The Pilgrim Way

For a number of years, I have been getting Alistair Begg's daily devotional through Truth for Life. I am sharing today's below. (tried to post this yesterday for some reason it would not so here it is today.)

Wear the Badge of Perseverance

Continue in the faith.

Acts 14:22

Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not only a beginning in the ways of God, but also means continuing in those ways as long as life lasts. It is with a Christian as it was with the great Napoleon: He said, "Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me." So under God, dear believer in the Lord, conquest has made you what you are, and conquest must sustain you. Your motto must be, "Aim higher." The only true conqueror who shall be crowned in the end is he who continues until war's trumpet is blown no more.

Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual enemies.

· The world does not object to your being a Christian for a time, if she can tempt you to quit your pilgrimage and settle down to trade with her in Vanity Fair.

· The flesh will seek to ensnare you and to prevent your pressing on to glory. "Being a pilgrim is weary work and makes me wonder: Am I always to be mortified? Am I never to be indulged? Can I not have at least a holiday from this constant warfare?"

· Satan will make many a fierce attack on your perseverance; it will be the target for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service: He will insinuate that you are doing no good and that you need to rest. He will endeavor to make you weary of suffering; he will whisper, "Curse God, and die." Or he will attack your steadfastness: "What is the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as others do, and let your lamp go out like the foolish virgins." Or he will assail yourdoctrinal sentiments: "Why do you hold to these doctrinal creeds? Sensible men are getting more liberal; they are removing the old landmarks: Fall in with the times."

So, Christian, wear your shield close to your armor and cry earnestly to God, that by His Spirit you may endure to the end.

Page 27 of yesterday's Boston Herald

I found myself again reading the obits. It is the second most important part of the paper and to some the most important. Sometimes I read everyone but the following one caught my eye, so I thought that I would share it here.

John Shepherd-Barron, 84; Scot invented cash machine

A customer put a computer punch card in an ATM in London in 1968. The first automatic teller machine was installed in 1967. (Associated Press)

Associated Press / May 21, 2010

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LONDON — John Shepherd-Barron, the Scotsman credited with inventing the automatic cash machine, died peacefully in northern Scotland’s Raigmore Hospital on Saturday, funeral director Alasdair Rhind said Wednesday.

to read the obit. in its entirety please go to the following link. John Shepherd-Barron, 84; Scot invented cash machine - The Boston Globe

Posted using ShareThis

This week one of my dearest friends lost her brother, Jon who was the same age as I am. It was sudden. He leaves behind 6 children, 3 grown and 3 young ones, a wife, grandchildren, both his parents, his two sisters and one brother and many other relations. I didn't know him personally but his sister Elizabeth loved him dearly and I have prayed for Jon throughout the years that I have been friends with his dear sister. And as I said in my last post about life and death, "Every life matters." Jon's life mattered. So as the Bodholdt family say their good-byes to their dear son. We say our prayers for those who are left to carry on in life. Jon will be carried on in the hearts of those who loved him.

The Path of Celtic Prayer

by Calvin Miller

Given to me by my daughter Grace

"Human beings are innate believers. While agnostics are sometimes celebrated for their unsure notions about God, atheism isn't likely to take hold in any permanent way. Why? Because we are so needy, helpless and insecure that we remain obsessed with something or Someone greater than ourselves. Not only are we needy, we hurry our lives deathward in a dead heat with that great universal clock that is destined to outrun us. We live face to face with our temporariness. And while we are trapped in the busy, empty now, we are convinced there must be - or must have been- a day when God seemed nearer and more accessible.

Our discontentment with our present affairs keeps us looking backward, hungering for times in our lives when we experienced God as clearly present. Even our casual reading tastes have found us out. The recent rash of novels about Christ's second coming may be popular because they hold forth a kind of promise that when Jesus comes again, all the pain of our empty age will be swallowed up in the warm presence of God. But at the foundation of such hope lies a reality much greater than current popular fiction. We-at least in our searching moments-want Jesus to come again. Why? We are eager for union with Christ. The second coming promises an end to our roller-coast relationship with God."

It is opening thoughts like these that make me read the introduction from books. The two paragraphs are the beginning of the introduction to Miller's book.

