A Lubbock Morning

Everyone was still sleeping as I sat in my mother-in-law's kitchen looking out into the dawn's twilight. It was a clear cold Lubbock morning and no one stirred as I ate part of a leftover roasted chicken Panini with stale edges, some oatmeal cookies and a diet coke. It was the perfect breakfast to start a perfect morning. That magical hour is the best time to just sit and think....to think of how wonderful, amazing and beautiful the world is and how blessed I am to be somehow plopped down right in the big middle of it all. Right in the middle of my mother-in-law "Big Red's" family, married to one of her one hundred descendants. Literally, the last count brought the number to 100. And today, right in the middle of her 103rd birthday, in the middle of her kitchen.
As the rays of sunshine penetrated the window and warmed my face I could hear relatives beginning to stir in preparation for the big party. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all my undeserved blessings. Amen

Fish Story

I take courage in the fact that God told Jonah to go to Nineveh not once but twice.

Today I made a special effort to pay close attention to the readings (Jonah 3:1-10 and Luke 11:29-32) but found myself thinking about my past, thinking that Jonah…as I…was not really excited about doing what God told him to do. But God did not give up on him; God went to extreme measures to show him the light. Just like Jonah …I was swallowed up…not by a fish but by the ways of the world. Only out of misery did I cry out to God. From the pit of despair I called to the Lord to save me from drowning is a sea of secularism and relativism.

Then I thought about the citizens of Nineveh and how they all listened to Jonah’s warning…how even the king listened and complied with the warning…they repented and turned away from their evil ways. Then I thought of our people, our congress, and our king and thought how nice they would look in sack-cloth and ashes.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Help me, in this season of repentance,
to truly comply with your wishes.
Give me the wisdom to do what I’m told.
So you don’t have to tell me twice.
Amen

Latin Scholars

Today’s readings were 1 Peter 5:1-4 and Matthew’s Gospel 16:13-19 which talked about the chair of Peter, the first shepherd of the church. “Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia”, Father started his homily. He explained that the old Latin saying translated to “Wherever Peter is, there is the church”.

That was the last thing I heard. Kidnapped by my own daydreams and transported back to the past, back to high school in LA, back to Latin class, back to the summer I spent working in the Big Bear Mountains with George Oller. George was the older brother of my older sister’s best friend, on leave from the seminary. He, several years my senior, invited me to spend the summer working odd jobs at Big Bear Lake where his older brother had a cabin. A real cabin, a cabin you had to hike the switchbacks to get to, a cabin without running water, electricity or an inside toilet. We spent the summer scraping paint, raking pine needles and making miscellaneous repairs for the locals. When we were not working we hiked and swam, explored old abandoned gold mines and generally investigated the mountains in his old ‘38 Ford pickup. Breakfast was usually biscuits…biscuits with a surprise ingredient…such as the leftovers from the previous evening’s supper. Peas and corn…were not unusual. I’m not sure if it was the work, the play, or the high mountain air that did away with any thoughts of a squeamish appetite…perhaps all the above…but “not eating” never crossed my mind.

George was one of a kind. Always a smile, always up beat, always ready to lend a hand. His crazy stories and silly one liner jokes went non-stop…he would say things like “If your nose runs and your feet smell then you are built upside down”. Without a doubt he was the goofiest, kindest, most compassionate, up front guy I’ve ever known. Subconsciously I learn a lot. He planted seeds that I would only come to fully appreciate much later.

After three years of high school Latin and many years later…the only Latin that I can remember is what George taught me “Ubi O’ ubi es meum sub-ubi” (where O’ where are my underwhere).

Dear Lord Jesus,
George is camped out with you now.
I am sure he is keeping you entertained.
I can’t wait to see you both,
around the ‘ole campfire.
Me

Amen

Daydreams and Delusions

I daydream of being a writer. The truth be known, I am no more than an anal retentive, obsessive compulsive scribbler of notes desperately trying to document my journey through the labyrinth of empty halls that make up the gray matter in my head.

Sometimes I wonder if it is wise to be recording and documenting each and every thought especially when I consider the possibility of this information falling into the hands of the prosecutor come judgment day. But on the other side of the coin…hopefully the converse is true. If I were to be put on trial and accused of being a Christian it might be used as evidence to convict me.

