A Day in the Life of the G

We've Merged

2008-08-16T04:40:00.000-07:00

http://andthechildrendranklemonade.blogspot.com

(new guevara family blog)

Packed Day

2008-04-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

I want to have a little reminder as to the life
I am leaving behind ... full time work, base line
to base line, just in case I get 'bored' someday:

Gary's schedule for Sunday, Apr 27, 2008
(as it actually happened)

7AM - alarm clock; snooze until 7:20. Handled a couple fires on e-mail.
9AM - leave for the church - ran into a few ppl & chatted upcoming events;
picked up communion and altar pack
10AM - celebrate televised Mass @ nursing home; around 15 residents.
11AM - to the grocery store to pick up lunch and youth group items for tonight
11:30 - back to the office to prep for tonight's talk: Theology of the Body for Teens
Review using the new TOB DVD ... my angle: 'personal testimonies.'
12:30 - Holiday Bowling Lanes with Special Needs Families. Met an engaging young
man with autism who knew everything about guitars. He also rolled 4 strikes. Also
met a family who just moved here from Fairfax, VA, our initial destination. Reason for the
move: pace of life. Bingo.
2PM - back to the office to prep more of tonight's talk. Picked 2 new praise songs: Freedom
Reigns and Enough. Keyed out songs and practiced on newly strung guitar. New angle for tonight: 'the questions we have.'
3PM - listened to 8 Confirmation Candidate 'Homilies' as part of their prep. So inspired about how a young lady tied in her scripture passage on perseverance with her own time in a Russian orphanage. Another young man spoke like a seasoned pastor. I'm a better Catholic now because of those 13 year-olds.
5PM - back to the office for the finishing touches on tonight's talk. new angle: 'reasons for our hope.' Combining personal testimonies and the questions we have. Cleaned up youth room, ordered the pizza and practiced the main points/video cues/flow of the evening. Reminded Father to join us @ 8:30. I think I'm ready.
6:30PM - joined a rather evangelical Catholic youth and his 'searching' friend for Mass. The friend was able to follow along with our hymnal. I wanted to say so much. I let the Spirit do the talking. She sang the songs so well that I thought she was raised Catholic. Turns out she can read music. Yet another 'brilliant' move by the Church: write out the music.
7:30PM - back down to the youth room for our evening gathering. So many faces I haven't seen in a while; some I had never seen before. Gotta make them feel welcomed. Testimonies. Songs. Prayer. Questions. Videos. Father. More questions. Basketball tournament announcement. Eating Cracker Jacks & Pizza. Closing prayer. Meeting with more teens and adults. Showing the ultrasound of the new Guevara 'peanut.' Short meeting with adult team.
Called home on the way: Mad's asleep, but her parents are holding down the fort. Money.
10PM - finally home and for some reason my legs are exhausted. Luci just hugs me for a while.
Lijah wants me to read a book. I pretend to be sleeping. He hits me. I read the book. Mad and Lij are asleep first. I fall asleep trying to get highlights of the Piston's game. But the NFL draft and baseball dominate. It's a little past 11.

Just in case I ever get 'bored.'

Non-Negotiables

2008-01-22T04:22:00.000-08:00

I was previewing a short vocations film on the priesthood
just recently made by the diocese of Chicago.
A priest, who also served as a seminary lecturer,
national speaker and spiritual director, was describing his day.

"I always begin with prayer and Mass. These are non-negotiables."

I think most people think of their own non-negotiables as
that Starbuck's brew on the way to the office
or the anal retentive way some set the dinner table
or the terms of selling your home.

But, in reality, non-negotiables should really matter.
Thus, non-negotiable under all circumstances.
Something one truly requires to fulfill all that the day brings forth.

Although barely a teen, the beauty of St. Agnes
made many a man fall over in adoration.
In fact, the son of a powerful governor even wanted her hand in marriage.
To this, and all other propositions, she said:

"Jesus Christ is my only spouse. I would offend my spouse if I were to
try to please you. He chose me first and He shall save me!"

Age 12 and change. Non-negotiable.

Gird Up and Go

2008-01-21T04:23:00.000-08:00

With a new year comes a new motto: Gird Up and Go.
This year will bring much change to the Guevara household:

finishing a residency
finishing a period of full time parish work
moving to northern Michigan
starting a new school (Kindergarten!)
living much closer to family (39 miles)
starting anew

In my life the Lord has called me with a familiar song.
Like that song I hear on the radio
that I've never heard before
and yet I know it.
Discerning this change for our family was no different.
A song that was similar to leaving Pfizer,
leaving Ann Arbor,
leaving Lakeside,
and now, leaving St. Thomas.

It has never been about jumping from one sturdy branch
to another that I can see, touch and test.
It has always been about jumping from one sturdy branch
to that in which, rather in Whom, I have faith.

