Casi Impossibili

Casi impossibili are those situations which seem to have no positive resolution.  It is believed that nothing good can come from impossible cases.  Despair and desperation are the usual results from sustained "lost cause" situations.  Examples of such situations could involve financial matters, grave health matters, or broken relationships.  You would know if you have experienced an impossible case for you never forget the breathlessness........the smack of hitting rock bottom.........the pain of no light at the end of the tunnel......the overwhelming dizziness.  No matter how prepared your faith is for hardship.....An impossible case leaves you dazed.....with a "deer in the headlights" expression.........., yet there is always hope that a miracle could happen.

 “When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right.  When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.”

- Arthur C. Clarke's First Law

(inventor of the communications satellite & author of 2001: A Space Odyssey)

 

Miracles are events which defy the laws and theories of science.  Since the occurrences can not be explained logically, skeptics assume that miracles are fake, but what skeptics forget is that scientific laws are man's interpretation of the natural world around him.  Scientific laws change as new discoveries are made; tests are replicated; and consistent data is collected over and over again.  Systematic investigations seem to eventually explain supernatural phenomena, but as a spiritually faithful Christian student of science, I don't believe miracles need to be explained logically.  The mystical purpose of miracles is to increase levels of hope, faith, and trust in God; and this mystery plus the science behind miracles dilute the word "impossible".  

 

“A science which does not bring us nearer to God is worthless.”

- Simone Weil, mystic

.....But back to impossible cases........There really are impossible situations or relationships which may have no positive resolution due to a lack of cooperation or participation from involved parties.   Instead of these cases having win-win resolutions, there is only lose-lose or maybe one person keeps themselves from losing while the other parties are sent down a black hole of oblivion.   Constructive communication is imperative to alter impossible relationship cases to a win-win scenario.  Pride, stubbornness, and personal agendas must be decreased and a sense of partnership adopted.  If this does not occur, then the relationship is doomed to be labeled an "impossible case" for eternity.  If someone doesn't desire to change or grow for the good of a relationship, then the relationship is definitely a bona fide impossible case.  Destructive patterns of behavior will continue.  Miracles are not observed if someone doesn't allow the mystical part of nature to work within them self .........no matter how many prayers are lifted up.  Reforming an impossible relationship involves individual souls making a difference within themselves as they make a difference in their partnership. This is an action of love, and the healing power of love is a miracle.

“The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one thinks
about reforming himself.”

- St. Peter of Alcantara
(Spanish mystic and founder of the barefooted Friars Minor; 1499-1562)

St. Francis de Sales, pray for my patience.

St. Therese the little flower, pray for my little actions.

St. Florian, pray for all firefighters and emergency responders.

St. Pio, please pray for the miraculous healing of a friend's wife.
St. Jude, the miraculous saint, please pray for the impossible case of my life which causes me to despair. Amen

- little petunia

Semplicità

Semplicita is the art of being simple.  Simplicity is being not complex like simple machines or unmixed like Earth's metals.  Living simply means freedom from duplicity; and a pretentious style, diet, and language.  Your lifestyle is clear and plain.   St. Vincent de Paul explained that God is simple.  If we want to become as much like Him as possible, we must strive to become simple in spirit and action, natural in speech and behavior, but most importantly, living without sham or deception.   St. Francis de Sales describes how we can obtain simplicity by fixing our soul's gaze solely on God.  When our soul withdraws into itself in order to concentrate on obeying God's guidance, simplicity leads us to desiring only this and nothing else. As we desire to only please God's will, our souls steal God's heart which is filled with delight.  The key is developing skills in remaining focused on God's guidance in the middle of turbulence.  Many times, we are not in control of our environment, and it can become difficult to remember simplicity when your human instincts are driving you to crazy defensiveness.   How does one respond to turbulence and still remain pure and simple?  Responding in peace can lead to acts of charity.  Charitable inspiration for someone who is causing environmental distress and uncertainty can be difficult, but if we can remain peaceful, then opportunities of kindness may present themselves.  Peacefulness allows the positive energy of the Holy Spirit to flow through while refurbishing souls. 

Simplicity is nothing but an act of charity pure and simple, which has but one sole end, that of gaining the love of God. Our soul is then truly simple, 

when we have no aim at all but this, in all we do.  

-St. Francis de Sales 

One way to learn how to live with simplicity is by recalling how you behaved as a child.  There is a story of how Jesus would visit St. Faustina in the form of a small child.  One time she asked Him why?.....She did not understand because she saw in Him the infinite God and Creator.  Jesus replied that till she learned simplicity and humility, He would continue to commune with her as a child.  Children are happily straightforward with their trust and wonder of God and the mysteries of His creations.  They are not tormented by anxiety, stress, and allegiances; so children are free to obey, respect, love, and explore their surroundings.  Observe the children around you.  Watch the mannerisms and reactions to circumstances.  My favorite mannerism of my children and grandchild to unfavorable events is a simple shrug of their shoulder.  The event appears to be forgotten, and they move onto their next act of exploration. 

