Over the course of the next months I will be periodically posting status updates on our proposed pilgrimage on the "Way of Saint James" in northern Spain. I first learned about the "Way" i.e. "El Camino de Santiago de Compostela" in early October 2012 when I watched the movie "The Way". After being asked by my beautiful wife "do you want to do that?" - I started my research. First - was it just a story written for the wide screen or was it a semi-true story? - I found out it was true It took us about 20 seconds to both agree that we should do it. Since that time I have been doing lots of research - who walks "The Way" and why - how long does it take - can older folks like us do it - what is the cost - what equipment is needed - what do you do while walking 790 Km or approximately 500 miles? The list goes on and it is quite a list. So here we are the first week of 2013 and we have purchased trekking boots and socks - probably the most important pieces of equipment - along with back packs and other goodies. There is more to acquire but since we do not plan on walking until September 2013 - time to acquire the rest. We are currently testing our boots - I am already on my third pair and Arlene is on her second - who would have thought it would be so difficult buying boots? We have started serious walking - with and without the back packs and trekking poles. We not only have to learn how to carry our lives on our backs for some six weeks - we have to also learn how to walk over various terrain - it is a process that will be ongoing for the next eight months. That might sound excessive but my daughter-in-law just spent three months training to run one a half-marathon on one day. We will essentially be walking a half-marathon for some 30 plus days in a row - day after day. We need to build up our endurance - train our feet to be happy walking 15 to 20 miles a day. Will we succeed in our attempt - yes - because we have a vision - a purpose to our craziness.
Lots of people do a lot of crazy things - bungee jump - sky dive - sail around the world - preach the Gospel of Jesus. When Jesus began His preaching ministry - many people thought He was going in a direction that would cause Him problems - and it did. He was preaching a way of life that was counter cultural - going against the flow of common thought. Today - those of us who preach that same Gospel - are still going against the flow of common thought - we preach life that is not what the World preaches. We preach reconciliation with enemies - not war - we preach forgiveness - not hate or revenge - we preach acceptance - not exclusion - we preach community - not individuation - we preach responsibility - not avoidance. We do as Jesus did - for the same reason - because God wills it - not for His good - but ours.
Deacon Dale
A fanatic is a person who is filled with zeal - excessive enthusiasm - for an idea - ideal - project. When a person becomes overly involved in anything - they will appear to family and friends as too involved - to excited - too overwhelming. To understand a fanatic - one needs to walk in their shoes - to find out what all the excitement is about - to learn and understand the ins and outs of whatever it is. On occasion - that which has the fanatic's focus - may be something beyond normal reason and thinking. More often than not - it is a new idea - which has taken root in that person's mind - that bears further scrutiny - further investigation - that holds true merit. These usually bring with them benefits for many people and groups. A person who has become fanatic about exercise very often draws others into the same mindset and as a result a group is created which benefits all of those involved.
Jesus was labeled a fanatic by many because He offered a new vision - a new idea of God. Those who were afraid of change were afraid of Him - those who embraced His new ideas became followers and disciples. What some viewed as going against the common sense - was viewed by many as a fresh breath in a spiritual atmosphere filled with old and stagnant ideas. Because of Jesus' intense focus on spreading His Gospel message of love - forgiveness - reconciliation - the peoples of the World have all benefited - Christian or not. As we begin this new year of 2013 - we should all become fanatic about living the lives that God has intended for us - completely - honestly - spiritually.
Deacon Dale
Happy New Year! The beginning of a new year and a fresh start for everyone. The old year is gone and with it all the disappointments and things left undone. With the beginning of a new year - new opportunities and another chance to accomplish everything that you want. Old projects that had been set aside may now be re-visited - half-finished tasks may now be attacked with new energies and completed - the new year is filled with opportunities - 365 days of possibilities! Each day offers us a chance to look at our lives with a fresh vision - a chance to re-invent and fine tune our skills.
God calls us each day - day after day - to re-imagine ourselves - to imagine what may be - to imagine our possibilities - to imagine a better future. This new year is filled with unbelievable possibilities - possibilities to create - to heal - to forgive - to reunite - to be. All is very possible - with God.
