Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Admitting it is the first step to recovery

Prayer for the Day

“Lord, give me a bigger vision of you and your power to transform. I want to help spread your kingdom in this world!”

Reflection

I am a procrastinator. It’s been proven by my actions, but I don’t often admit it. I am sure it comes as no surprise to those around me as I offer excuses, turn things in late or push deadlines to their limits. In fact, even though I’ve been thinking about it every day for about a week, I just now (11:30 pm on August 30^th) ordered flowers to be delivered to Marilyn for her birthday tomorrow.

Imagine my surprise when I read tomorrow’s gospel! (Luke 4:38-44) It was right on topic! Talk about procrastinators! I imagine Jesus had been in town for quite a while, and when the crowds got news He was about to leave, all of a sudden they want Him to stay! Jesus tells the crowds who come looking for Him and want Him to stay longer that He has to go to other towns: “I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

I, too, have a purpose: To live my life in the light, working, relaxing and praying, all the while knowing that I tried to live up to the good God sees in me. Procrastination blocks the light and perhaps serves as a mask to my fear of failure or not measuring up.

I want my life to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God. I want to stop putting off what needs to be done and to make the most of what is here and now instead of waiting until tomorrow. By opening myself to God, by praying for the strength and courage to do what needs to be done and beyond, I know I am opening myself to the light.

When I am praying for that strength and courage, I also am reminded by the first reading (Colossians 1:1-8) to give thanks for the people in my life. Truly, my family, my friends, my colleagues are a miracle every day. I am blessed with riches beyond measure.

I pray today (I won’t put it off until tomorrow!) for God’s help that I live that life of purpose. And I thank God for all of the people who have made my life so wonderful; especially my beautiful wife Marilyn. Without her in my life, I would be so lost. I am grateful to God that He blesses our marriage in so many ways. Happy Birthday, Sweetheart! I love you. I hope you like the flowers. They aren’t as beautiful as you are, but then what is? Sometimes we just have to “settle”, even if we don’t procrastinate.

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"I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it.

I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor:
the first — by deed, the second — by word, the third — by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy.

Many souls ... are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul.

If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy".