Hot Air

Hot air is great in the winter and colder months - it keeps you warm - comfy - happy. Those who fly hot air balloons - major necessity for hot air - to stay afloat. In mid-summer - hot air - not appreciated. While walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain last year - hot air - especially on the meseta - desert area - not wanted - uncomfortable. Sitting next to a group of peregrinos - talking loudly - trying to impress each other - unwanted hot air. Bragging and boasting - not desirable - anywhere.

When Jesus spoke to the crowds - to individuals - to the people in the temple - no hot air - no bragging - no boasting. His words - words of encouragement - words of hope - words of forgiveness - words of healing. As we draw closer to the end of this Lenten Camino - springtime - new life - warmer - not hor - air - welcomes us. In these last days we focus not on the greatness of those around us - we focus on the simplicity - the truth of Jesus. As we walk this Camino - we focus - on Jesus.

Deacon Dale 

Dead Wrong

Dead wrong - completely wrong - no possibility that you might be even slightly correct. Most of the time when we get information that is tainted - not completely true - flawed research - we will be wrong - but only partially wrong. When all the information is bad - the research done very poorly - the data transmitted frivolously - chances of being correct - very very slim. When we realize that we have errored - we can only admit the error - move on - seek new data - accurate information - come to a new and better conclusion.

The disciples were told that their friend Lazarus was dead - dead and buried - in the grave four days - bought the farm - kicked the bucket - pushing up daisies -  said his final farewell. Lazarus' sisters thought the same - as did the towns people - all dead wrong. Jesus - frustrated at their lack of faith - in Him - in His Father - in His promises - wept. Wept for  their lack of faith - not because Lazarus had died - wept for their disappointing reaction. Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead - His disciples should have known that He would perform a miracle - but they doubted - failed to trust - did not believe. We have the benefit of the facts - the records of history - documented evidence - so we do believe - we understand - we trust - we hope in His promises. We trust that like Lazarus - we too will have life forever - in God's Kingdom. This Lent if we learn only one thing - we learn that we can trust the promises of God - the words of Jesus. If not - we will be - dead wrong.

Deacon Dale 

Debit Cards

Debit Cards - also known as bank cards - check cards - are plastic cards used to pay for goods or services via electronic access to financial institutions. Some cards have a stored value which allows payment - most send a request to the cardholder's bank to withdraw funds from a designated bank account. The card - where accepted - may be used instead of cash. In many countries - debit cards have become so widespread that their volume has overtaken or entirely replaced checks/cheques - in some instances - cash transactions. Unlike credit and charge cards - payments using a debit card are immediately transferred from the cardholder's bank account. Debit cards usually also allow for instant withdrawal of cash - acting as the ATM - cash card  - for withdrawing cash at ATM machines - Bancomats - Telebanco stations. While walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain - we found large cities accepted both types of cards. On the Camino - itself - in small villages and towns - which comprise perhaps 90 percent of the Camino path - only cash is accepted. Those walking the Camino need to be aware that in those remote areas of Spain - it is strictly a cash economy - for beds - bars - food - groceries. Paying in Euros - instead of a card - was actually liberating in a sense. You selected - paid in Euros - transaction completed. Simple - easy - no stress - the way of the Camino - direct and immediate payment - in full. 

When Jesus died on the cross - for you - for me - He paid our debit - for the sins committed - past and future. He did not use a credit or debit card to pay the price - nor did He use cash - rather He paid with His life - His blood. Nobody had to coerce or beg Him to do that - He did it freely - of His own will - for one reason and one reason only. His love for us - each of us. If I were the only sinner in the entire world - I know He would still have died - just for me - because that is in God's plan. Salvation for all - male and female - rich and poor - black and white - young and old - for all. As we walk these last weeks of Lent - as we continue our Lenten Camino - may we constantly keep in our minds what Jesus did for each of us - and why. We owe Him a debt - for paying once - for all - for our sins - in full.

