Lent Day 27 - Partners

According to the dictionary - a partner - person who takes part in an undertaking with another or others - especially in a business with shared risks - profits.  Selecting a partner takes time - patience - developing a relationship - learning to trust - establishing ground rules - operating under the same ideals - goals.  Many business ventures fail due to poorly thought out - created - partnerships. Rushing into a partnership - failing to properly plan - poor communication - sets the stage for failure. Many marriages - relationships - a partnership. Following some basic ground rules - keeps lines of communication open - ensures a long lasting partnership.

When Jesus enters our lives - He offers us a chance to become partners - in our future. How we will live - control - manage our lives - relationship with special others - with God - number one priority.  As in all partnerships - failing to plan - planning to fail.  All relationships must be well established - thought out - nurtured - in order to survive. The time we invest in our partnership - one of the best investments we can make. Jumping in - both feet - whole heart - becoming one hundred percent involved - the right way to proceed. Even if you have not yet begun to focus your life on Lent - there is still plenty of time.  Make a commitment - now - with God. Join His team - Jesus waits - to be your partner.

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day 26 - Taxing Times

It is late March and high time to get working on the yearly income taxes - a much dreaded task. I know some of you have already received and spent your tax refunds - then there are those - like me - who wait until the end gets close. I have always done my own personal taxes and as much as I hate doing them - would never think of paying somebody else to do a task that I can do myself.  There are so many good tax preparation programs available these days - should be a simple task for most. It amazes me - the number of people with only a W-2 and claiming the standard deductions - who pay others to do their annual taxes.  Perhaps the whole concept scares them - dealing with the government - making an annual recap of income and expenses. Perhaps one day - tax time will be eliminated - a straight tax - equitable deductions for all - weekly - monthly deductions from paychecks - would bring relief to a very large number of people. Until that time - a task to be completed.

It is not only the annual income tax reporting that creates taxing times for people. Money - a big issue - relationships - with family - friends - neighbors - God - another. So many different issues with which to contend - cope - solve - improve. Relationship issues - often much greater than money. How we relate to each other - how we speak - think - act - respond - depends a lot on emotions - versus facts. When overly emotional - excited - angry - communication comes to a halt - progress stops - situation develops. As with all things worth doing - improving our relationships - a top priority. In Lent we seek to work on our relationship with God - His Son - Jesus - The Holy Spirit. We are asked to go to a quiet space - to focus our complete attention on the - Divine. Although difficult for many - a task that is possible - with eyes - ears - open wide - hearts open to the impossible - minds ready to accept the unbelievable.  In quiet meditation - contemplation - your relationship with God - need not be - a taxing time.

Deacon Dale

Lent Day 25 - A Rose By Any Other Name

Frequently quoted - a rose by any other name would smell as sweet - from William Shakespeare's - Romeo and Juliet - is taken to imply that no matter what you would call a rose - it would still have the same aroma - pleasing smell.  Juliet - in defense of Romeo's name - stating that the name of a person or object - does not define the characteristics - qualities - of anyone or thing. On this point Juliet is correct - after all - a name is simply a name. It takes years - decades - for a name to become common enough that certain characteristics are implied by a name. When Shakespeare first wrote Romeo and Juliet - it was simply a new play - to be attended - investigated - critiqued - enjoyed - at that time - no significance - importance. Four hundred and some years later - Romeo and Juliet - a classic tale of love and tragedy - a name known around the world.

God not only knows how many hairs are on our heads - our name as well - each and every one of us. There may be millions of people - but each is significant - important - to God. We may share names with other people - no two people are identical - even among twins. When we come to God - He knows exactly who we are - what we are about - what we need. He waits for us to speak - quietly - gently - giving us time - to ask - to receive. In Lent - in the quiet of our hearts - dare to speak your name to God.

Deacon Dale

Lent Day 24 - Countdown

For many people - Lent is a giant period of counting the days - hours - minutes - until Lent is over.  Sadly - so many people fail to recognize the gift of Lent - seeing it as a burden - an intrusion on their daily life. Rather than using these 40 days - to slow down - reflect - take time - to focus on themselves - their focus is on the world and all around them. They see what they are giving up - not what they are gaining.  They see bondage to rule - not the freedom offered by meditation - contemplation. Day after day - they mark their calendars - one less day to endure the discipline of Lent - missing those blessings poured upon them by a loving God.

