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Placing Trust In Jesus--The Way, The Truth, & The Life

4/29/2020

The talk about opening up society and our economy is bringing up a firestorm of controversy. Initially, I could not believe how many people expressed opposition to getting back to business. However, after further reflection is starts to make sense.

Is it cynical to have a bit of mistrust in our government, our media, prominent celebrities, billionaire investors, and others, or is that just good common sense? Regardless of the answer, my mistrust is present.

The two-party system in government has set up the dynamics of modern politics where it is all about winning and losing at the party level. It is rare to find the politician willing to represent his/her constituency when that goes against what the party is pushing. Unfortunately, it is the people of America who lose in the long run.

Do I trust the media? No. Look at what gets coverage and what does not. It is plain to see that there is an agenda which drives media coverage. A free press is essential for our freedom. Social media has given an outlet for those wishing to express their viewpoints, but even now, the censorship that is taking place on the major outlets has been ramped up immensely. Who would have ever thought that the founder of Facebook or Microsoft would be hailed as the moral theologians of society? Wow!

Speaking of celebrities and billionaires, do you really want them dictating the direction of the country. "Mr Population Control" is going to supervise the vaccination process for COVID 19 and require everyone to be a card-carrying member. Seriously?

This leads to many questions.

1. What does Bill Gates (and others) have to gain by the continued shutdown of society? How much money is to be made in the vaccination process?

2. What political victories are being sought in a continued shutdown? How does this impact the November election?

3. Some people are making more money on unemployment than what they were making when they were working due to the increased amount for COVID 19. Is this a kind gesture by the government, or is it a way to foster dependence upon government subsidies? (This influences voting.)

4. Why are politicians (and others) concerned about the health of people if we open up society, but on the other hand are okay with abortion and infanticide on a regular basis? As a matter of fact, this killing was allowed to carry on during the lock down. That's how important it is to some groups.

5. Why were people so upset when a baker refused to bake a cake for a "same-sex wedding," but not a word is said now when stores refuse entrance to people for a variety of reasons? Some stores require you to wear a mask to enter the store? You are forbidden entrance if you are not wearing one. Is a person able to file a lawsuit because of that discrimination?

A home improvement store won't allow anyone under the age of sixteen to enter. Liquor is not sold. Tobacco is not sold. Why is a ten year old being discriminated against in such a way? Or why is the single parent being discriminated against in such a way? A mom or a dad with a toddler in tow is not allowed to enter with the child? Where is the outcry? Where are the lawsuits?

6. Private citizens are being tracked with drones to be sure they are not violating stay at home orders. Is this America?

As society begins to open up, I hope we are careful and continue to practice a little social distancing, good hygiene, etc. In no way am I suggesting that we do things that jeopardize our safety out of carelessness.

This whole scenario should serve as a wake-up call. Our freedom is fragile. Look at how quickly freedom was removed without a shot being fired. Toilet paper became a hot commodity. Think about that. Now there is talk that the food supply will see some disruptions. The delicate balance of supply and demand has been disrupted by a virus. Does that give you any indication as to what happens with an all out biological warfare initiative?

What is the point of my message today? I am simply asking you to put your trust in Jesus and be a person of prayer. The bishops will consecrate our nation to Our Blessed Mother On May 1. Make plans in your personal life to seek Mary's intercession in a powerful way during the month of May. Let her draw you closer to her Son--the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

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Looking Forward To Being A Free People Again

4/25/2020

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The days seem to run together. The only difference is that each week brings new challenges. What events are being cancelled or postponed, and what are the details that need to be addressed because of that?

If the governor says one thing we will pursue option A. If the governor says something else we will pursue option B. When will we know the governor's decision, and how much time will we have to adjust? All I know is that I am working more hours than I ever have, and I am getting less accomplished. Apparently, that is the new normal.

The frustrations of people are real. Even with a virus we are a divided nation. Some want to lock down everything. Others want to let freedom ring. While I will function with a little more caution moving forward, I am not going to spend my time living in fear. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. It is despicable that media outlets have needlessly created fear and panic among the populace.

