Like a deer

My cousin Amy found an antler today at the bottom of a dry creek bed that inspired her to recite Psalm 42 (or at least parts of it as found in a liturgical songbook): “Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you my God Why are you cast down, my soul, why groan within me? Hope in God; I will praise him still, Persevere, he said yes, you may be broken But you are whole!”

Her inspiration led me to meditate on the Psalm just a bit further. Thanks, Amy! You never know whose life you're going to enrich on any given day, do you?

In this broken world, we can be so shaken by the events, the words, and hurt that we feel every single day. Some of it is directed towards us, some of it is directed from us.

Ever since Adam and Eve took a bite out of the forbidden fruit we, as a human race, have had to live with the fact that we will never be perfect, that we will never live in a perfect world. It's very easy to look at the darkness and see what is lacking, but here's an encouraging thought—God is bigger than all of this, and he NEVER forsakes us!

More importantly, God wants to remind us that it's going to be all right because He is the one who is ultimately in charge. Jesus did not die on the cross for the perfect world; He died for a broken one.

May today be a reminder that no matter what the world dictates, the truth is Christ himself and not even death or the devil can touch you because Jesus paid the ultimate price for you. May you continue to live the truth that God loves you so much.

After I wrote this, I realized that tomorrow, November 1st, is special to me in so many ways:  First of all, it's a Friday.  The day that Christ chose to redeem us.  It's also the first Friday of the month, which is special in itself in Catholic Tradition.  It's All Saints Day, a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics and the day set aside by the Church to honor and remember those who have attained their Heavenly reward and who set an example for the rest of us.  And it's my brother Bob's birthday, who I pray with confidence is among those saints.