Blessed are the poor in spirit

This summer, I became the newest member of my church’s choir–not as a singer, but as a flautist. Having not been played since high school, my flute was a bit tarnished, and my skills were equally rusty, but I’m happy to be playing again. Last Sunday we played the song We are the Light of the World, which begins with the lyric (and beatitude) “Blessed are they who are poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of God.” Although there are different interpretations of what it means to be poor in spirit, it’s clearly something we should strive towards in daily life.

Being poor in spirit doesn’t mean being financially poor. The rich can also be poor in spirit, although it may take more work. Living a simple and humble life can be difficult if you’re trying to keep up with the Joneses. Adopting minimalism is a great way to simplify life and free your spirit from longing for material possessions. This may mean giving away excess belongings to those in need, thoughtfully evaluating what items you bring into your home, and avoiding hyper-consumerism.

The other keyword besides “poor” is “spirit”. No matter what your religious beliefs/denomination, you should recognize that you need God. We are human, and as such, we continually err. God’s forgiveness and grace is something we will always need. As society rejects God more and more each day, it’s so important for believers to remember our need for God. There is a huge focus on independence and self-love in pop media right now, but the truth is, we can’t be perfect on our own.

This verse is worth reading and reflecting upon in more depth to truly understand what it means and how it fits in your life. What other song lyrics or bible verses strike you?

Prepare and repent

Considering all the events of 2020, the year is sure to end with a bang. From the first news of the novel coronavirus in January, to the complete economic shutdown in March and April, to the riots and protests in May, Hurricane Laura striking in August, and now wildfires destroying millions of acres out west, the whole year has been one thing after another. We’ve all had personal, professional, and/or financial battles as a result of these disasters. I have a feeling the last three months of 2020 are going to truly test us to our limits.

EWTN’s Mother Miriam predicted on a recent podcast that a great chastisement is coming this fall; she advised that now is a good time to make a general confession and stock up on three months-worth of food. It may not be the end-times (although some believe it is), but it’s not a bad idea to get your soul right with the Lord.

The upcoming election is causing a lot of division and unrest in America, and regardless of the outcome, there may be riots, protests, and violence following election day. As it is, people are fleeing from the cities and moving to the country, where they don’t have to worry about things like drive-by shootings. How much worse will it be when half the population is outraged by the election results?

We also must consider the possibility of another shutdown. How far will the government go the next time cases spike? Don’t take for granted things like going to church, receiving communion, and having access to the other sacraments.

The Bible says that even the angels in heaven don’t know the day or the hour Jesus will return. When I see apocalyptic images of the fires in California and Oregon, I can’t help but think it’s a warning. Now is a good time to return to a state of grace.

Go to confession, join a church or return to the church, read and study the Bible. Think about the media you’re consuming (is what you watch and listen to honorable, or does it acclimate you to evil?). It’s a good time to cancel Netflix, as they continue to push moral limits with shows such as “Cuties” and even “Babysitter’s Club,” a kids series which idealizes transgenderism in toddlers.

If things go back to normal in the next few months: great! Continue to protect your soul, because any day could be our last. If all heck breaks loose, you’ll be glad you prepared.

What makes a life extraordinary?

My grandmother recently passed away, and her impressive obituary was shared by many over the past week. She was spoken very highly of by those at her funeral mass, which was well-attended despite concerns over Covid-19. “T-Mom” was a special lady who served God, her family, and the community during her life.

All of this has been on my mind and has me wondering: what makes a person extraordinary versus ordinary? A Google search of this very question will produce countless articles on “how to be successful” or “traits of successful people.” But I don’t really equate the term successful with extraordinary.

A modern-day view of success would be associated with acquiring wealth, having a position of power, owning nice things, etc.. But an extraordinary person doesn’t necessarily fit that bill. Mother Theresa was extraordinary, but as a nun, lived a life of poverty and likely owned no possessions.

I don’t know what makes someone extraordinary versus ordinary. In the case of T-Mom, she served by working as a public health nurse, being a loving wife and mother, and caring for her home and garden on the bayou. In her golden years, she helped out a lot with her grandkids, and then great-grandkids. She was an active member of the church and served in different ministries. She was a crazy cajun lady who always said what was on her mind.

