Month: August 2010

The First Beatitude

The beatitudes found in Matthew’s Gospel (Mt. 5:3-12) are meant not just for the chosen few, but for everyone. The passage begins with the words, “when he saw the crowds…” Maybe we would say today that it was a message for the masses.

How many of us can remember how many beatitudes there are, and how many have forgotten their meaning? Take some time in the next few days and pray over this passage. What is God saying to us through these words meant not just for ancient times, but also for today?

Here’s a little reflection by Catherine Doherty, found in the book, Grace in Every Season.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” To be poor in spirit does not mean to give up all things and embrace holy poverty with one swoop. Nor is this meant for priests and religious only. No. It is a beatitude for all of us, for it detaches our hearts from earthly possessions and places them into Christ’s Sacred Heart.

Continue reading “The First Beatitude”

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New Recipes

For all those who are looking for something to do with your bumper crop of tomatoes, I’ve posted some new appetizer and main course recipes. There’s also a wonderful new salad from sunny Sicily. I think you’ll enjoy them all as much as my friends and I did Saturday night.

For dessert, I simply took four ripe peaches, peeled and sliced, and mixed them together with a pint of local blackberries. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to keep the peaches from turning brown and a teaspoon of agave nectar for extra sweetness before covering and putting chilling in the refrigerator. Spoon into four bowls and add your favorite biscotti cookie to each, and it’s summer perfection in a dish:)

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Persistence Pays Off

Did you know that it took Thomas Edison thousands of failed experiments over decades before he invented a long-lasting incandescent light bulb that revolutionized the world? He never stopped trying, he never saw himself a failure. His persistence paid off.

Did you know that over a span of thirty years, Abraham Lincoln repeatedly failed at business, love and politics before becoming the President of the United States? He never stopped trying, he never saw himself a failure. His persistence paid off.

It seems to me that persistence has become like a dirty word nowadays. Many people throw in the towel before they even start, thinking whatever task is before them is simply too difficult to overcome. There’s a lot of folks that, once beaten down, never get up again. They lose hope and give up trying. Persistence is no longer part of their vocabulary, if it ever was.

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Summer Evenings and Baby Eggplant

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 08/08/2010
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Lately, it’s been too hot and humid to sit outside in the evenings. I guess I’ve just gotten too used to air conditioning:( Last night, the weather being nice, I had the chance to have dinner under my pergola with some friends. Just about everything we ate came from my local farmer’s market, and it was all delicious. The red wine was a gift from a previous guest. It complemented the food perfectly.

As I was contemplating becoming a vegetarian, I worried that I would never eat good food again. I thought that I would get bored really quickly and go back to eating meat. As everyone who follows my blog knows, this decision was as much spiritual as it was health-related. That it was the right decision for me I have no doubt.

When you go without something you like, I think you savor what you do have even more. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the baby eggplants I found on one of the farmer’s tables. I’m just sorry I can’t remember the name! They were lavender in color, just about three inches long and about an inch wide. I cut them down the middle, doused them in olive oil, and sprinkled some garlic powder all over. They cooked on the grill quickly, less than two minutes on each side. I served them as an appetizer, and let me tell you, they were fantastic. My dinner companions enjoyed them as much as I did. What fun to try something new and unusual.

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23rd Psalm

Someone made the comment the other day that they’d like to see the Scriptures discussed a bit more, so here it goes.

The 23rd Psalm is used at just about every funeral I go to. As I listened to it being sung on Friday, I paid attention to the words,

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

In green pastures you let me graze;

to safe waters you lead me;

you restore my strength.

You guide me along the right path

for the sake of your name.

Even when I walk through a dark valley,

I fear no harm for you are at my side;

your rod and staff give me courage.

You set a table before me

as my enemies watch;

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Only goodness and love will pursue me

all the days of my life;

I will dwell in the house of the Lord

for years to come.

Continue reading “23rd Psalm”

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I’m addicted

I guess I better confess… I’ve got an addiction… I’m hooked on the TV reality show, Top Chef. Sorry if I scared you 🙂

I first started watching when I found out one of our local chefs was competing. As it turned out, he lost, but the whole concept of a bunch of chefs showing their culinary mastery week after week was fascinating to me, and I kept coming back for more.

This past spring, I had the chance to visit Volt, the restaurant owned by chef Bryan Voltaggio. He was the runner-up on Season 6, ultimately losing to his brother Michael. Well, let’s just say it was one of the best meals I ever had.

