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God's Repeated Lessons...Again.

By: Karl Dolson 

Oh, the lessons God has us learn over and over again!  Those are the ones which seem to jab deepest because they are frequently directed at something misaligned in my life.  In the latest occurrence, God pointed out - again - my misplaced priorities.

 As a husband, father, and full-time parish coordinator of youth ministry, God periodically calls me out when I've given my work and ministry a higher priority than him.  At these times, my mode of operation seems to be, "God, I don't have time for you.  I'm too busy doing your work!"  When this happens, I find myself distracted, frustrated, and exhausted.  He brings this to my attention when I haven't been spending enough time with the One who called me to this work in the first place.  Usually, when I find myself in this place, it is because I've let my prayer slack and my participation in the sacraments wane, including the sacrament of marriage.  Putting work before God negatively affects my home life, too.

 Lately, the Lord pointed out I've also been giving my work a higher priority than my family-my primary vocation in life.  When I have more work to do than time to do it, and it becomes easy to put family "on hold" for the sake of work, why is it so difficult to put work "on hold" for the sake of my family?  Making the necessary trade-offs so my family receives my best rather than my leftovers is outright hard in our society, but is essential.  Calling home to say I'm working late "again," needs to translate into making an effort to go in late the next morning, leave work a little earlier the next day, or say, "no,  family first," when the next task is assigned.

 In response to God's prompting, I recently did something small but sure to start back on the right track.  I had had a late meeting the night before, so I called in and said I would be coming in late that day.  (My sons needed my help with another coat of paint on their pinewood derby cars.)  Fortunately, my work affords me some flexibility, but God's lesson for me would apply even if it didn't.

The following day, I made an intentional effort to spend some time with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.  It wasn't much, but I had started (yet again) to re-order the important things in my life and took up Christ's call, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest...For my yoke is easy and my burden light" (Matthew 11:28, 30).  It is.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, then all these things will be given you besides" (Matthew 6:33).  It's true.

Karl Dolson

Child of God, Husband, Father, Coordinator of Youth Ministry at St. Lawrence...in that order.

Why Catholic? Why Not? Small groups are now meeting. Did you know that "The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the font from which all her power flows" (Catechism of the Catholic Church §1074). There are so many wonderful things to explore in our liturgical celebrations. Why Catholic? will help answer those "Why do Catholics do that" questions. For more information visit us online at http://www.archlou.org/whycatholic or contact your local parish. 

Lent is a time of transition. In many places it begins in the cold of winter and ends as the first warm days of spring are coming. For Catholics, too, there are changes. Within the Liturgical Year, we do not show the obvious transition that we see in the weather, but we do experience inner change. To read more and to visit OSV Teaching Catholic Kids, click here 

Faithfilledmom: Ash Wednesday 

As he tugged on my shirt I looked down at my littlest guy Jake. He whispered to me "Mommy, what is Father going to put on my forehead?"

"Ashes, just a little bit though. He will say "Turn away from sin and be Faithful to the Gospel".  That means he wants you to be good and do what Jesus teaches us to do. You are going to say Amen, which means you agree to try to do that. Ok?" I whispered back during Ash Wednesday Mass.

This is the conversation Jake and I had when he was 4 years old. Now he is 6 and proud that he knows what will happen. Each year on Ash Wednesday evening our family gathers around our dinner table, ashes on our foreheads, and talks about what we want to give up, sacrifice, for Lent as well as what we want to change. In our family we do both. One is to sacrifice for Jesus and the other is a positive change to become a better person. We hope that the habit we change will be changed for a lifetime. Throughout Lent we remind and encourage each other about our sacrifices and changes, so that on Good Friday when we attend the service as a family my children feel the connection between their heartfelt sacrifice and Jesus' sacrifice when they lay their small hands upon that wooden cross and say a silent prayer. Then on Easter they celebrate and hopefully feel like a new creation in Christ because they have changed a little part of themselves just for Him.