Jesus spent 40 days in the desert - fasting - praying - not for Himself - for each of us. He walked in the desert - freeing Himself from the world around Him - to focus on us - our futures - our lives - in the world. What He gave up - He never lost - what we gained - everything freely because of Him. In Lent we countdown only those days left until we celebrate Easter - savoring our Lenten days as the gift they are.

Deacon Dale

Lent Day 23 - Focal Point

When one sets out on a quest - hunt - task - they set their sights on one or more goals. Keeping themselves focused - they attempt to accomplish whatever goal - task was in mind. All goes well as long as they stay focused. However - once distracted - off the target - things often do not go as planned. A doctor loses focus during surgery - distracted - a slip of the scalpel - a cut not intended - minor error - critical wound.  In some things a slight distraction only causes a slight issue - others - like the doctor example - life threatening.  Best practice - learning how to stay focused - until task completed.

Jesus never waived - never lost focus of His mission - to do the Father's Will - to proclaim the Good News to all the people. His focus - New Life - Salvation. As we journey through these days of Lent we also need to keep our focus - not lose sight of the task at hand. If we persevere - hold fast - not lose sight of our goal - we too will achieve what we seek.

Deacon Dale

Lent Day 22 - Barking Dog

Although the Barking Dog is a great name for a doggie daycare center - a barking dog may very quickly become a nuisance.  I know - I had a dog who loved to bark. Bark to go outside - bark for food - bark to warn when somebody was on our property - bark when his canine cousins come to visit - and almost any other reason he could find to bark. I could have allowed myself to be angry at his barking - that is how dogs communicate. Sure they sit at your feet and beg with those big loving eyes - sometimes they cruise over to you and ask you to scratch their back side - and yes - rolling over on their back so you can scratch their tummy - yes that is all legitimate communication with you - their best friend. To many people - barking dogs are a pain - no time to accept them for who they are - what they are trying to communicate - only anger at a sound they cannot understand.

Sorry I Only Speak Dog R.I.P. 

To many people - when Christians talk about God - Jesus - Holy Spirit - Bible - Holy Scripture - accepted with as little understanding - respect - as for a barking dog. Confused by - Church Speak - Salvation - Confession - Forgiveness - New Life - Living Water - Heaven - Hell - nothing more than yapping puppies around the food bowel. For those of us - guilty of Church Speak - patience - demanded - if we are to share the Good News of Christ. Lent gives us that time - to hone our skills - to speak clearly about that which we have received - to speak in Love - with patience - that all who have ears might hear - the Good News.

Deacon Dale

Lent Day 21 - Eye Candy

According to Dictionary.com - Eye Candy is slang meaning someone or something that is visually attractive or pleasing but is usually considered to lack worth or merit.  An example might be an automobile like the Bentley Bacalar shown below priced at $1.9 Million which a minority of people could ever afford and being realistic - does nothing more than any normal vehicle - that would take you from point A to point B for almost $2 Million less. Vehicles such as this become nothing more than Big Kids Toys - things obviously meant for only the extremely wealthy.

Anyone can appreciate the beauty around them - appearing naturally in nature - in hand crafted pieces of art. When that beautiful object become the sole focus in our lives - something has gone wrong. Although available for us to admire - nothing to lust after. Man - woman - machine - art - all offer temporary pleasure. The real object of our focus should be our relationship on Jesus - on God. In Jesus only will our souls find peace - rest - true pleasure. Knowing that we are known - loved - by the Author of Life - much more pleasing than earthly pleasures. In this Lent we refocus our eyes on the real treasures placed before us. Our eyes seek that which is beyond ordinary beauty - we gaze upon the Mystery - the reality that is God and His plan for our life.

Deacon Dale

Lent Day 20 - Day Count What?

Some of the readers should have noticed by now that my count on Lenten days does not match up with the typical Lent calendar.  Where I am at 20 days - others at 3 days less,  Why - simple answer.  Sundays during Lent are not considered Lent days even though we just celebrated the Third Sunday of Lent. Confused - Sundays are not counted as part of the "40 days" of Lent because they are a day of celebration commemorating Christ's Resurrection, and therefore not a day of penance or fasting. WOW - that means if you gave up chocolate for Lent - you could technically eat chocolate on Sunday and not break your Lenten promise.  In regards to this blog I am posting every day including Sundays - therefore my count of Lenten days will be higher. 

