Don't Sweat It

     With my entire anatomy covered in grease and sweat…I had to ask myself why didn’t I pay more attention in class…why didn’t I study harder and become a brain surgeon.  If I had done less daydreaming…I could have been in a nice, clean, air-conditioned operating room wearing a white coat with nurses at my beckoned command.  But…no…here I am, all by myself, in a dirty, hot warehouse trying to repair an old worn out tire-changing machine that should have been junked years ago.

     Wait a minute, I can’t stand the sight of blood and I have a terrible bedside manner.  As air fills the bellows, the old apparatus wheezes and comes back to life.  What a feeling of accomplishment…maybe my job isn’t so bad after all.  Besides the patient did not die and no blood was lost during this operation. 

Dear Lord Jesus…

For the talent you gave

I need not put in a grave

Over the fence, is for the dreamer

Only perception makes it greener

Upon me it did not dawn

To just water my own lawn

For it shows no class

To ogle the neighbor’s grass

Thanks for the gifts YOU bestow

There’s no reason for me to woe

For YOU know what’s best

After all…it is just a test.

Amen.

Goose Bumps

As a youngster I did not understand why I had to go to church…because…and I quote “I don’t get anything out of it.”  Now, when I hear that same response from my children and grandchildren, it disturbs me and I can’t come up with a good retort.  I’m not sure when or why I changed. But now church feeds a hunger in me that yearns for more.  There is something mysterious about Mass.   Even though I daydream, fidget and fumble with the prayer book and lose my place…during Mass I always have a goose bump moment that convicts me, a moment of reassurance, reassurance that Jesus loves me no matter what.  It’s just an ephemeral feeling that holds some unexplainable truth that I can’t put into words nor put my finger on…but I know it’s real.  So I just want to be there…in church...I think that’s pretty much the answer my parents gave me “you just HAVE to be there”. They gave me no other option.

God will put you in your place

When His grace is in your face

You can hide and you can run

You can say you’re having fun

But

There will be no reason to frown

When

The hound of heaven tracks you down.

Amen

I Saw Stars

While making a simple repair to a customer’s material handling conveyor, I was feeling quite smug and thinking how smart I was.  The problem seemed simple to me yet the customer had no clue.  That’s about the time I saw stars.  The wrench slipped off and I hit myself in the face…what a rookie mistake…putting my mug directly in front of the action.  In an effort to hide my stupidity I dobbed the blood onto my shirtsleeve and after I regained my composure I could not help but chuckle at the thought that God has His ways of keeping me humble.

So as I place the band-aid of humility to my upper lip I thank God for the little reminders of who is in charge and who should get the credit for whatever gifts I may or may not have.

Thank you Lord Jesus,

A slap in the face has its place

When I could not be much 'blinder'

And so it seems to be the case

For sometimes I need a little reminder.

Amen.

Life

My life did not turn out the way I envisioned it as a child or even as an immature adult. I had some pretty egotistical ideas.  Now, I have to chuckle at all those grandiose dreams of fame and fortune.  For it…life, that is…turned out better than all of my selfish delusions. 

Trial and error is one way to figure life out, or you can just follow God’s rules to achieve the peace and joy that is our real goal.  From experience I can unequivocally say the latter method is easier than the former method.  For instance…I can remember all the self-centered reasons I had for getting married.  Fortunately God talks to me and He straightened out my thinking on that issue.  The difficult part is that God uses my wife’s voice most of the time when he talks to me.  And as much as I hate to hear the truth somewhere deep down inside I know…I know it’s the truth. 

Personally, I prefer my truth sugarcoated and easy on the nagging.   But I have to reassure myself that God knows what he is doing and I need to just listen and comply.

Thank you, Lord Jesus;

For my guardian angel mate,

Who knows what’s best for my fate.

Thanks for telling me before it’s too late.

And for so much more, I can’t ignore.

I thank you each night before I snore.

Hoping we will meet on that celestial shore.

You came to save me from myself.

Even though I am a spiritual elf.

This is a truth I cannot shelf.

Nailed to a tree just for me,

So this should be my only plea,

Which I make on bended knee.

Now when it comes to eternity,

It would fill my heart with glee

That I should spent the time with Thee

Amen.

Safe Zone

I listened to the soft pattering of the rain as it fell upon the roof and the quiet gurgles as they trickled down the gutter.  The peaceful silence is only broken by the creaking of a pew…as some nameless sinner shifts his weight.

I so enjoy the hour of peaceful calm in this safe zone away from the pressures, projects and lists of stuff to do.  Each week this hour of Eucharistic adoration gives me time to recharge my battery, defrag my hard drive and reboot my life.

I actually take pleasure in the time spent with you Lord…just sitting here, looking at each other and doing nothing.  You have no demands, no false expectations and ulterior motives.  I know I am safe from the outside world…I have no wants, no worries and I know you love me unconditionally.

