A Trail of Worlds

So....for those of you who I haven't seen in a while (which is most of you), let me update you on life real quick.

I am very blessed.

Yep, I think that about covers it. Beautiful friends, wonderful and hilariously entertaining family, and lots of opportunities for growth in so many different ways. It's been the most...uh....interesting few months I've ever had-extremely difficult, extremely different, and exactly what I've needed. I needed to get away from the comfortable bubble I had built in Ark City and into something different...apparently God thought so too ;) Along with all of the new friends, events, clubs and classes going on in good ole Manhattan, I've started doing something else.

 I've started leaving people their own world.

Now yes, it's perfectly alright to wonder at this point if I'm crazy. My answer? ABSOLUTELY. But hey, it makes everything a little more interesting,right?  The whole story about how the idea came about is a pretty long one that honestly makes a lot more sense in my head than anywhere else, but after a few years has now found it's way as a daily part of my life.

I have a few notepads shaped like the globe. They're all different shapes and sizes, all different colors, and,best of all,they are blank on the back. Perfect place to leave a hand-written note or quote....YES! So I leave a trail of worlds behind me on a daily basis. I try my best to leave 3 a day in random places-in a study alcove at the library, at a table in the coffee shop, sitting randomly in some quiet part of the dorms. I try to leave something positive, but not necessarily religious. Whether it's a pick-me-up quote, a part of some good song lyrics, or a homemade coupon for a pre-paid Radina's cup of coffee, I hope that the worlds show whoever receives them half as much as they have shown me in giving them.

My point of this post is not to brag, and it's not to spoil your confusion as to who left you a paper world if you ever find  one on a table in a coffee shop. I promise.  My point is this: It's the little things. It's a crazy world. It teaches us to seek emptiness, to only care about ourselves, and to do anything and everything we can to make sure our own little world is exactly the way we want it to be. Well, friends, I call B-O-L-O-G-N-A. Serve. Serve with everything you are, and give in the little things each day. It doesn't have to be on paper, it doesn't have to be out loud, it doesn't even have to be seen. I leave worlds so that people might think a little bit outside their own. As hard as it may be, serving daily can be summed up in one sentence:

Do something, give everything, and expect nothing in return. 

The Great Balancing Act

We think the opposite of pride is humility; this isn't true. The opposite of pride is despair. Pride is putting ourselves so high that none, even God, can reach us. Despair is burying ourselves so low that none, even God, can save us.

There is a beautiful balancing act between these, a solid soul for pure souls to stand on-the fertile soil of humility.

Humility is realizing that God is greater, and we ourselves will never reach that height. It is at the same time placing ourselves below others in order to serve Christ through them. Humility is burying ourselves deep enough to realize only God can truly reach us. It is burying the part of us full of sin, pride, envy.

Humility is the only firm ground upon which to stand in this great balancing act. Pride tips the scales one way, despair the other.

May you find joy, peace, and contentment in the middle.

Seek Ye First

"But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides." ~Matt 6:33


Have you ever thought that everyone seeks the kingdom somehow? Even those who have no idea who Christ is search for something more. We all want what this Earth can't give us, we all want what we can't create ourselves. We all want the kingdom of God, and every single one of us tries to find that glory somehow. Some of us search in churches, some of us in service to others, some in the satisfaction of a job well done or a successful career. And still more of us focus on building ourselves up so high that we eventually reach the glory we think we deserve.

We all search for the kingdom somehow, whether we realize it or not. But even those of us who are consciously striving for holiness often forget a part of the passage above. Seek FIRST the kingdom of God. Seek first His glory, His power, His love above all else. Everything else is insignificant, regardless of how much emphasis the world may put on them.

Do not seek their kingdom (the opinion of others), for it only causes hurt, envy, despair, pride.
Do not seek your kingdom (self-satisfaction), because with it comes loneliness, emptiness, longing.
Seek His kingdom, complete with the unfailing love and the true glory that every heart desires.