In fact, the song title has also been the same:
Gird Up and Go.

A Quarter of a Year

2007-12-28T07:03:00.000-08:00

Wow. How can 1/4 of the year go by before I post a new blog?
Here's how ...

Sat, Oct 20 - Go Alvin & Jenny!
Sat, Oct 27 - Go Corey (boyhood pal) and Nikki!
Sun, Nov 4 - Leading praise & worship for 1,000 teens @ Diocesan Jamboree
Sat, Nov 10 - Tepeyac Gala in D.C.
Sat, Nov 17 - Go Rox & Scott (in ME)
Thanksgiving, Nov 22 in K'zoo w/ the Guevaras
Thu-Fri, Nov 29-30 - Visiting Cheboygan
Sat, Dec 8 - Mom & Dad's 40 Anniv. in Rogers City
Weekend of Dec 14-16 - High School Retreat
Christmas weekend - Rogers City

10 straight weekends away from home.
So many blessings ... time well spent.
Plan for this weekend: staying home and building
couch forts with the fam.

Things I "love"

2007-10-03T04:13:00.000-07:00

Not in a storge (family), phileo (friend), eros (wife) or agape (God)
kind of way ... just stuff that really "floats my boat":

* When the bottle return machine works properly and they offer you hand sanitizer
* When you go to check out and realize the item is cheaper than advertised
* When both kids fall asleep in the car and you have a book to read and time to do it
* When your computer issue is solved by a reboot
* When your clothes fit the way you want
* How your donated junk fills someone else's need
* How someone else's junk fills my need
* The fact that I can get my family food, ice cream, groceries, a pony ride and Starbucks at Meijer.
* When you pull up to a gas station in the rain only to find out it's a full service station
* When you realize you actually brought the thing you thought you forgot
* When you realize the thing you stressed about forgetting is actually not needed at all
* How recycling actually makes a huge dent in the amount of trash you send to a landfill
* Bonfires with s'mores
* Choosing between dogs and brats ... then going back and getting what you didn't choose the first time
* When all the food in the fridge gets eaten
* That one day a week when all the laundry, dishes and food prep is done (or maybe one hour a week)
* When the guy that was tailing you on the road gets pulled over a few miles ahead
* When you realize something you've been searching for has always been right in front of you

Why We Do What We Do

2007-09-25T04:42:00.001-07:00

Luci and Lijah taking a park break before the Ponce wedding, Kankakee, IL.

He just loves her so much.
And she tolerates his love so well.

Zone D

2007-09-13T06:04:00.001-07:00

I have a feeling that Elijah
will be able to pick apart zone defenses.
It's all about patience,
ball movement,
seeing the entire floor
finding the weakness in the scheme
and exploiting it all day.
He practices on me
everytime I have the kids by myself.

And he does it with a smile.

Thirty-four

2007-09-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

I think it's funny how people grimace at the thought/reality
of growing older. I don't think I'll ever try to hide my age.
I don't wish to be any other age. Granted, I do miss playing
kick the can all night or hanging out at Silverman's until
3AM, but then again, I really don't. I firmly believe that
if you're at a place in your life where you are not "at peace,"
then it is your duty, your right, to change that. For, we are all
called to freedom (Gal 5:13) Although not always possible,
by our own power alone, there have always seemed to be
"uneasiness" to deal with along the way to peace. I have found
that freedom comes at the cost of severing ties with those
things that appear to grant freedom, when in fact, they are nothing
more than shackles.

I read a quote on a wall today: "how old would you be
if you didn't know how old you were?"

I turned 34 today ... and the thought that kept popping
into my mind was, "how far have I come in 17 years?"

I have worked with high schoolers just about every day
for the past 7 years ... many of whom are 17 years old.
Most of what I try to communicate to them are things that
I wished I had truly "heard" when I was their age:

Pornography and fornication will wreck you.
Bad spending habits are really bad.
You're worth more than people give you credit for.
Getting drunk will just make you even dumber.
Abortion is murder.
Jesus is God.
You should know your Bible.
You should know what the Church teaches.
Don't try to be God.
Don't try to make up your own religion.
Absolute truth exists.
Satan is a freaking liar.
It's simply not all about you.
The opposite of love is not hate; it's using people.

I pray that I may be open to those things
that I need to "hear" right now
so that, God willing, in another 17 years
I will not have the same faith
as that of the 34-year old
GaryG.

6 Years

2007-08-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

Mad and I married on this day 6 years ago.
A Saturday, just like today.
And it rained today, just like it did on our way to Ludington.

So many of our friends have married since
with still so many more to go.
And so many of our friends have kids like us
with still so many more to go.

We had planned to go up north to the lake -
a redo from a few weeks back when the kids got sick.
But instead, a tornado came close by
and flooded our basement.
And my wife got sick.
And the kids got cabin fever.

