Eight Is Not Enough

It all started with this.

Some 700+ entries later (counting all the re-posts), as the lyrics say, "I'm still standing."

Eight years of sharing my thoughts (and at times baring my soul).

Sporadic at times, as I keep a quote by Mark Twain in mind.  But I don't feel bad about that.  Some of the people I read don't let their 'blogging interfere with their living.  Blessed are they who are examples of having the right priorities.

As I am not a writer by trade, I have never wanted to keep up with the Sheas, Wellborns, Palmas, and Fr. Zuhlsdorfs of the 'blogging world.  My contribution, for what it's worth, has always been in proportion to the size of my corner of the universe.  Maybe I have provided a slightly different insight at times.  I think there have been things which have been well received.  In a sense, I am just part of the cacophony.

This is and will continue to be a hobby.  God knows I have more important things to do; and, after those are accomplished, there will be other activities which will concern me.  I am content for this part of my status quo to be status quo.

But I do thank each and every one of you who do peruse me once in a great while. The almost 48,000 visitors (as of this post) who have found this to be of value are appreciated.  If I provide a service to you, praise God; if not, so be it.  It is what it is.

But this will go on for the foreseeable future.  It still is enjoyable.  It still challenges me in good ways.

I continue this part of my journey of life, which hopefully leads to Life.

Enter when you have the chance and something new (or old) surfaces.

You are still more than welcome in my infinitesimal corner of the universe.

9-11-13

Today marks the twelfth anniversary of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and some unknown target which by heroic actions became a field near Shanksville, PA.  It also marks the first anniversary of the attacks at the United States diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya in which Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three others were killed.  Two distinct incidents but with ties obvious and not so.

Evil must have a wicked sense of humor if it wants to remember today like it does.

In a 2007 post related to the events of this memorial, I suggested praying for the following:

1. The souls of all who died.
2. Those who still mourn.
3. Those who seek a just solution.  (While this may have been accomplished May 1, 2011,     have we really solved the problem?)
4. Forgiveness toward our enemies.
5. Our enemies (didn't Someone command us to do this?).
6. The courage to continue the fight.
7. Peace.

What I offer this year as my tribute is another prayer:

O God of love, compassion, and healing, look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions, who gather today at this site, the scene of incredible violence and pain. 

We ask you in your goodness to give eternal light and peace to all who died here—the heroic first-responders:  our fire fighters, police officers, emergency service workers, and Port Authority personnel, along with all the innocent men and women who were victims of this tragedy simply because their work or service brought them here on September 11, 2001. 

We ask you, in your compassion to bring healing to those who, because of their presence here that day, suffer from injuries and illness.  Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.  Give them strength to continue their lives with courage and hope. 

We are mindful as well of those who suffered death, injury, and loss on the same day at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  Our hearts are one with theirs as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering. 

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world: peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the earth.  Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred. 

God of understanding, overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy, we seek your light and guidance as we confront such terrible events.  Grant that those whose lives were spared may live so that the lives lost here may not have been lost in vain.  Comfort and console us, strengthen us in hope, and give us the wisdom and courage to work tirelessly for a world where true peace and love reign among nations and in the hearts of all. 

Pope Benedict XVI

April 20, 2008

As I have encouraged so often this time of year, go search out other tributes on the web.  Maybe even visit this website.  This post is offered once again as a simple honoring of these events.

Forgetting what has happened is not an option.

We still have much work to do so there can be "peace on earth".

But we still must remember those who have fallen, so they "will not have died in vain."

"...For The Peace Of..."

September 2013 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the prayer intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

General:  Value of Silence. That people today, often overwhelmed by noise, may rediscover the value of silence and listen to the voice of God and their brothers and sisters. 

Mission:  Persecuted Christians. That Christians suffering persecution in many parts of the world may by their witness be prophets of Christ's love.

August 2013 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the prayer intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

General:  Parents and Teachers. That parents and teachers may help the new generation to grow in upright conscience and life. 

Mission:  The Church in Africa. That the local Church in Africa, faithfully proclaiming the Gospel, may promote peace and justice.

Another Dog, Gone

In the almost six years I have been in Farmington, the house in which I reside has had more than its share of pets abiding with Catherine Garcia and me.  You were introduced to the two German Shepherds about two years ago under unfortunate circumstances.  The house has also played host to four cats (another story for another time) and two other dogs since my arrival.

The other two canines belong to Catherine's two youngest children.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, Catherine has been asked to shelter the animals for a time.  One is a three-year old, male, purebred, brindle colored boxer named Boston, owned by her son.  The other was a female, black Labrador retriever mix who was owned by her youngest daughter.

Yes, unfortunately, past tense.  Tragedy has once again befallen this humble homestead of pet owners and caretakers.  Another obituary for another dog.

The Beginning

Let me introduce you to Samantha.  (The photo is of her when she first arrived; she grew into the classic retriever shape--lean and long.)

The mix part of her was that of husky.  The only hints of it were the different colored eyes (one brown and one steel blue), gray markings on the tip of her tail and all four paws, and a thin streak of that coloring on her breast and stomach.  Speaking of that tail--her wagging it would have given Eugene a run for his money, in terms of speed and force.

She was not a native of Utah.  According to the story I have been told, she and her brother were abandoned at a rest stop.  Somewhere in Colorado.  (When I hear that, I alternate between shaking my head in dismay and having my blood boil.)  A family rescued them and brought them back to the Salt Lake City area.  After they were properly vaccinated, an ad was posted on a local internet bulletin board.  Sometime in September, 2012 she had her new home.  Here.  (Her owner was still living at home at the time.)

