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WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 11/26/08

What, Me Worry?
 
I was once told that fear and worry are signs of lack of faith.  Great!  One more thing to worry about!  I’d love to be able to brag that — as a man who takes his faith seriously — I never worry.  I mean, I’m in God’s ever-reliable, trustworthy hands, right?  Absolutely.  But I’m a man of small faith, not the part-the-Red-Sea-in-the-morning-and-cure-a-leper-or-two-in-the-afternoon kind of faith.
 
I’m a show-me, remind me, reassure me, doubting-Thomas kind of believer.  I know — how pathetic!  I stand up in the morning and, like St. Peter, swear my devotion to and love for God.  But by afternoon, when something as insignificant as the handle breaking on the refrigerator, I swear at God and curse my luckless fate.  I feel sorry for God.  He doesn’t have much with which to work when it comes to me. 
 
The good news:  I know and believe (beyond just a hunch or a hope) that it’s okay, that God has worked with bigger clowns than me (well, maybe not, but that still puts Peter and me in darn good company), and that if He can put up with this clay-footed, unreliable yahoo, then I’ll do my best to stumble along until I almost get it right, worry and all.  And for that I’m ever grateful … most of the time. — jri
 
“For he chose us in him before the
creation of the world to be holy and
blameless in his sight.”
        –    St. Paul
               (Ephesians 1:4)

MONDAY THOUGHT 11/24/08

Personal Bible Favorite?
 
Do you have a favorite verse from the Bible?  When I look over the ones that truly touch me, I realize that some may have no meaning to other people.  But for me, they offered powerful words — perhaps reassuring, perhaps strengthening, perhaps awakening — at just the right time. 
 
For example, one of my favorite verses is below. I read it at a time of great loss, both material and emotional.  To me, that one line from Ezekiel is the most powerful and reassuring verse in the Bible. It reminds me that the Lord is watching over me and that He has simple but great plans for me.  
 
My point?  I’m curious which special verses touch your life.  If you have a phrase from the Bible that is particularly meaningful to you, I invite you to post it, with the reason it is your favorite, as a comment to this message.  God bless and thank you for your prayers. — jri
 
“I will put My Spirit in you,
    and you shall live,
and I will place you in your own land.”
        –    Ezekiel 37:14
 
Footnote:  Yesterday, my daughter, Angie, and son-in-law Aaron were introduced into their Catholic Church in Verona, Wisconsin, as they begin a faith journey that will lead to Angie’s confirmation and Aaron’s baptism this coming Holy Week.  Bonus:  They discussed baptizing their three-month-old daughter, Riley, at the same time her father is baptized.  It was a joyful service.  Thank you for your support.    
John R. Ingrisano
www.DailyConnections.net

FRIDAY THOUGHT 11/21/08

“No Big Deal, Pop”
 
That’s what my daughter, Angie, told me so I wouldn’t feel obligated to drive the 175 miles this coming weekend as she and her husband are to be “introduced” (the correct word eludes me this morning) as catechumens preparing to join the Catholic Church.  As I understand it, she will be confirmed and he baptized during Holy Week this coming spring.  No big deal, my foot!   I’ll be there, grinning like a fool.  It isn’t every day you get to sit back and savor such a joyous miracle.     
 
Coincidentally (or maybe not), two other friends — one in Tampa, Florida, and another in Madison, Wisconsin, are also participating in the identical Catholic inquiry class.  (For those who don’t know, I was raised Catholic and am now Episcopalian.)  None of these four seemed like likely candidates  for faith transformations.  But then again, St. Peter (my clay-footed favorite saint) didn’t seem like much, either.  Oh, and then there’s myself — the most unlikely of men to ever declare, “Yes, I am a man of faith.  Got a problem with that?”
 
My point?  Partially, it’s that we should never stop praying for those we love; never forget that there is a God and, yes, He does answer prayers.  There is no such thing as a lost cause.  But, I confess, I’m also flat-out bragging here.  I am so proud and joyful and big-grin delighted for these four people — my two family members and two faith-seeking friends — who have been blessed with the seeds of belief and understanding.  Maybe it’s no big deal for God, but it’s a button-popping big deal for me!  Rejoice with me! — jri
 
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock and the door will
be opened to you.  For everyone who asks
receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who
knocks, the door will be opened.”
    –    Jesus Christ
           (Luke 11:9-10)
 
Please keep my daughter, Angie, her husband, Aaron, and all who seek the truth, in your prayers this weekend.
John R. Ingrisano
john@DailyConnections.net

THURSDAY THOUGHT 11/20/08

A Morning Prayer
 
Lord, you know my needs, my fears, my weaknesses, my concerns.  I place them all in your hands, and I thank you for the abundance of blessings you have given me this day. 
 
For myself I ask only strength, faith and guidance. 
 
