Sacred Sunday: February 28, 2010

"Old Woman at Prayer" by Nicolaes Maes

(Dutch painter, 1634-1693)

Also known as "Prayer Without End"

As part of my Lenten journey, besides giving up red wine, I enrolled in a 6 week course on Prayer. This course is part of the Why Catholic? Journey Through the Catechism series. Last week was my 1st session and, as with everything I do, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. I was pleasantly surprised. The small group I was assigned to had some very lovely people and I was pleased that the group leader was a woman I knew very well through previous Bible studies. There were some serious conversations and reflections and I walked away feeling I truly had learned something that I could apply to my prayer life.

For today's Sacred Sunday, I'd like to share with you a story, from my study guide, that helped open my eyes and heart more fully into understanding what prayer should be like. Enjoy.

A disciple has been calling on God for many years.
through prayer, fasting, and meditation.
One day she hears a voice within her ask:
"Who is there?"
"At last, at last," she thinks joyfully.
"God," she cries, "It is I. I is I"
But she is met by silence and the voice disappears.
Years pass and the woman goes on meditating
and calling on God with renewed passion.
Suddenly, without warning, she hears the voice again.
"Who is there?"
This time, without hesitation, she replies,
"Only you, only you."
And the door opens and she enters the heart of God.


I'm off to my 3rd 12 hour shift in a row so I probably will be too exhausted to reply to your comments but rest assured I appreciate them and will be looking forward to reading them when I return home from work. May God provide abundant blessings to you and your families this day and always!

Flash Friday 55: 1st Love

dingy grey, stained,

threadbare, worn.

witness to boundless love, countless tears.

victim of night time nose bleeds and upset tummies.

comforter of fears and nightmares.

receiver of countless hugs and sloppy wet kisses.

champion of snuggles.

survivor of "games"

and visits to the laundry room.

number one bedtime partner.

world traveler.

secret bearer.

love retainer.

I am participating in Flash Friday 55. This weekly meme is brought to you by G-Man over at Mr. Know it All. The object is to write a story or prose in exactly 55 words. Come join us and link your 55 over in Mr. Know it All's comment section.

Alphabe-Thursday: The Letter F

The Letter F is for:

Fernando the Frenchman

Fernando the Frenchman

is a Friend of mine.

He Fixes Fishy dishes

and serves Fermented wine.

Fernando the Frenchman

a Fickle Friend indeed.

He Fancies the Finest Frocks

but won't share out of greed.

Fernando the Frenchman

Frolics with the Faeries,

but only until nightFall,

when Fleas and Flies shall tarry.

Fernando the Frenchman

A Funny Fop For sure,

Fears the Flying Fireflies

So Fleeing, shouts, "Bon Jour!"

(I plead temporary insanity due to my recent bout with the "flu")


Come Join the fun by linking up with Jenny over at her blog!

Sensational Haiku Wednesday-Vision

Image from http://www.nwcreations.com
The Pathway of Divine Love

Helping me to see

Beauty in Thy creation

within and without.

For I had been blind

Of devine signs and wonders

leading me to You.

My eyes now opened...

for my sight's set upon Thee.

My one true love.

For more Haiku hijinks, or to participate,

please visit Jen over at You Know…That Blog?

Next week's theme: chrysalis

Monday Musings-February 22, 2010

Dear Mr. Sister,

Just because I wanted to grill my pizza crust and use my own toppings doesn't mean I want to take over your weekly Saturday pizza tradition with the kids. Sometimes a gal just feels like shrimp, spinach, and feta with a garlic and herb white sauce. And yes, it was very good.

Now that's amore!

Sono tua per sempre,

5th

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Another Accolade!

Isn't this just the cutest? I'm a Full Time Mummy gave me this award for simply commenting on her blog. She's got the cutest little baby boy with the biggest brightest eyes. I've had fun reliving my children's baby stages through her blog. Please check her out if you can. Oh, and you might learn a thing or two about her culture. 

