I hope you had a great weekend. I know I did.
Actually, the whole week was pretty good for me. I got a lot accomplished, including some much-needed exercise. I also had the chance to catch up on some reading, met with several folks, and lastly I got some good prayer time in. The weekend ended on Sunday night with probably the best session my men’s group has had since we started almost two years ago.
Wow, what a crazy week this has been! We started the week with the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict. As the week went on, we learned that there had been hints for quite some time that if the pope reached a point where he felt he couldn’t fulfill his responsibilities, he would step down. It certainly is a time to pray for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom!
Next, we’ve had a week of near miss asteroids and meteors falling from space and causing all kinds of havoc. Funny, almost immediately, people were wondering if the pope, the asteroid and the meteor were somehow divinely connected.
This past weekend, I started reading a terrific new book by Jim Manney. God Finds Us is all about the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, something near and dear to my heart.
As it turns out, early this morning I was reading the chapter entitled “It’s Supposed to Be Hard,” and the focus is on what Ignatius had to say about humility.
It’s a cold and icy morning here in my neighborhood, one of those mornings where you want to stay warm in bed for a bit longer.
Sadly, I’m already up and running, since today is going to be a very busy day for me. I’ve been traveling the past couple of weeks, and I’m slowly trying to catch up, in addition to the daily stuff that waits for my attention. I’m sure you experience the same thing all the time.
Over the weekend, I turned another year older. It’s hard to believe just how fast time flies, but here I am, moving towards one of those big milestone birthdays. Hmmm.
Well, given the alternative, I’ll take my birthday any time. Since I was able to celebrate with a lot of my family this year, it felt extra special.
Even though we didn’t get the usual sunny weather California is well-known for, even in winter, I missed another snowfall at home. I’ve lucked out so far this year, and really haven’t touched my snow shovel. Well, that’s fine with me.
I had the chance to sit down with some friends last week to begin the process of talking through my doctoral project. We bounced around ideas and concepts from St. Ignatius, Scripture passages, and just general thoughts as to where I should head.
A point we all kept coming back to is that many people who might be drawn to what I have to say and who might consider taking part in one of my retreats will more than likely feel a sense of brokenness.
Today, I had the chance to visit the nearby shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first canonized saint born in the United States.
About a twenty-minute drive from my house, I enjoy travelling down the country road to the sleepy town of Emmitsburg, where Mother Seton founded both a religious order and a girl’s school in the early 1800’s.
I love the fact that Mother Seton would have traveled on the same road I drove on all those years ago, except she was traveling in a carriage pulled by horses, and the road unpaved.
Well, 2012 has come to a close. Personally, it was a year of up’s and down’s, and I’m kind of glad to see it go.
On the flip side, I have a feeling that 2013 will be a great year, filled with new and exciting things.
I hope you and your family have a very blessed New Year. Let’s pray that we might have health, peace and happiness this year. For those who are unemployed, may they find meaningful work. For those who are sick, may God’s healing touch be on them. For those who are down, may they be lifted up. For those who are lonely, may they find new and long-lasting friendships. For those who have much, may they share with those who are less fortunate.
May God bless you with the joy that only He can give. Happy New Year!
I just finished a huge project at work, and now I’m really ready to relax.
I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t get it done, but this afternoon, I hit the enter button and that was it.
Have you ever felt the pressure of a huge deadline? I’m sure most of us can relate.
It’s taken more than a couple of days to reflect on the tragic events last Friday in Newtown CT.
The talking heads on T.V. have been going non stop, and there has been much to discuss.
In the end, the families of those killed, along with our entire country, are left with an incomprehensible loss.