Flee from the darkness of this world and run towards the light. For once we see that glory, everything else is beautifully illuminated. 

Sufferings of Mary

The last few weeks of my life have been insanely, insanely blessed. It's been easy for me to see God working in and around me, and the result has been a nice dose of joy. Ahh....I'm glad to have that again :) 

This morning, when I should have been studying for my Biology test, I ended up writing instead. I was really excited about my new journal, it's beautiful weather outside, and I just happened to have said journal handy in my backpack. Besides, what I do know about Biology tells me that I won't physically die from lack of test preparation...so we're good, right? As I was journaling (at a table complete with cheesy jazz background music and the glorious smell of coffee, I might add!), I began to think about my crazy weekend. It was a pretty easy-going one for me, but for others I know it was a fight all the way.

As easy as it's been to see Christ where I am lately, I know that his work in the lives of my brothers and sisters hasn't been so obvious. I have a lot of friends and family who seem to be struggling with various battles lately, and it drives me absolutely crazy that I can't do more to help them. It makes my heart ache to hear what they're going through-deaths in friends and family, relationship struggles, school problems, and all sorts of spiritual warfare. I'm continually trying to think of ways to offer up prayer and sacrifice for them, and I'm ready to fight with them. But I still wish I could do more solid, visible things to help them. After thinking about all of this, here's what the Holy Spirit decided to show me:

If our heart aches this much watching those around us suffer, how much more did Mary's heart burn when watching her son carry his cross?

If it hurts us so much to watch the ones we love suffer, I can't even imagine what she felt. Our friends and family, no matter how great they are, are sinners all the same. They struggle, but they also turn themselves away from God sometimes. Christ was spotless. He never turned away from his father, never struggled with disobedience, never once complained about carrying all of our sins on Calvary. He was (is) without blemish, without hatred, love without reservation. Can you imagine meeting your sinless son on his way to be crucified, silently watching that undeserved suffering? There's no way to comprehend it.

Well, friends, I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I'm pretty sure the reason I'm still sane (which I realize is a debatable point) is because of Mary's intercession over the last couple of years. Whether it was despair, anger, doubt, confusion, or just about anything else I couldn't handle on my own, her intercession played a major role in getting me out of it and seeing Christ amidst it all. She knows what it's like to watch those around us suffer-in fact, she knows  better than any of us ever will. 

Ask the Blessed Mother to pray for you and those you love. It must bring her great joy to help her sons and daughters from her seat in Heaven. She's ready and waiting to help....all you have to do is ask.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

Fall Into Christ

It's FALL!!!!

In case you can't tell....that single statement makes me extremely extremely EXTREMELY happy. Ahhh....love it :) Along with the leaves falling, the temperature falling, and the length of days falling, I've been thinking an awful lot about falling in a different way.

You know trust falls-those wonderfully annoying exercises that seem to be in every type of team "bonding," so that you can trust each other when things get tough? I reaaaaally don't like them, regardless of who is standing behind me ready to catch me. I never have, and I probably never will. But you know what? Life's a trust fall.

I've often heard spiritual life (and life in general) compared to climbing up a mountain or something of the sort. While that can be true, I see it a little differently. Life doesn't have to be an uphill climb-it can also be a downhill fall.....a terrifying, stomach whirling, beautifully glorious fall. A falling into the arms of a God who will ALWAYS be there to catch us. Whether we trip over a stumbling block and crash down to the ground or just close our eyes and brave the 8 inch drop, falling can be scary when we can't see where we're going. Fall anyway and trust that he will be there to catch you, bringing you closer to his heart that's on fire for you.

Close your eyes, and imagine something you need to fall away from. Fall away from temptation, fall away from fear, fall away from the noise of this world. Fall into the arms of Christ, and fall ever closer to his unfailing love.

As the leaves begin to change this autumn, may God's grace change your hearts and give you the grace to brave the fall.

What Love Looks Like

What does love look like? 

It has the hands to help others. 

It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.