Deacon Dale
To recap means to recapitulate - to repeat in concise form - to restate - to make a summary - to place a cap back on. It is typically at this time of year - at year's end - that many sources will recap the events of the year - looking at where we have been - what we have done - where we are going - to summarize and finalize the current year's events - to mark as final and cap off that year. This process has value to all of us and most everyone will experience this recapping process in many different ways in their lives. Public events - work situations - personal accounting of one's life. To review the past helps us to rediscover the good and bad - the successes and failures - to give us good footing as we venture forth into a new and exciting year. Knowing what to avoid and what to continue - helps us set our aims at new and better goals and improves our chances of success. We begin with anticipation of better things to come.
When we do an annual assessment of our lives - we need to also assess our spiritual lives. Each of us has a spiritual aspect to our lives - whether we acknowledge it or not. Your spiritual life might be zero - completely void - or - completely filled up - satisfying. Wherever you stand - at the moment - is exactly where God wants you to be. In that moment - in that place - in that time - God wants you to experience that emptiness - that fullness - with or without Him. When it is time for you to change - to grow - to experience new things - He will move you - He will call you - He will reveal to you - He will touch you - to cause that change. In the meantime settle for an annual recap - and pray "Come Lord Jesus - Come".
Deacon Dale
A Christian Burial involves the burial tradition of a deceased person following specific Christian rites and rituals normally in consecrated grounds. In the early Christian Church burial was most often interment of the body in the ground. Cremation was frowned upon - in recent years the Christian community has come to accept cremation as an alternate to interment of the body. The question that was often debated was the need for the body in order to share in the ressurection in the last days. Today that issue has - for the most part - been dealt with and is now accepted by all the major denominations - including Catholics. When one is laid to rest it is the dignity of the rite that celebrates the deceased's life and future ressurection. Our prayers - united with all believers - assist the deceased in that "rite of passage" in which they transition from this life into eternal life. We lose our loved ones here - only to be reunited in the life that is to come.
Jesus said that He is the Way - the Truth - the Life. If we only believe in Him - we will have life eternal. As difficult as it is to bury a family member or friend - we must trust in Jesus' promise that "where I am you will be also" (John 14:1-3). It is with trust and faith in Jesus that we are able to say goodbye to those we love and care about.
Deacon Dale
DeaconTravel ministries will be hosting an Information Night on Thursday - January 10, 2013 at 7:00 PM at Saint Patrick Parish to discuss their "John Paul II Journey to Mercy" scheduled for May 29, 2013 - June 7, 2013. This journey will take participants from Warsaw to Krakow Poland. They will be visiting numerous churches that were special to Pope John Paul II and to Saint Faustina who both promoted the Divine Mercy devotion. Highlights feature Holy Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Lichen Stary - at the Black Madonna Shrine at Jasna Gora Monastary in Czestochowa and at the Basilica of Divine Mercy in Krakow. Visits will also include Auschwitz - Birkenau prision camps - the Salt Mines at Wieliczka - Holy Cross Church in Warsaw where Frederick Chopin's heart is entombed - the Royal Palace on the Royal Route in Warsaw - the Church of Father Maximilian Kobe - The birth home of Blessed John Paul II - Zakopane and much more. Complete details can be viewed at www.deacontravel.org
This is the first time this customized trip is being offered and will not be repeated until possibly 2015 at the earliest. Special pricing has been arranged and an early bird discount of $250 per person is being offered. Space is limited to 50 people. Interested person may call 1.630.334.5065 or email: poland@deacontravel.org
Jesus calls us to journey with Him as we learn more about Him - Ourselves - our God. The best journey is the one that takes us from our minds to our hearts - from knowing about Him in the Bible and books - to loving Him in our hearts. Journey to Jesus today.
Deacon Dale
Santa has to be one of the most popular personalities at this time of year - no matter what else is in the news - Santa reigns supreme. And why not - he is a jolly old elf that brings smiles and joy to so many people. It is not only children who derive so much happiness from Santa - but adults as well. Across the nation thousands of people dress up and play Santa for almost anyone and any group. From little toddlers to seniors - from school children to people in hospitals and nursing homes. It is the one time of year when people expect to be happy - whether for themselves or for others. People are more patient - more charitable - more forgiving. Everyone wishes that Christmas would last all year and along with it - the changed attitude among people - the new found politeness and kindness.
