In Search

How we search and what we search for...........
For 3 days I misplaced my reading glasses........ I searched, and searched without any result. My search led me to pray, ......forced me to tidy up things until I almost accepted that I must have left it somewhere as I could not find it anywhere in my house.Then I found it when I was not really searching for it. But instead of being delighted that I found it, though relieved of the anxiety of getting a new one, I was not overjoyed and found my reaction very strange. Suddenly  a surprising thought  came to me. This thought  kept ringing in my mind and set  me thinking,  .......
It would be good If you could search for God with the same energy you spent searching for your glasses ... .....As I dwelt on this strange thought that kept cropping up in my head,   I began to see the logic and immediately many Scriptural verses were coming to my mind:........If you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me........In our search for God, we don't find Him by our own efforts. It's God who takes the initiative to let us find Him.... It's God who allows us to find Him... even the desire to seek Him is from Him...... Seek ye first the kingdom of God andn its righteousness and every thing else will be added...... King Solomon was a good example for he asked for wisdom and understanding heart and  was given riches as well......Asking for understanding heart to know and do whar is right, to understand and not to be understood,  asking for the grace to console and not to be consoled;  seeking to love and not to be loved.... to give and not count the cost for in giving we receive .... to die to self.... for unless the grain of wheat dies it remains a single grain..... for in dying we are born into eternal life..........can you imagine how the world would change if each person begins to yearn for the higher gifts?........O God you are my God, for you I long,... for you my body yearns....... for you my soul thirsts......Like a  land patched, lifeless and without water...... So I looked to you in the sanctuary.......to see your power and your glory........(Ps. 63: 1-3)  ....... As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God, ..... My being thirsts for God, the living God..... When can I go to see the face of God?..... Ps. 42: 1-2)     Yearning for God, seeking Him and wanting to do His will..... to return if wandered away......... and surely like the loving Father in the parable of the Prodigal Son, so is God waiting for the lost to come back...... to be reconciled through the Saving Blood of Our Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd laid down His life wholeheartedly for the sinners.......
Now I treasure my glasses as this episode of searching for it has led me see things in a newer way....... Like St. Augustive our hearts remain restless until they come to rest in God...... so let's use the intensity we use in searching for perishable things to search for the imperishable........!

Honeyrosa 

Behold the Cross of the Lord!

 Behold the Cross of the Lord!

"Behold the Cross of the Lord, fly ye powers of darkness, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David has conquered, Hallelujah, Hallelujah  Hallelujah!" 

That is a famous ejaculation of St. Anthony of Padua well known as 'founder of lost articles' and if you are an Anthonian you would have asked him on many occasions to help you find a lost material.

However, I've recently started asking myself why we don't ask for recovery of spiritual graces that have been lost over the years: e.g. lost of the first Love for God and his Commandments, lost of zeal to witness, to pray. to read the Bible etc. Now we tend to boast of the past, how we used to pray, was a prayer warrior, was a leader of that group etc........ Come to think about it, we have simply become lukewarm, we are neither hot nor cold and what has the Scripture got to say about those who have become lukewarm? they shall be spit out for being neither hot nor cold. Without realizing it we have miserably and slowly moved on away from our first love and have wretchedly become pitiable, poor,  blind, deaf and naked. Deaf to hear and blind to see the truth. There is only one Truth and that is Jesus but because we don't want to change, we remain adamant glorying in the past which will not take us anywhere for He said He makes all things New!

Let us therefore ask for restoration of eyes that we may see our nakedness and return to our first Love that that our shameful nakedness may not be exposed; for open ears to hear his gentle knock for He stands at the door knocking and if only we would hear his voice and open the door then it'll be a great feast......He will enter his house and dine with him and he with me... ...Amen!!!

Reflection

Reflection 

Listen to the words of the "Immitation of Christ", and let them sink into your heart: 

"He who would keep the grace of God, let him be grateful for grace when it is given, and patient when it  is taken away. Let him pray that it may be given back to him, and be careful and humble, lest he lose it."

Ingratitude is a vice that grieves the God of love. Every sin of ingratitude wounds the Sacred Heart of Jesus as well aas the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary

The Sacred Heart of Jesus depicts an ocean of love and a burning fire that does not consume, wounded for the love of humanity. In return we should be asking: Sweetest Jesus what else is there You could have done for us, which You have not done? And pray without ceasing that the fruit of His suffering be renewed in our soul by the faithful remembrance of His sorrowful Passion, and that may His unending love increase in our heart each day, until we see Him in eternity, AMEN!!!!!!

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross - Memorial 9th August

Some Sayings of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.  

Whatever did not fit in with my plan did lie within the plan of God. 

I have an ever deeper and firmer belief that nothing is merely an accident when seen in the light of God, that my whole life down to  the smallest  details has been  marked out for me in  the plan of Divine Providence  and has a completely coherent meaning in God's all-seeing  eyes. 

And so I am  beginning to rejoice in the light of glory wherein this meaning will be unveiled to me.

O my God, fill my soul with holy  joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along t he next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes, a new prospect will open before me, and I shall meet it with peace -

 St Teresa's Benedicta of the Cross

In the End

In the end, the truth will come out for our God is a God of light in whom there's no darkness, therefore the truth cannot forever remain hidden. This is what I strongly believe and therefore I submit all to Him alone.  I'm not obliged to explain things or defend myself, time will surely tell. 

Therefore let's wait patiently, not in anxiety, but in calmness; in the meantime keep your condemnation(s) for God has not finished molding me. We are all in the process of formation on this journey of life.  He is the Potter and I'm the clay in His gentle hands.

A Beautiful Prayer by Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

A Beautiful Prayer by Saint Aloysius Gonzaga: O Holy Mary! My Mother, into thy blessed trust and and special custody, and into the bosom of thy mercy, I this day and every day, and in the hour of my death, commend my soul and body. To thee I commit all my anxieties and sorrows, my life and the end of my life, that you through thy most Holy intercession, and by thy merits, all my actions may be directed and governed by thy will and that of thy Son. - Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

ying in stages 

This is a new phrase I picked from  talk I listened to recently and have made me pondering. If this statement is true why are we surprised when someone suddenly dies especially someone very close. 

Is there anything like unexpected or untimely death?. Accidents and natural disasters we cannot rule out therefore let's examine  life from the beginning. As a Christian we believe that God knew us before we came to be formed in the womb so human life is precious - God has a plan for each person and whether we know this and live according to God's will is another story

We all know that life begins with a conception a  blood clot of human embryo which undergoes stages of growth for a period of 36 to 38 weeks for the baby to be born naturally if all goes well. 

Life is a choice

Life is a choice
I was disappointed when I left a 'Nail Saloon' the other day because I could not stand the scent of the chemicals. Even wearing a mouth cap did not help. The attendant was very kind to let me go as I could not breath. The other side of the coin was when I asked her how she is able to work in that situation the answer she gave me set me thinking out loud the whole day. She said a.o. "I have no choice"......How often have we all been  forced to remain in situations which are not healthy.......... jobs we did not like but kept for years only to help us pay the bills because we had no choice or did not dare to take the risk to quit, becoming comfortable with the situation than to dare change? a bird in hand is better than the 10 out there? or the devil you know is better than the angel you know? ..... With hindsight we can see patterns in our own life and realize how far we have come......Of course life is a choice and every choice we make moves us on to the next level of the journey. It is true in the physical as well as the spiritual........
We read often in Scriptures to choose life..... I set before you life and death, choose life....... every day we make choices who to serve for we cannot serve both God and mammon. The choices we have made over the years have brought us to where we are right now, but we can learn the lessons and move on. Each new day is an opportunity to change and or begin anew!!

Seeing through tainted Glass
Entering the Chapel today, I found it dark, tried to put on the light only to realize that I have rather turned it off so I switched it on, yet the Chapel was still dark. Oops, I entered with my dark glasses on....... Hmm that set me thinking.....it can be easy to blame the other person due to wrong attitude, misjudge a person because of being biased, get into unnecessary argument due to impatience......... the list can be endless causing much harm. Need to work on self and not on the other..... removing the log in my own eye before trying to remove the splinter in my brother's eye?......... becoming more understanding, kind, loving, compassionate............? your guess will certainly be as good as mine for our small world will become a better place as we all strive to incorporate the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi:-
Lord, make me a channel of your peace
where there is hatred, let me sow your love,
where there is injury, pardon,
where there is discord, union,
where there is doubt, faith,
where there is darkness, light, 
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life!