 It has eyes to see misery and want.

 It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.

 That is what love looks like.

 -St. Augustine

I don't know about you, but I get really tired of hearing the word "love" tossed around like it's nothing-because in all honesty, love is everything. I've been blessed to spend an insanely awesome amount of time in adoration since I've moved to Manhattan, and it seems that love is all I think about when I enter that chapel.-love in friendships, love in vocations, love in the monstrance staring back at me. 

Love isn't a feeling, it isn't a walk along a beach in the moonlight, and it isn't a magic formula for happiness when sandwiched between the words "I" and "you." It's a choice. That means choosing to give when it's hardest, choosing to put the other first, and choosing to act in a way that upholds the dignity of the other. Phew....love is hard. 

There's a lot that God's been throwing at me about love lately, and it's going to take some more time with him to figure out exactly what he's getting at....so until then, a picture is worth a thousand words.  

 This isn't what love looks like:

This isn't what love looks like:

This isn't even what love looks like:

This is what LOVE looks like:

  

Where No One Is Looking

I had a 7:30 a.m. Principles of Biology Studio class this morning......and it was AWESOME.

Yes, I am crazy-but we established that a long time ago, right? I could go on for hours about how blessed I am to be in Manhattan, because I definitely am. But really, it doesn't matter where I am; where I am is where God wants me, so I'm blessed regardless. The class? Well, my 3 partners and I succeeded in completing the exact opposite of what our yeast lab intended....so this year should be an adventure!

The reason this morning was so great was because it was a new day.  It's as simple as that.

I had forgotten how much I LOVE mornings. Wonderful weather, beautiful sunrises to satisfy my slightly huge obsession with the sky, stillness, and silence. At 6:30 a.m., most people haven't totally given in to the rush of the day and the stress of their schedules. We're just getting started, refreshed and ready to face whatever comes. Before today, I don't remember the last time I got up before 9....weird, considering my last semester of high school I arrived at school after 6:30 a grand total of 3 times. It was wonderful to be reminded that life can still be slow, that we can look forward to what's ahead in our days, to have the simple beauty of God's creation put me in awe once again, and to find  hope in the most unexpected of places. Mornings may not be one of your favorite things, but they are definitely one of mine.

May you continue to find beauty in the places where no one seems to be looking.

Live As You Believe

             "If you do not live as you believe, you will begin to believe as you live." -Fulton Sheen

I just got a goodbye card/letter from a friend who has put up with the absolute worst of my attitudes and actions over the past year. Especially the last couple of months, believing as I live has been an all too common occurrence. I convinced myself that I wasn't good enough to live out this faith like those I saw living out theirs. I gave in to a despair so real that I failed to remember there is a greater plan for me involving hope. I let the light fade away and was content with sitting in the dark. I was believing as I was living.

Well friends.....that doesn't go over well with God.

I believe very strongly in bringing others to Christ through actions-so strongly that sometimes I forget words are necessary, too. When 99.9% of the people I was surrounded with on a daily basis (especially this summer with all of my family home) claim to have a Catholic faith but live out something completely different, I started to believe the way that they are living. Faith is something not spoken of unless it's in a fight or a rude joke, so it must not really be worth the fight,right? Wrong. It's worth every fight we will ever have to endure. It was worth every drop of blood of God's only Son....it sure as heck is worth everything we've got. 

To bring others to Christ, we've got to give everything. That doesn't mean standing on a street corner preaching about God's unending love, and that doesn't mean living a life of faith without ever speaking a word. It means giving everything we are for what we believe. It means living out our faith through actions, and being comfortable enough in that faith to speak about it to others when necessary.

May you continually strive to live as you believe, and give your all for something greater. Peace!

Unworldly

True Love is unending, unfailing, unpredictable, unselfish, uncommon, unstoppable, unceasing. 

Yep,God's Love is pretty much un-everything of this world.........AWESOME. Think of the things that hold you back, bring you down, make you feel worthless. Think about why this world is so hard to live in joyfully sometimes; He is the opposite. 