I spent the morning working on adjustments for our postponed auction. This is our major fundraising event of the year, and it is a beautiful gathering of those who support our school community. We have been exploring ways we can make it work with the guidelines that are in place. I think we have a plan in mind that will be effective. We will start working toward finalizing those plans and communicating the details to everyone. Hopefully, we will be ready to implement the plan in the very near future.

After working much of the morning, I decided to go for a walk. Late afternoon storms were in the forecast and I wanted to get some fresh air. The trails were active today with many walkers and bicycle riders. Upon my return home, I decided to go to the grocery store and pick up a few essential items. The store was a little more crowded than usual too. Could it be that people are simply done sitting at home?

Someone I know was refused entrance into a home improvement store in Wyoming because the individual was under sixteen years of age. Hello! You let old people with pre-existing health conditions into the store. Is that not more dangerous? Our country won't last much longer with that type of logic being used. By the way, how many people have been diagnosed with COVID 19 in Wyoming? Do you really need to function like New York?

In an attempt to put myself into a "happy place" and articulate hope, I started scrolling through old pictures. I am ready to go to new places and see new things. A vacation would be wonderful. A pilgrimage would be even better. I yearn for the day when we can start moving about freely again like we actually lived in the "land of the free and the home of the brave."

Until then, I will enjoy memories of days gone by through saved photos.

Spanish Wells--Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Grotto at All Saints Catholic Church--St. Peters, Missouri

Boston Harbor Cruise--Boston, Massachusetts

Key West, Florida

Jackson, Wyoming

St. Ambrose Cathedral--Des Moines, Iowa

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist--Charleston, South Carolina

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist--Savannah, Georgia

Cathedral of St. Mary--Cheyenne, Wyoming

The Shrine of the Stations of the Cross--San Luis, Colorado

Subiaco Abbey--Subiaco, Arkansas

Our Lady of the Snows Shrine--Belleville, Illinois

Now that I have looked at hundreds of photos, I am ready to start traveling the countryside. Seeing all that our country has to offer in scenic beauty is on my to-do list. I also look forward to visiting more shrines and churches. I am ready to break through the walls of confinement that the government has placed around us. One symbol at the University of Wyoming fills me with hope for our country.

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How Do We Grieve Properly While Social Distancing?

4/24/2020

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It was the second time in just a few months that Saint Albert Catholic Schools experienced the death of a young student. Quintin died tragically recently when he was struck by a car. He was only eight years old.

Trying to come together as a community when you are required to be social distancing is very detrimental to the grieving process. Providing love and support from a distance just loses some of the impact. However, we at Saint Albert were determined to utilize other methodologies to show our care and concern to a family going through a horrible experience.

Last Thursday evening I had the opportunity to lead a virtual prayer service from the chapel at Saint Albert. Several hundred people joined us during the live broadcast and more than 4,000 people have been reached with the recorded video since then. We are grateful for the strong support of our community.

The funeral took place privately today, but the school community showed support in a powerful way by lining the sidewalks along school. People gathered as much as an hour in advance waiting for the funeral procession to pass by. I can't even describe the level of emotion as the hearse passed by us.

The funeral procession is at the crest of the hill headed our way.

"Eternal rest grant unto Quintin O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen."

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The Overwhelming Sense Of Quiet On Campus

4/22/2020

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The beautiful weather today made it ideal to spend some time outside. Thus, I used the opportunity to join our facilities manager to survey some of the outdoor projects we need to tackle. In the midst of checking numerous details, I could not but help notice the extreme quiet. The campus would normally be buzzing with activity at this time of year, and yet, here we are with nothing but the sounds of silence.

I never imagined an event like this taking place. Milestone events for so many are being canceled or postponed. How many people would have entered the Church at the Easter Vigil? How many First Communion celebrations have been postponed? The Sacrament of Confirmation is always big during the Easter Season. This year it is almost nonexistent. Graduations, weddings, ordinations, and a multitude of other major events are being delayed, done virtually, or simply canceled. How will summer vacations be impacted?

