America on the Decline - Tell Me It Ain't So...

This may say something on the status of America and what to expect. Are we too busy being citizens of the United States and have forgotten what it is to be Americans? This is sad; is America still asleep about the upcoming fall...political, financial, and spiritual? The poem mentions "rotting at the core." Tell me it ain't so...

The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama. Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now "they" are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama! The judge's poem sums it up quite well.

America the beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride;
I'm glad they'll never see.

Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain

>From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
>From the teaching of God's love
and a need to always pray

We've kept God in our
temples, how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government
that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges;
who throw reason out the door,


Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.

You think that God's not
angry that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven;
and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful,
If you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee.

IN GOD WE TRUST!

~~Judge Roy Moore~~

What is a Secular Franciscan - of the Catholic Faith?

In November 2008 Secular Franciscans representing all the National Fraternities will gather in Hungary for a General Chapter meeting.

As preparation for this, Secular Franciscans all over the world are being asked for input.

Below is a list of reflection questions.

1. To what degree is your being a Secular Franciscan an essential part of your life; is your life in Fraternity only a meeting among many others?

Being a SFO is a well-spring for my spiritual nourishment. The Rules of the SFO are excellent guidelines upon which to base individual ministries and Fraternity apostolates.

Life in Fraternity extends beyond the monthly Fraternity meeting, but only if I am open to the Holy Spirit and act in humble obedience to the example of our seraphic father Saint Francis of Assisi. I work to animate Franciscan values beyond the walls of the church.

It is for each of us to find the hidden Christ in those who suffer whether rich in finances or poor in spirit or both. Our collective SFO task is to go from gospel to life and life to gospel; the world often does not see the connection in this day and age. The SFO in the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi and Mother Teresa of Calcutta can exemplify such a connection. A Secular Franciscan should not be invisible within the larger Christian Community. Each SFO fraternity member should have a contemplative partner sharing equally in an active apostolate. Prayer first, humble Jesus centered action second. Jesus and Saint Francis will both smile at such cheerful givers. Such love transcends barriers.

2. What can you do to be more involved in the intimate life of the SFO?

Being more involved is a challenge of our live-a-day life and is shunned in the greater American culture for whatever reasons. To have an intimate life of the SFO, the question becomes the answer – that is, simply to be more involved, more active, more positive, more available, more prayerful and more open to God’s call - first heard when I became a SFO. This answer sounds simple, but being simple does not mean it is easy. I look inward with prayer and act outward as a continuance of that prayer. Thus my internal prayer life has the potential to make my whole external life – a life of prayer in action.

3. Profession by its very nature is a permanent commitment; do you live it as such?

It is a difficult commitment to be in the world while not being of the world. Prayer is my answer for refreshing my Profession as a Secular Franciscan. I know that my physical, mental, and spiritual components work together for the love of God in taking my Baptismal promises more seriously. I live my Profession by the graces of God while I work to build His Kingdom that exists within each of us - if we but look within for it.

4. Why is the local Fraternity so important in the life of the SFO?

The local Fraternity is the basis of our call within a call, it is a subset of my larger Christian community yet the SFO Fraternity gives me a spiritual focus and a way to find Christ in others. Fraternity identifies and enables us as Secular Franciscans to follow the example of our seraphic father in our outreach to the world. Fraternity makes Secular Franciscans into present day disciples of our beloved Jesus Christ – just as He gathered the first disciples into small groups in towns and villages, so He gathers us in Fraternity.

5. To What extent is your Fraternity helping you to accomplish what your Profession demands of you?

Fraternity provides a foundation for Secular Franciscans to come together in praise and worship of God as our father Saint Francis of Assisi taught us so many years ago. I have the Secular Franciscan Rule and Statutes to guide me today as well as the documented example of Saint Francis of Assisi. Fraternity multiplies our strengths.

6. Does the Fraternity help you to remain faithful to your Profession and to give you a sense of belonging? To what extent do you yourself work to help the brothers and sisters of your Fraternity to achieve these same goals?

Yes, my Fraternity helps me to remain faithful to my Profession through the example and love that is present to all. I work to help my SFO sisters and brothers by encouragement and by positive attitudes in finding solutions to spiritual and worldly problems shared in Fraternity. Secular Franciscans are called to follow Saint Francis’ prayer and to animate its goals in the world of today just as he did in his day(s).

7. Why did you want to enter the Secular Franciscan Order? What contribution do you give to the SFO by means of your Profession and your presence?

I entered the Secular Franciscan Order to do more for others by seeking to be Christ to others and in hope of finding Christ in others; Saint Francis gave me his example.