Worthless? Your worth is in Christ. 

Lonely? He's waiting in the tabernacle. 

Tired? He's carrying all except a sliver of your cross.

Unsure? Find comfort in the sure arms of the Lord.

There is only one way to find true joy in this world, and that is in Christ, who's love is unworldly. Embrace it, rejoice in it. Receive it, share it.

Relentless

Relentless; that which does not become less severe

There is a world waiting to tear us down, chew us up, and spit us out. There is a world who will tell you that you are the only thing that matters, that faith is too hard, that real hope is overrated. There is a world trying to rob us of everything we have been, are, and ever will be.

There is a God who gave everything he was, is, and ever will be. There is a God who is worth every second of our time, every ounce of our energy, every part of our being. There is a God who sent his own son into this world to suffer for everyone in it. There is a Love that is unfailing.

Stop giving up, stop giving in, stop pursuing what this world sees important.

Relentlessly pursue Christ.

Best Coaster Ever

Hello wonderful people! God never ever ever ceases to amaze me. EVER.

It's been a....crazy....couple of weeks to say the very least. I've been busy, although not as insanely busy as the beginning of the summer. What has been crazy is watching God work in those around me, and in my own life. No major events have happened, no life-changing moments; it truly is the everyday blessings that make life worth living. 

What's really been amazing me lately is how much can happen (physically, spiritually, emotionally, everything-ally) in a single day if-and this is a BIG if-we allow God to take control. Think about it with me. When you get up in the morning, do you know every single person you'll come in contact with that day? 

Do you know what conversations you'll engage in, what prayers you will say, or the exact amount of free time you'll have? Well, I don't either...but that awesome God who wrote your life story does.

I once heard that life is like a roller coaster. Oh boy, isn't that the truth-whether we want it to be or not. Each day could be an exciting rush of fulfillment and surprise, or a disappoint at a failed attempt to control our own ride. 

Let God take over your life daily....the guy knows what he's doing. He just might surprise you with the best coaster you've ever ridden.

Summer Blessings

This summer has been an absolute blessing.

I've had time to read multiple books...from an actual library. I now have the chance to go walking or jogging at times of the day other than before 6 a.m., and to (usually) sleep in until at least 7. It's my time of year to manage the greenhouse,time to start getting fair projects ready,and I only have a little over a month left before I move up to Manhattan. I still manage to be out of town long enough or be busy enough to avoid boredom, and I'm still "the renter who doesn't pay rent" to my dad. Basically.....God is good. Oh come on, that paragraph made you happy-you know you're a big nerd, too.

Along with all the things I've gotten to do (or not do) this summer, my favorite one has been listening. I've gotten to actually spend time with those around me by choice, and not just because we were in the same class or involved with the same activities. We spend time together because we enjoy being around each other; it's as simple as that. This past year, my schedule was so packed that it overshadowed the people in my life. I wasn't ever present when I was at one thing, but was just focused on making it through so I could get to the next commitment in one piece.

Listening is something I've always loved doing, and something that I think we all need to do a little more of. A lot of the people I've been able to spend time with this summer are going through some pretty crazy stuff. Just listening to them tell stories, rant, or ask for advice has been a learning experience for me-sometimes even more than it is for them. I admire those people who are confident and honest enough to open up and let others in when they need to. I look up to so many in my life who have shown undying strength this past year, when things seemed to be literally falling apart around them. I ask myself what I would have done, and I really don't like the honest answer. Hmmm......maybe that's why I didn't have to climb that mountain. That God guy knows what he's doing.

May you continually strive to grow in truth and love. Here are a couple of sentences that pretty much sum up my summer up to this point.

You are living a story written just for you, and no one else. 

Let God surprise you with the amount he can write in a single day.

Angry Fighting

I am not an angry person. I like to listen more than talk, stay in the background whenever possible, and usually try to avoid conflict at all costs. My life is insanely, ridiculously (and sometimes annoyingly) painless compared to those around me. But I am ANGRY.

