Getting along...

I think I'm getting old. That or death is moving in quickly. I seem to, as of late, have some of that focused vision that people gain through experience and at the end of life. I put this out as a disclaimer first and foremost...I have, much of the time, failed to master much of this in real life on a consistent basis. There are still moments when loving my neighbor (have you met my neighbors?) is a Herculean task. Still, it's what we're called to and I do believe I'm softening with time (see above).

Someone had posted an article on FB recently. I was something like,"That's really beautiful, but it's not for me" about getting along. There were members of two religious orders sitting on a panel, discussing charisms, when one of them said that exact phrase. The author made the point that if all of us, especially moms, could get to that point...imagine how the competition/depression/comparisons would diminish to almost nothing.

I've had the opportunity to see this in action over the past two days. I've attended daily Mass at a church some distance from my own. I used to call this a "happy-clappy" church but have moved to "waving" as a gentler way to describe it. I can't say Charismatic, per se, because I don't see talking in tongues, jumping, or other things that are sometimes associated with that movement (which I have witnessed at other Masses), just a lot of arm gestures.

I'm grateful for that article because, as much as I felt like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, I leaned heavy on that phrase. It's true...waving is not my way to grow closer to God. I prefer Latin, incense, and quiet. I was not in the majority and God was there to sacrifice Himself for all of us. Amazing, huh?

I find myself at that Mass because our kids are attending Maranatha, a Vocation bible school, in which each grade learns about a different Religious Order. God is good to connect the dots because I'm kind of sleep-deprived as of late.

If there are so many different Orders, each with a different Charism, in religious life, why would He have created those of us non-consecrated folk to be any different? Let's look at the Benedictines...there are 100 Benedictine houses across America and most of those are further divided among four major congregations: American=Cassinese, Swiss-American, St. Scholastica, and St. Benedict.

This is why it's difficult to even call someone a "Traditional" or a "Charismatic" because among those are a miriad of ways in which the person may express their devotion to and gifts from God.

So, let's agree to disagree or, better yet, just agree to get along. Perhaps a waving church isn't to your taste. That's really ok. I would challenge you, however, to see the goodness that the people at those Masses bring to the worship. If it's destracting (like it is for me) just find a church that isn't so much or is more to your call from Him. He created so many types of people and expressions to give Him glory...surely you can find one for you.

If not, there's always the opportunity to begin your own. I'm thinking I may know a few people who would like to begin a cloistered family order with my friend and me. If so, contact me through email...there are still a lot of bugs to work out. ;0)

Ultimately, I pray that through your search for God, you will find the way in which He is calling you to praise and follow Him. It doesn't have to be like me. That's not the only way. Your way is beautiful but it may not be for me and vv. Let's just follow Him and His call and see if it doesn't help everyone in the end.

Oh, one last note. If you find yourself in the library trying to work and there is a girl behind you talking non-stop, or in the subway with a bunch of kids running wild while their mom plays on her phone, or even at traditional Mass when you are definitely the waving type...offer up your discomfort and upset. I know for a fact that God can use every ounce of that for good and many of us could use some of those graces. You may even walk away feeling pretty pleased that you could go through it and keep your peace intact.

We are blessed.

The END of the Great Western Pilgrimage...part 13

I'm not sure what I originally thought about San Francisco before I left but, in retrospect, I suppose it's like most things; like life...it depends on what you decide to concentrate. We went for some of the big tourist attractions and kept the rest to churches. I would say it worked out perfectly for us. Ahem.

Speaking of...when we talked to a dear couple at church before we left, the husband kept saying, "the bridge is great as long as it's not fogged in." I couldn't believe it was that huge an occurrence but, having just watched The Great Food Truck Race and seeing, right there on tv, the fogged in bridge (wouldn't they have waited to make it tv-nice if they could?) I figure it is a common thing. How delightful, then, when God decided to make it work out for those of us who don't plan to be there again in this lifetime.

As we drove up to the parking lot beside the bay, it was drizzling a bit. The Slovak in the car (actually he's more lazy than Slovak) said, "oh, we might as well forget it...it's raining and we won't be able to see anything anyway." Sigh. I admit I was kind of over that negativity on this, our last day of vacation, so I restarted the car and pulled away. I figured I'd drive a bit closer to the bridge (but not go across...although, I admit, that Diesel song was playing in my head)

Hot summer night in Sausalito
Can't stand the heat another mile
Let's drop a quarter in the meter
And hit the sidewalk for a while

I'll have a burger and a root beer
You feed the heap some of the grape
A shot of premium to boot, dear
We'll get across the Golden Gate

We somehow got on this twisty little road and ended up above the bridge. The rain had stopped and, yes, there was a rainbow. The rainbow ended in Alcatraz. You can't make this up, people. God has a great sense of humor.

We didn't have time to take the ferry to the gold ;0)

I can see why people live in California...this is 5 minutes after it had been pouring rain.

You know me...I have to end with church when at all possible. Our LAST Mission! Mission San Francisco de Asis was the 6th Mission, founded by Saint Serra, on June 29, 1776. The Mission is no longer active but happens to be right next door to the Mission Dolores Basilica, which is thriving. Because the world is small, the guy who sold us the tickets for admission was originally from the East coast, one of many kids, and thus obligated to give us a break on the price. I was not arguing. That was the best deal to be found in California!

"Sancto Francisco"

I adore these kinds of staircases in the old churches

Saint Michael with his scales of justice. Is the devil dying or mocking???

Mission roof - incredible

 

Saint Pascual - his new favorite ;0)

A Saint knelt here!

Kind of hard to imagine bustling San Francisco used to look like this.

This is the outside of the basilica - the little roof on the left is the Mission - I was trying to keep the kids from being run over so pictures outside didn't work well.

The inside of the basilica. Beautiful.

The windows portrayed the Missions

There was an amazing, amazing museum of everything old (read traditional) that was used at the Mission. Beautiful.

Saying goodbye to the California cacti

I totally lost count - is that 11? or 12? I don't know, really, but whatever it was, we had an unbelievably blessed time retracing some of Saint Junipero Serra's steps when he followed the Holy Spirit's call to bring the faith to the native peoples. Our journey was not nearly as arduous as the Saint's but he didn't have five little kids with him so, there's that. How blessed we were, even in this modern age, to step back in time to see how he lived and where he worked for God's Glory. Amazing.

Home to a few adult beverages (thank you, Homewood Suites!) then to bed...we would be heading out in the morning!

She wanted to wear her souvenir home. I do love that shirt.

Hanging out, waiting for our delayed plane.

Thank you, dear friend, for the AAA tour books. They spent more than an hour picking out itineraries to travel in the future.

A beautiful day to fly to Denver. Too bad the turbulence on landing/takeoff almost made me lose it.

Luckily I had all of my loves close by on both legs of the trip - most of them praying for their phobic mom.

I do admit, sunset from the sky is a nice thing. God has a great seat :0)

Ahh, those beautiful Three Rivers. Home!

Six new states added! I think we only have ten to go (the map has VT/NH together so we left it off until we complete the pair)

God is so good to watch over us as we travel, allow us enough trial to build our perseverance and enough glimpses of His work to retain our hope and trust in Him. What an amazing journey. What a great reminder that people of faith may look different but ultimately share the same basic, AWESOME, center of their lives. God is so good.

We are blessed.