spring

For all the many unfavorable things that I may say about my school, there is one wonderful thing for sure...our campus is beautiful.  We have a team of custodians who work hard to keep it tidy and well-groomed, and we have attractive landscaping and foliage. 

Each spring, there are these trees that flower.  I am not sure the variety.  When I asked our custodian the other day, he said, "That's one of those 'fake pear' trees."  So whether it is some kind of ornamental pear or whether he's just pulling my leg, I have no idea. 

But the white flowers are so beautiful against the blue spring sky. 

So I documented!  (That's what I spend a great deal of time doing as a teacher...documenting...)

The tree above is outside the church near my school. 

 The neighborhood view from the parking lot at the church.  I like the variety of colors.  In a month or so, summer will be here, and everything will just be green, green, green.  I get tired of green. 

These close-ups are from the trees at school.  It's the contrast against the blue sky, I think, that appeals so much to me.

I was back at church in the evening to drop off my Boy Scouts for an activity.  Thought the trees were pretty at night, too!

No point at all to this post.  Just sharing some beauty.  Appreciating God's handiwork!

sunday snippets

It's Sunday, and that means it's time to link up with R'Ann at This That and the Other Thing where she hosts Catholic bloggers each week. 

With the approach of Lent and time off from work to celebrate Mardi Gras (and Ash Wednesday), this week saw a few more posts than recent months.

fertile ground - I really like this post.  Every once in a while, it seems like the Holy Spirit just speaks and the post gets right to the point instead of rambling along searching for a point.  This was one of those.

evangelization - This post hits upon some of the simple things we can do as Catholics to "evangelize" those in our families or in our work places.  Sometimes those who are most in need of our evangelization efforts are other Catholics.


turning towards lent - Some pre-Lenten reflections.  What does God want from you this Lent?  Our priest told us today that God wants us to be "like Him, with Him".  Contrasted with Adam and Even who wanted to be "like Him, withOUT Him". 

And that was that for this week.  You could find older posts here, and just scrolling down....if you were having a lazy spring day.  :-)

Enjoy!

fertile ground

I wonder if so many religious communities garden because of the spiritual aspects of it.  It was a beautiful day today, and I was able to get a few things done outside.  It is quiet, and my mind wanders... 

Maybe this is what our spiritual life looks like by the time Lent arrives.  

There's decent soil underneath, but there's also a lot of junk piled on top, weeds growing, dead stuff...

No doubt there's some good things there. 

Like this strawberry plant left over from last year.  

But before it is going to flourish, some cleaning needs to be done, and maybe some compost needs to be added.

The leaves that have fallen need to be brushed away.  

Then the weeds need to be pulled out...roots and all.

Some of them are easy enough to pull out bare-handed.  

But some of them are clearly going to need more than MY bare hands to pull them out. 

But when all is said and done... you are left with fertile ground.  

A place which can bear fruit and nourishment.  

Something to sustain us.  

Something that we can share with others.

Perhaps that is how Lent is.  We dust off our souls, take a good look, assess what might need to be done.  Then we set to work - all with God's help.  We might need to add some things...prayer, time spent in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, or spiritual reading.  We might need to remove some things that are choking off what growth we need to do.  Some of those things can be removed easily - giving something up.  But some things need a little extra help....the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  We might need to give of ourself.  The end result - hopefully - is a place in our heart where the Word of God can put down roots.  Growth.  Sharing with those who hunger.

Prayers for a blessed Lent and a bountiful harvest!

 3.12.11  Would it be too much to edit this post to add that I went to confession this afternoon.  Very nearly the first words out of the priest's mouth by way of encouragement were something about seeing our lives as "fertile ground for redemption".  I've heard him use that terminology before, so I wasn't totally awed and amazed.  More like God sending a wink and a thumbs-up my way, and further confirmation that the priest is a pencil in God's hand. 

evangelization

The word "evangelization" evokes images of pushy people knocking on doors and trying to sell their own brand of religion to those around them at any cost.  Yet, as Catholics we are called to evangelize, and most shy away from it, I think.  I know I have.  I'm happy as a clam with my religion, but surely don't want to step on any toes.