For my loved ones, my enemies, and all those who suffer, I ask mercy, patience, peace in their souls, and, most of all, the gift of faith and joy that comes only from you.  Thank you..  — jri
 
“The kingdom of God does not come with careful
observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or
‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within
you.”
        –    Jesus Christ
               (Luke 17: 20-21)

TUESDAY THOUGHT 11/18/08

When Silence Speaks

I have a friend at church.  He speaks rarely, but when he does, he speaks volumes of value.  I am not like that.  I am a man of words, many words.  I speak often, long and loud.  Words are the tools of my trade, my weapons of defense, my amusement.  Few people, let alone God, can get a word in edgewise. 

But it is when I sit in silence — when I let my soul be still and I stop trying to sell my faith, fears, needs and petitions to God or others — that I feel closest to God. 

My point:  Today, do not pray that God comes to you; instead, silently let Him in.  Do not talk to God about your cares and needs; instead, listen as He speaks to your soul.  God bless, and rejoice in the gift of this day and our ability to simply, silently admire and enjoy it. — jri

“We all stumble in many ways.  If anyone
is never at fault in what he says, he is a
perfect man, able to keep his whole body
in check.”
    –    St. James
           (James 3:2)

MONDAY THOUGHT 11/17/08

Clay Feet, Empty Head, Dry Soul
 
Some mornings, I wake up without a clue.  Dumber than a stump.  I pray and ponder and wonder.  Nothing.  Someone stole the batteries, punched the “Off Button,” or hooked something up backwards.  Still, my mind chatters and blathers away — whining, complaining, praying. 
 
Finally, shhhhhhhhh.  Some days silence is the best prayer.
 
My point?  Shhhhhhhhh.  Amen.  — jri
 
“Our seeking of God is not all a matter of
our finding him by means of certain ascetic
techniques.  It is rather a quieting and ordering
of our whole life by self-denial, prayer, and
good works, so that God himself, who seeks
us more than we seek him, can ‘find us’ and
‘take possession of us.’”
        –    Thomas Merton

THURSDAY THOUGHT 11/13/08

Welcome Home!
 
I had always had wonderful, marvelous, terrible wanderlust.  I left my home in New York when I was 17 because, as I am fond of saying, “I heard rumors that there was life west of the Jersey Palisades.”  That was also about the same time I left behind my mechanical, perfunctory, rote-memorization, youthful faith.  My soul, my mind and my body were always restless, prowling, never satisfied, always craving something new, something different — from ideas to places to experiences.
 
It took a few decades and many thousands of life miles, but I eventually ended up home again.  No, not in New York, but as a devoted, smiling, redeemed and convicted man of faith (nicked and bloodied, but joyfully grinning, still and always very much flawed), welcomed in the house of the Lord and embraced in the spirit. 
 
My point:  It seems to me that if we are open and honest, every road we travel — though it may take us far away and through some pretty spooky terrain — will help us grow and eventually bring us home to a Lord and God who has been with us all along.  Celebrate your faith and your doubts, for they are all part of the journey. — jri
 
“One thing I ask of the Lord,
    this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life.”
        –    Psalm 27:4
 
Please pray for all those who stumble and fall as they struggle with the horrible burden of alcohol and drug addiction, that they may know they are loved by you and by God.  God bless.  
John R. Ingrisano

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 11/12/08

“THE Way” Means Just That
 
I’ve wandered through a lot of unlocked doors in my restless life.  Like all of us, I’ve searched for that something — joy, peace, purpose, whatever.  I’ve looked in literature, stoicism, skepticism, cynicism, whiskey, Zen Buddhism (a neat philosophy, but a dead end as a religion), travel, adventure, conventionalism (spouse, dog, three kids, well-groomed lawn), unconventionalism (life on the fringe), “sportism” (I just made that up; it means an obsessive love of sports, elevating it to the level of a religion), business, money and a whole lot of other stuff that may be fun, but just doesn’t go the distance, just doesn’t keep delivering over time, just doesn’t fill that hole in the heart.
 
You know how this one ends:  It’s a cliché.  I found it in Jesus … not as a last, desperate resort out of fear or despair (though I’ve been there, too), but with head held high, a swagger in my step, my nicked sword in my hand.  I found balm for my restless, burning heart, peace for my howling, lonely soul, a whole lot of purpose and things I need to do and want to do, and a hoot and a half of pure joy and spiritual strength.  Whew!  Found it! The gift that keeps on giving.  
 
My point:  Wander as many paths as you like, check out as many “ways” you need to.  And then, when you’ve had enough of the whiskey hangovers, gotten tired of the cold emptiness of Zen meditation or who-really-cares-who-won sportism; when you’re ready to admit that even spouse, kids and picket fence just aren’t quite enough, remember THE Way.  It is where — if you are honest and a true seeker — you will end up.  Enjoy the trip.  Celebrate your blessings.  Be joyful.  See you there! — jri
 
 ”You are my refuge and my shield;
    my hope is in your word.”
        –    Psalm 119:114
 
For those of you who have been praying for my brother, Lou Ingrisano, I received word this morning that he is in Darfur, complaining that it seems safe and stable and will be heading out into “the bush” in a day or so.  He asked for prayers (no, that’s a lie, but I am asking for him) and for emails (that is true), which will be waiting for him when he returns.  He can be reached at lingrisano@hotmail.com.

