I can easily remember the theme song from The Beverly Hillbillies even after all these many years (show ran from 1962-1971). That show popped into my mind the other day as I drove by this rig at the entrance to our subdivision. It prompted me to think about being more specific when I prayed.
You may be asking yourself how I connected the dots in this manner. The rig made me think of oil. Oil made me think of Jed Clampett and the lifestyle he could afford--including the "cement pond." Looking at the luxury of his home, and hearing the totals in his bank account from Mr. Drysdale, prompted me to pray for a similar lucky break. I can remember going out on our farm in Missouri and digging little holes just waiting for the oil to come bubbling up like it did for Jed. I "prayed" for oil to be on our land.
Little did I know that my "prayer" would be answered nearly fifty years later after I moved to Wyoming. Unfortunately, I failed to "pray" for mineral rights in addition to having the oil on my ground. I was only a kid back then. How was I supposed to know about mineral rights?
I mention all of this a bit tongue in cheek. However, I use this brief reflection to invite you to pause and think about what you value in life. Striking it rich by finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow or having "black gold" rise up out of the ground would be tremendous experience, but I encourage you to focus on the blessings you already have in your midst.
The beginning of each Mass reminds us of how blessed we are when we hear the words of greeting. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all." We are indeed rich beyond measure!
You may be asking yourself how I connected the dots in this manner. The rig made me think of oil. Oil made me think of Jed Clampett and the lifestyle he could afford--including the "cement pond." Looking at the luxury of his home, and hearing the totals in his bank account from Mr. Drysdale, prompted me to pray for a similar lucky break. I can remember going out on our farm in Missouri and digging little holes just waiting for the oil to come bubbling up like it did for Jed. I "prayed" for oil to be on our land.
Little did I know that my "prayer" would be answered nearly fifty years later after I moved to Wyoming. Unfortunately, I failed to "pray" for mineral rights in addition to having the oil on my ground. I was only a kid back then. How was I supposed to know about mineral rights?
I mention all of this a bit tongue in cheek. However, I use this brief reflection to invite you to pause and think about what you value in life. Striking it rich by finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow or having "black gold" rise up out of the ground would be tremendous experience, but I encourage you to focus on the blessings you already have in your midst.
The beginning of each Mass reminds us of how blessed we are when we hear the words of greeting. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all." We are indeed rich beyond measure!
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