To make this clearer - all Masses on Sunday are days of celebration - celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.  This is true in Ordinary Time - Lent - Easter - Advent - all Sundays.  On Sundays when we celebrate the awesome gift of salvation - resurrection - nothing more important than resurrection of Our Lord - Jesus the Christ.  All Masses are commonly referred to as "Little Easter" - a special time especially for Catholics when we celebrate God's awesome love. 

Deacon Dale  

Lent Day 19 - Who Am I - The I of God

**A special note about the "I of God" In case you do not understand - each of us is "I"

Who am I - I am me - you - us - as an individual - I exist as I and I alone.  I live my life - I choose how to act - respond.  I make decisions - commitments - honor such - fail on occasion. My  intent is to live an honorable - productive life - following the rules - once in awhile - I am unable to follow through  - make mistakes - choose to do wrong.  I think - speak - keep quiet - sometimes - periods of silence.  No matter what I do - it is I alone who makes that decision. I am not you - you are not I - unless you choose to be the I - then I become the you.  In all of this I am an individual - me - myself - I.

God created me - to be an I - an individual. He did not make me to be a copy - an alternate version of myself.  As such He loves me just as I am - since He created me to enjoy my personal relationship with Him. I am His creation - I am - I worship - adore - my creator. I draw myself closer to Him - in Lent - I seek - to be found - to become all that I may be. I am I - the I of God. 
Deacon Dale 

Lent Day 18 - Holding Hands

 Holding hands - parent with child - caregiver with patient - lovers - young and old - just dating - longtime married. Holding hands with another person is possibly one of the easiest ways to say - I care - I love you. I love to see people holding hands with each other - it reminds me that in spite of all the bad stuff in the world - there is always hope - always the chance that somebody cares. 

In Isaiah 41: 13 we read   "For I am the Lord, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, Do not fear, I will help you". Just as our parents held our hands when we were children - just as caregivers offer us their hands in support - just as those close to us - spouse - children - lover - holds our hands in times of need - so to does God. As we slowly work our way through Lent - Jesus - is there - offering you His hand - helping to guide you through this Holy Season.

Look for Him- He is always there.

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day 17 - Dinner Date

 One of the pleasures of adult life is the - dinner date - taking your special companion out for dinner - just the two of you - together - alone as  a couple. The two of you sharing a special time - together - at a favorite - new - restaurant - eating favorite entries - exploring - new menus. Perhaps an evening celebrating a special event - an anniversary - birthday - new job - promotion - date night - away from work - kids - spending needed time alone as a couple.  All couples need a time of respite - time away from obligations - rediscovering each other - reconnecting as individuals.

Jesus loves dinner dates - especially when it is just the two of you - Him - you - together - gathered around His table - altar - sharing bread - wine - Mass - celebrating His gift to you - the world - to all who call Him Lord. Unlike other couples - you can meet Him on a daily basis - always there waiting for you.  As we continue in Lent - as we pray - fast - we look forward - in these special days - when we can share His meal - together.

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day 16 - Making Yourself Great Again

All of us entered the world the same way - naked - innocent - crying our heads off. For most of us - we have grown beyond those initial assaults on our lives. Over the years we have learned - acquired - knowledge - skills - to help us through our lives. Unfortunately some of what we have learned has not always been the best - worthwhile - knowledge.  Foul language - learning how to lie - becoming skilled in deception - to mention just a few - not something of which we should be proud. Those are the things - we seek to eliminate during our Lenten exercises. Like dust bunnies that cling to our souls - we seek to brush them from ourselves. 

Jesus is our role model when we seek to attain holiness. He who was without sin is our guide - mentor - in how to recreate the lives we were initially blessed with. No matter what shape our present life is in - it can become great again - if we only try.  Focusing our eyes on Jesus - reading His Gospels - going deep into understanding His teachings - then adopting them as our own - will give us the tools to achieve holiness for ourselves. Try you must - for to be great as your Heavenly Father intended - takes work.  Time to buckle down.

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day 15 - Holier Than Who?

