Step by Step

Have you ever taken a walk and been very mindful of everything you were doing and everything you were looking at along the way? By that I mean...were you aware of each step and how it felt to put your feet on the ground...how the muscles felt in your feet when they moved? Were you aware of the air on your face, and the sounds around you ?

Sometimes, in our daily lives, we lose sight of things like this. We are so busy and we are so technologically minded these days. Technology can be a good thing, but it can also be something that separates us from real life.

I'm not a big technological person. I blog - that is about as high tech as I get. I have a basic cell phone that doesn't take pictures, or surf the web, or anything like that. To me, technology is a burden most of the time. In many ways, it has come to rule our lives. I work with people who are so caught up in technology that they are always connected, always texting, or tweeting, or whatever it is called.

Step by step, technology is taking us away from silence and from listening to God and the world He made for us. Even while walking, many people are still connected to their cell phones, ipods or...what are those other things........ear buds?

So, in being low-tech.... I like to spend time 1:1 with Jesus in Church. Alone. Whole church to myself. Me and Jesus. It is silent. I've shared that with some people at work and they think I am strange because they can't handle silence. Perhaps it is because they will be afraid of what they will hear in the silence...namely, their own soul crying out for meaning and purpose in a very cold and high-tech world. And dare I say...they might also hear God's voice too? Once I knew someone who had five TVs in her house. While I was there visiting I asked her if she wanted to shut them off so we could talk and she said no, she leaves them all on because otherwise she has to "think" and thinking was uncomfortable for her.

Step by step, we have to start walking back to silence and put technology in its place. Technology is good if we use it in moderation and to help us. But when we become addicted to it and when we allow it to steal our silence, then it becomes a problem.

So, the next time you go for a walk, I challenge you to keep the cell phone in your pocket. Pay attention to your steps and where you are going in life and in your relationship with Jesus.

Fear Not, little flock!

Do you all realize ( and I think you do ) that there is an enemy at work in the world? He is the enemy of Heaven and he seeks to destroy all things and people that are good.


If you don' t realize this, you are probably one of those that think the enemy is just a myth. That's what he wants you to think anyway. This is his greatest lie...making people believe that he isn't real when he is. He is wreaking havoc around the world as I write this.


He is attacking good people. I know some of them personally. The funny thing is....although he is a big pest and does cause damage, he will never win. He knows that and it makes him furious. He is so full of hate and pride and anger that he will never surrender to Christ and ask for forgiveness. So he roams the world trying to make people as miserable as he is and he is getting more bold about "in your face" about it.


The enemy is advancing on people who are serious about their faith in order to stop them from doing good. He is attacking them in their minds, in their relationships, and in their churches. He is going after them physically. He is going after clergy and lay people alike and is putting up a tough fight, but he will lose. He does lose, on a daily basis.


The anectode and quickest ways to get rid of the enemy are to pray, stay close to the Eucharist, and to sincerely live as a Christian no matter what. That is difficult. I know of someone right now who has a terrible time with "all things church". This person is assaulted even inside the church and is terribly distracted during Mass, is angry, restless and leaves feeling worse than when they entered the church...and this is someone who loves Mass !


What we can do to counteract the enemy is to be very aware of his tricks so there is minimal damage, if any, in this war with him. And it is true, that God's grace will kick in when we need it and we won't be lost when a battle ensues.


Scripture talks about putting on the entire armor of God, and we need to listen to it.

I know someone who was recently in a tangle with him and won. Hands down. How? Because this person's soul simply called on the name of Jesus and the enemy fled in an instant, and peace reigned once again. Interestingly enough, as rough and tumble and scary as this situation was, the person was never afraid. Annoyed yes. Surprised yes. Fighting for life, yes. But not afraid. This is because this person knew his tricks and knew what to do...

We have to pray daily for strength, especially in these times. We need to pray for faith, strength, courage, humility, love, and hope. We need to trust, as hard as it is sometimes, we have to try hard to trust.