Happiness Now

This past Friday, I had a girls' night with two of my best girl friends, and we went to see The Spectacular Now-a typical love story between a guy who doesn't really have much going for him and a girl that changes him. And we were totally prepared for that movie, with a blanket, box of tissues, our popcorn and soda. What I wasn't prepared for, was the lesson and reminder that would come from what I thought would be just another tear-filled chick flick.

As the title suggests, the main character, Sutter, enjoys every minute of the "spectacular now." He does everything to make him happy at that current moment in time, drinking, partying, not caring about having a real future or growing up. By the end of the movie (I promise I won't spoil it), he learns that yes, it's important to live in the now, but that there are going to be many more "nows" each and every day, that he doesn't intend on wasting. As soon as I heard that in the movie, one of my favorite Mother Teresa quotes came to mind.

"Be happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more."

We can't do anything about tomorrow yet, it's not here. What we have, what God has blessed us with, is the circumstance we are in right now. In every instance, we have to make the conscious decision to make the most of it to bring glory to God. Brothers and sisters, I encourage each of you, at whatever place you're at in your life, to choose happiness. To thank Him for your suffering or for your joys. And to know that He is a loving God who laid down his life so that you might be where you are at this very moment. 

Sometimes we fall, and take for granted the moment we've been given. But don't let that stop you, because God has blessed you with another now, and another, and another after that. Trust that He will consistently give you the opportunities to start new, and to love more. Be happy (: 

Praying for you as you make the most of every now,

Ali 

Happy Customer

It's Sunday morning, and ideally I would be sleeping right now, but clearly that's not going to happen, so I'm writing the blog I've was thinking about all day Saturday. Here goes nothing...

I really like my school cafeteria food; it's the bomb. Most of the kids at my school hate it, but I look forward to lunch everyday because I get to eat awesome food which is lawfully required to be nutritious. What a deal! 

Lately I've been noticing that when I got to pay for my food, I thank the lady working the cash register. I guess that's not too strange, but for a while everytime I thanked her, in the back of my mind, I was thinking, "Why am I thanking her? I'm the one paying for this food, she should be thanking me! I'm the customer, she is the producer, that's just how it works." 

It wasn't until yesterday that I finally figured it out... In a similar situation, I went into the confessional yesterday with sins to lay down, and also the shame and embarrassment which we have all felt when we find ourselves in desperate need of God's healing mercy again. Interestingly enough, at the end of my confession, after painfully opening myself up to God, through the priest, and allowing God to flood in and fix the damage done by sin and selfishness, I did not sit there, waiting for God to thank me for coming back; no, instead I sat there, thanked the priest, and then silently let praise and thanks flow off of my heart. 

When we go to confession, we are not customers, purchasing the release of our sins, the cost being our shame and humiliation. Actually, it's not a purchase, it's more of a gift. Someone has already paid for it. Jesus traded His life for my healing, my redemption, my eternity. All that's left to do is redeem the graces won for us on the cross. 

I like analogies, especially when they have to do with food, because I don't have to do a whole lot of explaining. I can plant the seed of a thought, and then you can let it grow in your own heart, and you can ponder what it means in your own life, and allow that idea to change who you are, even if it's just for a day. That said, I feel like I've written almost everything the Spirit wants me to write, and I'm going to pray that when you read this, you recieve something, anything, that shows God's immeasurable Love for you, because it real, and it's for sinners, so it's made just for me and you. ;)

"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus."

2 Timothy 2:3

God Bless,

Alex

Don't be a Raisin!

Today was very good. I like Sundays for a couple of reasons, the first being that it's the start to a new week, but not only that, it can be the restart of an entire life. What I mean is, no matter what happened the week before, or even the night before, you can go to Confession and receive Jesus in Communion, and then that's it! You're brand spankin' new. Clean and pretty! Sparkling and shiny! 

Isn't it wonderful? This faith that we have? There is a fountain gushing with mercy and grace, flowing from the altar, and if you're not jumping into it, and letting the waters wash you clean then you're going find yourself all dried up like a spiritually metaphoric raisin! Don't be a raisin! Soak up the water of life! Feed yourself with the Body and Blood of our Lord! 

Feeling sad? Go to the table!

Depressed? Go to the table!

Lonely? Forgotten? Sinful? Shameful? Embarrassed? Doubtful? Confused? Lost? Go To The Table!!! 

God is eager to show you what He can do, if only you accept it! 

Today, I made a impossible challenge for myself, even though I know that failure and hardship is certain.

I prayed that I can be better. 

That I can be more faithful.

That I can be nicer and love more.

That I can be more diligent. 

That I can invest more in God, and more in the people I love.

That I can not doubt the security of the investment I have made, but instead find hope in the power of Love.

That I can be better. 

I know I can't. On my own, that is.