I'm sick of lies. I'm sick of watching those around me suffer, and of feeling like I can't do anything to help them. I'm angry at the devil for playing his hand so cunningly, and at being trapped by my "freedoms." I'm angry at myself for believing every lie I see, hear, or somehow manage to maneuver into my own brain. Now I know it probably seems like I'm an absolutely crazy lady ranting on and on about how horrible her life is. Take it as you like; I prefer to think of it as an absolutely crazy lady beginning to fight for something bigger. In my opinion, anger is a useful tool when aimed at the right target.

As I drove home earlier today I was thinking about all the spiritual and physical battles being fought, and I thought of something: Don't we prepare before we send troops off to war? Do we not make sure that the men and women leaving everything to fight for our cause have some sort of training? Preparation is useful for just about everything. Want to write a great paper? Prepare by researching. To win a court case, lawyers have to make sure they have a solid argument. How do you win an Olympic gold medal? Endlessly train. How do we triumph over evil in this world? We prepare. 

We've been blessed with the sacraments and opportunities to receive God's grace. Christ fills the tabernacles of this world 24 hours a day, waiting for us to begin training. We've got to spend time with him before our battles begin, learning who we are and who we've been created to be. Preparation is key.

The ruler of this world is out there, picking his fights. He wants you to believe his lies, and to be honest, sometimes those lies seem pretty dang convincing. The one who created this world died for a greater one, and he dies every second of every day in an attempt to show us truth. 

The Evil One says we are made for less; Christ shows we are made for more. Which ruler do you want to fight for?

Tunnel Vision

Alright.....time to buckle down and get to this blog! My brain has been going all week and I wanted to share, but haven't even taken the time to breathe like I should, much less write. Whew! Okay. Hello :) I hope your life has been rockin' awesome! Bear with me for a moment while I reach a new level of nerdiness; I'm going to compare faith to marching band. Yes,that just happened. Call me a nerd, but you and I both know that nerds rule the world.

Whether you've ever been a member, stood along the street and watched, or just seen one on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, we all know what a marching band looks like. What most people don't realize is how hard it is to make that block of people look like something other than a blob, or sound better than an annoying preschooler with their recorder. Accomplishing this requires something that my band director has constantly pointed out over the past 7 years It requires tunnel vision. You must carry your instrument exactly the same way as your neighbor, playing exactly the same volume when your horn comes up. You must stand and mark time behind the fire truck (who is trying to crowd please and dodge small children at the same time), making sure that you are putting your heel down at exactly the same time as the other 75 people around you. You must do all of this while remaining perfectly in line both front-to-back and side-to-side. Finally, you need to ignore the grandma who runs in the middle of the band to kiss her grandson, and the cute little five year old running beside you-at least until the 3 mile parade route is over. You must be focused only on the task at hand, ignoring everything else in this world. Sounds kind of nuts, eh? Kind of like life tends to be.

Being a successful Christian requires the ultimate tunnel vision.

If we are going to live this life for something bigger than ourselves, and if we are going to get somewhere better than here, we have to focus. Christ is the light at the end of the tunnel, the only way we should ever be traveling. We are surrounded by great examples of faith in the saints and angels, who are willing to walk with us. The rest of the tunnel is obviously dark, so why on earth would we wander off on our own? Those distractions that pop up in every day life (you know, the ones that take our eyes off the prize), well, they aren't worth it. What we gain in running away from Love is emptiness. What we gain in running away from

light is darkness. It's not worth it. Zone out the thoughts that tell you that you aren't good enough. Don't listen to the people who bring you down. Don't over-complicate your tunnel (much easier said than done, I know). Christ loves you. If you love him, run to him.

May you blur out the edges of your tunnel, focusing only on Love in everything you do.

He Knows What You Need

I interrupt all banquet script editing, homework, and (or whatever you may be doing) for a very important message:

God knows what you need. So let him give it to you.