But as I sit watching my family getting ready for bed,
with my wife singing some tickling song:
"x marks the spot with a dot, dot, dot ...
put cacti on your back and watch the juice flow out ..."
(Something I guess she learned from Reno's sis)
I realize what a blessing it is
to have the opportunity
to be the father of this family
and to keep her on course
throughout the storms, floods, sickness and pestilence.

Yes, I'm tired right now
but by God's grace
I am able to wake up
and persevere in the good fight.
Thank you, Lord, for six of the most blessed years of my life.

Prayer

2007-08-12T05:13:00.000-07:00

A first, not a last resort ... and the last resort. In good and bad times. A strengthening of a relationship with a "Higher Power" like talking to my wife everyday, or my kids, or my really good friends or anyone I need to talk to.

Not just about things I want (that would be a Genie) Not just to work out issues that I have (that would be a counselor) Not just to go over my schedule for the day (that would be my secretary)

But prayer is simply conversing with the One Who loved first that I might love Who IS love.

So why isn't there enough love in the world? There isn't enough prayer. I never understood this until I began making prayer a habit. And I still don't get it sometimes.

Pure Joy - Rehoboth Beach, VA edition

2007-07-25T06:12:00.000-07:00

There's just something about ice cream and the beach.

Lijahboy had his dream of braving the crashing waves of the Atlantic
and having an entire mint chocolate cone to himself. Messy boy.

But pure joy was best summed up by another little boy I saw
about 8 yrs old
Latino heritage
a little chubby
fighting against the sun to maintain his ice cream cone
unaware of the dribble
down his bare belly

and on his back left shoulderblade.

Pure joy.

How do I look?

2007-07-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

Kennedy* is a lady who lives at a nursing home I visit.
Wheelchair-bound and suffering from a host of ailments,
I used to have a lot of trouble understanding her.
I now understand about 80% of what she tells me.

She shakes a lot and always has her neck crooked uncomfortably.
If you saw her in a mall, you'd probably pretend that you didn't see
her just to avoid the "oh, what should I say" or "what do I do."

I found her in the hall the other day, but she had no hair. Apparently,
she was always wearing a wig whenever I saw her. When I greeted
her, she said something inaudible to me. As I bent down, I realized
what she had said.

"I don't want you to see me like this."

I didn't even know what to say. I could have said, "Oh, you're always
beautiful to me" or "you're just fine," but anyone who has ever had
a surprise visit on a bad hair day can attest to the fact that any words
are just a bunch of crap. You'll still feel dirty, nasty, stinky ...

Adam and Eve had a thing about the way they looked after the fall.
Thus the whole "naked" thing. They even hid. They didn't want God to
see them like that. They felt dirty, nasty, stinky ...

And yet, He always wants to see us. We're always beautiful to him.
We're His kids. And, someday, in spite of our dirtiness, nastiness and
stinkiness ... He'll want us to come home.

And everyone looks great in heaven.

*name changed for privacy

Simple Solutions

2007-07-11T03:57:00.000-07:00

Due to an upcoming vacation on the road, we now have a car DVD system.
I typically don't read instruction manuals, but I wanted to secure the straps properly.
That's when I came across the "Troubleshooting" section:

Problem - The player cannot play.
Possible Cause - There may not be any discs in the DVD drive.
Possible Solution - Put a disc into the DVD drive.

Problem - There is no sound.
Possible Cause - The speaker may not be turned on.
Possible Solution - Turn on the speaker.

Problem - The remote control does not work.
Possible Cause - The batteries of remote control may be out of power or weak.
Possible Solution - Replace the batteries.

Alas, support for why I don't read these manuals. But it got me reflecting on those
shaky, post-collegiate, lost-in-life, corn-gone-wrong days. I wish I could have seen
this manual:

Problem - I'm not feeling spiritually connected with God.
Possible Cause - Not going to Church.
Possible Solution - Go to Church.

Problem - I'm indulging in bad habits that have me in a vicious cycle.
Possible Cause - Too many negative "friend" influences.
Possible Solution - Find good friend influences.

Problem - I'm lost.
Possible Cause - You're listening to the wrong sources.
Possible Solution - Listen to the right Source.

I have a feeling that when I'm old and bound in a wheelchair
and dependent on others to eat, bathe and wipe my butt
that I'll realize that life's solutions are really
quite simple.

Melted

2007-07-10T15:20:00.000-07:00

The last thing Luci said to me before she slept the other night: "Sweet dreams, daddy."

I melted.

Lijah loves to snuggle most with big sister.

I melted again.

My wife left a warm pot of stew for me after a long day at work. I almost picked up Burger King, but I'm sick of that garbage. And they don't serve rice.

Melted thrice.

