Month: April 2022

A MEDITATION ON WHAT TORMENT IS

Jesus said: “the rich man also died and was

Buried, and from the netherworld, where he was

In torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham

Far off and Lazarus at his side.  And he cried out,

‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.  Send Lazarus

To dip the tip of his finger in water and cool

My tongue, for I am suffering torment in these

Flames.’” (Lk 16:22-24)

How do we wish to live?  We can be givers or takers

If we give, especially generously, we will not have to

Worry about being tormented.  If we ignore warnings

And refuse to give and hold in contempt those who

Encourage us to change, we will be candidates for

Torment and when we review, if we have the sense

To do so we will have regrets that we were not

Generous to others.  The right way is usually the

Easiest way and our rewards will be outstanding

Torment will be a foreign word.  Be a giver.

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

April 13, 2022 ^

Angels cannot always be right

But that’s what makes them

Human-angels.  The snow that flew

Through Montana and was supposed

To miss North Dakota while hitting

Wisconsin and the U.P. did not happen

I was wrong, but now I know from my

Sources that rain in great amounts is to

Fall in northern Michigan, including

The U.P. and there is a chance for

Flooding in degrees that we have not

Experienced recently.  We will face it

As it comes remember to drive safely

If we have to be about.  Weather is a

Tricky thing and even those of us who

Have an inside track, (human angels),

Can come out with the wrong prediction

If I have left anyone with the wrong

Impression, I apologize.  Tomorrow will

Be a better day and an opportunity awaits you

Don’t waste it because of me.  You on

Your own have many chances of making

People happy and I encourage you to

Do this.  The joy of life comes from such efforts.

Do not listen to the fake news or really fake

News, but follow your heart and you will

Find peace at the end of the day.  Look

In front of you and take the steps to happiness

Stanski

April 13, 2022 ^

I read things on Facebook

People seem genuinely happy

They are finding evidence that

Spring is here and it makes

Them happy.  From butterflies

To various birds and the small

Buts about to open on the

Deciduous trees.  They are

Optimists.  We are due for

A blizzard on the first of the

Week.  It is moving over from

Montana will miss North Dakota

But will cause Wisconsin and

The U.P. to tremble.  I look at

The lake and see the snow mountains

They are breaking up, but that

Will change.  Everyone seems

Anxious to get started on chores

But last fall when the weather

Was in our favor they sat around

Watching football.  Excitement

Wears thin quickly if you don’t

Have a plan.  I usually make a

Plan which is not too extensive

And one I feel I can complete

There is always next year for more

And if I have spare time I can

Always help my friends with their

Jobs.  Garden therapy is a great

Thing and completing a job

Gives a real euphoria that can’t

Be beat.  I will get my tools

Ready during the blizzard.  In the

Twenty-six years that I have lived

Here I have had two years where I

Only had to snow-blow four times.

That is the good news.  The bad –

Two of them were in April. Oh well,

That’s life.  Happy spring.

Stanski

April 12, 2022 ^

She handed me a couple of cookies
They were chocolate-chip
They are burned on one side
I tried one and it wasn’t bad
I finished it and had the other
During the night I got up
Looked through the cookie bag
Found five more burned ones
And one that was perfect
The next morning I caught hell
For eating all the cookies
I complimented her by saying
That the one not burned was
Just as good as the burnt ones
You are not supposed to eat them 
All at one time, she said
But they were good and I
Did leave most of the unburned 
Ones in the bag for you
She just looked at me
I asked her if she could make
Some oatmeal-raison next
She looked at me and said no
I’ll have to buy some at Jack’s

