My Intentional Camino: Until We Meet Again...

A new day has dawned and I will walk in it, 

with a heart full of gratitude and joy!

My Intentional Camino: Upward and On

It is an hour before sunrise, but I wanted to let you know....

God has called me upward and onward and out of here, from Huntington Beach State Park back to my home.

"But you have been there at the beach only two and a half weeks, and you were going to stay four!"

Well, I know it is time to go for lots of reasons.

One is this scripture which was given to me on Monday's retreat and which I pondered yesterday:

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit'--you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow.  You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears.  Instead you should say, 'If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.'  But now you are boasting in your arrogance.  All such boasting is evil.  So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin." (James 4:13-17.)

I'll never forget the time I managed Adoration at our church, and it was my duty to contact people to get them to commit to spending an hour sitting before the Blessed Sacrament.  And we would have someone praying in front of the monstrance holding the consecrated Host for each hour of the day.  One particular woman said each time I called that she would come at her assigned hour, "if the Lord wills it."

I was incredulous!

"What do you mean?  Will you be there for your assigned hour, or won't you?!"

And now I see the scripture verse that she was living by.

Another reason that I know that it is time to go is because I have been praying for God to show me the way, and after the lovely Day of Prayer I attended with the community at Precious Blood, I have felt that my work is done and it is time to move on.

"That's it?  That's all you have to go on and you're walking in that?!"

Well, there is another thing still, and it is not the approaching days of rain or wind or colder weather.

No, it is because my mother and I have plans to visit her brother in Texas at the end of February.  We are planning to leave two days after I return home from my Camino at the Beach.  But her brother's health has declined in recent days and my mother feels an urgency to be with her brother at this time and so do I.

So, through the miracle of cellphone and internet connections on a sandy campsite by the edge of the ocean, we made our new airline reservations last night.  And when the sun comes up I will pack up my little poutstinia and pull it back home.

Now this Psalm song is in my heart:

On Eagle's Wings

Michael Joncas

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,

Who abide in His shadow for life,

Say to the Lord, "My Refuge,

My Rock in Whom I trust."

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

The snare of the fowler will never capture you,

And famine will bring you no fear;

Under His Wings your refuge,

His faithfulness your shield.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

You need not fear the terror of the night,

Nor the arrow that flies by day,

Though thousands fall about you,

Near you it shall not come.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

For to His angels He's given a command,

To guard you in all of your ways,

Upon their hands they will bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

My Intentional Camino: The Graces of Today

The thumping on the outside of my poustinia woke me early today and as I tried to discern what was happening, I realized that the wind was rocking my heavy wooden Marian shrine at my camper's peak back and forth.

Knock. Knock. Knock.  

And then I could hear the rain on my skylights, so I got up, reached out my door and pulled my shrine off of the roof and then dove back into my bed.  It was beginning to get light and as I lay there I thought, it's not even 7:00 am, I think I'll stay here for a good long cozy while....

(That is probably why I laughed later today at the Facebook posting from Sandra Boynton:)

  

Whatever the question, fuzzy socks are the answer.

I was feeling good but kind of tired after my emotional day yesterday.  It is draining to do so much soul searching and prayer.  But I was happy that I had decided to put my troubles behind me, ask forgiveness of Jesus for holding onto grudges, and then move on. 

Then I had another thought: maybe I would go to Mass today to recharge and kind of seal in the blessing.   I knew that St. Michael's in Garden City had a 12:05 service with the Charismatic group meeting right after, so I thought I'd probably go to that.  It would be good to go back and see the women who were so welcoming to me the week before. 

Then, I don't know why, but I had the idea to make a second visit to Precious Blood in Pawley's Island instead, and then remembered that their Mass began at 8:05 AM.  Thinking I might go to the post office on the way, I was up and out and on the road in about half an hour with nothing but a thermos of hot Irish tea (a gift from my daughter) in hand.

When I arrived at the church, the old Irish priest Fr. Pat was in a celebratory mood.  He said it was a special day for the women of the parish as he sang the praises of the woman deacon from the neighboring Anglican Church who would lead them that day and then sprinkled us all with holy water and blessed us with incense as the Mass came to a close. 