I think ordinary people live day to day just getting by, seeking money or stuff or entertainment. Maybe they live for attention, fame, popularity, or “just to play the game” (as Alicia Keys put it). Working for money to buy stuff to impress people they don’t even like. Maybe being extraordinary is as simple as walking in day-to-day life with humility, patience, love for others, and faith.

When I was on vacation a few weeks ago, the priest at the church we visited shared a quote in his homily: “Compared to eternity, life on earth is like one uncomfortable night in a cheap motel.” It’s easy to stress over worldly things and feel like it’s the best we can do just to survive–especially now, with rising Covid numbers, mask mandates, fear-mongering media outlets, riots, and the overall de-moralization of society–geesh!

But the priest urged us to “go higher” and rise above all this, as if in an airplane. When the turbulence gets bad, the airplane rises into higher elevation, and then it’s smooth sailing. The closer we live to God and focus on heaven, the less we can be affected by worldly struggles. Which is how T-Mom lived (she was ready to go to heaven, evidenced by the fact that she wrote her own obituary 30 years ago!).

For a moment let’s forget the stress of daily life, and go higher. Think about what you’d like people to say about you at your funeral. It’s never too late to lead the extraordinary life others will celebrate long after you’re gone.

And please let me know if you figure out what makes for an extraordinary life!

Be grateful

Last weekend my faith group and I visited a women’s prison and were blessed that several of the women opened up to us and shared the details of their daily lives. Between walking in a prison for the first time and learning about the realities of life there, I had a lot to take in on an early Saturday morning! When I went home that afternoon and thought about how I’d spend the rest of my day–getting lunch with my mom, taking my dogs to the park, going on a date–I realized how lucky I am to live in “the free world” (as they call it). The simple freedom to spend our time however we please is something we take for granted.

Only after you see how things could be worse can you appreciate how good you’ve got it. I also realized this past week how much I take my good health for granted. I was doing pull-ups at the gym Monday when I felt something pop. For the rest of the day, my neck hurt pretty bad. It scared me for sure. (No worries, though. After a few days my neck was fine.) But I realized how an injury can affect not only your physical health, but also your mental health. I was worried I’d have to see a doctor, that I wouldn’t be able to participate in an upcoming triathlon and other races, and that I wouldn’t able to run around and play with the girls I babysit. Health problems can affect your whole livelihood.

The good news for me is that I do live in the free world and I do enjoy perfect health. But many people aren’t so lucky. We must remember to be compassionate towards those imprisoned and those who feel imprisoned within their own bodies or circumstances. Use your strength, outer and inner, to support those who aren’t as strong right now.

Lessons yet to learn

So I haven’t blogged in a few weeks. You all know how that goes. Anyway, here’s a quick summary of what’s been on my mind:

I belong to a small group at my church through the Just Faith program. The nine of us share the desire to become more compassionate, help others, find more meaning in life, and strengthen our faith. I never would have joined a group like this while I was in school, because I always felt I was too busy. I never really thought about personal growth; I was too focused on classes, swim team, and my peers. Which is not a bad thing. But my outlook has changed a lot over the last several months, and I’m grateful that I was inspired and available to join this group.

I still struggle to do the right thing, because the right thing doesn’t always present itself in black-and-white. While I want to give money every time a cashier asks me “Would you like to donate to such-and-such today?”, I have to say no because at my age, it’s important that I save the little money I make to secure my own future. When people I know make ignorant and incompassionate comments about those less fortunate than us, I bite my tongue because starting a debate won’t solve anything. And though being nice to everyone seems like the right thing to do, it often backfires. Especially for me, because men tend to mistake politeness for flirting, and I end up dealing with unwanted attention from all the wrong guys.