Sir Isaac Newton was of the opinion that nature was pleased with simplicity.  When you consider all of the details of nature which are cyclical, interrelated, and dependent, nature appears to be complex on the surface.  As you look closer at the basic chemical reactions and molecular interactions, the processes simply happen over and over again with back up systems in place to recover from stress, drought, or violent turbulence.  Nature moves on and life simply continues.  After a forest fire, the ground appears barren, but without the aid of man, life eventually comes back to the forest.  Ferns are the first plants to grow after a forest fire.  These plants survive by producing a huge network of roots which grip the soil.   Some forests have attributes which keep them from burning during a forest fire like Ponderosa Pine forests unlike Douglas fir forests which burn devastatingly.  Nature simply responds to life events by developing survival characteristics for a period of time, so the circle of life continues. Applying this to our lives, mastering simplicity takes practice till the skill becomes second nature, so we should just mindfully exist every moment of the day........
paying attention to what appears to be insignificant details.  Each of these details are interrelated; and when the moments occur naturally, calmly, peacefully, and patiently, you are existing on a plane of simplicity which you will find pleasing.  

The office of simplicity is to make us go straight to God, without regard to human respect or our own interests.

- St. Vincent de Paul

 I wonder what Albert Einstein meant when he stated that everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.  Could it be that if explanations are too simple then truth is lost?  Truth leads to knowing what unnecessary elements to eliminate for the reduction of chaos.   By reducing clutter and increasing simplicity, you can focus more clearly on what problems need to be solved and how positive productive communication can lead to solutions.   To find truth, follow God's Word and Will.   Detachment from your wants and leaning on God's Will for your path in life should eliminate complexities and lead to happiness.   Simplicity is not a fraction of grace to be lived.  It is a way of grace to be lived wholly in such aspects as humility, intellect, silence, compassion,  prayer, forgiveness, and gratitude. 

 

God's Word + His will
  

    

FOCUS (Communication)  +   Detachment   –   CHAOS  =  SIMPLICITY 

                                                                                                              

                                                                                                            TRUTH    +    Happiness

 May every sunrise bring me closer to a path of simplicity,
and may every sunset forgive my lack of trust in God's will. 
May the Archangels St. Michael and St. Raphael continue to protect
and travel near me as I walk my God given path.  

St. Francis De Sales, pray for my written word to be inspired by God's Word. 

St. Theresa the little flower, pray for my small efforts in simplicity.

St. Florian, pray for the safety of all fire fighters.

St. Benedict, St. Cosmas, & St. Damian pray for the health of Bernardette. 
She needs a healthy kidney.

St. Jude, pray for impossible cases.  Amen.

- little petunia

St. Benedict, patron saint for kidney disease

Santo Ephrem

Santo Ephrem is a well known saint in certain circles of the Christian faith, but he is not well known amongst most members of the Roman Catholic Church.  He is the patron saint for spiritual directors and spiritual leaders; so he has become my patron saint because I am now the Directress of the St. Francis de Sales group to which I belong.  St. Ephrem also happened to die on the day I was born (June 9th)......well of course about 1600 years before my birth.  He was born in Nisibis which was an ancient city and trade center under Roman control; and was situated along the road from Assyria to Syria in northern Mesopotamia.   This southeastern Turkish city is currently known as Nusaybin.

Historians do not know very many early details of St. Ephrem's life, but they have deduced from his records of writings that he was possibly born in a fourth century Christian family although some researchers believe that his father was a pagan.  His "Sunday school teacher" was St. James (bishop) of Nisibis, and
St. Ephrem was confirmed as a young adult.  He lived during a disturbing time of the Church.   Heresies were rampant.   The Church and Christians were under persecution.   As an ordained deacon of the Church, he distributed food and goods to the poor; and helped priests with liturgical duties and preaching the Gospel.  In addition, St. Ephrem wrote prayers which are still recited in the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches and wrote hymns which also still sung at mass.  The hymns were written to combat heretical teachings of the time.  He is also known for writing many manuscripts to aid the efforts of saving the TRUE FAITH of the Church.  How he lived his life with sacrifice and courage.......defending the faith; and his well known writings contributed to him receiving the title, Doctor of the Church, in 1920.

The Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian
(recited during lent in the Eastern Rite Church)

O Lord and Master of my life, keep from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust of power and idle chatter.      [kneel/prostration]

Instead, grant to me, Your servant, the spirit of wholeness of being, humble-mindedness, patience, and love.     [kneel/prostration]

O Lord and King, grant me the grace to be aware of my sins and not to judge my brother; for You are blessed now and ever and forever. Amen.    [kneel/prostration]

 Meditating on the life of St. Ephrem.......focusing on the stress and tension of his days due to the persecution and circulating heresies......brings me to certain thoughts.......1) Did he think twice before he stood up to the heretics and persecutors with his writings and teachings....or was all that he did a natural response due to his faith and conviction?  2)  How did he handle the overwhelming moments when he may have felt despair wondering into his thoughts?  3) How can I apply his example to my role as a Directress?  4)  Could he keep his perceptions from influencing the TRUTH?