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I Must be Beautiful

Because this is the 3rd time I've received this award! 

Thank you, Jackie, from The Way of the Upright is the Highway. Jackie is a new friend of mine. She's quite orthodox in her faith and world view and has been an interesting, intriguing addition to my daily reading. Please go visit her and say hi! Thank you Jackie. This was very sweet of you and I really appreciate it. 

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Dad was discharged from the hospital last week. He is on medications to control his arrhythmia and anticoagulants to help dissolve any clots that may form because of the arrhythmia. He had a stroke in which he lost his ability to speak. Whether or not his speech returns remains to be seen. We appreciate all the prayers being said on his behalf. 

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Me? I'm still trying to recuperate from last week's episode. The more this goes on the more I'm thinking it is not medication related. I cannot afford another doctor's trip (new insurance/HIGH initial deductible). So I may be just sporadic in my postings over the next week or two while I nurse myself back to full health. Please be sure to come back Wednesday for my weekly Haiku and Thursday, especially, for my Letter F contribution. I really had a great time penning these. I think you'll enjoy them, or at least I hope you do. Until then...TTFN (ta ta for now!) 

Sacred Sunday: God on Trial

I ran across the following article by Fr. Paul Scalia,. (He's the son of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia) This article was originally published in the Arlington Catholic Herald and subsequently posted on the Catholic Exchange website. I thought it made for a very appropriate Sacred Sunday Post. Regardless of whether you are Christian or not, please take a moment to read and see if you recognize a bit of yourself. I know I sure did.

(Image from Google Images; artist unknown to me 
despite extensive search)

God on Trial 

Traditionally, the Church has understood Our Lord’s three temptations in the desert as a summary of the temptations we face. St. Thomas observes, “The matter of all sins were included in the three temptations.” By this interpretation, Our Lord occupies our place. On our behalf He undergoes and triumphs over the temptations of the evil one. Or, better still, in Him we triumph over all temptation.

There is, however, another way of understanding Our Lord’s temptations. Instead of seeing us in Christ’s place, we can see ourselves in the devil’s. Without denying the significance of the traditional interpretation, we can understand the devil’s temptations of Our Lord as signifying also the various ways in which we tempt God — that is, how we test Him and put Him on trial. It is not a flattering interpretation, to be sure. But we often need strong medicine for healing.

Consider the devil’s basic question to the accused: “If you are the Son of God …” (Lk 4:3, 9). This expresses an attitude, implicit if not explicit, that we assume quite often. It is a petulant, peevish response to God’s self-revelation. He reveals Himself and rather than taking Him at His word, rather than responding in faith, we demand proof. We say, in effect, “Oh, yeah? Prove it.” Zechariah copped this attitude and received a rather severe punishment. God’s messenger declared to him, “you will be speechless and unable to talk … because you did not believe my words” (Lk 1:20).

The devil also exemplifies the particular proofs we demand. There is, first of all, the proof of worldly comfort: “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread” (Lk 4:3). For us to believe, we demand that He give us want we want for our worldly comfort. We may not have this exact thought process, but the attitude lurks within. For some reason we suppose that our health and wealth is proof of His divinity — and that the lack or loss of them is reason to doubt or reject Him. How many people lose their faith precisely because they lost the worldly comfort on which they had based it. If He is God, they say, He would not have allowed this.

Second, we demand power. “All this will be yours, if you worship me,” says the devil (Lk 4:7). Now, we would never be so crass as to demand that He worship us. At least not in so many words. But we do demand that He conform to our way of thinking and our way of living before we will let Him into our world. In other words, He must set aside His divine claims before we allow Him in. No, we do not close Him out entirely. We just require Him to take a lower, less divine place — right there alongside our other devotions, interests and hobbies. Instead of conforming ourselves to Him, we demand that He conform Himself to us.