Miller goes on to talk about our longing for God and how we are like junkies looking for a God fix. So, this "living face to face with our temporariness" makes me think that yes, I want something more. I believe in eternity and in eternal things. It rings true for me that life is short, so it is best to work things out with those we love. We long for God to do what can't be worked out to intervene for us and sometimes we cry out like David and ask that He would just obliterate our enemies.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<^^^^^^^^^^^^^>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

One of the elements of this book is a reminder that we (Christians) serve a triune God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit: One God in Three persons. It is not something to easily get our heads around. There are many things about God that I don't think I will ever understand. God is Mysterious....one of the main goals in my walk through this life is to gain knowledge of the Holy One and it is a good chance that I am half way through my life, my knowledge is minimal.

In the virtual world I list my religious views as "seeing through a mirror dimly." It is all vague while dealing with the flesh. So much gets in the way including my own bent in addressing God in one way instead of another.

One of the things instilled in me growing up in the Catholic Church was that I serve the God three in one (and I am not talking about Jesus, Mary and Joseph) but most things are done in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

The author suggested that we don't forget any of the persons that make up Our God. One way to remember is to address all three in prayer. I tend to address God as "Heavenly Father" most often. Other times, I call Him Lord or Lord Jesus. I can't say that I address God as the Holy Spirit too often.

There are a number of prayers woven throughout the book. One I have committed to memory and have started using it to begin my day.

"I awake in the name of the Father who made me,

I arise in the name of the Son who died to save me,

I rise up to greet the dawn in the name of the Spirit who gives me abundant life."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The book is organized around 6 different types of prayer. The other five are Scripture Prayer, Long, Wandering prayer, Nature Prayer, Lorica Prayer and Confessional Prayer. Miller is inspiring, deep, informative and helps me to pause. He has introduced me to new thoughts about prayer. For those who want to strengthen their prayer life, I would high recommend, The Path of Celtic Prayer An Ancient Way to Everyday Joy by Calvin Miller.

The following post was written over a month ago. It is a case of me speaking the truth to myself and I hope it is helpful to someone out there who is reading.

Who are you?

Who am I?

To whom do you belong?

Light has broken through the darkness. The darkness of sin and death has been conquered by first One born from the dead, The Risen One! The One who gave me life and then renewed it by the power of the Holy Spirit is what brings me to the above questions which were raised by two younger bloggers that I follow. My initial thought is we are all becoming, constantly changing and growing.

To know and be known. This is what we are attempting to look at through our questions and observations. One of the things that shapes and molds us is how we relate to others and how others relate to others. First we relate to people and then we relate to God.

Some people worship their parents and never transfer that worship to God. As a parent, my shortcoming have kept me humble and my willingness to relate to my kids as a fellow human beings have hopefully made such a transfer easy and early enough. These dear ones who are now all young adults have felt the sting of my wrongful acts and I have been showered with grace, mercy and forgiveness from each of them. I am often stubborn, prideful and arrogant when I am wrong, looking to be justified and it isolates me from those that I love. So, if I want to be relatable, it is going to require humility and a willingness to admit that I am wrong and ask for forgiveness. You would think after so many years of practice that it would come easily, not always. Forgiveness is what restores a relationship and there is nothing quite like a clean slate in order to continue to build a good relationship.

When you forgive me and I forgive you, we bid one another to come up higher because we will fall again, we will need to be restored again. I am doing my best to learn from my mistakes. Some sins are however harder to overcome than others. Without the Love of Christ and His grace, I am a reckless troublemaker.

All mothers are working mothers

I had fully intended to write this on Sunday, which was mother’s day, but I worked all day, then went to dinner and to my brother’s and finally to bed. Now, I must say that I was raised in a family where the special days were to be marked, remembered and to be made special. My husband and his family worked regardless of what day it was and he always has since we were married. So, we have done our best to make sure that each other and our children know that they are special every day. This creates some inner turmoil for me but without any guilt. So, you could say that I am very inconsistent about the special days, it is hit or miss with me. However, I do my best to be consistent with the special people and even there I falter at times.

