Spiritual – Page 4 – The Future is Open

May 27, 2020

We are deeply flawed

We are deeply flawed and broken. Our racism and bigotry are on full display for the world to see. White folks who don’t want to wear masks storm state capitols with assault rifles and other paraphernalia. Yesterday police in riot gear answer a protest by black Americans angry over the brutal murder of a black man stopped for a traffic infraction.

Is there a path to redemption? I’m not sure. We’ve allowed the cancer of racism and xenophobia to brood and fester for too long. We even have national leaders who promote it. We are not true to our founding documents but then we never were. Pundits and preachers say we’re a Christian nation while turning a blind eye to systemic racism.

The sin of the white man is to be expiated, through a genuine response to the redemptive love of the Negro for him. The Negro is ready to suffer, if necessary to die, if this will make the white man understand his sin, repent of it, and atone for it.
Thomas Merton

May 24, 2020

A call to holiness

There’s been a lot of pushback on social distancing and mask wearing. Many consider theses measures as umbrage. It isn’t always a pleasant experience. It is an annoyance to have to wear a face covering. When I was a little boy my Mom would say, “offer it up.” In other words doing thing that were not pleasant were in fact a call to holiness. I have begun to look at mask wearing differently since remembering my Mother’s missive.

Many times in life we’re called to endure situations that are irksome, worrisome and annoying. This is just one more of those instances. When we think of holiness it’s sometimes confused with piety and perhaps going to church on your day of worship. However, there are myriad opportunities to be holy or called to holiness. For some it may be a stoplight, for others it might be waiting in that line in the grocery store. In this pandemic standing six feet apart, wearing a mask and washing our hands frequently can be calls to holiness too.

The more I try to avoid suffering the more I suffer. I need to learn to embrace the suffering and embrace the mask that I am called to wear. The mask is my penance, my cross and my redemption.

May 22, 2020

Mary in Heaven

This beautiful chapel was my favorite place at the Franciscan Sanctuary of La Verna. The beautiful statue of the blessed mother really captured my attention and imagination. The building was the Chapel of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Mary in Heaven), built in 1216 by St. Francis himself.

Since the lockdown began I’ve been prayer walking daily. As I walk I pray and each day those prayers include the rosary. I prefer the Franciscan Crown Rosary. The last decade of the Franciscan Crown is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There’s always been something about Mary because I was born on a Marian feast day. My favorite hymn is Ave Maria. Ave Maria Gratia Plena Dominus Tecum. Protect us this day.

May 13, 2020

Living in the present moment

I was listening to a Super Soul podcast with Oprah Winfrey interviewing Eckhert Tolle and as they were talking about the present moment I had a helpful insight. In the midst of all this stress and daily projection and worry I haven’t been living in the present moment. Sometimes words are just words until they come to have meaning in my life. Today was one of those days when the present moment became more than two words. A chap once said to me, “if you were to ask God what time it is what do you think he would say.” I said, “I don’t know.” My friend said, “he’d say it was now.” Many years later the thought of the conversation returned and I came to appreciate the power of now.

The past and future are imaginary. The only thing that matters is now. All we have is now. Right now I’m okay. Earlier today I had a chance to visit one of my favorite quiet spots in nearby Ellicottville. I visited Nannen Arboretum. It’s a very contemplative setting. It was a beautiful day.

May 11, 2020

St. Jude

I have a statue of St. Jude that’s been mine since I was a young boy. I had lost track of it for years until five years ago when we were moving my Mom to assisted living. Since then the statue has returned to my life and and currently lives most of the time next to my laser printer.

I was drawn to the statue as a young boy because I mistook St. Jude for St. Patrick. You notice that Jude is wearing green and so naturally as an Irish-American I assumed that if you wore green you were usually Irish. My Mom and Dad purchased the statue while we were visiting the Catholic Union Store in Buffalo. It was after I got the statue home that I learned it’s true identity. Then I began to learn that Jude is the patron saint of lost causes. From that time until now I’ve given thoughts and prayers to St. Jude when there was an impossible cause in my path. The Coronavirus, Covid-19 and our federal government’s inept response to it are all impossible causes that I’ve given to St. Jude. The statue has survived about sixty years and that’s remarkable because it’s made of plaster. You’ll notice that the flame that once adorned Jude’s head has not survived the test of time. I continue to hope and pray that St. Jude, the Holy Spirit and other positive forces can change the course of the pandemic or at least our response to it.

