Trusting the Possible

I had this recurring dream that I was driving on the interstate and traffic was stopped but I didn't see it until the last moment.

It really started to upset me that I kept having that dream over a period of maybe a year every couple of months.

After about the third time, I woke up upset and decided to reimagine what to do for the next time. So the next time I had the dream I was able to slow down and drive through the stopped cars and a railing and enter safely into the median.

It wasn't until the summer after a cool rainy  night that caused an extremely foggy morning that I was in the exact situation I dreamed about. Only this time, I was going 60mph, a group of Mexican men were standing around the van I was about to smash into because traffic was totally stopped. I ccouldn't see them prior to that because the sun was shining bright on the blanket of white on the interstate.

I knew what to do because God had a plan.  Luckily, the car with a family followed me into the median saving the meandering Mexicans and the family in that car.

God has a plan, it is not for us to know anything but what we need to know. "He tempers the wind upon the shorn sheep."

Revving up the New Evangelization for the 21st Century

Today I had the pleasure of attending a talk by Scott Hahn.  I happened to be in town and called a friend to say hello, when she told me about the speaking engagement he had at a local church parish.

I want to say, only in Louisiana would you have a random sighting of Catholic Theologians.
If you look at Hahn's schedule, he visits many other states, but I love my Catholicity in Louisiana.
Hahn talked about aspects of his new book called Consuming the Word. It sounds like a really great read, if only I had time to get to The Lamb's Supper.

In the talk, the main thing that he spoke about was the characteristics of the new evangelization.  Hahn suggested the best way to share the gospel and the fulness of the Catholic Church is to share your personal experiences of Christ in the Church. This is always going to be the most charitable method and allows the Holy Ghost to do the hard work of moving hearts to God.

If your not into reading books, then I suggest checking out the Word on Fire youtube channel.  Father Robert Barron has a great way of explaining things.  Dr. Hahn is shown in some of the videos as well.

Feast of Saint Bernardine of Siena

I wish I could have known Saint Bernardine. There is a great aesthetic of the Franciscans' that is visible in their deed and dress.  It's as the law of Jesus is worn upon their habit.

The law of Jesus is the command to follow his example and the live by his action of presence and gift of self.   In today's gospel Jesus says to pray. Therefore, to have your petitions granted, pray. Saint Bernardine suggests that one's prayers must be 'necessary for salvation' and that this was an understood aspect.  But taking into account the weakness of man to know what is necessary for salvation, how can we atone for our ignorance?

Jesus would say, "pray."

  

Gallifreyan Reminders

Dr. Who has really been a great show this season.  I don't usually watch a show ritually, unless it's really good, and this new guy plays a very cool Dr. Who.

Tonight's season finale episode was a reminder of how Christ calls us to save others and how one man or woman can be the instrument of that cause.  By save, I mean the call to love others.

It was really cool that Clara sacrificed herself with knowing she had done it before.  Flip that around to you.  Christ sacrificed himself.  We know it and we can join him by dying to self.

There is no flashing light to jump into and then be found by Dr. Who again.  There is a long arduous journey that fires both good and bad things within us.  Just like the premise of the television show, time is the key.  When you know that Christ's Calvary transcended all time, then you can admit your sufferings are conjoined with his.

I needed a good reminder to be outside of myself these days.  It is easy to talk about and write about, but difficult to live.  Start with prayer for others and one day you may be called upon to jump into time to save another soul with two hearts or just one.