FRIDAY THOUGHT 11/7/08

God’s Embrace
 
I know a boy who, when he would become out-of-control distraught, his grandmother would wrap her arms around him and hold him as tightly as she could until he settled down and regained his gentle composure.  I also recall marveling several years ago as a priest (Father Patrick Raymond at Grace Church in Madison, Wisconsin) came out before the service, wrapped his arms around an agitated homeless man in the pews, held him close (the man must have smelled like the gutter), and whispered in his ear until the man calmed down.  
 
I know the feeling.  God has done the same with me many times, wrapping His love around me to calm the anger, pain, frustration, fear and, yes, even the spitting-mad fury that can overtake me at times.  And when I just let it go, let myself become still, ah, in those moments I would sometimes understand the great and wondrous peace that is beyond understanding.  God’s embrace is a powerful embrace. 
 
My point?  If we let Him, God will hang onto us for all we are worth.  So, when we hit a nasty snag in life, just stop and recall that God can handle it.  All we have to do is just hold still long enough to let Him get His arms around us.  Enjoy God’s blessings on this autumn weekend. — jri
 
“May he grant you joy of heart
    and may peace abide among you.”
        –    Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 50:23

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 11/5/08

TUESDAY THOUGHT 11/4/08

Angry at God?  What God?
 
I overheard a conversation a while back about how a particle accelerator would provide proof of the Big Bang Theory, which in turn would “put a nail in the coffin of religion.”  The one fellow’s gleeful anger is what struck me.
 
It seems to me that a lot of people are angry at a God they don’t know.  And it’s not so much that they don’t believe in God; just that they don’t understand Him.  That’s like not believing in airplanes or computers because we don’t understand how they work.  Our ignorance doesn’t change their existence.
 
My point:  Not sure exactly, but I suspect we ought to be speaking up in these situations (no, I did not), if only to let others know that God is about faith, not science (though science, in my opinion, provides pretty powerful proof of the hand of God at work).  Is it our obligation?  I don’t know for sure, but it is perhaps our opportunity to make a difference, if only to plant a seed of doubt in a doubter’s mind.  Be joyful.  Be happy.  Cherish the gift of this wondrous day.  — jri
 
    “‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look
for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any.  Cut
it down!  Why should it use up the soil?’ 
    “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more
year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.  If it bears
fruit next year, fine!  If not, then cut it down.’”
        –    Jesus Christ (telling a parable)
               (Luke 13:7-9)

MONDAY THOUGHT 11/3/08

Transformations III
 
I’m going to take a big chance on this one, so be kindly toward me, please.  First, I apologize for getting lengthy, but I could find no way to write it shorter.  Second, I am using a weird analogy.  Third, it may sound like I’m “holy bragging”; I’m not … or at least I think I’m not.  Here goes: 
 
It seems to me that there is a big difference between change and transformation.  Change is one of those goal-focused, measurable things (as in: I will increase my running distance by five percent this month).  Transformation, on the other hand, is impossible to measure.  It is dimension-less.  Imagine (and I told you this was going to be weird) a sperm approaching an egg.  This sperm’s entire purpose in its short life is to swim, to reach the egg, even though it perhaps never or barely understands its own motivation.  This is how, it seems to me, many of us live — expending all of our effort to reach some vague idea of success.     
 
But now imagine that sperm reaches the egg.  Wow!  Boom!  Ka-Pow!  A super-nuclear chain reaction takes place.  Within days (perhaps hours, if not seconds), that previous entity known as “the sperm” is beyond recognition.  And that incredible, unstoppable chain reaction continues for months, as a human being is created and grows inside his or her mother’s womb.  And then the child is born and keeps on growing, constantly becoming something new day after day, year after year.  That’s transformation! 
 
My point?  That’s what happens when we turn our lives over to God.  He doesn’t just change us.  He transforms us.  And, yes, I have proof.  (And here we go with the could-be-bragging part.) That proof is me!  No, I’m not done and I’m not perfect (in fact, far, far, far from it), but my heart, my soul, my very life have been transformed, swept up into a being, a life, an awareness and a knowing that I cold never have imagined, never have planned, never have even hoped for. 
 
And, no, it’s not about halos and steeple-handed bliss.  My life is tough, and I have more flaws than good points.  But when I look at where I’ve been, the man I once was (no, not bad, but with a self-centered, “change”-centered view of the world), the only explanation I have is that either God’s transforming hand is at work, or those chimpanzees finally pulled it off.  (About those chimps, that would be the 50 that, if left long enough in a room filled with 50 typewriters, would write the Great American Novel.  Believe that and the chimps are smarter than you!)
 
My other point:  Anything is possible.  God not only CAN transform caterpillars into butterflies and clay-footed people into men and women of faith, but He DOES it every day.  Just ask.  Oh, and enjoy the gift.  It’s pretty amazing.  Ka-Pow! — jri
 
“God from the beginning chose you.”
            –    St. Paul
                   (2 Thessalonians 2:13)