The golf world revealed another act of God this weekend, as rules were actually followed in a sport for once. We live in a day and age where cheating runs rampant in professional baseball, football, basketball, golf and hockey. It may be involving morals, or may just be trying to gain an edge physically. Performance enhancing drugs are mostly to blame for that. But in last weekend's Verizon Heritage golf tournament, golfer Brian Davis actually proved that winning just isn't the same if it's not done within the rules.
He had been battling with Jim Furyk all day, both at the top of the leader board. Furyk has been one of the better players on tour over the course of his career, winning multiple times. Davis though, was looking for his first-ever victory. After hitting the ball into a sand dune on the last hole, Davis had to play a pretty tricky shot to keep himself in contention. While he was bringing the club back in his swing, he just barely clipped a loose reed laying down in the sand. That is a rules violation in golf. Unseen by the naked eye, no one knew but Davis. Instead of letting it go unnoticed, the golfer called the penalty on himself, which was a two stroke violation, eliminating his chances of winning his first tournament.
Now ask yourself, would you do the same thing in that situation? That's putting honesty to the maximum, especially with a monetary value on the line. It's like telling a cashier they gave you too much change, or that you were graded too high on a test or paper. It takes a certain kind of person to go through life that way. Everyone wants to act that way, but it is pretty easy to take advantage of catching a break or two.
The question then is did you deserve that break? A lot of times, people feel entitled, like they deserved an award over someone else, or that they had money stolen from them so they deserved a couple extra dollars. The only ones who deserve anything are those who haven't sinned. Haven't seen anybody like that in 2000 years or so. Everyone else is on an even playing field. That's why hard work is required: To -earn- the good things in life. We might work our hardest, and things still might not work out. Once again, that's just a part of God's plan. We all learn something from working hard, no matter if we are successful or not. On the last hole, the win didn't matter to Davis, he knew that if he cheated his way to winning he wouldn't deserve the victory. Yet, he learned he can play pretty well by working hard. I bet, that in the next time he is in that position, he will indeed perform better, obviously learning from his mistake of the past.
Look at this week's Gospel. The apostles are once again out fishing, which they don't seem that great at considering their past endeavors. But once again, Jesus proves to be the difference. He tells them to put the net on the other side of the boat, where fish are abundant. Peter...who has made his fair share of mistakes in the past...jumps out of the boat into the water to get to shore where Jesus is. Don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure bathing suits were lacking those days, so envision Peter, drenched in heavy clothing, scurrying to meet Jesus on shore. Pretty solid act of faith there.
Sometimes, maybe we just need a little nudge in the right direction. I believe everyone truly is good at heart...just like Peter. Put your net on the other side of the boat. Change a bad habit into a good one. You've got to work at that too. The head Ithaca College football coach always says it takes 21 days to establish a habit, good or bad. That means I have to commit to standing on the correct spot on the field for that amount of days, or else I'll always be in the wrong place.
Think of how being focused on doing something good for three straight weeks will impact your life for the rest of the year. It's not that long, just 3 out of 52 weeks in a year. It may be hard at first, but by training yourself in a good way, you will start to earn things, instead of feeling like you just deserve to be rewarded. Maybe start that 21 day process by simply switching those two words in your life. Catch and stop yourself when you think about entitlement, and insert the word earn and hard work into your everyday life. That will cut down on laziness that each and every one of us has.
As I said above, Davis trained himself to act and think in a honest way. He had all the incentive in the world to keep his mouth shut, yet his good habit said that wasn't an option. Peter had some bad habits at times, but he trained himself to recognize God and believe in Him.
Let's start some of those 21 day cycles right now.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Faith Be With You
The week after Easter Sunday always features the classic Gospel of Jesus appearing before the apostles for the first time. It's the story of Thomas doubting the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. We hear it every year, and it's kind of the cornerstone story when it comes to faith.
We live with so many doubts in our daily lives. All of the time Catholics question their very own beliefs too. They say, "How do I know Jesus rose from the dead?" or "How can I be sure there even is a God?" That's why faith is a cool thing. It's believing in something that isn't even there.
Look at Santa Claus. There is nothing like the innocence of a child right? They often have more faith about something as trivial as a man in a big red suit than adults have about their Creator. The kids don't need to see Santa Claus to believe in him, they just know he is there. Faith is knowing that God is there, and believing in every part of Him and everything He did and will do.
Yet, God knows that we are sinners, and that we have transgressions and times of doubt just like Thomas...as we are human after all. We may strive for perfection, but that probably won't happen for us anytime soon. As always, God forgives us. Sometimes, he even rewards us for still believing.
The Masters Golf Tournament took place this past weekend, and it is basically the Super Bowl for professional golf. It takes place on the most prestigious course with the best competition of the season. Yet, this year, instead of talk of course changes to Augusta National or whether someone was playing really well, everyone was focused on one thing...Tiger Woods. The star of the sport had been missing for months after his sex scandal where he cheated on his wife with multiple women. Before that, besides some on course blowups, Woods' image was squeaky clean. A great role model. But after story after story came out about his transgressions, it was hard to believe in any "good guy" in sports again. My faith was shaken, and it was hard to trust other stars in sports. But I still thought...everyone can't be like this right?
