s t r e t c h

that's right. we need to stretch ourselves. this day and every day--no matter what the circumstances. this is on my mind right now, because the good Lord knows how strong I am (we are) and wants me to notice something. He does not give us more than we can handle; in fact, sometimes we are amazed with how much we actually can carry. whatever baggage/stress you are carrying with you as you read this, know that you can always empty out that pack and fill up on the grace and blessings of our dear Father. He knows how resilient we are capable of (and have been) and anticipates us bouncing back any moment now...

with anticipation we wait

i'd like to preface this blog entry and this beautiful Advent season by saying that i love buying presents, decorating the house/tree with tinsel and ornaments, writing holiday cards to loved ones, and even singing a few Christmas tunes here and there. BUT the one thing that makes this season especially magical and delightful for me is that Christ (instead of being forgotten and excused from our holiday traditions and celebrations) is visibly present and at the forefront of our minds and hearts. one of my favorite Christmas cards of all-time depicts St. Nicholas himself cradling baby Jesus in his arms and gazing into our Savior's innocent eyes. i cannot count how many times i've seen the expression: JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON pasted on billboards, commercials, and apparel. however, too often that expression, which is certainly well-intended, slowly becomes secondary to the bustle of the holiday season. May the words of one of my favorite Christmas tunes of all-time occupy your hearts this season:

Joy to the World, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.

the table of plenty

it's about that time of year again. that time of year when families--whether jointed or disjointed, young or old, together or displaced--travel by car, bus or plane to gather around their own table of goodness. they bring their favorite dishes, games and expectations with them and empty out all three over the course of the next 12 hours of watching football, catching up on school/work, and preparing the heartiest meal of the season. for some, thanksgiving is a time of great pleasure and warmth for others it is a day of great heartache and despair. these days, it seems impossible to celebrate this wonderful feast without remembering those who have very little, if anything. we sometimes feel guilty or ashamed that stuffing ourselves with a variety of casseroles, meats, and desserts (only to find ourselves with upset stomachs and bouts of sleepiness) is wrong and gluttonous. while this may be true, i would argue that it is more important to use these familial gatherings to express our "attitude of gratitude" (to steal a cliche from one of my grade school teachers). GRATITUDE, as it is defined in webster's dictionary, is "the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful," which is derived from the Latin root word 'gratus' meaning 'pleasing.' something that is pleasing is likely to be good, true and beautiful. i would further argue that those things in our lives that are pleasing to us (for me: my faith, family and friends), and that we are grateful for should be remembered and experienced this day and every day (ain't that what leftovers are for). please remember and pray especially for those who have no one (or think they have no one) else to pray for them. they are our brothers and sisters too, and they too have a reservation at the table of plenty. i would like to leave you with the following prayer which has been rehearsed by my family so many times that we too often forget the depth and meaning of our gratitude:

Bless us O Lord, for these thy gifts which we are about to (and have) receive(d) through thy bounty (and thy goodness) through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

all you holy men and women pray for us...

another all saint's day has come and gone, except this year I am finally beginning to understand these virtuous (and at times vicious) human beings who knew their God and allowed Him to become such a integral part of their lives. i struggle with this daily, even though i know that i am called to a life of holiness and compassion. as i read more and more about these incredible people, the more i want to become one as well. and isn't that what the Lord is calling us all to be? YES, SAINTS! as troubled and as imperfect as we are, God is asking (pleading) for us to answer His call and join the company of angels and saints in heaven by bringing about the Kingdom of God. a difficult task? for sure. but one that is only for the strong of heart. i would like to be a saint. i try to be one every day. does that mean i'm full of pride? not necessarily. or envy? maybe. or even concupscience? possibly. the fact of the matter is that i want to grow in my relationship with an ever-loving and forgiving Father who wishes to be reunited with His sons and daughters. oh, what's that? what's that you say? there's a dim halo forming around my melon. oh good, because--for a second--i didn't think the big guy was taking me serious!

a hole in my sock

it's been that kind of week. a hole in one's sock is never fun (especially when it's your last clean pair for the week)! despite the hole and despite challenging week i've had, i am super-excited for our jvc midwest retreat in dubuque, iowa (only a few short miles from the original "Field of Dreams"...and, yes, we will be playing baseball amidst the corn fields). my housemates and I will be reuniting with our fellow midwestern jvs that we first met only 2.5 months ago in tiskilwa, illinois this weekend, so it should be grand. i will be using this retreat for myself and for growing closer to the BGITS (big guy in the sky). if you read this in time, please pray for our cleveland community as well as the greater jvc midwest/domestic/international communities. i encourage all those who read my blog to comment and ask stimulating questions that I may not answer anywhere else except in da' soup. I also encourage you to check and make sure that your socks do not have any holes in them. it can be quite the tragedy. same time. same channel. same purpose.

...some hesitation

when i first created this blog, i was convinced that i would update it regularly. that couldn't have been further from the truth. in fact, it seems my procrastinating tendencies have now flowed into my world of blogging. anywho, i should not waste this space, because who knows when my next post will arrive. on the eve of my first ever visit to the University of Our Lady (Notre Dame), many emotions are racing through my mind as i sit here on a crisp October afternoon in Cleveland, Ohio waiting anxiously for the "sawwcks" and indians to get together in what should be a "wicked pissah" for the ages. while i am somewhat ashamed to reveal this, i know that it is the truth. i am, let me start over. i will be rooting for, supporting the indians as they try to debunk big papi, tido, and the schill these next eleven or so sleepless nights and unproductive days. some may call it treachery. others complete tomfoolery. whatever they want to say, i'm ready to take it like a true baseball fan, because that's what i have become--a true fan of America's favorite pasttime. so keep the clam chowder warm and tell those Bostonians to not worry about me, because they have got enough problems (i'm not even going to mention the Big Dig...woops) to deal with. rest assured Masschusetts, my love. once a New Englander, always a New Englander. raise your mugs of hot apple cider to that.

hitting the ground running...

what's your SMRF code name?...apple picking in Kirtland (i owe Brigid a pair of expensive sunglasses)...1/2 way to st. patty's day...Indian summer...$4 hair cuts at the barber college...the J(esuit) crew...aaarrgghh! (shower curtain earring)...coffee chats with "Wrong Way" Rawlings...teaching phys. ed to 48 juniors in an 8x11 ft area (that's not that big)...meeting people who remind me of two or more folks from home...trying not to reveal my northern accent...learning how to practice patience & humility...feeling right at home.. s t r e t c h i n g myself...still eating too much dairy...keeping in touch with those I love...trying to live in the moment and recognize my frailties...trusting in His Providence...