ELISHEBA BLOGLaura, Ivonne, and Rick
write about their lives in the Eucharist. |
ELISHEBA BLOGLaura, Ivonne, and Rick
write about their lives in the Eucharist. |
Living in the West Coast of Florida, I have been blessed to watch many beautiful sunsets on the beach. Almost everyone gathered there at that time is waiting together for the same thing. As the sun descends and the symphony of colors starts to play on the sky above, little by little, everyone’s attention is drawn above. Strangers sharing this experience of awe are connected. Differences vanish as we silently agree we behold beauty. Some of us will be consciously praising the God of all creation in that moment, while others might not be aware of Him. Yet, the soul knows, and we behold. Each time I experience one of these moments, I try to capture it. My phone automatically generated an album of these memories and named it, “The Golden Hour”. As I was looking through the pictures, it dawned on me (pun intended) that someone living on the East Coast might have a similar photo album, also named “The Golden Hour”, but theirs would have a collection of sunrises. Would you be able to tell the difference between a picture taken at dusk from one taken at dawn? Both times of day are magnificent, displaying a symphony of colors in the sky. The difference between them is not in the position of the sun itself, but in the transition they represent for us as we move upon the earth. One marks the end of a day, while the other heralds the promise of the next. Dusk and dawn stand as bridges between night and day. We find ourselves at the end of a Liturgical Year and at the beginning of the next. On the last day, the Church presents us these words from Jesus to his disciples:
And then, on the first Sunday of Advent, we find Jesus telling his disciples:
Can you tell the difference between the beginning and the end? Every end is a new beginning. Life ebbs and flows in constant change between darkness and light, between sorrow and joy. In the same way dusk and dawn draw us to look up at the beauty of the sun, the moments of transition between sorrow and joy beckon us always to look up. Whether we see our Lord being crucified or glorified, we see Beauty when we look up, for both are expressions of God’s love for us. We live in the hope that, in the end, we will be in Heaven, where there is no more sorrow and no more pain. When the sands of time run out and we persevere through the final test, we will enter the joy that will never end.
0 Comments
I was watching a TV show earlier this week. A woman had just finished making a potato salad when her mother pointed out that as soon as she walked away, she would add some mustard, and then her brother would come by and add celery. Half-jokingly, the woman said, “Am I going to have to stand here and guard this potato salad?” Her mother replied, “Only if you think you are the only one who can make it right.” I think we can all relate to this; I know I do. I look at the world and have opinions on many things; I often think my way of doing things is better. It is easy to look at our neighbor, parish, workplace, or community and notice all the things we would do differently. We can get inside our own little heads and forget we do not have all the information; we forget that we are not in the other person’s shoes. In our neat little box, we identify what needs fixing. And then, we criticize. And, even if we don’t continue down this path and end up gossiping, judging, and who knows what else… How much time and energy do we waste? What if, instead of trying to take over the job of another, we ask, how can we help?
“It looks like a solitary sport, but it takes a team.” These words were spoken by Diana Nyad after achieving her lifetime dream of swimming (without a shark cage) from Cuba to Key West. She was over 60 years old when, in her fifth attempt, and with a team of about 40 traveling with her, she swam 110.86 miles in 52 hours, 54 minutes, and 18 seconds. As I watched the film Nyad, based on this true story, I was struck by how much each team member sacrificed to support Diana on her journey. But I was also struck by how much they each gained. The coach, the navigator, the kayak swimmers, the medic… each of them had a role to play, and in helping Diana complete her race, they completed their own race. “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” This is a lie. When we take over and do the job meant for another, we take away the means God has prepared for their holiness. We let pride lead and take the easy way out. Love plays its part, supporting and helping, not taking over and leaving the other behind. Even if it would be quicker and easier to do something by ourselves, there is great joy when we allow others to help.
(Spoiler alert!) One of the things portrayed in the film is Diana Nyad's growth in humility. The realization of how much she needed her team came about after much heartache and failure. She realized that while she swam in the dark, alone with her thoughts, others were watching her back, guiding the boat, providing her food and water, and keeping her safe; they were making the journey with her. Once she realized each person in her team, handpicked for their particular skills, was not disposable or easily replaceable, pride dissipated and she became grateful. Her role in this journey was hers alone, but she could not make it alone. She needed a team; she needed friends; she needed love.
Peace… we all yearn for it, yet we look around and don't see it. In our world, in our communities, in our homes, and in our own hearts, we see division; we see strife.
I know Jesus is my peace; I have experienced this. Yet, I have also experienced how easy it is to lose sight of Christ and lose my peace. I am also painfully aware of the consequences that come from this. The peace, or lack thereof, in my home, is directly affected by me.
There is a kind of peace we experience when our environment is in order. But, more importantly, the peace we seek begins interiorly. A soul rooted in the love of Christ can find peace amid this chaotic world. Imagine how many of those together can make up a beautiful and peaceful field, a place to rest and breathe.
One of the greatest blessings in our marriage is that we often take turns losing our peace. When one of us is having a rough time, the other, like a lighthouse, points the way back to peace. In those moments, a little love and kindness goes a long way. We know we love each other, so we can give a little pass while the other is having a rough day. I have found that when anger meets meekness, it quickly dissipates.
Pride is an enemy to peace. It is the root of all evil. It breeds envy, feeds on fear, and makes neighbors enemies. Fear lies to us and fills us with worries and anxieties.
God knows everything we need, and He tells us repeatedly to have no fear.
Jesus is the peace we seek.
Let us pray:
|
Categories
All
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
AuthorsWe are Ivonne J. Hernandez, Rick Hernandez and Laura Worhacz, Lay Associates of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, and brothers and sisters in Christ. |