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The Lifelong Journey of How to Live

This is a pivotal year for me. I'll be turning 33, the age that Christ fulfilled his role as the 'Son of Man'. Also, it comes at an interesting time, because my birthday will be 10/10/10 this year. That must mean something good.


Good living is relative to the person living it. It seems to me that it has taken too long for me to know so little already. I know little of the All of Christ, I know little of how I could improve more without major prodding. The thing I think of knowing the littlest about, is my sinfulness. But that is just the worrier in me, there is not much I can do for any of these things without God's gift of grace for the journey.

I can say with confidence that I am so happy to be older, but I realize I still must learn many lessons that Christ taught while on Earth. Lessons such as how to just be with people and still stand for morals and values in the face of utter disaster of the soul. Christ was with others most of the time, listening and hearing the call of the heart within them. He also was alone with God much of the time too. That private sojourn centered Him in the heart of love so that He could be illumination for others.

While many of us are far, far from illuminating lives, I believe it can be done in this life. You and I can reach for the grace we can only receive from Christ and his angels and share that kindness and goodness to others. I find it very hard to defeat myself with my stubborness and rationality that leads me away from kindness. But for all of us, contention with the nature of flesh is the true pathway of learning the right way of living.

Paul says we must "Take up the whole armor of God, that we may withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; with taking up the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." Ephesians 6

It sounds so truthful in the way he terms it, but it is the same vigilance he speaks of that Christ compels us to in each of the parables. Thank goodness too for those parables, that we would all have something to go by, even if it takes some of us all our lives to understand.

The Historical Modern Auto Enthusiast

It's almost over!  Summer that is, and my late, late, late night watching of Top Gear and what-have-you British television. I don't have time for tv during the school year, and this year I am moving away from free satellite television with 800 something channels to the wilds of central Florida. Minimalist living is calling my name. In the hopes of being Christ like, must I limit my dream of owning a pimped out black Jaguar XKR?

The Bible makesa strong case for definitely not!  The love of transport runs from beginning to end in the scripture and here are a few.

Example 1: Noah

If you really want a huge, massive, gas guzzler, look to Noah!  The Arc would have been a beast of a transport vehicle. Decked out in chocolate, timber brown with a completary green roof and real peacock hood ornaments.

Example 2: Jonah

None of us can say we never owned a whale of a car that really wanted to eat us alive. (Mine was a 1988 Jeep Wagoneer that stopped at midnight in the middle of the highway on a busy W. Esplanade Ave.)  I loved that car, but driving it meant I was taking my life into my own hands.  This proves there are always some lemons before a little repentance.

Example 3: Elijiah
I can only imagine the most pimped ride of them all in the glorious chariot that took this guy for his dream ride. 

Example 4: Peter

Really, all Peter ever talked about was his boat.  You'd think it was a 1967 convertible mustang or something.  He always wanted to be in and he was always picking up somebody.

Example 5: Jesus

Invision a ride so fly, the people you pass by lay down a carpeted pathway to Jerusalem.  Granted, he did say goodbye to the modest and loved donkey, but he was trading in for something close to Salvation. 

If anything, this short article proves I should A. not dream of ever having to take a donkey to work B. Study up on my deck building skills or C. Don't write anything at 2 o'clock in the morning after watching Top Gear.  Also, that before the modern vehicle, transportation was biblical.

The Talk About Women in the Church

I'd like to do a little repost of an article I wrote back in college.  Be forgiving! But really, if I had to rework this, I would definitely speak of the beauty of the Spirit which Ignatius was working with to deny these ladies a prominent place among the Jesuits.  Because of their charism and mission, the Jesuits needed a one-sided determined force that would consistently meet martyrdom around the world.

The Authentic Approach to Happiness

The authentic approach to happiness has more than one aspect to it.  The first is to know where all happiness comes from and at least a second is to bring happiness where you go.  Thankfulness being a fruit of happiness, is a good way to start, in my opinion.  But I am very opinionated and somewhat temperamental, which keeps me from showing Christ to others most of the time.  Christ decided to work on that for me this year by using, not a small flame licking my heals, but one of those huge blow torches that people use to fire up metals that only heat at thousands of degrees. Unfortunately, it worked only a little and I anticipate more burning off of scales sometime in the future.  In the mean time though I learned a few things.

Recently, I approached the procession for the Eucharist with a different mantra than I usually would think.  "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

I made my way back to my pew and realizing I had thought this, and that it was probably one of the best ways to approach Christ.  Usually I just approach him berating myself with a thought of 'let me die into you' or 'please have mercy', which are just as well.  But somehow, I think, a true sense of thankfulness came over me as I received that day.

I have been thanking Him profusely  for having survived this past year.  I am sure there will be tougher years, but it was one of those that God really makes you better for it.  Because of this past year I have decided to seek my own happiness and not cater to others in a co-dependent, people-pleasing manner.

"But how do I seek my own happiness without being selfish?", I thought.  Psalms answers this today in 119 where it states, "And I will delight myself in thy commandments, Which I have loved." v.47

I love Our Lord and music, art and nature.  All make me happy and all help me to know Christ and the Father more deeply.  That is the key of course.  To seek the image of God in all He has created is the truest form of enjoyment.  There is more than one part to the seeking though, and that is the 'remnant of God shown within us.' That is my duty as I pursue my happiness.  I must show the compassion and kindness of Christ to all whom I meet.  This is what was glaringly lacking in my person this year.  I raised my voice at times and got so frustrated I promised to quit!  I am pretty sure that I was angry every day of the school year and I am surprised I have any teeth left from gritting them in a fake smile.

Okay, fake smile. But I tried and everyday seemed a lie as I patiently tried to teach children who deserved love, but just had never cared for learning. This was the burning, burning, burning away at my usual disregard of others opinions.  Because my own silhouette was showing me the anger in my heart that I was suppressing, and my own voice was speaking the tone that did not represent compassion.

The psalm guides us to delight in God's commandments and love them.  'Thou shalt love thy neighbor.'  I was doing a pretty sketchy job of this with so much stress.  But when it was done, God showed me that I can be in a place where I am seeking my own happiness, because it is a place where God is reflected from me. The influences from what keeps me happy and stress less are the very things that illuminate Christ's love in me.

I hope to improve this year and I am happy to say I have not held on to any anger since the day school let out!  Goals this year: #1 Seek happiness and be happy about it.  #2 Make sure my happiness translates to showing a loving God I am thankful for.

The App Store

Just downloaded an awesome app for the Musee du Louvre.  I just searched and it was free! tons of art and tours.  I love this stuff so I suggest it to everybody.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/musee-du-louvre/id337339103?mt=8

The Galactic Catholic Photo of the Day: Comparison

I am moving to Florida with more of these.(Taken in Key West by my dad)

And much, much less of this. (Even though it was only a few days, I still did not like it!!)