Myself and fans everywhere were rewarded for thoughts like that. Woods didn't win the tournament, but the softer, rounder lefty Phil Mickleson was victorious. After Phil's wife and mother were both diagnosed with cancer in the last year, his appearance at Augusta should've been the highest billing. Fittingly though, he triumphed at the end, a heartwarming story that made even the coldest of people beam with pride for the man. Unlike his competitor Woods, he couldn't control the distractions of his family life, but was able to focus anyways. All in all, it was refreshing to witness that performance. God showed me that good guys do exist, and can do well in the harshest of environments.
He obviously rewarded the apostles' years of following Jesus and their faith, though shaken, that He would return. God only wanted us to learn from what happened to Him. In his second appearance, He knew Thomas doubted his presence, but instead of making a scene, He simply said...Peace Be With You.
That should be a reassuring thought, that instead of fighting over trivial matters, just admit when we are wrong and there won't be a need for drama or conflict. It might make your life a bit simpler. Then again, Jesus wants us to bring that Peace wherever we go. What does this word Peace mean anyways? Think for a second what it means to you.
You might think of world peace...something Miss America might say, or the word might make you think of saying peace in Mass, or even a "piece" of pie. There's nothing wrong with any of that. World peace might seem unattainable from your position, but you do have a role. On the football field, everyone has a role. If I'm a blocker I better block my man or else my teammate is going to fail. Even if I'm the last guy off the bench, it's my job to practice hard and cheer for my teammates so that they get better. I have an impact no matter what. As a person in this world, you have an impact just like that. No matter how small it is, you have one. Let's just keep that in mind. The signs for being environmentally friendly are everywhere...just listen to some Michael Jackson and it's not that hard to figure out.
Right now, in these times where the economy is doubted and people are shouting that the world needs to be cleaned up, we once again need faith. If we aren't sure about it, God will forgive us. And if we have that knowing innocence of a child, we will be rewarded with peace and justice.
First though, we need to believe in God just because we can. We don't need proof, we don't need primary or secondary sources...we just know. Then, the rest will fall into place.
We live with so many doubts in our daily lives. All of the time Catholics question their very own beliefs too. They say, "How do I know Jesus rose from the dead?" or "How can I be sure there even is a God?" That's why faith is a cool thing. It's believing in something that isn't even there.
Look at Santa Claus. There is nothing like the innocence of a child right? They often have more faith about something as trivial as a man in a big red suit than adults have about their Creator. The kids don't need to see Santa Claus to believe in him, they just know he is there. Faith is knowing that God is there, and believing in every part of Him and everything He did and will do.
Yet, God knows that we are sinners, and that we have transgressions and times of doubt just like Thomas...as we are human after all. We may strive for perfection, but that probably won't happen for us anytime soon. As always, God forgives us. Sometimes, he even rewards us for still believing.
The Masters Golf Tournament took place this past weekend, and it is basically the Super Bowl for professional golf. It takes place on the most prestigious course with the best competition of the season. Yet, this year, instead of talk of course changes to Augusta National or whether someone was playing really well, everyone was focused on one thing...Tiger Woods. The star of the sport had been missing for months after his sex scandal where he cheated on his wife with multiple women. Before that, besides some on course blowups, Woods' image was squeaky clean. A great role model. But after story after story came out about his transgressions, it was hard to believe in any "good guy" in sports again. My faith was shaken, and it was hard to trust other stars in sports. But I still thought...everyone can't be like this right?
Myself and fans everywhere were rewarded for thoughts like that. Woods didn't win the tournament, but the softer, rounder lefty Phil Mickleson was victorious. After Phil's wife and mother were both diagnosed with cancer in the last year, his appearance at Augusta should've been the highest billing. Fittingly though, he triumphed at the end, a heartwarming story that made even the coldest of people beam with pride for the man. Unlike his competitor Woods, he couldn't control the distractions of his family life, but was able to focus anyways. All in all, it was refreshing to witness that performance. God showed me that good guys do exist, and can do well in the harshest of environments.
He obviously rewarded the apostles' years of following Jesus and their faith, though shaken, that He would return. God only wanted us to learn from what happened to Him. In his second appearance, He knew Thomas doubted his presence, but instead of making a scene, He simply said...Peace Be With You.
That should be a reassuring thought, that instead of fighting over trivial matters, just admit when we are wrong and there won't be a need for drama or conflict. It might make your life a bit simpler. Then again, Jesus wants us to bring that Peace wherever we go. What does this word Peace mean anyways? Think for a second what it means to you.