My humble contributions as a Secular Franciscan are these apostolates: Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Hospice spiritual care volunteer, Hospital spiritual care volunteer, and being an “anam cara”(soul friend - regardless of religious tradition) to the dying. These are my ways of being present to the hidden Christ in the suffering. It is not I, but rather He who uses me – for I am but a leaky old pipe - through which the living water flows to the hidden and suffering Christ who is among us.

8. Do you think there is a sufficient sense of belonging to the Order? If not, why not?

Yes. Technology is being used more effectively to link the SFO from top to bottom. Many older SFO members share their wisdom and love through the familiar and effective use of telephone and US mail, and that works well for all. I believe that feeling the sense of belonging is the basic gift of the SFO and of Christian community. Being a member of the SFO is a calling and a privilege to be humble.

We must all remember to put the three letters SFO after our signatures and by so doing, remind ourselves of our Franciscan focus, and we invite others to ask what the SFO is all about. God Bless and Keep all of us as we work to find what is ours to do!

Hospice Walls and Bridges

Walls and Bridges

Our perceived walls are of our own making in the way we view, approach, assess - right or wrong. Maybe the wall is fear, maybe it is not setting boundaries to protect ourselves, maybe it is feeling overwhelmed while not reaching out for help.

Hospice is a bridge to harmony, even to eternity; love is its medicine and walls cannot constrain its presence.

Death is a bridge we will all walk over one day. Too often, we prepare for our bridge by building a death denying wall instead of embracing the hope of our life-continuing bridge. As we step out upon the bridge, we can glance over our left shoulder to behold all that came before (some call it a life review), if graced, we may see ourselves (soul) before even our own birth – to glimpse it but for a moment – where we came from and where we are going.

Birth and death are mere portals for what many narrowly view as life. Life is much more than this Earthly journey. We have nothing to fear!

Suggestion for a large framed picture in the front lobby:

“Love is the medicine dispensed here; we are simply the channels.”

For each of us is an instrument in the hand of a Higher Power beyond our understanding.

Robert K. Smith, SFO
rkisok@hotmail.com

Quotes from the book “Mother Teresa - No Greater Love”

A Call to Prayer and Action; It Is Up To Us; Can You Find Saint Francis of Assisi?

Quotes from the book “Mother Teresa - No Greater Love”

ISBN 1-57731-006-3 @ 1995 @ 1997 by the New World Library Scripture texts

Edited by Becky Benenate & Joseph Durpos

Pg 13

“Our contemplation is our life. It is not a matter of doing but being. It is the possession of our spirit by the Holy Spirit breathing into us the plenitude of God and sending us forth to the whole creation as His personal message of love… Our life of contemplation simply put is to realize God’s constant presence and His tender love for us in the least little things of life. To be constantly available to Him, loving Him with our whole heart, whole mind, whole soul, and whole strength, no matter in what form he may come to us. Does your mind and your heart go to Jesus as soon as you get up in the morning? This is prayer, that you turn your mind and heart to God.”

Pg 67

“Each of us is merely a small instrument. When you look at the inner workings of electrical things, often you see small and big wires, new and old, cheap and expensive lined up. Until the current passes through them there will be no light. That wire is you and me. The current is God. We have the power to let the current pass through us, use us, produce the light of the world. Or we can refuse to be used and allow darkness to spread.”

Pg 72

“Spend your time in prayer. If you pray you will have faith and if you have faith you will naturally want to serve. The one who prays cannot but have faith, and when you have faith you want to put it into action. Faith in action is service. The fruit of love is service. Love leads us to say ‘I want to serve.’ And the fruit of service is peace. All of us should work for peace.”

Page 74

Daily Prayer of the Co-workers of Mother Teresa:

“Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow men throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger.

Give them, through our hands, this day their daily bread, and by our understanding Love;

that where there is hatred, I may bring Love

and where there is wrong, I may bring the Spirit of Forgiveness;

that where there is discord, I may bring Harmony;

that where there is error, I may bring Truth;

that where there is doubt, I may bring Faith;

that where there is despair, I may bring Hope;

that where there are shadows, I may bring Light;

that where there is sadness, I may bring Joy.

Lord grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted,

to understand, than to be understood,

to love than to be loved,

for it is by forgetting self that one finds,

it is by forgiving that one is forgiven,

and it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.”

Pg 86

“The simplicity of our life of contemplation makes us see the face of God in everything, everyone, and everywhere, all the time. His hand in all happenings makes us do all that we do – whether we think, study, work, speak, eat, or take our rest -- in Jesus, with Jesus and to Jesus under the loving gaze of the Father, being totally available to Him in any form He may come to us.”

Pg 87

Who is Jesus to me?

Jesus is the Word made flesh.