Gradually, I've come to realize that we don't have to go far to find people to evangelize.  I don't need to knock on doors or push things on unsuspecting strangers.  There are people in my own family who could use a little support in their faith.  Sometimes it might just be a little encouragement or a conversation.  There are so many people who are life-long Catholics who don't know about things like Adoration.  (Probably a good bit of my generation, since I don't ever remember hearing about Adoration in 9 years of Catholic school and 3 or 4 years of CCD.)  I have a friend who sometimes shows up at daily Mass with me.   She will frequently have a question about something that we do in the middle of Mass (like that funny thing we do before the Gospel is read - scratching our head and our lips and our heart).  "I'll explain later," I say.  Sometimes it is a phone call to a reluctant someone to see if they need a ride to Mass.

One of the churches that I sometimes visit had "Little Black Books" available in their vestibule for $1.  I bought a handful of them, and then passed them along to people at work whom I know to be Catholic, but who may or may not attend Mass on a regular basis.  Maybe the Holy Spirit will use something there to speak to them.  My church offers a couple of  wonderful musical programs during Lent and Stations of the Cross on Friday afternoons.  I've invited people to both - my way of evangelizing - and they have come.  Once again, the Holy Spirit has a job to do.  I think it might be less threatening for someone who is not an active church-goer to agree to attending something that is not an all-out Sunday Mass.  Something where you just watch or follow along in the book.

In a public school, there is very little in the way of religious conversation that you can have with students.  But I try to remember that my actions speak.  What I do can give God a "good name" or a "bad name".  Kids know when someone treats them with dignity and respect.  That might be the closest they get to seeing the Gospel lived out in their daily lives.  Some mornings I go to a church across town.  It is located right next to a school for kids who have been expelled from their regular schools.  A couple of times, I have been spotted entering or leaving the church by students or parents who are dropping off a sibling at the adjacent school.  They can put two and two together and know if you are living out Christian values in your daily life... or not.

Evangelizing need not involve stepping on toes or insulting others of God's family. 

This Lent, our Diocese is adopting the Catholics Come Home outreach program.  There will be commercials on the local networks playing many times during Lent.  I have said before that nearly everyone in this area is either a Catholic or a former Catholic.  Let us pray that those who have been away from the active practice of their faith feel welcome by our actions  and words and consider returning home 

turning towards lent

Mardi Gras is in full swing here!   It comes on parades and culminates its own season - beginning on the Epiphany and ending at 11:59 pm on the Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday.  Not quite a liturgical season...but almost.  I thought today that Father's vestments  - green with gold accents worked well with the "season".  There are King Cakes made in the shape of a crown, with a baby (the baby Jesus) hidden inside, decorated in the Mardi Gras colors of green, purple, and gold.  There are balls, complete with kings and queens. There are beads - like things of this world - a cheap imitation of the gifts of great value.

Lent sneaks up on no one in South Louisiana, but for years, Ash Wednesday would appear, and I'd begin to think about what I might do for Lent.  Kind of late at that point, and it usually led to some spur of the moment decision.  Not all of those were bad, however.  About five or six years ago, we were already immersed in Lent and I was still looking.  Something (the Holy Spirit?)  told me that I could probably make the 6:30 a.m. Mass that was offered at my parish 3 days a week.  Just to make sure, I approached my pastor who was helping us with our preparations for the upcoming Mass with our Cub Scout Pack for Scout Sunday.  "How long is daily Mass?" I asked.  "It depends on if I've had my coffee or not," was the friendly reply.  So I took a chance and showed up.  The rest is history.  It's not really a penance, but a joy, and something has had such a positive effect in my life.

Now as Lent approaches, I find myself considering what I might "do" for Lent.   I hear people say that they don't give something up, but rather add something.  It's all good.  The giving up is a discipline - even with things like chocolate or television.  There is some spiritual benefit just in denying self.  Giving up things like foul language, complaining,and gossiping benefits many.  Adding something is beneficial as well.  Additional time spent in prayer, in worship, or in helping our fellow man.

I was reading something this morning, and it noted that we all seem to have some resolutions that we keep in the back of our mind to pull out for such occasions as Ash Wednesday.  Last year, I had several things that were on my list for Lent.  A little bit of the "more is better" mentality, maybe.  And when Lent didn't turn out the way I thought it would - how dare God not follow MY script - I had to stop and consider why?  Was it not enough?  Not sincere enough?  What went wrong?

Ultimately, I think I concluded that it was my expectations that went wrong.  I had *my* plans for Lent, and God had His.  There were many good things that happened in my vicinity, but I nearly  missed them because I was wondering where God was.  God doesn't work like a vending machine.