 OK - let's admit it - those who are always at church - always praying - always talking about their relationship with God - may come off as - holier than thou. The thou - meaning you - yourself. It is not unusual for people to talk about - those - people - gossiping about how many hours - how many devotional practices - how often they are seen - on their knees - in prayer. There is no justification for this kind of criticism - spoken in angry tones - shared with others who hold the same attitude.  In fact - it is none of - your - business - how - they - pray - how often - they - take time out of - their - day to practice - their - devotions. Guilt and justification for your lack of a prayer life - the most common motivator. Everyone has to acknowledge - realize - that a person's prayer life - relationship with God - is theirs and theirs alone. No two people are expected to have the same prayer - spiritual - life. If that were true - we would all be robots - blindly doing the exact same thing.

Just because we have been created in the likeness of God - does not make us God. On the contrary - we are very far from gods ourselves. Psalm 8 tells us that we were made a little less than a god - the difference is our tendency to sin - to do things that separate ourselves from God. Gossip is one - being uncharitable towards others - another. When we look at one's level of holiness - it should be our own level and no other's that we look at. Each of us is called to holiness - to a closer relationship with God. Each of us is an individual and as such - is expected to meet similar but different standards. You cannot put everyone in the same class - category - box. We attain holiness in many and various ways - through different - but similar - devotions. In this Lent when  you reflect on your life - ask your self - holier than who - yourself!  Have you grown over the past year spiritually - have you finally mastered that one sin that separates your from God - are your truly holier than YOU?

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day 14 - Fixie

A fixie refers to a fixed gear bicycle - one gear - sweet - simple. Uncomplicated biking. With a  fixie you avoid the confusion of which gear you should be using - up hills - over rough terrain - cruising - at leisure. Most people who own bikes with multiple gears -admit they rarely use all the gear combinations - rather settle into a routine - selecting perhaps six out of eighteen combinations available. Keeping life easier - especially on long bike rides.

In Lent the Church asks us to do something similar - strip away the excess - avoid the unnecessary - simplify.  For those who give up things during Lent - eliminate unnecessary projects - strip away time wasters - Lent becomes easier. In this time of less things - less projects - more time to focus on self - on Jesus - on God. This Lent why not get a "fixie" for yourself - in your daily routine - strip away everything that is not mandatory - see what God will reveal to you. 

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day - 13 - Green Eyed?

 Ah today - the wearing of the green - Saint Patrick Day - celebrated by much more than just Irish heritage persons.  Saint Patrick's Day originated as a religious holiday  – honoring Saint Patrick -  who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century – but has evolved into a celebration of all things Irish.  In 1991 - Congress designated March as Irish American Heritage month - celebrations of Saint Patrick's Day date back to the 1600s.  America’s first St. Patrick’s Day celebration was in 1600 in the Spanish colony of present-day St. Augustine, Florida.  Spanish colonial records mentioned a celebration for Saint Patrick in 1600 and the first known St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1601.  The tale of Saint Patrick likely traveled from Ireland to the Americas in the 16th century by way of Richard Arthur, a priest in St. Augustine and an Irish soldier,  The Washington Post reported records of St. Patrick celebrations died with Arthur, but additional records show Irish soldiers in the English military marched in celebration of Saint Patrick in Boston in 1737 and New York City in 1762. Today - even though it is reported than only 1 in 19 claims Irish heritage - over 60 percent of those in the USA celebrate this day with many various celebrations.  The city of Chicago is known to dye the Chicago River - which runs through the downtown area - green each year in commemoration of Saint Patrick. The first St. Patrick Parade began in Boston USA.

St, Patrick Parade in Ireland

It is important to note that the commemoration of Saint Patrick is much more than celebrating Irish heritage - all the parties - festivities - that are celebrated. The deeper connection with each of us - Irish or not - is that Patrick was a man of faith. Also interesting - although considered the Patron of Ireland - Patrick was not Irish - rather of Romano-British ancestry. In simple terms his ancestry came from Roman - perhaps Italian parentage - from his father a deacon - grandfather a priest - and born in Britain. Kidnapped at a young age and taken to Ireland where he lived for six years - escaped - returned to Britain where he continued studies in Christianity begun in Ireland - eventually becoming ordained - returned to Ireland to bring Christianity to the pagans there. The rest - as they say - is all history. The point for us - as we celebrate Saint Patrick today - during Lent - it is never too late to experience conversion - make more of our lives - than they are. Today - wearing our green - a great day to confess - admit that we may have been slack in our observance of our faith - the perfect day to - like Patrick - pick up our cross - become much more involved in our own personal story. Never too late to start a new chapter in the book of our life. With God - all things are possible.