How do you measure the worth of memories never made? It is a huge deal for seniors to miss out on their final year of competition. It also impacts the younger players too. It is one less season of experience to grow and improve.

After inspecting the fences around the perimeter of the property, I took a moment to just stand at the corner of the outfield. The diamond is well-manicured and looks great, but the emptiness of the dugout and the bleachers paints a completely different picture. These are strange times indeed.

A lot has changed since the first of the year. Our routines and our lives have been disrupted. Stay strong. Be vigilant. Keep praying. God can move powerfully in the midst of the struggle.

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Divine Mercy Sunday In A Broken World

4/19/2020

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As I watch the perpetual news cycle and spend more time on social media than what is healthy, one thing has become abundantly clear. We need God's mercy in a multitude of ways.

The disarray in society will not magically disappear once restrictions are lifted. The protests across the country that we are starting to witness are just the tip of the iceberg in regard to built up hostilities. The long term impact of the societal shutdown will be heartbreaking to watch in the months ahead.

Dr. Phil has been widely criticized for his recent comments on Fox News. I am not a regular follower of Dr. Phil on his television show so I don't have a wider context in which to put his comments. However, I did watch his interview on Fox. It made a lot of sense. Anyone who has worked with domestic violence victims knows the reality of the strain that this shutdown is placing on people living in abusive situations. If this drags on too long there will be more households experiencing higher levels of dysfunction. Critics can try to discredit Dr. Phil by calling him names, but his comments regarding family dynamics were on target.

Do I believe the virus is serious? Yes. Do I believe the shutdown of society is serious? Yes. There are consequences to our actions. I also believe in taking personal responsibility for our own actions. There is risk in everything we do each day. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. On the other hand, the trajectory of our country right now is scary. The government has proven time and time again to be ineffective at most of its endeavors, and yet, we are sitting idly by and giving them complete control over our lives at this moment in time. That is a dangerous precedent which will surely haunt us down the road.

Why am I concerned about freedom and liberty? It is a treasure that cannot be taken for granted. If history tells us anything, it tells us that powerful nations have crumbled in the past and can do so again. Are we on the verge of that happening here?

Two different articles on social media caught my attention this morning. One said that we are not all on the same boat, but we are going through the same storm. The wealthy were pictured on yachts. Middle class people were pictured in average boats. The poor were pictured on small home-made boats about to sink. (Does Nancy Pelosi's ice cream extravaganza come to mind when you compare her situation to how you are living in lock down?)

In my opinion, I am not sure we are even facing the same storm. Many posts on social media have demonstrated the hypocrisy of some of the things being mandated. Is it really about our health, or is there more to the agenda?

Why are abortion clinics essential, but a person can't get a much needed hip replacement?

How many government employees have been laid off compared to private sector people?

You can't buy seeds to plant in Michigan, but all across the country you can buy lottery tickets in person. I guess lottery ticket sales generate more money for the government than vegetable or flower seeds.

Seriously, people are being arrested for violating social distancing guidelines even though they are surfing alone out in the ocean or jogging through a park. The real kicker to this is that they are letting actual prisoners out of jail because confinement is too dangerous to their health. If that doesn't clue you in that there is more to this than what meets the eye, I am not sure what will.

We could go down the road of the pork added into the stimulus bill. We could look at why Nancy Pelosi is holding up the next stimulus package. We could look at the huge push for "mail-in" voting in a bill pertaining to a pandemic. This is about much more than public health.

Where is the Church in all of this? Where is the outcry from Church leadership about abortion mills remaining open while churches are shuttered? Where is the outcry from social justice proponents about massive unemployment and the long lines at food banks? People who formerly volunteered at the food bank are now in line for its services. Have we let media hype and hysteria obliterate objective reasoning, or do we simply have selective outrage at particular injustices?

