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!!)

The War we Wage

I don't want to pay for killing lives with my tax dollars.

The Celebration of Father God the Creator

All my life I have driven across the great Mississippi River.  The sunsets and sunrises are brilliant from these arched frames of cement and metal reaching across a vast flowing river.  My dad always has a way of asking a question before he says something moving and profound. One of these crossings, he said:

"Do you know who the greatest artist is, Betsy?" "Who?"  "God is the greatest artist."

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Gn 1:31)

"None can sense more deeply than you artists, ingenious creators of beauty that you are, something of the pathos with which God at the dawn of creation looked upon the work of his hands. A glimmer of that feeling has shone so often in your eyes when—like the artists of every age—captivated by the hidden power of sounds and words, colours and shapes, you have admired the work of your inspiration, sensing in it some echo of the mystery of creation with which God, the sole creator of all things, has wished in some way to associate you." Letter to artist's Pope John Paul II

And as the oil encroaches upon all that God has rendered in the Gulf of Mexico and it destroys entire ecosystems of salt marsh, fresh marsh and wetlands, it hurts my heart that man could treat the Father's creation so ignorantly.  All of the diversity of life within the areas affected will take many years to be replenished.  Let us pray for the Father Creator's guidance to fix the mess man has made.

The Galactic Catholic Universe Photo of the Day

My morning drive to Pointe Coupee Parish from this past school year.

The Face of Jesus

In honor of Corpus Christi, I will share a question I had about the body of Christ before I confirmed in the Catholic Church in 1997.

I had one main question before I confirmed, how is it that the host turns to the substance of the Body of Christ?

I could clearly see the accidents of bread made into a small round wafer, but it was hard for me to believe.
Our Lord had a way with me then, He would wait until the moment I wasn't looking, or even paying attention really, and then, WHAM!! Christological truth right in my face.

To keep it short and sweet, there I was on a beach retreat. We were in a visitor's church kneeling on a sandy hard floor in adoration of Christ in a gold monstrance. I was kind of toward the back and basically having a lot of trouble following all of the Fatima prayers added to the rosary that everyone was saying.  All I could think of was the kneeling on sand thing. All of a sudden, I look up at the monstrance and I see Christ's face, like the one on the Shroud of Turin. Only I hadn't seen the Shroud face at that time and this was like a shining defined outline of Christ's face only on the consecrated host part.

Starring at it, I thought, okayyyy, moved a little to one side to check for window glare, moved a little to the other side to check for window glare, the face didn't waver, then I promptly bowed my head to try to keep up with the rest of the 30 college kids praying the rosary.

This personal revelation was enough for me to believe.  God knows how visual I am and I remember clearly that image. I am always happy to receive the accidents of the host in the hopes that the substance will annihilate the wretched sin within. (Much like the scene in LOTRs when Sauron loses the ring and his evil is vanquished for the moment.)

Gotta love transubstantiation.

The Galactic Catholic Universe: Louisiana Wildlife & Natural Surrounds Photo of the Day

"The richness of the marshes in Louisiana provide a banquet for the state's largest group of tourists - the migratory birds who return annually to enjoy the hospitality of the marsh. The naturalists who count the birds in the spring and fall have identified more than 180 species, ranging from Canadian geese to tiny hummingbirds."  Louisiana: The History of an American State

The Galactic Catholic Universe: Louisiana Wildlife & Natural Surrounds Photo of the Day

"The Marsh region lies along Louisiana's Gulf Coast. The Marsh region is also the transition zone between the land and the ocean.  The part of the region closest tot he Gulf of Mexico is the salt marsh, whose waters are brackish.  The saltwater  vegetation includes such plants as salt grass, cord grass, black rush, and the mangle bush or mangrove." Louisiana: The History of an American State

The Galactic Catholic Universe: Louisiana Natural Surrounds & Wildlife Photo of the Day

"The story of Louisiana cannot be told without the Mississippi representing both the stage and a main character. The Mississippi River area covers more than 1,245,000 square miles, draining at least part of thirty-one states.  The Mississippi funnels 375 billion gallons of water through Louisiana each day to the Gulf of Mexico." Louisiana:The History of an American State

The Power to Transform with Love

New stamps for my collection: Love your Pets!

One of my favorite books is God Calling.

Today’s quote: “Remember that Love is the power which transforms the world. Love not only of Me, Love not only of the few dear to you, but Love of all – of the publicans, the sinners, the harlots – Love. It is the only weapon with which sin can be driven out. Drive sin out with Love.”

I am on a love kick, but it is fitting for the readings today as Jesus expresses : “you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is that you must love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:30

In the first quote the suggestion is that only Love can drive sin out. Love of whom? Love of what? Christ answers this in his message to the questioning Pharisees. In the past month I have been applying to teaching positions out of state. One of the things that is distracting is to get comfortable in your station in life and end up not serving the Lord in what He calls you too. The center of love becomes not God, but material desires.

