Sunday Responding to the Call

When Joe and I were little we attended church every Sunday.
We would have much preferred to sleep in and watch
Shirley Temple movies. We always attended the 8:00 a.m.
mass.  Boy, it was boring.  It was the old lady mass.
At least that is what we called it.
It wasn't like today we were expected to sit
still.  Eyes to the front.  And if you even
thought about turning around to see who
was arriving late you better forget it.   

As soon as possible Joe stopped attending.
My girlfriend Aileen and I would later attend the 11:00 a.m.
mass with other young adults.  Much better. 

It was a ritual we enjoyed and I will always
think of Our Lady of the Pillar as my home
parish.  It is where I grew up and started
building my personal relationship with Christ.

I was taught God is love.  Jesus is a gentleman,
he knocks but will not come in uninvited.
I learned about forgiveness about heartache and
sorrow all those years ago.

Ephesians 4

To Be Mature

 ^1-3In light of all this, here's what I want you to do.
While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master,
 I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—
on the road God called you to travel.
I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands.
I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere.
And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—
not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves
out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.


















Sit for a minute and give thanks for all your blessings.
Can't think of any.
Let me get you started.

Thank you Lord because I can read.
Thank you for surrounding me with a creative family. 
Because I had a wonderful mother.
An honest father who was true to my mother.
For allowing me to spend most of my life
near the ocean.
For giving me 32 years of an able body.
For giving me gifts I have not even discovered yet.

For allowing me memories of fresh grapes, apples,
bananas, passion fruit, loquats,  and guavas.
For allowing me to chase the waves and walk in
the sand. 

Buy yourself a simple journal today. 
Keep counting your blessing everyday. 
Thank you Lord for the sleep when it arrives.