Category Archives: Faith-based

Faith-based, Uncategorized

It all starts with Faith … Literally

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I absolutely love word games and make an effort each day to do the daily New York Times mini puzzles. Anything to help the brain stay sharp and nimble 😊 Connections is probably my favorite but I also enjoy Wordle. It’s become somewhat of a competition among our family.

For those of you not familiar with Wordle, you get six chances to figure out a random 5-letter word. There are all sorts of strategies; picking a word with lots of vowels (like miaou or adieu) to start or choosing words with lots of consonants (like watch or bench) and mathematicians and researchers even recommend starting with one of the following words: soare, crane, salet or chase. My strategy is quite simple and it all starts with faith. Literally.

I always start with the word “faith”. Some days I need all 6 tries. Other days I can solve it in 2 but 91% of the time, I will successfully complete the puzzle. If faith is the start to your day, to a puzzle, to a conversation or to a problem, you are pretty much guaranteed success. I’ll take a 91% success rate any day! It’s not about winning or perfection. It’s about faith.

Faith is believing is something you cannot see. We can’t physically see God but we can see him in others. We can’t see our Lady but we can feel her loving arms around us. We can’t see Christ but we can experience his love and sacrifice for us during the Eucharist. We cannot see our Guardian Angel but know they are protecting us. We may not speak in tongues, but the wisdom of the Holy Spirit guides our thoughts and interactions.

From the moment we wake up to when we lay our heads on our pillow to sleep, we should be guided by our faith. Every thought and action should reflect His love, grace and mercy. Yes, it may be just a puzzle but if we focus on faith in the smallest of things, imagine how much easier it will be when we have to tackle the hard ones!

Blessings to all!

Prayer to start your day:

Thank you Heavenly Father for waking me up today. Thank you for all the blessings in my life. Please pour the precious blood of your Son, Jesus Christ over me, my family and friends to protect us as we go throughout the day. Please help me to avoid sin and remain focused on You. May the Holy Spirit be my guide in all of my interactions. May my faith be strengthened when a door closes and may I be patient while waiting on your perfect plan for me. I love you and look forward to the day. Thank you. Amen.

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!

Psalm 118:24

Faith-based, Lent 2025, Uncategorized

Lent 2025: Shh … Quiet!

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Retirement has its privileges. My allergies flared up today so I decided to soak in a hot bath this afternoon. I added some ashwagandha epsom salt, closed my eyes and focused on the silence. As you’ll read, silence was becoming a theme this week.

Daylight savings time always messes with me. I need my natural vitamin D so having the extra light in the evening literally makes me happy but it wreaks havoc with my sleep patterns. I woke up early on Sunday but after about an hour I felt really tired again. I laid back down with the intention of getting up at 11:00 a.m. Well, 11 came and 11 went. It was 11:30 a.m. when I checked my phone and mass was at 12:15 p.m. Needed to kick things into high gear!

Fortunately, I didn’t have to wash my hair. Up in a pony tail it went. I hurried through a shower, raced to get dressed and “pretty” myself and ran out the door. Amazing how fast one can move when they’re motivated! Shout out to all the moms with kids who make it to mass each week! Miracles do happen! Hurdle #1 cleared.

As I was quickly leaving the bathroom, I jammed my finger and cracked a nail. Sooo, I had to stop, turn around and quickly file it. Hurdle #2. I went to grab my sweater from the closet (and of course it got hooked on something). Really? I was so frustrated and started fussing at God. I AM TRYING TO GET TO MASS. Hurdle #3. As an aside, I’m confident God was keeping me out of trouble with those small delays BUT that didn’t ease my frustration at the time. I did apologize 🙂 Amazingly, we got to mass just as the priest, deacon and sacristans were getting ready to walk down the aisle. Phew!

It was a quiet mass. For those thinking isn’t mass already quiet? It is but in a quiet mass, there is no music. Antiphons are spoken as is the responsorial psalm and a Glory Be was said at the end of mass. After the ordeal to get there, I relished the thought of quiet. There is a certain reverence; a unique feeling of connection. Deep breath in, breath out. Clearing my mind so I can hear God.

How apropos the second reading at mass was about the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert battling temptation after temptation from Satan. If we really use Lent to get closer to God, do we really think it will be easy? Not a chance. And would it surprise anyone if I said Deacon Brian’s homily was about spiritual warfare? Nope.

Ever feel like the sermon was written just for you? My mind started racing and I could see the puzzle pieces starting to fall into place. A few weeks earlier, one of my friend groups was shaken to its core. I knew at the time our friendships would be reshaped but the real question weighing heavily on my mind was would they survive? Would we be able to push through this? Were we just too different? I had been praying intently about it since it happened and today I got my answer.

We are an eclectic group. We are at different stages of our lives, have had different faith journeys and have opposing political views. The involvement in our parish varies, as does our degrees of creativity and the issues we are passionate about. And today (without any announcement or coordination) four of us showed up at this particular mass. This mass that was just added for Lent. We were all sitting on the SAME side of the church which was a profound visual moment for me. Despite all our differences, the common thread was our Catholic faith.