But with God, through God, and in God, I will find strength, and courage to move on and persevere in this world. 

Brothers and Sisters, I know what you want is peace. I know you feel restless and weary, worn out from school and people, broken by sin, and uneasy with doubt and confusion. But hear now from today's second reading, 

"The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."

1 Timothy 1:15-17

Well that about sums it up! Tomorrow, let's go out and fight the good fight! Be light! Be Love! Be Hope! Be Faith! Be Joy! Christ has rose from the dead! We will follow Him, and rise too! Love awaits us, brothers and sisters! 

Sleep well.

Alex.

Anger in Politics

So yesterday, my boyfriend texts me and tells me Wendy Davis has decided to run for governor of Texas. My reaction: well that's just peachy. I knew she was going to after pulling that little filibuster over the summer.

I really, really do not like this woman. That is because she claims to stand for "Texas women" (me) and yet she was opposing a law that would make it safer for women to have abortions in Texas (although it would also conveniently cause the closure of all but five abortion clinics in Texas). Anyway, now is not the time for a rant about what happened then. This is about what is happening now.

As I said before, I really do not like her. In fact, she frustrates and angers me so much that after I received this news from my boyfriend I couldn't focus on biology homework. So, being at Franciscan University, where there is a chapel in every dorm, I decided to go spend some time with Jesus, to help me calm down.

When I pray, I like to journal my thoughts. It's almost like writing a letter to Jesus. So, sitting there in the chapel, I start to tell Jesus about my frustration, and ask him how I can overcome it (remember where Jesus tells us to "love our enemy"? Yeah, that was in the gospel that day at mass.) So I'm sitting there thinking and praying and thinking...and then I start to think about Jesus and his relationship to the Pharisees.

When Jesus was here ministering to his people, he had some opposition from the Pharisees (you could even extend this to Pontius Pilate or even Caesar himself). At the time he was ministering, many of his disciples wanted to make him the physical "king" of the Jews. It doesn't talk much about this in the Gospels, but Jesus refuses, instead choosing to die on a cross.

By doing this, he actually does something WAY better for his people than he could have if he established a kingdom on earth. He serves his people's spiritual needs, because he knew that true happiness could only be found united with him in heaven. Which really is so much better, because if you think of any kingdom here on earth, each and every one has fallen in its own time. Things on earth are not permanent, but eternity is.

To go even further with this idea, I would argue that every kingdom (including the United States of America) has been ruled by the rich/upper class/elite. No matter how hard the poor have tried to have a say, they are always shot down by the rich and the educated. This is the way it has always been, and this is the way it should be, when you think about it. Jesus tells us to store our treasures in heaven, because that is where we will spend eternity. The rich have literally stored their treasure on earth, so they have a natural right to rule it.

So what then is left for the poor? To pick up our cross. Life on earth is not permanent. In fact, it is incredibly short compared to eternity. Jesus only asks us to suffer for a little while (just as he did) and then join him in paradise. He knows that the battle for the poor has already been lost on earth, but the best thing is, He has already won it for us in heaven.

So when you get caught up in politics, ranting about some crazy lady who only cares about glorifying herself, remember it is only a distraction. Remember that the battle is already over. Remember to pick up your cross, and follow in the Lord's footsteps.

"Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil. The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need. No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear . . . And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ." -Ephesians 4:25-29, 32.

May the love of Christ be with you all.

Any disagreements/concerns: c.steele@hotmail.com

Word of the Day: Comfort

I like to be comfortable. It's the reason why, right now, I'm wearing bright orange sweat pants and a purple hoodie. It's also the reason I'll wear crocs and socks to school and still be able to justify my visible lack of fashion sense. Even though other people may object to my seemingly absurd choice of clothing, I'm comfortable, and sometimes my comfort is more important to me than what other people think, even God.

Often I find myself split between the option of being comfortable and the choice to follow God's will, because often God's will makes me very uncomfortable. For example, It's uncomfortable for me to pray before I eat my lunch at school. I know I use that example a lot, but it's a simple choice that we can make everyday, but we choose our comfort instead.

Here's the truth: 

"I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth."

Rev. 3:16

Brothers and Sisters, let's allow ourselves to put our comfort at the bottom of our priorities, because it makes us lukewarm! We need to truly believe what our papa in faith proclaimed,

"The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort; you were made for greatness."

- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Boom.

Well, that's all I have to say about that. I'll let you chew on it for a while. Please let me know if you're having trouble digesting it. I know, it's a tough pill to swallow.