The Hidden Presence of God
Hidden God, we adore You..... is God  really hidden from  man?  ,,,,, this  is a mystery that needs a reflection..... God made man in his own image and likeness so that means God lives in man as his creation ,,,,, Man  is therefore  supposed to be a reflection of God's  presence in the world since God lives in him....How ?.... exhibiting the nature of God.  Spiritual things need to be spiritually discerned and this is the reason why God seems to be hidden even though He is present,  man has failed to make his creator visible.....by making giant steps in the physical at the expense of the mystical/ spiritual..... moving far away from his commandments which are love guides to live in union with God.... man seems to have lost the conscience of sin.......separation from God.

One area where God is truly present and yet hidden is the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Sacrament. God is present in the species of Bread and Wine totally in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, yet hidden from the naked eye. Only with eyes of faith we can look beyond the Bread we eat to see our Saviour and our Lord, look beyond the Cup we drink to see His Blood poured out for us.

Another area is in the Word.... that was in the beginning was with God and was God...... that became incarnated and became Man.... the Light of the world giving sight to the blind..... the Word spoken and written..... sharper than two-edged sword, a curse and a blessing..... the Word giving life to those who accept it or death to those who reject it.....the Word that is the Truth.......the Life and the Way.....the Word that sets the captive free...... heals and comforts...... the litany goes on!

Look beyond nature and see the Master Artist/Creator, each blade of leaf is unique... no two rain drops or snow flakes are the same...... the birds of the air..... not one escape His attention for His eye is on the sparrow, the fish in the sea ....... the Sun, the Moon, the Stars and the grandeur of all creation cannot be compared to Man....... The Psalmist cry out ' What is Man, oh what is man that you are mindful of him...mortal man that you care for him? yet you have made him a little lower than God and crown him with glory and honour........ and have put all things under his feet.......(Psalm 8)'
Man can only find his true existence in God and St. Augustine in his Confession concluded: 'God, you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they come to rest in you'.

The Cross

I woke and realized it was a dream,

and no ordinary dream it was.

A huge Cross stood into the heavens, 

around it were people each carrying a tiny cross.

A light shone from the Heavens, and I heard a 

voice:

" Lift up your cross to the Huge Cross"

No one in the crowd stirred,

everyone stood still, each deep in thought.

With a smile, I tried to lift up my tiny cross, 

I realized that it was heavy and made of silver.

For three years, I pondered about the dream.

Then the Lord gave me an insight and I no more

worry.

The Huge Cross is Christ on Calvary,

It was there that the Lamb paid the Price;

a heavy Price by a Perfect Sacrifice.

It was not an easy ordeal,

for He suffered shame and humiliation;

He was mocked and scourged,

Pain, Horror, Anguished, mere words cannot describe it.

The more I think of it, the more I feel His pain.

In anguish, He cried to His Father,

It was not a cry of defeat.

Rather, it was a cry of Victory!

His cry rings out into the Heavens!

it echoes down into the earth below.

Graves were opened, and death was conquered!

Victory, Victory, Victory!

There is Life beyond the Cross!

As I stand beneath the Cross, I see clearly God's Love.

I have been saved only through the Cross of Jesus.

For God so loves me, that He gave His Son

to give me new life through His death on the Cross!

Hail!, all hail the Risen Christ!

Hail Him who has overcome the world!

Hail Him in His New Glorifies Body!

Glory to the Father, who is Faithful in all His Promises,

Even to Raising His Son Jesus from the Dead!

Glory and Honor to the Healing Cross!

                                                                             Author: Honey-Rose Aku Gbologah

Looking back and pondering on the Scripture: " I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6). There is no easier way. The only way is the Cross. If we are the first to go through this way, we may be excused if we are tempted to consider it an impossibility. But we have a cloud of witnesses that have gone this way before us. There is no shorter way to go to Heaven than the Cross. 

