Climbing the Mountain

On the Feast of the Assumption of Mary I heard an analogy for the faith life that I really liked. Father spoke of Mary as one who reached the pinnacle of the mountain of faith. Throughout her life she kept ascending, continually climbing higher and higher. At the end of her time on earth she had reached such heights that God assumed her up into heaven, body and soul. No other person has made it as far as Mary has, so God set her as the mark, the goal for the rest of us to shoot for but will never be able to reach.

In life there are many paths that people take.

• Some barely leave the foothills of the mountain of faith because they have not been taught or shown the path they should take. 
• Many wander around looking for another mountain to climb. They climb to the heights of this hill only to find that the satisfaction they hoped to find at the top is actually not there. 
• Some climb a ways only to start going sideways, being content with where they are at in the climb.
• I've known many who climbed at almost a sprint, only to get worn out, or possibly after having lost sight of the peak they were seeking, they stop the climb and even turn back.

And some, hopefully with myself included, climb as best they can. Each step might be tough but Jesus graces us with reminders of the goal of the climb. And thankfully, there at the top is Mary, who has already made the climb and is ever so eager to help us with the ascent.

Verso l'alto!

Peace all

Loving Embrace Like No Other

For the first time in while I was asked to be a confirmation sponsor. So last night I found myself sitting in church for a mass I hadn't been to in 12 years. The last time I was at this mass I was an altar server. The year before I had been at the mass for my own confirmation. Our diocese was in between bishops so I was confirmed by the chancellor of the diocese who was a Monsignor. But 12 years ago I was there for the mass as an altar server because my best friend and his girlfriend were getting confirmed. It's a memory I will never forget. Standing to the right of and slightly behind our new bishop, I held the oil of chrism as he confirmed many of my peers, and more importantly my best friend and his future wife.
Last night I was back. This time I was sitting as a sponsor with a wonderful young lady sitting in front of me waiting in anticipation to be confirmed by that same bishop that confirmed by friends 12 years before.
As mass went on, as usual, words of the bishops homily got me thinking. There have been many people I have been praying for recently and the word "embrace" caught my ear. I've never thought much about hugging Jesus, but when I have it was always myself Jesus was embracing. But last night I imagined Jesus embracing those that I've been praying for and that image brought me more joy than I can explain or understand. My mind almost raced as I went through each image in my mind of Jesus lovingly embracing all the people I care so much more, some I've met and some I've never met.
More and more each day I'm coming to understand that I need to place my trust in Jesus and I also need to understand that Jesus loves those that I love infinitely more than I can, so I need to trust in Him when it comes to those that I love.
I long for everyone to experience the loving embrace of Jesus.

Peace all

Church High Not Needed

I love hearing conversion stories. This might not be the proper way to say it, but I feel a sense of pride in my Church when I hear how people have joined the flock.
The greatest and most common piece that brings people in, from what I have experienced, is the Eucharist. How awesome is that!
Over the last weekend I got to hear another conversion story. This gentleman and his wife were both Protestant ministers. They went through all the training and each had their own congregations that they were in charge of. Somewhere along the line they were encouraged to read up on the Church Fathers. This lead to a deeper understanding of the celebration of communion. In there denomination they were only permitted to celebrate the breaking of the bread 21 times a year... but they wanted more.  A deep desire to celebrate the breaking of the bread lead to diving in deeper into its theology and eventually lead them to the Catholic Church.
That was great to hear, but the rounding out of the story is what got me.  With the understanding that the bread and wine become the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, this gentleman shared that attending mass became easy. Easy in a sense that there was no stress involved, no worries about the celebration, and no wondering whether God would be present or a spiritual high attained.
Having been a Protestant minister his job every weekend was to give the people a church high. He had to provide a sense of the divine for his congregation. All the wait of that was on him and the words that he chose.  But in the Catholic celebration of the mass, there is no need for a church high. There is no need to give the congregation just the right words to make them feel good. God is present at every Catholic mass and that is the most important thing that needs to be understood. No matter what a person feels and thinks, God is there, and the priest does not have to provide proof with his words and agonize over what he will say to give the people what they need.
We all need God, and at the celebration of the mass God is always present.
Many Catholics fail to understand this and that frustrates me. If Catholics fully understand the miracle that happens at the mass, it does not matter what priest is the celebrant.
God is present. His full body, blood, soul and divinity are there and that is all we need.