You might think of world peace...something Miss America might say, or the word might make you think of saying peace in Mass, or even a "piece" of pie. There's nothing wrong with any of that. World peace might seem unattainable from your position, but you do have a role. On the football field, everyone has a role. If I'm a blocker I better block my man or else my teammate is going to fail. Even if I'm the last guy off the bench, it's my job to practice hard and cheer for my teammates so that they get better. I have an impact no matter what. As a person in this world, you have an impact just like that. No matter how small it is, you have one. Let's just keep that in mind. The signs for being environmentally friendly are everywhere...just listen to some Michael Jackson and it's not that hard to figure out.
Right now, in these times where the economy is doubted and people are shouting that the world needs to be cleaned up, we once again need faith. If we aren't sure about it, God will forgive us. And if we have that knowing innocence of a child, we will be rewarded with peace and justice.
First though, we need to believe in God just because we can. We don't need proof, we don't need primary or secondary sources...we just know. Then, the rest will fall into place.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Now What?
What a way to start a column…Jesus is risen! After all those subdued days of preparation and prayer, the Easter season is here, not to mention the green buds of Spring appearing on the trees. By all means rejoice and enjoy it. It's one of the two biggest periods of time in the church year, so we better make note of it. When we started Lent, it was all about tweaking our everyday lives to get better for Easter. One of the main points of that though, is to let that change become a part of you long past the Lenten and Easter season.
That's not easy. It's simple to forget what you learned over those 40 days nights. It's simple to be gluttonous and have huge piles of the food you gave up on Easter morning. Lent should show everyone that moderation is vital, and it keeps you centered. It's something you can't forget.
Think about different parts of your life that you've forgotten about, or haven't remembered as much as you wanted to. It's remarkable to think that September 11, 2001 was over nine years ago. Yet, most people go days without thinking about that tragedy. Only the graphic images on the television or a reminder of a fallen loved one rekindle those thoughts. I bring it up months removed from the anniversary, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Sure, we don't want to be weighed down by those depressing thoughts, but the lessons learned about the value of life should be with us every single day. It changed the way we lived on September 12, why not now?
So here we sit, just a few days removed from one of God's greatest accomplishments, kind of in that recovery mode. What are you looking towards regarding your faith? Did this Lenten season help? Keep in mind; it's an awfully long time until something of this magnitude happens again.
In June, will we remember that Jesus forgave those who had wronged him while he was hanging on the cross? In July, will we remember that He, and not a disciple washed the other disciples feet? In August, will we remember that Joy of Easter, and the fact that the Hope of salvation is always there because of what Jesus did for us?
We might say we will remember, and that those actions hold a permanent place in our minds, but it's harder than everyone thinks. Much harder. Schedules fill up. To do lists get longer and longer. Time devoted to God becomes smaller every day removed from Easter Sunday. After Easter season, it's a long summer of Ordinary Time. The next time most of think of Jesus is when he is born in December.
An obvious solution to this forgetfulness is going to church on a weekly basis. There, the Last Supper is reenacted, kind of making it hard to forget Jesus dying for us. It also helps to hang a cross or crucifix somewhere on a wall in your place of residence. That's a visual, daily reminder of what Jesus did for us.
Those are some active things we can do, but it’s really about retraining our minds and making that mental effort to keep God in our minds. We are allowed to still partake in our daily activities. Going to classes, work, or just having a good time is all good in God’s eyes. But whether you’re in your car, walking on a sidewalk, or just sitting eating lunch, turn the music down or put down the fork, and think about how you felt on Good Friday or Easter. It might give you a different spring in your step or general attitude towards life on that day. It won’t hurt to think of those different momentous occasions in your life either.
Let's make the jubilation of Easter season a part of our lives every single day, especially during those months where we don't have a specific day that tells us to go to church. We don’t need a national holiday…so why not tell ourselves?
That's not easy. It's simple to forget what you learned over those 40 days nights. It's simple to be gluttonous and have huge piles of the food you gave up on Easter morning. Lent should show everyone that moderation is vital, and it keeps you centered. It's something you can't forget.
Think about different parts of your life that you've forgotten about, or haven't remembered as much as you wanted to. It's remarkable to think that September 11, 2001 was over nine years ago. Yet, most people go days without thinking about that tragedy. Only the graphic images on the television or a reminder of a fallen loved one rekindle those thoughts. I bring it up months removed from the anniversary, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Sure, we don't want to be weighed down by those depressing thoughts, but the lessons learned about the value of life should be with us every single day. It changed the way we lived on September 12, why not now?
So here we sit, just a few days removed from one of God's greatest accomplishments, kind of in that recovery mode. What are you looking towards regarding your faith? Did this Lenten season help? Keep in mind; it's an awfully long time until something of this magnitude happens again.
In June, will we remember that Jesus forgave those who had wronged him while he was hanging on the cross? In July, will we remember that He, and not a disciple washed the other disciples feet? In August, will we remember that Joy of Easter, and the fact that the Hope of salvation is always there because of what Jesus did for us?
We might say we will remember, and that those actions hold a permanent place in our minds, but it's harder than everyone thinks. Much harder. Schedules fill up. To do lists get longer and longer. Time devoted to God becomes smaller every day removed from Easter Sunday. After Easter season, it's a long summer of Ordinary Time. The next time most of think of Jesus is when he is born in December.
