The story goes that Pope St. John XXIII at the end of the day would go to his private chapel in the papal rooms.  He would genuflect at the door and say to the LORD, “I am going to bed now. The Church is yours.”

Lovely story about doing our daily task as best we can and closing our eyes and giving it back to our God.

Lord, help me to live my waking and my sleeping as one presence in your abundant life and love.

Each day, Bon Secours employees receive a “Daily Reflection” email, often submitted by a colleague. Today’s reflection was submitted by Alex Garvey and reminds us to think of how God speaks to us during those imperfect situations we all face. 

“Isn’t it amazing how we always seem to surround ourselves with people who look like, or sound like, or even, think like we do! We form circles of like-minded friends gathering together to share common interest. This could be natural, I suppose, or often unconscious paring. But did you ever wonder about the other people God puts in our path? You know, the loud person in the work place, or that guy who always seems to get the better parking spot, or the bigger office, or the one that “people love.”  You know the person you would have a hard time acknowledging in the grocery store. Did you ever wonder why God has “Blessed” you with the gift of their presence?

I don’t know about you but you but as I reflect on my life I have rarely “grown” or “developed” in times of comfort. It is safe to say the opposite is true! Perhaps difficult people and awkward situations are God’s way of reminding us that God is not finished molding our lives yet and that we still have room to grow. Perhaps, we are the “rub” in their lives! Who knows, maybe if we intentionally show kindness to this person the love of God might be all we need. Always remember, it was never between you and them… it is always between you and God.”

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer.  Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”   -Harriet Tu

Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.

–  Mother Teresa

Lord, help us to remain true to our core Christian values, no matter what the price. When it comes to those we love, please help us hold them lightly in our hands, always preserving their freedom, rather than grasping or clinging. Finally, may we always be ready to help those who truly need help. Amen.

Prayer by St. Benedict for seekers of Faith:

Gracious and Holy Father,

give us the wisdom to discover You,

the intelligence to understand You,

the diligence to seek after You,

the patience to wait for You,

eyes to behold You,

a heart to meditate upon You,

and a life to proclaim You,

through the power of the Spirit of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Does your heart break?
Do your eyes water?
Knowing that what you imagined
what you hoped
may never be.

Tell me what do you do then?
Locked in the upper room
of your being
Scared to emerge into the reality
of what is.
For fear
For distress
For anger
For dying
All may be lost in this moment.

And what remains?
A call you thought you knew
A love that has seemingly disappeared
All is lost, including you.

How then do you begin again
rise again
resurrect
When the call doesn’t sound like you remember
doesn’t feel the same deep within your soul
When stripped bare you take account of what’s been lost
Pause and hold it there.
What is worth it
What does your heart tell your head
not vice versa

For this is the realm of the heart.
Real life felt- lost and found.
There are no solutions
only questions or substitutions
the choice is yours

What remains we must engage
or the tomb wins out
Death’s victory
Lost only to the one lost enough to find,
grieved enough to feel,
loved enough to behold
a body risen, a call revealed, a hope revived.

• Sr. Colleen Gibson, ssj

To pray is to breathe, Do it deeply and you will be filled with life. My God, I breathe out my fears and breathe in your strength, I breathe out my confusion and breathe in your peace, I breathe out my resentments and breathe in your love. I praise you with every breath I take!

-Author Unknown

May you embrace your messy, beautiful, heart-centered life, and always always follow and trust your truth.

Author and Artist Kelly Rae Roberts