We’ve celebrated marriages, births, birthdays, sacraments, graduations and holidays. We’ve grieved deaths, severed relationships and what might have been. We’ve supported each other through medical diagnoses, emotional crises and life’s curveballs and challenges. We’ve laughed. We’ve cried. We’ve prayed. We met because we were sisters in Christ and connected on a deeper level.

I have no doubt this was spiritual warfare and we could have easily fallen into the trap. But I don’t believe in coincidences. Everything happens for a reason and while I may not understand it all at the time, I have to trust God implicitly. I believe in God’s providence, Our Lady’s intercession and the Holy Spirit always being at work! Thank you for the answered prayers!

Sending hugs, love and prayers! I love you my sisters!

Faith-based, Uncategorized

Lent 2025: My first roadblock.

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I must have exhausted my creative genius on Wednesday because I spent all day yesterday trying to write and came up with nothing. I prayed. I cranked the K-Love Christian tunes and even cleaned the bathroom looking for inspiration. Nada. The well was dry. One day into Lent and I was already struggling. That’s definitely not good! So I put it down, went to bed and woke up with a fresh new perspective. Sleep is good!

I’m not gonna lie. I was extremely disappointed in myself because I set the goal to write a reflection every day during Lent but just couldn’t force it. I so wanted this Lent to be fruitful. I wanted to stay true to my commitments. I wanted to fulfill my goals. So, is all lost because of a missed blog? Absolutely not!

Maybe I was just trying too hard. Maybe because of the noise I was creating, I couldn’t hear what God was telling me. Maybe just, just maybe, I was missing the point. It’s a 40-day journey that needs to be walked and experienced to get to the end. It’s not supposed to be easy. There will be ups and downs; just like life. Some days will be great and others not so much. Don’t force it. Be patient. Pray. Lean on God. Don’t lose perspective.

Today I woke up to an absolutely beautiful sunrise. I went out on the front porch with my tea to just take in the morning. The birds were singing and you could feel Spring creeping closer. There was a chill in the air but in that moment, it wasn’t the cold I notice but the beauty around me. Then I turned around and there it was staring back at me: the Merry Christmas door mat. Looks like I forgot something when I put the Christmas decorations away. Oops!

But then I started thinking. Without Christmas, there would be no Jesus. With no Jesus, there would be no Lent, no Easter, no Resurrection and no salvation. Just think about that for a minute! Christmas brings joy, hope and celebration but shouldn’t Easter do the same? Yes, there is pain, suffering and sacrifice before we get there but oh when we do.

Let’s embrace Lent with all its highs and lows. Stumble. Fall. Get back up. Just don’t give up. Christ didn’t!

Faith-based, Uncategorized

Lent: A time for fasting but it’s not just limited to food and drink.

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It’s Ash Wednesday and we’re starting another Lenten season; a time for reflection, a time of prayer, a time of fasting and a time of giving. Not everyone’s Lent will look the same. Yes, as Catholics, we are required to give up meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent, but the sacrifices we make and the activities we participate in will be influenced by where we are spiritually, physically and emotionally. There isn’t a right or wrong answer to “what will you be doing for Lent”.

Some folks will be blessed with an incredible Lenten experience. Others will struggle to just get through (that was me last year) and still others will have their ups and downs. Don’t be disheartened if things don’t go as you had hoped. Give it to God in prayer. Reflect on His grace and blessings and how to get closer to him. God will meet you where you are. He wants you to grow in His love and mercy. We are given this time to prepare our hearts, souls and minds for the Resurrection of His Son on Easter Sunday.

Fasting

Fasting is typically associated with food or drink. Over the years, that’s the route I took for Lent. I’ve given up soda, meat, potato chips and sweets. At the time, they were staples in my diet so it made sense. Had I only had them on occasion, would it really have been a sacrifice?

Several years ago, I started to look at fasting in a different way. I moved away from “physical” fasting to fasting that provided a more intrinsic value. This year, I am giving up social media and significantly reducing my screen time. The time will be spent resurrecting my blog “Traveling in Faith” (to share my Lenten journey), completing a 1000 piece puzzle of the “The Last Supper” (while reflecting on the Lord’s sacrifice) and visiting several Shrines, Basilicas and churches. It is a jubilee year (with a call to renew ourselves as “Pilgrims of Hope”) what better time to go. No, it’s not Rome or the Holy Land, but we have many beautiful and inspirational sites right here in our area. See the Pilgrimage Sites (USCCB) designated by the USCCB.

With all the chaos in the world, now is the perfect time to refocus and recenter. My mind is tired, clouded and crowded. It needs some quiet time and truthfully, so do I. I have quite a bit to think about: How can I be an answer to someone’s prayer? How can I become closer to God? How am I being called to serve? Am I treating others with the same grace and dignity God provides to me? Do others see Christ in me? Am I grateful for all of the gifts God has given me?

So, what are things outside of food and drink we can fast from?

