Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament today

 

I was fortunate to spend 15 minutes today in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at my favorite shrine.

It is with profound respect that I enter into consideration of the magnitude that receiving this sacrament has had on my life over the years. (Mental illness notwithstanding.)

It was good to bow my head and pour out all my troubles and prayers to the One who knows our plight intimately, given that He lived as True God and true man and suffered for and with us to bring us healing and forgiveness of sin.

Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for allowing me to worship You and offer my small token of appreciation for all that only You have to offer our wounded and broken humanity.

A library visit today

I just had to get out of my stifling little apartment to do some writing.

I can think of no better place than your local public library if you are fortunate to have a good one.

In it, I am surrounded by books and books and books of ideas.

It is also a quiet, safe place to work at no charge.

I'm not really interested in reading today and am soon going to open up the blank page of my word processor and stare at it for a while.

Here we go!

Divine Inspiration

In continuing with my creativity theme today, I am reminded that, according to traditional Christianity:

"The Holy Spirit is traditionally viewed as the direct source of creative inspiration, filling individuals with the skills and ideas needed for beautiful work."

And so, I offer this prayer to the Holy Spirit:

"Come, Holy Spirit, Source of all light and inspiration. I invite you into my mind and heart today. You are the divine breath that swept over the formless void and brought beauty and order to the universe.

Remove the mental blocks, doubts, and perfectionism that stifle my imagination. Clear away the noise of my daily anxieties and fill me with Your divine clarity.

Grant me the vision to see new possibilities and the courage to take creative risks. Guide my hands, my words, and my thoughts so that the ideas You give me can be expressed with wisdom, skill, and purpose. May the work I create bring light to others and reflect Your boundless goodness.

Amen."

Creativity

 

As I wake up from my rest, I dedicate this Saturday (and the rest of my life) to the idea of creativity.

Ever since I was a young child, I delighted in a lot of what is pictured in this simple illustration.

After years of drought and depression brought on by mental illness, I rededicated myself to finding the creator in myself.

God, of course, is the Ultimate Master of Creation (in my mind), and nothing I ever "come up with" will compare with what He has already done for us, but I hope to reflect His creative glory in some way that will be of service and delight to this world.

God is indeed Beauty, Truth, and Goodness.

I will never fully understand that, but I sincerely hope that He helps us find it in ourselves and live it in our lives.

My prayer today is to the God of Creativity.

I am reminded that this is a day dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Catholic Church.

May her guiding and maternal love for us inspire us to reflect God's true nature in us as the God of Peace.

June dedicated to The Sacred Heart of Jesus

 

I am reminded this morning that June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Let it be a reminder that God indeed loves us and wants the best for us.

He came down from heaven and lived amongst us.

Truly God and truly man.

He understands the depths of our misery and the heights of our joys.

He came to save us, and we can trust in His goodwill towards us.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, inflamed for a saving love of mankind,

Hear our prayers this day and grant us pardon and forgiveness of our sins.

Heal our ailing and broken hearts as only You can.

Amen.

 

I find myself at the end of another disappointing day regarding my search for more substantial employment.

I currently deliver food part-time, and that helps a little.

I suppose that I just have to be patient and keep looking.

This is my cross to bear right now.

I know that I have done everything within my power to find a better job.

I must keep faith and keep trying.

I think that I have a lot to offer to this world and will continue my journey as God sees fit.

Thank You, Lord, for another day alive.

May Your blessings come as they may according to Your divine will.

A prayer to Saint Padre Pio for work

 

I've been living on SSDI for the past 25 years because of my disability, bipolar disorder.

I have always worked part-time.

For the last 15 years, I was taking care of my dad at home until he passed last year.

He paid me $500/month for my efforts. We had a very good relationship.

Life was easier financially because I was living at home.

Now that I am on my own in an apartment, it is a little tougher to get along money-wise.

I've had a hard time finding employment other than DoorDash, which helps but barely.

I've been reading a book about the great 20th-century Franciscan friar Padre Pio.

He had a great following while he was alive and was purported to have worked miracles for people, particularly in the confessional.

I have to confess my discouragement and lack of faith right now regarding my employment situation.

I just stopped by a local shrine run by Franciscans, and they had a portrait of Saint Padre Pio on the wall with small votive candles in front of it and a kneeler. 

I put a dollar in the box and lit two of them. I bowed my head and confessed my discouragement and asked that he intercede with Our Lord Jesus Christ to grant me this grace of healthy employment to ease my financial situation.

I will finish the book I am reading and continue to look to Our Lord for the grace and help that only he can bestow.

Through Him all good things come.

Lord, hear my prayer.