Here are two of what I hope is more to come of motivational quotes that I am calling "Motive Momments." These will be where I share thoughts, or quotes that are not scripture or faith based, but still hold profound meaning and inspiration. Life is eternal; and love is immortal; and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. Rossiter Worthington Raymond The meaning of Life is to find your gift, the purpose of your gift is to give it away. Joy J. Golliver Feel free to share the images below.
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Better late than never, breaking the tiny threads that are holding it all together and ugly brown spiders.
-1- I stumbled on this wonderful post idea that is the brainchild of Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary via one of my favorite bloggers Cristina T at Filling My Prayer Closet. When I read the idea it immediately peaked my interest and I wanted to participate. But the link-up was for 7 Quick Takes on Friday, it was already Saturday. Yet, amid the chaos of my weekend (see all of the below) the thought wouldn’t leave my mind that I should do this. Be forewarned, that yes I am going to use a terrible cliché now. Cover your eyes and ears if you must, because it's better late than never. -2- Work has been very hectic and trying for me. I am the coordinator of Children’s Formation at my parish. There have been many staff turnovers and lots of changes that I am adapting to while I deal with my unstable and chaotic home life. We have a brand new program at work that I am spearheading and developing to replace our traditional classroom model of faith formation for children not attending catholic schools and it is rooted in the family as the “Domestic Church.” I am excited about the changes and the opportunities that this presents. At the same time, I am building this from the ground up at our parish, and the amount of preparation is exhausting. The program seeks to have parents (or at least one parent) ) attend sessions with the child and to become more directly involved in the child's faith formation. The class schedule has been modified for us to meet only twice a month and on the weeks that we do not meet families will be provided resources to enable them to better take on the role of primary teachers of the faith, just as they promised when they brought their child to the waters of baptism: “You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him (her) in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God's commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking” - text from the Rite of Baptism. I pray that we can bring to fruition joyful followers of Christ with families and children that truly embrace and nurture that relationship guided by the beauty and truth found in our Catholic Faith. -3- Thursday night was a terrible night in our household. My son's stability has been perceptibly on the decline. I shared about my feelings of inadequacy as a parent in my post A Beautiful Tapestry of Inadequacies. When I say to you things were terrible, they were genuinely terrible. It has become more and more apparent that my child suffers from extreme anxiety and depression that causes him to explode and become destructive. After getting mad at something, he lost control and broke the television. After breaking the television, he morphed into a shear anxiety attack. He called me home from my errands and the remainder of the night was a blur of arguments, cries and pleas. The most terrible thing is how desensitized I have become to all of this. I have learned to not panic nor take much action when he says he is having a heart attack, or that he can’t breath, or that his vision is blurry, or that he can’t eat or is nauseous, or any other number of ailments that are part of an anxiety attack. I offer the trip to the hospital and then let him decide. Several hours later and we are still where we were when I first came home. Then, a small break-through. He indicates he might want to go to the hospital. After an hour or more of we are going to the hospital, then we are not, we are going, then we are not.. I give-up. By then it is sometime in the wee hours of morning and I just want to sleep a few hours to awaken to a new day. -4- Friday I went to work as usual, only to be there about two hours before the call came. I was to take my son to the ER to have tests ran. The symptoms he was describing to his doctor (blurry vision, memory lapses, lack of body control - which meant for my son “nervous shaking” ) warranted a trip to ER for a CAT scan. Four hours later and three other tests, all physical reasons were ruled out. Now we moved on to what I have been hoping for, some help and guidance for his untreated mental health issues. Another two hours later and after talking to someone from a local mental health facility, we had our post treatment recommendations. They are the same as they have been the other three times he has been to the hospital over the last several years. Intensive outpatient therapy. Remember, as noted in my other post, after the age of 16 a person has the right to refuse mental health treatment unless a harm to self or others (breaking TV’s, doors, punching holes in walls don’t seem to count) My son, the actor, agrees and nods in compliance to all that the young women tells him they recommend. We go home to battle number two and it is the biggest one of them all... -5- I am a terrible, horrible mother that does not care about her son and I am going to make him homeless. Thus says my son. I have had to make the tough decision that my son can no longer live with me if he refuses the treatment this time. It is now Sunday and we are still going back and forth. He is petrified. I understand that. And he keeps trying to find ways out of my ultimatum. He keeps asking for compromises. He has exploded, slammed things, cursed, yelled, pretty much called me every name in the book for letting my own son go “homeless.” The front door is broken from the slams. My coffee table ruined. He left for a bit saying he wasn't going to return, only to be with one of my best friends who calmed him down and tried to get him to agree he needs help so that he can move out on his own. The remainder of the weekend there are moments of calmness. Then he thinks about things and it triggers more panic attacks. He is now trying to figure out ways to get out of going. Or he states that he will go but that he will walk out and won’t cooperate. I keep saying the choice is his what he does when he is there, but he has to realize that by choosing to not take part in treatment that means he is choosing to not live with me. I am trying so hard to not break the tiny threads that are holding us together. I need your prayers. I really need your prayers. -6- I am a sucker for strays. I have six animals. Four cats and two dogs and all of them are a stray or a rescue animal. I tend to take human strays as well. We have yet another homeless friend of my son’s also temporarily staying with us. I guess I am a sucker for those down on their luck. I have allowed three other homeless "friends" of my son over the last two years. I always give them four stipulations before they can stay:
Our current "stray" (and I want to protect his name at this point) has secured employment within the first week and is currently working. He does help about 60% of the time when asked. He is also in the Military Reserves and does seem like he truly want's to get his life together. However, if my son is kicked out for not following through with his treatment, I will have to have this young man leave as well. I cannot keep my son's friend and kick out my own child. I really need your prayers. -7- Today is Sunday. After a nice lunch out with my son and his friend , we came home to have my son's friend, the current “stray, ” work off some room and board by helping me to clean the porch in my backyard. I have a walk-out basement which means that the backyard has an upper and lower level. I don’t get down to the lower level porch that is under the deck very often. And it has become over-run by cobwebs and big ugly brown spiders. It turns out that this “buff” young military man is petrified of spiders. I don’t like them much myself. I put on my bravest "you don't scare me big ugly brown spiders" face and I go to work to set the example. I want you to know that we saw far too many spiders for my comfort and sanity level. I got out the hose and I sprayed and sprayed and sprayed to try to wash them away. A temporary fix that allowed us to clean and make the area look presentable. I didn't let the boy see, but more than once after we came in I have jumped and done a crazy doggy style body-shake to knock off what I keep thinking is crawling on me or in my hair. I have already looked up the number for a pest control agency and I am on it first thing Monday morning. Here's to a new week that is spider free and with renewed hope that we can conquer this illness. Cyndi For "Saintly Sayings II" I have chosen St. Augustine of Hippo, a well know saint and Doctor of the Church whose feast day is this month. A man with a shady past and a devoted mother who prayed non-stop for her son. I can relate to that.
Enjoy and share these sayings from this great saint. Cyndi
“You could not keep watch with me for one hour?” – Matthew 26:40
The famous Trappist monk, Thomas Merton said: “The biggest disease in North America is busyness.” How very true it is. Our lives are a constant barrage of busy and noisy. TV, video games, iPods, IPads and cell phones mean that our lives are filled with a constant noise. All of this while we juggle the constant stream of places and activities that keep us "busy" and dominate our lives. Crammed into just one hour we can be taking one child/grandchild to this sports practice and one to this dance recital. Getting the family pet to the vet and our aging parents to their latest medical test. All this while our minds are remembering and planning dinner preparation needs before we make that final pit-stop at the grocery store.
It is all a never-ending cycle of busyness that becomes the motivating condition of our lives - if we let it. But Jesus himself has asked us to do this one thing for him this most Holy Week of the year. To stay for a while in the garden and just keep watch with him. He has taken on the pain and sorrow that fills our lives and even taken the burden of our busyness. He just asks us to slow-it-down for one hour. Just give him one hour. One hour at Holy Thursday Mass to pray with him in the garden and to dine with him at the table of His last supper. One hour to experience the final steps of his agony and passion and to humble ourselves and venerate the Cross on Good Friday One joyful and glorious hour to rejoice and celebrate on Easter that he has concurred death, he has risen and he truly lives today and for all of time. One Hour. Cyndi Marlow HOMILY OF POPE FRANCIS PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION ST PETER'S SQUARE 13 APRIL 2014 This week begins with the festive procession with olive branches: the entire populace welcomes Jesus. The children and young people sing, praising Jesus. But this week continues in the mystery of Jesus’ death and his resurrection. We have just listened to the Passion of our Lord. We might well ask ourselves just one question: Who am I? Who am I, before my Lord? Who am I, before Jesus who enters Jerusalem amid the enthusiasm of the crowd? Am I ready to express my joy, to praise him? Or do I stand back? Who am I, before the suffering Jesus? We have just heard many, many names. The group of leaders, some priests, the Pharisees, the teachers of the law, who had decided to kill Jesus. They were waiting for the chance to arrest him. Am I like one of them? We have also heard another name: Judas. Thirty pieces of silver. Am I like Judas? We have heard other names too: the disciples who understand nothing, who fell asleep while the Lord was suffering. Has my life fallen asleep? Or am I like the disciples, who did not realize what it was to betray Jesus? Or like that other disciple, who wanted to settle everything with a sword? Am I like them? Am I like Judas, who feigns loved and then kisses the Master in order to hand him over, to betray him? Am I a traitor? Am I like those people in power who hastily summon a tribunal and seek false witnesses: am I like them? And when I do these things, if I do them, do I think that in this way I am saving the people? Am I like Pilate? When I see that the situation is difficult, do I wash my hands and dodge my responsibility, allowing people to be condemned – or condemning them myself? Am I like that crowd which was not sure whether they were at a religious meeting, a trial or a circus, and then chose Barabbas? For them it was all the same: it was more entertaining to humiliate Jesus. Am I like the soldiers who strike the Lord, spit on him, insult him, who find entertainment in humiliating him? Am I like the Cyrenean, who was returning from work, weary, yet was good enough to help the Lord carry his cross? Am I like those who walked by the cross and mocked Jesus: "He was so courageous! Let him come down from the cross and then we will believe in him!" Mocking Jesus…. Am I like those fearless women, and like the mother of Jesus, who were there, and who suffered in silence? Am I like Joseph, the hidden disciple, who lovingly carries the body of Jesus to give it burial? Am I like the two Marys, who remained at the Tomb, weeping and praying? Am I like those leaders who went the next day to Pilate and said, "Look, this man said that he was going to rise again. We cannot let another fraud take place!", and who block life, who block the tomb, in order to maintain doctrine, lest life come forth? Where is my heart? Which of these persons am I like? May this question remain with us throughout the entire week. Pope Francis This week, Holy Week, more than any other week in our liturgical year I ponder the question - Who am I like in the story?