Deacon Dale

Lent Day - 12 - Second Sunday

 Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Lent - our focus on the Transfiguration of Christ before His disciples. This event not only confused - but also scared - His disciples. Who was this man - who changed before their eyes - did amazing things - unseen by others. I can imagine that you and I would be just as confused - concerned - wondering just what was going on before our eyes - and why. I doubt any of us would just say - oh - a miracle from God - rather - slowly inch away - waiting to see what followed. 

God does not expect us to blindly accept everything that happens right in front of our eyes - there are those who would deceive - manipulate what was happening. That is a lot of what is happening right now in world politics - people - misleading - misinterpreting events - to draw us into their mindset - to make us believe - their truths. Today we heard in the Gospel - watch and listen - great advice for each of us. Using our days of Lent to read - listen - ponder - think - reflect - will bring us to the truth - which is Jesus.

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day - 11 - Barriers

Coping With Barriers

A few years back the HOA in Arizona sent out a request for residents to notify them if they had any issues with property cared for by the association. Like all the homes in Arizona - we have a cinder block wall that surrounds our home and the majority of it is cared for by the association. I notified them that I thought there was an issue with one section which seemed to be tipping inwards toward our property. Happy to report they were out in a matter of a few days to inspect the wall from our side - the community side had been inspected previously and appeared normal. After viewing from our side - decided to tear down a twenty foot section and rebuild at no cost to us. When they did the work they removed the wall - block by block - tearing it down to its foundation - then rebuilding - back up six feet. The entire work done easily in one day - straight in line with the remainder of the existing wall.

As we journey through Lent we are asked to examine our lives - to see where we have built walls - keeping others out - locking sins in - putting up barriers to our relationship with God. Time heals all things - so we are told - and in time - most things are healed. Unfortunately some will not live long enough for time to do its work. As we spend time in prayer - meditation - we need to look inward first - at our lives - our relationships - our walls - before we can start the process of restoration - tearing down - building up. Removing barriers in our lives should be simple - one of the most complicated tasks known to man. Attitudes - feelings - past history - often confuse the real issues. Through prayer - patience - perseverance - walls can be torn down - removed - opening us up to everything hidden on the other side. Need help - ask Jesus - He is awesome at removing - healing all barriers.

Deacon Dale

Lent Day - 10 - Abstinence & Fasting

Abstinence is the self-enforced restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are generally experienced as giving pleasure. Catholics across the world and other religious expressions practice avoiding specific foods during designated holy days and days of fasting. For Muslims - fasting during Ramadan - for Catholics - fasting and avoiding meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays of Lent. Many other religions also observe abstinence - fast days along their specific guidelines. It is not unique to one religion or another - exact restrictions and times do differ among them.

The entire idea of fasting is to empty oneself of earthly desires - creating room - time - in ones life for filling the inner spirit with thoughts of the Divine. As you hunger and thirst for earthly foods and drink - one is reminded that their inner spirit needs to be nourished as well. The emptiness felt in the stomach mirrors the emptiness of ones spirit. The goal through fasting is enlightenment - spiritual growth - touching the Divine. It may not always be easy - end the end - always rewarding. 

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day 9 - Lent Fog

When a person begins to become more deeply involved in Lent in their spiritual life - many things to experience.  New activities focused on a spiritual life - attending church - getting involved in parish groups - Bible study - prayer meetings - volunteering for various ministries. All are good - all take up time - for many - a sudden feeling of over involvement - feeling stressed.  When that happens time to hit the brakes - slow things down a bit.  

Too many people in Lent tend to focus on doing things at church - in groups - projects that take up more time than they honestly have to give.  The truth - being involved at church - with church projects - not necessarily the best way to create the personal relationship with Jesus many seek.  When one realizes they are slightly off track - time to withdraw - go to their personal prayer closet - spend time - focusing on what is really important - looking through the fog - setting  their sights on the Cross - that place where Jesus lives.  For all - Lent is the time to really focus our eyes on Him - The Lord - The One who gives us the eyes to pierce the fog in our lives - to experience Him - perhaps clearly for the first time.

