Care for Body and Soul

CCC 364   "The human body shares in the dignity of the "image of God": it is a human body precisely because it is animated by a spiritual soul, and it is the whole human person that is intended to become, in the body of Christ, a temple of the Spirit:

       Man, though made of body and soul, is a unity. Through his very bodily condition he sums up in himself the elements of the material world. Through him they are thus brought to their highest perfection and can raise their voice in praise freely given to the Creator. For this reason man may not despise his bodily life. Rather he is obliged to regard his body as good and to hold it in honor since God has created it and will raise it up on the last day."

I could take several different tangents on this excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), however, the one upon which I shall focus this evening is that of how we treat our bodies in our food consumption. I'm not going far right or far left as far as politics or extremists are concerned, rather just challenging you to consider what you put into your body. 

My Food Science class is currently in the midst of a unit on Nutrition and Digestion. We've covered basic components of nutrition and various parts of the digestive tract and processes. To help us gain an understanding of the pieces all together, we will be watching "Super Size Me." I know my ag educator in high school taught this in her classes, but I have not actually seen the documentary (?) until this evening, screening it while working on other lesson plans. If you need a kick in the pants about improving your diet and nutrition, you might give it a whirl. 

The star of the show self-opts to participate in a 30 day McDonalds'-only diet. He does a physical evaluation of his health with the help of some experts prior to beginning the diet. Ultimately, the impact is pretty dramatic and causes him to reconsider fast-food. 

While my point is not about the movie, it is about knowing yourself and your bodily needs. How can you better glorify God through your body? Lack of proper nutrition and diet can have negatives affects on you and your attitude. Too many sugars and fats, not enough vitamins and minerals can cause you to feel sluggish, lack energy and simply perform below par. This has been me for quite awhile, especially recently this semester. I've been extra tired, some times more than others. I consume too much candy (that candy jar is intended for my students from time to time, not me all the time), too much coffee (which is mostly fattening creamer anyway), and have tended to be apathetic of late. I've been telling myself something needs to change. I need to take action and improve my lifestyle, my love for life, and my motivation to get out of bed in the mornings. I'm not expert in this matter, but I'm learning and sharing.

I finally took some time to prepare frozen vegetables and grilled chicken for a much healthier meal than my typical evening picks. Three-hours later, I already feel as though I have a lot more energy. Are you neglecting your daily recommended allowances? I suggest you take note and allow yourself to better glorify God in all you do by eating more healthily that you do at present. It might help you better focus in prayer, too.

God Bless. Mamma Mary keep you!

F.A.M.I.L.Y.

Forget

About

Me

I 

Love

You

Many thanks to David Walker who first shared this phrase with me through my candidate TEC experience. I'm sure many of you have heard this phrase, especially if you are involved with the TEC movement.

I don't know if I've mentioned the comparison of being a channel or an instrument of God's grace, love, peace, joy, agape... In the recent past have stumbled across the expression of not being so much a conduit, but rather a reservoir of the blessings that flow within and through us. We have to retain some things for ourselves, and when the time is right, share out of what has been stored up within us. 

So, six years later, this acronym has been shared a few times over the past week, with the volleyball girls. We have a tendency of not being very mentally tough. Meaning, when things don't go our way, or we make a mistake, we tend to dwell on the negative and lose our focus on the next ball coming over the net. At the same time, we don't always say 'team' in huddles, but 'family'. So how do we act and play as a family? The girls have not perfected this concept, but I hope they can begin to apply it on the court and in their everyday lives. 

Forget about me: stop dwelling on my mistakes, the past, and don't be putting blame on someone else for something that did not go right. Forget about wanting the attention, the glory, the best play of the game, or even to get your hand on the ball every volley. Forget about what your teammates, coaches, the people in the stands are thinking about you. 

I love you: the opposite of love is selfishness, so love must be associated with selflessness. I'm going to show you that I love you through my actions, my playing well on the court, my doing good for the good of my team, focusing on the next play, putting forth effort, playing hard, complimenting my teammates for their effort and accomplishments, not wanting anything in return. 

A lesson I have had to learn on multiple occasions is that when we are feeling sorry for ourselves, the best thing for us to do is not to pout or treat ourselves to something special. The best thing for us to do is to do good for someone else: open the door for a stranger, smile, say hello, ask a person how their day is going, compliment some one, do a hidden act of kindness (my favorite), and the list can go on.

Praise God for opening my eyes to ways in which to instill virtue in those I am able to influence from day to day. All Glory be to God, The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.

Importance of Mental Prayer and Meditation

Living very close to the football field, I was in some ways able to watch tonight's game from my living room couch. Honestly, I didn't pay all that much attention. Quiet time by myself is rare, and this was an opportunity I did not want to miss. 

In the time since working on the Prayer and Action staff, I have been blessed to be reading a chapter or two a day in some excellent books. From time to time, I would miss a day, but was pretty persistent, so long as I was reading the same two books. Since then, however, I picked up another book or two, and have not been so persistent. Recognizing my need for quiet, prayer, and meditation, I opted to not be social this evening. 

One of the books I am in the midst of is called, "The Soul of the Apostolate." It's one of those books where everything you read, when you read it, applies directly to your current life situation. Tonight's chapter: "The Active Worker Who Has No Interior Life." In a vague synopsis, an active individual is so convinced that they are doing good works, that they keep so busy with their works that they neglect their prayer and interior life. After a broad explanation, the chapter proceeds to break down the steps of the depth of the fall of such a person. It was like looking in a mirror. I'm in the midst of the THIRD STAGE. Allow me to enlighten you, so that you may learn from my faults. 