If Jesus is the light of the world, then we need to follow Him. "I am the light of the world; who ever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

Love Journal Revisited

Love Journal Revisited
God's love for humanity is evident these past weeks more than ever, because all around us love is in the air, we can feel it,  touch it, taste it and share it.....we are very  excited .....because it is Christmas ........True Christmas is a celebration of the Word of God that became flesh and is a a great season to recall God's  love  as revealed in the Word.....  Jh 3:16  'God so love the world, (you/me) that he gave his only Son that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life'. ....God loves us first, he is the initiator of love and as a result of his love, he gave his total self..... his very self as a helpless baby........ oh here is true love, not that we love God but that he first loves us.....  He is love and wherever love is true, there is God .....God is present in and all around you whether you or they know or acknowledge this truth or not

The greatest single statement about God in the Holy Bible is:  God is love .....And this keeps popping out of the pages throughout the Holy Scriptures being read during this season; take note of  them and store them in your heart......1 Jh.4:7 ff  'Beloved lets love one another because love is of God ......Whoever is without love does not know God for God is love..........In this is love; not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent  his Son as expiation for our sins .......Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another................'

Think at all the people in your life or .. look around you ....all the people you've seen ... their lives, what they do,....... God is present in each one of them....... how can God's love be revealed through me ......through them?........ God is Love,  is not an abstract or a passive statement....it reveals.to us what God does, ...  what God does  is an activity not a quality , God creates, saves and judges lovingly and gives abundantly .. Are there ways I can engage in God more actively.... more lovingly and  openly...........?   Love can be expressed in many ways.......love is made real in what we do, say or how we treat other people.
In this is love ...not that we love God.......but he first loved us ..... therefore.feeling inadequate ?.....remember love is God's saving action  ........, how can I respond?......By his grace.......

The season is not over yet, it continues and we need to be excited about the  Word of God.... Jesus......by letting the Word become alive  in our hearts, ... study/believe in the Word  .......and dare to enter into the great mystery of God's love.......

The Perfect Gift at Christmas

Today is the beginning of the Christmas season. There is joy in the air and the whole  world is filled with wonder and excitement. The world celebrates the birth of Christ.....God entered the world in the middle of the night as a helpless baby without might and power.....the creator came to  dwell among his own creation...... The invisible became  visible.... the unseen came to be seen, touched and behold.....God became poor for  our sakes and the mighty one came weak.. Emmanuel, God among us came to share in our humanity that those will accept him will share in his divinity and  be given the power to be called  the  children of God

The mystery of Christmas is not power or might. God came as a beggar asking for love, the lover seeks love from his beloved. He is the light in the darkness to enlighten and give sight to the blind....

Through the birth of Jesus, the totality of man and the totality of God has been brought to a new unity...... God who sustains all things is present here and now .......and has given us the very best gift...... himself.... his total self ....to become dependent on humanity ...... Jesus took the risk of being accepted, loved, rejected, ignored, mistreated and eventually killed..... O what selfless love poured and being poured out to heal and reconcile broken humanity.

What then can humanity offer in return for His unconditional, merciful love? Today  many people will give and or receive gifts from each other,.... but what can you and I give to Jesus? it is His birthday.... God is self sufficient and does not need anything to make him whole so what on earth can be pleasing to Him (knowing that even all the silver and gold belong to Him).

A gift of total self....... a humble, broken heart, he will not reject......  Just offer him your heart, broken, contrite, hard as stone, and he will make it pliable and habitable......He is the beggar knocking and waiting to be let in. Today if you will only open your heart inviting Him to come and be Lord of your life, he will come with the Father and the Holy Spirit.to make his abode in your heart  Why the heart? it's the seat of emotions - thoughts, fear, hate, love ........ and by offering one's heart, you offer total self, which is the best birthday present to the Lord this Christmas.

This is a period of grace, let's open our hearts in the celebration of the Incarnation of the Word......the Eternal Word of God who became flesh.........Let this Christmas be a celebration of faith....Allow Christ's love lead you enter the mystery of his merciful love.....By His  grace, we can be able to make/renew the deepest commitment we can ever make........all of self...... to be given to Jesus!
A very Blessed Christmas!