Stanski 
April 12, 2022 ^

Jack Baker
mA7p1lri0pll ns5or0, e6204814  ·
I never knew.. DID YOU?
If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps was played; this brings out a new meaning of it.
Here is something Every American should know.   
We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, 'Taps...' It's the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. 
But, do you know the story behind the song?  If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.  
Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Elli was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia . The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. 
During the night, Captain Elli heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a   Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment..  
When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.  
The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.  
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. 
The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.  
But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. 
The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform.  
This wish was granted.  
The haunting melody, we now know as 'Taps' used at military funerals was born.  
The words are: 
Day is done.
Gone the sun.
From the lakes 
From the hills.  
From the sky.
All is well.  
Safely rest.  
God is nigh. 
Fading light.
Dims the sight. 
And a star.
Gems the sky. 
Gleaming bright.  
From afar.  
Drawing nigh.  
Falls the night. 
Thanks and praise.  
For our days.  
Neath the sun  
Neath the stars.  
Neath the sky 
As we go.
This we know.  
God is nigh 
I too have felt the chills while listening to 'Taps' but I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more than one verse.  I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along.  
I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.  
Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country. 
Also Remember Those Who Have Served And Returned; and for those presently serving in the Armed Forces.
Please send this on after a short prayer.
Make this a Prayer wheel for our soldiers ... please don't break it.   
I didn't!

RECONCILIATION

It’s not easy to walk in the Lord’s

Footsteps – never was and never

Will be. 

The winds of sin can gradually

Blow me off course and, without

Even realizing it, I can sail in a

Direction contrary to my

Baptismal commitment.

Years ago, the notion of a long look

At the whole direction of my life was

Far from people’s minds – except for

People who had been away from the

Sacraments for a long time and needed

To make a “general confession”.

The Church is returning to the tradition

Of celebrating the sacrament of

Reconciliation by centering on baptism

And personal conversion.  This requires

Deep reflection and much longer preparation.

Lent is the time when I do this.  I attempt

To turn away from sin and be faithful

To the Gospel.

I feel good when I reach into the baptismal

Water and renew my “yes” to the Lord’s

Invitation to “Come, follow me.”

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

April 12, 2022 ^

Time is flying and there is

Much work to do.  I have no

Choice except to place my

Trust in you to guide me

Forward and hold me back

From areas where I would fail

You.  We as citizens of the world

Have great possibilities, but seem

To squander them as often as

They present.  Euphoria comes

From accomplishment, but the

Evil men get theirs from control

And victimizing others.  We can

Pray for a change, but history

Shows us that this is impossible.

We will take care of that which

Is in front of us.  This morning

The early sky was beautiful and this

Should give us hope.

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

April 12, 2022 ^

A MEDITATION FOR LENT

Jesus said, “The person who is trustworthy

In very small matters is also trustworthy

In great ones; and the person who is dishonest

In very small matters is also dishonest in

Great ones.  If, therefore, you are not

Trustworthy with dishonest wealth who

Will trust you with true wealth?”

Luke attaches to this parable several sayings

Of Jesus to help interpret it.  These sayings

Were probably spoken at different times

By Jesus, and they bring out a variety of

Teachings suggested by the parable.

The point of the Jesus’ quote above is

That His disciples must be trustworthy.

They have to live the Christian faith ass

Honestly as possible in the circumstances

Of their own lives, including responsibilities

At work, at home, in the community, and

In the parish.                                    

That is not always easy to do, but it’s what

Disciples of Jesus who are trustworthy are

Trying to do.

Have I been a trustworthy disciple of Jesus?

Something to pray about, especially during Lent.

This meditation is brought to you by Stanski

April 11, 2022 ^

MEDITATION April 11, 2022

May this day go according to

Thy will.  Help me in every

Possible way to leave a good

Imprint where ever I go

And impress with kindness

Everyone I meet.  Let me

Give honor to You in everything

I do.  Allow me to bear some

Of the weight of the cross.  Amen       

Stanski

April 11, 2022 ^

While a foot of snow is

Falling in Montana, we

See the waves and 40

Degree temperature

Break up our moon scape

Which is now only thirty

Feet long.  The Ice Mountains

Are breaking up as the

Soft waves are pushing

Them toward the shore

Twenty of the thirty feet

Is moving and it won’t be long

Before the beach is just sand

We have no complaints

Compared to many places

We are living in luxury

Everything is available

And all we have to do

Is be selective and careful

The snowbirds are returning

And seem depressed.

They wanted to stay longer

But their funds have a way

Of drying up so they are

Putting their ambitions on hold

That is the sensible way

To behave.  There is

Loneliness in their eyes

They are happy to be back

But would rather be

Somewhere else

Many have lost their spouse in

The last few years and

No matter how they try

There is no way to replace them

A few more days of warm

Weather and sunshine will help

Things will return to summer normal

Stanski

April 11, 2022 ^