Some historical records suggest that on March 27, 1790 the shoelace was invented in England. http://www.shoelacesexpress.com/shoelaceshistory.asp

Obviously, footwear had been around for a long time prior to that date, but it is an interesting tidbit of information nonetheless.

I can still remember the struggle when I was learning how to tie shoelaces for the first time in my own life. All the little rhymes and stories offered as aids to learn the process seemed to be of little help, but eventually the task was conquered. I could tie my own shoes. (No, it wasn’t just last week when I mastered this task.  On the other hand, it is still easier to use slip-on shoes and skip the whole tying process.)

As I read the brief historical sketch about shoelaces it reminded me of how many skills we have attained throughout our lives. I now take it for granted that I can tie shoelaces; it’s not a big deal. However, it is a gift from God to have the motor skills needed to perform such a task. Having an injured finger or thumb can quickly remind us of the many tasks we normally undertake with the nimble and skillful use of our hands. How frequently do we give thanks to God for these simple blessings?

The reason this article on the invention of shoelaces initially caught my attention was because of a Lenten reflection question that I had seen earlier. “What sinful areas in my life keep me “tied up”? That penetrating question gave a whole different perspective to my casual reading about shoelaces. The bondage of sin can keep us from experiencing life in abundance as offered by Christ. What are we doing to be set free? Do we seek the grace, love, mercy and forgiveness of God on a regular basis? Do we ask to be set free from the bondage of sin?

As we commemorate this anniversary (224 years) of the shoelace, I invite you to join me in doing three things.

1.      Let us give thanks and praise to God for all the motor skills we possess.

2.      Let us ask to be freed from the sins that tie us up?

3.      Let us recommit to our acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving for the second half of Lent. 

Happy Anniversary to the Shoelace! 

“Don’t be pushed by your problems.  Be led by your dreams.”  This quotation attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson certainly provides food for thought.  Every individual can probably provide a laundry list of problems which seem to be squelching his/her dreams.  Watching the news on television can exacerbate the perception of the world going to hell in a hand-basket.  Observing the political theatrics disguised as statesmanship can ultimately convince us that the American dream has been usurped by those entrusted to preserve it.  A sardonic attitude can easily replace our hopes, dreams and aspirations.  We are pushed by our problems.

How do people of faith respond to the challenges of day-to-day life?  It’s not just a matter of balancing work and leisure.  It’s a matter of bringing realistic expectations to all the roles in which we find ourselves: spouse, parent, employee, student, volunteer, etc.  Do we have meaningful endeavors which keep our dreams alive, or are we simply filling up the voids in our lives with excessive activity?  Does our life have a purpose?  Furthermore, how do world events affect us in regard to our outlook on life?

During the Season of Lent I have attempted to reduce my intake of the news on television.  I still follow enough to know about the issues making the headlines, but I have not delved into the details surrounding each of the topics presented.  I have tried to utilize my time in more fruitful endeavors such as prayer and spiritual reading, but success in following through with this resolution has been sporadic at best.  My mind still wanders into the realm of everything that is going wrong with society.

The spying practices of the NSA are still troublesome.  The targeting of conservative groups by the IRS still has Lois Lerner pleading the fifth and refusing to testify.  The Affordable Care Act continues to hit one bump in the road after another.  The HHS Mandate will be front and center again next week as the Supreme Court begins to hear the case from Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood.  What will happen with the Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious organizations down the road regarding their court cases against the HHS Mandate?  These are just a few of the topics in our own country.  What happens when we expand our view beyond the borders of the United States?  An airplane full of people is still missing.  Crimea was just annexed by Russia.  We still don’t have answers to questions about the terrorist attack in Benghazi.  The list could go on and on.

What happens when we shift our focus to the cultural and moral values of society beyond the politics of it all?  The breakdown of the traditional family unit in the last forty years has already brought some devastating social issues to the forefront.  How will the continued erosion of the traditional family impact the existing societal structures that shape the norms and mores which strive to guide behavior in a productive way?  What happens when the Church is silenced in speaking out against sin?  If the Church is not the moral compass for society then what individual or group will step in to fill that role?

There are definitely enough challenging issues to tempt us into despair.  However, as followers of Christ we are people of hope.  The virtue of hope is a blessing indeed.  Praying for an increase of all the theological virtues is a prudent thing to do on a daily basis.  Let us not be pushed by our problems, but let us be led by our dreams.  May our dreams include the pursuit of holiness as we seek to grow in faith, hope, and love!