"First Stage: The soul began by progressively losing the clarity and power (if ever it had any at all) of its convictions about the supernatural life, the supernatural world, and the economy of the plan and of the action of Our Lord with regard to the relation between the interior life of the apostle and his works."  Loosing sight or original purpose to be the servant of Christ...  Tepidity (luke-warmness or half-heartedness) is close at hand. 

Second Stage: being a slave to a schedule, cutting out pious exercises, shortening meditation time or making it irregular, improvising instead of preparing, late nights that cause late mornings and neglect of prayer time, 'too busy-tired or lazy to for serious mental prayer from which one might draw energy and drive for his day's work,' ... etc. "St. Alphonsus says, "Short of a miracle, a man who does not practice mental prayer will end up in mortal sin." 

There are more good quotes about those who live without mental prayer.

So I find myself with all the symptoms of stage two in the process of this depth of falling, as well as those of state three. 

Third Stage: neglect in the recitation of the BREVIARY... prays in a rush... fervor for acts is beginning to dry up...

And frightfully symptoms of the Fourth State are sprinkled here and there throughout my days and my weeks. Note, the longer it has been since I went to confession, the more the symptoms of these various stages appear in my life, and the more susceptible I am to temptations.

As I was beginning to fall asleep during my reflection - reading - meditation time, I figured I ought to pray Night Prayer before I find myself conked out and having not prayed it. I'm sure I didn't really want to pray it, and did a poor job of not being distracted, the prayer allotted me the grace to stay alert long enough to type out these two posts and tackle a few other to-dos this evening.

Keep meditation and mental prayer a part of your day, or start if you don't already. Read one chapter of something religious or spiritual each day, around the same time each day. Allow your schedule to be changed by the Holy Spirit. Find a balance of contemplation and works. And don't neglect the contemplation. Don't believe the lies that you don't have time. Contemplation, prayer, meditation is what gives you the energy and the drive to accomplish the works and the action.

Thank you for all of those who are praying for me and have shared the merits I was to receive to be able to recognize the current state of my interior life and balance between prayer and action. Peace in Christ to you.

October

October is my favorite month of the year. It could be because of the weather, because it is the month of the rosary, the month in which my birthday falls, when National FFA Convention is typically held, or just because God created it to be the greatest month of the year.

It's been a whirlwind of a fall 1st 9-weeks. Between being in my second semester of teaching and coaching volleyball, there is very little time to catch my breath. Fortunately, God gives us what we need when we need it. Recently I had a short breather. Not anything like what I was expecting. Prior to the first full week of the month, I was pondering allowing myself a mental-break-day from school. There is a lot going on, and it would be hard to tear myself away, let alone make the sub plans. However, God had something else in mind. 

On Sunday, October 2, coming out of my adoration hour, I noticed a couple of missed calls from home. Sometimes my family will leave me a message, other times not. This time, the latter occurred. Driving back to Inman, I called home, upon which Dad suggested I go visit Grandpa. He had fallen the night before and his kidneys were not doing to well. Since I had little planned, after a late lunch, my car proceeded north on 61 and then east on 56 with me inside. 

It had been a month since I had last seen Grandpa. In the third week of school, I had a dentist appointment that took me to Marion. Upon seeing Gpa, I pretty much broke. Tears started flowing as I was incredibly stressed and having a tough time getting adjusted. I didn't tell Gpa much about things, but rather was happy to be in the presence of someone who loved me for me, no questions asked. Grandpa was already at the stage where he did not stay awake for long periods of time, which was just as true October 2. In fact, he stayed awake for about 5 seconds at a time. Enough to see who was in the room, and ask a question or two. Grandma was keeping it together, so long as you didn't ask her how she was doing. Several of my aunts and uncles were around for the hour or so I was there. I had a hunch when I left, it might be the last time I see Grandpa. I did not voice my hunch, but did ask what the expected recovery was. 

Tuesday morning, I was walking the two blocks back to school with my students from our practice land judging experience when one of the secretaries came to share the news of G-pa's passing. I melted, tears started to come, received a hug, and proceed through the next class before figuring out that I just needed to get away and cry. So began the breather I needed. I took students to FFA on Wednesday, but then went ahead and took off Thursday and Friday.

Thursday evening after the Rosary led by Rev. Fr. Paul Oborny, we all gathered at Grandma's house for grub and family time together. Before heading out, Grandma handed me my birthday card. She does well to pick out cards, this one reading, "A Granddaughter is - Love that captures your heart the moment she arrives..." This phrase expresses the how I felt when walking into Grandpa or Grandma's presence. And the card had been signed since September 29 - or so the check says so.

The next day was a tough one. My brother Greg made pancakes for my immediate family. The funeral mass was peaceful, as was the burial. Lots of flowers and plants, lots of friends and community members attended in support. Grandpa was a tremendous individual, and I'm grateful to have been impacted by his life in many ways. 

My selfishness still was getting the best of me, especially when announcement was made by my great-uncle that it was my birthday and everyone began to sing. I was not pleased; embarrassed and a trite upset. I didn't pout too much, but allowed one or two people to know that I didn't appreciate the attention so much. (I kind of like hidden-ness.)

I'm sure I still don't really comprehend the fullness of why we got to bury Gpa on my birthday. He got to be buried on the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. Mamma Mary has many titles, and what better one to be saying when Gpa got to run into her arms. He was very fond of the prayer. What better month to go to heaven?

Much like Christ had to leave the apostles to send them the Holy Spirit, I hope Grandpa is better able to be by my side in spirit, praying rosaries with my Guardian Angel.

There is still much to experience in this beautiful month. 

Thank you to those of you who helped me to feel and experience the love of those who love and care for me. God Bless you always. Mamma Mary keep you.