Jesus is the Bread of Life.

Jesus is the Victim offered for our sins on the cross.

Jesus is the sacrifice offered at holy Mass for the sins of the world and for mine.

Jesus is the Word to be spoken.

Jesus is the truth to be told.

Jesus is the way to be walked.

Jesus is the light to be lit.

Jesus is the life to be lived.

Jesus is the love to be loved.

Jesus is the joy to be shared.

Jesus is the peace to be given.

Jesus is the hungry to be fed.

Jesus is the thirsty to be satiated.

Jesus is the naked to be clothed.

Jesus is the homeless to be taken in.

Jesus is the sick to be healed.

Jesus is the lonely to be loved.

Jesus is the unwanted to be wanted.

Jesus is the leper to wash His wounds.

Jesus is the beggar to give Him a smile.

Jesus is the drunkard to listen to Him.

Jesus is the mentally ill to protect Him.

Jesus is the little one to embrace Him.

Jesus is the blind to lead Him.

Jesus is the dumb to speak for Him.

Jesus is the crippled to walk with Him.

Jesus is the drug addict to befriend Him.

Jesus is the prostitute to remove from danger and befriend Her.

Jesus is the prisoner to be visited.

Jesus is the old to be served.

To me: Jesus is my God, spouse, life, only-love, all in all, everything….

Pg 93

“The world today is hungry not only for bread but hungry for love, hungry to be wanted, to be loved. They’re hungry to feel the presence of Christ. In many countries, people have everything except that presence, that understanding.

In every country there are poor. On certain continents poverty is more spiritual than material, a poverty that consists of loneliness, discouragement, and the lack of meaning in life. I have also seen in Europe and America very poor people sleeping on newspapers or rags in the streets. There are those kind of poor in London, Madrid, and Rome. It is too easy simply to talk or concern ourselves with the poor who are far away. It is much harder and perhaps, more challenging to turn our attention and concern toward the poor who live right next door to us.”

You in the West have the spiritually poorest of the poor much more than you have the physically poor. Often among the rich are very spiritually poor people. I find it is easy to give a plate of rice to a hungry person, to furnish a bed to a person who has no bed, but to console or to remove the bitterness, anger, and loneliness that comes from being spiritually deprived, that takes a long time.”

Pg 96

“Poverty is freedom. It is a freedom so that what I possess doesn’t own me, so that what I possess doesn’t hold me down, so that my possessions don’t keep me from sharing or giving of myself. … We have no right to judge the rich. For our part, what we desire is not a class struggle but a class encounter, in which the rich save the poor and the poor save the rich.”

Pg 99

“Our lives, to be fruitful, must be full of Christ; to be able to bring His peace, joy, and love we must have it ourselves, for we cannot give what we have not got -- the blind leading the blind. The poor in the slums are without Jesus and we have the privilege of entering their homes. What they think of us does not matter, but what we are to them does matter. To go to the slums merely for the sake of going will not be enough to draw them to Jesus. If we are preoccupied with ourselves and our own affairs, we will not be able to live up to this ideal.”

Pg 101

“Do we know our poor people? Do we know the poor in our house, in our family? Perhaps they are not hungry for a piece of bread. Perhaps our children husband, wife, are not hungry, or naked, or dispossessed, but are you sure there is no one there who feels unwanted, deprived of affection? Where is your elderly father or mother? Abandonment is an awful poverty.

There are lonely people around you in hospitals and in retirement homes. There are so many people that are homeless! In ___________ our sisters are working among the destitute who are dying. What pain it causes to see these people! They are only known by their street address now. Yet they were all someone’s children. Someone loved them at one time. They loved others during their lifetime. But now they are only known by their street address.

“Know the poorest of the poor are among your neighbors, in your neighborhoods, in your towns, in your city, perhaps in your own family. When you know them that will lead you to love them. And love will impel you to serve them. Only then will you begin to act like Jesus and live out the gospel. Place yourselves at the service of the poor. Open your hearts to love them. Be living witnesses of God’s mercy.

The poor do not need our compassion or our pity; they need our help. What they give to us is more than what we give to them….The poor are our prayer. They carry God in themselves. God created the world and saw that it was good. Good created man and saw that he was good. God created everything, and He realized that each thing was good. How can we complain against God for the poverty and suffering that exist in the world? Can we honestly do so? God saw that everything was good. What we do with things is another matter.”

Pg 103 (What is in it for us… we ask?)

