Church - His Experience

Once upon a time, there was one little uptown boy, riding a downtown subway. And he wanted to do something beautiful, spiritual. But something encouraged him to reflect upon goodness and hope. And then he examined the direction of his life.

He is a fabulist, reluctant. Words are his allies. And he began to write.

ushers, ministers of hospitality, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, RCIA newsletter, cathedral, meetings, priests, lay people, Deacons, Archbishop, service, prayer, love, compassion, confession, marble, art, inspiration, St. Francis, St. Anthony, Mary, Joseph, nativity, concerts, music, choir, bulletin, altar servers, acolyte, host, chalice, wine, bread, organ, water, altar, pew, kneel, stand, hymn, responsorial psalm, Gospel, lector, the elect, ordination, charity, adventure, work, discovery, tradition, history

Somehow I too allowed these words to make things; concrete visions, two blue ink columns of rushed handwriting; but the realities that accompanied the exercise moved my gaze beyond the scribbles on the page, to a private spot within my mind. Somehow I too discovered the smallest, basic element, the courtyard of my being, searching innermost for frequent and familiar signposts on God's highway.

Perseverance is necessary to discover clarity. Many distractions and diversions always remain on the periphery of faith and loving and serving God in the abstract asks for the extraordinary and the enormous because we live in an age of selfishness, an age angst, an age of rampant restlessness. Finding God and maintaining a relationship with him can be difficult. It is often easier to do this in a community. Faith, to grow and to prosper, needs a community.

Friendships with others can provide visible traces of God and God's love. Work and dedication and love can help us to see God; love, natural and overwhelming and free, can lead us on a journey that simultaneously leads us outward to the expansiveness of the exterior world and inward to the innermost places of the interior world, the soul.

The experience of church leads to reflection, to action. There is strength in believing, strength in hoping, strength in praying.

Faith, A Beautiful Truth

Once upon a time, there was one little downtown boy, riding in a downtown taxi. And he wanted to observe God's mercy, God's love. But something encouraged him to reflect upon forgiveness and sacrifice. And then he began a great dialogue.

He was a little anxious. He had a complicated post-modern uneasiness, small town tranquility which could be mistaken for serenity or calm. He was alert, listening to classical music, occasionally glancing at the other riders, occasionally checking the stations. And alternating between jumpy cursive and bumpy printing he began:

vocation, service, Sunday, sacrifice, fun, people, communion, help, sharing, salvation, love, serving the people, helping others, believing, believing and building, faith building, heaven, hard work, sinning is easy, salvation requires determination, forgiveness, Lord's Prayer, Twenty-Third Psalm, Follow Me, Body of Christ, Blood of Christ, eucharist, liturgy of the eucharist, liturgy of the word, sign of peace, kiss of peace, Lamb of God, prayer, blessings, welcome

Life can be different when faith is present. There is a constant dialogue in my mind reminding me of the Sacraments and encouraging me to seek goodness. Observing, praying, and working (doing God's work) can lead to wisdom.

Wisdom helps to deepen our faith, deepen our beliefs. Wisdom is impartial, judicious. Wisdom is understanding.

Certain times of the year, expressions of faith are everywhere, clearly visible. Faith can appear festive, playful. Faith can be an interruption of the normal routines and habits of our lives in this chaotic world.

True faith takes us further, takes us beyond the clearly visible, through lesser and greater moments. Faith helps to reorganize different moments like chapters in a book in a way that allows truth to become visible. Faith is friends with the past, the present, and the future and asks them the same questions. There is an urgency, immediacy in faith.

Being prostrate in body, mind, and soul is utterly acceptable and encouraged.

Everywhere the eye can see, if you look close enough, there are little hints of faith, hints of goodness, hints of belief in God.

Vocation - American Style

Once upon a time, there was one little country boy, walking on an urban sidewalk. And he allowed himself to see God in faces of passing strangers. It was an existential moment of questions and answers; a lyrical moment of wonderful belief, faith, and love; an exemplary moment of inspiring and living Catholicism.

He had a personality shaped by sitcoms, detective shows, and imported international miniseries. There was an understated curiosity about him. He was always ready with a question and a smile. In his being was a growing love of his religion, growing respect of his faith. Learning about God and how to please God, pleased and challenged him.

There was an ordinariness about him, detached and graceful as he searches for goodness and his path. His eyes looked around him, at the glass storefronts, the neon signs, the rushing pedestrians. Then he tried to remember something he heard at Mass.

beautiful, service, faith, love, sharing, direction, forgiveness, help, dedication, charity, peace, kindness, empathy, honor, privilege, ceremony, tradition, Bible, St. Paul, homily, God's work, community, family, prayer, reflection, examination of conscience,

Sometimes I too have a feeling leading me in a certain direction; interpreting past events and assigning symbolic significance, religious archetypes to the realities from my life. Sometimes I too must acknowledge my faults, my sins, even the smallest elements, the random thoughts, brash and wild. Sometimes I too realize the material world may be beautiful and yet there is an element of the intangible which creates obsession, greed, lust.

In quiet moments there is a very tangible sensation, the material that both hope and love are made of, that leads my brain through all the formative influences. There are examples supreme and sublime. There is a search for a lucid freshness and purity. There is an innocent insistence which challenges my being, my inactivity.

Here and there, I have made small discoveries about myself and there is a desire for a relationship with God which contains greater fidelity. Each new discovery could be complemented by an anecdote or a fragment. Nothing is isolated.

I have been on a journey for a long time, following the traces, the ancient footsteps everywhere. I have observed life and something beyond life, something beyond words. Now, my heart and soul yearn for God's grace, God's love, and to do God's work.

