Feast of Christ the King

November 22, 2009

Dear Friends,

Rejoice in the Lord always!  Have you been having a hard year?  Me, too! I don't think I know anyone who hasn't had to carry some heavy crosses these last several months, and yet Thanksgiving fast approaches and urges us once again to recognize the countless proofs of God's love all around us.

As I started to put my thoughts together for my last newsletter, I wanted to have all kinds of neat and inspiring things to tell you about.  Instead, my mind quickly scanned what I considered to be the "bad things" that have happened this year which have kept me from achieving more with my music ministry and recording a new CD for you, to-wit:

• a cancer scare and major surgery in January

• a serious head-on collision in March in which my left knee was dislocated (this was the 2nd time in three years someone has run a stop sign, totaled my car and sent me to the hospital on a stretcher);

• a traumatizing, disorienting church scandal that struck very close to home and continues to be felt;

• a case of mono in the summer that landed me in the ER again with a high fever that lasted 16 days, plus weeks of crippling fatigue, all in the midst of trying to sell our home (over 60 showings!);

• another cancer scare and major surgery last month;

• and now lingering allergies and bronchitis, plus arthritis as a side effect of the antibiotic I took (I'm told it will last for months).

Pity Party for One

What a whiner!  OK, I have one more...When I was running late on the morning of my last surgery I quickly bent over to pick up something I'd dropped, only to crack my head on the underside of the marble countertop in my kitchen.  It dropped me to my knees.  As I started sobbing like a baby and rubbing the huge goose egg on my noggin, I cried out loud, "Back off, Jesus!" 

It's quite funny in retrospect.  Of course, I didn't really mean it, and I'm sure Jesus wanted me to slow down a bit so I wouldn't hurt myself.  But in that moment I very much related to the sentiments of St. Teresa of Avila, "Lord, if this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few!"

And so now I am challenged to count my blessings this Thanksgiving, which I am going to do right now:

• My two surgeries have kept me from having many future health complications, and I don't have cancer!;
• My 5-year-old daughter, who was with me in the car accident, escaped without a single scratch;
• In spite of my injuries, they were minor enough that I could keep my four speaking engagements in the Boston area the following week and was able to record a couple of new programs for Catholic TV in Boston;
• The church scandal has resulted in a necessary purification and has helped me and tens of thousands of other faithful believers to put our faith "not in princes" but exclusively in Christ himself and in the legitimate authority of his Church;
• I was able to travel to Rwanda and spend 10 days with Immaculee Ilibagaiza and a dozen other special people from all over the world (five were from Louisiana!).  It was a time of great healing for me, and I received the inspiration for my next CD, which will be The Seven Sorrows Rosary with Fr. Robert Cavalier;
• The mono...well, that's a hard one.  Let's just say it gave me an opportunity to offer up a lot and to receive many signs of love from my caring family and friends;
• After the 60+ showings and six offers, we sold our house for (almost) the asking price!
• We have moved into our dream home, a lovely white cottage with a white picket fence, front porch with a swing and rocking chairs, lots of green space and privacy...you get the picture;
• and as for the lingering allergies, bronchitis and arthritis, let's just say they are giving me permission to take my time recovering from the last surgery and to receive lots of TLC from friends and family.

Now that I've begun, I realize that I could spend the rest of the day and night counting my blessings, and that many more have gone unnoticed and unappreciated this year.  Forgive me, Lord.  Yes, please forgive me, Lord:

• for the times I have bemoaned my fate;
• for the times I have failed to be a blessing to others because of self-pity;
• for the times I have asked, "Why me?;"
• for the time I asked you to back off (I promise I didn't mean it)
• for the times I have failed to rejoice in your love, your providence, and your mercy;
• for the times I have been afraid for lack of faith;
• for the times I have doubted your love;

...Forgive me, Lord. I thank you and praise you for the gift of my life, especially for the crosses that give me a share in your redemptive passion and bring me into greater intimacy with you.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Phil 4:4-8

So I'm asking you right now:  What are you grateful for?  Who are you grateful for?  How is God whispering of his nearness and love to you right now?  Let us resolve to thank him even for the crosses of the day, making known to him our petitions with hearts full of gratitude, for we can trust that he is making all things work for the good.

May God continue to bless you and yours in the coming year.  It's all good! :-)