So because mothers at home are often considered as ones who don’t “work” I thought it would be good to start off with a definition.

Merriam-Webster’s first definition of work:

1 : activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something

I would add that your heart and spirit is engaged in the work one does. Building people requires one’s whole being. Parenting, not just mothering, is the work of building people. The ones born or adopted by us are not a blank slate. The young are not just DNA to be rearranged and manipulated by adults. Everyone comes with personalities, gifts, weaknesses and strengths. As parents we are the ones who have an opportunity to love, influence, train, equip, contribute to the growth and maturing of children until they are ready to be launched.

By God’s grace, I have had the privilege of not only being a mother but being home with my children to raise them. For the past month and a half I have been working full-time with a round trip commuting time of approximately 2 hours. That is a lot of time away from home. Granted my children are now 20, 18, and 17, my best hours have been dedicated to my work.

I believe that women and men are wired differently. The way mothers and fathers relate to their children is different. I can imagine that there is a great tension internally for a mother of young children who works full time outside of the home. I wonder, do these women have to, in some way, distance themselves emotionally from their children? If you are going to give your all on the job, wouldn't you have to? I don’t think it is humanly possible to be fiercely dedicated in the practical to both the job and the family. How does one do both well? In your mind, one can convince oneself just about anything. The way one lives out the best hours of the day determines where the heart lies unless of course, your heart is in one place and the living out is being done somewhere else. Can such work be successful to the one doing it? [If there are mothers who are in this category reading this blog, I hope that they will leave a comment and answer some of these questions honestly.]

The reason I am speculating is because the job I have been doing is running my brother-in-law’s business with my husband and it is all consuming. It is not something you can just go and put your hours in and then go home to your family and leave work at work. It is on my mind constantly. I really care about the business because I love and care about my brother-in-law, Billy. Billy has entrusted his livelihood to us.

Switching gears to home has been difficult for me. I just know that I would not have wanted to do this even 3 years ago with 3 teenagers. Perhaps that is because I solely invested in my children since they were born. It is not just a case of me being at home, these dear ones have been at home with me being educated there. One of the greatest joys of my life as a mother at home has been equipping them with the tools for learning. Of course, if I had to work outside the home, I believe that I would have been given the grace to do it, however, the internal tension would still be there for me. The heart connection that developed between my children and me by being at home is a surprising gift.

The women who have divided their loyalties between the job and the home. My hat is off to you. You love your husbands and your children. It is certain that most of you give your best to your family and at your place of employment. To give your all to both however is just mathematically impossible. There is no such thing as superwoman or super mom. Super tired and worn out is probably more like it. To do it and keep your sanity, that is a miracle. Yes, I believe in the supernatural but not superheroes.

Single moms who solely carry the burden of home and the job, my heart goes out to you. Whether it is by choice or circumstance, that has got to be a tough road.

It is my hope that children continue to have mothers and fathers who are attentive to their upbringing, to be the primary influences in the formative years and to limit the delegation of their care while their offspring are very young.

It's one hour before bedtime (nearly 7 PM). My night owl friends groan and hope to be eating dinner by 8. Most people consider early about 5 AM. Let's just say that I am getting up a few hours before most people in my life. My life is interesting, bored is not really how I would describe living. I saw the first 7 hours of 2009, because I pulled an all nighter. So there is really no place to categorize me, except for maybe, flexible. When opportunities present themselves sometimes one needs to make radical adjustments to one's regular routine (that is if you have a regular routine). You could say that I have become routinely more flexible in the last 7 years.

To be of service to others calls for us, as Christians, to be flexible and to remain pliable in the hands of the Master. This is not easy. Being stretched, smashed, turned round and round on the Potter's wheel sounds like torture (pronounced torcha). When one is stiff necked with heels dug in, you can bet your money on it, the fighting and squirming just makes everything more painful. Surrender is the key.....give up the reins and say have your way with me LORD. Pain may still be required but whining about it is unnecessary.

Not sure where this post is going and right before I sat down, I thought, "do I go back and read the old stuff not posted and just post one of those or do I stay in the moment and write?" I chose the latter.

