God in all things

There are many good feast days during this month. Today happened to be the feast of St. Marguerite D’ Youville, a Canadian born saint who served the poor in Montreal and founded the Grey Nuns. I love that she had a heart for the poor because within my own heart is a deep desire to serve the least of these. I have spent much of my life seeking God’s face in those around me. Do I see God here, now, before me?

The Matthew 25 reading today was about separating the sheep and goats. Where, Lord, did we see you? Do we seek you in all things? Do we recognize you when we stumble upon you in the oddest and most incongruent of places? Give me eyes to see you, a desire to serve you, and a heart, like St. Marguerite’s, to give without counting the cost.

Peace,

Suzanne

I found myself expressing today on more than one occasion how much I love God. The words came out of nowhere: I love You. The truth is I do. Sometimes I marvel at some gift given. Right now it is the spectacular fall colours.

I have a new attachment for my new camera and it allows me to take some funky photographs. This one is of a transparent cross hanging in my window and what one sees here are the stunning leaves outside. I was captivated by the transformation of my plain old cross into something spectacular. God does that with us, transforming us in ordinary moments and in the daily grind. 

Isn’t is fascinating how just a moment of beauty can distract you long enough to bring abundant joy to your spirit?

Peace,

Suzanne

Thanksgiving Day allows me to stop and be consciously grateful. This morning I slept in a wee bit and then snuggled into bed with Brene Brown’s book, The Gifts of Imperfection. She was quoting another author who says we are a society who believes that we never have enough. From the moment we awaken to our last thought before drifting off to sleep we think we are lacking. I know many mornings I do awake with the desire to hit the snooze button, trying to squeeze in a few more moments of sleep. I go to bed, and shake my head at what remains on my to-do list. However today when I reflected on it, I was grateful for Brene’s insights of needing to choose a mindset of sufficiency because it led me to think about my practice of doing the Examen nightly before turning out the lights. There I can see how much was accomplished during the day. I can relax into the moments when I recognized God present during the day and delight in those moments when God was there, even if I missed it. God had it! I am so grateful for that.

Those early settlers who stopped and gave thanks for the harvest at this time of year remind me to stop and be glad too for all the gifts received this day and every single day of my life. Their lives were much different than mine and yet they must have toppled exhausted into their beds too at day’s end, happy for what had unfolded despite the challenges. The secret, of course, is to be thankful, even in the struggles. When my apartment seems colder than this sod house at this time of year before the furnace really kicks in, I still can appreciate the roof over my head.

Be still and know that I am God echoes in my head and heart today. I appreciate the opportunity for a few quiet moments today in church and the greater cathedral of nature. My to-do list will not be completed today but I can let it go with thanks for what did happen today instead of grumbling about what did not. I had enough today and that is a blessing.

Peace,

Suzanne

Thanksgiving Sunday seems like the perfect time to begin blogging anew.  Sundays are my favourite day to blog and, in this new blog, I want to find God in all things and be grateful for all that comes. I am drawing upon my love of Ignatian spirituality as the theme and to cultivate an attitude of looking for the Creator in everything.

Today’s Gospel tells the marvelous story of ten lepers who were cured by Jesus. Only one returned to thank the One who had given the great gift. Did the others simply not notice right away? Were they just so happy to receive what they had asked for that they neglected to express their appreciation to Jesus? Was it that they wanted to share this good news immediately with their loved ones who had been praying with them?

How many times do I pray for something, receive it some form or another and forget to see the Giver’s hand in it all? Does my joy distract me from being grateful? Do I find God in all things or do I forget that everything finds its Source in the Creator? I should fall prostate at Christ’s feet several times a day, and yet, I do not. My faith makes me well most days and still, I must pray that I am not ungrateful, not forgetful, and not beyond my own failings. I stand in God’s grace and know without a doubt that God is in all things if only I have eyes to see, ears to hear, faith to feel.

Peace,

Suzanne