I desperately need a couple of days to bring me back to a more positive outlook. What did I get when I stopped trying to interrupt His plan?

• A morning of going to school at normal people time....so not until right before class started.


• An excuse to wear a skirt to school today-Yay Soroptomist luncheons! Even if you are slightly awkward....


• Time (that's right-time!) to spend with my little sister, including taking her to school and going on an ice cream date. I really, really, REALLY enjoy spending time with her beautiful soul. She's in public school this year, and she asks me to go to mass with her on the weekends; it makes me happy she has someone in our family to depend on faith-wise. Thank God for His work. She's also in 6th grade, which for those of you who don't know, is the perfect time to convince her that boys still do (and always will) have cooties ;)


• The chance to see some awesome faith in action from those around me.

So, I basically got a great two days! God's kind of funny, eh?

He knows what you need. Let him give it to you.

Palms or Nails?

Phew....what a week! I never slept past 4:30 a.m., and I most likely won't in the coming one, either. I've been trying to convince my parents that I can deal with my headaches, and the small inconvenience isn't keeping me from being a normal high schooler; I tried to convince them that I'm not crazy....but we all know that battle was lost a long time ago ;) I've gotten the chance to travel to a few FFA events around the state, spend time with some of my favorite people, and help some to step outside of their comfort zone. I've also spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to teach myself calculus and chemistry, as it seems I'm NEVER in school. It's been an insane, tiring, and absolutely blessed week.

I love Sundays for about a jillion different reasons, including that I usually have time to breathe, make some kind of music, and actually think. This morning was awesome- I just LOVE Palm Sunday mass! All week I've been working on living every moment with purpose. Since organized prayer and silence lasting more than a few moments simply hasn't been an option, I may as well focus on what I should be doing anyway. I've always been a major believer in the power of small, silent actions, and this week has only reinforced that.

Today at mass, the homily hit on the power of our sins-all of them. While Father was talking about how the daily choices we make can glorify Christ or turn us away from Him, something clicked in my brain (maybe the Holy Spirit clicks? Hmm...), and I thought of something:

The man who died for us is with us, every moment of every day.
Do you greet him with the palms that help pave his way, or the nails that crucify him?

Do you choose to pray while driving instead of listening to your radio for a few minutes? Palm. Do you honk and cuss at the driver in front of you for going the speed limit in a school zone? Nail. Do you offer kind words to that one person in your life who really drives you crazy? Palm. What about when you roll your eyes when they give you a dirty look for what you just said? Nail.

If you're like me, your day may end up like this: Palm. Nail. Nail. Nail. Palm. Nail. Palm. Nail. Palm......well, you get the picture. Don't get discouraged; we weren't made to be perfect. We were however, made to try.

Will you glorify Christ as king, or nail him to the cross once again? The choice is yours each moment.

Missing the Point

I miss a lot of things-things that have disappeared from my life lately and things that were never really there at all.

I miss people asking how I really am.
I miss good hugs.
I miss friends who care about more than the things of this world.
I miss good conversations.
I miss being motivated.
I miss having time to breathe.
I miss playing piano keys to make music instead of laptop keys to make papers.
I miss feeling like I am actually making a difference.
I miss living without a mask.

I'm missing the point.

We have a purpose.
We have a calling.
We have a duty.

Whatever feelings of anger,bitterness, loneliness and hopelessness may get in the way, we must remember that, and place our ultimate mission above all else.

Grace to you, and peace in the quite contentment of our Lord.

Being Human is Tiring!

Sometimes, we get tired...

Tired of fighting for no apparent reason...

Tired of reaching out towards others, but feeling alone anyway...

Tired of believing lies...

Tired.

So was He.