An obvious solution to this forgetfulness is going to church on a weekly basis. There, the Last Supper is reenacted, kind of making it hard to forget Jesus dying for us. It also helps to hang a cross or crucifix somewhere on a wall in your place of residence. That's a visual, daily reminder of what Jesus did for us.
Those are some active things we can do, but it’s really about retraining our minds and making that mental effort to keep God in our minds. We are allowed to still partake in our daily activities. Going to classes, work, or just having a good time is all good in God’s eyes. But whether you’re in your car, walking on a sidewalk, or just sitting eating lunch, turn the music down or put down the fork, and think about how you felt on Good Friday or Easter. It might give you a different spring in your step or general attitude towards life on that day. It won’t hurt to think of those different momentous occasions in your life either.
Let's make the jubilation of Easter season a part of our lives every single day, especially during those months where we don't have a specific day that tells us to go to church. We don’t need a national holiday…so why not tell ourselves?
Monday, March 29, 2010
Holy Week
Well, it's almost time for the the big game. Holy Week. It's like March Madness for Catholics, the pinnacle of our Church year. Sure, everyday life is going to go on throughout this week, but it's our job as Catholics to take a step back from that, and to recognize that this is one of the cornerstones of our faith. We reenact this each year, which shows that it truly is important.
The only way to truly observe the Holy Triduum is to make yourself a part of it. Feel the emotions...the foreboding and foreshadowing of Holy Thursday, the pain and sadness of Good Friday, the patience and faith of Holy Saturday, and finally the rejoicing of Easter Sunday. Everyone uses those emotions on a daily basis, so why not use them for God. It helps us learn not only more about God, but ourselves as well.
You'll hear the Passion once again on Friday, but it will be from John. One line in Luke's on Palm Sunday stuck out to me though. Right after the crowd of chief priests, rulers, and regular people yell that they want Barabbas released, Luke tells us that Barabbas had been in prison for a rebellion and murder. I think we all know that murder is pretty bad, and wouldn't want a known murderer running around the streets rebelling. Yet, the people would rather have Barabbas on the streets, than Jesus, who has never hurt a fly. He was just changing the world.
Their thinking is just so backwards that it really makes me think, wow these people had no idea what they were talking about. They thought they did, but lost all sense of reality in the rush of actually making a difference with their voices. It's called getting caught in the moment, and not thinking about the consequences of actions. We can be so set on something that we block out any other alternatives, which probably could be better that what we are set on. That tunnel vision can really hurt us. I'm all for tradition and keeping things the same, but there are times when change really is good.
It's kind of what life is about. Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, you have to embrace those turns in life, because the alternative is having the same thing happen day after day after day. Not very fun is it? Pretty repetitive. Things can change, but God needs to stay constant, that's where our grounding comes from.
Think about this week, although Jesus told them what would happen more than once, the apostles had their world rocked for three straight days. Some of it was good, some of it was terrible. By being scared to go out in public, their face was shaken too. We've all had those whirlwind stretches, where life's turns seem more severe than ever. We need to keep our faith strong in those instances, and think that maybe this change could be for the best down the road, and lead us where God has us meant to go. That's our fate, and our destiny, and we can get emotional about it.
So, in these next few days, feel sad, feel happy, get scared, give yourself to God and the events that save us. Change really is good, but keep God as that constant, traditional force. The Triduum is a pattern that repeats throughout our own lives, and with God as our Rock, our destiny is inevitable.
The only way to truly observe the Holy Triduum is to make yourself a part of it. Feel the emotions...the foreboding and foreshadowing of Holy Thursday, the pain and sadness of Good Friday, the patience and faith of Holy Saturday, and finally the rejoicing of Easter Sunday. Everyone uses those emotions on a daily basis, so why not use them for God. It helps us learn not only more about God, but ourselves as well.
You'll hear the Passion once again on Friday, but it will be from John. One line in Luke's on Palm Sunday stuck out to me though. Right after the crowd of chief priests, rulers, and regular people yell that they want Barabbas released, Luke tells us that Barabbas had been in prison for a rebellion and murder. I think we all know that murder is pretty bad, and wouldn't want a known murderer running around the streets rebelling. Yet, the people would rather have Barabbas on the streets, than Jesus, who has never hurt a fly. He was just changing the world.
Their thinking is just so backwards that it really makes me think, wow these people had no idea what they were talking about. They thought they did, but lost all sense of reality in the rush of actually making a difference with their voices. It's called getting caught in the moment, and not thinking about the consequences of actions. We can be so set on something that we block out any other alternatives, which probably could be better that what we are set on. That tunnel vision can really hurt us. I'm all for tradition and keeping things the same, but there are times when change really is good.
It's kind of what life is about. Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, you have to embrace those turns in life, because the alternative is having the same thing happen day after day after day. Not very fun is it? Pretty repetitive. Things can change, but God needs to stay constant, that's where our grounding comes from.
