Happy New Year everyone! It's kind of odd thinking that it's 2013. To me, it finally sounds like a setting for a science fiction story! "In the year 2013, human beings have...." you know, probably done something really profound. The year is young, something could happen.
Let's see what's happened since last time:
-The world didn't end on Dec. 22; not even the Mayans believed such things, and it was their calendar
-Had 3 good days of Christmas celebration and visiting with family which was very uplifting
-Did a good bit of organizing and cleaning out at work and at home
-Spent a nice quiet and relaxing new year's eve with the wife at home, bottle of wine and about a week's worth of desserts
-And I've finally delved into the second part of Angels & Devils (see prev. post), concerning the interactions of devils and the Saints
That last bit has really been showing me a lot of what our Holy Examples went through in their faith journeys, and it really makes me proud to be Catholic. And somehow I know that I'm reading this book at exactly the right time that God intended me to (of course), even thought I've been hanging on to it for 4 years now, toting it around to all the places I've lived before coming here. I know it's preparing me for things that may take place, because Cruz mentions in the book that as one strives for holiness and to be closer to our Lord, you basically can become a target for the devil to annoy, distract, or even physically abuse you.
But out of this comes even more reassuring words as she, and as some of the Saints are quoted saying, tells us that none of this can even happen without God's permission. Most of the Saints so far (I'm not quite finished) have met evil with such resilience, that I'm awed and inspired. Their example of complete trust in the Lord's will provides the character of real role models. But anyways, I'll do a summary when I finish the book along with some of my favorite moments.
Back to the new year - we didn't make a resolution; it just seems like setting up something to fail. We're just going to keep on with our Year of Faith studies, and my literal mountain of reading materials. We've also dubbed this the "Year of the Baby". Yes, we are trying to expand the family, so your prayers are much appreciated!
I guess to make this new year feel more accomplished, I can continue the practice of offering everything as a prayer. If I can consciously keep this up, I trust that my trials and sufferings in the daily grind can be offered for souls who need it - there's probably a long line in Purgatory...
I can definitely spend more quiet time in the sanctuary or the adoration chapel; let's face it, we all could. We could all also strive to keep a daily Christmas mentality. We are called by our Lord to live with such charity and kindness all the days that we walk this earth. And I guess this year will be an exploratory mission into something else that God may be calling me to, some form of the diaconate.
Everything else is just the next thing that God brings me to. I've found that if you let Him lead you, you don't mess up as much.
Nitey Nite,
Nick
