Remember to love...

We know it is by the grace of God that we travel as we do - and recently we have been asking God some old questions with a bit more intensity: "is this what you want us to do?" "How long would you have us stay on the road?" Usually when one of us feels weary, the other is able to be a support - but what about when we both feel tired?

If you saw some of the amazing national park photos posted recently, you might wonder how we could feel so drained in such beautiful settings.... Many people say to us, "We just don't know how you do this." Lately we've said the same thing - and we both come back to the only answer that makes sense; God's will, God's grace, God's strength - certainly not ours.

Notice the two pictures above: Such different settings, like night and day. You can see where Mary and I sat to have our morning coffee together - by the brick wall (in Whittier, CA) - and the very next day we were in our folding chairs looking out over this lake in San Dimas, CA.

Ironically, it was in Whittier, at the 'brick wall' place, we began to notice peace returning to us - as both of us had time before the Blessed Sacrament. Even at times we feel the most scattered, we really can be sustained anywhere as long as we have time to pray and let God put all the pieces together again.

In Whittier the following prayer idea came to mind as the community gathered for a time of adoration. I asked all present to join me in praying for President-elect Obama. As one we sang the following prayer on his behalf: "Change my heart, make it more like yours." The intention was for a miracle of conversion to take place so he would begin to see the dignity and sacredness of unborn human life. I will continue asking God for a conversion so profound, that President-elect Obama would have to make a turn-a-round and begin to use his power to protect the most vulnerable - no matter what the cost politically.

You gotta believe in miracles. It could happen. We work in hope. I will ask those who gather tomorrow night to join me in this same prayer. We must do everything we can to establish laws to protect and defend the lives of the unborn - and we must do so with love. If any who work to protect the unborn have feelings of resentment toward those who work against us, we need to pray that prayer for ourselves: "Change my heart, make it more like yours." We must remember to love. When we love, we accomplish more with less effort.

If you have a minute, please offer up a prayer for those who will gather at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church here in Castroville, CA tomorrow night. We ask God to strengthen families, marriages, individuals, the entire community.

Thank you!