As for being a writer it is just a delusion…wishful thinking. It would appear pointless to call any of my English teachers to the witness stand...as they have already cast their vote by penning a plethora of D’s and F’s on my each and every report card.

Perhaps I scribble and scrabble in some futile effort to prove them wrong. For whatever the reason, I seem to have become…late in life…intrigued by the process and uninhibited by my grammatical shortcomings.

So thank you, Lord Jesus, for whatever gifts it is that you have given me.
Please help me to share these gifts and use them for Your glory.
Amen

The Morning Meeting

Each day we meet at the orange and white striped roof to plan our day and I make notes of any good ideas that could be parlayed into a workable business plan. I turn over a placemat to record any stroke of brilliance we might concoct. Today, I even brought a pen. After some discussion we eliminated the seemingly interesting and lucrative businesses we felt were not acceptable; i.e. liquor stores, bars, and houses of ill repute. They all seemed to have an element of danger...both physical and moral...that we were not prepared to embrace.

Our criterion is that it has to be interesting, it has to be legal, it has to be moral, and it can’t be too much work. Maybe that last item is what always makes the train jump the track.

Each day at the close of our meeting I throw away the blank sheet of paper along with the empty paper cups and soiled paper napkins. We always conclude that God is in charge. He has written his plan on our hearts. We just need to follow his plan.

Lord, help me Jesus,

When on judgment day
What do I say?
For nothing I‘ve done
Deserves even one*

*Of the kindness You’ve shown

Fat Tuesday

I took full advantage of the day’s namesake and tipped the scales at my all time record high. Right then and there I made up my mind to pull off a really good lent this year…for it was evident I had overindulged myself by pleasuring my taste buds. So, I started Ash Wednesday with Mass, the traditional ashes and a determination to do better in spite of my past failures.

I know fasting, abstaining from food, is a good way to focus on spiritual growth. By denying myself of this physical pleasure I can become more open to the blessings God want to give me and in some small way begin to understand what Christ went through.

In the food and fasting department I seem to have some problems. I have come to believe that I am a food-a-holic…I can’t seem to stop at one bite…it is one, then two, and the next thing I know I am in a chow stupor or food coma. I realize the focus of fasting is not to lose weight. But if I could develop some self-discipline I probably would not have such food issues.

So…I washed my face and combed my hair so no one would know I was fasting…not that anyone would make that mistake by looking at my horizontally challenged physique.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for another lent
Please help me focus on what is meant
By your example and what you are asking
Help me live a life of prayer and fasting
Amen

Valentines Day

My wife called me and asked if I wanted to go to the church Valentines Day dinner/dance. Fortunately I knew the answer to that question. The years of marriage training was starting to pay off. That evening came and she told me what to wear and when to get dressed.

We arrived and the ambiance was wonderful. It was a great meal with great service by the parish youth group and all served on the finest plastic flatware with real paper napkins.

I always marvel at how much my wife enjoys the social stuff, the visiting and talking to each and everyone. I love the fact that she seems to have no inhibitions…an absolute and total disregard for the possibility of making a fool of herself on the dance floor. While I prefer to hide among the wallflowers…I danced every dance she asked me to dance.

We are so different. My preference would be to not attend any function with people…people scare me and I lack in social skills. But I realize that is not healthy. We are like different sides of the same coin, like night and day, total opposites in every respect except for one. We both know that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for a sweetheart different than I
Thank you for a wife who makes me more than I am
Thank you for giving us an example of a perfect marriage.
Amen

A Snow Day

I decided to take a “snow day”…there were no jobs pending and no real reason to leave the warmth of my abode. It made me think and wonder if cavemen had the same option. Could they just hold up in the cave next to the fire being lazy and drawing on walls? I suspect the only thing that would force them outside would be hunger pains. Hunger pains…that’s a sobering thought…not that I have ever really been hungry but just the thought of it gives me reason for concern. Business has been scary slow. What if the phone never rings? What if the economy gets so bad that no one needs their stuff fixed? How would I survive? I’m not a hunter and the only gathering I’ve ever done is gathering eatables from the grocery store shelves.