Deacon Dale 

Waymarks

Waymarks - signs placed along a route - to help travelers follow the route. They may be intended for travelers on foot - bicycle - horse - in a vehicle - any mode of transportation. Milestones -  common in Europe - are a form of waymark - along the Camino de Santiago - numerous different waymarks - all intended to show people the correct path to follow as they seek to journey to a final destination. While walking the Camino in Spain - waymarks became your best friend - reassuring each time you discovered the next one - telling you that you were walking the correct path. Without waymarks - completing the journey - very difficult. 

As we walk our Lenten Journey we are given signs - from God - that we are on the correct path. Scripture that speaks to the heart - prayers that stir emotions - sights and sounds - that move the inner spirit - all waymarks - reassuring us that we are headed in the right direction. Moving through Lent - we encounter the presence of God - in others - in special moments. We experience moments of grace - peace - love - assurances we are on the correct path. 

Deacon Dale 

Ground Floor

Starting on the ground floor is where most people start - ground level - easy access - no elevation - smooth and easy. Moving anywhere on the ground floor - no major effort required. Attempting to rise above the ground floor - energy necessary to progress - desire to move upwards. Walking up a flight of stairs - starting low - seeking height. Entry level job - intern to CEO - seeking status and wealth. All of us have begun a project - started a job - on the ground floor - seeking to improve - to achieve - to greater challenges - bigger successes. It is the story of life - moving from inception towards a grand conclusion.

When we were brought to the temple - to church - presented to the high priest - to be baptized - to begin our initiation into a life with Christ - we began on a spiritual ground floor. As we age and mature - other sacraments celebrated - Eucharist - Confirmation - as we progress upwards on a life long journey towards God. Walking our Lenten Camino we started on a path - right where we were - over these past weeks - walking closer to Jesus - trekking a spiral path - upwards - closer to Him. Each day of our Camino - we move one spiritual foot after another - along the path of life - towards the Cross of Christ - towards Easter.

Deacon Dale 

True Value

When a person considers making a purchase - paying for a service - contributing to a common cause - consideration has to be made as to the true value of that transaction. All too often goods and services are intentionally overpriced - to allow room for negotiation - bartering - quick and excessive profit. As long as the final consumer realizes the difference between what is asked and the real value -  and is able to freely negotiate a fair price - all is well. That is the free market system - supply and demand - want and need - fair pricing for both parties involved. In some parts of the world - bartering - negotiating - is part of  the culture - nobody is expected to really pay the quoted price - a game - a social interaction - money being the common game piece. When the game becomes a lie - falsehoods professed - an uneven playing field created - injustice occurs. It is up to everyone to heed the warning - buyer beware.

Jesus offers each of us true value - honesty - God's Word - proclaimed freely for all - no strings attached - no hidden clauses - no fine print. What He says - True - what He promises - True - what He proclaims - True. The life He offers - the healing - the acceptance - reconciliation - True. Continuing on our Lenten Camino - what we see is what we get - all True Value - guaranteed by God.

Deacon Dale 

April Fools

April Fools is an informal holiday celebrated every year on April 1. Popular since medieval times - the day is not a national holiday in any country - but is widely recognized throughout European cultures and celebrated as a day when people play practical jokes and hoaxes on each other - called April fools. Hoax stories are also often found in the press and media on this day. It is not unusual for the media to report outrageous stories in early news - only to be retracted - with an apology - later in the day - for the hoax. Everyone needs at least one day in the year - when they may laugh - have fun.  Except in very rare cases - all is done in good humour - offending very few if any. Nobody enjoys being called a fool - except on April 1st - when everybody becomes a fool.

Christians - in good humour - are often called fools for Christ - living lives contrary to the way the world lives. To be Christian - is counter cultural  - living as Christ commanded - doing things that others think are foolish. Those who walk with Christ are His - living good Holy lives - those who reject Him - those who deny Him - those who close  their eyes and ears to His invitation - are the real fools. As we continue our Lenten Camino - each of us walks as a fool - a fool for Christ.