The grotto outside of St. Anthony's Church in Casper provided an ideal setting for a photo to coincide with a specific topic covered during the day of retreat on Saturday, March 15.  During the retreat I shared a story about a TV show years ago with George Burns and Gracie Allen.  Although I do not recall the show, the story I heard was about Gracie calling a repairman to come to her house to fix a clock.  The repairman came, looked at the clock, and proceeded to explain to Gracie that the clock was fine.  She just didn't have it plugged in to the electrical socket.  Gracie said she was aware of that.  She was trying to save electricity so she only plugged the clock in when she wanted to know what time it was.  I intentionally kept the transformer in this photo (upper left hand corner) to remind us to always stay plugged into God.  If we only call upon God when we need something, we are missing the opportunity to truly be in relationship!


It was a fantastic weekend at St. Anthony's.  The hospitality extended by the pastor was first rate, and getting to spend all day on Saturday with over 50 parishioners for the retreat was uplifting and renewing.  Preaching at all four of the weekend liturgies was also a very special priviege for me.  I hope that each of you experience abundant blessings during the remainder of this Lenten season.

In chapter 10 of Mark’s Gospel Jesus is having a discussion with a rich young man.  In verses 21 and 22 it says, “Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You are lacking in one thing.  Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’  At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.” 

I often wonder what happened to the young man.  As he got older did he eventually accept the invitation?  I ask this question because I assume he spent some time in reflection after he walked away from Jesus.  The young man admitted to having observed all the commandments from his youth so he apparently had a desire to do what was right.  Would this one additional challenge keep him from growing any further in his journey toward holiness?

“Jesus looked at him and loved him.”  I can only imagine the impact of receiving such a profound glance from the Savior.  The penetrating eyes of Jesus must have surely struck at the depths of the young man’s heart.  Would that look eventually bring him back?

Scripture demonstrates a variety of responses from people who received a prominent glance of love from our Lord.  This young man walked away.  Judas Iscariot experienced deep despair and went out and hanged himself.  Peter accepted the look of Jesus, proclaimed his love three times, and became the “Rock” upon which the Church was built.  Thus, when Jesus looks at us and loves us, we each have the free will to respond in our own unique way.  We may experience this look in our prayer life, our worship, our joys, and in our pains and hurts as well.  How often do we miss this look of love?  In those times when we capture the look and experience the impact deep within our being, how do we respond? 

Knowing we are loved by God to such depths should fill our hearts with joy.  Let us live as people of hope!

We are only a week into Lent, but it has already been quite a journey.  I had the opportunity last week to serve as the spiritual adviser for a men's Cursillo weekend held in Cheyenne.  It was the first Cursillo weekend to be held in the diocese in about ten years.  It began Thursday evening and ended late on Sunday afternoon.  Candidates came from as far north as St. Stephen's Mission and as far south as Denver.  It was exciting to see the transformation of the group throughout the course of the weekend.  It is a blessing to have these new Cursillistas in our midst.

I have spent the early part of the week catching up on all of the administrative duties that seem to accumulate rapidly any time I am out of the office for a couple of days.  Now it is time to prepare for the next leg of the journey which takes place this weekend.  I will be heading to St. Anthony's Parish in Casper for a day-long retreat on Saturday, and the pastor has graciously invited me to preach at all of the weekend liturgies while I am there as well.  I have had the privilege of doing this twice before, in Advent and Lent in 2013, and I am looking forward to spending this time once again with the parishioners at St. Anthony's Parish.

The season of Lent is always a busy time, but it provides a magnificent chance to grow in our relationship with the Lord.  I encourage each of you to take advantage of those extra opportunities in your local parish to pray, study, and perform acts of service during this holy season.  Please do not let these forty days pass by without encountering the living God in a profound way.  Just as the father lovingly embraced the prodigal son upon his return, God the Father is always ready to welcome us into His loving arms.

If your Lent has gotten off to a slow start, or if you have already failed to keep some of your Lenten resolutions, now is the time to begin anew.  We will hear the account of the Transfiguration this weekend.  Jesus "touched" his disciples to alleviate their fears at this brilliant spectacle.  Jesus longs to "touch" each of us with His love, compassion, and mercy.  Let us find strength in the Lord, our God!