It is never too late to yearn.

Sunlight and Silence

The pale blue sky fades into dark trees on the horizon. I can see the bell towers and steeples of several churches in the city. I can also see the domes of two churches. I can see a man straining to push a cart on the roof of a nearby building. There is a cool breeze. I can feel the warmth of the sunlight on my neck and face.

I can hear multiple sirens, becoming louder, louder, more insistent and then fading away. And then become louder and louder before fading away.

Earlier today, I decided to write about the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

When I opened my eyes this morning, I searched for a topic. I wanted something to anchor my imagination, to direct my mind.

Life has many constants and many variables. In a city constants are automobiles, pedestrians, sidewalks. Variables are sidewalks, pedestrians, and automobiles.

Life provides questions, answers, and mysteries. Every question does not have a solution or an answer.

I find it comforting to see church architecture, the domes, steeples, bell towers are inspiring. They suggest a quest for something beyond a convenient parking space, a freshly laundered silk shirt, or pasteurized orange juice.

I find the Catechism of the Catholic Church comforting. Here is an explanation, a description of my faith. Here is the ultimate companion to the Bible. Here are the Church teachings.

It begins simply.

“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself.” CCC no. 27

That desire for God has been written and explored for centuries. That desire for God is the reason I am writing and asking questions and reading various books and texts.

God’s call becomes louder, and louder and more insistent and then it fades away. And then it returns louder and louder.

“Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice” Ps 105:3

And so I am trying to create more time devoted to prayer, more time devoted to silent reflection.

And more time to glance at the horizon, to feel blessed, and to offer thanks to God.

Clouds In The Sky and I Am Learning How to Feel

Looking at the white clouds against the blue sky, hearing the beeping noise of a truck backing up, feeling a warm breeze against my skin I try to concentrate and write about this day.

Recently, I had a brief conversation with a group of friends. I denied the existence of true happiness. I said that in modern America, rabid consumerism has made happiness impossible. I said that materialism creates neither altruism or peace. There is too much anxiety, too much avarice, too much avoidance.

The Church offers an antidote to all of these things if we take the time to examine our consciences and to decide what is really necessary in our lives.

Many luxury items are masquerading as basic necessities. Are cell phones really necessary? Is it necessary to have a pair of alligator shoes? Are designer shirts and jeans really necessary?

I constantly ask myself questions. I sometimes find the answers.

But, I think that I am happiest when I am completely calm, when I am silent, and when I allow myself to thank God for the blessings in my life.

Sitting in the sunlight, occasionally searching the skyline for the Capitol Dome or the Washington Monument in the distance, I realize that consumerism is not the evil enemy; the problem begins with the behaviors which our society freely allows and often encourages.

I wish that consumerism allowed a little room for civility and charity. Our society is in a hurry to deliver the next punch line, to download the next song, to race through yellow lights.

Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s sidekick on the Tonight Show died. He was 86. He was an integral part of the show.

Investigators are still trying to determine why a Metro train rear-ended another train on Monday during rush hour. Nine people were killed in the worst commuter rail accident in Washington’s history.

These events remind us of life’s fragility, our own vulnerability. They remind how connected we are to our fellow man. They remind me how much I should close my mouth, stop complaining about little things. They remind me how important it is to follow Jesus’ example and love my neighbor. They remind me that life on earth is short. It is best to spend time in God’s service.

Last night I received a phone call from a friend, who told me that a former coworker was among the dead. My prayers are with the family of Cameron Williams.

Prayers for Victims of Metro Crash

My prayers are with the seven people who were killed yesterday during the collision of two Metro trains on the Red Line. My prayers are also with all those who were injured, their families, and their friends.

There have been conflicting reports concerning the number of fatalities. 76 people were taken to area hospitals. Two of those were in serious condition. The crash site is being treated as a rescue scene as the search for more survivors continues.

Moving Forward With Hope & Love

I had intended to write a beautiful essay on social justice. I wanted it to inspire others to action. I planned on adding quotes, creating a learned, entertaining peace.

Instead, I will provide a more personal account. I believe the power of social justice is the personal involvement.

February 12, 2007 is the date of my introduction to Catholic social justice teachings. It is the moment I thought about doing faith based volunteering as an adult. I sent my first email to the Social Justice & Community Services Director at St. Matthew’s Cathedral.

She replied with an immediate thank you. We scheduled a meeting. I began volunteering with the both the Homeless and the English as a Second Language programs.

Going to the Homeless Ministry for the first time did create a little anxiety for me. But, within a few minutes it was gone. The other volunteers were friendly and encouraging, the Director was full of energy and inspiring and the clients were well behaved.

The Homeless Ministry encapsulated the teachings of the Catholic Church. Here hope and love collided with suffering and destitution. The Homeless Ministry reminded me that there are no differences between people, everyone wants to be treated with dignity and respect.

Being a volunteer allowed me to see a part of life which I completely ignored as I kept myself busy running errands, going to work. I was able to see some of my own prejudices and personal nonsense which I began to challenge.

The Monday morning’s with the Homeless Ministry allowed me to put into practice church teachings and helped me to begin to pray for people beyond my closed circle. Whether I was taking names at the door, putting fruit on a plate, or arranging clothes on a table, it all contributed to a desire to do more, to want to do more.

And the other volunteers and the Director created an atmosphere of hope and love, a welcoming space for everybody.

Social justice can be obtained only in respecting the transcendent dignity of man (CCC no, 1929).

The beauty of volunteering for God occurs when you let go of yourself, let go your fears and expectations and just do what God asks of you. Sometimes it might just be serving a warm casserole or listening to someone or searching for the mate to a size 14 shoe.