It's not a Sprint, It's a Marathon

This title for a blog post has been on my mind for quite some time. For over three months even. I've stared a specific e-mail to reference in my gmail inbox for the time that I finally get around to writing this post. Not that I have ever ran a marathon, nor do I know that I ever will, but the concept seems fitting. 


Monday evening after numerous graduations, there are still several days of school left in this district. Many of my close friends have finished for the semester and are moving on to their summer plans, after some rest and relaxation with family at home for a week or so. Up until this semester, I was living a similar schedule, often thinking, if only I can make it to the end of the semester. I a-liken the idea of a semester to a sprint - a short, fast paced dash from starting line to finish line. In retrospect, I view several of my past semesters and years of high school as a short, fast paced dash of trying to jam academia, social events, and short journeys into a small time frame. 


Now for myself, I admit to being  a mid-distance runner in track season. I loved to hate the 400 meter dash and hated to love it. The first time I attended a track meet this spring, I still got that same nerve racking feeling of getting in my blocks ready for the gun to signal the start of a often semi-painful 67 second run around the track. Even describing it to you brings back the butterflies of sorts. By pointing this out, my semesters were more of a mid-distance pace than a 200 or 100 meter, and I did not try the hurdles for the 300. 


I enjoy a long slow distance (LSD) run from time to time. In volleyball practice, we would often get in about fifteen minutes of LSD the day after a game to work out some of our bruises. But life, life is much much more than and 67 sec 400 or a 15 minutes of LSD. As a matter of fact, it's more than a marathon. And most of us are only beginning. Here is a prayer for your journey - for your race. 


"Lord, reveal to me the awesome mystery of your person. In you is hidden my beginning; in you is hidden the mission for my life; in you is hidden my future happiness. Let me not measure the future by what I think I can do for you, but rather by what your power can do with my generosity. May this prayer convince me of the necessity of welcoming you daily through prayer, contemplation, and a sacramental life of grace and conversion." 
                                                                                                                                     ~ Regnum Christi


We are called to persevere as followers of Christ, embracing our cross not for a sprint, or even for a marathon. We are called to persevere throughout all of our lives. If I have learned anything in my first semester in the real world, it is that there is a long way to go. I'm grateful for the grace that has carried me this far, and pray for the grace to continue to guide me on the journey. God guide you on your journey. In Christ, through our Blessed Mother.

Catholic.

More and more, I find myself wanting to know more about the "branches" of Catholicism who are in union with the Pope. Here is one blog that touches on the subject, and one I found helpful. 


There is a phrase in this blog, or rather a piece of the chart that makes me think of the song, "Constantinople" that many of us are used to dancing to at Catholic events. See if you think of it to (well, now that I've mentioned it, how could you not?)


God Bless! Aww-spiration.

Road to Emmaus

While there are many, many wonderful scriptural readings for Easter season, one in particular has become my favorite - it is today's Gospel reading. Why has this become one of my favorite? This article is the reason why. Enjoy. I have nothing else to say as this says it all.


God has blessed me this day to have a brief amount of time before my students return to school to help set up for tonight's FFA chapter banquet. Blessed be the Lord Our God. Blessed be Jesus, our Risen Savior and Redeemer. Count your blessings. Continue to celebrate through this Octave of Easter and pray the Divine Mercy Novena. 

Happiness is not...

... getting what you want. It is wanting what you have. - a story told on K-Love last week.

How often do we find a voice in our mind saying, "I want this" or "it sure would be nice to have that"... whether that voice is referring to a coat, a sweater, shoes, a car, a career, a vehicle, family, friends, or even a vocation. Yup, even a vocation. 

Face it. There is a letter, a message, a desire, a purpose, a mission written upon your heart by Our Dear Heavenly Father and you will find peace, joy, and happiness when you fully embrace that mission. 

"One mission in life is greater than a hundred opportunities."                                                                                                      (Sisters of Life pamphlet) 

How do we find out what that mission is? How do we learn how to read the letter on our heart, or listen to the promptings of grace and the Holy Spirit? It is only by growing in relationship with Christ, by whom and through whom we come to know God the Father. If you must ask Mamma Mary to take your hand and guide you to her Son, that is more than okay. After all, He came to us through Mary. Should we not choose to return to Him in the same way - through the same person?

Spend some time with Jesus. Spend some time with Mary, meditating and reflecting upon the life, suffering and death of Christ, Our Risen Lord and Redeemer.

Just a few short ramblings on a late Monday evening, the Second day of the Octave of Easter. Peace and joy to you in the Risen Christ!

P.S. The closer to God you get, the more you you become. Awe-spiration. Alleluia!!!