Blog Archives - Articulating Hope

No Grass Has Been Growing Under My Feet

11/14/2016

I just want to park and rest a while. The last ten days have been exhausting. Car trips have taken me to Jackson, Wyoming, Denver, Colorado, and Casper, Wyoming. Air travel has taken me to Anchorage, Alaska and back. The trip to Anchorage reminded me that I am extremely grateful to not have a job in which air travel is frequently required. Can they make the seats any more cramped and uncomfortable?

My schedule resumes a little more normalcy in the weeks ahead. That is a welcome shift. My list of speaking engagements for 2017 continues to grow. These are wonderful opportunities to share faith with people all across the diocese. You can see a list of the major upcoming events by clicking on the "Speaking Engagements" tab at the top of this page.

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost upon us. The autumn season has been very pleasant and that has been much appreciated by this individual. The winter always seems to be a test in endurance. A later start to the cold and snow is just fine with me.

The College of Consultors is meeting today to select an administrator for the diocese while we await the appointment of a new bishop. I pray for their gathering and their discernment in this decision-making process. We pray also that the process of appointing us a new bishop is prayerful, reflective, and expedient.

Anchorage, Alaska--I'd Prefer To Visit In The Summer

11/12/2016

While daylight was short-lived, I did take the opportunity to venture outside of our hotel for a little while. The hotel overlooks a small lake with houses surrounding most of the lake. Almost each house had an airplane parked outside the residence. That is something I don't typically see on a day by day basis here in Wyoming.

While the lake looked pretty all covered in snow, I imagine the beauty during the summer would warm a person's heart.

I have seen much of God's handiwork in the last week from the air and on the ground. I saw the Grand Tetons close-up on Sunday from the ground. Yesterday I flew over them and saw them from the air. The snow-covered peaks were majestic. The clear skies provided some beautiful views from the air all over the mountain west as we made our way to Anchorage from Denver. Three mountains were visible in Washington as we approached the Seattle airport. The pilot named them for us. I remember Mount Hood and Mount Adams, but don't recall the third. Their snow-covered peaks stood out immensely from the surrounding landscape.

Take some time to enjoy the beauty of God's creation wherever you are!

Back Home In The Lower Forty-Eight

11/11/2016

I returned home on Sunday evening after spending last weekend in Jackson, Wyoming with the parishioners of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church. The seven hour drive home was beautiful, but I knew it was not the end of traveling for a while. I immediately unpacked my small suitcase when I arrived home and packed a larger one. I went to Denver, Colorado Monday afternoon to prepare for an early morning Tuesday flight to Anchorage, Alaska.

A four hour layover in Seattle allowed for some time to roam the airport and get some walking done to offset all of the sitting. The above photo was taken at the Seattle airport. From there it was on to Anchorage, Alaska. My group arrived late in the afternoon which afforded us just enough time to get something to eat and head to Holy Family Cathedral for Solemn Vespers. This is the evening prayer service in which Archbishop-elect Etienne would take possession of the Cathedral in his new archdiocese.

The ritual includes knocking on the door of the cathedral.

Tuesday evening concluded with a reception following Solemn Vespers. After a long day of traveling it was finally time to call it a day.

There was a little down time Wednesday morning before a luncheon at 11:30 A.M. prior to the start of the installation Mass at 2:00 P.M. I was grateful for a slow start to the day. A little time for souvenir shopping was welcome as there was no time for sightseeing or other activities. A walk in the cold and humid air reminded me of Missouri. It certainly has a different feel than the low humidity of Wyoming.

I had an opportunity to visit with priests and deacons from all over Alaska.

The Papal Bull lets us know the appointment is legitimate.

Mass was held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Anchorage.

Many different cultures are represented in Alaska. I was told that there are over 100 different languages spoken throughout the state. We were given a glimpse into some of these cultures at the two liturgical services.

While we are sad to say good-bye in Wyoming, we wish Archbishop Etienne well as he begins his role as the shepherd of his flock in the Archdiocese of Anchorage.

An evening dinner on Wednesday was followed by an attempt to go to bed early. We had a 5:00 A.M. flight on Thursday to head back to Wyoming. We left the hotel at 3:00 A.M. to begin the trek home. I finally walked into my home about 8:00 P.M. last night. I am exhausted, but I am glad I made the trip. I have worked closely with Archbishop Etienne for the last seven years and will miss him. However, we wait with great anticipation to see what God has in store for us in the days ahead.

I am grateful to have missed much of the political discourse over these days. That probably would have wearied me more than the hours of traveling. We simply continue to pray for our country. As we approach the end of the liturgical year we are reminded that Christ is King of the Universe. It is good to always keep that in mind.

