Blog Archives - Articulating Hope

In What Ways Have You Been Blessed By God's Grace?

3/31/2019

Today is known as Laetare Sunday. "Rejoice!" This signals that we are over half-way through our Lenten journey? Has it been a fruitful experience for you so far? What will these remaining weeks bring into your life?

The grace of God is simply astounding. Have you ever looked back over your life and recognized in a new way how God's guiding hand brought tremendous blessing into your life? That reality is becoming more and more evident to me all of the time, and I am extremely grateful for these insights. Even the most difficult parts of life have generated immense blessing. It is challenging to see those realities when you are stuck in the midst of the storm, but hindsight can give deeper meaning to one's lived experiences.

Today we hear the story of the "Prodigal Son." I know I have touched on this before, but I think it is worth repeating. The word "prodigal" means, "wastefully or recklessly extravagant." Another meaning is "lavishly abundant." I hear a few preachers now refer to this story as the "Prodigal Father" because of his lavish abundance of forgiveness. Thankfully, that is what we experience from God--a generous abundance of forgiveness, mercy, and love.

Let us pray for an outpouring of God's grace today. May we be infused with an abundance of faith, hope, and charity! Let us admit our sin and repent. Then let us rush back into the Father's arms for forgiveness, tenderness, and mercy. "Rejoice!"

Final Preparations Being Made For The Men's Retreat

3/29/2019

Many months have passed since putting this on my calendar, but it is finally time for the Men's Retreat. I am looking forward to spending time with a couple of dozen men from the parish next week at the New Ebenezer Retreat and Conference Center in Rincon, Georgia. It will be a good way to focus our attention on the final phase of Lent.

God continues to bring abundant blessings in my life. This retreat will be another one of those blessings.

Enjoy the rose colored vestments this weekend as we celebrate Laetare Sunday. Are you experiencing that joyful anticipation of the Easter mystery?

Whom Do You Need To Forgive?

3/26/2019

One of the themes for Lent is forgiveness. In today's Gospel we hear Peter asking Jesus about how often he must forgive someone who sins against him. Jesus answers by saying, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." Obviously, we are to be generous with our forgiveness.

Our reflection question for today is simple and straightforward. Whom do you need to forgive?

For those of you in the Hilton Head Island area, I will be leading a morning of reflection on Saturday, April 6 covering some of the themes of Lent. Please register by this Saturday, March 30 so we can plan appropriately for space needs. There is no cost to attend. This will be a good opportunity to bring clarity and focus to the last two weeks of our Lenten pilgrimage. I hope you can join us.

Third Sunday of Lent

3/24/2019

In today's Gospel we heard about the fig tree today not bearing fruit (unless you did Cycle A readings for the scrutiny and heard about the woman at the well). The person who had the fig tree had come for three years to the garden without finding any fruit on the tree. His direction to the gardener was clear, "Cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?"

This prompts the question for each of us. Are we bearing good fruit in our lives?

I encourage you to take some time today to stand on holy ground and humble yourself before the Lord. Don't miss the opportunity to encounter the goodness of the Lord during your Lenten journey.

Glory and Praise to God for the Beauty of Creation

3/23/2019

Bright sunshine with temperatures in the lower 60's made going for a walk today very pleasant. The vegetation throughout the subdivision is beautiful. The wonders of creation never cease to amaze me.

The daytime hours were very nice, but sunset brought its own special touch. Watching the sunset from the dock has become one of my favorite leisure activities. My son and I were treated to a little extra special entertainment this evening. A dolphin swam next to the dock close enough that we could hear it breathe. It hung around us for about ten minutes before moving on.

Each day brings blessings of one kind or another. How were you blessed today?

Catholic Schools--Are They Raising The Standards?

3/21/2019

Much of my ministry over the last twenty years has been connected to Catholic schooling in one way or another. I have been a high school Theology teacher and campus minister, an elementary school principal, and the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Cheyenne. The experience has been diverse and enriching, and I am grateful for each opportunity that I have had along the way. I have learned many things during the course of this journey.

