"We must care for our bodies as though we were going to live forever. But we must care for our souls as if we were going to die tomorrow. "

~St. Augustine

The Gospel - 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thelma and Louise er I mean John

Went walking with Bailey (my dog of 7 years). Mike and I got her after we moved into our house and after he was diagnosed. Twofold; primarily because we both wanted a pet but also we thought a dog would be great company for Mike and a great motivator for him. When we got Bay she was just a pup and he was unable to work due to treatments and side-effects of brain cancer. So puppy training definitely gave him a bit of a boost...not sure if one could necessarily say a confidence boost because puppies definitely do what they want and have an alpha they look to. Unfortunately Mike wasn't the alpha in the house that she listened to and this infuriated him even further. But none the less, taking care of her gave him a reason to get out of bed each morning when I was at work. He had something to take care of, clean-up after :) ...walk (or chase rather) when she ran away from him. I would get calls sometimes at work from him, "It's a good thing I love you. That dog ran away again today and I had to run two streets over to get her and if I didn't love you...."  Ha! You get the drift.  I can go on and on about Bailey stories. How good she was when Mike was sick and home dying. And how she was my buddy when I felt so alone after his death, and still she's my faithful companion. Walking is our thing. I used to walk and walk a great deal after Mike died. Gave me time to think, listen to music and just get out for a bit. I still go out walking now any opportunity I get. 

Tonight was a neat experience. I was walking down a side street and saw an elderly man sitting on the porch (suspenders and newsboy cap, so classic ). I said "hi" and waved and he waved and I saw him trying to do something with his lips. I took my headphones off and he told me he was trying to whistle to get my dog's attention but he wasn't able to whistle anymore. I figured he was probably pretty comfortable with dogs so I walked up and met he and his wife. She told me she was Thelma and he is John, she said not "Thelma and Louise". (Great sense of humor. I liked her already). I stayed and talked with them for a bit and found out they are in their 90's, have a great-grand kid on the way and all sorts of other wonderful things. What I mostly learned from talking to Thelma and John is they just wanted somebody to talk to, somebody to stop and listen, and somebody to acknowledge their presence by waving, or saying hi and not ignoring them. They asked if I would stop by again and talk to them. When I was heading home this left me with much to think about; perhaps I can be more aware as I am going about my day to the "Thelma and Johns" that I pass, rather if I am walking, driving or in the store. Perhaps if maybe I just took the time to wave or say "hi", it could make a difference.

Who Me??

"We often like to claim we don't know what God wants when, in reality, we do and we just don't like His answer to our question." ~Tweet Inspiration

How many times has God asked me, you, whomever to do something and sometimes when it is really radical or maybe so simple I know my initial reaction sometimes has been a "no" (directly or indirectly) by a laugh, snicker or filled with excuses... "Me?" OR  "But I'm __________!" OR  "That's too ___________!?!" (fill in the blank) thinking I know better. ha! But God is good and loves us. He does have a plan for each and every one of us you know! "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you -  oracle of the LORD -  plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope." (Jeremiah 29:11) Trust, pray and rest in the Lord if you feel the nudge or the answer to a question from God.

St. Anthony Pray For Us!

Holy Spirit, fire of love, 

come rest over each of us, 

make our tongue ready 

to confess our sins, 

that in revealing everything 

and concealing nothing, 

we may attain heavenly life 

to sing eternal praise with the angels. 

With your help, you who live 

and reign through all ages. Amen.

- St. Anthony of Padua

Meditation by Cardinal John Henry Newman

God, you have created me to do you some definite service: You have committed some work to me which you have not committed to another. I have my mission – I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told in the next. Somehow I am necessary for your purposes. I have a part in the great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for nothing. I shall do good, I shall do his work; I shall be an angel of peace, A preacher of truth in my own place. Fulfill your high purposes in me, I am here to serve you, to be yours.

Amen

"Look to him that you may be radiant with joy!" ~Psalm 34:5