Encouragement x 6 = HOPE

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ's sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow." (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

Simply from a writer's perspective, this is one Scripture passage that makes me grin. Why? Because I imagine my 7th-grade English teacher, Sr. Charles Borromeo, scolding the great St. Paul for using such repetitive language in a long, run-on sentence. The reproof includes, "Can't you think of another word besides encouragement? Get a thesaurus!"

However, from a thirsty soul's perspective, I do not grin. Rather, I heave a huge sigh of relief as I drink in Paul's words and say "Thank you!" Why? Because to a thirsty soul, each of his six uses of the word encouragement (or its variation) is a welcome sip of water!

Read the passage again. Read it aloud to yourself or to a loved one. It is a mouthful. But it is also a heartful!

We all run dry occasionally, mouths parched from too long a stretch of dusty road. We are also surrounded day in and day out by others tired by the race, out of breath from the climb, or depleted by too many tears shed. For all of us, one sip of water is not enough. There is no such thing as too much encouragement!

And when that encouragement comes from God Himself--God of all encouragement, in our every affliction--then our soul opens wide in welcome relief to drink it in.

Affliction is not too strong a word to express the trials of life. We can be afflicted by something as crushing as a terminal illness or as wearisome as a family argument. We are never alone in our afflictions. Those around us are also beset: a niece and her husband grieving a miscarriage; a friend floundering after divorce; a pastor in need of retreat; a neighbor caring for a spouse who suffers with cancer; a brother and his wife adjusting to their teenage son's decision to join the Army; an aging uncle eager for company; a woman lighting a candle at church for a beloved sister who died unexpectedly the week before.

So many trials and worries. So much silent suffering. Discouragement is a natural response. How do we replace it with encouragement, even when we ourselves are in need? My sisters and brothers in faith, we turn to Christ. Again and again. And if we are too weary to even make the effort to turn, we find that He is already turned to us--always. Always. Even from the Cross. Especially from the Cross. Triumphant in His suffering, triumphant in our lives. So through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.

It overflows at the bedside of a dying 89-year-old woman at the hospice center, whispering that she is ready to go to her Father and praising Him with raspy breaths for the beauty of life. She thanks me for helping her take a few sips of water through a straw. With her face close to mine and with labored breath she tells me I have beautiful eyes. I am taken aback and humbled. In her own trial of dying, she encourages me in my living.

This past Thursday evening, weary from a day of too many tasks and concerns, I rousted myself from my comfortable recliner to attend Mass at my parish. The gray drizzle matched my mood. Crossing the wet parking lot with head and heart both down, I passed the flowerbed near the church entrance. Lo and behold--I was amazed to see white lilies in full bloom! The sight was so unexpected. They seemed so out of season as summer wanes and a few trees near my home are already aflame with crimson color. I stopped in my tracks and bent over one lily to gently touch the silky white bloom and breathe in its scent, my nose tickled by the golden pollen.

Ah, the sweet fragrance of hope, almost forgotten in my discouragement of the past week. The sweet reminder: He is risen. He is risen indeed. Easter in August! Now that's ENCOURAGEMENT!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! May six times be encouragement enough for you, my sisters and brothers in faith.

From Bushel Basket to Lampstand: Blog Beginnings

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5:14-15)

BLOG? Back in 2005 I first heard that word and a tiny seed was planted. Here might be the realization of a dream: to write my way into the hearts of my sisters and brothers in faith. To journey with them on their way, with The Way: Jesus Christ. With The Word: Jesus Christ.
A way with words.

Then in February 2006 while visiting my daughter out of state, God allowed a tiny sprout to break through the ground. The night before my departure, she and I stayed up late, poring over her laptop together and rather hastily creating a blog for me. My usual computer-impaired self was overwhelmed by the many choices of templates, texts, and other tools, but my daughter guided me through as best she could. The excitement and anticipation of my new blogspot kept me wide awake all through that night. My lamp was lit!

Little did I know that upon returning home a large bushel basket awaited me. This basket, full of the cares, demands, duties, and endless details of ordinary daily life, was promptly upended and placed over my lamp. Between then and now, life just kept happening, and I never returned to my blogspot to begin writing. My password was forgotten and irretrievable. Life went on. The bushel basket stayed put.

It is now two and a half years later, and by the grace of God my heart has been freed to begin anew. Just yesterday a special young man from our parish came by to help me create a new blogspot. He only had time to help me with the bare beginnings, and after he left I was overwhelmed by the myriad complexities of templates, texts, and tools which might have daunted even the Four Evangelists if they were trying to write in this computer age! I feared I might not be able to write my first post until my blogspot was perfected, with more graphics and sidebars and links and other clever gadgets. But I have learned to listen to my inner voice, which whispers now to remind me, Less is more. So I will proceed with complete trust in the Lord as I embark into the blogosphere here on Friday, August 22nd, 2008.

My lamp is lit once again. It is not necessary that every nook and cranny of my head be swept clean and the house perfectly readied. I will not allow computer technology to become another kind of bushel basket thrown over my efforts. It is enough that my heart is ready and eager.

BLOG: Believe and Love Our God!

As the sun sets on this Feast of The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I end my day where I began it: outside on my backyard patio in prayer before my garden statue of Mary. The image is of Our Lady of Grace, arms extended downward and hands open in invitation and blessing. But what makes this image precious to me is the face. It is the face of a young maiden with a hint of a smile; a face full of quiet mystery and peace; a face full of compassion as well as delight; a face of innocence, yet radiant with dignity and wisdom; the face of a queen--my little Queen.

Countless images abound of Mary as Queen. Indeed, an entire litany resounds with her praise. Yes, she is Queen of heaven and earth; Queen of angels, patriarchs, apostles and confessors; Queen of all saints. Yet, like a rosebud opening to the warmth of the sun, my child's heart opens most to Mary simply as the young mother in Nazareth--my little Queen--little in her simplicity, poverty, and humility, yet powerful in her love and her intercession.

A few weeks ago, the rosebush next to the statue had put out a branch along the ground, growing toward the feet of Mary, and with a bud on its very end. This morning I noticed the bud had opened into a beautiful yellow rose. There it blossomed, right at the feet of Mary. What was even more striking was that the rose covered the head of the serpent on top of the globe Mary stands upon.
Mystical Rose, pray for us.

So, dear sisters and brothers in faith, I begin this blog under the patronage of Mary, my little Queen; as well as Holy Joseph, my dream weaver; and Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, who continues to lead me to The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the wonders of His love. . .

May my words give light to your house, from my lampstand to yours.