Peace all

Body Language at Mass

A person's body language at mass tells a great deal about the current relationship they have with Jesus, or at least I think so. I usually try to make a point to be always in a respectful body position for whatever is happening at any point in the mass. If prayers are being said or Scripture being read, I'm sitting up, being attentive. If it's a time of quiet, I might put my head down or fold over a bit in prayer. Most importantly I try to never be a distraction to other people. I can be easily distracted, therefore, I try to not be a distraction to others, hoping that they won't be a distraction to me. Very few catch on to this though...

At Holy Thursday mass, I saw a dad, and from what I know a good and faithful dad, sitting, hunched over in his chair with his hands around his face. With his kids sitting around him, he looked like he was in the last place in the world he wanted to be. It upset me and made me wonder what kind of message he was sending to his kids simply by the position his body was in. Looking at him made me almost automatically sit up straighter in my chair as prayers were being read.

People are funny. At my current church, an unfortunate product of the 80's, it's very easy to people watch with its semicircular layout. I close my eyes a great deal more during mass at this church simply for that reason. I can look across the room right at the faces of others who are hopefully praying and participating in the mass with me. We also do not have kneelers which is very frustrating and was extremely disappointing during the Triduum services.   

As the months role by I understand more and more how important the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is to myself and many others. I pray that more people can also come to this understanding and behave and act as respectfully as they can at any celebration of the mass. How we enter, sit, stand, pray, receive Christ and then leave are crucially important.

Here's to remembering that the mass is not about us, it's about God and His unending love.

Peace all

I Love Conversion Stories!

Like most Bible Studies, the one I lead doesn't always stay on topic. Things come up, people want to talk about this and that... it seems normal to me. Put a group of people together in one room they will undoubtedly share their own insights and experiences. That is part of why I enjoy my Monday night Bible Study so much. 

We've had a gentleman come to our Bible study a couple of times now. I do not remember what conversations led up to this but he asked if we would like to hear his wife and his conversion story.

Of course we did!

I will do my best to retell it here.

"My wife and I had been church shopping around for a while. This particular Sunday was cold and miserable so we didn't feel like traveling far. The last church in town we hadn't been to yet was St. Peters so we decided to go there. For as awful as the weather was there were quite a few people there, my wife and I thought. We found a place to sit and mass started. Well, the music was terrible, not to offend anyone who might have been there, and the homily was even worse. As the mass went on we noticed how everyone got up to receive communion. Returning home after mass my wife and I talked about our experience. We wondered why there were so many people there, on a miserable day, listening to terrible music and less than inspiring homily. It dawned on us that there people were not there for those things at all. In the end those things did not matter as much as what they were receiving there. The people were there for the Eucharist. After that realization we both decided the Catholic Church was where we needed to be."

Did I mention I love conversion stories? 

This one is so simple, but also so right to heart of the what the Catholic Church is all about. Receiving Jesus, His body and His blood is the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. Bad music and bad homilies don't matter. We go to mass to receive Christ because we need Him. We also need to do what He told us to do, and He told to eat His flesh and drink His blood. 

Peace all

Remember that You are Dust and to Dust You Shall Return

I got to distribute ashes for my parish yesterday. When Father asked me I immediately rattled off my favorite phrase to say when applying the ashes... "remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return". The shocked look I received forced me to ask what the other phrase was that could be used. Clearly, Father did not wish me to use my favorite phrase, so I didn't. "Repent and believe in the Gospel"... won't be forgetting that anytime soon after the number of times I said it yesterday.
The morbidity of my favorite phrase is really what makes it my favorite. Too often in this day in age death is an afterthought, something normal people don't talk about or think about, until they really have to.
I say screw that! Death is going to happen for all of us and we need to remember that. One big reason why churches are empty nowadays is for this very reason. We don't think about death and by the time it catches up to us, well, sorry, it's too late. If more people thought about their death and then in turn the afterlife churches and masses would be in much higher demand. Is that why most of the people at daily mass are 30 to 40 years older then myself? Is the reality of death and the need for forgiveness something that the majority only realize after they are "over the hill"? It shouldn't be that way, but seems like it is.
Maybe I did a disservice by not using my favorite phrase...