May 10, 2020

Expressing doubt is normal and healthy

Today I posted a picture of my rosary on Instagram and posed a rhetorical question about the effectiveness of that ancient prayer. The only way I learn is by experience and asking questions. That led one of my followers to respond that my family was healthy which indeed they are. I’m grateful for that. This month Pope Francis has asked us to pray the rosary everyday and pray that Mary intercede for us with the pandemic. I’m inclined to be a skeptic of rote prayers and particularly the rosary but I’ve been praying the rosary everyday since early March. It’s been part of a larger effort to seek and do God’s will. I usually recite the rosary when I’m walking. It’s a walking meditation for me but being a curious guy I wonder does it really accomplish anything. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Mary. After all I was born on a Marian feast and blue is my favorite color. I believe that doubt is integral to faith. They’re two sides of the same coin.

As Jesus was dying on the cross he is supposed to have said, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me.” If the son of God can express doubt then isn’t that a sign of spiritual health. I hope so. Is everything so certain in your walk of faith that you don’t question the effectiveness of your prayer life? My life has been a series of conversion experiences. Dark nights and soul searching followed by metanoia.

May 9, 2020

My favorite music to

I heard about the death of Little Richard today. I wasn’t a big fan of his but after listening to some interviews of his with Tom Snyder, David Letterman and Arsenio Hall I realized what a great talent he was. He certainly set the world on it’s ear in the 1950’s. My musical tastes are very eclectic. I like everything from Gregorian Chant to Purple Haze and everything in between and around. I’m a fan of the Allman Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, Kenny G, George Benson and many more. In the 1960’s I loved the Temptations and Four Tops. In the post Woodstock era I became a fan of Santana, Richie Havens and CSNY. I’ve seen a number of good musicians in live concerts and those events included Santana, Rolling Stones, Doobie Brothers, Temptations and Kenny G. to name a few.

The one guy that I continue to admire and listen to is Carlos Santana. His music is universal. He incorporates the mystical and spiritual rhythms of blues, rock and Latin. His music transcends barriers and generations. Tonight while reading I was listening to one of my favorites, Samba Pa Ti. I frequently listen to it over and over. At one time I owned almost all of Santana’s albums. A couple of years ago I read his book, The Universal Tone.

Some people are put on this planet to help elevate consciousness, and through them come the sound and words and vibrations and music.
Carlos Santana, The Universal Tone: My Life

May 6, 2020

The Mouths of the Liars

Psalm 63 is one of my favorites. It is a psalm of David when he was in the Desert of Judah. I often turn to it when I am troubled and read the verses over and over. It is a tonic for me. While reading it the other day I came to meditate on its final verse, “the mouths of the liars will be silenced.” Thousands are dying each day of Covid-19 and yet some politicians, pundits and citizens are spreading misinformation designed to create doubt of its deadliness. Some of these people are driven by greed. Others believe they are immune. Some see quarantine, lock down and social distancing as anathema. Other see these new regulations as infringement on their civil liberties. Whatever their beef they are spreading lies and falsehoods which put the lives of everyone in danger.

Many years ago I read this quote from Hebrews.

The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

If Hebrews is correct then perhaps there is power in Psalm 63 too and the mouths of the liars will be silenced. In the meantime, wear a mask, keep your distance, pray for each other.

May 3, 2020

Help my unbelief

One of my friends read yesterday’s “Morning Thoughts” post and didn’t scold me for not having faith but instead said he was praying to help his unbelief. Questioning the existence of God is part of an mature relationship with a power greater than myself. A careful reading of the bible provides numerous cases where prophets despaired and called God out. My friend said he was following the example of Pope Francis and was praying the rosary every day in the month of May. I’ve been doing that too, but God wasn’t answering my prayers with the speed and accuracy I had been hoping for. God never does. One of my favorite biblical writers is David and throughout the psalms David battles with God. Jonah ran away and Job battled despair and depression.

“Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?”
Job 3:11

Sharing your despair with others is actually the secret to emotional and spiritual maturity. We’re as sick as our secrets. Finding someone we can confide in and share our pain is the touchstone of progress. Do I see God in the sunshine, flowers, trees and the life that surrounds me? Yes, I do. Will I continue to pray the rosary even though I don’t see any results? Yes, because when I’m praying I’m not overthinking. Enjoy your day.