Sacred Time

2007-07-10T04:59:00.000-07:00

A priest reminded me that time with my family is "sacred time." Just as the Church asks us to be "fully, actively and consciously" participating in the Mass, which usually comes to mind when thinking of "sacred time," so must I be fully, actively and consciously participating with my family. I doubt seriously that watching daddy's shows or surfing the net during my familial "sacred time" warrants such a title.

Unless, of course, I'm trying to teach my kids how to be a sports fan.

"...notice how in order to do anything worthwhile, [a donkey] has to allow itself to be ruled by the will of whoever is leading it. On its own the donkey would only ... make an ass of itself."

- St. Josemaria Escriva, The Forge, no. 381

Nervous

2007-06-09T04:48:00.000-07:00

I was privileged to be asked by the
graduates at my former school to be
this year's commencement speaker.

Our school has traditionally chosen
a pastor at a graduate's church ... in
Protestant terms, I am technically a
'youth pastor' at my church.

For the first time in a long time I was
nervous. Singing in front of crowds is fine.
So is public speaking. But I was about to
give a rah-rah charge to the graduates as
a youth pastor in front of about 5 current
or retired pastors (among the guests that
evening). And I'm the lone Catholic.

I love our separated brethren from other
Christian denominations. I believe there is
fruit to be gained from constructive, candid
ecumenism. But generally speaking, Catholics
are not known for their preaching.

To top it off, we gave out diplomas before the
speech, which curiously generated tears in me
for the first time at graduation. I could attribute
this to nerves, but I've known this set of seniors
since the 6th grade ... and after what our school
went through a couple years back ... this day wasn't
'supposed' to happen.

Finally, the principal, a woman I love and admire
deeply, introduced me in tears as one of her 'sons.'
As I hugged her, I cried and said, "this is gonna be
so hard to do."

As I awkwardly arranged my notes and Bible on a
tiny podium that I have used at that school so many
times before, I looked into the eyes of the grads and
my tears cleared. I said a quick prayer (into the mic)
for myself and I began.

I don't remember much of my charge. All I remember
is how much I love those kids. And after having kids of
my own, I remember thinking how privileged I was to
have parents trust me with their kids, and how they continue
to do so at my church. I don't care if those grads remember
a word I said ... I just want them to remember that the
reality of love, as a gift of God and spread through mankind,
is tangible, attainable and worth getting nervous for.

Circles in the Sand

2007-03-26T04:09:00.000-07:00

I wonder if Belinda Carlisle
was writing about Jesus
when those 'righteous men'
were about to stone the adultress

Something I heard

2007-03-19T04:41:00.000-07:00

There are no obstacles to living a faithful life ...
only excuses.

Be Careful What you Pray For

2007-01-22T04:35:00.000-08:00

So I got sick in November.
Nothing big, just a nasty cold.
So I canceled a youth event
that would have been to see a
presentation by Youth to Youth
Catholic Evangelization on the topic of
'Salvation History.'

I called everyone who I had RSVP'd,
but decided to go the church to make
sure no one else showed up.
A kid did. And I told him we canceled.
And he looked bummed.

It takes a lot for a teen to give up
everything this world offers him
to come to something at church.
I wanted to just take him, but my
body wouldn't let me.
Then, I prayed, "God please don't let
me lose him."

About a month later, he shows up
at a weekend retreat.
And yesterday, he said he had
"questions."

Like:
How do we even know if God exists?
How can we trust what the Bible says is true?
How do we know we're even worshipping God?
...
...

Now it's in my court.
But, if it were completely up to me
he'd get no answers at all.
Cuz I don't have them all.
Which is why I pray.
To get those answers.
"Ask and you shall receive."

Just be careful what you pray for.
You just might get it.

Family Center for Women & Children

2007-01-12T04:17:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to take a few teens
to an emergency shelter for women and children.
We were scheduled to serve food, clean up,
and babysit while the moms attended a Bible study.

Their motto: "Meeting physical needs to bring
those with spiritual needs to Christ."

Most of the women were younger than me.
And most of the children were the same age
as Luci & Lijah.

And this shelter is only a few miles from my home.

It amazes me that I worry at times
about crap that just doesn't matter.
And these women and children
have hope in what tomorrow will bring.
Hope in finding employment.
Hope in finishing a GED.
Hope in getting an extension to stay at the shelter
so their children won't freeze outside.

Praise the Lord for the good people
who work at the Center to empower
the truly needy to help themselves.

But pray to the Lord
that we will never forget
that these women and children
are our women and children.

2007

2007-01-04T19:21:00.000-08:00

2 years ago it was "Finish."
This past year it was "For the Kingdom."
This Year's theme for me is
"Disciple."

