Hope, Change and Adoration...

I am sure there are many people that are not going to read this particular blog entry because of the title.  Hope and Change are two things that have been racing through our society the last 10 years.  Hope and Change is associated with President Obama's campaign, and has been all the rage for quite some time.  I wish you all will give me a chance to prove otherwise.

I start this blog with the definitions of Hope and Change.  Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.  Change is defined as to make or become different.  Both of these words have very personal meanings.  Both words have a meaning that affects the individual personally.  My idea of a certain thing to happen(hope), might be different than yours.  My idea of to become different(change) will most certainly be different than yours.

What about putting these words in a different context? 

Instead of putting my hope in a political system, or the leaders of an organization, I choose to put my Hope in the God.  Lately, I have had my struggles.  I have been overwhelmed with all aspects of my life.  Things had been building and building.  I tried to dodge the bullet, so to speak, put out the fire, etc. and they all came upon me at one time and I could not handle it anymore.  So I took drastic measures.

In the Catholic faith, we have Eucharist Adoration.  It is a time where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, in a monstrance, and people will sit and pray before the Sacrament.  We believe that the Eucharist is the actual body of Christ.  We believe that Christ is actually present.  In our parish, we can adore Christ, just about every day of the week.  There is at least one person, but usually more, in adoration every hour from 6AM-9PM.  I, for the first time, willingly decided to attend Adoration and share time with God.  For those that follow my blog, you know that me spending time in deep conversation with God, is a huge struggle.

Anyway, I decided to spend some time in prayer, in our Adoration chapel.  I went looking for answers to some of my issues, but really, looking back in hindsight, I went because God had humbled me.  I had just about enough of trying to do things my way, that I decided to attend the chapel to listen what God wanted me to do.  I went looking for answers, but really I was searching for Hope. 

Well, as you can imagine, after stumbling through the process of having a conversation with God that went something like, "God, I am not worthy to be in your presence.  I know that you are always there for me, but I have pushed you away to do things my way, so I am not worthy...." I prayed for guidance.  I asked for direction.  I asked if I am doing the right things.  It wasn't until a couple of days later, that I realized I was going to God looking for Hope, a desire for a certain thing to happen.  I needed to change and I needed it very soon, or I was not going to make it based on the path I was on.  I hoped that God would redirect my path, towards His kingdom.

Well wouldn't you know it, after some time in Adoration, being humbled by God, getting down on my knees and begging forgiveness, I started to notice change.  Now, I am not talking about the change like some people might think.  For example, I did not ask for the winning lottery numbers and they magically appeared.  I am talking about a change in my path.  I knew the path I was on, was not leading me anywhere I wanted to go.  I need a change in direction, a change in understanding.  I need something to be different.  I have tried and tried to change on my own, but that clearly wasn't working.

So I ask... Where do you go for Hope and Change?  Do you get it from your boss, your local political leaders?  After the most humbling experience, I have decided no more.  I will place my Hope in God and allow Him to Change me.  True Hope and Change can only come from God.  I know that we think we can change things, or hope for anything, but true hope and change can only come with the guidance of God, whether or not we decide to give Him credit is a different story.  Need something to change in your life, put your hope in God, and be ready for the changes to occur. 

Do you want to see a Change?  Are you comfortable with where you are, or do you want more from your life? Do you allow yourself to hope, after (possibly) being disappointed by who/what you placed your hope in before? Placing our hope in God is vulnerable and makes us dependent, two qualities that we as human beings tend to run away from like a disease..."I can sustain myself, I can make myself happy, I can fix what is wrong"...To hope in God means that we have to WAIT on God. Are "you" willing to hope?

Who would you take?

 

 

Imagine a bus.  Not the necessarily the bus above, just your typical, everyday bus.  Imagine you owned this bus and could take anyone you wanted on this bus.  Who would you pick to ride on your bus?

  

I give you this image because of our recent guest priest, Fr. Mike.  Fr. Mike is a missionary priest for Food for the Poor.  I know it is a little early for a side note, but when you hear missionary priest, it is typical for them to ask for money for their mission, not Fr. Mike.  Fr. Mike came to thank us for donating to Food for the Poor, last year, and of course to ask again, but not via second collection.

 

Fr. Mike's group is responsible for those living in poverty on some tropical island.  While he was visiting, Fr. Mike's guide told all the priest from this mission to get on the bus, for they were going to the dump.  Yes, the place where household trash is discarded.  Fr. Mike talked about driving into this dump and finding a colony of about 500 people.  This colony survives on the trash that is thrown in the dump.   They might get food, build shelter, get clothing, etc.  Imagine someone, in our country, going to the dump to get the basic survival needs.  I believe this is for another blog.

 

Anyway, Fr. Mike said as the bus entered the dump, a group of people will follow the bus, running along side of it, in hopes to get the best of whatever is about to be dumped.  His visit was no different, with the exception of Juan.  Juan, a child, was the first one seen by those on the bus.  Fr. Mike told the driver to stop the bus and let Juan on the bus.  Juan was so shocked, that there was a long pause before getting on the bus.  All the while, the bus was filling with flies and a stench that was about unbearable.

 

After a long visit to the dump, it was time for all to get back on the bus.  Fr. Mike started to say good-bye to Juan, but not without asking questions.  Fr. Mike asked Juan the best part of his day, and of course Juan said, riding the bus.  Juan felt like a normal person, one that comes into the dump and not a person that lives in the dump.  By this time, my eyes were starting to fill with tears.

 

We live in a world of possessions.  Many people are judged by the things they have, not who they are.  I imagine myself on that bus.  Would I have the courage to ask the driver to stop and pick up Juan?  How many times have I driven by someone stranded on the side of the road?  How many times have I lived in fear that if I stop, the consequences could have unpleasant results? 

 

Thanks to Fr. Mike for reminding us we all deserve to be on the bus.  Thank you for reminding us that whatsoever you do...  Thanks for the reminder, that when we work for God, we honor Him and are protected by Him. 

 

So again I ask, who is on your bus?