One thought that keeps convicting me after reading about St. Ephrem is...........TRUST in the TRUTH.   

• Trust him and he will uphold you, follow a straight path and hope in him.   - Sirach 2

• Those who trust in him will understand the truth, those who are faithful will live with him in love; for grace and mercy await his holy ones, and he intervenes on behalf of his chosen.      -Wisdom 3

•  saying to Yahweh, 'My refuge, my fortress, my God in whom I trust!'   - Psalm 91

• Let dawn bring news of your faithful love, for I place my trust in you; show me the road I must travel for you to relieve my heart.      - Psalm 143

•  Trust wholeheartedly in Yahweh, put no faith in your own perception;....  - Proverbs 3

I need to remember every morning during early prayers that God is my refuge and my fortress.   He will save me from my faults so that He is exalted.....as long as my intentions are aligned with the TRUTH ......and I TRUST in His saving grace....
Then every evening, give thanks for being safely delivered from another day of living out my faith for times are gearing up for a big battle.  Life involves cycles.....We are past the 300 degree mark of our christian cycle.....a battle of faith is on its way.   Shining and waxing our armor won't be enough in the coming days......We need to be ready to put the armor to use.....It's going to get dented and marked up.....but first, we need to remember to put it on every morning..............Times are going to get tough..............just as the times were during the days of St. Ephrem.  Our swinging sword will be the skill which God leads us to use...........................
St. Ephrem's sword was his pen and paper.  My calling is teaching....Since my sword of words can induce wounds, I need to watch where I swing my sword.  I am still learning how to reign in my passion and only spew tough words when called.....not by my will....but His will.  

St. Ephrem, pray for my spiritual leadership.
St. Dominic, pray for my even temper and swing of my sword.

St. Pio, pray for my TRUST in the TRUTH.

St. Florian, pray for the safety of all fire fighters and emergency responders.

St. Benedict, pray for the healing of those with kidney disease.
St. Jude, pray for impossible cases.

St. Therese the little flower, pray for my humility.

St. Francis de Sales, pray for my patience and gentleness.

Thank you Lord for the blessings of this life.

Bless those who have chosen to love me.

May I bless those who have blessed me.  Amen.
- little petunia

Nonna

If I had known how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren,
I'd have had them first.  
~Lois Wyse

Being a nonna (grandmother) is the ultimate blessing!  It is an experience that can only be understood by living the excitement.  "Grandparenthood" involves unconditional love, freedom, energy, action, entertainment, wonder, and laughter.  Grandchildren have an awesome healing power which helps you forget your worries.  They also bring a momentum to your life just when you thought that life was becoming boring or routine.   There is no routine with grandchildren......because just when you think you know how to take care of them or entertain them, your grandchildren change it all up.  You have a front row seat to the physical and spiritual development of a life which you are free to watch......maybe guide.....but ultimately my goal of being a nonna is having fun with my nipotino (grandson).

  On the seventh day God rested. 
His grandchildren must have been out of town. 
~Gene Perret

When Carter Paul comes to visit......He enters my home yelling "Nonna!".......This is music to my ears.......His little exciting and cheerful voice just warms my heart as I hear his little man body hop through the house like a rabbit looking for me.  When he scans the house to make sure everything is in its place, his facial expressions are so entertaining. If he sees something that he doesn't like or understand......Carter Paul shakes his head with disgust.  He is so animated and full of energy.  He will go from sweeping the kitchen to pulling out the kitchen pots and pans......to wanting to go outside to kick the soccer ball.....to wanting a snack....to  sweeping the mulch out of the garden......to laying down for a brief thought of a nap.   Nothing else matters when my nipotino is in the house.  I wait for Carter to be ready for my favorite activity.......rocking him while I sing "Frosty the Snowman".  He'll tell me to keep singing....or to rock faster......One of his favorite things to do is hopping into my rocker before me.....giggling.....as he pulls me down on top of his lap!  

 Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild.
~Welsh Proverb

 

Having and raising my children was a unique experience with each one.  Children can test the limits of your love, and challenge the limits of your wisdom.  Parenting comes with no owner's manual, but I would choose to be a mother all over again for ....Faithful love brings its own reward.......(Proverb 11).   At one time, I once described the love for my children as natural, tough, yet unconditional.  As I reflect back......I admit that my love was unconditional.....but I still expected them to follow the house rules.....so wasn't there really some conditions?!  There is built in stress and worries with parenting.....But as a nonna.........those all fall away.  Those energy burners belong to my daughter, Shelby, and son-in-law, Trevor.   I have finally experienced true unconditional love as a nonna.....no stress...no worries.....I have found a built in trust that everything will be ok.  