Lately, I have been meditating on this small part of Psalm 119

⁵⁷ The LORD is my portion;
I promise to keep your words.
⁵⁸I entreat your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
⁵⁹When I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;
⁶⁰I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
⁶¹Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not forget your law.
⁶²At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules.
⁶³ I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.
⁶⁴ The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love;

teach me your statutes!

When I think on these words, my mind envisions one word: trust. If the LORD is my portion, then I need to believe that He is enough and that all of my needs will be met.

Then there is the matter of promises. Promises that God has made to His people, not just to me as one person but to all who fear Him as it says toward the end, "I am a companion of all who fear you" My life is not to be led as a solo one woman show. I am a part of a family, a part of the communities, I live and work in, a part of God's family.

[right now I am thinking save it in the drafts. Get ready for bed. And who knows how long the post will sit before it sees the light of day? It's just a blog.]

For what it is worth, let's attempt to conclude: two of the actions that the author of the Psalm is doing, 1. entreating the LORD for His favor and 2. he opens himself up to the Lord to teach him His statutes. Each of these things require an individual to have some degree of flexibility and put their faith and trust in the LORD.

It is both hard and good to change things up. I think it keeps life interesting and my spirit young.

Since I am actually looking forward to going to bed.

Good night and God bless each reader. Thanks for enduring this post.

This one is from January 1, 2007. It was written after all 5 of us participated in Nanowrimo, November 2006.

I like 'Rithmatic but I love . . .
Reading and Writing and Reading and Writing
As some of you know we (the Mullaney Pilgrims) wrote novels during the month of November. I have not touched mine since then and it is time to read through my manuscript. It is unedited but I am taking the advice to read it through once without editing and then decide whether it is worth my time.
Upfront I just want to say, I really like my story and particularly, the characters. In fact, as much as I have been hesitating about reading through it, I actually miss writing and the story. So, I think today would be a good day to read through it and I will have to report back to you.
Sitting here at the computer with my reading glasses on seems strange to me, but I am so grateful to have the eyes to see, the ability to not only read but to also understand the written word. There are many people today who are not readers, even though "going to school" is compulsory in the US our society is less literate today than when "school" was a choice.

One of the greatest joys in raising our children has been teaching them to read. Each one has a different learning style and personality. And all three of them love to read and it is not just the love of reading that brings me joy, it is the love of learning that each one possesses.
Rithmatic is essential, reading vital but writing is an avenue to express ourselves.

Post Script

I never did read through that whole novel. I did love the story. The working title was Identity Theft. It was a world where children were raised in Centers, not allowed to know their parents and not even called by a name. Everyone was just a number. Of course, there were some rebels fighting the system, rescuing them, caring for them and giving them names with a formal ceremony and making them a part of the family. This is a story about the destruction of the family and how important it is to save it from a society gone mad.

It was one of my favorites. With hopes again of noveling in November, maybe even before then.

FYI

This evening I decided I would read through my drafts of blog posts never posted. The one posted earlier tonight was written in June of 2009. There are 40 more sitting in draft form and I am reading through them now. The next older draft will indicate when it was written.

Thanks for reading.

There are families who come together
and those that don't
There are families who laugh out loud
and those who cry
There are families who sing four part harmony
and those who can't find the note
There are those who enjoy communion
and those who are lonely
No family is perfect and some experience more brokenness than others.....when you see a family who is united in spirit something inside says I want that. Some of us will have that with parts of our family, perhaps with our spouse and children and some of our extended family. Some family relations are perhaps broken beyond repair.

Did you hear that?

"Weren't you listening?"

"How can you possibly be listening if you are still talking?"

Every year my children continue to teach me and help me with my communication skills. One of the most important skills is the ability to listen. I am not talking about the ability to hear. Let's just start with a couple of definitions:

Hearing - To perceive or apprehend by the ear; to gain knowledge of by hearing; to listen to with attention.

Listening - To pay attention to sound; to hear something with thoughtful attention; to give consideration; to be alert to catch an unexpected sound.

"To hear something with thoughtful attention" As a child, I lacked SO much self-control and I was not trained to stop and listen, that it was difficult for me to listen. There was so much noise in my head that I would go to sleep to very loud rock music....there were headphones back then but I preferred my portable radio.

