Soul Food!

I love food.
I mean like, legitly L-O-V-E food! I love everything about it; the look, the texture, the flavor, the smell, the adventure, making it, how friends and family bond over it! Really, I mean think about it- food basically has its own culture, and I want to be a person who is fully well versed in this culture. I mean travel the world and experience as much of it as I can… or at least all over Europe and Australia, because I have no interest in Asia or the Middle East…or South America… or even Africa. I just don’t for some reason. I have nothing against anyone- except that Asia needs to stay out of American affairs like NASCAR, but hey, that’s just my opinion.

The only probably with food is that if we were to eat all our favorite foods, as much as we wanted, because let’s face it- most of our favorites probably aren’t that healthy, our bodies would suffer. The idea is kind of the same with our souls. What do you take in during the day? Gossip? Lies? Unchaste thoughts (cough*COSMO*cough)? The Jersey Shore way of life?

Just like when we take in lots of things that aren’t good for bodies, we’re surrounded everyday by things that aren’t good for our souls. When we take in too much fat and too many carbs, weight gain is clear to see by ourselves and other see it too. When we take in too much sodium and cholesterol, our heart suffers and can’t function naturally. When we make ourselves available to take in things that are sinful influences our souls, we may not notice it immediately, but others might, and eventually we notice it ourselves. Our spirits can’t function the way they are supposed to- giving glory to God- if all we take in is sin. We’re faced with a problem: our physical bodies are slaves to the physical world, yet through the sacraments, Christ’s spirit fills our souls and we’re constantly feeling the friction between this world and hope for what is not of this world. (Gal. 5:17; Rom. 8:22-23).

Just like when we decide to go on diets when our bodies aren’t quite up to par with what we want them to look like or how healthy we want them to feel, we need to go on spiritual diets also. You cut out what’s unhealthy for your body, why not cut out what’s unhealthy for your soul? Is it your music? What you watch? What you read? Who you hang out with? “Fasting is to the body, as prayer is to the soul,” says Matthew Kelly in his book, “Rediscovering Catholicism.” It’s not easy, and it’s probably an on-going process, but in the end there’s no doubt you’ll be happy with the “best version of yourself!” (“The best version of yourself,” is also from a Matthew Kelly book…. You really should consider picking up one of his books!)

Love and Warm Wishes!
Images: Chocolate is from sodahead.com
Fruit is from revellphotography.com
Steak is from foodportfolio.com

Discerning Individuality

“What if the world put this desire on your heart and not God?” Recently a couple of my friends and I were talking about some day when get married and have children and all that great stuff we dream about. Wait, let me correct myself- all that great stuff we’re planning on. One of these friends then asked the question, “What if this isn’t what God has planned for me?” I thought it was a simple answer: God places desires on our hearts to move us in the direction He desires us to go, right? Then she answered me with the above question. At the time, it kind of slapped me in the face, but our conversation moved on and all was forgotten. Kind of. Over the next few days, that comment rocked my world, actually it shattered it. I had all these wonderful plans centered around the idea of getting married and having a family someday, and when I asked myself “What if that isn’t my vocation? Or it’s not what God has planned for me?” Everything fell out of my plans. I had everything all planned out, and yeah if God was going to bring some great thing into my life- that’d be awesome, but was I really open to something great if it didn’t fit into these carefully structured plans?

Everyday we’re bombarded with images of the “norm.” What’s normal though? Something that many individuals do or are a part of? If we’re individuals though, shouldn’t we all be different, and if we’re all different than we can’t all be so similar as the world would like us to be, right? After all, God created us each differently than anyone else that’s out there. There is something within us that makes us uniquely us and separated from everyone else. It could be talents, hopes, our whole lives, choices, reasons for those choices, fingerprints, etc. If we conform to the “norm,” be it marriage and children, are we opening ourselves up to live a life that God desires for us. We are His children and as our loving creator He only wants what’s best for us. He is all-knowing after all, shouldn’t He know what the best life for us to live is, rather than the plans we’ve made on our own?

As I opened myself up to the possibility that the vocation of marriage isn’t for me, I’ve been able to look at life a little differently now. I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but there’s a new sense a freedom. I’m not worried about guys- about finding future hubby. Although, I always had faith that God would send the perfect guy along- and not the fictional man alive who is perfect in every way that girls dream about, but a guy who fits with me and who I’d fit with, trying imperfections and all- now I don’t look at this picture impatiently waiting for God to send this guy along. Now, it’s “If.” If God plans to send this guy along, then that’s great. If not, then no biggie, because He’ll have something better in store. Who knows- maybe the real one and only perfect Man alive, aka Jesus, is the guy that God has planned for me. Although, I’m really open to that possibility now, I just find it really difficult to see myself there. I feel like God has placed certain things in my heart that aren’t entirely capable with that vocation, but who knows? For now though, I’m able to fully rejoice in the vocation He has for me at this time in my life. The single life. And I mean fully rejoice it in! There’s no need to worry that my list of relationships is too short or anything like that. I’m an individual. For me, there is no norm, because God didn’t create me to fit into a mold. He’s molded me different than you and every other individual.

