Your Pastoral Coach

Living in the Presence of God at the Airport

Airports are a microcosm of the world and as such they give us an interesting opportunity to practice living in the presence of God. I spend a lot of time in airports, typically flying 20 to 30 times a year. While at the airport I read books or newspapers, read prayer books or the Bible, pray the rosary, watch people, think about problems or things in the future, or do things in my computer. Sometimes I pray for the strangers in the airport. You know what? Those are the times I feel that I’m living in the presence of God.

A Moving Story

Today I kept reading wonderful stories of God's spirit moving among us and creating miracles of health or miracles of conversion and comfort. It is so touching to see how God reaches to us and converts moments of pain and anguish into moments of transformation of the soul. I just read a very moving story in Video meliora via Flos Carmeli. Please read and pray for the soul of Mary Herboth's brother.

Technorati Tags: Presence of God

Savoring the Presence of God in the Midst of a Storm

I woke up this morning and did not get up to pray. I awoke in the midst of a severe storm with winds gushing up to 60 miles an hour. I stayed in bed for an additional 40 minutes listening, been, feeling... It was nice to hear the strength of the wind, the rain hitting the windows, the house making all kinds of strange noises as it was shaken by the storm. I could hear the wind-chimes going crazy outside. It was cold and dark too.

Although I could have gotten up and accomplished a few things, it was so nice to stay a little longer. While the storm was thrashing around me, I was in a cocoon. I was wrapped in a flannel blanket, underneath a dawn comforter. How nice to savor the moment in this place of warmth and stillness. How nice to feel the pleasure of having the "souls" of my feet off the floor and to feel the body rest in this comfortable bed.

Every now and then my heart would say, ever so softly, an Our Father or Hail Marry. But this morning I was not praying to God. I was savoring the presence of God. I was feeling His warm protection and His tender love. So many times our lives feel like we are constantly walking through a severe storm. Perhaps due to family, job, or financial pressures. Perhaps due to anxiety, depression, melancholy, or the dark night of the soul.

If we can just keep this place of Divine Stillness within us all day long, we will be able to be at peace, savoring the presence of God in the midst of a any storm. I pray that I can... I pray, so that I can...

Technorati Tags: Anxiety, Depression, Presence of God, Silence

Gospel Reflection for November 6, 2005

I was struck with the beauty of the readings for this 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. In Matthew we read that 5 virgins (the church) were not ready to meet their bridegroom (God) because they did not have oil for their lamp. Why didn't they have oil? Laziness? Carelessness? No, it says they lacked wisdom. The first reading beautifully talks about Lady Wisdom. What is wisdom? How do we gain it?

A Glorious Saturday

I had such a glorious Saturday at the cabin! I woke up 2.5 hours earlier than anyone else, so I was able to enjoy some solitude. I woke up to the great smell of cabin fireplace from the night before. I put my sweater on and went outside in the back to take a closer look at the woods and the pond... in my pajamas... Then I came back to freshly brewed coffee and sat on a comfy chair by a big window overlooking the woods.

Is God in the Midst of Your Work?

Is work a place that helps you live the presence of God or a distraction from God? By work I'm talking about an employment, being a homemaker, ministry, volunteer work, etc. Do you feel that you have to put your nice, contemplative relationship with God on hold while you do other stuff, only to come back again to His presence at night?

"It is not the nature of the task, but its consecration that is the vital thing."

Martin Buber

Meditative Blogging

Is it possible that our practice of blogging could in fact become our meditative practice? I believe so...

"When one goes to Obaku temple in Kyoto he sees carved over the gate the words "The First Principle". The letters are unusually large, and those who appreciate calligraphy always admire them as being a masterpiece. They were drawn by Kosen two hundred years ago.

When the master drew them he did so on paper, from which the workmen made the large carving in wood. As Kosen sketched the letters a bold pupil was with him who had made several gallons of ink for the calligraphy and who never failed to criticise his master's work.

"That is not good," he told Kosen after his first effort.

"How is this one?"

"Poor. Worse than before," pronounced the pupil.

Kosen patiently wrote one sheet after another until eighty-four First Principles had accumulated, still without the approval of the pupil.

Then when the young man stepped outside for a few moments, Kosen thought: "Now this is my chance to escape his keen eye," and he wrote hurriedly, with a mind free from distraction: "The First Principle."

"A masterpiece," pronounced the pupil."

Why do you blog?

Do you ever think about that? I probably spend 1.5 hours a day writing in my blog and reading other blogs. I never stopped to wonder why, although I do know that I have heaps of fun doing it. Here are some thoughts about why I blog, and research about why people blog in general.

Gratitude for the Wonders in Gardening

This week I thought a lot about the word "gratitude." I kept remembering to be grateful at all times and for the smallest things. This reached a high yesterday as it was time to get my vegetabale garden ready for winter. I felt so grateful for all the food we were able to harvest. As I was tilling the garden I was so enjoying the smell of the earth and although it was cold, I was also enjoying the sunshine. One of my highlights (I don't know if you can relate...) was opening the compost bin and realizing that 3/4 of it had already turned into rich dirt. I ran home to tell me wife! It's these little things that make life so wonderful! God bless everyone!

Technorati Tags: Gardening, Gratitude, Mindfulness

Religious' Stimulus of the Senses

Have you ever been to a Hindu temple? A few years ago I was able to experience one in New Delhi, India. In addition to the deep spirituality and reverence I observed, it was a banquet for the senses. Then this weekend I was reading Life of Pi, which is an absolutely delightful novel. In it, Pi described what it was like to visit the temple, which reminded me of my experience there,which let my mind wonder to my early recollections of "experiencing" church through my senses...