In order to help us deserve heaven, Christ set a condition: At the moment of our death, you and I, whoever we might have been and wherever we have lived, Christians and non-Christians alike, every human being who has been created by the loving hand of God in His own image, shall stand in His presence and be judged according to what we have been for the poor, what we have done for them,. Here a beautiful standard for judgment presents itself. We have to become increasingly aware that the poor are the hope of humanity, for we will be judged by how we have treated the poor. We will have to face this reality when we are summoned before the throne of God: ‘I was hungry. I was naked. I was homeless. And whatever you did to the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’ When we recognize that our suffering neighbor is the image of God Himself, and when we understand the consequences of that truth, poverty will no longer exist and we, the Missionaries of Charity will no longer have any work to do.”

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the world, and now of heaven…she lives today “in the work.”

A Wake Up Call from Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Does all this sound too preachy, too overwhelming? Maybe it is enough just to get to church on Sundays!!! Please take a few minutes to read below before you decide. You may hear His voice. I don't think I am any better or worse than you, I am just another Earth pilgrim sharing my journey.

Some Simple Questions – Simple Does Not Mean Easy

Are we looking for the face of Jesus? Are we Christ to someone in need?

Has our interior prayer life spilled over to external prayer in action [so that our whole life is a prayer]?

Saint Francis of Assisi taught us to pray/preach and even use words if necessary. Prayer should not be confined to just words in our churches and our homes. Prayer itself calls us to action for prayer is the first step in changing people, and people change the world.

Are the poor and suffering of Calcutta so far away that we can only pity and pray for them? Look again – for Calcutta could be as close as your family or your neighbor!

I wish to share a few words of Mother Teresa; the insight is a wake up call to all.

Excerpt from the book “Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light” – The Private Writings of the ‘Saint of Calcutta.’ The book is Edited and with Commentary by Brian Kolodiejchuk, Missionaries of Charity. Copyright @ 2007 by The Mother Teresa Center, All Rights Reserved – ISBN 978 – 0-385-52037-9.

In the book, within the section identified as “A Much Greater Disease Is to be Unwanted, Unloved” we hear Mother Teresa’s own statement given in October 1980 at a Synod of Bishops in Rome.

“Recently, a man met me on the street. He said: ‘Are you Mother Teresa?’ Yes. He said: ‘Please send somebody to my house. My wife is half mental and I am half blind. But we are longing to hear the living sound of a human voice.’ They were well-to-do people. They had everything in their home. Yet they were dying of loneliness, dying to hear a loving voice.

How do we know someone like that is not next to our house? Do we know who they are, where they are? Let us find them and, when we find them, love them. Then when we love them, we will serve them [and in so doing, serve Jesus].

Today God loves the world so much that He gives you, He give me, to love the world, to be His love, His compassion. It is such a beautiful thought for us – and a conviction – that you and I can be that love and compassion.

Do we know who our own poor are? Do we know our neighbor, the poor of our own area? It is so easy for us to talk and talk about the poor of other places. Very often we have the suffering, we have the lonely, we have older people – unwanted, feeling miserable – and they are near us and we don’t even know them. We have no time to smile at them.

Tuberculosis, [AIDS], and cancer are not the great diseases. I think a much greater disease is to be unwanted, unloved. The pain that these people suffer is very difficult to understand, to penetrate. I think this is what our people all over the world are going through, in every family, in every home.

This suffering is being repeated in every man, woman and child. I think Christ is undergoing his Passion again. And it is for you and for me to help them – to be Veronica, to be Simon [of Cyrene] to them.

Our poor people are great people, a very lovable people. They don’t need our pity and sympathy. They need our understanding love and they need our respect. We need to tell the poor that they are somebody to us, that they, too, have been created, by the same loving hand of God, to love and be loved.”

On another page we hear Mother Teresa say: “I…[visited] a home where they had all these old parents…I saw in that home that they had everything…but everybody was looking toward the door…And I turned to the sister and I asked:…How is it that these people who have everything here, why are they all looking toward the door, why are they not smiling? I am so used to the smiles on our people, even the dying ones smile. And the sister said: ‘This is nearly every day…They are hoping that a son or daughter will come to visit them. They are hurt because they are forgotten.’…This is where love comes…Maybe in our own family we have somebody who is feeling lonely, who is feeling sick, who is feeling worried…Are we there to receive them?”

Mother Teresa had great sympathy for those who felt rejected and unwanted: the rejected parent left in an old people’s home, the lonely youth whose family did not care for him or her, and very especially, the unborn child. Mother Teresa said “I find the unborn child to be the Poorest of the poor today- the most unloved – the most unwanted, the throw away of the society.”

Other Pilgrims Welcome!

This blog is for those who are pilgriming here on plantet Earth. Especially those of you who are ministering to others on the journey. It is the journey that defines us, not the hoped for destination.



My daughter Cathi helped me set up this blog. She is teaching me how to link.