I tip my hat today to all of the military veterans. Thank you for your service to our great country.

Finally, I need to go pack another suitcase. I leave in a few hours to go to Casper for another weekend of diaconate formation with the men of our diocese discerning a call to the diaconate. At least I was able to sleep in my own bed for one night. After this weekend I hope to stay home for a while and catch up on the paperwork that never goes away.

Have a blessed weekend!

How Many People Have Been Bucked Off Already?

11/10/2016

Once again, I am still writing these posts on Monday, the day before the election. I do not know the results, but I am anticipating that some people will have experienced a rough ride by now. Where will it all lead?

People Are Still trying To Get Away From The Results

11/9/2016

I saw this piece of art in Jackson, Wyoming last weekend. The picture does not quite capture the intensity of the scene as vividly as seeing it in person. However, I think it may speak to folks today as certain members of the political establishment seek to do damage control following the election.
(I am writing this on Monday so I have no idea who wins or loses, but one side or the other will be in panic mode today.)

How Many People Will Leave The Country After Today

11/8/2016

Will our borders experience an onslaught of traffic heading out of the country once the results of the election are tabulated? I think we will be picking up the pieces of our broken nation for quite some time following this lengthy political campaign. Please continue to pray and fast for our nation.

I Did Not See A Real Moose In Jackson--This Will Do

11/7/2016

I will show you a couple of other pieces of art in my blog postings on Wednesday and Thursday from my recent visit to Jackson. I have written three brief pieces today (Monday) which will automatically post in the days ahead. I'll consider wading back into the political world with some thoughts once the dust has settled from the election.

Have a blessed week!

Be Sure To Vote Tomorrow

11/7/2016

The citizens of our nation do not seem to agree on much of anything any more. However, I think we have found one thing which unites us--the end of the election. Regardless of who wins or loses, the American people will at least be grateful that it is over.

I will have little to no access to a computer for the next three days. That is probably a blessing in disguise. As the results of the election come in I won't need to be glued to a play-by-play update minute by minute. Remember the beauty of God's creating hand despite whatever happens on election day.

Our Lady of the Mountains Parish--Thank You!

11/6/2016

The seven hour drive to go from the southeast corner of Wyoming to the northwest corner of the state was well worth it. The retreat on Saturday was a wonderful day. I am grateful to all who attended and participated. Preaching at the weekend liturgies was an awesome privilege as well. I want to thank the pastor for extending that invitation to me.

The extra hour of sleep due to the time change came at a good time. I felt refreshed today and was ready to make the seven hour trip home following the two morning Masses. I wanted to get as much driving completed in the daylight as possible, but I also had a desire to admire God's beauty along the way. I decided on a few occasions to stop and act like a tourist. Enjoy the pictures.

The Disappearance of the "Common Good"

11/3/2016

The political discourse has been anything but uplifting over the last eighteen months. There will certainly be a sense of relief when it finally comes to a close. Unfortunately, the division in our country will not end the day after the election. That will remain in place regardless of who is the winner in the presidential election.

It saddens my heart to watch our nation slide deeper and deeper into immorality. The party platform which promotes abortion as something to be celebrated lets me know that there is no pursuit of the common good. We have moved from keeping abortion "safe, legal, and rare" to an active marketing campaign to have more and more abortions. To top it off we are expected to pay for it with our tax dollars. When moral issues are ignored our politics have nowhere to go except toward Sodom and Gomorrah. We find ourselves there today.

You may accuse me of being a one issue voter. That is okay. The first issue must always be life. "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" means nothing if that first component is eliminated. You have no liberty and no opportunity to pursue happiness if your life is terminated before ever seeing the light of day.

Catholic politicians repeatedly tell us it is okay to vote for pro-abortion candidates. My suggestion would be that these politicians stop referring to themselves as Catholic. The confusion created by such statements from politicians is unfortunate to say the least. There will be a day when we will each render an account for our actions.

If we truly believe that we are created in the image and likeness of God, we must do everything in our power to help our country grow in its understanding of the sacred dignity and value of each human life. Abortion, euthanasia, and physician-assisted suicide all demonstrate a careless attitude toward the precious gift of life. These are not simply political issues. They are moral issues. The Church must continue to defend life from conception through natural death.

As I cast my ballot today I felt a sense of futility. It is the first time I have felt that way when entering the voting booth. In a free country I have always cherished the right to vote. I know the sacrifices that were made to give me that right and that privilege. I will not take that right for granted. However, the fullness of corruption being on full display during this political season has diminished the joy of voting. The lust for money and power among the elite does not bode well for our overall well-being as a nation. Is there any reason to believe things will change for the better any time soon?

Please pray for our nation. Please pray for our Church.