There are no easy answers to the questions before us. However, if we keep doing what we are doing, the suffering and devastation will be unlike anything this country has seen since the great depression. Before you say I am wanting people to die because I am more concerned about the economy than health, let me stop you. I simply pose this question. If a person dies from the consequences of poverty, are they still not dead? They did not catch the virus, but they still died.

That brings me to another point. The individual that just died from starvation or lack of other necessities because of poverty induced by the shut down of our economy will most likely be classified as a death due to COVID 19. What is wrong with that picture?

The psychological trauma of this experience will have long-term impacts on people, especially our children. This does not end when society opens back up. There will be long lasting repercussions for these experiences.

Let's make it personal for a moment. How many of you are having trouble sleeping at night? Does your stomach seem to churn more frequently than usual? Are you on edge, feeling impatient with the people in your house? If you have children and you are trying to play the role of both parent and teacher, how has that affected your day-to-day routine? If you are a teacher and have young children of your own, what kind of balancing act is that for you? If you are retired and have had little to no interaction with your kids or grandchildren, how has that impacted you?

Do we want to live like this for 18 more months as a few have suggested? I don't think so.

My dear readers, let us seek God's mercy today. "For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and the whole world."

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Politicians, the Media, the Experts, the Weather-Ugh!

4/17/2020

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Spring is in the air. Okay. At least is was for one day last week. Fresh snow blankets the ground in mid-April and part of me wants to just sigh as I look out the window. When will we be set free from the pandemic, the "experts," the politicians, the media pundits, and now the winter weather? Is anyone else tired?

What methods are you using to stay motivated during these challenging times?

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Do You Feel Like High Tide Is Never Coming Back?

4/15/2020

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My post yesterday generated some interesting discussion. It was even mentioned to me a couple of times in virtual meetings later in the day. Do I believe the virus is serious? Yes. However, societal shutdown is also serious. I am not just referring to the economic impact, but to all the ripple effects of social isolation. The numbers will begin trickling in now to start shedding light on the areas of my concern. I share one of those with you today.

My first job after college graduation was as a St. Louis County police officer. I have great respect for those who choose this calling in life. You see a lot of challenging things and those images remain with you forever. Domestic abuse cases are still etched in my mind even though 35 years have passed since I left that profession. It is real and it is serious.

Jefferson County Missouri is just south of St. Louis County. Yesterday, a St. Louis television station, Fox 2 Now, reported some disturbing statistics from there. "Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak says that there is a 43% increase in domestic violence cases in March." Think about that increase. That is huge. Furthermore, the shutdown wasn't active the whole month. That is one county in one state for a partial month. The numbers for the country will be staggering.

If you live in a safe home environment, give thanks to God. Many people are not blessed with a similar situation. Social isolation hides the problem of domestic abuse even more than usual, and the victims have fewer perceived ways of escape.

May God lift us up from the crisis in which we find ourselves just as high tide lifts boats safely into the water.

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Where Do We Go From Here?

4/14/2020

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There are many memes on social media depicting some hilarious stories about being socially isolated. As we look through the sarcasm of the memes, we can see elements of truth contained in the messaging. For instance, you have no way of knowing if I am wearing my nighttime sweatpants or my daytime sweats as I write this post. I'm not sure if I can even remember at this point.

Does it feel like you have cooked dinner 795 times in the last month? Have we all gained weight in the process? How many different bows have been put into your pet's growing hair? What TV shows have you binge watched? Are you one of the people that managed to get toilet paper before it all went missing? Are you now distraught because there are no hair coloring kits left on the shelf?

Schools are shut down and a ton of comments have been made about parents now "homeschooling" their children. As I watch the societal shutdown linger on and on, I am convinced more than ever that it is time for adults to enhance their education. We need to be observing what is going on around us to better understand the implications. We have received a full semester course load in the last few weeks.

What do I mean? Let's just sample a few areas of content that have been put before us during the pandemic.

Philosophy--What is your worldview? Are you pro-life? Is it survival of the fittest? How does your worldview impact the way you assess the pandemic?