Mothering my children did not involve spoiling them.  They did not get what they wanted and learned that whining did not work on me.  I had an armor which their nagging could not wear down. Since becoming a nonna, my armor has weakened.  If Carter wants a couple of biscotti before dinner, then he gets a couple of biscotti......If Carter doesn't eat all of his vegetables, then he can still have desert.  Now, I don't let this habit of giving in to Carter's demands all of the time, but it is fun, because I know that his parents are doing a wonderful job at disciplining Carter, and giving him a stable foundation for good habits.  I want my nipotino to feel like he can come to nonna's house for loving support no matter what.....I want Carter to realize that his worries and stress can fall away while he is at nonna's.  I want my home to represent a zone of happiness and safety.  I'll support him with anything for my nipotino can do no wrong in my eyes!  God will support my steadfast prayers for my nipotino.....that I trust.   My prayer for Carter Paul is for wisdom and humility.  He alone works wonders, for his faithful love endures forever (Psalm 136), and Yahweh is tenderness and pity, slow to anger, full of faithful love (Psalm 145).

  If nothing is going well, call your grandmother.   

~Italian Proverb

In a couple of weeks, a nipotina will arrive.  I am so excited!  A granddaughter must have her own uniqueness.  Her name will be Eloise Ann which means that she will be a famous warrior who is favored by God.  An excellent name for a female from my lineage due to the strong-willed survival character which woman in my family have.  She'll probably be born with a sword in her hand.  My prayer for Eloise will be for gentleness and patient passion.

St. Joseph the worker, pray for my family and their intentions.

St. Anne, pray for my grandchildren.

St. Benedict, pray for those with kidney disease.

St. Therese the little flower, pray for my humility.

St. Pio, pray for my patience.
St. Jude, pray for impossible cases.
St. Florian, pray for all emergency responders and fire fighters.
St. St. Gregory, the Great, pray for the virtuous efforts of all teachers.
Dear Lord, please bless those who have chosen to love me.
May I bless those who have blessed me.  Amen.
- little petunia

Perdita

Somewhere on this planet.......someone is experiencing a perdita (loss)........a loss of eyesight......a loss of a favorite object.....a loss of one's mind......a loss of a home......a loss of faith......a loss of a cherished loved one due to death......a loss of keys.....a loss of a friend to a misunderstanding or distance,.....or a loss of integrity.  By definition, loss means the state of no longer having something because it has been taken from you or destroyed. A loss could be from natural means or it could be due to outside influences.....so sometimes, one can try to prevent a loss, but other times, a loss is totally unexpected.

The type of loss which can have different grave effects on individual people is the loss of someone due to a death....tragic or natural.  For women, an even more devastating perdita is a miscarriage.  A miscarriage is a loss of a life unseen, or as the medical field defines, a miscarriage is a spontaneous abortion which is a harsh description.  The American Pregnancy Association describes a spontaneous abortion as a pregnancy that ends on its own, within the first 20 weeks of gestation.  There is no one reason for the occurrence of a miscarriage, but possible causes may be due to.....

• Hormonal problems, infections or maternal health problems
• Lifestyle (i.e. smoking, drug use, malnutrition, excessive caffeine and exposure to radiation or toxic substances)
• Implantation of the egg into the uterine lining does not occur properly
• Maternal age
• Maternal trauma
• Genetic reasons

 There are various types of miscarriages but the end result and affects on the mother are the same.  The woman realizes the loss, but the tragedy is in not knowing what the child would have looked like or how the child would have behaved.  The uniqueness of the child is not experienced by the mother who briefly housed a developing life within her. It doesn't matter what caused the miscarriage.  What matters is that a life formed within the mother.....As a sperm combined with an oocyte, a soul entered the zygote which develops from an 2-cell embryo to a morula to a blastocyst. The blastocyst (embryo) implants in the uterine lining by the fifth day after fertilization. By the 11th week, the embryo is identified as a fetus. This life forming process begins at a miraculous and microscopic level.  Changes in her body are the only signs that a life is developing in her womb.   The loss of this life also brings painful physical manifestations to the mother and creates an imaginable hole in the heart of the mother.  A mother loves her offspring from the time of conception.....sight unseen.
 

Yahweh says this: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and weeping bitterly: it is Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. 