Dear Lord Jesus,

It will be a wonderful day

If I stay out of the fray

I know it’s going to be OK

If I just remember to pray    

When the day is gloomy and dank

And the world wants to give me a spank

I must not get all cranky and yank

Because I know it is You I must thank.

Amen.

Ode To My Beloved

I rolled back the door, and couldn’t ignore, the sight of shocking neglect.

But there she sat, with tires all flat, a vision I found hard to reject.

I could not deny, my lacking to fly, it was revealed in a clear display.

Current no more, told the score, as I looked thru the logbook in dismay.

My passion for flight, had waned overnight, it was difficult to even conceive.

An addiction so strong, could I be wrong, but my logbook did not deceive

When all of my time, was spent so sublime, slipping the surly bonds of earth.

As I once would fly, making holes in the sky, through endless halls of mirth.

I must confess, this awful mess, is no ones fault but mine.

I have to let go, this I know, for now has come the time.

The little airplane, is not to blame, but needs to find a new home.

It must be, where it is free, to sail the skis and roam.

So with some regret, I must fret, and hang up the sign “For Sale”

I’ll do my best, to pass the test, and will not cry and wail.

For this you see, is best for me, as I am old and frail

So might this be, we’ll have to see, the start of another’s tale.

                                           For Sale

                             Experimental RV6 (N98KP)

                       180hp Lycoming O-360-A1A engine

                        Constant speed Hartzell propeller

              Total time 408 hours: airframe, engine and prop.

Perspective

As the years go by my strength is waning; my eyes are fading…but I can see clearly now.  I no longer have trouble seeing the writing on the wall.  There is something sweet about the wisdom gained in the aging process.  My physical strength has been surrendered in exchange for emotional and spiritual strength.  I no longer look at God’s ten commandments as a list of don’ts…restricting my freedom…but view them as the ten basic guidelines to a happy life. 

If the truth may be told,

I’ll waste no time searching for gold.

For deep down in my soul,

Happiness and peace are my goal

My faith is challenged by life’s little test

But in Lord Jesus I’ll find my rest.

Amen.

God's House

I stopped by God's house this morning just to see what He was up to.  God is a busy guy but he always has time for me. He always has time to visit. He listens to my problems, all my moaning and groaning. He always has a comforting and reassuring word.  It's going to be OK.  By the time I leave I know he is right, I know he is in control.  
This world is just a proving ground, just a test track...just a race to see what we will do when the wheels come off.

Thank you Jesus for all you do
Thank you for being my pit crew
You are the one who takes me far
In life's race...just like NASCAR
Amen

Facing The Music

The EWMBC (Early Wednesday Morning Breakfast Club) sat around the table digesting and discussing integrity and the fact that there is right and wrong. There is no middle ground no gray area when it comes to issues like faith and morals. It is either black or white. There is no room for "political correctness" when it comes to issues like abortion or killing people.  It's not OK just because politicians are saying that they are looking out for the poor people. I'm afraid government programs are not actually doing what anyone had hoped for.  It’s time to draw a line in the sand…it’s “Alamo time”.  Even if we know that we will die…doing what’s right…that’s what we have to do.  It's time to face the music…let the drum roll begin…let Satan’s firing squad level their guns and take their best shot. 

Integrity trumps selfishness, honesty and truth trump self-interest and that's the way I’m playing my hand.

Politicians have built us a house of cards.

I no longer believe them in those regards

I’m tired of them calling my bluff.

No longer am I taking that stuff.

In the future I’m calling them out.

I’m changing my tune, there is no doubt.

I’m stepping over the line, just in time.

Joining the ranks, I’ll take my spanks.

I’ll follow my leader no matter the cost.

I trust in Him that I won't be lost.

It’s you Lord Jesus I trust and believe.
It’s you Lord Jesus who does not deceive.
So I trust... 

You’ll “beam me up” when it’s time to leave.

Amen.

Hard Core

I was appointed adjunct usher at the Easter Vigil Mass so I sat in the back with the real ushers.  I had forgotten how distracting it could be when viewing the ceremony from the last pew…as my wife usually marches me down to the front.  Although the three hour Vigil Mass is attended mostly by the hard core Catholics, there apparently were a few who had been coerced or cajoled into being there. 

It reminded me of the times gone by when I was a less than enthusiastic participant.  The signs were obvious…a man blatantly chewing gum, a young girl who constantly twirled her long brown hair in her fingers only stopping to push the spaghetti strap back up onto her bare shoulder, the toddler crawling from one parent to another looking for attention.  

Thank you Lord for the reminders

I just need to tighten my little blinders

Focus on you is what I’ll do

I’ll just pray for the day

When every knee shall bow

Every tongue confess

That You are Lord and Master.

Amen.