Economics--How does a free market economy work? Going back to your worldview, do you prefer socialism over capitalism? The toilet paper supply chain was just a small glimpse into the fragile balance of supply and demand for one product. What happens when that balance is disrupted for the food supply? How about the consequences of the power grid going down?

Personal Economics--How long can people go without income? If unemployment jumps to 30% as some projections have indicated, will the death rate from poverty surpass the death rate of the virus?

Sociology--There will be plenty to study for years to come following this global event. How much did the suicide rate go up due to isolation? What did being home bound do to the level of domestic abuse? Based upon alcohol sales that have been reported, what impact will societal shutdown have on the rate of addictions to alcohol or other substances?

Psychology--What will be the long term psychological effects of enduring this whole mess? It isn't just the fear of the virus; it is the media hype 24 hours a day. It is the gamesmanship of the politicians. It is the experience of loss. It is the grief that accompanies that loss. All of this is occurring without any of the usual social support systems in place. Isolation has consequences.

Biology/Chemistry--What is true about the virus? What is true about the treatment possibilities? Going back to economics, who benefits from prolonging this shutdown? Who benefits financially from a vaccine?

Statistics--Speaking of truth, how are we classifying deaths today? How do we make the statistics say what we want them to say? Oh, it goes back to economics. Your organization gets more tax dollars for each death classified as a COVID 19 death. Got it. While we are on the topic of statistics, tell me more about those models used to predict the number of deaths.

Political Science--Who is connected to one another on the global stage? Whose money is influencing a particular agenda? Cast that net wide. Pay attention to the World Health Organization, the National Institute of Health, all the people getting time in front of the TV cameras, and all the lesser known entities as well. Connect the dots.

Journalism--Would it not be wonderful to have real journalists in Washington sincerely trying to reveal facts to the American people instead of their own biased political viewpoints?

Constitutional Law--If the mainstream journalists won't do their job to protect our constitutional freedoms by exposing corruption and tyranny, we better start sounding the alarms ourselves. As one meme put it, "I hope they let us out of quarantine by July 4, so we can celebrate our freedom." Look at how quickly we moved into a semi-police state. I am not over stating that. People being arrested for walking alone in a park is somewhat serious. You can't even park your car in the church parking lot without threat of being tracked and ultimately penalized. "Oh, you want people to die." That is not what I am saying. I am asking for common sense. It is not a zero sum game.

I could go on at great length and into much more detail about some of these topics. There are more content areas to add as well. All I want to do is ask one simple question today:

How much freedom are you willing to relinquish to feel safe?

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Appreciating Ritual When Living a Diminished Version

4/11/2020

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Holy Week has always been an important part of my life. I can remember as a child not appreciating it, but it was an important event nonetheless. We had days off from school generally from Holy Thursday through Easter Monday (unless we were making up snow days). I was always thrilled to be out of school. However, I did not enjoy spending so many of those hours off from school only to be at church which was right next to school. That all changed when I was old enough to become a server at Mass.

There is great meaning in ritual when you understand it. As I was taught how to serve at Mass, I also grew in knowledge and understanding of what was taking place. I was not just performing a function, I was beginning to enter into the mystery of faith. There was a purpose behind each action during the ritual.

The wisdom that has been passed on to us through the liturgical calendar is immense. The same can be said for the three year cycle of Scripture readings. There is a purpose behind the way it is structured to help us enter more fully into our worship. Have you missed those rituals this year?

Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil are not "holy days of obligation." Have you ever wondered why so many people show up at Ash Wednesday as compared to Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil? Parishes frequently add Masses on Ash Wednesday while the other days generally have one service. Why? Is it because people understand the meaning of Ash Wednesday rituals more than the other days?

All I know is that I feel the emptiness a little more deeply today than I usually do on Holy Saturday morning. I miss the rituals. For years I have participated in rehearsals and extensive preparation to celebrate these days. This year--nothing. There was no washing of the feet on Holy Thursday. There was no transfer of the Holy Eucharist at the end of Mass to the altar of repose. There was no adoration into the night hours.