- Jeremiah 31

What does a mother do with this hole in her heart?  She mourns.  She cries water falls of tears.  From my personal experience, I live with the hole in my heart by placing my hope in Him (Hebrews 2).  God is the almighty healer, so I lean on His grace and mercy. I rely on Him for healing.   My first miscarriage.....my first perdita.....occurred 27 years ago and my heart is still healing....but my joy is more and my sorrow less.  I was truly by myself.  There was no one to share my turmoil....no one to listen to my story. Bearing this type of loss by yourself is indescribable.  God, my faith and guardian angel delivered me safely....otherwise, I would have lost my mind.  After I was married, I miscarried again on Good Friday of 2000, and then again in late 2001.  The pain was easier to bear with the last two miscarriages because my husband's faith lifted up my sorrow.  Each miscarriage occurred in the late embryo stage right at the end of the first trimester, and I chose to name each child.......Michal Grace (October 1985), Josie Blix (April 2000), and Leo James (November 2001).   Just as our Father in Heaven calls each us by name and knows our souls before each conception........I call each of my children in Heaven by name for my heart knows them.

 Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.

- Isaiah 40:26

Each of the three embryos had a soul.  They don't exist in my imagination.  Michal Grace, Josie Blix, and Leo James are real for they come to me at different times especially during prayer.  Before I miscarried Josie Blix, Mother Mary came to me with Josie on her lap.....Josie was not a blastocyst of cells.....She was a fully formed infant.  During a public rosary prayer event, all three of them found me in the crowd and began to poke me like my young live children would do to me to get my attention. I identify their presence also through a simple breeze where there wasn't one just before....or by blue butterflies flying around me.  Through the sorrow of their physical absence in my life, I have gained blessings.  My faith and belief in the TRUTH of God's Word and the power of the TRINITY continues to carry me.  I am a stronger person, but if I let go, then I begin to drown......so I continue to treasure their existence by holding their hands.   

  Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself.  

- Walter Anderson, American artist/writer

St. Raphael the Archangel, pray for my physical and spiritual healing.
St. Pio, pray for my unborn children.
St. Jude, pray for impossible cases.
St. Benedict, pray for those with kidney disease.
St. Therese the little flower, pray for my humility.
St. Florian, pray for the safety of all emergency responders and fire fighters.
St. Gregory, the Great, pray for the virtuous intentions of all teachers.
Dear Lord, please bless those who have chosen to love me.
May I bless those who have blessed me.  Amen.
- little petunia

Memoria

 God gave us memories that we might have roses in December. 
~J.M. Barrie, Courage, 1922

Today is my birthday...another year older, but hopefully wiser.  As the gap to being 1/2 a century old gets smaller, I find myself reflecting on my life......

• Have I made the right choices?
• Have my desires, fears, instincts, or Holy Spirit guided my decisions?  
• Am I on the best path?
• Is my current status "as good as it gets" or will there be an unexpected epilogue?

My memories of times past help my reflection. Sometimes, I can pull memories forward with little effort while other memories require a word, an odor, a flavor, a sound, or a texture to pull a memory forward from the cobwebs of my brain. Cognitive Psychology is a field of science which studies the mechanisms of memory.  There does seem to be a method to how a brain stores memory even though the experts can't seem to agree where certain memories are stored.  Some scientific evidence shows that the hyppocampus stores more recent memories while other research supports that older memories are stored in the upper surfaces of the frontal, temporal, or parietal lobes.  No matter where the memories are stored....or whether the memories are short-term or long-term, the roses in December either bring me joy; or I find a way to gain wisdom from painful, sorrowful, or disappointing memories.  Dr. Wayne Dyer states that we can create the world that we live in by how we process information from our world, so I figure that I can create positive memories by how I process the facts and feelings from past events......even if negative details and emotions occurred.  

  I’m not going to tell you the story the way it happened. I’m going to tell it the way I remember it.

- Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Friedrich Nietzsche, a 19th century German philosopher, once stated that the existence of forgetting had never been proven, and that some things just don't come to mind when we want them.  I suppose he believed that there was more than choice involved with the mechanism of forgetting. 

There is one particular memory from an event which occurred more than 25 years ago where a specific detail refuses to come forward. With this memory, it is strange how this one detail can not be remembered while other details from the event are crisp and clear.  I can even remember how I felt throughout the whole event. One day the detail will be revealed to me, but till then, I cherish the positive lessons learned and the affectionate memory of a possibility (2 Maccabees 9).  This event was a blessing for it stirred an enthusiasm within me for the definition of life.  

 He put fresh heart into them by citing the Law and the Prophets and, by stirring up memories of the battles they had already won, he filled them with new enthusiasm. - 2 Maccabees 15

I agree with Helen Keller for she thought that life is always good as long as the memory of certain beloved friends lived in her heart. Through my short life time, I have a few beloved friends who belong to my different rites of passages; and have a permanent resident in my heart for I have shared tears, laughter, love, and faith with each one. When I am in reflective mood, I use my senses to relive the joyful memories.  Not only experiencing life with these friends were blessings, but I am twice blessed with the memories.  This particular birthday has brought birthday blessings of joy, peace, messages from friends, hugs from family, simplicity, hope, new memories, love, encouragement, sunshine, and laughter. The day reminds me of the a verse from Ezekiel 34......"I will cause showers to come down in their season; there will be showers of blessings."  