I've had the conversation with people in my new community about what to do if death is looming. Hearing from a couple people that should they ever be seriously injured or in distress to call a priest before an ambulance has caused some self reflection for myself. These people understand that death is it and ya, it's going to happen, so make sure the good old fashioned, but not used anymore term of extreme unction is there before a paramedic is even on the road.  
The severity of having an unforgiven mortal sin on your soul at the time of death registers with very few.
Since the application of ashes is meant to signify our realization of our own sinfulness and mortality, we should all look more like this on Ash Wednesday anyways...

Peace all

Be Enchanted

Weekends with such a mix of emotions like I have just had are not necessarily fun, but are growing experiences. 

I helped a friend pack up and move back to, well, essential home. This is one of the only true friends I had even relatively close to me and now this person is across the country. It was a sad weekend because now, I'm not needed. If this friend ever really needed someone for serious help I would have most likely been the go-to person. Now, I'm not needed and for some reason I feel even more alone. Having a friend three hours away was a lot more comforting than having one 20 hours away. 

Also, I stepped back, though very, very briefly, into the college dorm life. Having friends living all around you, walking down the halls laughing or talking through the walls. Going out to movies and dinner or just random trips just to do something to not be bored. I know seeing all that is adding to me feeling very alone in the world.

I am very happy for my friend for accepting a new challenge and getting out of tough situation. Still, all weekend I was basically a dud and just did what I was asked. Lets face it, I don't handle my emotions well and one thing I hate to do is put my own stuff on other people. Hence, I use my blog as a one and only outlet most of the time.    

About the only thing I can do at the moment is relay what Father said in his homily this morning, as a small gesture of love.

Be enchanted by God because God is enchanted with you. 

I can't do Father's homily justice... definitely can't pull off the Irish accent. But that is basically what he said. 

'Enchanted' isn't a word that is used much nowadays, but it's the word he chose. God is so enchanted with us that He made us and loves us. After our baptism it is our turn to become enchanted by God. Love God deeply and let that love infect all that we do. 

Father also talked about the year ahead and a year in review so the homily and subsequent talk look a long time. I didn't mind though. 

And I can't explain it, but for one of the few times I was brought to tears, but held them back, after receiving communion and singing some of my favorite songs. It's almost as though I had a glimpse of heaven and what it might feel like. I long for that feeling again... of complete and utter gratefulness to God. I was enchanted by God, fully and completely, and now, after being pulled back into the world, the sadness thickens and all can pull myself to do is type.

Peace all

St. Joseph and Prayer

I'm not sure what mass it was at, but I keep thinking about what Father said during his homily about St. Joseph. He, St. Joseph, was a man of great prayer.
This is not an understanding that I ever thought about much. We know that he was a good guy and was also a good foster father to Jesus. Before all of that though, Joseph was a man of prayer. He would have done all that he was supposed to do as a Jewish gentleman and probably then some. What is most important is that because he had such a good prayer life he could tell when God was speaking to him. When the angel appeared to him in a dream he didn't question. His closeness to God assured him that God was instructing him, and thank goodness for that. If Joseph had not been a man of prayer he could have just shaken off the dream went on with his life. Yet his relationship with God was so strong he knew when God was speaking to him.
Was does all this mean for me? The same old thing really. To know God's direction for my life more clearly I must grow closer to Him, and I do that by prayer.
I don't know why, but when I am home I struggle with my prayer life more then when I am alone at my apartment.
I've got a lot of work to do.

Peace all

Being a Church Mouse

I never had a great word to describe myself when I am back at my home parish until last night. My father, who is very active at our parish, volunteered me to usher with him for a Christmas Eve mass. That was fine... I've basically come to expect that I will have to do something whenever I set foot in my home parish.
After arriving at church and getting my ushering duties underway I was also asked to be an Extraordinary Minister. Again, not a problem, I've worked double duty before.
With fifteen minutes to go before mass was supposed to start it was clear that we were going to have some overflow. This normally isn't a problem. We have a downstairs hall where the mass is broadcast so the overflow can still be a part of the mass. Problem was, the parish did not think this would be needed so there was no one to run the camera. Father came out and asked if anyone could run it... no response. So, yours truly got to run the camera while another usher and minister were found.
My Christmas Eve mass was spent by myself, sitting in front of screen controlling a little joystick to follow the mass so all at church could witness.
Towards the end of mass Father wanted to thank all those who helped with the mass including the church mice behind the scenes.
There you have it, I will forever remember being called a church mouse, because that is what I have been, was and will continue to be at my home parish. I work, quietly, behind the scenes and I'm happy to do so.
I hope you all had a Merry Christmas.
Peace and goodwill to all!

