A Simpleton's Prayer

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for doing all the unbelievable stuff you do.

Forgive me, Lord Jesus, for not believing that you can do unbelievable stuff.

Grant me, Lord Jesus, the stuff...the grace...to believe in an unbelievable God.

Amen.

Small, Small World

The reality of my world is ‘what I believe’…and ‘what I believe’ is mostly in my head.  Therefore my world is a small, small world indeed…a world cluttered with fears, doubts, worries and misgivings.  If not for the light at the end of the tunnel my world would be an intolerable place.  Christ is the light at the end of the tunnel and today’s Gospel reminds me that Christ did away with the old rules…and gave me a new rule. It is no longer and eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth…but to love one another and he loved us.

John 13:34,35

“I give you a new commandment: love one another.

As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.

This is how all will know that you are my disciples,

if you have love for one another.”

Morning Again

I wipe the drool from the corner of my mouth without opening my eyes and desperately struggled to remain in that peaceful state of calm and tranquility between the sheets of our king size bed.  The next recollection was of daylight filling the room and the thought of wasting the best part of the day…so I staggered to the window, opened the blinds and saw an orange sun peering through waves of low gray clouds.  How can every morning be so amazing, so magical, and so mysterious? 

Oh! I forgot that God is in charge of this mad, mad world in which I live.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the peace you bring to this crazy world.  I’m looking forward to leaving the crazy behind in the next.  Amen.

Water Boarding and Divine Providence

Looking through some old photos I came across a picture of my NOW wife.  She was wearing a Dolly Parton wig and a mini skirt.  I recall being captured like “a deer in the headlights” by her painted up Bambi eyes and incredible smile. I had no clue about what I was getting into at that time…I had no idea about the real meaning of love…lust, maybe…but not love.

I have slowly come to realize that love is not always fun but more of a slow martyrdom.  A dying of my selfish self and doing what my better half wants me to do.  After all…she is always right…and…therefore…that’s what ultimately makes me happy.

To me, it seems that the requirements for getting married should be more stringent. 

If I recall…there were a few words from the priest…that I did not listen to because my focus was somewhere else.  Ideally, an intense course should be taught culminating with a final exam, which should include a session of water boarding to emphasize the seriousness of the matter. Also, for the slow learners, like me, the couple should be joined together with ankle chains.  Marriage is serious business from which there is no escape and should not be taken lightly.

After 45 plus years of marriage I have finally figured it out…I am thankful for Divine Providence and a patient wife.  I consider myself blessed to have a God fearing spouse with an amazing smile who still looks hot in a mini skirt.

Thank you Lord Jesus…

For undeserved blessings you heap upon me. 

I’ll never be able to repay the fee.

Forgive me, Lord, for all the things I did not see.

For this I pray, this is my plea.

Amen