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day 8 - Going Deep

If anyone wants to learn - really understand - anything - requires serious study - research.  In serious research students spend hours getting to the root - basis of their focus.  Too often in Lent when asked a person's Lenten intention - the answer very superficial.   Giving up chocolate - smoking - television - certain activities - interesting - very superficial.  Somebody needs to explain to me how giving up any of the things listed above ensures entrance to heaven.  Except for smoking - that will help extend your life span - how do any of those make you a better person - a better Christian?   These superficial things are easy to identify because these are things closely ingrained in our daily lives.  The real focus - if honest - needs a much deeper look into who we are - our deepest fears - hopes - desires - the things that we would do "if".   If we could do one thing - if we had the money - if we had the time - if we had zero limitations - restrictions - what if.

Prayer done with - no time restriction - no distractions - with the proper mindset - allows all of us to dive deeply into the ocean of our being. In the depth of who we are - in the darkness of our lives - we see who we really are. The promises - the successes - the lies - the failures - the unrealized hopes - the good - bad - ugly. It is at that depth in that darkness - silence - we meet with God. We confess - we apologize - we ask - we receive. This Lent dare to be different. Forget the superficial and dive deep into your soul - with Jesus at your side - holding you in His arms - surrounding you with His presence - His love. Then you will be able to experience that "if" that has always bothered you. Now that "if" is right there at your finger tips hands held together - in deep prayer.

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day 7 - How to Pray

 How to pray - possibly one of the hardest questions to answer. Many people will go to great lengths to tell you there is only one way to pray.  Read the Bible - pray - meditate on individual scriptures.  Pray  the Rosary - ten - fifteen times each day.  Go to an Adoration chapel at a local church - sit in adoration of the exposed Blessed Sacrament - only in total silence - or - only with meditative instrumental music. Go into a totally darkened room - pray in silence.  Only pray in a Church - never just in your home.  Sit on your back yard porch - immerse yourself in nature - pray while looking at the wonders God has created.  So many options - so many - "perfect" ideas.  That is only "where" to pray.  I haven't even mentioned which prayers to pray. That is another whole subject. 

Bottom line - prayer is conversation between God - His people - as community - as an individual. There are so many options available to all who wish to pray. Amount of time devoted to prayer - location - method - words to pray - rote - free form - learned - spoken from the heart. All are correct - none are wrong when spoken in faith. Prayers to God - to Jesus - to the Holy Spirit - to angels - saints - in honest open conversation - all are good. From the simplest to the most complex. Where - when to pray - your choice. What format - your choice. Which prays to use - your choice. All prayer is good - rewarding - when directed to Our Lord. Remember your prayers are your prayers - so do it now - your way. That is the only correct way to talk with God.

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day 6 - Lent Tools

 In Lent there are some tools that we should have on hand to help us on this journey.  A bible - some meditative music - candle - schedule - food - drink.  In our schedule - daily reminders - 10 or 15 minutes set aside each day - time for prayer - time for meditation.  Although we fast - not necessary to starve - important to maintain basic nutrition.  Sitting in a quiet space - dim light - eliminating outside distractions - a simple candle to help one focus - all useful tools.  For those who are new to Lenten practices - these tools may be beneficial.

Even those who are veterans of Lent - quite often may benefit from suggestions - new ideas - concepts on the methods of prayer - meditation.  As we enter our private time - important that we may proceed uninterrupted.  Even religious - priests - deacons - sisters - often experience moments when it is hard to pray - daily concerns - other distractions - often make seeking quiet prayer time very difficult.  Even when the time is found - often minds find it hard to stay focused on prayer - meditation.  For those times I suggest entering a private space - dimmed lighting - soft meditative instrumental music - a single candle to focus ones eyes on.  In time - a minute or two - focusing intently on the candle - looking past the white - yellow - blue - flames that make up that larger flame - looking into the darkness inside the very small blue flame - in that darkness one will find themselves alone in Divine space.  Divine space where we can be alone with God - in that space - peace - quiet - the Holy Spirit draws us closer to God where the two of us can communicate.

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day 5 - First Sunday

 Today we observe the First Sunday of Lent - The Scriptures read at Holy Mass today - very interesting.  Most will focus on the Gospel  - Jesus going into the desert for 40  days after being baptized by John in the Jordan - the basis for spending 40 days in Lent - walking in the personal desert of our lives. Many will completely overlook the First reading - the commentary that says - "My father was a wandering Aramean who went down to Egypt with a small household and lived there as an alien" - a homiletic side bar - perhaps encouraging us to consider the current concern about immigrants. The Second reading likewise leans towards this also - "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him.

