Month: March 2023

Sticks picked up along the path

are lined up on a slight incline,

in a fashion that might make

Andy Goldsworthy proud, then

left to let nature take its course. 

Weeks go by, and the same path

leads to the familiar incline,

where the masterpiece still speaks out. 

Weathered just enough to give a patina

adding luster to its settling grace. 

I walk on intrigued by the wonder of life,

nature and possibilities while thinking of

the chaos and disrespect we witness,

wherever we are or would go to on this planet. 

Order seems to come so easily to

the simple things about us,

where egos and power-seeking

do not come into play. 

Around the globe, we witness nomadic peacefulness,

sanity among the aborigines who follow

a simple code honoring personal growth and

thankfulness for the earth’s gifts,

then to another place where genocide is prevalent or

dictators control the movements of their citizens,

many places where ideology requires the killing of infidels. 

Peaceful coexistence is not easily found on this earth and

when you look at the cosmos and see

that we are less than an insignificant speck

you wonder how great minds over time

have not stepped up and put an end to

the horrible waste of humanity and instead

find a path where sticks could be picked up,

then lined up on an incline in such a way

that a calming spirit came over all of man and

the feeling of hope, love and peace prevailed. 

Then, although a small sphere,

we would radiate golden light

throughout the universe.

Stanski

March 21, 2023, ^

I sit alone in this great house of worship.

It is quiet and dark. A few candles burning

and the outdoor light has a way of getting

through. We try to open to the desires of

the creator. I try not to judge others but

to think of all the possibilities which go

by us, with none of us stepping up in

service to Him and addressing what we

can do and want to do with His grace

and help. We need His light, and

it is very intimate in this dark building.

Life goes on in many ways around

the world. Politicians and dictators

attempt to control, but with God’s

grace, we will overcome. We must

follow His precepts and continue

to do good. Love Him and our neighbors.

Be willing to share His light.

The giving is fulfilling.

Stanski

March 20, 2023, ^

O Lord, this holy season of Lent is passing quickly. I entered into it with fear, but also with great expectations. I hoped for a great breakthrough, a powerful conversion, a real change of heart; I wanted Easter to be a day so full of light that not even a trace of darkness would be left in my soul.   But I know that you do not come to your people with thunder and lightning. Even St. Paul and St. Francis journeyed through much darkness before they could see your light. Let me be thankful for your gentle way. I know you are at work. I know you will not leave me alone. I know you are quickening me for Easter – but in a way fitting to my own history and my own temperament.   I pray that these last three weeks, in which you invite me to enter more fully into the mystery of your passion, will bring me a greater desire to follow you on the way that you create for me and to accept the cross that you give to me. Let me die to the desire to choose my own way and select my own desire. You do not want to make me a hero but a servant who loves you.   Be with me tomorrow and in the days to come, and let me experience your gentle presence. Amen Presented by Stanski written by Henri Nouwen March 19, 2023, ^

When asked by one of the students

of Mosaic Law to declare what

is the most important of God’s

commandments? Jesus got right

to the point in driving home his

answer, “Love”. We must love God

wholeheartedly which would include

loving yourself and your neighbor.

The scribe approved of Jesus’

answer, and Jesus approved of

him. When Jesus said you are

not far from heaven if must have

put a smile on the scribe’s face.

When we show by our actions

that we are following Jesus with

our actions we might hear him

say that you are not far from

the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom

is all about us and whenever we do

something that brings joy to someone,

we can in a sense get a feel of what

heaven is all about. Goodness is easy

to accomplish, especially when we think

of others’ needs ahead of our own.

Jesus brought this Kingdom to earth

and then died on the cross so that

we would have access to it shows us

what love for others is. We should

be eager to follow him.

Stanski

March 18, 2023, ^

Just a five-letter word that has been with us

for our lifetime. When we examine our record,

we find that we come up short in the mercy

department. We are secondhand witnesses to

brutal crimes and come out with our opinion

of what the consequences should be. The

perpetrator should be strung up and severely

punished. What they need more than punishment

is mercy, understanding, counseling, and meditation,

along with someone who can lead them through this

maze. None of us are above God’s desires, and

we all need mercy. We are not better than the

criminals and God shares his love equally. If we

are to imitate Him, then we must be willing to

forgive and show mercy to everyone, as we are

all sinners. We are in awe when hearing of some

of the horrendous crimes committed, and we

sit in judgment instead of forgiving, showing

mercy and realizing that God has a purpose for

us all. It is difficult to understand, but we should

make every effort we can to follow God’s example.