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
dis·ci·ple /dɪˈsaɪpəl/ Pronunciation Key - Show
Spelled Pronunciation[di-sahy-puhl] Pronunciation Key
- Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, -pled, -pling.
–noun

1. Religion.
a. one of the 12 personal followers of Christ.
b. one of the 70 followers sent forth by Christ. Luke 10:1.
c. any other professed follower of Christ in His lifetime.
2. any follower of Christ.
3. (initial capital letter) a member of the Disciples of Christ.
4. a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of
another; follower: a disciple of Freud. –verb (used with object)
5. Archaic. to convert into a disciple.
6. Obsolete. to teach; train.

Most people would tend towards definitions 1-5.
I agree, but I've always liked the fact that definition 6
ties in with the similarity between the words
"disciple" and "discipline."

Everything in life worth anything requires
a dying to oneself in order to achieve it.
I love my kids, but I really don't sleep anymore.
I love studying theology, but I gave up a basketball league
on Saturdays for 4.5 years.
I love power steering, but I'll take air conditioning on
a hot day every time (reference to my 11-year old car).

A sister asked her brother
how one becomes a saint.
He said, "you will it."
His name was St. Thomas Aquinas.

Think how much better the world would be
if we all just "willed it" to be.
I'm guessing that
we'd all have to die to ourselves
just a little bit.

Here's to being a Disciple.

2 Months

2006-12-18T19:50:00.000-08:00

It's been 2 months since my last posting!

When you sit back and really think about it
a lot can happen in 2 months.

I've sent 100s of e-mails.
I spent $700 on a new muffler and other "bonuses."
I gave over a dozen talks on some faith-related topic.
I've witnessed a number of lives changed by the Holy Spirit:
some drastically, some just altered a bit.
I led worship music in about 6 Masses,
and more praise & worship sessions than I can remember.
My family flew out to Delaware for Isaiah's 1st birthday.
I celebrated my son's 1st birthday 3 times.
I've spent at least 10 full days over at the Agustins'.
I actually cleaned up my basement.
1 Weekend high school retreat.
1 praise band.
2 engagements.
1 funeral.

Every once in a while
in spite of the madness of schedules
we put ourselves through
all for (hopefully) very good reasons
we need to
stop time
and just breathe it all in
and appreciate
those things
or people
most precious
to us.

Echoing a good friend
who knew this fact 10 years ago:
I wish everyone I loved lived 2minutes away
so I could just hug them whenever.
That would be
Heaven.

Skittles

2006-10-15T19:28:00.000-07:00

Skittles are delicious.
And if you have an open bag
for over 3 months (or so)
they don't go bad.
Trust me.

24/7

2006-10-10T04:06:00.000-07:00

I was thinking a few weeks ago:
There are 168 hours in a week ... where do they all go?
42 hrs sleep per week
21 hrs for my own bathroom & eating business
15 hrs for my kids' bathroom & eating business (G'ma & Mom take care of the other times)
40 hrs work (not completely honest)
7 hrs per week just getting ready to leave the house (gross underestimate)
5 hrs per week just driving places & back
7 hrs per week household management (clean, bills, laundry, toys away)
2 hrs per week teaching a class
2 hrs per week morning & evening prayer
1 hr per week going to Mass
___________

142 hours!

I didn't count talking on the phone, since I typically do that driving.
I didn't count blogging since I haven't blogged since September.
What am I missing? I watch TV ... but not 26 hours!
I have 26 hours per week / 3.7 hours per day to:

Spend with my wife
Play with my kids
Do nothing
Pray & Play
See extended family & friends
Carve a pumpkin
Clean off my desk
Get in shape
Write music

Never mind. I think I found out where 168 hours goes.

Dear Kids

2006-09-07T03:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Luci & Lijah,

I pray that you find God more quickly than I did.
Then, when you're 33,
You can say that most of your life was spent
trying to "win an imperishable crown."
Cuz the other "crowns" really are perishable.
Like food.
And they're not as cool.

Love, Dad

5 Years

2006-08-25T02:51:00.000-07:00

Some people don't like making resolutions
because they don't keep them.
I think the point of resolutions
is resolving to make a change about yourself
that you're just plain sick of.
If you don't keep it
then you're probably not sick of it enough.
The problem ...
someone you love is probably sick of it.

The point?
My beautiful wife and I have been married for 5 years.
Stats:
2 children
2 homes
3 careers
2 degrees
1 minivan
countless ups
negligible downs

5 years ago I resolved to be a better man
each and every day
for the husband I was becoming
and the father I would be.
And with God's grace
and the love of my family
this happened.

I pray that 5 years from now
it will still be happening.

Thank you to all our family and extended family (friends)
that have been a blessing to my family
through your prayers, thoughts and presence.
May the Almighty God of the Universe
through His only Son, Jesus the Christ,
fill you with His Holy Spirit that you and your families
may not only feel, but know the presence of a
loving God in your lives.
And may this love permeate the fabric of your
being and touch the lives of all you encounter.

Nemo dat quod non habet

2006-08-14T05:29:00.000-07:00

One cannot give what one does not have.