Deacon Dale 

Monday Temptation

So many people dislike Mondays - the first day of the week - the beginning of one more week - of work - school - stress - trials - temptations - just go away Mondays. Nobody - having enjoyed a weekend of relaxation - enjoys the thought of starting yet another week of stress - work - unhappiness. All of us know people who fit in this group - sad - unfortunate. To rethink Mondays - to replace the displeasure - stress - with positive energy would go farther - accomplish much. For those of us who do not hate Mondays - we face an uphill battle with those who have these negative feelings. It can be done - positive energy focused properly - works wonders.

For many - focusing on he negative aspect of Lent  - Mondays are the day after another Sunday filled with guilt of failed efforts - unhappiness - sense of unworthiness. Happily this past Sunday - Rose/Pink vestments were worn at Holy Mass - marking the  half way point of Lent. Yes something positive - it is almost over - not the best way to look at Lent - at least a positive note. With half the time gone - only a few weeks to continue on our Lenten Camino - only a few weeks to endure the task.  Looking with new eyes - like those of the man born blind - new opportunities - new hope - better days ahead. As so we continue with that thought in mind - positive energy - Jesus helping us through these last weeks of Lent - making the journey easier - making the outcome positive. Mondays will come and go - Tuesdays the second day of a new week - the second day of new positive energy. Ask Jesus - He will help you on this Lenten walk.

Deacon Dale 

Walking Blind

One item that most people carry with them on the Camino de Santiago is a hiking headlamp - very useful for those times when walking in the dark - very early in the morning - late at night after sundown. It is also handy for those times when you have to move around the albergue in the night - after lights out. Making sure you can easily see where you are walking - avoiding objects - obstacles - that would cause you to trip - stumble - while on your Camino. Nothing could be worse than attempting to walk - blind - not being able to see where you are headed.

In today's Gospel - we hear the story of the man born blind - forced to be immobile - to sit - to beg - to rely on others. Jesus' disciples ask if it was his parents' or the man himself who sinned - who caused the blindness. Jesus replied - neither - rather that it was in God's plan - to allow a natural disability - not a sin - to be used to make the works of God visible through him. Many people suffer from blindness - spiritual blindness - their own desires - leading them away from God - away from His plan - to follow designs of others - to build their own reality - not God's. In relying on themselves - not God - they unwittingly create a thirst for the truth - in those around them - in themselves. It is only through the real presence of God - that light may be shined on their hearts - that their blindness be removed - their thirst quenched - that they follow the One Lord - Jesus - to wholeness.

Deacon Dale 

Getting Stoned

According to the Urban Dictionary - being or getting stoned - refers to those who smoke marijuana - weed - grass - resulting in a -  high - euphoric - condition - feeling numb - relaxed. Many who allowed themselves too get this way reported that sitting on a couch - they felt their limbs to be so heavy - unable to move  as if their arms - legs - were heavy as stones - thus the stoned reference.  While walking the Camino de Santiago - getting stoned meant something completely different - terrain filled with all sizes of rocks  that made walking very difficult. One particular path was a downhill stretch where the path was filled with loose stones the size of croquet balls - often moving under foot - causing many to fall - injure arms - legs - some falling on faces - bruises galore. Luckily - they survived - feeling sore - but alive.

Most people know the scripture about the woman who was a public sinner and was about to be stoned to death - until Jesus appeared. When asked what His judgement was - He knelt down -drew in the dust and replied - that the person in the crowd who was without sin -  should  throw the first stone. None threw a stone - none were without sin - they all walked away - the woman untouched by a single  stone. For His part - Jesus - told that woman He did not condemn her either - rather forgave her - told her to go - sin no more. As we reflect on our own lives - as we see the sins in our lives - as we ask if we would be stoned or forgiven - we need to trust that Jesus is the same today as He was with that woman - 2000 years ago . To us He says - I do no condemn you - you are forgiven - go - sin no more.

Deacon Dale