How has He molded you? Why are you different? Have you embraced your individuality or are you trying to be part of the “norm,” and fit into a mold?
Think about it... I mean really thing about it! :)

Warm wishes!

Free to Fly

"Some people regard discipline as a chore. For me, it is a kind of order that sets me free to fly."

What is discipline to you? Is it a chore? Is it something that you could never imagine succeeding at? Is it an opportunity? What about a gift? Do you know whose said those words up there? It was Julie Andrews, one of the most successful actresses in the entire business. She could be the queen of entertainment- not just of Genovia! lol

Where I'm from many people just settle with the world they've grown up in and don't try to make something better of it or strive for something more. Many people today just expect things, like opportunities for example, to be handed to them on a silver platter. That is not how life actually is though. One of my closest friends and I were talking the other day about school and work. People want to succeed but they do not try to by even doing the simplest thing as going to class or doing the work, but in the future they expect to have the best opportunities. It baffles my friend and I. Discipline in little areas allows us to apply discipline to the larger areas in our lives which grants us success. It's practice for other areas of our lives as well. Discipline makes us free. Free to fly and reach our fullest potentials.

"Somewhere right now, someone is training for the next Olympic games. Can you imagine an Olympic athlete asking herself, 'What is the lest I can do and still win the gold medal?' Champions don't take shortcuts. Champions give everything they have to training, preparation, and competition. That is what makes them champions. On the day of competitions, the day that really counts, every shortcut taken in training comes to haunt the athlete," states Matthew Kelly in his book, "The Rhythm of Life." Which if you haven't read any of his work, he's an absolute genius and his books are easy reads! He makes a really great point here though, and it doesn't even have to be about the Olympics or any sport for that matter. Insert whatever suits you into the spot where "Olympics" or "athlete" is. What situations are you preparing for? College, careers, vocations, better health, everyday life choices? The list is endless! If one is not disciplined then there is no way that one can fully apply themselves to the tasks of life or even be prepared for them.

Discipline helps us to rid ourselves of things that hold us back. Usually things we choose to do which actually hinder ourselves and our goals. That's what Julie Andrews meant when she said it sets her free. Without discipline, she never would have reached the success that she has today or probably would not have even had the opportunity to try it. Discipline made her live life to the fullest and gave her the opportunity to reach her fullest potential. What goals do you have? How are you trying to achieve them right now? Are you preparing for them and the trials you'll go through to reach those goals?

Love and warm wishes!
Also may the people of Japan be in our prayers in this, their hour of need.

A Disease Called Sin

I have a friend who was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes last year. She’s my age. When she was diagnosed it was pretty hard for her to swallow, but she overcame the initial shock and learned to live with it. However, just the other night she and her boyfriend were driving back to campus from eating out. Lately her blood sugar has been an on-going battle and it’s been a little rough for her. He was trying to tell her that everything was going to be OK, her body would get used to it, but then it smacked her right in the face. She was going to have to fight this battle for the rest of her life. Her body will never get used to having this disease. Every day she has to prick her finger and check her sugar levels 5 times a day, and most, if not all meals, she has to take her insulin. She will have times when her disease isn’t wrecking havoc on her body, but then there will also be those times where she feels miserable or is sick for the rest of her life.

It kind of reminds me of sin. Sin is something that we all learn about and know that we do, but we’re taught to strive for perfection and not to sin. Has it hit you yet though that we will always be fighting this battle? Some times in our lives will be better than others, when there might be less temptation for us, or when we feel God’s grace more present in our lives than others. However, there will always be those times when our battle with sin will be almost too difficult for us to bare or deal with. Just like when diabetics check their sugar levels, so should us sinners. We need to check our sin by examination of conscious. This time of lent is nearly upon us and what a great opportunity it is for us to step back for at least a couple seconds a couple times a day- even if you’re driving, walking, or waiting somewhere- and check our levels. How have we given God glory? How have we offended Him that day?

Prayer and acts of love and are like the insulin and help us to regulate this "disease." They are not cures though. We can never actually overcome this disease of our nature by our own means, but there is a cure for it. We don't have it though. Our Pharmacist in heaven is the only one who has it can give it to us. The devil might temp you with his double fudge cake and tell you that the better it tastes, the better it is for yourself, but in truth that sweet, delicious cake will do some serious damage to you. It might be difficult to resist it, but we must. Willingly offering ourselves to be stabbed with that needle of medicine might be painful, but it's totally worth it. After all, Someone else already offered themselves to suffer a much worse pain.