Christmas and why we need it

The season of Advent is a period of joyful waiting  and or expectation preparing to celebrate Christmas. There can be no real Christmas without a meaningful Advent, The first Advent was the period before the coming of the Messiah. Right from the very beginning. the  fall of man, God took the initiative to redeem fallen man. (Gen. 3:15)  Over the centuries God began to select and prepare a people for his own and a plan of his redeeming love. Even though man was not faithful, a remnant kept the faith and  held unto the proclamations of the prophets that God kept sending for his own name's sake. And these kept their hope alive by holding unto God's words.until He who is to come, came at the appointed time in the history of humanity. and they rejoiced in God's faithfulness.in fulfilling his promise to redeem the fallen nature of man.

Today Advent reminds us of God's unfailing merciful love and a call to turn and or return to God. It's a period of grace calling for reconciliation, repentance and acknowledging our failings against our loving and merciful  God and Jesus who became man to save us from our sins for where will humanity be if Jesus did not come.

Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mother, was God's own choice to be the mother of Jesus, but her 'Fiat", her Ýes' to God's request at the Annunciation (Lk.1:28 ff) made it possible for God's plan to be accomplished The period of Advent also brings Mary into the light of loving appreciation of her role in the birth of Jesus. It's a period to grow in admiration and love for her, learning from her humility and blind faith in God. Our Salvation history will be incomplete without her total giving of herself to accept God's will. For we find the deepest meaning of our lives when we say yes to God's plan. Her Immaculate Heart formed the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so Mary is closely united to Jesus and through Jesus has become our Mother

Just as we need the period of Advent in preparation for Christmas what then is the true spirit of Christmas, and what do we really celebrate at Christmas? Simply, Christmas  is the incarnation of the Word... the Word that was in the beginning was with God and was God, through whom and with whom and by whom and for whom all was created.... ( Jn.1:11-3)  that Word became flesh, God became man....God stoop down to man ........God's merciful love made manifest to man....... Yes this happened over 2000 years ago and that is the reason we need to recall this act of love  again and again so as not to forget or loose sight of what God has done,,,,,,,for you, me, and entire humanity.....The most precious gift at Christmas is the gift of the birth of Jesus ,,,,,, God became man........ wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger.......The story of Christmas is God's love story between God and humanity...... solely initiated by God and man can choose to receive it with grateful hearts or reject it...... We need to celebrate Christmas in a spirit adoration, awe and love by receiving this precious gift of God...... opening our hearts to receive Jesus, who knocks at each door to be let in. ...There was no room in the Inn then, what about today, is there a room for him to be born in your heart?......a  little space for him in your life?......At his birth the Angels sang : "Glory to God in the highest and peace to those on whom his  favour rests"*( Lk 2:14)

Humanity, today needs the Peace of God more than ever...... in our homes, ......in our families....... among people and nations. True peace can only be found  in Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Let our yearnings for true peace, hasten his coming as we join the. echo of  the ages who cried:

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
King of David
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come Lord Jesus

A very Blessed Christmas, let's receive  true Peace, love and joy from the giver and initiator ot these in our hearts and share it with others, freely you receive,  freely you give so that others will come to experience the Lord's merciful love.

Learning from Saints
Today is the feast of St. Theresa of Avila, even though she lived over 600 years ago,  yet her words still ring loud and clear.....

"Let nothing trouble you
Let nothing frighten you
All things pass away
God never changes
Patience obtain all things
Who possesses God lacks nothing
God alone suffice" ( St Theresa of Avila)

Brave and beautiful words, even though very familiar, read often  many times over the years, yet these words can jump out of the pages because each one can identify with them at some point during this life journey .... Who is there without some trouble? is there anyone not afraid of something?......... Nothing remains the same but in the midst of the heat do we remember this simple truth?........Rather,  don't we become impatient?...
....
St. Theresa was only echoing the Words of Jesus: ...... "Let not your hearts be troubled........ Do  not be afraid......Heaven and earth shall pass away but my Words shall not pass away........ the Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I  shall want............"

On this feast day of St Theresa of Avila, let us be reminded and or encouraged that  who possesses God lacks nothing for God alone is ENOUGH! ........

