Daily Spiritual Thought or Quote of the Day - 2/27/2012

There was a shooting at Chardon High School today that left one child dead and four more injured. The only immediate response to that event that makes any sense is what my sister posted on Facebook later in the day:

Got home today and gave my boys big hugs. My prayers go out to all of the people in the Chardon community.

Later on when the dust is settled people can argue about what, if anything, can or should be done to prevent future school shootings. There will be time for the legal system to deal with the shooter. Today people should take a moment to say "I love you" and give a hug to your kids. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow or another opportunity to say something.

Daily Spiritual Thought or Quote of the Day - 2/22/2012

Why do we wear ashes on Ash Wednesday?

Many people, including Catholics themselves, have no idea why we walk around on Ash Wednesday with dirty black smudges on our foreheads. First, it’s not a smudge. It’s supposed to be a cross drawn with ash. However, some of the people administering the ashes are a little better artists than others. Either way, it gets the job done. Second, the ashes represent our mortality and are an outward sign of our sinfulness. But why would anyone want to be reminded of this?

Click the link for the rest of the column at Fallible Blogma.

Daily Spiritual Thought or Quote of the Day - 2/20/2012

Sirach 2:4-5

"Accept whatever befalls you, in a crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation."

None of us enjoy being humiliated. In fact the primary reason people dread public speaking is due to fear of humiliation. However, humiliation is necessary in our lives to help us achieve a humble heart. Part of the process of advancing to Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy is learning to accept bad situations with humility and grace. Our CPO creed contains this paragraph:

So this is why you were caused to experience these things. You were subjected to humiliations to prove to you that humility is a good, a great, a necessary change which cannot mar you—which in fact, strengthens you, and in your future as a CHIEF PETTY OFFICER, you will be caused to suffer indignities, to experience humiliations far beyond those imposed upon you today. Bear them with the dignity, and with the same good grace, which you bore these today.

Accept those events in life that humble you as they will help avoid the personal failing of excessive pride.

Daily Spiritual Thought or Quote of the Day - 2/19/2012

Matthew 6:24  "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

There is much disagreement and confusion about Biblical references to money. Money by itself is not evil. Even ambition or desiring to be successful is not inherently evil. Many actions, traits, behaviors are perfectly fine in moderation but can be occasions of sin if done to excess. For example gluttony can be a sin but obviously eating isn't sinful.

Daily Spiritual Thought or Quote of the Day - 2/17/2012

Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; 
                let us rejoice in it and be glad."

That segment of Psalm 118 has been read to mean different things. To me, it says "stop and smell the flowers." We all can get in a hurry and start worrying about tomorrow before tomorrow's time and forget to enjoy today. An old quote includes the adage: "Today is called the present because it is God's gift to us." We should remember to fully appreciate the gift in front of us instead of pondering a future present.

Another quote on this subject: "Yesterday is the tomb of time, and tomorrow is the womb of time. Only now is yours." R.G. Lee

Daily Spiritual Thought or Quote of the Day.

I was recently asked by a friend who occasionally visits this blog if I've stopped blogging altogether. Obviously that is a sign I haven't been posting often enough. I responded with a combination of an excuse of "too busy" and just haven't seen much in the news that interested me enough to take the time to post.

I've decided to start up again. I think part of the reason I slacked off was the length of some of my posts. To make it easier to post regularly, I'll mix in a (hopefully daily) Daily Spiritual Thought or a Quote of the Day. I'll give attribution when known. A word of caution: my merely sharing/repeating a quote may or may NOT equate agreement with the sentiment contained therein. Might just be a quote I thought worth sharing to demonstrate the fallacy of the idea expressed. Here is the first.

"I have been suspected of being what is called a fundamentalist. That is because I never regard any narrative as unhistorical simply on the ground that is includes the miraculous."

C. S. Lewis