Third, we demand “signs and wonders” in order to believe. The devil demanded a spectacle — that Jesus throw Himself from the temple parapet and let His angels save Him. That would get their attention. Likewise, we demand something stupendous and amazing (which Our Lord warned against specifically: cf. Mt 24:24; Mk13:22; Jn 4:48). We are not content to marvel and wonder at the “small” workings of God. We have grown bored with His “regular” works. We want something big!

Chesterton succinctly condemns this spiritual boredom: “There is only one sin: to call a green leaf grey.” Sin comes from boredom with the wonder of God’s creation, with His small voice, and with His smaller presence in Mary and in the Eucharist. The irony is, those who insist on miracles typically do not believe them when they come — exactly as Our Lord warned: “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead” (Lk 16:31).

“Prove it” is not a good attitude toward God. We should instead say, “Help me to see!” Mother Church gives us Lent as a time to correct our mindset and cultivate the proper openness to and delight in God’s self-revelation — so that as Easter comes our response to Him will be one not of doubt but of devotion: “My Lord, and my God!”

Flash Friday 55: Memories

The neatly wrapped packages, 

where her memories are stored, 

are begging to be noticed, to be heard.

They were boxed up; locked away so very long ago.

It is time and she's afraid.

She does not recall where she buried the keys. 

But the memories...impatient, persistent, insistent... 

tear their way through carefully tied bows.

I am participating in this meme hosted by G-Man over at Mr. Know It All. Have a peek and check out all of the other entries. There are some terrific writers out there. You won't be disappointed. 

Alphabe-Thursday: The Letter E

WARNING 

The following is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach!

If any of this applies to you, STOP! 

Go back! 

Don't read! 

(I won't be offended. Promise!) 

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E is for Emesis

(also known as vomit, puke, upchuck, throw up, 
heave, hurl, retch, and so forth...
my thesaurus has over 30 words to describe this condition. Egads!)


That's right.E is for emesis, the medical term for regurgitation.


I was originally going to pen some clever little E alliteration but instead, life bit me in the butt really hard yesterday morning.


I've been nursing a sinus infection going on 3 weeks now. I went back to the doctor on Tuesday because I thought for sure my eardrum ruptured. I was in intense pain, radiating from my ear down my neck along the jaw line. It wasn't ruptured or even infected for that matter...just filled with fluid. I was given another round of antibiotics for my persistent sinus infection, a couple of Darvocets (for pain), and sent on my way.


Within 30 minutes of taking my medicine this morning, the most severe headache and violent wave of nausea washed over me. I was totally incompacitated! I was bowing to the porcelain god for most of the day. Every time I attempted to lay down and close my eyes my insides would churn and burn and another bout of retching and hurling ensued. By 3pm the only fluids I had kept down were itty bitty sips of water. So you can imagine, nothing was coming up during these marathon spewing sessions, just a tremendous amount of painful dry heaving!


So, in essence, on the Holy day of Ash Wednesday, my fast was essentially forced and hoisted upon me. I had planned on fasting. Really. I have big life changing plans I'm pursuing this Lenten season. But during my fast I was going to allow myself juices and such. I, however, think God had other ideas. He took my plans to fast and abstain quite seriously and made sure I followed through with my life altering plans. Oh how I prayed throughout the morning and on into the day. I prayed for my suffering to be united with Christ. I prayed for Christ to take my suffering and use it for good. I prayed for my father. I prayed for my family and friends. For the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#1505) tells us,


 "...By His passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to Him and unite us with His redemptive passion." 


I lost count of the number of Our Fathers and Hail Marys implored but at this writing I can say I am feeling better.  


I also made a secret promise to God. I now need to make good on it. 


God bless!

Sensational Haiku Wednesday-Renovation

Spiritual Renovation

A new beginning.

Spirit within awakens

through fasting and prayer.

Sacrifice. Penance.

Redirecting life towards

a holier path.

