Don't get comfortable!

Comfortable looks and feels like a lot of different things. It can be as simple as kicking your shoes off when you get home from school or work, or maybe watching a television show and hanging out in your pajamas. When we hear the words comfortable most of us will smile knowing it means we can just veg out, with no worries and not think about anything other than just being comfortable. It's the reason we have "comfortable" clothes that we wear, we stay in "comfortable" hotels with "comfortable" beds, in our "comfortable" little towns, that we drive around in with our "comfortable" cars, and we feel good when we feel "comfortable."

Well, I like comfortable just as much as the next person. However, my faith calls me to be uncomfortable all the time! It calls me to step out of my comfort zone, into the realm of the unknown. But, what in the world does that mean? It means we go beyond what makes us feel good and sometimes it means embracing those awkward moments that make us feel uncomfortable. It means forging through those moments you are squirming around in your chair wishing there was an easier way to deal with something that just has to be talked about.

This thought crossed my mind the other day when I was at a mini staff meeting. We talked about a lot of things that would typically make someone feel uncomfortable, forging through misconceptions and misunderstandings so that we could all ultimately grow in our faith and continue to lead the community we minister to, with God in control of course. God being in control however, often times makes us feel really uncomfortable. We like to feel like we are in control of anything so that we don't feel too uncomfortable. But, the truth of the matter is that we control nothing. It is at moments we not only realize this, but get comfortable with being uncomfortable that we grow the most, and in essence become the most! Let us continue to forge ahead through every moment that takes us into the realm of the unknown...behold the mystery of our faith, and of this world and the light and love bestowed upon us. Don't get comfortable; today, take the step.

Time to chime in!

Okay readers... be sure to leave a comment this post! I want to know from YOU, what YOU would like to see more of on this blog spot! Be honest, be REAL, be genuine, be CHALLENGING!! My dream is that these posts will be filled with encouraging words, Sacred Scripture, TRUTH, love, and complete authenticity! Shared with all! If you want more... well, SPEAK UP!! I will do my best to add in what you want, and be sure to keep checking in frequently. Also, if you are LOVING these posts... SHARE with your friends, your coworkers, your parents, your siblings, your spouse... your "I only see them once a year" people. Let the light of Christ shine on... straight from the mind and fast typing fingers of SONshine!

Ladies, be blessed and beautiful, because you are!
Gentlemen, be holy and handsome because you are!

Joyously in Jesus and forever in His grip... your faithful blogger,

Eileen

Get addicted...to obedience!

Well, I did it! One whole week without coffee, and in fact, I didn't even drink any on Sunday either, so 1 week plus a day! Go me, right?! The kids were ALL shocked, and I can see why...

Now that the week is done, I want to share with my readers some things I have learned from this venture:

1. I am A LOT stronger in will power than I thought;
2. Despite past fears of dying without it, or just stopping in mid-sentence and shutting down at any given moment, coffee doesn't seem to be what keeps me going every day;
3. My breath stays fresher longer...Aquafresh, those stripes are really working for you when the arch-nemesis is put out of business!
4. I really miss everyone at Starbucks, because they know my name, my drink, and probably my whole life story. I feel like we are friends lost...
5. "I don't miss it at all" she says as she sips the piping hot java from her over sized coffee mug;
6. and finally, it's okay to drink coffee, but in moderation. I have learned that I was becoming too dependent on coffee, when I certainly don't need any help for energy (hello, have you met me?!) haha
7. There will be at least one teen from St. Charles at daily mass all Summer in 2011! Awesome!!

So, for all of you out there that don't think you can do it... you never know unless you try! If I can do it, I KNOW that anyone can. I mean, I was drinking a pot a day to myself (that's not including my trips to Starbucks). After all is said and done, I realize, I don't want to give up coffee entirely, I mean, I am NOT a quitter, so it's just not in me! But, I do need to take it back a notch. And, I know that when I am having one cup, while reading the Bible, or sitting with great friends, is NOT a distraction from God. So, that's my limit. I have found it!

