Today is a beautiful day in New Orleans. I spent the morning at the eye doctor where I learned my astigmatism has slightly increased, but other than that all is well! I'm glad I made an early appointment because it was so nice driving through the city with the music up and windows down! I really enjoyed it. The area of Gentilly (the Dillard subdivision) where my doctor's office is is very nice. I'm not too familiar it, but it was very clean with lots of trees, wide streets, and it was quiet. My eye doctor is so friendly, and he was in no rush. He was on time to my appointment, and spent a whole 45 minutes with me! He evaluated my eyes to the sharpest vision possible then we chatted while he entered the data into their seemingly new computer system. It's probably why his appointments are so spread out... it took me 3 months to get!
I went to Adoration after, which is always nice. I really look forward to it each week, though when I first made the commitment, I was nervous about breaking away from my daily routine to go and sit still for an hour with Jesus. It's actually quite easy to do. I spend the first 10 minutes quietly praying, then I read the day's mass readings slowly, line by line. I got down in a little notebook any interesting thoughts. Then, I have a meditation that I read from my Laudate Android app. I read that slowly, then jot down any thoughts. I end by spending the last 10-15 minutes in quiet adoration prayer, also which I find on my Laudate app. The one hour really flies by! I really like my 11am-12pm time slot, because the church bells right right at 12, so it is an easy signal that it's time for me to leave without me having to glance at the clock. After doing this a few times now, I have built up quite a collection of notes, and I read through some of them today. I am noticing trends and common themes in the things I write about, and that gives me a boost knowing that I'm living my life according to the truth I find in Catholic teachings. The same truth appears in different ways each week, and I love that constancy. I always wonder if people think that I'm piddling around texting on my cell phone while I'm supposed to be adoring Jesus. But, I hope people realize that Bible, meditation, and prayer apps are easy ways of accessing spiritual texts that are excellent supplements during prayer time. Nobody's bothered me about it yet.
The rest of my afternoon has been devoted to career planning and school work. Besides a normal flow of reading, analyzing, and writing essays, I'm considering a certification in special education. I'm in the beginning phases of consideration, but am feeling a strong pull towards it. I'll write more about that later. We shall see what the next few days have in store for me!
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Advent: Tuesday, First Week
November 29, 2011
Today's Advent act is to ponder children, find Jesus in their faces, and find some way to love a child. Well, one thing I know is that in no way did I interact with any children, although it felt like it at times in my office! :) However, I find myself thinking often of my upcoming career teaching early elementary students. I absolutely cannot wait to get into the classroom and teach! I love the way children are so eager to learn. They are fearless and just absorb the world around them like sponges. One of my favorite feelings of joy is when I see something click in the mind of one I am teaching. And then, watching them put that new skill into practice.
Children need so much love, attention, and guidance. What a selfless act it is to be a parent, guardian, or mentor to a child! You must completely forget yourself and your own desires in order to ensure your child has what he or she needs to survive, to be successful, and to make good decisions. They depend so much on the older people in their lives to show them the right way to live. That puts a lot of pressure on the older people because the reality of the daily grind sometimes gets the best of us. (I count myself in the older people crowd now, I suppose.) Thinking about Sunday's post on finding Jesus, I realize that it's a double whammy when I not only have to seek and find Jesus for myself, but also have to teach the children in my life how to. It's not just a challenge, but an honor to pass on such a hopeful and peaceful message to a child who will eventually grow up in an oftentimes harsh and cruel world.
It's really not hard for me to find Jesus in the faces of children. It's definitely one of the easier ways to seek and find Jesus in my life. For one, the children in my family are unspeakably the perfect image of God and His creation. I absolutely cannot imagine any more perfect creatures in the world than them, despite the occasional temper tantrums (at which I try to hide my laughter) or attitudes (at which I patiently attempt to encourage some discipline). Outside of my family, whenever I see children in strollers or walking with their parents throughout the city, I do smile to myself. They're such little people with such big dreams and aspirations... you can see it in the way they try to emulate their parents or in the way they look around and try to understand the world around them. There is so much potential in them! I suppose it's easy to get through my life and just pray and hope that the next generation will do a better job than we can. Isn't that the curse (or blessing?) of every generation?
While I did not get to spend time with any children today, I look forward to spending more time with my nephews this weekend. And, since I don't plan to be around any children until then, I'm going honor them by donating to New Orleans Children's Hospital, the place that healed my heart when I was a baby. Everyday, the doctors, nurses, and staff provide love and care to sick children. I'll pray for them tonight as well as for all those who care for children -- parents, guardians, teachers, family members, doctors, emergency service providers, daycare facilitators, summer camp counselors, and all those who devote their lives to the welfare of children in the world.
