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Those who dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that all was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, and make it possible." - T.E. Lawrence In the movie The Matrix, Morpheus says to Neo, "Sooner or later you're going to realize just as I did that there's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path."
While the entire movie is a fantastic metaphor for what our dreams are made of and how to truly live them, this quote is at the heart of it all.
No matter how much we dream, whether it's during the day or night, the dreams are still in our heads. The dreams are representative of what we think consciously and subconsciously.
And while our dreams have power, that power is only potential power until we put it to use in the world. These are the dreams that are "by night, in the dusty recesses" of minds. If for nothing else, because they are not real, they are not manifested.
Once those dreams are put into action though, that potential energy becomes actualized in the real world. We begin to bring forth those dreams in physical, real, and meaningful ways.
In this way, what we really discover is that the difference in our world is the gap between dreaming and doing. It very literally is the difference between knowing the path and walking the path.
The dreamers continue wishing, hoping, wanting for things to change. They see a world they want to live in yet for one reason or another don't do what it takes to create that world. Their self-imposed limitations prevent them from "waking up" from the dream.
The doers on the other hand are changing the world by storm...
Whether they're like Mother Teresa in the slums of Calcutta, the public school teachers who tirelessly create a new world through their students, or billionaire entreprenurs who use money as a form of social change...
These are the doers who took risks to go beyond their dreams and make those dreams become reality. They all started with a single step, and put one foot in front of the other, to change things proactively and create the world they want to live in.
In this way, the doers present a very real "danger" to the status quo. They shake up the ideas and paradigms by which most people live. In fact, this very shaking is what dreamers fear most.
Not necessarily because the dreamers become jealous of the doers (though that is often true), but because the doers create a world in which the dreamers can no longer stay asleep dreaming. Even then the dreamers must awaken, if for nothing else, to change positions and go back to sleep.
In your own life, the choice is always there: to dream or do. The dream is always a good start. It is an important and necessary start. However, when the dreams stay just dreams, your potential will wither away and die in the deep subconsciously fearful recesses of your mind. The dream will disappear as quickly as it appeared.
Or, you take the next step and bring that dream into the real world. In this way, you are no longer just a dreamer or a doer. You are both. You create the dream, embrace the dream, and you give it the life it needs to become real.
You become the dream.
Still, no matter what path you take, never mistake the dream for the actions needed to manifest that dream.
Remember Morpheus' words, "There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path." Remember that, and you will discover how simple it can be to bring your dreams to life. God Bless you. In Mary Help of Christians, I remain, Fr. Jim McKenna SDB Director
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"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy, and if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."
"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness.. You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day." "If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation.. You are ahead of 700 million people in the world."
"If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world."
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 What happens in heaven when we pray?
I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, 'This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received. I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world. Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section. The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth. Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section, my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed.
"How is it that there is no work going on here? I asked." "So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments." "How does one acknowledge God's blessings? "I asked. "Simple," the angel answered. Just say, "Thank you, Lord."
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 Laughter the best medicine
Blind Date Slap An 85-year-old widow went on a blind date with a 90-year-old man. When she returned to her daughter's house later that night, she seemed upset. "What happened, Mother?" the daughter asked. "I had to slap his face three times!" "You mean he got fresh?" "No," she answered, "I thought he was dead." Fan Help Although I have three sons, it was always my daughter who helped me with chores around the house. One day we decided to install ceiling fans in the bedrooms. We thought it would take about an hour, but the task turned into an all-day job. "Thanks, Sweetie," I said gratefully when we were finished. "No problem," she replied as she put away the tools. "Just think of me as the son you never had." Found Cell Phone When a customer left his cell phone in my store, I scrolled through his saved numbers, stopped at "Mom" and pushed send. His mother answered, and I told her what happened. "Don't worry," she said, "I'll take care of it." A few minutes later, the cell phone rang. It was "Mom." "Martin," she said, "you left your cell phone at the convenience store." |
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 Devotion of the Three Hail Mary's
The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS is a very simple yet most efficacious devotion.
Everyday, recite Three Hail Marys, adding the invocation: "O Mary, My Mother, keep me from mortal sin." Many people recite the Three Hail Marys as part of their morning and night prayers. To practice this devotion in time of danger, stress, special need or temptation, is a sure means to obtain Our Lady's help.
My belated thanks to Jesus and Mother Mary for a safe and successful brain operation after a major accident and also for saving my grandchildren. Felicidade, TX
Thank you so much dearest Mother for a clear report when the doctor thought I had cancer. Keep me always under your protection. Argentina
Fernandez, Miami, FL
Our sincere thanks to the Lord Jesus and Mother Mary for giving me a job and for all the favors that my family has received. G.C. GA
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In Closing
Dear devotees of Our Lady and Don Bosco,
If you have received a miracle through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, we would like to hear from you. Email us at MaryShrine@aol.com.
Bookstore hours: Monday - Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm, Sundays: 12 - 4 pm
Weekday Masses: 12 noon. Confessions on weekdays begin at 11.30 am.
Sunday Masses: 11 am and 12.30 pm
Other activities: Day Retreats, Weekend retreats, Don Bosco Summer Camp, Eucharistic Adoration, Friday night Lenten Dinners, 50/50 raffle, 350 club, Rosary Madonna Statue. Rent Lomagno Hall, Rent our Banquet Hall.
MEMORIES
Remember a Loved One: Engrave plaques on Wall of Memories, adopt a Tree, Engrave blocks on Walk of Honor, All Souls, All year Candle lighting, Holiday (Christmas and Easter), Flowers, Schedule a Mass, Bell Chimes.
MASS INTENTIONS
To offer a mass intention, please write to
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
174 Filors Lane,
Stony Point, NY 10980
mckennasdb@yahoo.com.
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Our ministry is only possible with your help.
Visit our website: www.marianshrine.org to donate.
Marian Shrine
174 Filors Lane, Stony Point, NY 10980
www.marianshrine.org
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| Life is good even when it's not perfect
Where can you turn for strength when things seem to fall apart despite your best efforts? That happens to most of us at some time in life. What once seemed secure-a job, a relationship, faith-now looks tenuous. It's not easy to weather these storms or to find God in the midst of them. Anxiety and fear can loom large. It can help to remember the good in life-however small or distant it may feel. The act of focusing on good is a way to regain balance, to tap into the strength, grace, and love that God offers always.
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