Think about this week, although Jesus told them what would happen more than once, the apostles had their world rocked for three straight days. Some of it was good, some of it was terrible. By being scared to go out in public, their face was shaken too. We've all had those whirlwind stretches, where life's turns seem more severe than ever. We need to keep our faith strong in those instances, and think that maybe this change could be for the best down the road, and lead us where God has us meant to go. That's our fate, and our destiny, and we can get emotional about it.
So, in these next few days, feel sad, feel happy, get scared, give yourself to God and the events that save us. Change really is good, but keep God as that constant, traditional force. The Triduum is a pattern that repeats throughout our own lives, and with God as our Rock, our destiny is inevitable.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Who's on First?
With school back in session after a much needed week off, it's time to hit the last stretch of blogs for this spring semester. For anyone with kids, who is currently in school, or teaches in any capacity, these next couple months are often the hardest. Summer vacation is in sight, but you know what, there is work still to be done. It's easy to worry about all that is on the schedule, trust me, my April might be one of my toughest. Football practice at sunrise, documentary filming, paper writing, and even some volunteering fill up those 30 days for me. It's difficult to avoid those thoughts of doubt and exhaustion as I approach those days. I'm sure your schedule is as packed if not worse than my own.
But life is too short to think about doing all of that now. It's impossible, there's no time machine that can get me through it either. So I just have to deal with it, and even try to make something positive out of each activity I do.
Sunrise Football: I love my sleep just as much as you do, so I am not a morning person. Running around at 6 am though, illuminated by a rising ball of fire, will be good for me. It's seizing the day, literally not wasting a moment of sunlight. I'm also making my body better physically in the process. And that feel-good emotion that you get after a solid workout won't hurt either.
Documentary Filming: My topic is up in Syracuse, so time and travel will be involved. But I will be trying to capture the emotions of people and the controversial visuals of the polluted Onondaga Lake. That's good for society as a whole, and will improve my journalistic sense as well.
Paper Writing: Pretty self-explanitory, we probably all know the feeling of sitting down to a 20 or 10 page paper. It's impossible not to learn something in the process though. Whether it is in the research or the actual writing, some nugget of knowledge will be implanted in my head in that process.
Volunteering: I'm working up at the Cayuga Nature Center with people and animals, which is quite the task. I committed to it for a class, but the experience has grown on me, and I think it might even be in my plans for next semester as well. Sure, it takes up a considerable amount of my weekend relax time. But instead of watching a cheetah take down an ostrich on the Discovery Channel, I'll be cleaning the cage of boa constrictor. Kind of puts High Definition to shame doesn't it?
When budgeted correctly, those short 24 hours can be made much longer, and can fit all of those activities in without stress or worry. Looking at their positive side makes it much more attainable.
But wait...
Don't make the mistake I did. Writing this, I didn't know where to put God. Sure, that stuff I talked about is important, but God should always be the priority. In 50 years I might not have to know how to make a documentary or write a paper on the difference of mainstream and alternative media, but I will need to know God. As busy as I'm going to be, regardless of what I have to do, attending church on Sunday in some form, somewhere, at some time, must be a priority.
If I don't make it the top part of my list, and miss a week or two, it will be like that snowball I'm always talking about, and I might lose that cornerstone of my life. Even if I'm in the middle of a paper that is due at midnight on a Sunday, I must go to Mass at Muller at 9, it's that important. That foundation of Sunday mass helps me through the busy times, because I know I can still pray to God at any time, which is where the idea of being positive about those busy days comes in. It's easy to dread a tough day, but by letting God shape those activities, and realize that it's part of his plan, you might get something out of it. Dare I say, it will be refreshing to know that you got so much done in just 24 hours...
Twenty minutes of looking at a reading or glancing at a prayer book in between all that stuff during the week won't hurt either...I'm sure it is more worthwhile than checking Facebook and your email and your Twitter and your cell phone 20 different times in that same time span.
Keep in mind that what you'll need tomorrow is important, but what you'll really need in the long run is a close relationship with God. Everything has its own place, but your faith should always be in first. That will take you down the path of an enriched life.
But life is too short to think about doing all of that now. It's impossible, there's no time machine that can get me through it either. So I just have to deal with it, and even try to make something positive out of each activity I do.
Sunrise Football: I love my sleep just as much as you do, so I am not a morning person. Running around at 6 am though, illuminated by a rising ball of fire, will be good for me. It's seizing the day, literally not wasting a moment of sunlight. I'm also making my body better physically in the process. And that feel-good emotion that you get after a solid workout won't hurt either.
Documentary Filming: My topic is up in Syracuse, so time and travel will be involved. But I will be trying to capture the emotions of people and the controversial visuals of the polluted Onondaga Lake. That's good for society as a whole, and will improve my journalistic sense as well.
Paper Writing: Pretty self-explanitory, we probably all know the feeling of sitting down to a 20 or 10 page paper. It's impossible not to learn something in the process though. Whether it is in the research or the actual writing, some nugget of knowledge will be implanted in my head in that process.
