Also in suffering, let us say, "Thanks be to God." -Saint Gianna Beretta Molla  (originally sent via text to my 4 children, some family and friends Sep. 18, 2011)

this one didn't come easy for me. it still isn't easy.

yet, there is a certain power in thanking God for 'everything' -including suffering.  i've done it - not well - but i've done it.

it seems to be one of the many paradoxes of the spiritual life.

it might be worth pondering.  it has been helpful to me.

after approx. 90 days, i'm back  :-)    -first day of the new year seems appropriate.  and still, it practically took a 2 by 4, because the thought of starting again seemed so overwhelming (thank you ed for teaching me by your example that sometimes you just have to "force yourself to do it").

my intention is to begin sharing again, daily, a quote (the one i've chosen for my four children), with a little meditation.  as well, i'm going to catch up, sharing all the daily quotes that i've been texting them since i stopped blogging last sep. 30 (i also send the quote via text to some family and friends -32 in all).  there are over 90 to do, so the  meditations may be a bit shorter than normal since i'll be in catch up mode, but i hope they might be helpful in any case.  i've learned this much -whether they are helpful to you (and i hope they are), they are definitely helpful to me :-) so, thank you for being the inspiration, along with my four children, to get me to do them.

and with that in mind, (by Gods grace and as a result of lots of practice) i like the idea of being as anonymous as possible.  i will continue to be known on this site as michael a.m.a. (an anonymous man).  i hope i will always remember what the most important people in my life have taught me.... humility brings happiness, not fame....

todays quote (which i'll share with a meditation when i'm caught up....) is one of the best i've ever found:  "Peace begins with a smile."  -Mother Teresa

hope you're smiling.  -michael 

Hello my children, family and friends.  i've been letting my new job and the possibility of a move, among other things, keep me from my daily meditations....  my intention -i know, i know, good intentions pave the way to hell ;-)  BUT, my intention is to begin again soon....

Thank you for your prayers.

Matthew's friend Travis has a website now (his aunt set it up i think).  it's pretty cool.  you might want to check it out at:  www.travman6.com

peace.  and love,  michael

In her book "If I had my life to live over again" one thing Erma Bombeck says is:  "there would have been more I love you's; more I'm sorry; but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute -look at it and really see it, live it, and Never give it back!  Soooo seize on. -shared by a friend. thanks Chris!

seems like another way of saying 'live life with gusto!'

to live life with a seriousness that is full of life and not dull.

i tried to live this way today.  seemed a bit strange.  almost seemed like i wasn't being sincere at times, but i was.

i liked it.  i'm tired tonight.  i think i'm going to sleep well.

Resentment... is the source of untold misery and spiritual disease. -Nat'l Catholic Council on Alcoholism & Related Drug Problems (NCCA); can be found in the prayer book "Prayers for Addicted Persons and their Loved Ones" available free at www.nccatoday.org)

it was once pointed out to me that while i'm being resentful (angry, upset, unhappy), the guy i'm resenting might be sipping a margarita on the beach; and whatever he's doing, he has no idea i'm angry.

as i've heard others say, 'letting someone you're angry with live rent free in your head' doesn't make a lot of sense.

and lastly, i've also heard this one that i like:  being resentful is like drinking poison and hoping the guy i'm resenting will die.

no wonder it leads to spiritual disease....

As a runner is obstructed and weighed down by clothing, so too is the intellect by anxious thoughts. -Evagrios the Solitary; i saw this quote on twitter.  it was re-tweeted by someone i follow (asceticstruggle):

@Psalm51Eric von Mizener

i'm tempted to leave todays quote alone. but alas, i can't.  ;-)

is todays quote saying that we're not as smart as we could be, or think as clearly as we could; because we spend too much energy on worry and fear.... ? this is my experience.

what to do when i have anxious thoughts?  here are some things i've been taught:  meditate on yesterdays quote :-) and 'get out of myself' -be in loving service to others, remembering to rest and care for myself on a regular basis (God's 6 to 1 ratio works pretty well)....

it's been valuable for me, pondering the truth of todays quote.  i pray it will be for you....

We brought nothing into this world, and we shall surely take nothing from it. -St. John Chrysostom (in a sermon, late 3rd or early 4th century); can be found at: http://www.universalis.com/20110913/readings.htm; also see 1 Timothy 6:7 (online at http://usccb.org/bible/scripture.cfm?bk=1%20Timothy&ch=6)

as an observant roman catholic (who fails miserably and regularly) i don't think i've ever missed an ash wednesday.  even when i was living my mini version of the prodigal son 'adventure,' i would find myself at church on ash wednesday, receiving ashes (the 1st day of 'lent' when catholics receive the sign of the cross on their foreheads, from the ashes of burned palm branches (from the previous years palm sunday).

i remember once, i missed the church service (mass) in the morning, and knew my schedule wouldn't allow me to come back.  so, i went into the sanctuary, found the small bowls of ashes, and put the cross on my forehead, myself.

i also remember once, on an ash wednesday when i was working for the church, being very hungry at lunch time.  i went through a fast food drive thru.  ordered a full meal with a hamburger.  completely oblivious to the fact that it was ash wednesday -how quickly we forget ;-) the woman at the window said 'oh, todays ash wednesday? i thought you weren't suppose to eat meat on ash wednesday.'  oh, my God!!!  talk about humbling.  i laughed at myself all day.

when you receive ashes, the priest or minister says: "Remember, man -you are dust and to dust you shall return" (taken from Genesis 3:19 http://usccb.org/bible/scripture.cfm?bk=Genesis&ch=3) -a wise reminder.  the last few days i've been meditating on todays quote.  interestingly, many things that 'normally' seem so important to me = are not a big deal anymore.  in a kind of wierd paradox, i'm freer.