So this year, I've reviewed my mental list.  I've sat in the dark church before school, and asked God to give me some idea of what HE might want from me.  Strangely, I don't feel all that called to give up chocolate - a Lenten standby for several years.  I happened upon  a post in Jenny's blog a week or so ago about complaining, and think that might have been God guiding me in that direction.  (Made even more clear when Jenny became one of my 'followers' the next day.... even though I hadn't left a comment).  And the Rosary...that's been a developing "thing" the last year.  I'm not sure where I'll fit it in, but perhaps that will be part of the journey.  Today I got an email from Immaculee suggesting that we (I) join her in a Novena of the Seven Sorrows Rosary starting on Ash Wednesday until the retreat we are attending on April 15.   God's suggestion?

Uncluttering was another of the things on my mental list.  My house is so badly in need of it, and it is overwhelming.  I am wondering if the grace of lent would help me accomplish what I can not/have not accomplished by myself.  But I haven't felt too much leading me in that direction...

And so that's where I am in my Lenten ponderings.  I will continue to attend daily Mass whenever I am able.  That is a blessing.  And Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings at my parish. 

What about you?  What is God asking of you during this season?  What are you offering to Him?

things i've seen

First of all....I survived the week!  Hooray!  The waters rose, but I floated!  Four IEP meetings in three days!  One student was moved to a more structured setting, which is in the best interest of all involved.  How amazed was I that common sense triumphed?  Another student moved to a different campus.  He never gave me any trouble, but the same was not true of other teachers and other settings.  Two other "routine" meetings. 

How much teaching did I do?  In four days, I taught about 1.5 classes.  My trusty assistant took over my job, and at least got homework checked with each class, and a few "daily math" problems done.  She also got to use the Promethean board, though I think that comes under love/hate relationship.  I would gather info, type, meet, come back, gather, type, meet, tie up loose ends, type, meet....  My new, red-headed co-worker was also very helpful to me.  She helped with some of the information gathering, the behavior plans, and had the right thing to say during a couple of the meetings.

 ~*~*~*~*~

My dryer smells like wet socks.  I'm not sure why.  So this morning, I took off the cover in hopes of finding the source of the wet sock smell.  I found a lot of lint.  Or is it lent? But no wet sock smell....

In and amongst the lint, I recovered 61 cents, a BB, a piece of lead, a washed match stick, a bead, and other things that come under the Cajun term - grah-dieu.  
  

I could not ninja myself around the corner to disconnect the power source, and I don't think we own a vacuum cleaner, so I cleaned it as best I could (quite a heap of lint) and resealed the lint tomb.  There is still a funky smell.

~*~*~*~*~

Near my church, there is an apartment complex for elderly and disabled people.  Some mornings, after dropping off my offspring, I drive past, and there is a trio waiting for the school bus.  A kindergartner, along with her blind mother, and a wheelchair-bound friend are at the corner.  You can see Jesus there working in those lives.  The blind lady pushes the wheelchair lady.  The wheelchair lady makes sure they all get where they are going safely.  It makes your heart warm.

~*~*~*~*~

There is a picture that I wish I could copy and paste, but I can't.  I mentioned in Monday's post about a priest in my parents' hometown who was cleared of any charges of misconduct.  His return to his parish after ten months was celebrated with a special Mass.  There was a picture taken of him with the 31 priests who attended standing behind him in the sanctuary.  He was in his chasuble, and they were all in varying albs and stoles.  It kind of warmed the heart, too.

~*~*~*~*~

My boys were with me at Mass today seated next to each other.  At 14 and 15, I don't think I should have to sit between them to keep the peace.  Then there was the hand-holding at the Our Father.  I don't generally hold hands with other people, but we do as a family.  About the time Father got to "...and grant us peace in our day..." there was a "smack".  One child was squeezing the other child's hand a little too tightly and the victim remediated the situation.  I was afraid the Sign of Peace might not be too peaceful, but all was well....

~*~*~*~*~

And that, my friends, are things that I've seen (and heard).... 

[almost] wordless wednesday

No, I could never have a totally wordless post...

What is it, you ask?  Well, the past few days, my 15 year old has strolled out to his bus-stop at the end of the driveway with a cup of coffee.  And what do you do when the bus is coming?  Put it in the grass next to the driveway, of course!