I believe the purpose of memories is hope. HOPE in the possibility that doors passed up and unopened will come by again; or HOPE in the probability that the doors unopened will still bring joy, because I am striving to fulfill my purpose in life. I believe that God will correct my path if I make a wrong turn as long as I work towards His expectation.  My memories help me evaluate the distance and path which I have traveled, so I can determine which direction I am to go. 

Footfalls echo in the memory
Down the passage which we did not take
Towards the door we never opened
~T.S. Eliot

---

St. Raphael the Archangel, bring God's healing and guide me to open the next unexpected door.

St. Therese the little flower, pray for my humility.

St. Pio, pray for my unborn children.

St. Francis de Sales, pray for my simplicity and gentleness.

St. Jude, please pray for the impossible cases of my heart. 

Thank you dear Lord for a beautiful and blessed day.

Bless those who have blessed me. Amen.

- little petunia

Benedizioni

 Blessing is the sovereign act of God, and the power of benediction like the power of God.

- John Pearson (1600's Theologian)

Brachot is the yiddish word for blessings, and blessing different daily events is a common Hebrew practice.  Most people bless their meals before they consume, and they may send blessings to loved ones for major events like baptism, confirmation, graduation, or marriage.....but what an interesting notion to recite blessings after a meal; when rising from slumber; to set the daily attitude; for God bearing our burdens and meeting our needs; or for recognizing God's sovereign power.  If we would only bless God before, during, and after our daily activities; then our focus would always be on the Trinity.  This practice could bring enlightenment and appreciation for how the "Three in One" influences the direction of our lives.

Benedizioni or blessings are considered to be anything from sacred formal prayers to asking for God's favor to good wishes to joyful praises to guarding from evil.  It is so easy to remember to ask....or beg for God's blessings during challenges, adventures, or catastrophies.....but do we remember to bless God when times are good and running smooth?  King David continuously blessed the LORD and encouraged all of Israel to do the same (Psalm 26:12). How do we bless the LORD?  Our blessings fall upon our Creator every time we recall how He guides us down our path; provided for our needs; kept us from temptation; and protected us.  We bless God when ever we thank Him for His grace and mercy, and each time we express our love to Him. Spending quality time with the LORD as your humble heart overflows with expressive thankfulness and praise also delivers blessings to His doorstep. Blessing the LORD is to be ceaseless, and not only private, but blessing the LORD should occur with other grateful hearts. (Psalm 34)

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lists who are blessed (Matthew 5:3-10).  This list is referred to as the "Beatitudes".  Jesus stated that blessings will fall upon those who can live a life which fulfills the beatitudes.   To position ourselves for blessings, we must.........

• live a selfless life with a mild cheerful manner and clean loving intentions as we practice, develop, and acquire virtuous characteristics of gentleness, charity, humility, and patience.  
• sacrifice our desires and cheerfully accept God's plans for our lives understanding the difference
  between His sovereign power and our serving position.  
• obtain a tender consciousness which is sensitive to the affects of sin.
• courageously defend the defenseless while bringing peace and mercy to the weary.
• live for the prevalence of justice in all situations even if persecution befalls us. 

Read the list again........God blesses those who bring blessings to others......We are called to live for others and not for ourselves.  We are called to open ourselves.....open our hearts to LOVE outside ourselves.  When we LOVE God and all of His creations........When we LOVE strangers.......When we live virtuous,sinless, sacrificial, and penitence lives.......When His plans become our plans.....Our lives will be BLESSED.

Laying down our lives for others reminds of how tree bark protects the life supporting tissues called xylem and phloem.  Bark is a tree's natural armor.  It protects a tree from external threats from the environment.  The interior tissues of a tree....the cambium and heartwood are tender yet supportive just as the interior rooms of a soul are sensitive and responsive to the harsh injustices and violence of a society.  We must help one another survive society's unmercifulness such as when a spouse is laid off; a home is lost to bankruptcy; a child is lost to a drunk driver; a neighbor is wrongfully accused; or discrimination keeps someone from employment.  Lamentations 3:22-23 describes how the Lord's mercies save us from being consumed due to His unfailing faithful compassion, so as Jesus calls us to be merciful, we should be the compassionate armor for other souls.

As God is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1), we should be a very present help for those who are in trouble.  We are called to soften the blows of life like tannins which soften, transform, and preserve animal skin into leather.  Tannins come from the heartwood of certain very hard tree species like the red and white Quebrachos.   A Quebracho is such a hard wood that is it is named in Spanish for being an "axe breaker".   The tree's hard and soft qualities are similar to our protective and supportive traits which Jesus calls us to use.  We should find merciful and peaceful methods to break the unloving actions which cause trouble; and to support with loving arms which imitate the arms of God.  In Latin, que bracho means "and their arms".   Considering all of this......I am reminded of how our actions (arms) should be guided by our hearts (Song of Solomon 8:6) and should be protective, yet gentle and supportive as the bark of the Quebracho tree.  Our actions should be blessings for others. Que bracho benedixit. We must bless others in order to be blessed.