NCYC 2013 was Awesome!

Describing what is it like to participate in a mass with 23,000 people, over 200 priests and over a dozen bishops is difficult. This was my reality though on Saturday night at the closing mass for NCYC. It took 4 entrance songs for the entire procession to make it in. The entire mass took roughly 2 hours, but it seemed to fly by.
The word "awesome" is the only word that comes to mind to describe the event. It was the largest group I have ever worshiped with, and might ever be.
The one sight that will stick with me happened as the many priests left during the closing song. I noticed at least one taking video on his smart phone and others giving random "high-fives". But, catching sight out of the corner of my eye of a priest running along the front of a section of youth with his hands outstretched, alb flowing behind him slapping hands with the youth was just cool. The joy of the youth being present there, for the priests, I'm sure was uplifting and some just couldn't contain it.
There are too many wonderful things to list or even to remember over this last week.
It was awesome and my prayer is that this event, in its entirety, was life changing for many, if not most, who attended.

Peace all, as I recover from an awesome week.

Deep Voices and Compassion

If you've never been to a mass where the number of priests outnumbers that of lay people, I highly recommend it.
My diocese is having their priest retreat week and my parish happens to be the closest to the retreat sight. So I was blessed to be at mass last night which was celebrated by our bishop, a visiting bishop and four diocesan priests who are celebrating jubilee years.  It was pretty awesome to say the least.
After mass I turned to my friend and mentioned how wonderful it was to hear the room fill up with all the deep voices throughout the mass; she couldn't agree more.
The readings for the mass were Elijah raising the boy from the dead and Jesus raising the boy from the dead. One of the easiest set of readings to see how they relate.  In Father's homily, what struck me was his mention of compassion. Before Jesus could tell the widower to stop crying, he needed to feel compassion for her, and he did.  That is something we all need, especially in whatever ministry we have and honestly whenever we interact with people. Compassion for others is the first step to helping them, in whatever way we can.  We're not going to be raising people from the dead, but remembering to be compassionate to all that we meet is vitally important in living a Christ centered life.

For a little treat, here are some amazing singing priests...

Peace all

Pay Attention People

It took me a long time to love the celebration of the Eucharist, the mass.  I have understood it as one of my main objectives as a youth minister to get the youth to go to mass.  It's not easy and it is going to take time.  I know Christ will meet each youth when it is their time and I can't change that.  All I can do it encourage.

That being said, it is also a huge responsibility on the people who go to mass regularly to also encourage others to go to mass.  And when those people who are at mass daily are present they need to remember to NOT BE ROBOTS!!!

How many people after going to daily mass for however many years just make it routine?  I would argue too many.  I can see how easy it would be though.  The mass doesn't change much. When we go to mass we pretty much know what it going to happen. That is no excuse not to pay attention though and hear those beautiful words as if they are new to our ears each and every day.

I'm not saying I do this perfectly by any means.  I drift off and think of lots of others things at mass way too often. Still, I listen and at certain points in the mass I make sure I am listening. It frustrates me when others aren't.

This happened Friday morning. I was home for my parents birthdays and got up for daily mass with my father.  The priest must have been reading a different Eucharistic prayer because it didn't sound exactly the same as it usually is. This didn't bother me at all because I was listening.  He got a part where it sounded like there should have been a response.  I did not respond because I had been listening and understood the response was not coming yet.  Did everyone else present catch onto that? Nope, and half the congregation half responded after they realized that Father was still talking.  This frustrated me and still frustrates me.

The mass is always beautiful.  I've been taking it for granted and I think too many others do as well.  Lots of people don't get a chance to go to daily mass.  Those of us that get to, pay attention, that's all I ask.