But I’m working on it. Sometimes I wish I had a life coach telling me exactly what the right thing to do is. Not just for others, but for myself. Figuring it out on my own is the best way though. While browsing at Barnes and Nobles one day, I read the first chapter of the memoir “Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake”, in which Anna Quindlen writes about this idea:

I would tell my twenty-two-year-old self that what lasts are things so ordinary she may not even see them: family dinners, fair fights, phone calls, friends. But of course the young woman I once was cannot hear me, not just because of time and space, but because of the language, and the lessons, she has yet to learn. It’s a miracle: somehow over time she learned them all just the same, by trial and error.

Who are you?

This morning I stumbled upon a wonderful blog by a lady named Dee, who seems to be very spiritually in-touch. In her “About me” post, she says: 

“By the way, my heart is where I really live. It is the place where I am the truest me. My circumstances, experiences, careers, relationships, and possessions do not define who I am…they are blessings, fruits and extensions.. another of the valuable lessons i have learned along the journey.” http://deeclarknz.com/about-2/

This statement struck me, because I feel exactly the same way. When someone tries to get to know you, they typically ask the same questions: What do you do for a living? Where are you from? Are you married/dating? What did you study in school? Etc., etc… I, for one, am sick of answering these questions. Maybe it’s because the answers are a little unsatisfying and don’t give justice to who I am on the inside.

We are so much more than our jobs, our marital status, our education, our salary. In my faith group we discussed a quote that goes something like this: The gateway to life is narrow, not because it is meant to only let a few through, but because we are so vast. Every human on the planet is a vast, extraordinary being, and we shouldn’t rank them based on what they have or don’t have. No individual is more valuable than another.

So instead of getting to know someone by grilling them with the 20 questions, try to discover who they are in their heart, where they are their truest self. They will appreciate you for it.

Pay it forward

I was sitting in my parked car downtown one afternoon, waiting to pick up my brother, when a man in a Lexus pulled up in front of me, got out, handed a bag lunch to a homeless man, then drove away before the man could even thank him. Ever since I witnessed this gesture of kindness, I’ve been wanting to pay it forward. It’s difficult to reach out to someone the way this kind stranger did–partly because we don’t want to give our hard-earned money away (or, in my case, don’t have any money to give), partly because we are so sheltered (we grew up hearing “don’t talk to strangers”). And also because we are so out-of-touch. People busy themselves to the point that they don’t have time to acknowledge the person standing right in front of them, who so obviously needs help.

Think about this: some people haven’t even heard their own name spoken to them in weeks. That scraggly-looking man on the sidewalk with the cardboard sign has a name. But how many people do you think actually talk to him, introduce themselves, and say “It was nice meeting you, (name).” Think how lonely that must be! Sometimes you can make a person’s day by simply acknowledging their existence.

Though I was inspired to do more random acts of kindness after that day, I wasn’t sure how to go about it. So the first thing I did was download an app called “The Karma Challenge.” This app features a “wheel of kindness” with categories like Family, Friends, Self, Environment, Animals. You spin the wheel and accept a challenge in the category on which it lands. For example, my first challenge was in the Self category, and it was this: do not say or think anything negative for 48 hours. Try it!

*Thoughts about that: Some people are great about doing things for others. They rescue animals, give to charity, take care of children, bend over backwards to help anyone in need. But they neglect themselves. Don’t forget that being kind to yourself is just as important as being kind to others. Exercise daily, fuel your body with healthy foods, dress nice, don’t think poorly of yourself, enjoy some alone time, treat yourself to something (whether it’s a hot chocolate or a new lipstick), eliminate toxic friendships, and go out of your comfort zone.*

Even though I was completing karma challenges, I wanted to do more than just use an app. I’m at a point in life when I have a lot of freedom and I’m trying to lay a solid foundation for what kind of person I’ll be. Lucky for me, one day after church the youth director asked me to volunteer with the youth group. I’m thankful for this opportunity to do something good. Another day at church I learned about the Just Faith program, which allows a small group to go on a spiritual journey over the course of several months; this involves weekly meetings, retreats, reading assignments, and volunteering in the community. I knew this was just what I’d been looking for: a way to pay it forward, meet new people who also care about these things, and find purpose and spiritual fulfillment beyond just Sunday mass. 

So here I am embarking on a new journey to become a kinder person all because of this guy in his Lexus that day. Funny how far a small gesture can go.