Jesus is the reason for the Season - Jesus is the reason for Santa - Jesus is the reason for the changed attitudes - and He is with us all year. Why is it more noticeable during the Christmas Season than at other times of the year - one wonders. Surely we cannot forget - the greatest Gift of all - God's gift to mankind of His Son. Perhaps the answer lies in the task that Jesus had to do before He rejoined His Father - perhaps it is the constant reminder that - although we view Jesus as the innocent little babe today - tomorrow we have to remember that He was also the innocent sacrifice - the One who died for our sins - the One who offers us the gift of salvation. Today and tomorrow Jesus reigns as the only true One.
Deacon Dale
A Christmas bonus is almost a thing of the past. Years ago - most employers - gave special gifts to their employees at Christmas time - as a way to say thank you for a job well done. Many people lived and planned their lives - based on that annual gift. Some planned vacations - others special large purchases - based on the expectation of the bonus. In today's economy - the annual bonus - for many - has disappeared. It is with pleasure that DeaconTravel Ministries - announces two special bonuses - for their 2013 Year of Faith Spiritual Journeys. Two trips are scheduled for 2013 - one to Poland - one to Italy. For those who can make an early commitment - there is a special discount of $250 per person. This discount is time sensitive - so acting sooner - rather than later is imperative. More information on these two trips is available on the DeaconTravel website.
When the Shepherds saw the star in the sky - the night Jesus was born - it not only gave a special brightness to the night - but it was the sign of a special Christmas bonus. For it was to them - to us - that Jesus was revealed to the world. Jesus is God's gift to the world - a Christmas bonus - that is freely offered to all who believe in the One True God. A Christmas bonus that is offered every day of our lives - offered to anyone who is willing - to accept His Gift.
Deacon Dale
Tags are very useful objects - they identify - explain - clarify information. Probably the most common tag that most of us use on a daily basis is the tag on the clothing and garments we use. They identify the size - how to wash - fabric content - how to provide proper care. As useful as they might be there is one common characteristic that most people do not like - they scratch - itch - cause discomfort. When a new "tagless" procedure was developed to provide the same information - without the discomfort - it was adopted- almost immediately by garment manufacturers - to our pleasure.
In society many people are tagged with labels they do not deserve - labels that demean - ridicule - embarrass. Classmates often call others - nerds - geeks - fatso - jock. Adults label each other by similar physical - intellectual - political - religious labels. To label another individual is to ignore that person as a whole and complete person - labeling them with one characteristic which cannot reflect the true person. Jesus calls us to be accepting just as He was - ignoring individual peculiarities - focusing on the complete person. He sees us as we are - as people complete in His eyes - He asks that we do no less - to forget the labels we place on each other - to go tagless.
Deacon Dale
Q-tips is the name of a popular brand of cotton tipped swabs that are very effective for numerous tasks - especially around babies - but that is not the focus of this article - nor is it about Q-TIP - the popular hip hop artist from New York. Rather today I want to share with you something that I experienced last night in Chicago. After dinner with friends - my wife and I joined them for a viewing of a "work-in-progress" at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium park of the Q Brothers Christmas Carol Project. It was a retelling of that work by Charles Dickens of Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation complete with Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim - all done in rap. I was a bit skeptical at first - rap is not my number one choice in music - but I was very happy that we had a chance to share this experience with the others in attendance. The updated version of the story - done very well - with hilarious twists and turns inserted by the Q Brothers - made not only for a very pleasant evening - but a great way to prepare for the celebration of Christmas and to focus on sharing ourselves as the best presents we can give. A small production - very effective.
Jesus did not have a large group backing His ministry - He had no sound stage - no technical help - no writers or musicians - to help promote His mission. Twelve men - basically clueless about His mission - created His team - and yet He was the most effective person to ever walk this Earth. In simplicity lies Truth - and that is the beauty of Jesus and His message of love and forgiveness. This Christmas - when seeking the perfect gift - select Jesus.
Deacon Dale
