Daily Thoughts: Did you ever take time to watch little
children? Periodically, I get to spend time with two of my grandnieces. Usually
I am with them for a few days and often if it is not a holiday with many others
around I get a chance to spend some quality time with them. When this happens
they often involved me in their day to day lives and I am able to sit back and
just watch them. It amazed me how they often make anything they have into a
simple play toy, boxes, board games, a piece of ribbon or string, everything seems
to come to life.
When my niece Kristina, was about three years old, she often
played for hours on the floor by herself with board games, like Risk, Trivial
Pursue, and others. She had no real understanding of how these games were
played but that didn’t matter. She was content to just sit there moving pieces
around, building things and imagining a whole different world. There was a joy
and contentment on her face as she enjoyed a moment of life. I was often
jealous of her freedom, her joy and her excitement. Both of my nieces have the
gift of allowing their imaginations to enliven their lives.
In reflecting on these experiences with my nieces I could
hear Jesus' words in the Gospel today. God truly does reveal many things to
children that we adults miss. Children seem to know the joy and the love of
God. Through their imaginations I truly believe they often see the hidden gifts
of God that we adults at times miss. We can learn a lot from children, if we
let them be children and if we stop to watch and celebrate the gift of their
presence in our life.
Children also keep alive the hope that Isaiah talks about in
the first reading today. If we use our imaginations as children do we will be
able to see the wonderful life that Isaiah envisions, where the wolf is the
guest of the lamb and the leopard lies down with the kid and the baby is at
play right next to the cobra’s den and all is well. In other words, if we are
not afraid to use our imaginations we have a chance to encounter the Spirit of
wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, strength and wonder and awe and we
have a chance to live in a world were justice and peace flourishes. We have a
chance to make this life God’s Holy Mountain.
Yes, I know it seem farfetched but perhaps all it takes is a
little imagination!
Have a great Tuesday, a great December everyone and may you
find peace, hope and joy throughout the day!
Daily Prayer: Loving God, helps us today to embrace your Gospel
with imagination seeing a world touched by your presence and love. May we be
your prophets, who by our words, our works, our faith and our imagination keep
alive your gift of hope within this struggling world! Amen!
A Runner's Thought: Run today with imagination so that each
stride brings you closer the wonder of God's presence in your life.
Daily Blessing: Tuesday greetings and blessings to everyone! I
hope this finds you well and enjoying the beginning of a new day and the
beginning of December. May this wonderful month of Advent and Christmas be a
truly special time in your life!
For the second day I did not have to report to the court of
jury duty. I will call in again this evening to see what tomorrow will bring. I
believe we are in for a couple of days of rain so I guess I will be confined to
the indoors which is good because then I can concentrate on paperwork that I
need to get done. I hope your weather is helping you to be productive.
My prayer of blessing today for all of you is a simple
one…May God look with favor upon all your prayers, needs, petitions and
activities today. May God be with you in the day’s trials. May you always have
the compassion, support, consolation, peace and love of God in your lives. May
God bless you all with his presence this day and always. Have a great
Tuesday...and along with Isaiah let us imagine a world of peace today! Peace in
Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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