Just as I settled in to write on the walls of my cave the phone rang with a request for help. Saved from a day of worrying…I bundled up and headed out into the damp cold to see what was wrong with my customer’s air compressor.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thanks for the reminder,
That You are my minder,
There is nothing to fear,
When I have You so near.
Amen

WABAC Machine

Some days I wish I could put on my horn-rimmed glasses and join Mr. Peabody & Sherman in their “WABAC (wayback) Machine”, set the date to the years of my childhood and escape this crazy world. Accepting the present state of affairs is difficult and disheartening.

The world has changed from the world I remember as a child. I went to Catholic school and to church every Sunday…it was not an options, it was not by choice. Perhaps it was an ugly world even then, but I never knew the ugly existed. I remember when we were the only family in town that did not have a TV…and we lived in Los Angeles. Perhaps I was naive or just sheltered by my parents.

I also remember that I wanted to run away from home, to join the circus and live the life of Riley. I wanted to eat cotton candy and hot dogs as opposed to all the nasty vegetables and perfectly balance meals my mother made three times a day. I remember being attracted to the seedier side of life. I wanted to be able to cuss like a sailor. I learned all the words early on but could never seem to get a smooth flow going and eventually gave up the pursuit of using such vernacular. Much like golf, I had no natural ability in that area and gave up on it also. It was just too much effort, and for what? On the other hand if I had kept at the golf I probably would have developed my cursing skills.

My father was a product of the depression and a survivor of the 2nd World War. He was very conservative, to put it mildly, and invested his hard earned money in the stock market. I remember him saying that General Motors stock was as good as gold and if General Motors ever went broke the entire country would be broke. What prophetic words. Today, I feel we are on the brink of financial disaster. I, personally, would rather have a car with a stuck accelerator than a GM (Government Motors) car. I know that’s crazy but I honestly feel that way.

There are so many things I just don’t comprehend: tattoos and body piercing just to name a couple. It’s a strange world and getting stranger by the minute. The language on TV is enough to make a sailor blush and that’s the girls talking. For some reason I don’t find that to be an attractive quality in women. Then they add smoking, tattoos and piercing to the equation, stir in a heaping measure of selfishness and they wonder why they are having relationship problems. GO figure. Comedians are not funny anymore. Since when is vulgar funny? Maybe it is my age or just the normal maturation process. Perhaps it takes a life time to figure this out. Enough poking around in the past…“Sherman, set the WABAC machine to the year 2010.”

Going back and do-overs are not an option and I ready don’t want to go back to being so ignorant. In spite of all of my mistakes, I am excited by the fact that the road in front of me is shorter than the road behind me. I’m comforted by the thought that God is in charge. My only salvation is in the hope that I have made the right choice: picking Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. As it seems any other choices lead to chaos and disaster.

Dear Jesus, at the risk of making a terrible pun...feed this line(lion) to the Christians.
Amen

Bake Sale

I stood over the sink looking out at the cold gray winter sky as the sleet showered down and thanked my lucky stars I didn’t have to be outside. I dug in the pan with a big spoon, against my wife’s instructions, and ate the cake that I told her not to purchase from the church bake sale. My reasoning was that pies are much better than cakes. I finally relented…after all…it was in support of the church.

It turns out…after picking off the pecans…that the pineapple, the coconut and the sugary glaze all bonded together and produced the most delightful texture and flavor. My taste buds danced and giggled with delight as they poked fun at my ego.

How was I going to explain the missing contents? Maybe she wouldn’t notice? Yeah, right…maybe she wouldn’t notice me passed out in the middle of the floor unconscious and in a food coma. I’ll just throw the empty pan into the garbage outside. Oh…who knows what evil lurks in the minds of men.

Ok, I’ll just admit I was wrong and take my scolding like a grownup.

Thank you Lord Jesus,
For all those church bake sales
And forgiving my rants and rails
For the multitude of pies and cakes
And the forgiving of my mistakes
Amen

Letter to #1 Grandson

Dear Cameron

I am writing this letter because I want you to know how much I appreciate you. My life would be boring if not for the joy you bring into it. I am so proud of you. I marvel at your talent and ability both in your academic and athletic skills. These are important attributes to possess but are not the most important. Integrity is the most important of all. Without integrity you have nothing. Always seek the truth, always live the truth and always speak the truth.

All of us are watchers but few are observers. Everyone is looking but not many are seeing. While it is exciting to be in the limelight it is difficult to get a realistic prospective on life with all it’s subtleties…so remember…sometime it's better to step back and be an observer.