Volunteering: I'm working up at the Cayuga Nature Center with people and animals, which is quite the task. I committed to it for a class, but the experience has grown on me, and I think it might even be in my plans for next semester as well. Sure, it takes up a considerable amount of my weekend relax time. But instead of watching a cheetah take down an ostrich on the Discovery Channel, I'll be cleaning the cage of boa constrictor. Kind of puts High Definition to shame doesn't it?
When budgeted correctly, those short 24 hours can be made much longer, and can fit all of those activities in without stress or worry. Looking at their positive side makes it much more attainable.
But wait...
Don't make the mistake I did. Writing this, I didn't know where to put God. Sure, that stuff I talked about is important, but God should always be the priority. In 50 years I might not have to know how to make a documentary or write a paper on the difference of mainstream and alternative media, but I will need to know God. As busy as I'm going to be, regardless of what I have to do, attending church on Sunday in some form, somewhere, at some time, must be a priority.
If I don't make it the top part of my list, and miss a week or two, it will be like that snowball I'm always talking about, and I might lose that cornerstone of my life. Even if I'm in the middle of a paper that is due at midnight on a Sunday, I must go to Mass at Muller at 9, it's that important. That foundation of Sunday mass helps me through the busy times, because I know I can still pray to God at any time, which is where the idea of being positive about those busy days comes in. It's easy to dread a tough day, but by letting God shape those activities, and realize that it's part of his plan, you might get something out of it. Dare I say, it will be refreshing to know that you got so much done in just 24 hours...
Twenty minutes of looking at a reading or glancing at a prayer book in between all that stuff during the week won't hurt either...I'm sure it is more worthwhile than checking Facebook and your email and your Twitter and your cell phone 20 different times in that same time span.
Keep in mind that what you'll need tomorrow is important, but what you'll really need in the long run is a close relationship with God. Everything has its own place, but your faith should always be in first. That will take you down the path of an enriched life.
Monday, March 8, 2010
From Eating Fish to Making Fruit
Well it's Week 3 of Lent...how's it going? Think on that for a second...Now in the constant effort to not eat meat on Fridays, I've now taste-tested fish at McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King, which I guess is getting the job done. I prefer Wendy's in case you were wondering or even care. But let's get to what really matters...other than the material things like giving something up, how is your soul doing? Now is not the time to forget Jesus' words on Ash Wednesday.
The Gospel on that day was from Mt 6:1-6, 16-18, and Jesus spoke about giving alms and expecting nothing in return, while not making a big deal to others about fasting or praying. It's not time to slip in those categories. That should all be a big deal, but it needs to be between you and God. Sometimes you may feel like you need to try and get that attention to please God, but it is much better to spread God's words through your everyday actions and good deeds, instead of telling people you are praying, or neglecting your appearance because you are fasting.
If you go into your room and lock the door like Jesus said God still sees you praying, He is still there. This week's reading from Exodus talks about Moses and the Burning Bush. Have you had any moments like that in your life lately? It's kind of like a Transfiguration moment, and God is telling and showing you what to do in the form of signs and your own conscience. That's what Moses saw, and what he felt, and was moved with faith. It's that moment when something hits you, and you are positive that you need to make a change. Or a conversation where the person you are talking to says something that simply makes sense to you, and that you can apply to your own situation. Even a song lyric can do it...usually Michael Jackson for myself I must admit. Don't shy away from stuff like that, it's often God in disguise.
One sentence in that passage really struck me..."Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God."
At this point in not only Lent, but even your life, you may be afraid of facing God. Moses was one of the best guys of all time, even featured in the Transfiguration, yet he could not look at the Father. Much like him, you may have some guilt or even be ashamed about a decision you made. It can be scary to think about how that looks to God.
The thing is, God still loves us. He wants us to look at Him, to feel that forgiveness and hope that comes with being a Christian. As Father Carsten said in his homily last night, suffering is a part of life, and we are human, so we are sinners as well. Our everyday struggles are a part of life too. You have to deal with it at some point. You have to stand up and look God in the eye. Having faith in Him gives us that hope that everything will be alright.
Luke's Gospel has an interesting little story this week that can serve as an example of that hope. Jesus tells it..."There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down."
Ever feel like that fig tree, kind of sticking out in the field, nothing really going right? The person with the fig tree didn't give up on it though. It's like the time after your moment of realization like Moses'. First, you are scared, next, you feel guilty, then you have to find a way to move on. That's the most important time, the time to cultivate and grow. It's nice when one thing can go right, like getting a job, rebuilding an old friendship, or getting a free pizza for dinner, which can tip the scales and make one thing after another go right. Before that moment, it was the complete opposite, everything felt like it was going wrong, right? But God doesn't want that terrible cycle to continue. It won't. He wants us to be happy, and then grow and learn from those little experiences, and get things rolling in the right direction to make a better person in the end. We need to work at it though, because we need to put into action the tools or gifts that God gives us...which is the fertilizer. With that we have the ability to make the fruit. And you know what, realistically, if we don't work at it, we will get cut down, and not be nearly as happy or as good at making others happy as we can be.