At the ripe old age of 20, I began to listen as only the dying can. A 180 was needed in my life and so far, I had not done well at all in running my own life. If I really wanted a life, I needed to start listening to others. It was humbling and I was desperate. Desperate for much needed change. Even though I still had an attitude towards authority, I discovered that I needed to submit to someone else rule in my heart, in my mind.....

stop

listen

become

teachable......

This post is sort of disjointed but that is ok with me. I need to be listening more these days.

Malcolm MacDonald

Isn't that a great name for a Bag Piper? Well, it just so happens that my nephew Malcolm MacDonald is a Piper and one that I can highly recommend for any event where you might want to have one. The most popular events are weddings and funerals. Now that he is a Piper for hire, I thought I would do a spot for him here on my blog.

Malcolm is facing us in this picture taken at the Loon Mtn Highland Games last fall where he competed with his pipe and drum corp.

Malcolm MacDonald

508.612.6948

Piper.Specialist97@gmail.com

Just a bit from Malcolm's letter to prospective clients:

"The most requested tune at funerals, is of course, Amazing Grace. Many Pipers, including myself, usually reserve that noble standard for the very last tune. Also, there is the walk-away effect, where when the playing the last verse, the Piper will walk away, creating a fading sound."

If you are in need of a piper for any event, please give Malcolm a call or shoot him an email. He does realize for funerals, it can be a last minute thing, if he is unable to meet your needs, he will gladly find another quality piper who can.

"The very stones would cry out."

The mystery of the love and sorrow found at the Cross may be found in the shadow of our Lord's magnificent entry into the city. Jesus was being hailed as the King, homage was being paid and the Pharisees were ticked off. There was however no stopping what was taking place. If Jesus' followers kept silent he told the Pharisees then the rocks would cry out.

In my life, I have had seasons of carrying a rock or rocks in my pocket to remind me that if I don't praise my Lord, the rocks would. Do I believe that the very rocks in my pocket would cry out?

Do I believe that Jesus was bodily resurrected from the dead?

Do I believe He is fully man and fully God?

Is there power in the blood?

What is belief?

Who holds the Key?

Did Almighty God make the first move? (or did we)

This is not what I expected this post to be, but when I reflect on the Passion during this Week of Remembrance, it makes me scratch my head. I am full of questions because the LIFE and Death of Jesus Christ....the Resurrection is a mystery.

The best way to describe my faith may seem weak and feeble to some but it is truthful and to no surprise they are words taken from the Bible, written by the Apostle Paul from his 1st letter to the Corinthians:

"we see in a mirror dimly"

When will I/we see and know fully as we are fully known? The 13th chapter indicates that it will be upon His Return, when Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords returns with power and might. His first coming was in humility, His Second coming will be nothing like the first.

The Lord Jesus made loving appearances once he was resurrected. Not as a ghost but as the man that He was only made new baring the scars of His brutal death. Jesus cooked and dined with His Beloved. The Beloved were bold over by His Great Love for them:

Mary, a woman, a sinner forgiven was the first one recorded to have met the Risen Lord and upon hearing Him call her by her own name, she knew in an instant that it was her "Master" and Jesus gave her the task of bringing the Good News to his disciples.

Peter ran like the wind to get to the empty tomb. Later, Jesus made him breakfast and restored Peter as he had him affirm three times, that he did indeed love His Lord.

The two who were on the road to Emmaus, walking and talking with the One First Born from the Dead and not realizing it until He supped with them and broke the bread. Before taking off to find the eleven they said to one another: "did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us...?" There is something in a heart to heart conversation that knits those hearts together.

When I think of power and might, it makes me think of war. Will Jesus come as a great warrior?

But what about the greatest of these things, Love?

What will the Greatest Thing in the World look like? We can dream, we can imagine, but that brings us back to the beginning of this post and that is mystery.....

In the book of proverbs chapter 30, there is something of a clue

¹⁸ Three things are too wonderful for me;

four I do not understand:

¹⁹the way of an eagle in the sky,

the way of a serpent on a rock,

the way of a ship on the high seas,

and the way of a man with a virgin.