For at different times I am like Judas, at times I am like Peter... I am like the guards who mock him.. I am the like the women who mourn him... Cyndi Something has been out of sync with my life lately. Seems like no matter which aspect of life I am talking about, work or personal, something has felt off. Out of nowhere, I have entered a dark and dry period. These periods of life are not uncommon to most believers. I think all of us go through them at some point. The saints and mystics of past ages did as well. From their wisdom we have come to know that some of the most powerful spiritual lessons are gleaned during times of darkness and dryness. The difference in this time for me is that I can feel that something new is about to happen. I just can't put my finger on it. Although I don't know at all where things are headed, I recognize that they are being directed by a power stronger than I. A layer of old "skin" is about to be shed so that a new one can emerge In the meantime I am doing the following: I am trusting in Him. I am choosing to see the good and I'm expecting the best. I'm choosing faith over understanding. I'm staying grounded in The Word. I'm going to freely enter into and embrace this Paschal Mystery season of life. I look forward to the new skin. Cyndi I'm Joining in the 2nd Annual Keep Love in Lent Link-Up from Catholic Bloggers Network hosted by the following blogs: Equipping Catholic Families , Campfires and Cleats ,Truly Rich Mom and A Slice of Smith Life Join and discover new ways to Keep Love in Lent. Love thy neighbor as thyself. We've all heard it before. It's in the Bible as one of the greatest commandments.
But, dang! It's just not that easy. Some "neighbors" are easy to love. We can admit it. We love the folks who think and look like us. We love the neighbor who waves and says "Hi" each time they see us in the yard. We love the person at the grocery who smiles and greats us warmly. We love those who worship the way we do and pray the way we do. We love those in our inner circles. Some "neighbors" are more difficult love. It might be the neighbor who gives you the evil eye because they think your child is a bad influence on their children. The person on the other end of the phone who bemoans "It's not my department." The sour-faced and angry co-worker. The person on the corner holding a sign that says the world is ending on a specified date. The racist neighbor who is filled with hate. The person who belittles your faith and/or your place of worship. Some "neighbors" are needing our love. The hungry and scared child living in poverty. The family facing foreclosure of their home. The elderly neighbor who has no-one that visits her in the nursing home. The list goes on and on. The abused neighbor, the sad and lonely neighbor, the lost and seeking neighbor, the uninsured neighbor, the worried neighbor... I am sure you can come up with a lot more to add to this list. In fact, I want to invite you to do just that for Lent this year. Sit down and write your own Lenten Love MY "Neighbor" List. If you have children, invite them to add to a family list each week and make that list a part of your regular prayers this Lent. I would venture to say that the little ones will have some of the most profound entries for your list. No matter if it is a family list or your own personal list, keep this list with you all throughout Lent and add to it as the need arises. Then our next step will be to find a way to be the love that neighbor needs. Depending on the "neighbor," we will show and be that love in different ways. If we believe and offer ourselves fully and humbly, I firmly trust that the Lord will present us with the opportunities to make love an action that we birth into being. There is one last category of people that needs our love. The "neighbor" that we have classified as not deserving our love. Those that have caused great physical or spiritual harm to us or to those we love. Those that have done things that go beyond our human and moral understanding and comprehension. For there is an evil that seeps into some of God's children. An evil that twists the human soul and hides the light of the Holy Spirit from a person It is an evil that causes them to harm others in profound and deep ways. That is the most challenging love we are called to give. I just have to remember that authentic love doesn't pick apart or tear down others. Authentic love doesn't have to stop and be reminded that all of us hurt and need others. Love cares about the condition of the other over self. Love is unfailing, undeserved and unconditional. This is not going to be easy. I have such a long way to go. Cyndi by Cyndi Marlow
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Evangelizing the digital continent!
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all part of one body. What is Embedded Faith? Simply put, this is a "gralog" (graphics + blog) providing images and thoughts to evangelize the digital continent.
Click to find out more. FAQ How do I download an image? To download any image, just right click and choose "file save as". Can I use your image on my website or publication? Yes! All images are creative commons and are free to use. Credit or a link to this site is appreciated. Images may not be sold. Categories
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