40 Reflections: 40 days of raw recollections during the Lenten Season

No. 3

Last week, I called my dear friend and one of the best storytellers I know. She answered the phone forgoing mundane salutations and asked, “Do you know what love is?!” Scarcely pausing for an answer, she continued, “It is this tuna melt sandwich my husband just made me!” She went on to say she wasn’t sure if all the love came from gooey cheese involved or the simple fact that she didn’t have to make her own lunch. Either way, today’s love story for her is a delicious sandwich.

Recently, the New York Times purchased Wordle. If you have been living under a rock, Wordle is a word guessing game designed by Josh Wardle, a software engineer in Brooklyn. He developed this game for the sole purpose of letting his wordsmith partner know he loved her. Now thousands of people love Wordle.

I thought about the many times I arrived home and the laundry was washed, folded and put away, or the sink had been cleared of dishes and cleansed. This is love. How about the time the kids showed up with coffee for us and a note that said, “Happy first day of school” — definitely love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated…

1 Corinthians 13

Or when our dog greets us at the door with a hug welcoming us home…love again.

Show your love today, especially if it’s a cheezy, scrumptious tuna melt you make for someone.

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Please pray for Ukrain

What is love to you? Leave a message in the comments!

40 Reflections: 40 days of raw recollections during the Lenten Season

No. 2

“Might I,” quavered Mary, “might I have a bit of earth?” “Earth!” he repeated. “What do you mean?” “To plant seeds in — to make things grow — to see them come alive.” — Frances H. Burnett, The Secret Garden

Every morning, without fail, two kindergarten girls run into my classroom to give me a hug and say good morning. Feeling like a rock star, I thought, maybe—just maybe I’m one of the cool teachers whose students visit before they go to class.

Then one morning I happened to walk into school right behind my two faithful visitors. As they buzzed down the hallway, backpacks dangling from their arms, I realized I was watching two early birds actually get the worm – the worm being morning company.

First, they stopped in the very hip art teacher’s room to pick up coloring sheets, giggling all the way. They then took a left and peeked in to say hello to the four pre-k teachers, a counselor, and the math specialist. I scooted by them, flicked on my classroom light, and plopped into my desk chair. As I clicked open the lid to my travel cup to take my first sip of coffee, in bound Jane and Kate. I’m telling you, if I had not just seen the milk run they had just endured, I would have thought with all the love they had to share with me that I was their first visitor of the day. Spreading joy and bearing gifts (coloring pages from their first stop).

I thought about this all day. More so, I was thankful for it all day. Every morning I get to watch two 5-year-olds sprinkle happiness to so many.

I pictured a dandelion puff being blown around the school carrying little bits of sunshine to everyone around.

But instead, the spores of the flower were these two sweet girls.

As Jane and Kate left my room, they handed me the coloring page they acquired from their first stop and said, “This is for you. Color it beautiful”. “I most certainly will, thank you.”

We can all use this gentle shove toward the more cheerful side of things. So take time to find joy, give joy, and spread joy.

Please pray for Ukraine.

40 Reflections: 40 days of raw recollections during the Lenten Season

No. 1

“I know that a life is much richer with a spiritual part to it. And I also think nothing is more interesting. So I cling to it.”

― Mary Oliver

Five years ago on Ash Wednesday, I dug through my inner toolbox searching for shiny hammers, grippy-handled screwdrivers, and a fully charged drill to help reinforce the scaffolding of my spirituality. Turns out all I needed was a laptop and vulnerability.

So I began writing. For forty days. Sharing stories about the day-to-day minutia I cherish. The small moments where friendships, surrender, grace, and laughter keep me from falling flat. Quick conversations confirm I am not the only mom who feels more stressed about scholarships, applications, and pre-calculus tests than my kids, nor am I the only mom who loathes tik tok, yet find the videos my kids share to be thoroughly entertaining.

Five years later, I am recharging my laptop, and soul thinking of the great poet Mary Oliver who said,

“When you write a poem, you write it for anybody and everybody. And you have to be ready to do that out of your single self. It’s a giving.”

My hope is you gleam a little something positive from my corner of the world this Lenten season.

Meditation: Please pray for the Ukrain

Lenten Reflections #38

“Don’t worry, you’re not going to Hell!” I yelled back.

Then I stopped and thought for a second. I suppose I can’t really promise where any of us are going, in the BIG picture, but I can guess.

I figured…he’s a really great kid, so I was confident with my response.