 May those who have crossed my path and blessed my life receive God's blessing.
May my brachos be blessings to my family, friends, and those who do not know me.
May my life be worthy of God's blessing.
May God be patient yet pleased with my virtuous efforts and brachos.
Grazie dear Lord for the seen and unseen blessings of my life.
St. Raphael, guide me to a holy life.
Blessed are those who have chosen to love me in the past, present, and future. :-)  Amen.
- little petunia

Essere Ancora

 Be still my heart; thou hast known worse than this.

- Homer

Have I known worse than this?  Well......someone else always seems to have a worse life story than mine, but when I am living through my terror.....my disappointments......my heartbreak......my sorrow......my pain....., each trial seems worse than anything else.  The extreme responding feelings are probably due to my hyper focus on my situation.  If I could only hold my focus on God's glory, strength, and power, then the fear, doubt, and uncertainty would not overwhelm my intellect and spirit. 

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.

- Psalm 46:10

Be still is a phrase which is found throughout the bible, in hymns, and in modern songs.  In Katharina von Schlegel's 1752 hymn, Be Still, she described the path which God may lead us as "thorny ways", yet He leads us to a joyful end. Her words advise us to bear our crosses patiently leaving the work to God for He will provide in every change.  As I read Exodus 14:13-18, I am reminded how Moses told the Israelites to not be afraid.....stand firm.......the Lord will bring deliverance today......the Lord will fight for you....you only need to be still.  My interpretation of this verse brings to mind images of myself without fear, worry, fret, impatience, restlessness......breathing calmly and remaining quiet in mind, body, and soul.  These are hopeful images for I so desire to be this trusting of God's glory and power.  Why do I doubt?  What holds me back?  Why can I not be resigned to God's will and plan?  Why can I not live with trusting expectation of His Providence of my path? He knows my story....my  struggles.....He knows what is going to happen before my story unfolds.  Why do I doubt His faith in me? I have been told over and over that God will not give me more than I can handle.....so why do I not believe His belief in me?  Why do I fear?  Moses stated that God will deliver me.......This sounds like He will be there to save the day if I would only allow Him.  I must let go completely......remove all mental dismaying, and give Him the lead to fight the good fight.  He knows the end of my tribulations.....God is all knowing and His Providence is the best game plan......so I need to practice being still and waiting patiently for the Coach (God) to call the play.....to call my name when it is my turn to enter the playing field for His glory. 

John J. Parsons from www.hebrew4christians.com sums up Exodus 14:14 the best.  He describes being still as meaning that we surrender to God's control for He is Ribbono Shel Olam - Master of the Universe.  We "let go" in order to know the saving power of God in our lives.  Parsons adds that we give up trusting in ourselves and our designs in order to experience the glory of God's all-sufficiency.  The Ribbono Shel Olam's game plan may involve working through the people in our lives to win the battle, or may involve the manipulation of our surroundings in ways unseen and indescribable to take out our enemies......either way.....I must remember that He is the Master, and I am His loveable purposeful creation......I need to quit making up my purpose.....Being still and holding fast will reveal His purpose for me in the game of life.....He leads me.....guides me.....He will save me from darkness. 

 Holdfast.............help is on the way............Holdfast..........He's come to save the day........
- Mercy Me

Ribbono Shel Olam, please never give up on me.
St. Raphael, pray for me.....guide me to still patience.
St. Florian, pray for the safety of all emergency responders and firefighters.
St. Gregory the Great, pray for the inspiration and courage of all teachers.
St. Francis de Sales, pray for my humility.
May the heavenly angels help us to spread the Love in our hearts to one another. Amen.
- little petunia

Il nome della rosa

Roses are mysterious labyrinths.  A rose represents a rare beauty which encompasses the senses with its delicate and graceful petals of eye-appealing color and hypnotizing sweet fragrance.  It invites you into an unknown, yet desirable passion. Each bloom symbolizes love and peace, but at the same time, its thorns can produce an intense pain that can cut to the quick.  Roses consume the soul while you walk towards the light at the end of life's tunnel. Each fallen petal either guides to your full purpose or sends you spiraling on paths within your heart's labyrinth. 

What is the name of the rose?  The name of the rose is PASSION.  Passions reside in the hearts of spiritual beings.  It's a flame burning to light your way, yet so many become lost......never finding their way.  Passions should be the kinetic energy to keep you moving forward towards the TRUTH.  The trick is to hold fast to the holy path and not get caught up in where our minds may lead you.  Ego resides in the mind and takes the passionate focus off the TRUTH, and shines a glamorous light on self.  If a passion becomes centered on self, then thorns of loss, despair, and pain prick the heart. 