During a conversation about Catholic schools, someone recently asked me about my personal mission and purpose in life. That is an easy question for me to answer because I have given it a great deal of thought over these last twenty years. I can actually lay it out in three steps. It consists of a calling, a purpose, and a mission.

For those of us who are baptized, we share a similar calling. We are called to holiness. We are called to be saints. Thus, my calling is to be holy.

My purpose is simple. I want to add value to the lives of others. I started learning about leadership many years ago from John C. Maxwell. The first exposure was a video course on "Developing the Leader Within You." It was through this course, and reading most (or all) of John's other books, that I grew into knowing my purpose clearly.

My mission is more detailed. It has changed periodically through the years, but it has retained the general focus. My mission is, "To motivate a hurting and complacent Church so that it becomes 'courageous, compelling, and heroic'. I will do this through effective teaching of the faith, articulating hope, and modeling love." The words "courageous, compelling, and heroic" came from something I read years ago. Unfortunately, I do not remember the source. The other component of my mission statement stems from the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. The process of carrying it out is mandated from the ordination rite of a deacon at the time of the reception of the Book of the Gospels. "Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you now are. Believe what you read. Teach what you believe. Practice what you teach."

A book I read many years ago prompted me to specifically articulate my personal mission statement. While I was a bit skeptical at the time, I am grateful that I did. It helps bring clarity and focus to life. It is more than goal setting. It goes beyond WHAT I am going to accomplish. It goes to the WHY I want to accomplish it and also alludes to the HOW.

That type of focus is what helps any individual or institution succeed. This is especially important for our Catholic schools. If leadership loses its focus, it is easy for a Catholic school to meander into an area of just being another educational institution with no distinguishing factors. That is the beginning of the end for the institution.

Standards and Benchmarks for Catholic schools give guidance into being an institution of significance. I would like to look at just a few of those characteristics.

1. Is every aspect of the school centered on the Person of Jesus Christ? If one examines a school closely, this component is easy to evaluate. You can almost get a sense of this just by walking down the hallway during class changing time. What do you see? What do you hear? If a thorough evaluation of programs and priorities is done, the evidence will be clear as to whether or not the school is centered upon the Person of Jesus Christ.

2. Is the Catholic school contributing to the evangelizing mission of the Church? Are we making disciples? If we are building great sports teams, creating brilliant bands and choral groups, hosting amazing speech and dramatic productions, offering a multiplicity of other extracurricular activities, but we miss the opportunity to make disciples--what have we really achieved? Does the local Catholic school impact the wider community because of the school's intentional effort to make disciples?

3. Is the Catholic school distinguished by excellence? We cannot be content with mediocrity. If we believe that all the baptized are called to be saints, we strive toward building a culture that enhances the opportunity for each person to do so. This is not something to pursue in a lackluster manner.

4. Are our Catholic schools committed to educating the whole child? If we truly believe that we are temples of the Holy Spirit, it must impact the way we interact with one another on every level.

5. Are our Catholic schools steeped in a Catholic worldview? Do we truly seek wisdom and truth? Do we recognize the responsibility we have to transform and enrich the world with Gospel values?

6. Do we give witness to the Gospel? Catholic school administrators, faculty, and staff--you have a tremendous privilege to be in a role which will impact the lives of others in a dramatic fashion. That privilege also carries commensurate responsibility. Please take some time to ponder these areas of influence:

A. How does your behavior influence other staff members? Are you a morale builder, or does your negativity and cynicism bring others down? Describe a typical conversation in the teacher's workroom on any given day. What does that say about the school culture among the staff members?

B. How does your behavior influence the students? Are you building a learning environment that is conducive to growth?

C. How does your behavior influence the parents of students? Are you positive and upbeat--even when the parent may not be? Are you being an ambassador for Christ even when it is tough?

D. How does your behavior influence the wider community? People see you in the grocery store and other places out and about in town. Are they happy to see you or do they duck down a different aisle to avoid contact with you? On the other hand, do you duck down a different aisle to avoid contact with them?