Peace all

Conditional Love

I was blessed to go to all three masses this weekend. It was great meeting and talking with lots of people and it was also wonderful hearing Father's homily THREE TIMES...
Anyways... it was good to hear it because it did get me thinking.
One of Father's main points was on conditional love.  True love has no conditions, it is unconditional.  If we start putting conditions on our love then that isn't true love.  God loves us unconditionally but so often we put conditions on our love for God. I have been guilty of this so many times.
Where I struggle is how my own desires come into this.  I have desires for my future, but is that the same as putting conditions on my love for God? I am supposed to just trust God and have faith that He has taken care of my future and if I just follow His plan for me I will be happy.  But how am I supposed to know His plan for me?  He hasn't really made things simple and clear.  So how do my desires play into all this?  I would love to live on my grandparents farm after they have gone, but recently I have felt that that is a desire I need to let go of.  What about my other desires though? To have a family, to live relatively close to my own family... do I have to let go of those to?  Are those conditions I am putting on God?
I so honestly want to do His will for my life but what desires (conditions?) do I need to keep going after and which ones do I need to let go of?

And I know the answer... prayer and trust/faith... yet, my mind still struggles.

Peace all

Humility

Well, I'm moved to my new town.  Don't have my own place yet, but hopefully I can find a place this week. Living with a priest for a few days should be interesting.
God likes to give me little hints every once and a while and by His grace sometimes I get them or notice them.
For my last mass at home Father's homily was on humility.  Right away, I knew this was good for me and a little sign from God.  I have realized, or at least come to admit that I have a pride problem and humility is something I need to work at constantly.  Along with doing little humble things throughout the day I have also been praying the Litany of Humility every morning after doing morning prayer.  Also, Matt Maher has a song called "Every Little Prison" that is based off of the Litany of Humility, and guess what song I have been waking up to every morning for the last week as my alarm song.
Father made a good point in his homily and that was as soon as you think you are humble you have lost it.  Humility can't be measured and you can't win at being more humble then the next guy, it just doesn't work that way.  I've had the wrong mindset in a lot of different instances in my life, and as I have said before, I have not be consistent with many things.
I'm beginning to realize that the dreams I have had these last few years may not be what God has in store for me, but as I grow closer to God the more I tend to be okay with that.  I truly want to be humble and be where and do what He needs me to do.
So, I'm trying to be humble and put my dreams aside so I can fully be open to God's plans for me, whatever they might be.
And, oh ya, I have to start being a full time Youth Minister tomorrow, so this should be fun.

Peace all

What Should I Have Done?

I appreciate it when a priest takes his time and shows true reverence when celebrating the liturgy of the Eucharist.  Don't get me wrong, it used to bug me when I thought that priests were just dragging out the mass as long as they could... just to torture me of course.  Now, I look forward to the long pauses and simple slowness that some priests still share with the congregation.

The guest priest at our all school mass did just that today.  I loved it... but I was one of the few.

I feel embarrassed to talk about this, but I feel like I should.  

While the priest elevated the host, and then the cup, I heard a student behind me whisper "hurry up... hurry up and drink it G-d dammit"

Shock was my initial response... then anger.  Those words completely took me away from the holy sacrifice of the mass.  I stood there thinking "what should I do?", all the while acting like I had not heard the words that started to seem like they were whispered into my ears only. 

I kept thinking about. I wanted to turn around and do or say something.  I imagined it was Satan who was working through this poor young man.  I wanted to yell out "get back from Satan!!!"  at the top of lungs with all the furry I imagine Jesus had as he said those words to Peter.

Yet, I did nothing.  I tried to pull myself back into the mass and the sacrifice that was laid on the altar before me.  I said a prayer for the young man while fighting off the urge to pummel him.

This continued to bug me the remainder of the mass... it still bugs me now... I cannot lie about that.  

What should I have done?

What can I still do?... is maybe the better question at this point.

Peace

Saint Ignatius of Loyola

I attended a high school that was started by the Jesuits, and continue to call a Jesuit parish my home parish.  Daily mass today was special, celebrating the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits.  Relics were even brought out to give special blessings for those who desired them.  Its an awesome feeling to hold a relic of a saint in your hand and receive a blessing.

Pope Benedict XVI addressed the Jesuits today.  Here is an excerpt from his address.