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Live Life to the Fullest

I went to the funeral home today. I was paying my respects to the family of an 18 year old boy who was killed in a car accident last Thursday. Generally, when you hear about such tragedies involving teenagers, you assume that speeding, drinking, texting, or carelessness must have been involved.

Sadly, this boy was just waiting to make a left hand turn when someone rear-ended him and the impact pushed his car into oncoming traffic. I can’t imagine the guilt whoever hit him must feel. These things never just touch one person or one family. The ripples stretch far.

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Back At It

I’ve been feeling a bit guilty lately. Instead of mixing gym visits with walking, I’ve just been doing the walking. I rationalized this decision because walking is my favorite form of exercise, and I love being outside, enjoying the summer. But then my bank statement comes, and I’m reminded every month that I’m paying for something that I’m not using.

Being on vacation these past couple of days has given me the chance to review the goals I set for myself this year. One of those goals, a really important one, was to get to the gym at least three times a week. Darn. Again, the rationalization kicks back in. “At least you’re exercising…” You know how it goes. Maybe you’ve got a couple of New Year’s resolutions that have a similar outcome?

Well, enough of that. I just got back from a great workout at the Y and am feeling tired. I also signed up to meet with a trainer once a week for the next three weeks. I think she’ll help me get back on track.

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Joy

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 08/03/2010
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I was at the library the other day, and I picked up a little book on art written by Sister Wendy Beckett. You sometimes see her on public television, giving some discourse on a piece of artwork. Anyway, the title of the book was Meditations on Joy.

Well, I didn’t want to check the book out, but rather just flip through the pages and see what paintings she had selected to write about. This first painting, done by El Greco, caught my eye.

Painted over four hundred years ago, there is an amazing sense of the contemporary with it. Sr. Wendy writes, “Like the lightning in El Greco’s View of Toledo, joy does not merely illuminate our interior landscape, it transforms it. The world becomes different, marvelous and unique.” Interesting.

I have long been a fan of El Greco. He painted one of my all time favorite works of art, St. Francis Receiving the Stigmata. It hangs in the Walters Art Museum here in Baltimore, and I try to make it down at least once a year to see it.

I can’t really tell you why I love this painting so much, but when I sit down in front of it, I quickly feel a mix of emotions. It is an awesome painting, and before looking through Sr. Wendy’s little book, I don’t think joy would have been a term I would have used to describe the feelings/emotions.

Upon reflection tonight, though, joy is exactly the right word. Although his life was not an easy one, St. Francis was filled with joy. When you think about this amazing saint, doesn’t it bring a smile to your face?

We all need a little more joy in our lives. Try and find it wherever you can, and look for it in even the smallest things and events of our daily living. If you can make some time, take a trip to one of the great museums near where you live. If you’re traveling on vacation somewhere, find out where the museums are, and check them out. Maybe you’ll leave with a smile on your face and a bit more joy in your heart.

More importantly, try and find ways in which you can bring a little joy to someone who needs it. Imagine if we could all do that with just one person?

Psalm 100 is a psalm of joy. The words are a constant reminder to me of the importance of joyful living and knowing that we are well cared for.

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all you lands;

worship the Lord with cries of gladness;

come before him with joyful song.

Know that the Lord is God,

our maker to whom we belong,

whose people we are, God’s well-tended flock.

Enter the temple gates with praise,

its courts with thanksgiving.

Give thanks to God, bless his name;

good indeed is the Lord,

Whose love endures forever,

whose faithfulness lasts through every age.

What brings you the greatest joy?

Spirit

Sad Loss

A news article caught my eye this morning. I know it might seem insignificant on the grand scheme of things, but last Tuesday, one of the oldest continually operated family farms in the United States was put up for sale. How far back did it go? Try 378 years. That’s not a typo. In 1632 John Tuttle arrived from England and settled along the Maine-New Hampshire border. Holding a land grant from King Charles I, he started his farm.

Eleven generations later, his descendents are are worn out and tired of just scratching a living. In our country today, family farms are being sold in ever increasing numbers. Most are selling out to large, corporate farming enterprises.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m very pro business, but I struggle with the fact that we’re losing something very important when places like the Tuttle Farm are sold. Family farms have been a vital part of our country since its founding (and long before, as this farm proves).

But times are hard, especially for farmers. I’ve been blessed to know quite a few during my years in Maryland, and let me tell you, I don’t know very many people who work as hard as they do. I can understand why the Tuttles want to sell, but its a sad loss.

A few weeks ago I wrote about farmer’s markets, and how great it is to buy fresh, local produce from these hard-working people. The next time you have the chance, visit one. Buy local, and share in the bounty. You’ll appreciate how good everything tastes!