As we spend these 40 days in Lent - wandering in the desert of our minds - hearts - we need to not just consider ourselves - also others - who live near us - who walk similar paths - cope with similar issues.  As we head into our prayer closest to meditate this Lent - we need to speak to God in our prayers - give voice to what we should be doing - for ourselves - our community - that we may grow in all the ways God is calling us.

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day 4 - The Plan

 As we begin our Lenten experience many will create a plan for how they will experience Lent - when to Fast - Prayer time - Almsgiving - how much - how long.  Some will actually write their plans down - follow them very scrupulously - others - will approach these in a more casual way - observing them - with less stress. 

Which ever way you observe these 40 days of Lent - perfectly fine.  The basic suggestions of prayer - fasting - almsgiving are the basis for your personal method.  There is no specific time line - no specific - mandatory prayers - no defined amount of alms to share.  Lent is YOUR Lent.  The important goal - that in these days you do something.  Stuck on how to proceed - go to your prayer closet - ask God.  He will give you the answer.

Deacon Dale  

Lent Day #3 - No Meat

 Our first Friday this Lent - reminders everywhere - NO MEAT!  Yes - as Catholics we are asked to not only fast on Fridays - also to avoid consumption of meat products.  First choice - Fish - great for those who eat fish - not so for others.  Perhaps a serious bread and water day - maybe. Rather than looking at meatless Fridays as some sort of punishment - turn the table - spend that time normally focused over eating into time with others.  Instead of MEAT - how about we think of MEET - as in meeting with others.  Gathering together for community prayer time - bible study - group projects helping those in need. 

As we gather together and meet with others - many benefits to share. Gathered prayer - in multiple languages - shared reading of Holy Scripture - vocalizing our different thoughts - mulling over options - opportunities. Where many see Lent as a vacant desert filled with a lot of nothing - I prefer to see a sea of opportunities - each of us in our personal space - alone but together - emptying ourselves of worldly concerns - ignoring the fog that blurs our vision - looking deeper into what might be - what can be when we join our mind - hearts - with the Divine.

Deacon Dale 

Lent Day #2 - Dust Bunnies

 Yesterday many of us had dust fragments imposed on our foreheads - today most likely those particles have been removed - washed off in the morning shower - for some removed during the night on their pillow.  The realty - none of us is ever totally free of those fragments - signs of  the sins that we carry with us constantly in our minds - hearts. For the majority - sins that are minor - small missteps done as we rush through our daily lives.  These I call sin dust bunnies - tiny fuzzy fragments - no major things committed by any of us - just little things we should not have done - imperfections in our daily lives.  

In Lent - we are asked to focus on prayer - fasting - almsgiving - emptying our lives of that which is unnecessary - creating room - time - space - to look deeper into that invisible existence we tend to ignore.  Today we identify those remnants - the dust bunnies of our sins - not terrible creatures inside - some like cute baby bunnies we all love to pet and cuddle - but ones we need to remove completely - to make room for the light of the Son - the light of Jesus who seeks to enter into that private space inside each of us where we may become cleansed - clean.  Today that task has begun.

Deacon Dale

Lent - Day #1 Dust Storm

 As we begin this Season of Lent with our annual Ash Wednesday observances so many of us attending Holy Mass or special liturgical services with the distribution of ashes - we are encouraged to come to a halt - stop in our tracks - consider where we are going in our personal lives.  Simple but profound message - did we listen - has it made an impact on you - in other words - what has happened?  Is this really only about - the chocolate - the cigarettes - the superficial things that you will give up?

So - you got some ash smudged on your forehead - do you think that really means anything?  Does that make you any better than the person next to you who has no ash on their forehead - are you holier - kinder - more considerate of others - more charitable - more tolerant - more accepting - really - think about that.  Does God love you more than the other one - because of those ashes?  Maybe it is time to quit thinking only about yourself - start thinking about the person next to you - the person who has not bathed  in a week - a month - the one who would love to eat the scraps off your table - be offered a ride - offered a hand up - perhaps receive a hug.  In this Lenten period when we consider those without - do something about it - just perhaps the ashes in your heart will fall away - then you may be able to love everyone no matter what.  In Lent all of us need to fast - pray - consider not just ourselves - others and their needs.  Only then will the ash - the dust of our sins be cleansed.

Deacon Dale