He loves us and wants us to do the things that

make up a good life. He gave us free will and

exposes us to enough people to make it easy

to know right and wrong. What causes the

wrongdoing? We don’t always know, but

we do know his words,” When I was hungry

and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you

gave me drink, a stranger, and you welcomed

me, naked, and you clothed me, ill and you

cared for me in prison, and you visited me.

We must learn and do these things.

They are our show of mercy, our show of love.

Stanski

March 17, 2023, ^

When you seek to do good, no

harm shall come to you. Stay

close to the hand of Jesus.

His hand is all that we have

and represents all that he

taught us to do. It is not an

easy task to be His follower.

Nothing worthwhile is easy.

We grow through difficulties

and failures make us stronger

as we recover and make way

a new path. Our needs are met

,and our wants dwindle as we

come to recognize what is

important in life. The Samaritan

knew and tended to what was

in front of him. He did not just

dump the problem but made

sure his charge was taken care

of and then left, saying he would

settle upon his return trip. He

is an example of loving your

neighbor and thinking of others

first. No harm came to him for

this gesture. We read about people

who become our heroes. They

gave up a safe life in order to take

up the cross and follow Jesus.

These actions take courage and faith.

There is celebratory joy and silent joy

when good things are accomplished.

These are gifts that we receive when

we listen to his words and follow him.

Stanski

March 16, 2023, ^

The bank of love has not been overdrawn.

Although there is much misery in our world

which should be brought to us with hope.

There is no mystery. Certain madmen want

power and control over the masses. They

live in luxury while their subjects go hungry

and thirsty. They pay politicians and have

them in their pockets, so to speak. We

witness ruthlessness and crime, human

trafficking and drug smuggling by cartels

who have taken over large territories in

Mexico. We are vexed by germ warfare

and then subject ourselves to regulations

and mandates which are destined to

ruin us as a society. We are told we are

racists, but most people are not.

They are good people who respect

others of all religions and ancestorial

origins. We have a media who ignores

the truth and spreads the lies. We

spend our money building walls for

other countries while we leave our

southern border open. We give money

to the Ukraine and their president/dictator

closes all the Christian orthodox churches.

The Russian have bombed and destroyed

what was left. Evil people exist, but we

have only one Master, who is an endless

source of hope an love. In Him lives

our salvation.

Stanski

March 15, 2023, ^

Look behind the curtain to

get a glimpse of how stupid

people think. If there are too

many back there, then focus

on a few, and you will get the

picture. I presume they are still

walking around in circles in long

robes and chanting sweet nothings.

You will see the media repeating

together what the monitor is flashing.

There you go. You are now up to date.

Stanski

March 14, 2023, ^

We have expectations evolving

from what we do. Because we

have accomplished this or that

we feel entitled to make claims

on what we want for ourselves

or others around us. We are not

the Supreme Being and our actions

should not be predicated on what

we will get out of them or should

be entitled to but performed just

to serve God, even in ways we do

not understand. We should be

proud of our accomplishments

but not brag about them. They

are nothing compared to the

cross and the sacrifice of Jesus.

He gifts us every day and there

is no need or right to make claims

on unknown possible rewards.

We must keep doing good and

what is right and the Divine One

will take care of us as He sees fit.

Stanski

March 13, 2023, ^

To dream is not a waste of time,

but we must remember that a

dream without action remains

a dream. It is best to put a plan

together with the dream and

follow the plan until your dream

is fulfilled. It is not an easy task,

but if you are determined, it will

come about. There are a lot of

plastic bananas and phony

bolognas, good-time rock and

rollers around willing to distract

you. We have one life, and in a

sense, we own it and will put it

to good use or waste it. To waste

would be a shame because it is

a precious gift, and looking back,

we want to be proud of what

we have accomplished. Improving

in some way the place we have

been should be a goal. We do

not wish to be a freeloader.

There are enough of them, and

they get in the way of progress.

It is a crooked world, and if we

wish to straighten the walls, we

must bring the right tools along

with our determination. The Father

does not need us to accomplish

these things as He can create as

He wishes. We are doing something

for Him that He does not need us for,

but still, we want to be part of His plan.

It seems paradoxical, but it is a reality.

He wants us to love rather than make

things nicer for ourselves. He expects

us to go and attend to those on the fringes

who need help. He gave up His life for us,

and we should want to sacrifice

for the welfare of others. When we learn

and do this, then we can say that we

have had a successful life.

Stanski

March 12, 2023, ^

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