Sigh . . . . .

I am past due for another road trip . . . . . 

Somewhere.

Anywhere.

But. . . . . I do love where I am too.

And the people I journey with.

I LOVE this idea!!!

Death

The days of November are drawing to a close for 2012.

It is the month dedicated to the Holy Souls.

We, church militant, pray for these souls.  

It is also the time in which we too should consider our own death and final judgement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efiJauhz664&list=PLD841087C099E5B90&index=6&feature=plcp

This video is about an hour long but I pray it help your examination of conscience and help us all prepare for the approaching holy season of Advent.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. 

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

 Amen.

Friends

I like people.

My mother instilled in me that there is something good in every person.

(Sometimes, it might be hard to find it.)

There are some people that enter another plane.

We call these people friends.

It is said that if a person can say that they have one true friend in life they are very fortunate.

Fortunate, I am.

This past year, I have learned the meaning and value of life as God intends it because of each and every one of them.

When I sunk to an all time low and could not pray, my friend was praying for me (more than one was I know).

When I didn't like myself, my friends still did even though I was hardly likable.

When I didn't want anyone to know how badly I had failed and how often, I had friends that listened unconditionally and with unwavering Christian charity did not judge but counseled accordingly.

Yes, through each and everyone of you, I have gained a new and beautiful understanding of God's mercy, love and charity.

I see God's guiding hand and presence in each one of you.

There are some of you who know I am speaking directly to you and why.

But I want anyone who reads this to know that even if our conversations were brief or in passing, you have touched my very heart.

I am humbled by the kindness and concern of others.

THANK YOU MY DEAR FRIENDS.

Thank you!

To sum things up . . . .

I read this and think it pretty good summary of the election:

"The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their president."

May God help us all.

Just say no. A dog can.

I am not an eloquent writer and there are great books and articles written about the topic that I am about to broach but I heard something yesterday and I wanted to share it.

Society today is TOTALLY WARPED   

I believe in the 10 commandments.

In order to regulate ANYTHING, you have to have something on which to base your beliefs.

If you have no belief system, then what propels a person to do good?

A person is then driven by what has been labeled a "person's primal instincts."

Sound animalistic?

So sin and other disturbing behaviors are marginalized, rationalized and promoted on the grounds that a person simply CANNOT be asked to control their impulses or behavior.

They have raging hormones, couldn't help themselves, on and on.

If this modern idea is right, than nobody should have to refrain from controlling any primal urge they have.

If you want it, you should steal it.  

Animals do.

If it bothers you, you should attack it and possibly kill it.

Animals do.

I am sick and tired of hearing that people, mainly young people, cannot be held accountable and asked to be responsible for their behaviors.

So, I was speaking to a priest yesterday he told a story that completely sums up why this modern idea that we are primal animals incapable of controlling ourselves is completely stupid and irrational.

There was a young lady about 15 who was in a terrible accident.  For the rest of her life she was paralyzed from the waist down.  Father went to see her before she passed away. She had a guide dog who helped her out.  They were talking about this dog and the training that it must go through in order to become a guide dog.  

After extensive training the dog and the soon-to-be new master had to go to a very busy mall and perform a long and strenuous test.  If the dog failed EVEN ONE THING it was sent back for 6 months of training.  

Of course for the woman this guide dog meant freedom and help so the dog failing this test would be very disappointing to say the least. 

One part of the test involved . . . . a hamburger.   

She had to buy a hamburger, take the bun off and set it right in front of the dog.  She could only say "no" one time and see what happened.  If the dog so much as sniffed the burger closely, he would fail the test. 

We all know DOGS LOVE MEAT.  They are designed to eat. The dog has only primal understanding.  It doesn't understand the importance of this task.  It is not gaining anything personally from denying itself the meat.  It must just blindly obey his master because he was told "no" in a kindly voice. 

So, she bought the burger, opened it up and laid it in front of the dog. 

The dog looked at her with longing eyes . . . . . . . . but didn't even sniff the burger.   

HE PASSED THE TEST.

If the dog did not have purpose and direction then naturally it would be running WILD in the wilderness ripping small animals apart.

We are supposed to be civilized people with higher reasoning and intellect.  The dog cannot completely grasp the depth and importance of his job but blindly obeys.

We take things on faith and reason.  We too should blindly obey and control our "primal instincts and passions".  This is what makes us civilized beings.  We have a brain and most importantly a soul.  We are created in the image and likeness of God by God Himself.  He is our loving Master.  

If we as a civilization do not have our laws and ethics governed by God Almighty, just what is it based on?

I am not a hypocrite either to expect this line of reasoning.

I understand that we are human and do fail and must go back for more training of the will on a daily basis.

It is because we have souls with a body that we are driven to seek out and perform the duty our Master has created us for in this life.  

If we have no Divine Master, then yes, we are reduced to packs of wild beasts. 

But if a DOG can be expected to control itself, then we should too.

I pray this day for us all to persevere and the great gift of God's mercy and guiding grace when we do fail.

The faith of a little child

The children's birthdays are stacked up in the summer.

My sweet little turtle.

As you read previously, one person didn't get their present for months.

One got everything on time.


Another one got their present 2 weeks early because it was needed sooner.

WHAT?!?!??!  My birthday present early?

Yippeeee!!  My own suitcase!

The excitement ensues as the suitcase rolls all over the house.

Going forward.

Backing up:  Making beeping noises of course

Then silence for a brief moment.

Shouts of excitement come from around the corner!!

MOM!

MOM!!!!

GUESSSSS WHAT!!!

What?

My suitcase came with a toothbrush holder  . . . . . . 

and 2 holy water bottles!!!!!!

God bless you little fellow.

So, I would have left it at that but a sibling piped up and said, "No, it is for soap."

Looking a bit perplexed he leaves and comes back a moment later.

"There.  I have my toothbrush, soap and holy water because you NEVER know when you might need it!"

The simple faith of a child is refreshing and sweet.

No, you never know when you might need holy water.

HUMMMMMM . . . . . . . 

Maybe, that suitcase should have come with a gallon container. . . . . .

No, wait, 2 gallon containers.

One for soap.

One for holy water.