Sometime you just have to be willing to listen, and hold out a hand

Goodness, where can I even start with where my thoughts are? I am just coming off one of the most inspirational weekends that I have ever had.  The Newman groups of IPFW, Trine, Manchester, Ivy Tech, and St. Francis got together for a retreat titled Navigating the Stream.  It was a coming together of so many ideas and people coming together.  But no matter who was talking, or who was behind the scenes the one person who was inspiring us and working through all of us was the Holy Spirit.

I honestly have been praying for this whole retreat for the longest time. Through times I had my own doubts that I wasn't sure how it was all going to go, but I couldn't give up.  I had an inspiration to keep going.  I could have stopped when we first thought of the retreat, I could have pulled back when I didn't know what I was really doing, but I didn't.  I feel so blessed because of how the Holy Spirit has given me the confidence to keep going, even when I don't know where I am really going.

But isn't that how life really is? We are like a person with horrible eyesight (I am picturing me without my glassed or contacts, my eyesight is horrible). I can see clearly for about a foot in front of me, after that everything just starts to fade. That is how life really is.  We know where are life is currently, but the further out we look the hazier it gets.  Only God knows, and only God can see clearly what is in our future.  We have to pray for His guidance, His grace, His understanding so we will be able to head in the right direction.  Because without His hand through our life, we are just a blind person barely able to see in past our own nose.

I wish that I could write more, but I as sadly procrastinating from the homework that I am supposed to do... So until next time!

Coming to an end

Do you ever just have one of those days were every thing seems to be coming to a end or very soon? You realize how fast this world goes and it doesn't slow down.  We can pretend that time is standing still and everything is perfect, but when reality hits you, it hits you hard.

My whole lifetime I have gone to the same church, I had my Baptism there, first Reconciliation, First Communion, and it was all a part of me.  Today I was sitting in Mass and it came to the realization that after today I am going to be a parishioner at another church.  Up to today I thought that I was really excited to be changing, but then looking around during Mass I realized how much I am going to miss and how many memories (good and bad) I have in that church.  Growing up I always thought that I was going to get married in this church that I grew up in, now I don't feel like it is my home, but today I realized how much I had expected that to happen. Yes sorry I am ranting about nothing really.  Because when I start going to the other church I am going to feel at home there I know, because I already do.  Sometimes it is just harder to say goodbye than you thought it was going to be.

Then I realize that in 7 months I am going to be graduating from college! I know that sounds exciting, but I realized how scary that can be. Everything that has become a part of me in these last three years, will soon not always be there.  I have to be able to let go and trust in God that he will find the right people to lead the groups that I am leaving, and trust that I will be able to find a job in this town of mine.

So often when I tell people at work that I am going to be in marketing they usually say something about how I will be able to find a job if I am just willing to move away. The thing is that I don't want to move away, because what and who I love in in this town or near it.  I guess that you would say that if I had to choose I would pick Love over a job.  Because Love never fails.

Well that is my ranting for the day.  Sorry you got to this part of the post, and realized that there was nothing really important to read today.

So until next time, let go and just let God :-)

What is truly important in life?

There is a poem that I would like to share that seems to really speak of this question.  It doesn't matter when we are born, or when we die. But what happens in the middle

The Dash
by: Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning to the end.

He noted that first come the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years

For that dash represented all the time
that she spent alive on earth
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
    The cars,
     the house,
     the cash,
what matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives,
life we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?

-----------------------

How do we live our lives to our greatest potential? Do we squander our time? Do we waste the gifts that we have been given from God?  Life isn't about the movies that we have seen, or the cars that we have owned.  It doesn't matter how much money that we have in our bank, or how much education that we have.

What truly matters is how we impact the world for the greater, who we have loved, and who has loved us back. Life is about Family, friends, and living for God.

So next time that we have to make a decision, maybe we should be thinking about how we can better our 'dash'. Maybe the first step is to realize that we aren't just living for ourselves, but for someone greater.

Let the light of Christ shine through you in every action that you do. How else do you really want to spend your dash?