"St Ignatius of Loyola was first and foremost a man of God who in his life put God, his greatest glory and his greatest service, first. He was a profoundly prayerful man for whom the daily celebration of the Eucharist was the heart and crowning point of his day.
Thus, he left his followers a precious spiritual legacy that must not be lost or forgotten. Precisely because he was a man of God, St Ignatius was a faithful servant of the Church, in which he saw and venerated the Bride of the Lord and the Mother of Christians. And the special vow of obedience to the Pope, which he himself describes as "our first and principal foundation" (MI, Series III, I., p. 162), was born from his desire to serve the Church in the most beneficial way possible."

Happy feast day Jesuits!

Corpus Christi

Altar serving at mass today was an enjoyable experience.  Two baptisms made the mass a little longer but a visiting priest meant I had less to do.  

While sitting quietly in front of the entire congregation, I remembered back to one of the best homilies I have ever heard.  I unfortunately cannot remember the priests name.  He was new to my college in my last year there and every homily he gave I very much enjoyed.  

This homily stood out to me because he did not mince words and his point fit perfectly with today's Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  

Christ did not say "this is kinda my body" or "this is a representation of my body" or "this is a mixture of my body and bread"... Christ said "this is my body" and "this is my blood" (emphasis added).

The Real Presence, the Body and Blood of our Lord given up freely for us.  Mass is such a wonderful and needed celebration and sacrifice!

Peace all!

Divine Mercy Sunday

Check out this awesome article on Divine Mercy Sunday.

I prayed the Novena and I do not intend to quit praying the Divine Mercy chaplet.

Peace all!

I Know, I Know, He Is Risen!

Well, I have seen plenty of the cliche Easter posts on blogs and especially on Facebook.  The funny thing is a lot of them are from people who do not come off to myself as religious people... but who am I to judge; God is much better at that.
Saturday night I was blessed to be asked to assist in altar serving for the Easter Vigil mass.  I remember serving  for this mass when I was back in high school.  One moment sticks out in my mind when I think back to that night.  I distinctly remember Father leaning over to the deacon and saying as the Tabernacle Light was lit and the Tabernacle was being closed that "Christ Jesus is once again with us".  I thought that was so cool at the time, even though I understood very little about it.
What will stand out the me from this years Easter Vigil is the joy and utter excitement of the last candidate for baptism.  As Father asked her if she wished to be baptized into the faith she had just professed she let out the most joyful "yes" with a smile and giggle and almost jumped into the font.  The smile never left her face even as she was dunked three times in what I can only assume was lukewarm water at best.

That is the kind of faith and joy we all need.  Each time we walk into a church and dip our fingers into the holy water and cross ourselves to remind us of our baptism we should show this joy!  When the priests and deacons sprinkle us with holy water we should be smiling with all the joy in the world as we are either get  barely hit by a drop or drenched with a fresh dip in the bowl!
A new challenge for myself.

Peace all!

Memories, Feet and a Boat

Holy Thursday mass yesterday was a remarkable celebration.  From a father altar serving with his son, to the washing of feet, it was a time when the goodness of people was beautifully evident and compassion flowed out.  It was also a day, as Father reminded us, of a dangerous memory. 
I have plenty of memories that I would like to forget, but I can't.  Being trapped in the human condition, many of my memories are no longer full or complete.  In efforts for control I change my memories, mold them to fit so they do not shed full light on my own failures or failures of others.  Recent memories, very distant ones; I do it to all of them.  I search for meaning from memories and twist them to get the meaning that I want. 

At the end of the day though, the actual events are stronger then my own memories.  This cannot and is not so on Holy Thursday.
Holy Thursday is when we remember what Christ told all of us to do... “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” (Luke 22: 19)  It is a simple and yet a very dangerous event to recollect, one that society and so many want us to forget or distort or water-down or say never actually happened.  Why? Because this memory is all about compassion and love; two things our world knows little about.  If we continue to celebrate this memory and truly live it out, we would all be able to follow Jesus' commandment to "love one another.  As I have loved you so you should also love one another." (John 13: 34).  So many of  our worlds problems would come to a screeching halt if we simply loved one another.
We need to, again as Father said "rock the secular boat!" We as Catholics need to celebrate and live out what Christ called us to.
I can't wait to start rocking the boat, because I know it will be a struggle, but in many ways it will be joyful.  Love is a struggle, but love brings the most joy.


Peace all!