Are not these things full of mystery?

Here is another: When you discover a friend, that you didn't ever expect to be your friend are you not delighted in this new friendship? Can you explain it?

What will Love look like through the lens of Power and Might? A Glory beyond our imaginations?

I contend that He bids us to try.....use the imagination He has given you and me. Paint a painting, run a race, write a song, fight a battle, touch the skin of a new born baby, hold the hand of a new widow, craft the story.

Colossians 1

¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

²¹ And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²²he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Praising my God less the rocks cry out!

The Start of a Pilgrimage

Picture of Michael, Katie and Grace inside the Cape Henry Light House in VA Beach

This blog was started about 9 months after we started traveling, and when I say traveling, I mean two things: we started moving a lot because we wanted to and we could, Dan became a travel nurse (just click on it and explore the site to find out more. This is also the company Dan worked for) and our children got involved in public speak and academic debate which caused us to do some more traveling.

It was 7 years ago today that we began this journey. First we left during a cold winter and spent our first week in FL. During that week there were 2 ices storms and one snow storm here in MA, while we were golf and swimming in the Sunshine State. At the end of the week we made our way to VA Beach, to Dan's first travel assignment. Yes, that is the long way from MA to VA.

Our fellow pilgrims were 13,11,and 10 back then. We have only managed to live in 7 states at 15 different addresses and 18 moves. We are still on the move but have limited ourselves to the Commonwealth.

At the moment I don't have enough energy to give a strong and reflective look back. It only dawned on me a couple of hours ago that today was the day. If you read regularly and you didn't start at the beginning, you might want to start there.

Happy Ending of the 24th of March, 2010.

Signs of Youth


Since returning to New England in October of 2007, I have gotten the fever each spring. There were really no surprises with Winter.....cold, snowy and wet. That first spring I was taken by surprise and I am sure that if I did a search here on my blog we would find a little reflection on that but today, today I have the fever, spring fever. It makes you want to roll down the windows, drive fast and play the music loud. I am sure that I had a dumb smile on my face as I was driving down the road. It effects most people and after a hard cold winter, there is nothing more refreshing than a taste of spring.

Sure, it is early, we could still get more snow, but we will take it today. Sunny and 65 degrees with a light breeze is welcomed by most. The fever makes one's pulse increase and helps us to remember that we have something to look forward to and even reach out to those we haven't talk to in some time.

Life IS good. I didn't say easy, I said good. And I am glad to feel like I am 21 and having fun even if my day started early in the AM instead of ending at that time. Here is hoping that spring will stick around.

Italy, India and Indonesia

The settings for the book Eat, Pray, Love are Italy, India and Indonesia. Sequentially, each verb goes with its corresponding country. The author is Elizabeth Gilbert. The book was birth out of the pain of her human heart and circumstances coupled with a journey through these three countries.

I picked up the book on a recommendation from a Franciscan Monk. He described the book as beautiful. Not only is the book beautiful, but it is also engaging as one woman from the depths of her pain seeks to find God in her time of need.

This is not a book for Christians who are unwilling to read anything that does not line up with a biblical worldview. To me this is one of the saddest things happening in the Church today. In my opinion, if you can't find the hand of God, the voice of God and the truth of God in many places, including this book, then I would conclude that your God is not the God of the Universe, the Creator, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Who are we, mere creatures to limit God? What about discernment I can hear some of my readers saying? Exactly, if you believe that you have discernment, you can read almost anything and glean truth and beauty from those things. I guess I am a bit of a literalist when it comes to believing that God created man(kind) in His image and God being the Author of life.

"God does not live in a dogmatic scripture or in a distant throne in the sky, but instead abides very close to us indeed - much closer than we can imagine, breathing right through our own hearts. I respond with gratitude to anyone who has ever voyaged to the center of that heart, and who has then returned to the world with a report for the rest of us that God is an experience of supreme love."