Recap - Ponder children, find Jesus in their faces, and love a child.
1. Children need guidance and example from us.
2. Children provide us with a beautiful expression of Jesus as human.
3. Take time and resources to remember and love children and to put them first.
DONATE TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, NEW ORLEANS: http://www.chnola.org/PageDisplay.asp?p1=4289
PS: My "Advent Acts" have and will come from a lovely little book entitled Joyous Expectations: Journeying through Advent with Mary by M. Jean Frisk, copyright 2005.
Today's Advent act is to ponder children, find Jesus in their faces, and find some way to love a child. Well, one thing I know is that in no way did I interact with any children, although it felt like it at times in my office! :) However, I find myself thinking often of my upcoming career teaching early elementary students. I absolutely cannot wait to get into the classroom and teach! I love the way children are so eager to learn. They are fearless and just absorb the world around them like sponges. One of my favorite feelings of joy is when I see something click in the mind of one I am teaching. And then, watching them put that new skill into practice.
Children need so much love, attention, and guidance. What a selfless act it is to be a parent, guardian, or mentor to a child! You must completely forget yourself and your own desires in order to ensure your child has what he or she needs to survive, to be successful, and to make good decisions. They depend so much on the older people in their lives to show them the right way to live. That puts a lot of pressure on the older people because the reality of the daily grind sometimes gets the best of us. (I count myself in the older people crowd now, I suppose.) Thinking about Sunday's post on finding Jesus, I realize that it's a double whammy when I not only have to seek and find Jesus for myself, but also have to teach the children in my life how to. It's not just a challenge, but an honor to pass on such a hopeful and peaceful message to a child who will eventually grow up in an oftentimes harsh and cruel world.
It's really not hard for me to find Jesus in the faces of children. It's definitely one of the easier ways to seek and find Jesus in my life. For one, the children in my family are unspeakably the perfect image of God and His creation. I absolutely cannot imagine any more perfect creatures in the world than them, despite the occasional temper tantrums (at which I try to hide my laughter) or attitudes (at which I patiently attempt to encourage some discipline). Outside of my family, whenever I see children in strollers or walking with their parents throughout the city, I do smile to myself. They're such little people with such big dreams and aspirations... you can see it in the way they try to emulate their parents or in the way they look around and try to understand the world around them. There is so much potential in them! I suppose it's easy to get through my life and just pray and hope that the next generation will do a better job than we can. Isn't that the curse (or blessing?) of every generation?
While I did not get to spend time with any children today, I look forward to spending more time with my nephews this weekend. And, since I don't plan to be around any children until then, I'm going honor them by donating to New Orleans Children's Hospital, the place that healed my heart when I was a baby. Everyday, the doctors, nurses, and staff provide love and care to sick children. I'll pray for them tonight as well as for all those who care for children -- parents, guardians, teachers, family members, doctors, emergency service providers, daycare facilitators, summer camp counselors, and all those who devote their lives to the welfare of children in the world.
Recap - Ponder children, find Jesus in their faces, and love a child.
1. Children need guidance and example from us.
2. Children provide us with a beautiful expression of Jesus as human.
3. Take time and resources to remember and love children and to put them first.
DONATE TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, NEW ORLEANS: http://www.chnola.org/PageDisplay.asp?p1=4289
BONUS: The Jesse Tree - http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/jessetree.html
PS: My "Advent Acts" have and will come from a lovely little book entitled Joyous Expectations: Journeying through Advent with Mary by M. Jean Frisk, copyright 2005.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Advent: Sunday, First Week
November 27, 2011
Today's Advent act is to "foster the desire to seek and find Jesus." During Advent, we should be anticipating Jesus' arrival with a joyful, almost childlike, eagerness. Advent is one of my favorite seasons of the year, and I think it's because I enjoy that anticipation of Jesus' birthday. I look forward to the symbolic traditions of the season: special prayers and readings, the Advent wreath and candles that are lit one by one, even the change in the weather (though not TOO much change!)
What can I do to seek and find Jesus, especially during Advent? How do I make myself want to? I think that purposefully taking the time out of the day to read, reflect, pray, and even talk to someone about their reflections really helps to bring Jesus to the forefront of my life. However, it's easier said than done - and for me, living in Manhattan doesn't make it any easier. First, I have to make the time. Though, I find that once I do quiet myself and get into the zone, I'm really happy that I did. It ends up being a necessity of my day, not a luxurious self indulgence. For example, just sitting and writing this blog entry gets me thinking about how I need seek and find Jesus. So first, I've decided... I need to make the time. I need to allow myself some quiet moments in the day to reflect.