A word to the wise: don’t be blinded by the limelight…always pray for wisdom…all the other truly good stuff will automatically follow.

I wish you wisdom and an eternity of happiness. May God bless you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen

Love Dado

Cooking Stuff Up

Someone asked me how I come up with the stuff I write. As usual, I did not have a good answer but it made me stop and contemplate the question. Generally I start with some lame inspiration much like a cook starts with a poor cut of meat. The first step is to marinade it over night then tenderize it. Next, rub it with a generous amount of seasoning and then simmer for hours. Usually…more flavoring is required before the anecdote is palatable. Then the entire repast is served up with a generous portion of embellishment and a side of poetic license. As always the presentation is of the utmost importance.

Many of my recipes end up in the garbage because my number one critic finds them distasteful. But even if these crumbs, tidbits and morsels are not appetizing…I do hope they will be edible and nourishing to someone.

Dear Lord Jesus
I think of you when cooking up stuff.
Even when the stuff is ruff
It’s pretty much the best I can do
But always my prayer is to glorify You
Amen

Public Apology

Dear 小巨蛋 ;

Please accept my apology for making light of your comment on my BLOG.

要持續更新下去喲!!祝你心情愉快

My tongue in cheek sarcasm and ignorance of all languages has again gotten me into an embarrassing situation. While I cannot tie my shoe without coming up for air I am still able to easily get my foot into my mouth. Rest assured that I sincerely appreciate your well wishes and encouragement. I can assure you I will continue to update and I too wish you a happy mood.

Thank you

News Flash

How exciting! I finally garnered a comment on my BLOG. It gave me a feeling of notoriety unequaled in my literary career. I don’t think I’ve ever been quite so proud of myself.

I must share it with you.

COMMENTS:

小巨蛋 said...
要持續更新下去喲!!祝你心情愉快 .........................................
JANUARY 28, 2010 2:11 AM


Thank you, Lord Jesus, Surely this is a good thing. ???????
Amen

Dear Diary

Once again I take pen in hand to record my innermost secrets. My wife went away for a long week-end and I was released on my own recognizance. The initial excitement was exuberating. While she was off performing corporal works of mercy and evangelizing…I envisioned doing all that stuff I had postponed until I had some free time. Now I was free, I was totally free to do whatever I wanted and would not be bothered. I could write…I could write some profound prose or compose a heart wrenching sonnet that would purse the lips of lovers for all times, or I could clean the garage.
The first day, after getting her packed up and on the road, I decided to take a nap before doing all that exhausting stuff I had been saving up. After several failed attempts to get off the couch, I decided to take a sick day and really get rested up good before starting my manic marathon. As night fell I finally got up, took a shower and went to bed.
The second day I overslept and missed my Five A.M. Friday appointment with the Blessed Sacrament. I drove across town in the rain and made 6 AM Mass, listened to the priest, who told of King David not being satisfied with all the wives he had…but wanted Bathsheba. He told all David did to make that happen…not good. Father reminded us about the human condition that is never satisfied…always wanting more or always wanting better. I made a mental note to myself…Dear Lord; today help me to be satisfied with whatever you send my way.
I ran into a friend and we sojourned to the coffee shop (myself…not old enough to drink coffee…had hot chocolate). We spent the next hour solving the world’s problems.
Returning home I positioned myself in the standby mode waiting for a customer to call with a problem but hoping I really would not have to go out in the cold and rain. During my moments of consciousness I spent equal amounts of time staring at the TV and looking into the refrigerator. It occurred to me that I might require a bit more supervision and I should not be left in charge of deciding what to do with my spare time. Another day passed without accomplishing anything.
The next day I was up at the crack of dawn and made some nachos for breakfast and washed them down with a grape soda because I was out of beer. Realizing my supervisor was scheduled to return home, I ran through the house flushing toilets and making sure the seat was in the down position. I pulled up the bed covers and threw the 8 million pillows onto the bed hoping to hide the less than perfect job. I vacuumed the crumbs from the couch and jammed all the dishes into the dishwasher. Done!!!. I can’t understand why she complains about cleaning house and that it takes all day…it’s a 15 minute job.
Well! I learned something about myself. I prefer being told what to do and when to do it. In this land of the free and home of the brave perhaps too much freedom is not such a good thing.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for a super wife and supervisor who holds my feet to the fire. Who could want for more?
Amen