What was the occasion that so many were gathered for, I wondered.

And then I heard that 150 women from many different churches and denominations were there for a Day of Prayer and Spiritual Retreat on the topic of the Radical Faith of Mary, Mother of God.

Must just happen to be my lucky/blessed day!!!!  

 They welcomed me, opened up a seat for me in their sold out conference, waived my admission, served me breakfast, gave me lunch, filled the day with scripture and sharing and blessing and song,

....and then the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation    

with Fr. Pat as everyone was going their separate ways. 

Tonight as I type this, an old spiritual is on my lips and in my soul, 

"Jesus has done so much for me, I cannot tell it all!"

And just now I wonder, was that Mary,

 knocking on my door this morning to lead me to the graces of this day?  

Wow.  The blessings just keep coming and coming...

My Intentional Camino: Bye, Bye! Don't Slam the Door on the Way Out!

It was about noon when I finished writing to you yesterday about my decision to let go of the things that were troubling me and turn back to Love's embrace.   I was pretty tired after all of that, so I decided to give myself a treat.  I hopped on my bike and cruised the four miles to Brookgreen Gardens in search of two things once again: a bowl of their famous she-crab soup and a long-shot quest to see if they have a replica of the Joan of Arc that stands on Riverside Drive in NYC, which I had just posted a picture of in that morning's blog.

When I arrived, I stopped in the Visitor's Center to ask, and the helpful volunteer pulled out a large volume of the 1500 or so works that they have on display and in storage.  Her eyebrows shot up when she found an entry for the Joan of Arc, and she directed me down garden paths to their storage building behind the cafe.

I saw The Offering on my way, which is one of the few religious statues on the property.  It is stunning...

 And then I reached the cafe, so I checked to see if they had the she-crab soup.  They did not, but they did have hot coffee, and so I had some while taking in the garden view.

And then I made it into the gallery-slash-storage room and this is what I saw...

Yes, among the incredible mishmash of sculpture, were Anna Hyatt Huntington's two most famous works!!  (Albeit in small scale. )  They stood out so clearly among the rest of the American sculpture for their realism, fine detail, and heroic qualities of the nobility of man...and woman!

 Thrilled with my "catch of the day," I decided to go and find the second item on my agenda...and I had fifteen minutes to make it there before the Pavilion Restaurant closed at 2:30.

On the way, I couldn't help but linger over the winter daphne, so lemony and fragrant!

And then into the restaurant with ten minutes to spare.  The caesar salad and she-crab soup were just the thing I needed to cap off the day.

And the flowers were blooming..

And as I returned to my bike, I glimpsed the Don Quixote from behind and waved all my troubles goodbye!

JOY!

My Intentional Camino: Driving Out the Enemy

Joan of Arc, New York City, Anna Hyatt Huntington

A mysterious visitor came to see me in my little camper, my poustinia, my desert place by the sea.  He crept in so quietly that I didn't even realized that he was there.

Who was it?

Well, I think it was the devil himself.  Yes, I am  quite sure.

Did I see a tail and horns?

No, not at all!  In fact, had he been brandishing them, he would have been much easier to see!

Did he scare me?

Not at all!  In fact, I was holding onto him and feeling justified in wanting him to stay!

What do I mean?

Well, since I have been on my retreat at the beach, I have been using it as a time to put aside all of my life's distractions and spend time with God, thinking about my life so far and where to go from here.  

Along with taking long walks on the beach, I have cried. 

And as I thought about my injuries and hurts and disappointments, I unknowingly squeezed my mysterious companion tighter and tighter, knowing that he would see things from my side. 

And as I held onto him, I found my heart getting smaller and my gaze falling lower until I was only looking at myself and my pain. 

And he linked his arm in mine as I cried out to God, saying "It isn't fair! It hurts! I'm almost dead!"

Want to know what happened next?

Well, last night after sitting and stewing until after midnight, I closed my laptop and went to bed.

And so?