Next, I need to also remember that Jesus is not only found in the quiet moments of my day, but the noisy and busy ones as well. This is when it's the hardest for me to remember to keep him front of mind. So, what do I do when I'm stressed out walking down the sickeningly loud Manhattan streets, assisting one of my employees with a client issue, or rushing to JFK on Friday afternoon for a happy-go-lucky flight home to New Orleans? I think this is where my (well-developed) patience kicks in. This is where I try really hard not to turn around and grimace at a person who won't stay to the right on the sidewalk and runs me out the way. Or, at the office when I've got 10 things on my plate and once with emails rolling in, and I smile and breathe through it and give my employee the guidance she needs and deserves. Maybe that's something I've gotten down pat so far. Maybe I am seeking and finding Jesus in my difficult moments when my patience is tested. I have fostered this desire through much practice, I believe, and maybe I've realized that it actually works. So, I suppose I rely on Jesus a lot in my times of stress. Well, that solves that issues. Now, we're left with the fun times of my day!
When I make it to JFK and hit the bar, my mind is so far away from Jesus. Life is good! I'm not particularly sad or hurting or in need. This is where I need to exercise my desire to seek and find him in the joyful moments of my life. I need to remember that not only does he console the hurting, but he also enables us to share in joy, peace, and happiness! I think that next time I am feeling particularly happy, I'm going to make a specific point to remember Jesus and to find his blessing in those good moments. If I am healed in my quiet moments and in my bad moments, imagine the surplus of healing and happiness I would feel in my good moments! :)
Recap - Foster the desire to seek and find Jesus.
1. Make quiet time for reflection.
2. Embrace patience and ask Jesus for help in difficult moments.
3. Embrace joyfulness and thank Jesus for his blessings.
Today's Advent act is to "foster the desire to seek and find Jesus." During Advent, we should be anticipating Jesus' arrival with a joyful, almost childlike, eagerness. Advent is one of my favorite seasons of the year, and I think it's because I enjoy that anticipation of Jesus' birthday. I look forward to the symbolic traditions of the season: special prayers and readings, the Advent wreath and candles that are lit one by one, even the change in the weather (though not TOO much change!)
What can I do to seek and find Jesus, especially during Advent? How do I make myself want to? I think that purposefully taking the time out of the day to read, reflect, pray, and even talk to someone about their reflections really helps to bring Jesus to the forefront of my life. However, it's easier said than done - and for me, living in Manhattan doesn't make it any easier. First, I have to make the time. Though, I find that once I do quiet myself and get into the zone, I'm really happy that I did. It ends up being a necessity of my day, not a luxurious self indulgence. For example, just sitting and writing this blog entry gets me thinking about how I need seek and find Jesus. So first, I've decided... I need to make the time. I need to allow myself some quiet moments in the day to reflect.
Next, I need to also remember that Jesus is not only found in the quiet moments of my day, but the noisy and busy ones as well. This is when it's the hardest for me to remember to keep him front of mind. So, what do I do when I'm stressed out walking down the sickeningly loud Manhattan streets, assisting one of my employees with a client issue, or rushing to JFK on Friday afternoon for a happy-go-lucky flight home to New Orleans? I think this is where my (well-developed) patience kicks in. This is where I try really hard not to turn around and grimace at a person who won't stay to the right on the sidewalk and runs me out the way. Or, at the office when I've got 10 things on my plate and once with emails rolling in, and I smile and breathe through it and give my employee the guidance she needs and deserves. Maybe that's something I've gotten down pat so far. Maybe I am seeking and finding Jesus in my difficult moments when my patience is tested. I have fostered this desire through much practice, I believe, and maybe I've realized that it actually works. So, I suppose I rely on Jesus a lot in my times of stress. Well, that solves that issues. Now, we're left with the fun times of my day!
When I make it to JFK and hit the bar, my mind is so far away from Jesus. Life is good! I'm not particularly sad or hurting or in need. This is where I need to exercise my desire to seek and find him in the joyful moments of my life. I need to remember that not only does he console the hurting, but he also enables us to share in joy, peace, and happiness! I think that next time I am feeling particularly happy, I'm going to make a specific point to remember Jesus and to find his blessing in those good moments. If I am healed in my quiet moments and in my bad moments, imagine the surplus of healing and happiness I would feel in my good moments! :)
Recap - Foster the desire to seek and find Jesus.
1. Make quiet time for reflection.
2. Embrace patience and ask Jesus for help in difficult moments.
3. Embrace joyfulness and thank Jesus for his blessings.
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