God Bless,

Alex

Burden

Like many people that first meet each other will introduce them self by saying "hello my name is..." and for me that sentence has been one of the scariest sentences I have ever had to say. I'm sure many of you when you read that thought "are you kidding me how is that a hard thing to do all you have to say is your name" and that is what scares me the most about it. Since the age of 10 I have had a slight stutter and over time it has slowly grew worse and worse. I am 18 now and I  can not say my own name about 75% of the time. If someone was to ask me my name I probably would not be able to say it. I can't tell you how stupid that makes me feel I mean really who can't say there own NAME! Over the years I slowly allowed myself to believe that I really was stupid and started to become more quiet due to the fact of my stutter. So instead of trying to be social and just have a good time with friends and accept my stutter I would just sit there and said nothing. I started to loose my friends because of this and many of them started to really pick on me and make fun of me because of my stutter. When people tried to talk to me (which wasn't often) I would think to myself "just don't say anything and then you won't stutter and look like a retard" but then after ignoring the person I would think to myself "WoW! you just made yourself look even more stupid because you didn't talk. Way to go Austin...!" I soon became very depressed and anti-social. I would hardly ever leave my room and had really lost sight in God. I really then moved on to just hating life. That was until I started going to the Catholic Church.

 Let me back up for a minute and give you some background information. My parents had a divorce when I was four. My mom was not catholic so after the divorce we went to a Baptist church. Further down the road my oldest sister was Baptized in the church and really started to enjoy the Baptist church. During this time I would spend many of my weekends over at a family friends house and I always seemed to be there Sunday and every Sunday they would go to mass this was the first step to me falling on love with the Catholic Church. By the time I started to really enjoy and understand more about the Catholic Church my mom remarried. The man she married was a very religious man he was Greek Orthodox and because of this my mom "converted" from Baptist to Greek Orthodox and our family was divided because of our different religions.  (Back to where I was)

My aunt played a major role in me becoming catholic she taught me a lot about the church and she made sure to take me to church every Sunday and because of this it really helped me with my depression and coping with my stuttering but I would not really start to cope with it until after a amazing summer camp that really helped me to see the good in it. At this camp I was a counselor in training(CIT) and the first week we learned what it takes to be a great counselor and then the second week we were put with a group of kids. One of my boys had a stuttering problem and i know God put him there for that reason. I was able to bond so well with him and really was able to understand what he was going through. I was able to see just how small of a problem my stuttering was compared to his and he embraced his stuttering. He said it set him apart for other people and he liked that he also got to miss some class to go work on his speech. He always had a positive attitude and was just happy with life. He really helped me to cope with my stuttering and really see some good in it by him just being himself. Also I had two amazing guys I meet while I was there and they really helped me with my stuttering and gave me another perspective about how it was my cross to carry. To show people that even thought I struggle with this I still can see the good in it and because of this burden I have grown closer in my faith as well. 

I know we all have struggles that we wish we did not have and things about us that we wish we could change, but these are things God has given us for a reason to help us grow stronger in our faith, and even though today you may still not know why you have this it will become clear one day. These are your crosses to carry don't pray for them to go away but pray for a stronger back to be able to carry your cross. 

God Bless,

Austin 

Word of the Day: Tomorrow

The great Christian author C.S. Lewis wrote a fantastic little book called The Screwtape Letters. The book consists of 40 or so letters from Screwtape, a high ranking demon in hell, to his nephew Wormwood, giving him advice for how lead a Christian to hell. His advice is to have him commit sin yes, but small sins. Sins that are easy to rationalize and forget about, but build up on the soul and create habits, like laziness and jealousy, that are incredibly un-Christian. In one letter, Screwtape tells Wormwood to keep his subject's attention focused on anything but the present.

Ideally, he tells him, fix his thoughts on the past. The past is the absolute worst place for our minds to dwell because there is absolutely nothing we can do about it (I'm only in high school, but I don't think time travel is possible). All we can do is accept it, but when we live in the past we are expending our energy into an abyss that will drain and give us nothing in return. Now, that's not to say the past should be forgotten, banished from our mind. The past is useful. We remember our mistakes from the past and apply so that we don't make them again. But when we do so, we aren't living in the past, we are bringing it into and applying it to the present. The same goes with happy memories. I went through the two greatest weeks of my life this summer, and I think back on them every day. But when I do, I don't abandon the present and relive them, I take what I learned and all the happiness I felt and use the memories to surmount whatever my next obstacle is. Well at least I try too.

Point 1: Yesterday is gone and isn't coming back (sorry Paul).

Screwtape continues - if you can't get them to dwell in the past, have them look ahead. If we live in the future, the present becomes the past and thus worthless (see point 1) when it really isn't. I don't know where I'm gonna be this time next year, but if I spend my time worrying about it, I effectively throw away a year of my life. We won't know what the future holds until it becomes the present, so hold your horses and be patient. But, Screwtape writes, the future is dangerous (for us demons). Because it isn't set in stone and we can affect it right now. Planning for the future is today's task because tomorrow, today will be yesterday, unchangeable. So get it done in the present where you can make it the way you want it to be now instead of hopelessly wishing it to be the way you want it later.

