Who I am.......

At the Confirmation ceremony a couple of weeks ago, the Aux. Bishop gave a short homily, or should I say, sang a short homily? He sang "When people always ask me who I am, who I am, who I am....when people always ask me who I am, I tell them I'm a child of God!" Egad , I first thought, how hokey! But he eventually had the kids do it weakly, then fairly audibly. The sponsors joined in next and it was acceptable. But it was actually beautiful when the rest of the church joined in at the end. I was surprised because it was as if the rest of the church was waiting to, needing to, sing. Everyone was smiling afterwards.

The image of that homily stayed with me for quite a few weeks. And the Bishop was right, everytime doubts would invade my thinking, or prayer life, I would smile and say, "I tell them I'm a child of God."

The book I had read last spring, "So you don't want to go to church anymore' had quite a few things to say about fulfilling "people' expectations before you fulfill God's expectations. Actually easier than it sounds, because His "yoke is easy and His burden light' I don't think I have ever followed God's expectations and felt any regrets. The regrets and disillusions come when I follow the expectations that people set in front of me. Never really feel as fulfilled. And that should surprise me?

Am currently reading and praying with Isaiah 57. That passage has been a nice reflection about 'Who I am'. I am separating who others think I am, and their expectations of what I should be doing, from 'Who I am' in God's eyes and what I will do when I am enveloped with Him.

Lord, You Have Come

Yes, I know. I have not written since January 20, 2009. I had a couple of people question me whether or not I had taken the last book I had read ('So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore') waaaay too seriously! The answer was a definite NO! I did finish the book, loved it, and took a long walk with it. A walk through Confirmation (three seminars and one overnight retreat), Lent, my uncle's death, my mother's admittance into the cardiac care unit on Good Friday, the actual Confirmation Ceremony, and my daughter's wedding.

I have thought many times about writing about each of these experiences, but 'stuff' came up that needed my attention. And now? Now I need to reflect here with you.


There was a time in early February that I found great reflection sitting in a wooden rocking chair in my parlor singing, humming, the first verse from 'Lord You Have Come.":

"Lord, you have come to the seashore, neither searching for the rich nor the wise, desiring only that I should follow. O Lord, with your eyes set upon me, gently smiling, you have spoken my name; all I longed for I have found by the water, at your side, I will seek other shores."


During the last four months, I feel as if the Lord has come searching for me. No harsh demands, just speaking my name. And as I started to move towards Him, I have come to realize, in bits and pieces, that all I long for, is truly found by the water.