There are many other areas that could be covered, but that is enough for one post. Whether you are actively involved in Catholic education in particular or Church ministry in general, I want to encourage you to be an ambassador for Christ. You have influence on people. Even if you are not involved in ministry, you also influence others. Let that influence be positive and uplifting.

Based upon what I am seeing on social media, many schools are hosting their big fundraisers during this time of year. I hope each of you are able raise substantial amounts of money to continue the mission of Catholic education and formation. Please remember the accountability that goes along with these endeavors. Let us "Raise the Standards" and truly build the Kingdom of God!

Are You Having A Rough Day?

3/20/2019

As I watch the news reports about the flooding in the Midwest, my heart just sinks. I grew up in an area that experienced flooding on more than a few occasions. The power of a fast moving current and a failing levee can result in immense devastation over a vast area.

The driver of the car (pictured above) was also having a tough day. It is a reminder that life can change in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, it appears the driver escaped serious injury. Others in similar situations have not been so fortunate.

The persecution and martyrdom of Christians continues to take place in other parts of the world. It is such a sad state of affairs that I have no words for it.

How will you help a hurting world? What can yo do today to lighten the burden of someone else?

John Paul II Catholic School-Ridgeland, South Carolina

3/19/2019

It was my pleasure to take a tour today of John Paul II Catholic School in Ridgeland, South Carolina. I will have the privilege of being the keynote speaker at this location on May 18, 2019 for a Beaufort Deanery Catechist Appreciation Day.

Any time I walk through a Catholic school I observe what is happening and try to get a feel for the school culture. Do the people in the front office greet guests with warmth and enthusiasm? What is the demeanor of the students? Do the members of the faculty and administration have a spirit of joy on their faces? I am pleased to say that I noticed numerous positive attributes in my short time on the campus of John Paul II Catholic School.

When I was the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Cheyenne, I appreciated a variety of opportunities to collaborate with school administrators in evaluating their schools and their programs. Some basic questions were key to getting started in our assessments.

1. Who are we as a school community?
2. Why do we exist?
3. How are we unique?
4. What do we do?
5. What do we stand for?
6. Who do we serve?
7. What inspires us?
8. Who do we hope to become?

Being able to answer these questions sets the stage for moving forward with more direct assessments. This eventually results in developing specific plans and objectives for growth and improvement. If these endeavors are to be successful, they must always be wrapped in prayer. We can never forget that our Catholic education and formation is centered on the person of Jesus Christ. If we ever lose that focus we will wander aimlessly with no real purpose.

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion, fellowship, and power of the Holy Spirit be with you.

I Know It Is Lent, But Saturday Felt Like Christmas

3/17/2019

It has truly been an amazing experience since my book was published in late fall of 2017. The feedback has touched my heart profoundly. While I have put a few of those testimonies on the homepage of this website, that is just a small fraction of the positive comments I have received. I am thrilled that the book is serving the purpose of bringing hope to those who are hurting.

Why did it feel like Christmas over the weekend? A new shipment of books arrived from the publisher just in time for some upcoming Lenten gatherings. I always like to have books on hand at retreats and days of recollection. The book offers reflection questions that can take a person deeper into prayer. This can be especially helpful after a retreat experience.

It is St. Patrick's Day. I know many festivities are associated with this day. However, please remember the key aspects of Patrick's life that made him a saint. That is the important message of this day. It is also the Second Sunday of Lent. Allow yourself to be transfigured by the love of Christ!

How Does the Media Influence You?

3/14/2019

Each time I am in the school library I see this sign in front of the librarian's desk. I am hoping that "Book Club" is a little more subdued than the Vegas scene, but it is a cute sign which contributes to the decor of the library. It also shows the effectiveness of advertising done by the Las Vegas Tourism entities.

My reflection questions today are simple, but they may require an in-depth look into your inner life to really capture the many ways you have been affected by advertising and the media in general.

In what ways have you been positively influenced by advertising?
In what ways have you been negatively influenced by advertising?
How do you guard your senses from being inappropriately influenced by the media? (This includes movies, shows, commercials, internet perusing, etc.)