Love Journal Revisited

Looking back the events of the last  months, I have come to realize how I've been carried on eagles' wings of love and prayer by many people.
In the early hours of 16 April, I  woke up reluctantly due  to kind neighnours banging on my door, to the smell of smoke rising from downstairs filling the bedrooms upstairs. In a daze I took ten steps to open the nearest window.
To my astonishment, l saw the vehicles of the Police, the Ambulance and the Fire Brigade was just arriving and onlookers  standing down there on the street all gazing up. Still not aware of the gravity of what was going on, I waved to a Police officer and inquired from him what was the problem. He answered that there is fire in the building - downstairs and asked me to stay put. Fire in the building- downstairs?  I heard it but it did not register well..... 'downstairs' did not click to mean my sitting room  but the shop downstairs and so I waited at the window and  within 10 minutes I climbed through that small window into a fire brigade crane. While being lowered down,  I saw to my horror that the fire was rather raging through my sitting room. I could not believe what I was seeing and was taken straight to the hospital for a check up.
Two hours later 2 police officers came to the hospital to brief me of the situation and to warn me of what to expect,  bringing me  new  temporal padlock keys.
With friends who responded immediately to the news I was not on my own to face this disaster.
Then slowly but surely it began to dawn on me that it's not a dream or a horror film I was watching.  I could not find any answers but a lot questions,  not how, what caused the fire but why didn't l go downstairs? ,  why on waking up from the bed did I  go straight and  got glued to that window waiting to be rescued?
I shall never be able to find answers to these after thoughts except to conclude that I was protected by a force beyond me. I  climbed through that window with nothing except the pyjamas I woke up with.  If I had wanted my phone or slippers, bag or  whatever,  then I would have gone downstairs,  then I would have seen that it was my sitting room that was on fire and only God knows why my mind just went blank when I was told that there was fire downstairs. It would have been a different story......who can guess? ......

I'm not able to describe my gratefulness to God for choosing to exalt himself by rescuing me  from that raging fire.  the depth,  breath and length of God's love is beyond my feeble mind. I cannot fathom yet why God took such pity on me......All Glory be to Him. I'm equally grateful for the Peters,  Josephines,  Desmonds, Victorias who walked with me through the ashes  together with the countless known/ unknown who carried me in prayers,  all of which have brought me so far........ I am equally overwhelmed by the love and kindness of my daughter, Irene, and all the strangers that in the meantime have become good friends,   that the Lord  has brought into my life.

One thing is sure,  God is faithful,  his love is beyond our imagination,  He is near, very near........his Words are true........ now I know only partially,  but one day, I'll understand fully, when this veil is removed....

All I need to do is abide in His amazing love ......One day at a time........ on this love journey...... till we meet face to face.....

Love Journal Revisited
The Lenten per iod of 40 days leading to Easter period of 50 days  is an amazing period of becoming more aware of our need of our need of God  and to experience anew his unconditional love.  During the Lenten period I identified myself with the return of the prodigal son.... I realised how far I am from home and recognizing my loneliness away from home made me felt homesick....... the desire to return to a loving embrace increased........ but I found myself too tired to undertake this long  journey all by  myself as I'm too weak to make it on my own......So  I cried out : I'm coming home Lord,  but I can't make the journey on my own so please meet me half way.... come to my aid..... come and be my strength....... come and walk with me...... I yearn to return but realised my own incapability....................
Then I realized that is what Lent is about.......Jesus coming to our aid  to  reconcile us  to the Father...... through the Cross.........Just as Moses lifted up the brazen serpent ... so will the Son of Man be lifted up so that all who will believe will have eternal life..................