All in all, we can't forget about our goals at the beginning of Lent. People don't need to know about your own relationship with God, cultivate it yourself. That fig tree was different, but so are we. We just need to recognize that we are wrong sometimes, which can be linked to our own suffering. And if we don't see it ourselves, much like Moses, we might get a Burning Bush or two sent from God along the way. If we take that sign from God and do the work, goodness really will spread like fire.
The Gospel on that day was from Mt 6:1-6, 16-18, and Jesus spoke about giving alms and expecting nothing in return, while not making a big deal to others about fasting or praying. It's not time to slip in those categories. That should all be a big deal, but it needs to be between you and God. Sometimes you may feel like you need to try and get that attention to please God, but it is much better to spread God's words through your everyday actions and good deeds, instead of telling people you are praying, or neglecting your appearance because you are fasting.
If you go into your room and lock the door like Jesus said God still sees you praying, He is still there. This week's reading from Exodus talks about Moses and the Burning Bush. Have you had any moments like that in your life lately? It's kind of like a Transfiguration moment, and God is telling and showing you what to do in the form of signs and your own conscience. That's what Moses saw, and what he felt, and was moved with faith. It's that moment when something hits you, and you are positive that you need to make a change. Or a conversation where the person you are talking to says something that simply makes sense to you, and that you can apply to your own situation. Even a song lyric can do it...usually Michael Jackson for myself I must admit. Don't shy away from stuff like that, it's often God in disguise.
One sentence in that passage really struck me..."Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God."
At this point in not only Lent, but even your life, you may be afraid of facing God. Moses was one of the best guys of all time, even featured in the Transfiguration, yet he could not look at the Father. Much like him, you may have some guilt or even be ashamed about a decision you made. It can be scary to think about how that looks to God.
The thing is, God still loves us. He wants us to look at Him, to feel that forgiveness and hope that comes with being a Christian. As Father Carsten said in his homily last night, suffering is a part of life, and we are human, so we are sinners as well. Our everyday struggles are a part of life too. You have to deal with it at some point. You have to stand up and look God in the eye. Having faith in Him gives us that hope that everything will be alright.
Luke's Gospel has an interesting little story this week that can serve as an example of that hope. Jesus tells it..."There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down."
Ever feel like that fig tree, kind of sticking out in the field, nothing really going right? The person with the fig tree didn't give up on it though. It's like the time after your moment of realization like Moses'. First, you are scared, next, you feel guilty, then you have to find a way to move on. That's the most important time, the time to cultivate and grow. It's nice when one thing can go right, like getting a job, rebuilding an old friendship, or getting a free pizza for dinner, which can tip the scales and make one thing after another go right. Before that moment, it was the complete opposite, everything felt like it was going wrong, right? But God doesn't want that terrible cycle to continue. It won't. He wants us to be happy, and then grow and learn from those little experiences, and get things rolling in the right direction to make a better person in the end. We need to work at it though, because we need to put into action the tools or gifts that God gives us...which is the fertilizer. With that we have the ability to make the fruit. And you know what, realistically, if we don't work at it, we will get cut down, and not be nearly as happy or as good at making others happy as we can be.
All in all, we can't forget about our goals at the beginning of Lent. People don't need to know about your own relationship with God, cultivate it yourself. That fig tree was different, but so are we. We just need to recognize that we are wrong sometimes, which can be linked to our own suffering. And if we don't see it ourselves, much like Moses, we might get a Burning Bush or two sent from God along the way. If we take that sign from God and do the work, goodness really will spread like fire.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Putting the Pieces Together
Our lives are like one giant puzzle. Little and big moments fit together to determine the people we truly are. Each and every one of those moments is important. You get better from the bad ones, and thrive with the good ones. Some are much bigger than others, which obviously have the biggest effect on our makeup.
In mass at Muller Chapel on Sunday, minister Lee Imbriano said these times are our "Transfiguration" moments. The Gospel this week speaks of Jesus being Transfigured on the mountain while accompanied by apostles Peter, James and John.
It's hard to leave when your internal happiness in a moment like that is at a maximum. It might be something as small as getting an A in the hardest course. Or simply meeting a friend or family member for dinner. Or receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. Or talking to a long lost acquaintance. Or meeting someone new. Or falling in love and getting married just like Lee mentioned.
He also spoke about his family reunion this past weekend, and the feeling of possibly saying goodbye to one of his 88 year old relatives for the last time. Think about that. What would you say? What would you be thinking? That moment was a big puzzle piece in his life, and hers. With all of the emotion involved, their eye contact in that last moment may have been a glimpse of heaven.
Why can't we take something like that into our own lives? If you walked around for one full day, knowing it would be your last, knowing that you would never see anyone again, how would you act? We need to live this way. Appreciate that brief moment of conversation between yourself and a friend. Who knows, not to be negative, but it really might be your last. Living that way, it would make everyone appreciate everything a lot more.