In this same chapter at the beginning of the book, Liz gives a disclaimer about her experience and the way she views God "just so people can decide right away how offended they need to get." The lady has people's numbers. Some just look for a way to discard all who don't line up with their own theology. Believe me my theology matters to me, but I continue to learn more and more each day that my theology is to never be used as a weapon or does it give me a right to discard people. The ones we fight against in order to be theologically correct may be the very people who could help us in our time of need. My children more than anyone continue to remind me that people matter. Jesus was asked point blank about what is most important. From Matthew's gospel

which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'^{b]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">[b]} ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment.³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'^{c]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">[c]} ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Now when the other teacher of the Law asked about who is our neighbor, Jesus used the story of the good Samaritan to illustrate the answer. Jews at that time hated Samaritans. Ouch. This showed that the Samaritan knew how to show mercy. So, why wouldn't God use someone like Elizabeth Gilbert to show us truths and beauties that definitely reveal God's handiwork? I say, of course, God can use whoever He wants that is why He is God.

The book is divided into three sections, one for each stop in the pilgrimage. The whole feel and description that Liz gives in her time in Italy made me want to pack the book in a suitcase and book a flight to Italy. I could finish it on the plane or not. Italian, the language is what drew her, but the fresh wounds from her life draw her close to God. When Depression and Loneliness visit her in Rome she is comforted by the God who loves her, is very near and will never leave her. (sounds familiar to me)

An adventure is flavored by the characters we meet and the relationships we develop. The Italians and other foreigners move the story a long and are a delicious meal in and of themselves.

India brought Liz into contact with what I would call the discipline of being still and knowing that we are not God. There is something to be said for going to a foreign place in order to get to a place inside yourself so that one can receive healing. I love how in this part of the book, Liz had all these plans for seeing India and instead, she gets to see herself and God adjusts her itinerary. She stays put for the four months more or less. In the quiet meditation Liz knows that He is God.

Liz's trip to Bali is driven by an invitation to return from an old medicine man she had met on her last trip there. The saga of this last third of the trip and the book is so endearing. There are children, old people, and every age in between who Liz is open to welcoming into her world and her heart even if it is for a very short time.

Today, I will finish reading the book and I don't want it to end. It has been like going on a trip with my new friend Liz and it is coming to an end. It is time to go home.

On the Fly Review

With a little fear and trembling, the book that I would like to review first has been read, reviewed, burned, band and lasted through the centuries. I am not finished with it yet and it is one of those books that I returned to again and again. "The Bible" that is how I refer to it most of the time. It has been called The Holy Bible, The Scriptures, God's Word, The Old and New Testaments. A collection of books with over 40 authors is considered God inspired, infallible, and inerrant. Whether you agree or disagree with those descriptions, you must admit it has stood the test of time.

Some people call themselves Bible believin' and one may or may not believe the words contained in this collection of books. This is my review on the fly and so far I haven't given you my thoughts. Guess I am leading up to that: In my opinion, the Bible is a love letter. There are a whole lot of other things in the Bible but the Love factor is the thing that gets me time and again.

God's love letter to mankind, that is the way I look at the Bible. I am not just talking about "God is love" New Testament kind of love but also, "you Israel have forgotten the Lord" still loves them kind of love lined with mercy. It has all the elements of love, commitment, devotion, passion, and of course the Unexpected: God taking on flesh and sacrificing himself for us motivated by love.

Father God made us.

The Son died to save us.

The Holy Spirit gives us life.

Pick up your copy today. Currently, I am reading the English Standard Version

Coming SOON.

Perhaps a book review or two. See side panel for books I am currently reading.

It was a Thursday on the fourth day of February

(17 years ago)

{picture coming later}

There is so much going on in my heart, my mind and my life that I basically avoid writing here on this blog. I do my best to be purposeful and thoughtful. In fact, earlier this morning I knew exactly what I was going to write about and it was going to take time and well, I don't have a lot of time this morning and my favorite time to write is in the morning. So, I decided I will be even more vulnerable than I already feel and exercise the act of writing. Consider yourself warned close the window of the browser if you wish to stop reading.