Life... a race or a journey?
If life was a race, how many will be winners?  ......if it were a race, majority of us will not have any chance of winning. But if life, on the other hand,  is a journey... then it should be lived and experienced. On this journey there needs  be  no losers since we are all on this purposeful journey towards the same destination. To enjoy this journey fully its good, often, to take time to reflect, ponder or meditate on the purpose of this journey; why are we  here for.... what is the purpose of this journey and what are some of the the lessons of this journey........?
 It will be good to take time and pause and learn from others and nature is a good help........... look at the birds........look at the flowers....... and look at the ants.........watch the sunrise and the sunsets.........listen to the sound of the wind and feel the wind on your face........These are some of the very simple things we encounter every day  that we take for granted
When we begin to live life as a journey, then the goal becomes more important than the means.......concern for the other breaks down barriers........ taking time to appreciate what you have brings gratefulness, contentment, and shairing  with those in need .........value of people above value of things..........Discovering the purpose of life, brings one in touch with the source of life.......the Creator of all things and who holds all things in His hands.......
If your life is a race then you are probably running too fast to achieve./ acquire  whatever .... but at whose expense? ......Remember, what does it matter to gain the whole world and loose your soul?........all the running for this outer shell only?........The body provides shelter for the soul during this life but at the end of this short life, (even if it reaches 100) the soul is released to its Maker and Lord...........for judgement......... and then what?.... The soul is the treasure we hold in this earthen vessel..... and we have only one soul to nurture first and then others along the way. .......Therefore let your soul yearns for it's Maker ......the soul that is made in the image and likeness of God thirsts for its Maker.... "As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you,  O God.
My being thirsts for God, the living God" .......It's only God that can satisfy the yearnings and quench the thirst of  the soul; and fills the heart with praise to be able to join  the Psalmist, to  sing  always:
Bless the Lord, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, my soul; do not forget all the gifts of God,..(Psalm 103)
Bless the Lord O my Soul....... my soul Bless the Lord indeed, ..for merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger, abounding in kindness....Let's remember the higher  purpose of this journey. by taking care of our fellow travellers along the way......to safely reach our Father's House......... where there are many rooms

Daddy, where are you?
Daddy where are you?.... why has your little girl become  suddenly anxious  ?...... why has she become afraid?   .......afraid of the future   uncertain of her left from her right? ........where are you daddy?............ why  does she doubt your faithfulness?   why does she feel alone and abandoned,.... unsure of your ever presence,..... even to the end of time?........... Daddy where are you?. Why has the darkness become so dark enveloping her? ..........Oh,  there you are, ....

Yes my child, why have you become anxious? .... why do you doubt....... why have you taken your eyes off me? ......I have never left your side.....with outstretched hands I take hold of  your  feeble  hands......... together we will  walk side by side........

Oh Daddy calm her fears, ....... deliver her  from unnecessary anxieties........renew her confidence in you that she may trust you more than ever...........be her refuge and let her hide under your wings during the storms of  life........deliver her from her fears........ Daddy do not hide your face from her.............. you alone be her provider.......lead her through the various cycles of life.........for you are the Lord of the seasons............the Alpha and Omega.......the beginning and the end and everything in between.........one day at a time.......lead her  steadily along the path home

Abba Father, thank you for bringing her thus far, let her dwell in your light........ in your light may she see light, ......for those who walk in light do not stumble........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..

True Peace
Peace, peace, peace...... where can we find true peace? ... Why has so many 'Peace Attempts' failed in resolving issues between warring factions?...... Is world peace an illusion? ..The key to true peace begins with self...... attaining true peace should begin with me........ Living in peace with self and each other is an echo of the famous Prayer of St Francis of Assisi who was one of the many  great imitators of the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was Jesus who taught us how to turn the other cheek, to love our enemies, feed the hungry, clothe the naked.....who though he was God did not cling to his Divinity but emptied himself and took on the nature of slave even unto death, death on a cross though sinless. He demonstrated forgiveness on his deathbed - the cross, as he prayed for those who crucified him .... Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing........He came and gave his life as a ransom for many....... by His death we have all been saved .......whether we accept  or believe that Jesus is our Saviour....You and I have been bought at a Price !.

Subsequently, we can dare to pray as Jesus taught us through His life and death.............
Lord make us an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow your love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is darkness, light
Where there is sadness, joy
Oh Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;/
To be loved, as to love; For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it is in dying tat we are born to eternal life.

If these become rooted in our lives then we can each become an agent of Peace, ...starting with the self. Each day ask yourself how can I be an agent of peace today  in my home, at work, in my Church community, in my neighbourhood?, and look for opportunities to be such an agent. .