How can the rose remain in bloom?  A rose will continue to bloom as a heart's passion is shared with others.  Giving a portion of your passion away ignites a reaction and transforms the potential energy of the heart to kinetic energy......This action is inspiring, but doesn't come easy.  Transforming energy is work which means you will have to put forth effort to force your ego to let go over a multitude of distances along the course of your path. As a heart's passion is given away over time, power of love is produced which energizes a mechanical advantage to moving others' passions towards the TRUTH.  When a community of roses are in bloom, the fragrance of love is intoxicating and pressures are relieved which decreases the stress from the ego's masquerading efforts of destruction of life's true purpose and mission. The focus of a heart's passion is LOVE.....to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind.......and to love our neighbors as our self.  Love is empowering.  As LOVE is given to others, love blooms in your heart.  Any other pursued passion leads to dark lonely tunnels.  Your love of the game will lack efficiency.  Your heart's inspiration will become nonrenewable and your rose will not be renewed.....refreshed.  Your rose will stop blooming.   

"Perhaps the mission of those who love mankind is to make people laugh at the truth, to make truth laugh, because the only truth lies in learning to free ourselves from insane passion for the truth."-- The Name of the Rose, Seventh Day, Night

What if a heart's passion shared with a loved one doesn't produce empowering inspiration?  Some spiritual beings are not receptive to a heart's passion.  They don't understand the mechanism of love, so remain lost in the rose's labyrinth......going around in circles.   When someone is unresponsive to love due to ego, love should be given, but even Jesus spoke of cleaning the dust off of your sandals and moving on...........You have more distance to cover on your path, and this type of unresponsiveness clogs up the flow of LOVE.  Love which isn't allowed to flow causes pressure and develops cracks in its structure.  Love's strength and courage disappear. 

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

-Lao Tzu 

St. Francis de Sales, pray for my passion's focus.
St. Theresa the little flower, pray for my humility.

St. Raphael the Archangel, pray for the healing of heart, soul, and body.

St. Pio, pray for my strength and courage.
Blessed Mother Teresa, pray for love in my life. Amen.

- little petunia

Fiorire

Flourishing means that a living thing is thriving while it is growing and developing.  Depending on the organism and the type of environment, certain characteristics are imperative for successful flourishing; and can lead to populations of organisms, like bacteria, vigorously increasing in healthy numbers.  Organisms flourish also due to the ability of physical and behavioral adaptations. Darwin referred to this ability with his description of natural selection. The lack of adaptation can lead to an inability to flourish and to the elimination of organisms.

When applying flourishing; and the same adaptive characteristics and survival behavior to a relationship between spiritual beings; it is found that relationships are naturally resilient.  In an ecosystem, resilience is the ability of the particular area to return its original state after being disturbed.  In physics, resilience is the amount of potential energy stored in an elastic material when deformed.  Keeping these ideas in mind, relationships should be able to recover from tragedy, toxic behavior, sorrow, pain, loss, selfishness, disappointments
......etc....., but sometimes the pressure and stress has been so great that there is not enough potential energy to transform a relationship into a forward positive motion. There may not be enough kinetic energy or other resources to return to the original relationship status.

In bagpipe bands, the tenor drum section has a knack for flourishing.  This traditional skill of the tenor drummers has evolved over the years to become bold and extravagant gestures or actions to add a unique touch to the band's sights and sound during a performance or competition.  Participants in a troubled relationship may attempt the same type of bold actions, but it may not be enough to attract the attention of the other involved parties that the ship is about to sink.  Despite any bleak outlook or lame gestures, though, there is always hope.......hope in that good will come out of the struggle even though the outcome is not what we had planned.  Have courage because God's mercy may just be around the corner.  Expect it.

Flourishing requires the ability to see and accept unseen outcomes.  Opening the mind to other possibilities or scenarios which are beyond our current perspective or logic.  Faith involves stepping out and walking forward as two dear friends recommend.   Trusting with each step that the next step will be under your foot to catch and guide you. Some call it blind faith.  For survival, tough decisions may have to be made.  No matter what direction your flourishing takes you.....no matter what decisions you are led to make.... bounce back and survive.....Enjoy life!.....Be happy!....That's what flourishing is all about......je, je, je.... :-)  

St. Francis de Sales, pray for my patience.

St. Therese the little flower, pray for my humility.
St. Raphael, pray for those who travel.
Mother Mary, please take my prayers for Bernardette's healing to your son, Jesus.

St. Florian, pray for the safety of firefighters and emergency responders.
St. Pio, pray for my healing.
St. Elizabeth Seton, pray for all teachers.  -Amen.

-little petunia