Here's a dose of Catholic coffee for those of you without the caffeine itch:  We all have things that we are "addicted" to. Some of our addictions are much more than a cup of coffee. So, examine your life today and offer up those things to God, submitting to him in complete obedience. He can help you get through anything, but you must first decide to be obedient to the call he has for you, in walking away from those addictions that do not glorify him, or distract you from his love. In the words of a great Saint, specifically St. Gregory the Great, "Obedience is the only virtue that implants the other virtues in the heart and preserves them after they have been so implanted."
Blessed week all...

You want me to love who?

Okay, let's not sugar coat it...we all have someone in our life that totally irritates us. Someone we have a really hard time loving, in fact, we might even say we just don't love him or her at all and we don't want to either. The unfortunate truth is that we cannot go on this way...unloving, bitter and resentful towards others. I was awaken at 2 a.m. this morning, not sure if it was the rain or the Spirit, probably a combination of the two, and got up to read 1 John. God you are too clever in the way you approach my call to Sacred Scripture. I haven't read this book in quite some time, and I can see now it was a necessity at this time to lay eyes back on those pages. Thank you, Jesus.

So, here is what I saw, over and over again, we must love one another as God loves us, because as we love one another, God remains in us and his love is brought to perfection... It further screams into my heart, leaving no room for misinterpretation or lack of understanding: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
(I'm taking most of this from 1 John 4). Really, Jesus? Even those people that get under my skin, those people who are rude, insensitive and lack compassion? The ones that make me feel like I am the size of an ant next to a dinosaur? You want me to love them too??  And, His response... DRUM ROLL PLEASE....is a simple, but resounding YES.

Let me get to the point: God knows everything and since He knows everything, and He only gives us what we can truly handle (1 Corinthians 10:13), we have to know that He not only filters through circumstances/situations in our life, but also each person who comes into our life. Even those difficult to love ones. There are no coincidences with God. Everyone has a part in the grand story of salvation. So, let's do our part and love others as God loves them. For if we really love God, we will love our brothers and sisters.


And, don't kill me readers, but I am sadly, but truthfully reminded of the wise words of Barney-- yes the purple dinosaur that everyone hates (see, we already have one person we can begin to reconcile our hearts with and try to love):
"I love you, you love me, we're a happy family." 
Now, how many happy families do you know when it's just I love you, you hate me? As the body of Christ, we are all one big family...and since we are all here in this together, we might as well be happy. So, love, as you are loved!

WE NEED TO TALK...

...it doesn't matter from whose mouth we hear these four little words escaping from, it's almost NEVER good, whether a parent, a friend, sibling, boyfriend/girlfriend, teacher, boss, husband/wife... We need to talk is usually a precursor to:

• this isn't working out
• your behavior is unacceptable
• we're going in different directions
• your grades are unsatisfactory
• It's not you, it's me...

Even more predictable than the words that trail is the reaction from the person listening. With only four small words uttered, we often times find ourselves caught in great anxiety, thinking back to EVERY little offense we possibly could have committed trying to figure out what might ensue. Oh, how our hearts can race in those moments and how quick our minds can recall every detail of what we might have done wrong.

This is but a fragment of what I can only imagine it would be like when we are face to face with Jesus. When we stand before our Savior, Jesus Christ, and he says to us, "We need to talk," I believe our very own minds will convict us of every sin we have ever committed in life before He even utters another word. Romans 14:12 proclaims "So [then] each of us shall give an account of himself [to God]." All I can say is that when that time comes, we will not be surprised. We are taught very well what is good, what is right, and what is of God, for the glory of God. Anything in between and not of Him is likely to follow those four little words, in our mind, and perhaps in His voice. One thing is for sure, unlike an unforeseen break-up, He'll likely say, "It's not me, it's you." And so I am reminded of, and leave you readers with, these great words to live by, from John the Baptist: "He must increase; I must decrease." John 3:30

Perhaps living this now would alleviate some of that anxiety when we are face to face with Jesus, our just judge. Yes, we are sinners, but we ought to live as saints, knowing that in doing so we will no longer be conformed of this world, but be transformed by Christ. Word of caution: when you decide to live as a saint know that you will be completely broken, so that you might be remade closer to the image of Christ, because in order for Him to increase, again, we must decrease.