It's true in relationships, true in ministry.
Personal & spiritual.

Humility always wins.

The Pilipino Way

2006-08-14T05:14:00.000-07:00

Once we were doing some mortgage business with a family friend and he
said, "don't worry about the details ... we can just do things the 'Pilipino Way'."

From his tone, the content of our discussion and his "swaying head dance with regressed neck," we assumed he meant he would somehow bend the rules for us. Is this the 'Pilipino Way'?

It is reminiscent of stories of my parents and in-laws about how they got to the States: a dude sitting at a desk with a pile of files to review ... hand him your file and a few $100 bills ... your file getting put on top of the pile. Any other stories like this?

Let's face it, corruption is a word that is almost taken for granted when we think about Pilipino institutions: there always seems to be officers of some kind (president, treasurer, secretary), always seems to be an incompetent cousin, brother, or friend put in a position of power, and there always seems to be grumblers about those in power. Is this the 'Pilipino Way'? Is this what I want to pass on to my children?

The commitment to family. The food. The cultural dances. The music. The language - very difficult, considering Visayan does not have a strict written form. The lessons of true poverty, hardship and sacrifice. To me, this is the true 'Pilipino Way.' Also, have you noticed how packed the churches are in the PI? The poor tend to have a very straightforward view of the God of the universe: He exists ... and I need Him.

On a side note: there's this Pilipino guy who works at Krispy Kreme. Once he found out we were Pilipino, he gave us a dozen glazed gems free. Next time, he stuck an extra doughnut in our half dozen box.
Ah ... the Pilipino Way!

What's His Name?

2006-07-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

Luci asked me the other day,
"Who am I going to marry?"
"A nice boy," I answered.
"What's his name?," she inquired,
the perpetual interrogative becoming her latest fancy.
"I don't know."
"I know his name," she responded with that cute half grin.
"His name is Daddy! I'm going to marry you!"

And to think, one day I just won't be that cool anymore.

It Finally Happened

2006-07-07T15:24:00.000-07:00

It was early, and I was groggy.
My son cried out for some milk.
Mom's gone to work, so I'm the man.
My eyes still opening
I painfully stub my foot on ...
a Fisher Price Rocking Horse
Planted strategically
at the foot of my bed.
That was 4 days ago.
It still hurts
my feelings.

This is the Day

2006-07-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

In the quiet of our hearts
God speaks to us
Unmistakably distinct
So what takes us so long
to make the choice that will grant us true freedom?
true happiness?
Faith.
And how do we receive this faith?
We ask for it.
The past 10 years has been a journey
towards this day
My first day at "work"
as the full-time Coordinator of Youth Ministry
at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish
I've been hearing His voice distinctly since 1996.
That's when I started dating this girl I knew I would marry.
I took the first step for the Kingdom in 2000.
It also took me until 2000 to ask for faith.
Go figure.
I thank and praise God for this day
For this is simply
the beginning ...

Duane

2006-06-12T05:20:00.000-07:00

Everyone has to have someone to go to seek counsel. First and foremost, the Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth - not a bad first pick. But on the human side, hopefully your spouse is not only a fantastic person, but your best friend (props to Mad). Then you have your wedding party and your children's Godparents. And, of course, your own parents and, with God's grace, your in-laws (I'm not kidding - you've gotta be able to talk to them!). But then, sometimes, you need someone who cares but doesn't know the ins & outs ... an objective, caring ear. For me, this is Duane.

Duane has been my barber for nearly 6 years, since my move to the Lansing area. Mad & I decided that although she did a decent job on my hair we enjoyed using those 4+ hours more productively. That's when I walked into Duane's place, "Arkies' Barbershop."

I saw "Coming to America" yesterday for the millionth time. Talk about barbershops. People make a lot of crazy claims in the context of getting your hair cut. One guy came in trying to sell us an indestructible glass cutting board. The other barber, Bill, is a collector of all things Santa. I'm always getting flack for being a Wolverine, unless its football season.

But I trust Duane. Not because he's been cutting hair for over 50 years. Not because his clients include several high ranking officials, including the Univesity president and others who always get him great sporting event seats. Not even because he went to my church the week before my wedding, found my number and cut my hair because he was heading to an unexpected surgery that week.

I trust Duane because he loves the Lord. A simple man who does not claim to be perfect - he often retells his parenting mistakes to me that I may learn a thing or two. Within our first meeting, I realized the strength and stability of his faith. And with all the 'advice' thrown around nowadays, don't we all need a little Duane in our lives?

Rome Sweet Home

2006-04-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

I've made big moves in the past.
From college, to Greenies, to Vibe, to Pfizer, to Lakeside.
Sometimes a plan.
Most of the time, faith in a dream.
Or perhaps just faith.
Everything I have ever done has been preparation for this week.
Every time I asked those questions about God.
And every time I ignored every whisper
or clanging cymbal.
All the music, interpersonal relationships,
Saturday mornings & afternoons
Friday night Bible studies
Apologetics, papers & exams
From the day I decided
that my life was no longer my own
But that it had to serve a higher purpose
For in that I would find my purpose.
I'm finally coming home.
Rome Sweet Home!