Today is my youngest child's seventeenth birthday. Yes Michael is 1 7 and is growing into quite a young man (I don't mean that in the way my father used that with my brothers when they were 7 and 5.) I mean he is a young adult. I am stingy with praise and I appreciate hard work. Michael is a deep thinker, a philosopher and wishes to pursue the truth. Last May Michael and I started working together at my brother in law's store. I would work with Michael in any environment. He applies himself to whatever task he is given, submits to authority and exercises authority when it is given to him. Michael looks people in the eye, does his best to take care of his customers quickly and keep things orderly. Whether he is stocking the shelves, making the coffee or on the register, he shows care and concern for the people, for the store and for his uncle.

As much as Michael is methodical, he is also flexible. This young man has moved more times than years he has been alive. Although most of those moves have been in the last 7 years. Since, I have just gone a little random with that last paragraph. I will close. I love my son, Michael Mullaney. (deprived of a middle name, he has acquired many but that is for another blog post) I am proud of you Michael! Happy Birthday!!!

Names written on my heart

Alberta and Patricia (surnames withheld) are two names that were written on my heart during childhood. I hadn't seen either of them in years and with the 25th Reunion (that the 3 of us were not invited to but no offense taken....they probably couldn't handle the possibility of the 3 of us showing up together) I thought it would be great to see them again.

We met for lunch this past Wednesday, the day after the historic MA Senate Race and in our 2 hour plus meeting we managed to escape talking politics and religion. How do 3 thoughtful, caring American women manage that? I have thought about it and I have come up with some ideas and a conclusion.

The three of us are strong personalities and I think it would be safe to say that all of us are opinionated. Differing opinions were not on the menu. On my count, I had a thought or two cross my mind, after all I had bought 4 papers that morning and friends from across the country were inquiring about the Senate Race. It wasn't just local but national news. However, I wanted to just enjoy these dear friends, so I let the thoughts come and go. It wasn't even a restraint. My focus was on the two dear hearts that I had the honor of breaking bread with on this winter afternoon in the greater Boston area. I didn't want to break this circle of friendship. It was just the start of catching up. May I be so bold to say that each of us has grown in wisdom and each of us value one another more than our opinions and beliefs. Although, our opinions and beliefs matter to each of us and I was curious about what Patricia and Alberta think about all kinds of things, nobody brought up either subject.

As I have continued on this pilgrimage called life, I realize more and more how much people matter. These days I am more of a student than teacher for my children. These young adults place a high value on people. People matter. It is true. So, my conclusion is that we were conquered by something greater than ourselves, Love. Love conquers all and I was able to bask in it for the rest of the day.

There is something curious and wonderful about the people who etched their names on your heart when you are young. Some names fade away but others may only gather dust, it just takes one to make direct contact with the other for the name to become visible again. When the faces meet the hearts though now filled with more names burns bright with love for one another. I love you, Alberta. I love you, Patricia.

Pax Vobiscum,

CM

Originally drafted the morning of the 14th day of January 2010

(Today the sky is shades of pinks, grays and blues)

A NEW DAY

The birds, the earth, the trees, the mountains and the sea wait with expectation. We all see her coming those who arise before she arrives. She sends burst of colors oranges and grays today and the oranges have turned into soft purples with the dark gray covering clouds.

EXPECTATION

ANTICIPATION

NEEDS NO PREPARATION

OURS is to simply welcome the new day. The Dawn she is the one who is greeted or ignored or cursed. The One who set the Sun in the sky and gave the Earth its axel is the Giver of each new day. Do we arise to Praise Him? Do we arise to just meet our own agenda? Are we looking at the clock and thinking, there really are not enough hours in this day? Or do we look at The Clock and count it as the Master of the Day?

Purple turning pink with a brightness that shouts "She is coming! Be ready! Ready to be kissed and hugged. Awoken with the brilliance of a new day. Will you stand to greet her? Any moment now, she will burst forth over the horizon and mesmerize you as a restrained ball of fire, reminding you that you do not rule the day. The day is a gift to be received with gratitude and we are to make the most of it for Another.

Dawn still comes if you are in the midst of a personal tragedy, a natural disaster, a terrorist attack or anything that we may not wish to contend with. There is an opportunity to recover, restore, rise up. Meet this day! Go through with it! Greet it in spite of the pain, the work, and the heart ache.