We cannot talk about peace in a vacuum and no gun can bring a lasting peace. Peace needs to begin in the heart of each individual, then there will be no strangers but friends not yet met..............no enemies but brothers and sisters because Jesus our big Brother, through His death and resurrection has reconciled us with God our Father. In his farewell Discourses, He gave us a.o.: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your let your hearts be troubled or afraid........... (Jh 14: 37)

True peace is not the absence of war but the ability to sleep through the storm.... the ability to remain focused in the midst of chaos......... the ability to hope and trust in the face of despair........ the ability to love the enemy who hates you........Since the Peace of God surpasses every understanding that is why Jesus, the Prince of Peace,  is the key to True lasting Peace  through each person starting with self, to the world.  ....the world in which you and I live. .... Each person therefore,  is a gateway to peace........ and since peace is a gift from God, each one of us has the seed of peace ingrained in  our hearts,... germinating/growing slowly.... depending on how it is nourished..........  Hate, anger, jealousy, unforgiveness........ can choke it's growth... while love, joy, patience, kindness,   ...... can enhance its growth.

Therefore let us allow the True Peace of Christ to flourish ,,,,,, in our hearts....... flowing like a river.... flowing out of you and me..... flowing out into the desert, setting the captives free...... Let it flow through me.... let it flow through you ..... let the peace of God flow out through us.........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..

Taking Stock
Seventy years may seem a long way, but compared to eternity it's only a flash in the pan. Ps. 90: 4 "a thousand years in your eyes are merely yesterday"..... so what is 70 or 80 for the strong ones? Yet, it's good to take a peep at how the years have quickly passed and and the 70 milestone is a good  occasion. So what do you look  back to see?..... Not to the regrets or the disappointments......  for thee mistakes  only remain as such, if the inherit lesson(s) is never learned. So I look back to the wonderful things that God by His grace has done ....for His goodness and mercies have no end.....His amazing love is incomprehensible.....God's grace leading me into ministry........ the last decade has been the most fruitful of my spiritual journey...... With gratefulness, I acknowledge  the many beautiful God children I have come to mother....... pastoral school formations..........uncountable hours preparing and celebrating liturgies.......and an amazing new faith family that has come my way. These are memories that have enriched not only my life but the life of the community in which I serve. I'm grateful for His abundant love that has brought me so far and will continue to lead me...... for what do I have that I have not received on loan? ... what do I know that I have not been taught and what can I do on my own if not by His grace.....?

I believe the best is yet to come so I will not dwell long in the past. Even though I can't look into the future, I know that His love and mercy towards each one of us, is unchanging so I will continue to trust him in whatever new plans he has, for I know that his plans for me are good. He will not deny me for his own sake. If He has led me so far, will he now abandon me? He has prepared a table for me............... my cup is running over......... and his goodness and mercy shall continue to follow me all the days of my life...

Any word of caution? speaking out loud; I'm learning to live one day at a time..... allowing  the Lord to take the lead, for by total surrender he leads in ways never imagined.......study and live the Word..... let the Word of God find room in your heart ...... spend time at his feet........ and discover who you are  ... a child of God  and He the creator of heaven and earth is your Daddy............so can he give stone when we ask for bread?....No, He will give the necessary grace to lead us into knowing and loving Him and the Lord Jesus whom He sent to save us..... Appreciate and acknowledge His goodness and never cease to count the many blessings poured into your lap......Let the world know of His unconditional love towards the sinner.......for He is nature is love.........

We are all on this journey.. .. pilgrims travelling together,.... needing each other on the way. ... falling and getting up till we reach the final destination. We are all fighting the good fight ..... but remember only those who persevere till the end will receive the crown. Therefore let's not rest on our oars because we  don't know the hour or the time....The day may be far spent but there is still work to be done.....continuing to bear fruit even in old age so let's use our God-given talents wisely for His glory.......staying awake in prayer.....In the 'Banana Republic' the old usually go first but in real life..... each one of us is on a countdown. ...

God himself is the Lord of life... the Alpha and the Omega .... and everything in between. Celebrating life is recognizing and appreciating the gift, given on loan......It is sacred and therefore need to be used  wisely for we have to give an account very soon ........ even 100  years passes quickly away