Ash Wednesday

Ashes were placed upon my head

Reminding me why Jesus bled

There is nothing in this world to dread

Not even when I’m gone and dead.

All my fears and worries fled

With Our Lord’s life giving bread

This is how my faith is fed

‘Tis not me but HIM instead.

Hope is more than a tiny thread

So I must…The Word widespread

For this I ask that I be led

Dear Jesus you are intrepid.

Amen.

Carrying The Cross

You always hear about “carrying your cross”...and I’ve sort of come to grips with this idea.  While I can grasp this concept on an intellectual level…on an emotional level I am not so sure.  My cross is so small it fits nicely in my back pocket tucked away where it does not bother me.  But on occasion it pokes me in the ass and I resort to winning and crying "why me?"  I keep going down the some ole road, falling into the same ole pothole, getting stuck in the same ole rut...“Why me...Why do I have to suffer?"

The answer that I keep coming up with…which is really a question…is: How can I know Jesus…really know Jesus?    Unless I experience some of what HE went through.
Rejected, jerked around, spit upon, flogged. 

Perhaps I need to drink just a tiny sip from the cup.

And stop grumbling about a few little aches and pains.

OK…carrying the cross is one thing…but hanging on it…that worries me.  

Dear Lord Jesus,

While in my nest I have messed

But You forgave all transgressed

As far it is from east to west

Yes…I know, I am a pest

Please forgive my protest

Your love you have so expressed

As hanging there would suggest

I am weak and under lots of stress

But when it is time for the test

I want to do my very best

For this I pray…my final rest

YOUR actions show I am blessed

How can I not be impressed?

So this I promise is my quest

To follow you…I’ve professed

Amen.

Today's Prayer

While worldly morals swing and sway

I to you, Lord Jesus, pray

That you keep me safe this day

So I may not go astray.

Amen.

A Few Of My Favorite Sins

After enjoying the spring, summer and fall…I come to winter of my life…or as some refer to it as “circling the drain years”.  Most of the stress and panic of keeping up with the “Jones” is behind me…I gotten over that…once I discovered it was all mortgaged.  And now that the hormones have gone into hibernation…all the passion and excitement of youth is just a fond memory. 

With each tightening circle of the drain…the lust has been replaced with love and the jealously has taken a back seat to selfishness and pride.

It seems self-centeredness and self-importance is all that I have left…these are a few of my favorite sins.

But, I’ve grown tired of life’s charade

I know my values have been mislaid

It’s time to give up my masquerade

For God’s intentions I have betrayed.

After all the games I have played

From you Lord I have strayed

It is my principles I must trade

Now…as my world starts to fade.

After pondering a decision weighed

I call on you, Jesus, for some aid

Counting on YOUR promises made

I am ready for a big upgrade.

There is no reason to be afraid

Or hide behind some palisade

Knowing the terrible price You paid

I cannot question Your love displayed.

Please, Dear Lord, my heart invade

Save me from this life’s tirade

This change for me must not be delayed

So with YOU, thru eternity, I may promenade.

Amen.

The Fourth And Final Candle

Today the fourth and final candle was lit…I had to stop and take account of my thoughts and my actions.  They didn’t exactly reflect the fact that I was prepared for His arrival. 

On my last trip to Walmart I had to suppress the urge to sneak past the bell-ringing guy in the red suit.

Driving back home I had to repress the desire to call the guy holding the sign at the street corner a druggie and bit my tongue to keep from saying, “get a job”.

Perhaps I'm not ready.  I cringe to think of judgment day when God points out the fact that…when I asked for a handout you called me a druggie. 

It’s so important how time is spent

During this season of advent

Into the world a child was sent

What’s the meaning of this event?

Didn’t understand till I was old and bent

Because I never gave one red cent,

I shunned that old bell ringing gent

But now it’s clear what was meant.

My redeemer was born in a tent

I paused and thought in torment

How hard was it to repent

And to express my sentiment.

Thank you, Jesus, for this present

You have answered my lament

And so it is without argument

Forgive the time I have misspent.

Amen.

A Wake-Up Call

I peeled my tongue from the roof of my mouth and tried to swallow that bitter "morning after” taste.  Prying one eye open…I came face to face with the reality that I was sleeping with seventy-year-old grandmother.

The question was; “How did this happen?”

Yesterday, it seems, I crawled into bed with this hot college co-ed.

But that was nearly fifty years ago and I’m still seeing the same smiling face.

The reality is…I had the good fortune of sharing a bed with this "Hottie" for nearly half a century.  Certainly this is Divine Providence…because there is no way that Miss Mary could have put up with me without God's help.  Happy Birthday…Miss Mary.  Thanks for being such a wonderful wife, loving mother and fantastic grandmother. May God bless you on this day...your birthday...your 70^th birthday…and everyday here after. 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this undeserved gift that has blessed me in more ways than I can count.   

Amen.        

Another Hectic Day

3 pm---I checked my busy schedule in the hope that nothing had been over looked only to realize that I had completely missed my 2 pm.  

Rats! I had slept right through it. 

Cooking The Holiday Bird

I set the oven to 325 degrees per my wife’s instructions.  After several hours…as guests started to arrive…I discovered that you must select “START” in order to start the oven.  That’s when I knew my goose was cooked.  Well done…I may add.  Golden Corral here we come.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!!!!!

A Little Peace And Quiet

  Today would be my fathers birthday…so Happy Birthday…Dad.  As a kid…I remember my father saying, “all I want…is a little peace and quiet.” This was always his answer to the question “what do you want for your birthday?” actually it was his answer for any and all occasions.  

   I would like to apologize for all the trouble I caused my father as a child and adolescent…I missed the chance to say that before I grew up and he was gone.  Also, I never told him that I loved him.   

   So, Dad, on the occasion of your 100^th birthday I wish you the well deserved peace and quiet you always asked for.

Your prodigal son

P.S. I love you

November 26, 2014

Thank You

Last weekend we attended our granddaughter’s 7^th grade class play, a surprisingly well-done version of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.  Then Sunday morning we did Mass at St. John Vianney.  In spite of all the distractions…people coming in late and leaving early, the little children taking the parents to the restroom at the most inappropriate time and the general commotion of a large church…Father Troy’s sermon had a pointed question that I just could not get out of my head.  He asked “What if you had everything you thanked God for last night?  What would you have?  What did you thank God for last night”?  My answer haunted me…for I had not thanked God for anything last night…absolutely nothing…I would have absolutely nothing. 

In my defense, I am a morning person that cannot do much after the sun goes down.  My brain turns off and I am unconscious before my head hits the pillow.  So in an effort to do better I started a list…a thank you list.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for my soft warm bed,

And a pillow to lay my head.

Thank you for a roof wide spread

So the rain it may shed.

Thank you for each night and day.

Thank you for the words to pray.

Thank you for the food to eat.

Thank you for that tasty treat.

Thank you for blue skies above

For those are the days I love.

Thank you for my good health

Worth so much more that riches or wealth.

Thank you for this land of plenty

‘Tis not the case for so many.

This land can be a barren waste

For all of us who make haste.

Thank you for a wife so kind

She…I know you did find.

Thank you for your saving deed

This is what I really need.

I thank you for everything.

There is not much I can bring

To the table you have set

This is my big regret.

Thank you for this very day.

Help me live my life your way.

For this one thing I do pray

So that I may not stray.

For all YOU give it seems not fair

When all I have is a little prayer.

Thank you Lord for my every breath

I owe it all to your death.

Amen.