The Middle

Her high energy level was a great match for Boston.  The two of them became great buddies and playmates. It was always amusing to see them wrestle each other, whether indoors or out.  The growls emanating from both sounded so fierce at times.

She was definitely a retriever.  She took more small bags of garbage out the pet door than I remembered counting.  One also couldn't leave any kind of loaf of bread on the counter.  And let's just say she was more than helpful in taking down clothes from the clothesline before they were dry, never mind the two recliners that were her favorite chew toys.

One has to wonder if there were abandonment issues with her.  While not constantly wanting attention, she did want to be around people, even more so when her owner moved into her own apartment last April, a complex where Samantha could not stay permanently.  One also had to wonder about her being secure.  Scolding her for misbehaving sometimes caused her to roll on her back in a submissive position.  Yet she had that same posture for when she had your total attention and plenty of affection.

More than anything, she wanted to love and be loved.  She was always looking for an opportunity to lick your face. You did get a sense that she was glad to be here.

The End

But, she was a strong-willed dog.  She wanted the world to be her back yard, not just the 1/10 of an acre which was.  She took advantage of opened house doors and fence gates when she could.  Running around the neighborhood, it was always a game of chase with her.  She was difficult to catch.  And that would be her downfall.

Last night, she escaped as Catherine and I were ready to take one of Catherine's friends home.  It was about 8:45 PM, with cloudy and rainy skies obscuring the twilight.  We lost sight of her after she went to a neighbor's yard.  She did knew where "home" was, so we decided to not chase her.  When we came back about forty minutes later, and after a short drive around a few blocks, looking at places where we knew she had visited and thought she may be, I just about ran her over coming into the driveway.  But, she still wouldn't come inside.  Again, we decided not to chase.  About 9:30, I went outside and stood on the front porch looking for her.  She ran by, still wanting to be chased.  I didn't.

It was the last time I would see her alive.

About fifteen minutes later, two teenage girls came to the house.  Catherine met them outside first, then I joined them quickly.  They broke the news to us, then led me to where her body was, just a couple of blocks away.  In picking her up to get her out of the street, her head went limp, a sign that her neck was broken by the impact and she died immediately.  Catherine joined us a few minutes later.

The young ladies gracious stayed with the body for a bit as Catherine and I went back home.  I returned to the accident scene, wheelbarrow in tow.  I gently place her in it, carefully positioning her in a way that made me feel I was still giving her dignity as a living creature.  The girls escorted me home and then walked back to their house.  I place this temporary morgue under the car port and covered it with a tarp, securing it with cinder block, to protect her from the elements.

The Postlude

About 9:30 this morning, Catherine called the county's Animal Control Department and requested disposal of the remains.  An officer came about an hour later.  I assisted her in putting Samantha in the truck bed.

While I was waiting, I returned to accident scene.  As I looked north from where her corpse was found, I notice a trail of dry blood, the point of impact.  I don't think the driver could have seen her, but I wonder why the person didn't stop to help. (Another boiling point).   I estimated the distance between the two points at about 15 yards.

"Sammie", as she was more commonly called, was only 15 months old.  (I don't know how I find these connections; I just do.)

There is some "survivors' guilt" here, a sense of second guessing our decisions.  It is part of the grieving process; it will, eventually, be done.  There is a solemn and sober mood here, as there should be.

Samantha, you were loved and will be missed.

And I want to thank you for the message that was your life.

Sometimes, you have to live like the gate is open.

It's A (Fifty)-"One"-derful Life

Well, it's going to happen again.

Another birthday.

Frankly (and with quite a bit of bias, I might add), I think it's a very good thing.

While I might not be the embodiment of Irenaeus spirituality, I still hope I show some of God's glory in my life.

I still happen to enjoy "living and moving and having my being".  I still like this mortal coil, while heeding the voice of the Trinity.  I still revel in the challenge of being in the world but not of the world.  While I still struggle with the crosses I have (and accepting the ones I haven't yet), it is and will be worth it to work out my salvation in trembling and fear.

God knows of my successes and failings regarding that matter.  His Grace is sufficient, but only if it is used.  I know I lack, but He knows how much.  To eventually see Him as He is requires the work of a lifetime; buoyed by the Church He founded and the other disciples who follow Him, it can be accomplished.

Max Ehrmann is correct, "With all it's sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world."

I rejoice and give thanks to God I am still a part of it.

May I be blessed to see the next time this date comes on the calendar.

Doubling Up

Quite the newsworthy day at the Vatican.

First, there was this announcement.

Then, there was this announcement.

The Church rejoices for both.

Prayers For A Nation

Today ends the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops' "Fortnight For Freedom" campaign, which consisted of a series of prayers, reflections, and public activities to promote the defending of religious freedom as truly framed in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.  I don't know how much your parish or diocese participated, but I hope it did some things.

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf at "What Does The Prayer Really Say" posts on a prayer composed by the first Bishop of the United States, Archbishop John Carroll of Baltimore.  As one of his commenters noted, it makes a great template for the Universal Prayers.

Our country needs intercession more than ever.

Perhaps some of these could find their way into your prayer life.

Immaculate Mary, patroness of the United States of America, pray for us.

**********

Originally posted 7/4/2012.

July 2013 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the prayer intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

General:  World Youth Day.   That World Youth Day in Brazil may encourage all young Christians to become disciples and missionaries of the Gospel.

Mission:  Asia. That throughout Asia doors may be open to messengers of the Gospel.