Luci & Lijah

2006-04-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

I always write long and deep, so this is gonna be short and sweet.

I've changed more soupy-poopy diapers this week than I have ever imagined could exist. Please keep my family in your prayers, especially the babies:) And a special thank you to my parents who still give up their sleep and health to help their baby boy.

Holy Week

2006-04-09T21:32:00.000-07:00

Most Catholics would tend to view the Consecration of the Blessed Sacrament as the whole point of the mass - the true presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the only Son of God. But taking this perspective with regards to the mass is simply an echoing of how we like our (insert whatever). For instance:

We love Sportscenter because it gives us the highlights and the last-second shot. We choose Cliff notes because we get the gist despite getting lost in an age-old form of our language. We order take-out to save on the preparation, dishwashing and overall hassel of making food ourselves. Despite our advancements in technology and the sciences, we still seem to lack time to do everything we "need" to do. Thus, we find ways to take shortcuts.

An older theology went like this: if you get to mass before the end of the homily and stay until you've received the Blessed Sacrament, you're in the clear. In other words, this mass "counts" as your "obligation" as a Catholic. Many people still buy into this. But it's just plain neanderthal - no offense to the Geico guys.

Mass begins the moment you left the last mass, when you were sent out, filled with the Bread of everlasting life, to do your part for the Kingdom. Mass continues throughout the week as you live your life to the fullest, loving God with all your heart, strength, soul, & mind, and your neighbor as yourself. Notice that there is nothing here about everyone needing to become a priest or religious ... although bless their hearts!

Mass is in preparation mode when you arrive to Church EARLY! That's right ... we can get to work on time, to a wedding if you're the best man, to a Bon Jovi concert when Stryper's opening, and 50% or so of the people who get to church are coming in some 10-20 minutes late. You get there early to prepare: for the Word you will hear, for the congregation who is the body of Christ, for the Priest who acts in the person of Christ AND for the Blessed Sacrament of which you will partake intimately.

So we call this week "Holy Week." The culmination of the Christian liturgical calendar, "remembering" the single most important event in the history of humankind - the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, and thus salvation available for all souls.

Yes, this week has a special place in our hearts ... and yes, we tend to do something special with those special times ... but should this week be drastically different than any other? Should our public piety and personal prayer be at all time highs during this week? Should we not, as we look at the mass, view the Pascal mystery (life, death & resurrection) as an everyday occurence ... one that we should cherish with all of our heart, strength, soul & mind each & every day? Every day would be precious. Every day would be filled with love. Every day would have more than enough time. Every day would be practice for heaven.

I write too much.

Plan to do nothing

2006-02-25T13:27:00.000-08:00

I'm decent at scheduling a "much ado." You know, hit a deadline, cross all the t's, make all the necessary calls ... finish. But I have yet to master the art of planning to do nothing. Don't get me wrong - I can definitely do nothing, especially when I'm sick or I find myself trapped at an auto dealer for an hour waiting on a ten-minute oil change. But planning nothing has eluded me.

I like to keep busy, perhaps equating in my mind that busyness (an actual word!) is not laziness or something like that. But, as with all things it seems, having kids tends to alter your view of things.

Lucia is always busy, too. Whether her peculiar arranging of toys in a row or simply lining up chess pieces, she's got stuff to do. But when it's time to go to sleep, she doesn't understand it if I'm reading in bed. Or if I'm on the computer. Or not home at all. In her mind, time for bed means this: change into pajamas ... brush teeth ... maybe cut nails ... wash face & nose ... read a story (or 2 or 3) ... say prayers ... fall asleep as daddy recites as many saints that come to mind to help induce sleep.

Some would consider this routine as nothing in particular. It is exactly this nothing that I need to plan on doing.

Stealing

2006-02-15T03:16:00.000-08:00

So we've had a thief these past few weeks at school. Probably not a student, due to most things being stolen during class periods.
A bunch of incidents, may or may not be related, but allow me to recount the goods:

- 1 CD player installed in a car
- coins from our fundraising coin drive
- 2 purses
- a piece of paper

From a distance, these seem like nothing much, save pehaps the CD player.
These petty thefts allow me to reflect on a very important lesson: the slippery slope of sin. What may seem like just nuisance "sins" actually have teeth that can do damage.

For instance, how many times have we done or encountered faking our age to get some discount. "OK, Lucia, for today, you're gonna be 2 yrs. old!" Or how many of us are willing to go back into a store once we realize that we just walked off with goods unpaid, "Well, that was the checkout person's fault ... I did nothing wrong."