Something that strikes me as important about all of this is that everyone takes their different "Transfiguration" moments for granted. If you put a value on everything that you do, it makes life mean something. Those life changing moments are nothing to just dismiss, even Jesus hung out with Moses and Elijah for a little while.
That brings us back to the question I addressed earlier of not wanting to leave. Peter didn't want to walk away from all those great people. But remember, those moments are just glimpses of heaven. We are still on earth, our feet brought to the ground by good old gravity. Heaven is the dream and the hope we have, earth is the reality. By seeing those glimpses throughout our life, we have something to strive towards, and to make those good moments a big piece of who we are, while cherishing them at the same time.
Another aspect of the Transfiguration is God's actual voice saying "This is my chosen Son; listen to Him." His voice is actually heard twice in the readings this week. He speaks to Abram about their covenant in the first reading.
This actual sound of God is tough for a lot of people. They ask, "Why can't I hear the sound of God's voice like they did back then?" Honestly, I ask the same thing sometimes, but God is creative. He shows us what is best through nature, through conversations, through our own thoughts, and through those "Transfiguration" moments. Often, the good feeling that swells inside of us is God saying that being in that place and time is right.
Other times, we are making too much noise to let Him say anything at all. That's why, especially during Lent, we need to spend a couple minutes of quiet time everyday. No TV, no Ipod, no constant texting. Maybe then we'll be able to hear God's voice in our hearts.
It's not easy to appreciate every aspect of life, or live our days like it's our last, or shut off a cell phone, but we are still on earth. Let those moments of pure happiness and those glimpses of heaven transform our thoughts, so that we can move towards eternal happiness. That will only happen if we listen to God's voice in those different ways, and let him put the puzzle of our life together. Don't run away from it, embrace it. He knows what is best. From what I hear, He is quite the expert.
Any questions or comments feel free to send me an email...teschen1@ithaca.edu.
In mass at Muller Chapel on Sunday, minister Lee Imbriano said these times are our "Transfiguration" moments. The Gospel this week speaks of Jesus being Transfigured on the mountain while accompanied by apostles Peter, James and John.
It's hard to leave when your internal happiness in a moment like that is at a maximum. It might be something as small as getting an A in the hardest course. Or simply meeting a friend or family member for dinner. Or receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. Or talking to a long lost acquaintance. Or meeting someone new. Or falling in love and getting married just like Lee mentioned.
He also spoke about his family reunion this past weekend, and the feeling of possibly saying goodbye to one of his 88 year old relatives for the last time. Think about that. What would you say? What would you be thinking? That moment was a big puzzle piece in his life, and hers. With all of the emotion involved, their eye contact in that last moment may have been a glimpse of heaven.
Why can't we take something like that into our own lives? If you walked around for one full day, knowing it would be your last, knowing that you would never see anyone again, how would you act? We need to live this way. Appreciate that brief moment of conversation between yourself and a friend. Who knows, not to be negative, but it really might be your last. Living that way, it would make everyone appreciate everything a lot more.
Something that strikes me as important about all of this is that everyone takes their different "Transfiguration" moments for granted. If you put a value on everything that you do, it makes life mean something. Those life changing moments are nothing to just dismiss, even Jesus hung out with Moses and Elijah for a little while.
That brings us back to the question I addressed earlier of not wanting to leave. Peter didn't want to walk away from all those great people. But remember, those moments are just glimpses of heaven. We are still on earth, our feet brought to the ground by good old gravity. Heaven is the dream and the hope we have, earth is the reality. By seeing those glimpses throughout our life, we have something to strive towards, and to make those good moments a big piece of who we are, while cherishing them at the same time.
Another aspect of the Transfiguration is God's actual voice saying "This is my chosen Son; listen to Him." His voice is actually heard twice in the readings this week. He speaks to Abram about their covenant in the first reading.
This actual sound of God is tough for a lot of people. They ask, "Why can't I hear the sound of God's voice like they did back then?" Honestly, I ask the same thing sometimes, but God is creative. He shows us what is best through nature, through conversations, through our own thoughts, and through those "Transfiguration" moments. Often, the good feeling that swells inside of us is God saying that being in that place and time is right.
Other times, we are making too much noise to let Him say anything at all. That's why, especially during Lent, we need to spend a couple minutes of quiet time everyday. No TV, no Ipod, no constant texting. Maybe then we'll be able to hear God's voice in our hearts.
It's not easy to appreciate every aspect of life, or live our days like it's our last, or shut off a cell phone, but we are still on earth. Let those moments of pure happiness and those glimpses of heaven transform our thoughts, so that we can move towards eternal happiness. That will only happen if we listen to God's voice in those different ways, and let him put the puzzle of our life together. Don't run away from it, embrace it. He knows what is best. From what I hear, He is quite the expert.
Any questions or comments feel free to send me an email...teschen1@ithaca.edu.
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