Many years ago, a wise person once told me, "count your blessings--that will always make you feel better."
So in the style of Letterman, here are my top 10 blessings for today:
10. Waking up to a new morning.
9. Having a job to go to.
8. Having a vehicle to drive to work in
7. Having decent, kind and thoughtful people to work with and for.
6. a roof over my head
5. the beauty of the Earth
4. the means and ability to attend Loyola's Institue for Ministry program
3. friends
2. family
1. God's love, Jesus' example and the Spirit's inspiration and guidance.
There. I'm feeling better.
Count your blessings so you can feel better, too.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Discovery is Home
I watched with great joy and relief as Space Shuttle Discovery landed in southern California. Commander Eileen Collins performed a beautiful landing lightly touching down Discovery at 7:10 CDT.
As Discovery glided through the atmosphere, infrared cameras captured the outline of the shuttle as it emerged from its burning-reentry. I watched in amazement the white outline of the very hot underside of Discovery. Commander Eileen Collins performed a series of S-manuevers to slow the velocity of Discovery. As Discovery banked the last time and lined up with the runway, the tip of the nose cone was a white dot indicating its hot encounter with the atmosphere.
As I watched the landing gear deploy and Discovery touching down, I lifted a prayer of thanksgiving that the 7-member crew arrived safe and sound. I heard the NASA announcer say, "Discovery is home."
Coming home is a wonderful experience. Feelings of joy swim in the heart with anticipation of seeing family and loved ones. For the crew of Discovery, I suspect coming home took on new meaning especially in the shadow of Columbia's catastrophic trip home two and a half years ago.
I believe God has blessed us with the intellect and innovation of technology. When we use this new technology in ways like space exploration, we help to improve humankind.
We have greatly benefited from space exploration. Perhaps the greatest and most unlikely discovery to come from space exploration is how we have learned to work together. Together, many different nations built a space station. We put away our differences and came together to study, to learn and to innovate so that we could explore Earth from the fringes of our atmosphere. In and through that exploration, we endeavor to help humankind. Nations who once were enemies now share living quarters in Earth's orbit.
Let us thank God for the safe return of the Discovery crew. Let us prayerfully remember the crew of Columbia and all men and women who sacrificed to advance our technology that we might improve life on Planet Earth.
As Discovery glided through the atmosphere, infrared cameras captured the outline of the shuttle as it emerged from its burning-reentry. I watched in amazement the white outline of the very hot underside of Discovery. Commander Eileen Collins performed a series of S-manuevers to slow the velocity of Discovery. As Discovery banked the last time and lined up with the runway, the tip of the nose cone was a white dot indicating its hot encounter with the atmosphere.
As I watched the landing gear deploy and Discovery touching down, I lifted a prayer of thanksgiving that the 7-member crew arrived safe and sound. I heard the NASA announcer say, "Discovery is home."
Coming home is a wonderful experience. Feelings of joy swim in the heart with anticipation of seeing family and loved ones. For the crew of Discovery, I suspect coming home took on new meaning especially in the shadow of Columbia's catastrophic trip home two and a half years ago.
I believe God has blessed us with the intellect and innovation of technology. When we use this new technology in ways like space exploration, we help to improve humankind.
We have greatly benefited from space exploration. Perhaps the greatest and most unlikely discovery to come from space exploration is how we have learned to work together. Together, many different nations built a space station. We put away our differences and came together to study, to learn and to innovate so that we could explore Earth from the fringes of our atmosphere. In and through that exploration, we endeavor to help humankind. Nations who once were enemies now share living quarters in Earth's orbit.
Let us thank God for the safe return of the Discovery crew. Let us prayerfully remember the crew of Columbia and all men and women who sacrificed to advance our technology that we might improve life on Planet Earth.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Family
Have you experienced a family reunion lately? Has it been many years since you have seen some members of your family?
I experienced a family reunion yesterday in the small community of Mt. Airy, LA. Two uncles, eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren gathered at my maternal grandparents home. Though family attendance was not one-hundred percent, our combinded group of thirty plus two dogs shared plently of good food and fun.
Family members from New Hampshire impressed the rest with yummy BBQ cuisine. While I shared my discovery of yummy crawfish cornbread dressing with all. It was great to hear questions about my crawfish cornbread delight from family members who think that I cannot cook.
Though it is true that I am somewhat cooking-challenged, I can bake food from the frozen section of the grocery store.
I enjoyed the eucharistic family celebration. It was the second time we were able to get together since my mama went to her eternal reward last November. I found great consolation in the shared conversation and laughter.
Our family has experienced much loss, but we have found much support from each other. We have had a mixed share of happiness and grief. I thank God for my family. I have been blessed by each one of their smiles.
I experienced a family reunion yesterday in the small community of Mt. Airy, LA. Two uncles, eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren gathered at my maternal grandparents home. Though family attendance was not one-hundred percent, our combinded group of thirty plus two dogs shared plently of good food and fun.
Family members from New Hampshire impressed the rest with yummy BBQ cuisine. While I shared my discovery of yummy crawfish cornbread dressing with all. It was great to hear questions about my crawfish cornbread delight from family members who think that I cannot cook.
Though it is true that I am somewhat cooking-challenged, I can bake food from the frozen section of the grocery store.
I enjoyed the eucharistic family celebration. It was the second time we were able to get together since my mama went to her eternal reward last November. I found great consolation in the shared conversation and laughter.
Our family has experienced much loss, but we have found much support from each other. We have had a mixed share of happiness and grief. I thank God for my family. I have been blessed by each one of their smiles.
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