Social media, video games, binge watching Netflix, buying things you really don’t need, going out to eat on a regular basis, commenting negatively, cruelly or insensitively on social media posts, gossiping or worrying. Challenge yourself to think outside the box. Instead, listen to an inspirational audiobook, a Catholic podcast (e.g. Bible in a Year or Rosary in a Year), subscribe to the Hallow prayer app (there’s currently a free 90 day trial), change your Sirius XM station to the Catholic channel (129) or a Christian music station.

Go to daily mass if this isn’t something you currently do. Many parishes have Lenten missions this time of year, attend and be open to the possibilities. Attend stations of the cross or walk the outdoor stations at a nearby church. Reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice. We all have crosses. Who is helping to carry your cross? When we’ve fallen, have we gotten back up? Remember, Jesus fell three times and we will too. Who can you be a Veronica to? When have you unjustly judged someone?

We are all called to be Saints! And there are patron saints for just about anything you can think of :); gas station workers, the internet, fear of wasps. Learn about a saint you are unfamiliar with. Check out the calendar of saints below to see whose feast day it is. Reflect on their life and what you can do to live a more saintly one.

https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php

http://www.easterbrooks.com/personal/cal_v2/index.php

Make an effort to fill your time (and yourself) with positive, inspirational and thought provoking content.

Prayer

Prayer should already be a regular part of our day so when Lent comes around it’s about expanding that prayer. While there are a series of traditional prayers we have all learned and memorized, prayer doesn’t have to be that formal all the time.

You can pray virtually anywhere! (Carol C. Moore – 2020)

You can pray in a car or in a bed

Out loud or in your head

In the dark or at a park

At a church or swinging from a birch

In a group or on a stoop

In a boat or with a goat

In a house or out an about

By yourself or with someone else

With a rosary or your family

You can pray here or you can pray there,

You can pray virtually anywhere!

During Lent, challenge yourself in how, what, when, where and who you pray for.

Pray for your enemies and those who don’t believe the same as you. Reflect on how much Jesus loves them. Don’t pray for them to change how or what they think or that they will come around to believe the same as you. Pray they will hear the Lord’s words, will be guided by his grace and that you will be open to different points of view. Remember, we are all created in His likeness and image. God loves them as much as he loves you!

Take a walk, notice the simple things: the song of a bird, the warmth of the sun, the sound of the rippling water in the creek, the view of a beautiful sunset. Enjoy the nature and all of God’s creation. Thank God for the beautiful day and for always being there to listen.

Pray an intentional rosary. Yes, all rosary prayers should be intentional, but think of a specific intention for each of the 50 beads of the decades. Don’t think you can come up with 50 things to pray about? Then start with a specific intention per decade/mystery and work your way up.

Go to adoration and spend time with the Lord. It doesn’t have to be an hour. It can be a quick hello, thank you or I need your help. Start small and work your way up! Just sit. Embrace the quiet. Allow your ears to be open to the what God is telling you. This is your one-on-time with your Father. Take advantage of it!

I’m including the link here to perpetual adoration chapels which are part of the Harrisburg Diocese:

https://www.hbgdiocese.org/liturgy-worship-and-prayer/eucharistic-adoration/

And the link below for adoration sites in the Archdiocese of Baltimore:

https://www.archbalt.org/aob-eucharistic-revival/adoration-sites/

Start a prayer journal or create a prayer jar. Write down the things you’ve prayed about. Note the prayers that were answered. At the end of Lent, review it. We all have so much to be grateful for. Reflect on those things that weren’t answered the way you wanted. What were the blessings from that?

Lay a flower at the foot of Our Lady. Thank her for saying “yes” to God and for the gift of her Son. Thank her for being such an amazing role model and loving mother.

Pick a person each day. Offer your thoughts, actions and prayers for them throughout the day.

Start every day with gratitude. Thank you Lord for waking me up this morning. Thank you for blessing me more than I deserve. Help me to be the best version of myself today and may others see me as your child. Use me, a humble sinner for Your good.

Giving

If you are giving up something for Lent that you can quantify (i.e. going to Starbucks everyday and knowing the price of that macchiato) save that money and give it to a charity or a family in need. The same could be done But giving doesn’t necessarily have to be monetary.

Spend time decluttering or cleaning out a closet, cabinet or basement. Donate any unused items to a homeless shelter, women’s home or other charity.

Give your time and talents. Volunteer at your parish or in your local community. Do something for someone else (outside of your immediate circle). Write a letter or send a message or email each day telling someone how much they mean to you and how grateful you are they are a part of your life.Call someone you don’t talk to on a regular basis.

I have a rough plan for how I will be spending my Lent (yes, I am a type “A”) and hope to share a reflection for each of the 40 days. I will be praying for all of you and hope that you will be part of this transformational journey. Please share what you are doing for Lent. It may be just the inspiration someone else needs (including myself)!

Now off to get ashes and then to Adoration. If you have any intentions, please feel free to share and I will take them the next time I go to mass, adoration or pilgrimage sites.

Have a blessed day and a reflective and fruitful Lent!