I had some time, so I did a little research…just in case St. Peter needed a good explanation at the gate other than “My mom told me it was fine!”

Here’s what I learned:
As most Catholics know abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent is a way to remember Jesus’ Passion and to offer a small sacrifice for God. Fridays are seen as a time to fast and pray (or say Rosary’s, like we did growing up).

According to the Code of Canon Law, “Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday” (Can. 1251).

What is a day of “solemnity”?

Days of “solemnity” are the highest order of liturgical feast, meaning that Catholics are to observe it similar to a Sunday. Both St. Joseph’s feast day and St. Patrick’s Day are considered days of solemnity. They are days of celebration, therefore any type of fasting or abstinence from meat is not requited on those days.

So…

IF for some reason you have made, eaten and digested a large roast beef sandwich while taking an Algebra test on a Friday during Lent like my son, you really are okay. Why? Because there was no intent to disobey the Church by eating meat. For a sin to be a sin, it requires active engagement of your will. Sins aren’t accidental.

There can be, however, a venial (smaller) sin involved if we simply forget the day — which shows we have become too distracted by other things and should focus on keeping God at the center.

That was my goal today…focus on God.

Jesus held my inner gaze today. Typically Good Fridays are rainy and dreary. Today it was cold, but sunny…so I worked outside, washed the cars, weeded, mowed the lawn and cleaned inside, my prep for Easter Sunday, the Resurrection.

The best part of the day was going with my daughter and two of her friends to Good Friday services. I’m always amazed and so pleased when teenagers show up to mass after they are confirmed. Usually that’s their ticket out..the moment they figure out they really don’t need to go.

Today we showed up for services willingly and gladly, kneeling together, praying side by side, all sharing the same intentions and values. Jesus at the helm.

Whether you ate meat today or didn’t hold to your Lenten promises every moment for the last 40 days, it’s okay. As for me, I misspelled, fell asleep writing posts, and posted late. But I have felt every word, every moment, every day. My small struggle to get words on a page will never compare to Jesus’ sacrifice.

I do hope I have touched you all…thanks for reading.

Until tomorrow. Have faith and stay fit.

Lenten Reflections #34

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, student, doctor, coach, or even a priest, you’ve Zoomed or did a Google classroom, or streamed.

Students in particular have downloaded new apps for studying or “helping” and tried to prepare for the right quiz, turn in the correct lab and ultimately press SUBMIT before it’s too late. 

In school – virtual and face to face, one thing that is different this year is leniency with due dates. It’s like somewhere in a COVID accommodation rule book that doesn’t really exist, but should, there is an unwritten understanding that since we’re all trying to make the best of this COVID Titanic we’re floating on, late submissions are okay.

Therefore the workload never stops. Kids are constantly submitting, teachers are forever grading.

But wait, there’s more:

Didn’t do well on a test? Luckily, remediation is also a  big 2021 buzz word in the education world. It’s essentially a glorified “Do-over”. 

Today I should have had a blog posted. I have 90 kind followers and missed my due date. I did not press PUBLISH. In fact until today, I hadn’t even started the blog…

…because last night was like most nights in this tricky (heavy on the -icky) new normal. Our kids stayed up late clicking, searching, taking pictures of assignments, videotaping presentations or scales for the trumpet or saxophone, attaching labs, and ultimately stressing——–because——- it’s a lot. 

IT IS A LOT and we are ALL TIRED. FRUSTRATED, and over it. I’ll bet you are too.

Back to my excuse reason, for not blogging:

Last night, after my youngest finally clicked SUBMIT (I hope) for his Biology Lab, Algebra assignment, and studied for his quiz, he plopped down on an over-sized chair with a fluffy after-Christmas-sale pillow and a cozy blanket. It was 11:30. My blogging time is always after 11…because that’s when the lights are out upstairs, country/pop/music, or white noise is humming and everyone is typically in bed…even the dogs. So now I had company, my sleepy son. I flipped on the TV and we started watching an episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond” which I think is hysterical. 

My son and I watched Raymond’s family antics, laughed out loud and within minutes,

FELL ASLEEP! Until 4:30! Thankfully it was not a baseball workout morning since 4:30 is the time he usually gets up to get ready.

Gee Whiz. I slept through my blogging time. I didn’t press PUBLISH. 

So I asked for grace. And here I sit. Ready to click PUBLISH.

On Faith and Fitness:

Say your prayers before bed every night and get as much sleep as you can! You’ll be grateful you did!