Point 2: Tomorrow starts right now.

I know you've probably heard variations of this a million times before and you're thinking, "Sheesh Matt, you sound like my Mom." Well I guess that's good because Mom and C.S. Lewis sure know what's up.

A Prayer:

Lord God,

I know that yesterday has come and gone, and tomorrow has not yet arrived. So now I pray for forgiveness for past mistakes, so that I may experience Your mercy in the present. Now I thank You for past victories, so that You may be glorified in the present. Now I pray for the humility to accept your plan for me, so that I may shape my future in the present. And now I offer up my tomorrow to You, so that You may work through me in the present.

Amen.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34

God bless,
Matt

Enough

Just for a little preface, a group of girl friends and I started a Bible study over the summer to grow in our faith and friendships (and I couldn't even begin to tell you all of the incredible ways God has blessed me through it). Anyway, just last night we started a new book we picked out for the semester, titled Perfectly Unique: Praising God From Head to Foot, by Annie Downs. Ladies, I've only read the introduction and I already know this book is going to transform the way I'm able to love myself as our Father loves me, so I highly recommend it!

However, my point this morning is not just for girls, it just happened to occur to me via this book. In the intro, Annie discusses a beautiful view of the way God forms each of us. She puts it this way, that God, our Creator, formed one mold for each of us. Once He made you, He got rid of that mold. Because He doesn't want two, or three, or a million of you. He just wants YOU! One of you, the one, perfect you, is enough for Him. He intended for you to be exactly as you are. This perspective just made me stop and think about how important it is to just be me because God has a purpose for me, and for you, that is unlike anyone else's. Even when the world tells us in so many ways that we aren't enough, we can rest assured that we are enough for Him. We are enough, capable of being His instruments for the world to see His glory.

So, if we as sinners are enough for Him, is He not infinitely times more than enough for us? 

If you get a second, please listen to Enough by Chris Tomlin, it's pretty spot on.

"I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; that I know very well." -Psalm 139:14

Rise & shine & give God the glory,

Ali 

Word of the Day: Sunrise

I know it's late for the word of the day, but tomorrow, I'm going to be given some anesthesia for a procedure, nothing crazy, but I will probably be a little loony, so let's just consider this post for today and tomorrow. 

While driving to school this morning, I was just marveling at how glorious the sunrise was. It was just incredibly beautiful, and my initial thought was, "why?" "How can such beautiful wonders exist in such an imperfect world?" Not only that, but, "How am I lucky enough to get to see it?"

It would make sense for me to receive such an amazing gift if I had gone out yesterday and fed the hungry and clothed the naked, but the truth is, I just went to school, did my homework (most of it), and went to sleep. Not only that, but I had my fair share of faults yesterday as well! So why would God allow me to witness the glory of such an awesome sunrise, when I still forget to pray sometimes or I ignore the chances to spread His love to other people? Well the answer was right in front of me.

Just as sun rises everyday regardless of whether I'm a saint yet or not, so did the Son rise while I was still a sinner! This isn't a perfect analogy, but the key part of this post is that God knows we struggle and He simply wants us to come to Him for help, and He will always love us. 

Please pray for me, it's been a while since I've received anesthesia, so I'm not sure what to expect as far as side effects.

I hope you all have a wonderful night, I'll be praying for you!

God Bless!

Alex

Word of the Day: Buttons

A few weeks ago, when I bought the polo shirt which I wore to school today, I somehow failed to notice one key characteristic of the shirt. The collar has no buttons:

Oops!

It's not like it was some big problem. I probably would have still bought the shirt, but I can't help but feel slightly insecure with the fact that I didn't notice the lack of buttons. 

Lucky for you guys, I never miss the opportunity to point out analogous situations. In this particular instance, I keep thinking about how active God is in our lives, but how easy it is to get distracted by the drama and stress of our daily agenda and miss His workings of grace and healing. Let's be real, it's hard to think about God when you are confused with a Calculus problem or when you are taking an Economics quiz, but God never stops thinking about you, and He is always working in your life. If He did, theoretically, you might just cease existing.***

So brothers and sisters, my advice for y'all (and myself) is keep your eyes peeled, look for God, and don't be surprised when you find out He is everywhere! And also, check for buttons next time you go shopping!

God Bless!

Alex

***Does not reflect the view of the Church, it's just my silly imagination. 

Word of the Day: Embrace

The other day I was praying and thinking about how happy God makes me, and just how giddy I can get before Mass or Eucharistic Adoration. While thinking of how beautiful the relationship is that God invites us to, this image came to mind:

And more specifically, this one as well:

I have an inherent longing to be enveloped in the arms of Jesus. That embrace is where my peace lies, where my heart desires, and where all my love comes from. 

Brothers and Sisters, cling to Love, find yourself at peace in the arms of Jesus, and never let go. 

God Bless,

Alex.