Well, when I woke up this morning, I suddenly thought, "Who needs a life of being right?   Who needs a life of keeping others at arm's distance so that I won't be hurt again?  Wouldn't it be better to kiss the devil goodbye, and let it all go?"

And so I did.

And suddenly the devil fled from my poustinia, as quietly as he had come, leaving not so much as a hoof print behind.

My Intentional Camino: Accepting God's Healing Love

"On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.  Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.  They immediately told him about her.  He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.  Then the fever left her and she waited on them. " (New American Bible: Mark 1: 29-31)

This Gospel proclaimed out loud in churches throughout the earth yesterday, was heard and believed by at least one person...and that person was me.  How do I know that I believed it?  Because all that has been troubling me has left me today.   My worries, my fears, my anger, my regrets, my concerns, my infirmity, my sinking back from faith and hope and love and back into an ocean of doubt. 

  "Resist the devil and He will flee from you!" (NAB: James 4:7)

The very same Jesus

Who walked the dusty roads of Israel

 2000 years ago

 still walks the earth today!

He is risen from the dead! 

 (That is the reason for our faith!)

And when we believe, He can do mighty healing works!

(Like casting out evils of resentment, anger, grief, despondency, depression, physical illness, addictions, and fear.

 Like forgiving the wrongs we have done to others.

 Like bandaging up our wounds so that we can be healed.)

He listens to the prayers that we offer up for our loved ones!

  (We can bring our loved ones to His attention and He will act through the open door of our concern for them and faith in Him!)

He responds and enters our own houses!

 (And poustinias too!)

He sees us languishing and offers us His hand!

His hand of Love to lift us up.

And when we are feeling well, we can show Jesus our gratitude by offering a helping hand to others.

For we are all God's children.

Jesus desires only that we turn from the things that hurt us and give them to Him, to Love.

Why? So that we can be healed and free once again.  

Free for what? 

Free to love God and serve others.

Praise God!

My Intentional Camino: Telling Our Stories

Waking up this morning still warm in my cozy sleeping sac despite temperatures that hovered around freezing through the night, I nestled in for a bit of thanksgiving and prayer and reflection before rising.

Reaching for my reading glasses and flipping through the pages of my Magnificat for the devotions of today, I came across this quote:

"What the world is in particular need of today is the credible witness of people...capable of opening the hearts and minds of many to the desire for God and for true life."  Porter Fidei #15

And then there was a reflection on the life of Brother Lawrence, the self described "great awkward fellow who broke everything" and entered a monastery at the age of fifty two.  Aspiring to become learned and smart and thereby overcome his perceived deficiencies and clumsiness, he was disappointed to be assigned instead the task of kitchen duty and mopping floors.

"Lord of all pots and pans and things

Make me a saint by getting meals

And washing up the plates!"

Though he lived in the 1600's he inspires us to realize that we can "practice the presence of God," by inviting God into our daily routines and duties.

Who has inspired you in your vision of God?

Have you shared your own experiences with others?

(Perhaps you have and not even known it!)

  

Just this week, many of you have inspired me:

by posting your paintings on Facebook
by reaching out by email, phone, Facebook, Words With Friends and prayer
by relating how you cooked for you sons' college friends for the Super Bowl
by taking time to conference me in on a meeting
by knitting hats for our two college boys in snowy Boone
by posting pictures of your activities and lives

by expressing your love for your wife while commenting on a photo she posted
by reaching out for moral support and prayer
and perhaps most simply and powerfully,
by your presence in my life, no matter the circumstances.

Knowing your love for me helps me to realize how precious I am.

(Aw, what's not to love??!)

My Intentional Camino: Jousting at Windmills

I returned for a third time this week to Brookgreen Gardens with only two things in mind:  to eat a shrimp sandwich at the Pavilion restaurant and to see Anna Hyatt Huntington's famous Don Quixote.  

What I didn't expect was to be so wrecked by the haunting image of a mentally ill hero and his emaciated horse, which I understood was sculpted from a starving horse that Anna found, housed, fed, and frantically sculpted over a period of about thirty days before the poor thing was fattened up and restored to health.

Here is my day in pictures!