Word of God speak...not yell

What in the world are we all yelling about?

Working in ministry has been a HUGE blessing in my life, there is absolutely no doubt about it. But, it has also been a huge curse, or should I say, cross. When I think about working as a high school youth minister, I think about a myriad of things: most importantly sharing the gospel and our Catholic faith, but more obviously, eating LOTS of pizza, laughing until liquid comes out of my nose, crying with the teens, listening, speaking, understanding, praying, trusting, believing, living the gospel, sharing and encouraging passion for our Savior and for our wonderful Catholic church and all of it's rich, meaningful, beautiful Traditions, big and small. These are naturally my thoughts on the ministry. Unfortunately, many things I wouldn't think of are the very things that have surfaced. I have faced many stifling agendas, pushed on by those I would have believed were fundamentally on the same page as me, in being a Roman Catholic. Though not always shown through intonation or volume, I feel like those voices are yelling at me to conform to their views, to their agendas, and to their mission, while at the same time I hear the gentle loving voice of God telling me NOT TO CONFORM, but to continue being TRANSFORMED by the person of Christ.

If everything we believe in the Catholic Church is true, how can anyone every doubt the work of the Holy Spirit among us, in ways that we can NEVER understand, nor were we meant to understand. How can anyone EVER turn their backs on the Church that has been around for so long, that has nurtured so many, and brought the true life of Christ into the hearts of so many? How can anyone, saying they are a Roman Catholic, serving a Roman Catholic community be teaching, or pushing for things against the very Church they serve? These are questions I may never have answers to. But, I can say this: if I were to ever disagree with the Church I am serving, or I were to ever push an agenda that does not best serve the Church, but only myself, I would hope and pray that God would move me out of the way so that a more faithful minister could be put in place. That is, if I am ever "yelling" or pushing my own agenda. Because truly, there is no reason to yell when you are following the light and love of Christ, trusting in His Almighty saving grace to get us through each new challenge/change/uncertainty in our faith, whether we understand it or not.


Of course, until everyone is done yelling, I will continue to pick up my cross daily, trusting, believing and knowing that God is at work, not me. I am but a vessel for His Incredible Spirit to move in and through. I am at this very moment reminded of our Blessed Mother and how she said Yes to God's will being done unto her. How courageous she was knowing the persecution and obstacles she would face. I only hope that I maintain even an ounce of the trust Mary had in God's will for me and the community I serve. Word of God speak to me...even while others are yelling. As Samuel said: "Speak, for your servant is listening." -1 Samuel 3:10

Catholicism: like onion rings? Stay with me here...

I must say before recording any other thoughts tonight, it has been 4 days since I have had a cup of coffee. I'm just saying this could very well determine the outcome of what you read here...

Onion rings are a funny food. I say this because so many people enjoy them, however they can't stand onions. I thought of this while I was out for dinner with a couple of friends tonight.  He ordered onion rings with his hamburger and as he did this, he made it very clear that he does NOT like onions. Normally, I would move on from something so simply stated, however he followed it up with this statement: "Onions are nasty. But, I feel like when they get fried, the nasty gets fried out of them." For some reason, I suddenly thought of Christianity and our Catholic faith in particular. I feel like we're all onions in a sense. I mean, just as we are, without the batter or the frying, we're kind of plain and just not all that well liked. But, when we are submerged into the grease (or our faith) and completely coated with the breading (Jesus in the Eucharist),  something happens to us. We are still an onion, but we are transformed into something else, much more bearable and enjoyable. This is seriously a CRAZY analogy. But, hey, it's late, and I am caffeine deprived. I want to state for clarity sake, I am not saying that if we follow this analogy, knowing that onion rings are bad for us, that our faith is bad for us too...so please don't misread that! Just read it for face value knowing that I have given up coffee, and part of my sanity this week.

My prayer for all your readers out there... if you drink coffee, keep drinking it, especially if stopping would make you write or say things like you have just read above. I promise the next post will have more sustenance than an onion ring.