Bad Haiku Festival

I always have fun with this. This year I'll not be able to read all the entries until much after this day. For as you are reading this I am preparing for the rehearsal dinner for Jimmy and Kelly. The wedding is the twelfth. So you all have a grand time and I'll catch up next week.

I have two entries. Probably as a result of the dinner preparations. So here goes.

Love to bake cookies
The bread and pumpkin pies
Oh, what an aroma!

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When the fire dies out
And the embers don't glimmer
What to do with the ash?

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Thanks be to God!

Be sure to visit Catholic Teacher Musings to read the other entries or better yet, join in the fun!!!!

Wisdom of G. K. Chesterton

Homeless in Our Homes

The Christmas season is domestic; and for that reason most people now prepare for it by struggling in tramcars, standing in queues, and rushing away in trains, crowding despairingly into teashops, and wondering when or whether they will ever get home. I do not know whether some of them disappear forever in the toy department or simply lie down and die in the tea-rooms; but by the look of them it is quite likely. Just before the great festival of the home the whole population seems to have become homeless. [The Thing: Why I am a Catholic]

Returning and Rest

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel;
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength
But you refused and said,
"No! We will flee upon horses"--
therefore you shall flee!
and, "W will ride upon swift steeds"--
therefore your pursuers shall be swift!
A thousand shall flee at the threat of one,
at the threat of five you shall flee,
until you are left
life a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,
like a signal on a hill.

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
Isaiah 30: 15-18

Prayer

Lord, rescue us from getting sucked into the cyclone of commercialized Christmas this year. Help! Save us! Help us commit more earnestly to times of prayer, worship, silence, and reflection. Convince us to trad commotion for community and frenzy for friends. Show us what it takes to become more genuinely human that we might recognize You within us and your face in the face of others.

Advent Action

Be radical: stay home this year. Look at your calendar early and block out segments of sanity. When someone asks or makes demands on your time, simply reply, "I'm sorry, but we/I have something already scheduled." Just say no. Remember if this holy season turnout as crazy as previous years, it was at least partly your choice. Determine, instead, to be co-partners with God in writing your own future. If you want to be even more radical, unplug. Block out days, or parts of days, where you fast from electronics: no television or DVDs; no music or radio; no computer. Instead, talk, play games, cook, do crafts exercise, read, pray. (Advent and Christmas, Wisdom from G. K. Chesterton)

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I have to say when I first read this reflection I thought it was humerous, though after I read it the second time, I'm sure it was not meant to be! It is a perfect lesson on how I behave during this time of the year! I was looking in the mirror when I read it the third time. I resolved to do something about it. There is still time!

Though, at times, I am at the mercy of others, I still have the right and privilege of controling the majority of my time. So I have resolved to do something about this. My time is precious. My life is precious. My well-being is precious. Why? Because God created me in love. It is time I "loved" me by taking care of what God so wonderfully created!!! So in "fasting." I will find joy, because I have CHOSEN this time for me and Him! What's more, I'm going try and find The Thing: Why I am A Catholic. It is probably a book from which I can learn a great deal more about ME!

Wishing all a glorious fast!

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Thanks be to God!

Lesson Well Learned

It's been a long time since I've reflected on the words of Amy Welborn in her Catholic Woman's Book of Days. As I read today's reflection I thought how appropriate it is that I am reading this today! Tomorrow we leave for Atlanta for the wedding of Jimmy and Kelly. I have gifts wrapped to deliver to those unable to share Christmas with us this year. I have boxes and boxes of decorations, food, dishes, et. al. I have cheese balls to make and pies to fix...My head is in a spin and I've totally lost my appetite! (This happens when I am stressed.) So here is the lesson offered me!

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The
Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends
of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His
understanding is unsearchable. He give power to
the faint, and strengthens the powerless.
~Isaiah 40: 28-29~
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This time of year can be exhausting, especially for the lone ranger like me, who, in her heart, doesn't' thing that anyone else can really do anything right and has some sort of weird pride in pulling celebrations together solely on her own power.

How silly. How prideful. How exhausting.

It's not just true of holiday doings; it's true for the rest of life. Asking for help isn't on anyone's list of sins, as far as I know while pride is on the top of most of them.

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Lord, there are part of my life in which I need help.
Dispel my pride, and strengthen me to see help when I need it.

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So there you have it in a nutshell! This is me and I must stop making myself sick by thinking I can do this and pull it off! Silly me!!!!! You know she's right! It is exhausting when I am prideful...So, there will be help for me on Friday when I am setting up for the rehearsal dinner. I will take suggestions and gladly accept them. Yes, indeed!!!!! I will not allow my pride to ruin a perfectly wonderful day!!!!! God will provide! It's time I started acting like I believe that. Don't you think?

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Thanks be to God!!!!!

Praise God!

There is never a time when praising God is not appropriate. At Mass yesterday I was touched by the reading from the Prophet Baruch. It suddenly stuck me how important it is to CELEBRATE, PRAISE GOD!

Jerusalem! take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever; wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor; you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God's worship. Baruch 5:1-9

It was one of those moments when, though I have heard this reading many time, I got it!!! "Cathy!!!" it said, "wake up!!! Joy is yours!" It filled me with satisfaction, again, knowing that God is with me! Alleluia!!!

Then, last night at the Christmas Concert at church given by John Angotti, he sang Mary Did You Know and again I took comfort and solace in knowing that the Mother of God didn't have to know all to say, "Yes." I don't have to know all either! I just have to love God and follow His son, Jesus. Yes, indeed I must LOVE God with all my heart, my soul and all my being. That alone is all important. And, yes, all will be taken care of!

Wishing you all a grand day!!! May God wrap you in his warm embrace and carry you on!

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Thanks be to God!

Wisdom of G. K. Chesterton

Appreciation

The aim of life is appreciation; there is no sense in not appreciating things; and there is no sense in having more of them if you have less appreciation of them.

~Autobiography~

LEARNING CONTENTMENT
I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
~Philippians 4:11b-13~

PRAYER
Lord, may we learn what it means to appreciate what we do have instead of constantly stewing over what we do not have. Teach us this sacred of contentment that Chesterton and the Apostle Paul knew so well.

ADVENT ACTION
Find an ordinary object that you already own and truly value. The object may be as commonplace as an handbag, or pair of boots, as homey as a basket or bowl, as symbolic as a book or soccer ball. Place this object as the centerpiece on your table or in a prominent place where you will notice it frequently. Each time it comes to your attention consider a new way of appreciating it, thanking God for its qualities and the joy it brings you.
(Advent and Christmas--Wisdom From G. K. Chesterton, edited by The Center for the Study of C. S. Lewis and Friends)

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You know I think I'm getting the hang of it. I'm certainly not consistent but I do find myself being grateful for the little things and not wishing to acquire what others have.

As a matter of fact just the other day I had seen some new Vera Bradley bags carried by some friends. I am so fond of the one I have that I really have no intention of buying another pattern. The pattern I have is retired now and so I will have to tend to it carefully. I really don't care if I have another. Vera Bradley probably doesn't want to know that but really contentment with and appreciation of what we have is a wonderful feeling. That bag also brings back treasured memories of family outings and, especially, shopping trips with the Girls.

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Thanks be to God!!!