt, God hurts with us.

I Found God today in a beautiful reminder that God is still with us.

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Loving the Vulnerable

Posted by eph21920 on April 1, 2020 in Answer, Connected, Grateful, Home, Hope, Love, Struggles

Every day I think about how to keep my parents healthy and safe. That has multiplied exponentially at this time. And, it seems, those around me are aware and trying to do the same thing. People are checking in on us every day asking how everyone is doing. Today I read a beautiful quote that I thought expressed the feeling well:

“And then the whole world walked inside and shut their doors and said we will stop it all. Everything. To protect our weaker ones, our sicker ones, our older ones. And nothing, nothing in the history of humankind ever felt more like love than this.” CD

I Found God today in the love for those most vulnerable.

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Signs of the Times

Posted by eph21920 on March 31, 2020 in Children, Connected, Creation, Hope, Life

It was a beautiful day and I’m getting cabin fever, so I went out for a walk. Along the way, I became keenly aware of the changes in the world around me from just 2 weeks ago. Like everything, there is a negative and positive side. The first thing that caught my attention was the empty school with their sign displaying “E-Learning”. No children playing, no parents waiting, not one car in the parking lot. There were fewer cars travelling as well. What was a very busy 6 lane road held a smattering of cars now and again. There were more people on the sidewalk and in the park than on the street, but the playground was closed and taped off. It was quieter. The baseball diamond held a dad and his son doing some batting practice instead of teams going head to head with families watching. In the neighborhood, a large group of children played together without a care in the world. In one driveway, someone had drawn a joyful masterpiece. A little further on, I spotted the mountain that stood tall as if to remind us that it had endured afflictions and transformations too numerous to count and that this too would pass. The lilies were ready to bloom and the irises were popping up in abundance. Dandelions and tiny purple flowers were just starting to appear. Spring is around the corner with it’s promise of new life. Nature will not isolate or quarantine. It will continue in it’s seasons, and so will we.

I Found God today reflecting on the way our lives have changed in the past 2 weeks.

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