These are very really scenarios that apparently hurt no one. But my kids will sniff me out. Children are amazingly adept at calling those actions exactly what they are: hypocrisy. These very realy scenarios are the tip of the iceberg known as stealing. Stealing is a sin. It is wrong. It is the 8th commandment. Even a little bit of stealing is still stealing. You cannot rationalize it. Even if it's for a good purpose, you must still admit that it is stealing.

The CD player was stolen from a newlywed teacher. Newlyweds don't have a lot of money (typically), nor do teachers. Funny thing is that player doesn't work without a special installation CD they kept at home. It's just a piece of junk now.

The coins stolen were from the Kindergarten class. This class was just beaming off of winning the all-school total for the week. And these kids are like 5 years old. Who steals from little kids?

The purses were stolen from a junior and senior girl. One was already having a pretty rotten week, having her mother strand her at home without a ride to school. She got here just after noon - bicycling her way in the sub-freezing weather for over an hour. But, hey, why not inconvenience her a little more by making her get a new driver's license, SS card, credit cards, bank cards, and, to boot ... a new phone.

Finally, the piece of paper was in my car. I normally lock my doors, but at times have trouble with all the stuff I'm bringing in. The paper was in my ash tray, along with 2 dollar bills and about $1.50 in change. That piece of paper is so old that you couldn't even detect a trace of ink that was once on it. But it was a reminder to me of the time I almost lost Mad ... all my fault and all my stupidity ... some 8 years ago. But to that thief, it was simply trash.

Sin is sin and it always has the effects of sin.

The Sacrament of Marriage

2006-02-05T05:44:00.000-08:00

A sacrament points to a deeper reality ... something beyond the simple signs and symbols associated with it. Wedding rings are quite symbolic. A marriage, despite current trends (i.e. divorce, drive-thru chapels, and same-sex unions), also points to a deeper reality. It has to. It must be more than the piece of paper required by the state with 2 witnesses. It must be more than a deed to a house or joint checking account. It must even be more than children.

Because marriage is a sacrament, it is inherently tied to the Pascal mystery - that is, the life, death & resurrection of Christ. In other words, our marriages will have elements of life. There will also be death - to ourselves & to our "single" ways, to name a few. But, there is also resurrection - healing, growth and a transformation into a new being.

That being said, I wonder how many people know what they're getting into when they say that they want to be married in the Church. Do they desire this because they want the gorgeous pictures and video? Do they desire this to satisfy a gung-ho Catholic parent? Do they desire this simply out of comfort - "I've never imagined getting married anywhere else"?

The one who administers the sacrament of marriage is not the priest. It is the couple who give mutual consent. The priest is simply a witness of the church. Therefore, it is the primary responsibility of the couple to safeguard that their marriage is a daily, living witness to the Pascal mystery of Christ - i.e. a sacrament. What a responsibility! We may not all be ready to take this on to the degree in which Christ calls, but Christ calls us from where we are spiritually. We need only be open to the possibility for Christ, through the Holy Spirit, to nudge us towards fulfilling this sacramental calling to the Glory of God.

Just a couple thoughts from my sacraments class.

For the Kingdom

2006-01-21T20:23:00.000-08:00

So ... my wife suggested during our first date night in nearly 2 months that I should consider blogging. An opportunity to reflect on the day and an aid in keeping up with a "personal" diary. And, a chance to keep up with loved ones.
So begins this blogging thing ...

Last year's theme was "Finish." I did my best to apply it to everything I set my mind to - Formation Classes, concerts, moving, daily mass, moving again and preparing for the birth of my son. I always envisioned at the end of the year hearing the voice, "It is finished ... well done, good and faithful servant." Alas, I did hear this as I watched the ball drop on New Year's eve, but it sounded curiously like my own internal dialogue.

Either way, 2005 presented its challenges and triumphs. At school was perhaps the greatest negative scar on my mind in 5 years of teaching: the utter breakdown of as-close-as-you-can-get utopia. I never thought Christians could get so angry. Either my naivete or a case study on "Christians." But I can't completely blame them; I've had my off days/months/years as a Christian, too.

This year, 2006, the G theme is "For the Kingdom." Whatever, whenever, with whomever. It will involve my beautiful wife and 2 amazing little children. It will encompass extended family and friends whom I consider family. It may involve a career modification - possibly working for the Church full time. I will graduate with a second bachelors degree. I will sing and write new songs. I may even run on a bum knee from time to time.

But whatever the topic or personnel involved, I will focus my energies this year, by His grace & His Spirit, on working "for the Kingdom." All prayers in helping me with this endeavor are greatly appreciated.

Theological Side Note: As a Catholic, you are only technically required to attend mass once a year by canon law. But, technically, a human can survive on water, beans & corn tortilla. Why snack on munchies when you've got an open-ended invitation to a feast? Just a thought.