The way that I have refocused my love is to listen to readings such as these and hear that call to build the Church. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:8 “One may have the gift of preaching with wisdom given to him by the Spirit; another may have the gift of preaching instruction given him by the same Spirit; and another the gift of faith given by the same Spirit” and he goes on to describe the very best in Spirit that all men are called too.

I questioned myself as to what my gifts were. Certainly I am called to instruct and to teach. Then how can I build the Church? Paul comes right back to it. “If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing.” 1 Cor 13:1

It is very easy to get distracted in this world with the ability to earn a great living and be as blessed in life as you can be. I hate to say that I am extremely blessed to the point of ridiculousness. That said, I have always felt a call and a duty to serve God, but I still get distracted by shopping and the desire to buy a million books.

I hope I am doing okay as I try to find the best position for me, (hopefully in a Catholic school again) but maybe I am called to be a teacher to those who are most in need of love. Pray for me as I am trying to relocate to Florida. I pray that I am continually reminded of loving others even though it is hard and sometimes, they just don’t want to be loved, because they have never known love.

“You must want love more than anything else; but still hope for the spiritual gifts as well.” 1 Cor 14:1

The Galactic Catholic Universe: Louisiana Natural Surrounds & Wildlife Photo of the Day

"Louisiana has almost 5,000 miles of navigable rivers, bayous, creeks, and canals. The largest natural lake (625 square miles) in Louisiana is Lake Pontchartrain. Lake Pontchartrain is just 10 to 16 feet deep, a tidal lagoon connected to the Gulf of Mexico by a narrow passage, the Rigolets." Louisiana:The History of an American State

The Literacy of the Wetlands

This video was part of a class project for promoting literacy and service-learning.  The students were invited to participate with permission from their parents.  I am hoping they are thinking of what they learned with what is in the current news in Louisiana.  Don't mind the dull parts, the really exciting stuff depicts the wetlands. I drove down to Lake Verret and all over the area getting these video shots.

The Galactic Catholic Universe: Louisiana Natural Surrounds & Wildlife Photo of the Day

"The largest body of water affecting Louisiana is the Gulf of Mexico. Not only does the Gulf serve as the southern boundary of the state, but its wide continental shelf contributes many resources to the state." Louisiana: The History of an American State

The Noble Soldier

   

Thank you to all of the men and women who have served our country.  I am proud to say there are members of my family who served in World War II and in the Persian Gulf War.

Pictured to the left is my grandfather who was stationed on a Pacific island as a mechanic.  I am glad he was a only a mechanic or else I may not be here.  That was a different time culturally. This picture was taken in 1938 and sent to my grandmother who waited for him to come home. He is smiling at the bottom far right.

They met growing up and he apparently went dancing  a lot.  So did she, so a friendship was born and then they decided to marry when he had a little time left in the service.

My grandfather grew up in Baton Rouge and my grandmother grew up in the countryside.  She was raised learning the catechism in French, first from her father Oneziphor Guidry and then from a local priest.  Who, she just told me yesterday, told them as children that they were dumber than his cows.  This was in 1920s.  I am happy she is still Catholic and has been such an example to me. She always had a hard work ethic having had eight brothers.  She is the soda girl behind the counter in this promotional picture from the Walgreen's that was on third street in downtown.


My grandfather was able to attend Catholic High School in downtown Baton Rouge when it was still a school downtown run by religious.  He was raised by his aunt because after immigrating to Pennsylvania, his mother did not want to move South, where his father came to work. He died when I was ten or eleven. I remember his presence, much like my dad's and that he would make us fresh ice cream in a hand cranked churn.  He only ever said a few phrases to me, "Don't run in the house." and "If you run in the house, you get a whipping." Mostly this was to my younger brother and I happened to be there too.

When he finally came home from the military, my grandmother took a train to meet him in San Antonio.  She was standing on a picture of Louisiana in a large painted image of the United States to wait for him.  She had five sons, all living to this day, as she is too at 89 years old.   I am so thankful for the story of my family and the part it has played in keeping me safe to this day.

Thank you to all of the military who have served to make our country safe from tyranny.

The Act of Love

You ask me a method of attaining perfection. I know of love - and only love. Love can do all things.

-- St Therese of Lisieux

Love can be tricky sometimes in life.  It starts out as an instinct toward parents and then quickly becomes a raging inferno in adolescence.  If you are lucky you grow and learn to love your friends and your annoying family members for who they are.

