Being Grateful

In the world we live in, we are constantly bombarded by the idea that a better car, a better house, better clothes, better friends, etc. will bring us happiness.  But not very often do we stop to think to be grateful for what we already have.  Have you ever stopped to thank God for what you do have?  Your health, your job, your friends and family?  And how would being truly thankful for what you do have change your view of the world into one of happiness?

I have recently shared how gratitude and journaling about it has helped me with my depression.  While the change is a work in progress and has had its ups and downs, it certainly has forced me to look at what I do have in my life and to appreciate even the little things, because somedays - and we've all had those days - that's all we seem to have to be thankful for:  the little things.  And on the better days, be sure to stop and smell the roses and everything big you do have, because it is worth noting, too.

Once you start realizing what you do have and are truly thankful for it, it will be easier to eliminate clutter, live simpler, and enjoy more.  While my gratitude journey is far from perfect, I have been able to eliminate some clutter, and enjoy more of what I do have while living simpler.  I have a long way to go, but I can see the difference of where I was versus where I am and where I see myself going.

Who do we worship?

Do we really worship God?  Do we give Him his dues?  Or do we just roll around on Sundays, shut the alarm clocks, sleep "five more minutes" and then realize we are so late for Church and just have breakfast/brunch and watch a rerun on Keeping up with the Kardashians?

I know, it is so tempting to sleep in on Sundays, especially when Mass is offered so early in the USA.*  Especially when it seems to be the only day we can sleep in.  Or when it seems to be the one day we can really rest after spending Saturday catching up with everything else we didn't do during our busy weekdays.  I know.  I have been there.  I have missed Holy Sunday Day of Obligation because I was so busy just... catching up on some really needed zzzz's.

But who do we really worship?  It's one thing to miss Mass one day for whatever reason, and another to miss Mass because we're binge watching THAT show one Netflix or Keeping up with whomever!

Piggybacking on my post from 6/20/2016, Of Clutter and the Kingdom of God, are we really putting God first?  Just a thought to put out there in your mind.  I am not talking about clutter and stuff now.  I am talking about people you put above God.  You know, that TV show you follow.  Or that artist you just can't get enough of.

Are you putting them above God?  Are you missing Mass, not saying your usual prayers, looking at sinful stuff (yes, I am looking at you, 50 Shades of Grey fans and others) because you just think that Mass is boring?

Just remember that Mass is practice for Heaven.  Can we at least dedicate one hour a week to God?  That's all He asks from us, and He still doesn't usually get as much, but those soap operas, oh My Word, we are not missing them.  Oh my Lord.  We are not missing that opportunity to binge watch Game of Thrones (or whatever other show you binge watch)??

Just something to think about.  Most parishes offer several opportunities to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist in the Mass several times a weekend (with Saturday Vigil(s) included), and we still somehow just not plan accordingly.


*In Mexico, there used to be Sunday Masses as late as 1800h.

How Do We Pray?

It is thought provocative to me... How do we pray?  Do we pray like we are superior to others?  Do we pray like we hold the truth?  Do we pray like the Pharisee, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’  (Luke 18: 11-12)  Do we pray standing in the corners, for everyone to see how pious we are? (Matthew 6:5) Or do we pray like the tax collector?  'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ (Luke 18:13)

The Pharisee is quick to point out everything he does right - and everything wrong he doesn't do.  The Tax Collector (also known as the Publican) just asks God for mercy, for he recognizes that he is not perfect.

And do we pray sincerely?  Do we pray humbly?  Do we recognize that we are not perfect and that we make mistakes?  Do we pray in our room, with doors closed? (Matthew 6:5)

Do we pray with honest intention?

It doesn't matter much if we pray all day when we are not sincere in our hearts.  When we pray for someone to have ill luck because we're angry, for example, it's time to evaluate what kind of intentions we have in our hearts.  It's okay to be angry with God.  I think it's part of every relationship to have angry moments.  But it's not okay to have ill intentions in our prayers.

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones But Words Will Never Hurt Me?

It is true that sticks and stones may break my bones.  It is very true that being beaten is a surefire way to get hurt.  It is very easy for us to think that because we are not physically beating somebody up, that we aren't hurting anybody up.  But is it true that words will never hurt me?

Have we stopped to think about our words?  I was bullied in Middle School and some of the stuff that was told to me is still rattling in my head to this day, even though I am 34 and I have grown so much!  It is not easy to forget what others say about you or to you. 

Words destroy and build.  They destroy in gossip, in insults and in unkind words to others.  They build others in compliments and kind words.  Sometimes, even the truth is hurtful.  And we have to discern whether the truth we tell is kind and edifying or destroying.

Words destroy in gossip and unkindness.  Have we engaged in gossip?  Have we engaged in unkind words?  Have we insulted someone?  Have our words been unkind, even at the expense of someone else?

I was once told by a priest that words "kill".  When our words kill, did you know that you should confess to a violation of the 6th commandment - Thou shall not kill?

Sometimes we take the attitude that because we are telling the truth it's okay to go ahead and be unkind.  I agree that sometimes, there's no other way than to be brutally honest (like an intervention, for example) but let's be humble and not be above others in that sense.  We can always be kind (even in an intervention) even when we are telling a brutally honest truth.

Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter.

It is with great concern that I write this, as the country seems to be upside down over the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and then a dozen police officers targeted and gunned down in Dallas, Texas, of which 5 have died as of the writing of this blog.

First off, Black Lives Matter.  There does seem to be a systemic racism against people of color, in which they seem to be targeted by the justice system a lot more, often resulting in fatal arrests whereas people with less melanin in their skin do not end up dead.

Equally important, Blue Lives Matter.  Targeting and killing cops is not a solution either.  These people don their uniforms everyday to serve and protect everyone.

Black and Blue Lives Matter are not mutually exclusive.  I have seen in my Facebook feed that people tend to choose sides.  Either Black or Blue lives, but not both.  This is a very dangerous stance, because it seems to put colored people against policemen and policemen against colored people.  This is very wrong.  Most cops aren't bad.  Most black people aren't bad.  (Most people in general aren't bad.)  And we have to operate on the idea that most people are good and act in good conscience.  

As in all groups, there's always a bad apple (yes, even in your group), and those people should be held accountable for all wrongdoing, especially murder, whether it be a murder of a black life, blue life, or whatever other color.  They say justice is blind, but apparently, in this country, not color blind.

Also, which is it?  We hear from gun advocates that people should carry guns to stave off violence.  However, when Alton Sterling and Philando Castile were killed, "they shouldn't have had guns on them".  I don't hear the NRA coming to their defense.  Have we become accustomed to white privilege so much that this is not an outrage?

Just some thoughts.  We cannot be silent anymore.  Not taking sides is taking sides with the oppressor, as Elie Wiesel said.