Christ carried his cross on Calvary for us. He carried 120 lbs of sin and tree....not exactly a walk in the park to begin with. He proceeded to climb uphill, after being beaten close to death by those people whose sins he was carrying. He was crowned with thorns, stripped of all clothes, and put to death in place of a man who was actually guilty. He was mocked and SPIT ON the whole way (not to mention the days before). When he got to the end of the road, what did he do? Did he respond to the chance to prove himself as God? No. Did he yell back? No. He allowed those men to drive nails into his naked flesh-in front of his own mother-for something greater. He FORGAVE them before he took his final breath. It's not about me. It's not about you. It's about that.

May you have a fruitful Lent, filled with meaningful sufferings. May you never tire in imitating the unfailing Love of Christ.

Whatever You Do

God is good.....so, so, so good. Just thought I'd drop in and remind you ;)

I LOVE days like today: those days where you know the battle has already been won the moment you wake up. Those days when your eyes are open to Love, and the whole world seems to be singing a song just for you.

My morning has been blessedly mellow and insanely productive. Yes, at the same time! I slept in until 9, then broke out my backpack and caught up on some calculus. I have the house to myself for the day, which means I was listening to some Frank Sinatra/Ella Fitzgerald while finding the antiderivatives of functions.....which also made cleaning my room much more enjoyable, in case you were wondering. I have a list of other things to do today, but none of them at a certain time-which NEVER happens. So I went out on the porch, found a warm spot and prayed a rosary before continuing my streak of productivity. Yay :) My afternoon list consists of finishing at least 3 scholarship apps, 2 more calc assignments, a chemistry II chapter and questions, and writings some thank you's and letters. The next few hours also consists of me doing perhaps the most dangerous thing on the planet:

I'm going to.....clean. my. car. If you could see my car right now, you would run scared to. I've decided if at any point in time I'm going to conquer this monster, it may as well be today, when I can listen to some good music while doing it. Before I even begin I know there will be at least 5 lawn chairs, a sleeping bag, basketballs, volleyballs, flyers from our 5K in November, and a sack of 100 or so paper mache eggs and all supplies needed to paint/decorate them with little 4-H kids. Oh boy, this should be an adventure, to say the least!

You know, that's a good way to look at everything, actually. Don't dread doing the little things in your daily life-do them for someone greater. Because that someone who is Christ has written for you the adventure of a lifetime....and you're living it right now.

" Whatever you do, do from the heart, as if for the Lord and not for others..." Coll 3:23

Time for Another Quote!

"Be an instrument of gold or of steel, of platinum or of iron-big or small, delicate or rough.

They're all useful.

Each serves its own purpose.

Who whould dare say that the carpenter's saw is any less useful than the surgeon's scalpel?

Your duty is to be an instrument."

-St. Josemaria Escriva

Lessons in Battle

"Battles, battles, get your spiritual battles!"

I feel like the last few weeks, I've been a walking talking advertising board for spiritual warfare. It's been filled with horrible and wonderful, losses and victories. But if you really want to hear about it, ask me some other time. I'd love to have a good convo about angels, battles, and Saint Michael! But for now, I'll get to what I learned from these battles:

1) What we feel isn't always happening. We may feel worthless; that doesn't mean we are. We may feel like the world is crashing down around us; that doesn't mean it is. On the same note, we may feel everything is fine, but that doesn't mean there aren't problems in this world. If we were all controlled by our feelings 100% of the time, this world would be absolutely crazy. (If you're like me, the thought that just went through your brain was "Isn't it already?!" Well yes....but multiply that times a billion.) Trust me, if what I felt these last few weeks would have actually been happening, I'm pretty sure there would be nothing left standing around me. Everything would have either crumbled, caught on fire, or blew up somehow. What we feel isn't always happening.

2) St. Michael is AMAZING......times a zillion and a half. There is no way I would be here right now feeling strong and safe if it weren't for his constant intercession and help in battle. When I got to the point when I felt I was battling alone, the prayers I asked for were specifically to St. Michael (more to come on the asking for prayers later). I've always been partial to the Archangel, but nothing like I am now. WOW. My freshman year, I picked St. Michael as my patron saint, but not for any reason really-because he was the only one I knew enough about to write my required saint report on. You know how we're all supposed to open the "door" in our hearts to let Christ in? No worries, St. Michael just ninja kicks it down for us.