I made the interesting choice to ask for the spiritual gift of 'understanding others' at my confirmation. "Let me understand others, so that I can love more," I said.  I am still trying to do that, but it has it's faults.  I find when I am trying to understand others, I naturally love them and feel concern for them.  I don't forget people or faces, I see them and I pray for them.  This can be a real pain because often if love is openly expressed to people who do not or have not regularly experienced it, they are really put off.

I take their hesitance in stride and learn from the way I decided to approach my dad as a teenager.  He did not grow up in a household where there was (I would say any at all) affection.  Knowing that, I decided that if I did not demand he let me hug him, then I wouldn't get initiation from him.  After about 20 years he started hugging back!  He is an extreme example, but if we were to inspect households more closely, we would find there is little affection and thus little communication of love.

Hugging is a very simple and physical means of affection, but I think it shows the lack of love in our world.  When I threaten my 8th grade students, I threaten to HUG them.  Most of them quell at the prospect and immediately pay attention, and as the year progresses, those that most need love get hugs as punishment from me.  I can tell they need that affection and attention because they then pay attention after I pay attention.

Love can be tricky, it's not always welcome but it always permeates every area of your life.  It is a necessity to express the love of God, to show love to others.  Sometimes I feel like I wish I could be colder and not care so damn much, but I try to remember that I must love here on Earth so that I may understand the immense love that Christ showed on the Cross.

Check out this article on the Holy Trinity:Gift and Call to the Communion of Love

The Act of Forgiveness

"Blessed are the merciful for they shall inherit the Earth."

What anger do I allow to control my heart when I choose to judge? What areas must I forgive in myself so I can forgive others of the same fault? Mercy is fruit of a charitable heart that is mature enough to receive the inheritance of heaven. Inheritance of that grace comes as a gift, often received not by merit.  There are many more worthy at Christ's table, so what would I leave on Earth for others to inherit?
Reflection: Dec 22, 2005

I have written this year of the type of children I teach and the way they demean each other and anyone in authority.  I find it easy to love them, but I do not like many things.  One such thing I despise is how long it takes me to forgive some of them when they are particularly rude.

Key word there is 'me'.  I was reminded this year in working with these young people to always look to myself to change when I see things in them that frustrate me.

An example is when a student that has grown in poverty and has an inner attitude of bitterness and disdain for learning, expresses that attitude in foul words, everyday, every class.  WWJD?  It becomes a matter of love in my eyes immediately, because along the line of this 15 year old student in 8th grade, there was no proper teaching of rationality and civility.  Never pity though.  So I must look to myself to forgive constantly and find the words to express love to these students.

Another example at a workplace is when coworkers whom you may rarely interact with make disrespectful comments. Somewhere along the line, these persons did not experience love.  It is a constant thread in Christ's teaching to show mercy, show mercy, show mercy.

Look to yourself first and remember the loving caresses, the peaceful words or the silent loving gestures that someone may have shown you, but that these persons never experienced in there lives.  Their perception of rationality and empathy colors everything.

The Mission Trip

Christ the King Catholic Church mission trips change your life. At least the one I went on in 1997, changed mine.

This year the students are going to Costa Rica, where my experience was only as far as Mexico. Pray for them to have a safe journey as I share the story of my re-conversion.

We stayed in a convent in Saltillo with a large courtyard and three stories of bunks for missionaries. There were only sixteen of us and Fr. Pat. On reflection, I don't know why I wanted to go but I did and I had no idea about anything Catholic really. It had been so long since I had been to mass, I really didn't know any of the parts or responses. But I felt Our Lady with me there.

Our Lady of Guadalupe was a prominent figure in the church where ever we went. I mainly watched and tried to learn from these beautiful people in their humble faith in Jesus. While there I felt like I didn't belong with the group.  I would just go to the quiet areas and speak with God in nature and the bustle of the town around us.

Excerpt from my diary:
"We come from another place,
To share his grace.
Mexican cities buzz around us,
Mexican mountains rise above us.
Beyond those mountains
Hidden by the camoflage of dust
Are followers of Jesus Christ."

May 18,1997


The best part was Christ opening my heart to Him to know the Holy Eucharist again. When I came back, I saw Our Lady of Guadalupe hidden on a mosaic upon a home. It was a subtle and spiritual reminder of Christ's gentle call of such a faithful people and of myself. I love her to this day in all of her apparitions, but especially as one who always draws me closer and closer to my loving and merciful Lord Jesus Christ.

Pentecost

Tomorrow on the celebration of the Pentecost we remember the provision Christ has given us in the Holy Spirit.  The Book of Acts describes the roaring wind and flames that alight upon the apostles.  They then are able to speak in the tongue or language of any who hear and they spread the gospel across all the lands, their footsteps ordered by Jesus Christ.

 "Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. You send forth your spirit and things are created you shall renew the face of the Earth."

Happy Mother's Day Sweet Mary