I did not proclaim the Passion narrative on Good Friday. I did not carry in the cross for veneration. After the fear instilled within us by the 24 hour media during this virus outbreak telling us millions will die, will we ever again kiss the cross on Good Friday? These rituals which have been part of my entire life were suddenly gone. The emptiness we feel with the burial of Jesus takes on even more significance this year.

Praying the Liturgy of the Hours and other smaller rituals remain a part of my prayer life. However, this week has challenged me to look at my prayer life from a different perspective. Has my personal prayer life been more intense in the absence of the larger rituals, or has it resulted in less fervor without the grounding that the larger rituals provide?

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Are New Opportunities Right Around The Corner?

4/6/2020

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It has been more than thirty years since I began studying leadership, growth, goal-setting, and motivation in general. While I have about 90 semester credits in the Social Sciences, it was after graduation from college that my thirst for understanding "excellence" kicked into high gear. I wanted to know how to live life to the fullest--in my family, my occupation, my ministry, my parish, and my community.

Shortly after we were married, my wife introduced me to a cassette tape program by Dr. Denis Waitley. (Yes, it was a long time ago.) "The Psychology of Winning" put me on a life-long quest to not miss out on the opportunities each day brings. Have I always succeeded? No. However, I have certainly grown from studying the principles taught by Dr. Waitley, Wayne Dyer, John Maxwell, Jon Gordon, Zig Ziglar, Napoleon Hill, and so many more. I am grateful to these authors and to each person that has impacted my life in a positive way through the years.

Reading secular books by authors encouraging me to live a fruitful life has complemented my study of the Sacred Scriptures, Church documents, the lives of the saints, and a vast array of other spiritual reading. Combining all of these things together has spurred me on to strive for developing discipline and consistency in my spiritual journey. Once again, do I always do it well? No. The spiritual journey is a life-long process.

How did I live my best life today? After my last virtual meeting concluded this evening, I decided to go for a walk. It was just me, a farmer tilling his field, and a bunch of birds taking advantage of the freshly turned soil and the goodies lurking just beneath. The birds could recognize this beautiful opportunity in front of them. It was good to see a sign of new life. Seeing the birds and smelling the fresh dirt lifted my spirits as I watched the tractor go down the field. I grew up on a farm. I still treasure those memories of spending hours on a tractor each spring as we prepared the ground for planting.

There are so many people hurting right now from the shutdown of our country that my heart just aches. This quiet walk gave me an opportunity to pray while getting a little exercise. I prayed for the sick, the dying, the isolated, and the lonely. I prayed for all the workers, especially those who have the potential to be in contact with people carrying the virus. I prayed for all of the unemployed. I prayed for small business owners. I prayed for those individuals stressed to the point of breaking. I prayed for the clergy missing their flocks. I prayed for the Church, our nation, and the whole world.

This Holy Week will be like no other Holy Week for me. I am grieving the loss of not celebrating these special days. On the other hand, I need to look for the opportunities contained in this turn of events. How can this week still be fruitful?

These past few weeks have been extremely difficult. I want to take just a moment to say thank you. It has been good to connect with many of you via text, email, social media, and a few phone calls. The positive stories have certainly been welcome.

Here locally, I want to thank the Saint Albert Catholic Schools community. These have been uncharted waters for me. I have never been involved in closing down school during a pandemic before. Our team has done the best we can with the constantly changing circumstances. I am grateful to my fellow administrators for all of your work during these chaotic times. I am grateful to all of the faculty members for your flexibility. Your ability to change from a brick and mortar teacher to an on-line teacher with very little notice is amazing. Thank you for going above and beyond the call of duty. Parents, I know this has been quite a switch for you as well. Thank you for your support in making this transition. I am grateful to all of you that make Saint Albert the beautiful institution that it is.

What are the opportunities coming to you during these days of social distancing? In the midst of the struggle, I simply encourage you to allow God to touch you profoundly during this Holy Week!

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