Saturday Lesson

Every man, whatsoever his condition, desires to be happy.  St. 

After the Saturday I had, I probably have enough thoughts to write a dozen blogs!  I spent the day at the Diocese of Lansing Made for Happiness Assembly and it was an absolutely spectacular day.  I sat in the MSU Breslin Center with more than 13,000 Catholics and prayed, sang, laughed and praised!  The energy, the speakers, the unity, the communal prayer…it was overwhelming!  We gathered as Christ’s people; members of an imperfect church but followers of a Perfect God!  There was happiness, grace, healing and glorious HOPE!  If I wrote about everything that’s on my heart the blog would be thousands of words long and to quote a phrase that makes me laugh, “Aint nobody got time for that!”  It’s impossible for me to pick a favorite part of the day but there is a line from Fr. Mike Schmitz, priest extrodinare, that hit me like a ton of bricks.  I’ve come to understand that when something hits me that hard I’m probably supposed to pay attention.  

Fr. Mike was talking about Santa Claus.  He spoke about the times as a child he begged his  mom  to take him to see Santa.  He didn’t want to just write a letter, he wanted to SEE Santa.  Looking back he realized that he didn’t really care about the man Santa, he  only cared about what Santa could do for him.  Seeing Santa meant asking in person for presents and then receiving them simply because he asked for them.  He had no real regard for Santa himself, only what he could give him. As he was talking I could vividly remember my brothers and I getting ready to go to White Lakes Mall in Topeka, KS to see Santa.  I remember what an outing it was and how exciting it was.  It was probably the only car trip all year where the boys and I didn’t argue and poke each other and irritate the snot out of our parents.  The memory made me smile.  But then came the bombshell,  he asked how many of us ever saw God that way.  Ugh!  The reality of my answer was heavy.  I’ve been reflecting on this for over 24 hours and it’s definitely become something I realize I need to work on.

I get excited about the idea of God.  I spend time in prayer and I try to do things that please him but I have to ask myself why?  Am I just trying to win his favor so he will give me what I ask for in prayer.  Do I go to him trying to “butter him up” so I can make up for the times I truly don’t pick up my cross?  Do I turn to him when things are hard and disappointing and temptation knocks loudly or do I do what I want and then go to him a few days later and act all “buddy buddy in my prayer.”  It left me asking myself where my true intentions  and commitment were.  I truly do want to join him among the Communion of Saints but do I work for it, I mean really work for it or do I expect heaven to be his great gift to me even if I haven’t been a loyal disciple.  Do I want him enough to defend him or share his story in public?  Do I love him enough to trust him and follow him and be uncomfortable as he works in my life?  Do I listen for his voice or drown him out with my own thoughts?  Am I willing to surrender everything to him and admit I am perfectly made and adored by my creator?  I can’ just be excited about the idea, I have to live the idea.  I have to love him above all because of what he HAS given me, not just for what I want him to give me.  Sheesh, thank you Fr. Mike for a big heap of stuff to work on…it might not make me FEEL better but it sure will make me BE better. (thanks for that line too!)

A Seed To Plant:  If the Santa story touched your heart, please spend the week praying about it and see where he leads you.​

Blessings on your day!