May hearts be humbled

so that Christ's light can shine through

this season of Lent.

For more Haiku hijinks, or to participate,

please visit Jen over at You Know…That Blog?

Next week's theme: Vision

In Honor of Fat Tuesday...

Hungry?

Monday Musings-February 15, 2010

Dear Mr. Sister,

You know how I feel about Valentine's Day. A day forced upon us, guilting us to prove our love on this one day each and every year. It's all so contrived. I much rather enjoy the little moments of affection that randomly occur on the other 364 days instead! With that said, thank you for taking Munchie Boy out to select that sweet bouquet of flowers. It was such a delight coming home to that after 3 exhausting and grueling days at work.

Love always,

5th

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A Prayer Request

If you are a praying person, I would like to ask you to add my dad to your prayers today. He was admitted to the hospital on Friday because he lost the ability to speak. After many tests the following was found: he had an old stroke and is suffering from atrial fibrillation. A-fib is a heart condition that can cause erratic heart beats,  blood clots to be formed, and increased risk of stroke. Apparently a clot landed in the speech center of his brain. He is even finding it difficult to write. He is on medication to control the a-fib, but has yet to regain his speech. You all are the best and I sincerely thank you!

Dad and his daughters

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Winner! Winner!

Remember the Travel Channel T-shirt I won over on Mommy Madness's Giveway? If you haven't had a chance to visit Christine I urge you to do so! She's delightful and can be found HERE. Anyway, I was directed to the Travel Channel website and from the choices offered I selected a safe, non flashy style with the Travel Channel logo across the left breast. Want to see what arrived in the mail?

Front:

Back:

Don't you just love it! It's perfect! It's so me! And look at that...the number on the back reflects my age, too! This shirt was not among the options when I made my boring original selection but I am absolutely thrilled with what fate threw my way!  Thanks Christine!

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Have you all met Betty over at CUT AND DRY? If not you are missing out. She is a very sweet and dear blog friend and has a beautiful blog herself. I so enjoy her photography and her positive approach to life. Anyway, she bestowed upon me the Beautiful Blogger Award last week and I wanted to publicly thank her. 

I haven't passed on any awards of late but thought I would send these out to the following blogs that I find of particular merit:

Purple Flowers

WayStationOne

Raw Thoughts and Feelings

Random Thoughts of a Restless Mind

*WARNING* Contents of some of the blogs may be of adult subject and may be rated PG-13 for language and situations.

Please pay them a visit if you have the time. They are each "beautiful" in their own unique ways.

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That's all my musings for this rainy day Monday. Have a great day, everyone! 

Weekend Rerun/Sacred Sunday Combo

St. Valentine's Day Version

In honor of St. Valentine's Day I will repost a blog I wrote regarding it's origins. Thank you Jim, of It's This or Go Crazy, for reminding me that I had such a post that my new followers might enjoy. Again, I am working all weekend so I may not be able to respond, personally to your replies. I hope your Valentine's Day lives up to your every expectation.

St. Valentine lived during the reign of the Roman emperor, Claudius II, also known as Claudius the Cruel. Claudius was especially fond of persecuting Christians. It was these Christian martyrs whom Valentine, in his ministry, cared for and assisted in their time of suffering and sorrow.

Claudius II, as one would guess, had his empire involved in many unpopular wars and bloody campaigns. He, naturally, had great difficulty recruiting men to fill the ranks of the Roman military. Claudius thought that this was due to the men not wanting to leave their loved ones. So what does he do? He outlaws marriage! St. Valentine, in spite this ruling, performed marriages in secret. He is believed to have been the first priest to perform a marriage between a pagan man and a Christian woman. Unfortunately, Valentine was discovered and jailed. To be freed, all Valentine had to do was to renounce his Christian faith. Valentine refused and, for that, was sentenced to execution by clubbing and stoning.