3) God needs us to be who we are, not who we assume others need us to be.
Did that just feel like a drop-kick in the face? Yeah.... This is definitely the phrase that has been stuck in my mind for the last week or so. Kind of self-explanatory. I don't try to meet others expectations, I just create my own. I try so hard to help others in ways that aren't "me," that I end up hurting them worse. But the guy knows what He's doing. He surrounds us with the people we need, not the ones we want. He knows just how others will impact us, and how we will impact them. This world needs people who find their identity in Him. Song of Songs 4:7. BAM.


I also wanted to use this post as a way to say thanks. To all of you (followers of this blog or not) who have supported me in prayer when I desperately needed it, read all of my annoying texts asking for them, and encouraged me by the way you live your lives...thank you. You are truly a blessing, and you have helped more than you know.


St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do thou,
O Prince of the Heavenly Host-
by the power of God-
cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

Go...Go...Go....Be Still!

My day:

• Speeding (slightly) to school so that I could get chemistry help


• Power-walking to my car after school to get to my chiropractic appointment


• Flying through a rosary on my way to Winfield for adoration


• Speeding home from Winfield ( I promise I don't speed that often!) to avoid questions about where I've been


• Sitting here trying to rush through homework before 4-H, hearing one sister yell "Mom!" all over the house, and the other one hitting the computer because it's not fast enough to suit her needs


• Speed-typing this blog post before my brain explodes!

Hmm.....I may be over-exaggerating a tad, but I'm not being that dramatic. For crying out loud, be productive when you need to be and BE STILL when you don't! Stop letting your brain (or your bodies too, if you're like me) go, go, go, and go some more. Sit. Breathe. Thank God for His work in your life. Even if that only takes you two seconds. I deem that two seconds well spent.

"Be still, and know that I am God!..." ~Psalm 46:11

Spend a useful two seconds every once in a while, and find joy in His Love. Peace!

Endless Hope

You know those days where you feel like God's giving you a gigantic bear-hug? Today has definitely been one of those days! Spiritual victory, no matter the size, feels wonderful.

Throughout the day there has been one phrase that I just can't seem to get out of my head:

Endless Hope.

God has an endless capacity of hope for us. Endless....as in never ending. Ever. Ever. Ever. It feels good to think about, huh?

It's so easy for us to lose faith in ourselves and others. One bad day, and we feel like our world is ending. One hurtful secret that slipped out of a friend's mouth, and we no longer trust them. It's hard to have hope in those peers who seem to see the negative side of every situation, and it's hard to make ourselves see the positive side. But there always is; with a God who willingly sacrificed himself for us, how can there not be? Christ wasn't sent to die on a cross so that the world could remain dark. He came to bring light :)

Regardless of what we have done, are doing, and most likely will do in the future, God hopes. In fact, he has an endless capacity of it just for you. When you can't seem to resist the temptation dragging you down, God forgives. When you are running on empty, God provides. When you are singing joyfully, God listens in wonder. In all situations, God hopes.

And with that, I leave you with a verse very dear to my heart:

"Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us." ~Romans 5:3-5

May you find comfort in God's endless hope, today and always. Peace!

Plainly and Simply

So I've been reading quite a bit about the apparitions of Mary lately, and I absolutely love Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Ah....beauty :) I just found this beautiful reflection, and thought I'd share. Enjoy!

"Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to him, 'Lord I am here. Tell me what you would have me do.' If he gives me some task, I am content and I thank him. If he gives me nothing, I still thank him since I do not deserve to receive anything more than that. And then, I tell God everything that is in my heart. I tell him about my pains and my joys, and then I listen. If you listen, God will also speak to you, for with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen. God always speaks to you when you approach him plainly and simply." ~St. Catherine Laboure

May we strive to approach Love with everything that we are...plainly and simply.