While in jail awaiting for his sentence to be carried out, St. Valentine corresponded with his parishioners by sending letters and notes of love. Legend has it that he fell in love with one of his frequent visitors: Julia, the blind daughter of Asterius, his jailer. God enabled Valentine to miraculously restore Julia’s site and converted her heart, and that of her father, to the Christian faith.

As with any good love story, there is bound to be a tragic end. Tradition holds that as Valentine was being led to his execution he wrote one last farewell note of love, to his beloved Julia. His closing words are immortalized to this day: “From your Valentine”. The execution sentence was carried out. Strangely, Valentine survived the clubbing and stoning only to be eventually beheaded on February 14, 269 or 270 AD!

The pagan origin of St. Valentine’s Day is somewhat sordid in nature. In ancient Rome, on February 15, the people celebrated the Festival of Lupercalia, dedicated to the Roman god Lupercus. On this day, young men would draw the name of a young woman in a lottery. He would then keep this woman as his sexual companion for the year. After Christianity took hold in the region, Pope Gelasius I was able to change tradition by taking this lottery and having both men and women draw the names of saints whom they would then emulate for the year (much to the disappointment of some Roman men, I am sure!) The patron of this feast became Valentine and the date of his martyrdom became the date for this celebration. For Roman men, unable to let go of the past, this day continued to be an occasion to seek the affections of women. It became a tradition to give out handwritten messages of admiration that included Valentine’s name.

Flash Friday 55: A True Tale

Photo courtesy of Stanly County Animal Rescue League

Home alone...attempting to sleep.

Strange noises disturb twilight's tranquility.

Ah! Her beloved feline, she thought.

She senses his furry paws
padding across hardwoods.
Then, 

stealthily leaping onto bed,

searching for favored slumber spot...

he settles upon her chest... 

comforting, easing fears.

Eyes closed, she reaches to caress...

SUDDEN SCREAMS ERUPT...

For kitty isn't there!

Blogger's note: I swear to this day that this story is real.

It happened to me when I was in my early teens. 

We experienced all sorts of unusual paranormal 
phenomena within my childhood home. 

This is but one of many haunting tales.

I will be earning my keep over the next 3 days and because of that I will not be able to personally respond to any commentary. But do comment! It will be the bright spot after what is sure to be a busy, busy day at the hospital. TGIF for those of you with the weekend off!


For other Flash Friday inspired posts, please visit G-Man at Mr. KnowItAll, or for a Thursday Tackle alternative, Corrie at Just Because my Pickle Talks...

Alphabe-Thursday: The Letter D

D is For Daisy

And just what Does Daisy Do?

She Does this:

Day in and Day out!

Dawdling at the Door.

Dedicated Defender of her Domicile.

Drives Daddy nuts.

Daffy Dog!

Sensational Haiku Wednesday-Comfort Zone

Actual family photo taken on the beaches of Ocho Rios, Jamaica, 2008

Caribbean Comfort

Bone chilling rain falls.

Dark, damp, dreary days ahead.

Jamaica calls me!

Rum drinks on beaches,

Warm weather; exotic food.

Cabana boys, too!


But until return,
I will have to make do with
My Snuggie instead!

Photo actually taken within the confines of the Sister House


For more Haiku hijinks, or to participate,
please visit Jen over at You Know…That Blog?

Next week's theme: Renovation

Beauty in a Box

This is what I brought home the other day. 

Bronzed French Roast.

What promises lay within?

Instantaneous beauty?

Alluring sex appeal?

Self confidence and esteem?

Oh yeah, I could use some, if not all, of the above. 

I spent an hour, Monday morning, 
diligently following the directions to a "t". 

This is the result.

Am I rocking the look or what? 

Notice I am attempting the same sultry stare of the model on the box.

Unfortunately I think I ended up looking either sleepy or nauseated instead. 

Oh well, at least the grey is covered for the time being.

May this be a lesson that true beauty comes from what is inside, 

not from a box!