Miracle Moments

It is pure joy to watch a child revel in the wonders of God. My 12 year old son Jacob came with me to a healing Mass Friday evening...much to my surprise. He almost backed out, but in the car he admitted, "I got to thinking-what am I going to do-stay home and play video games? I can do that anytime." I laughed and congratulated him for being so present. Father Joe Benson delivered a beautiful homily, reminding everyone that every Mass is a healing Mass. Afterward he gave us time to discern exactly what we wanted God to heal within us...and then everyone lined up at the altar for personal prayers and the laying on of hands. One by one people fell to the ground, slain in the spirit, resting in God's heavenly light. Jacob panicked. "What's happening-this is making me very nervous?!" I reassured him all was well and explained that the Holy Spirit had descended upon these people and they were simply resting in the spirit." Jacob stood next to me and a

"Precious" is anything but innocent...It is raw in its presentation, disturbingly accurate, emotionally painful and yet strangely motivating. It is the kind of film that leaves an indelible imprint on the audience, like it or not. I couldn't wait to see "Precious"...Neither could my son Jacob...And we were not disappointed...In fact, we were moved to tears-and terribly saddened by the cruelty of this real life story. Some scenes were hard to watch and equally hard to absorb...Emotional, physical and sexual assault. The victim, Claireece "Precious" Jones, is an illiterate, overweight, African American teen from Harlem. She is also pregnant with her second child by her father who regularly raped her, while her physically and emotionally abusive mother stood by. It's a lot to absorb...but the viewer-like Precious, plows forward-pushing the boundaries of human comprehension. "Precious" is not a feel good movie, but it made me feel good--becau

Who would have ever thought, that a woman's suffering, could bring tremendous hope-to the rest of humankind? That her suffering would bear the fruits of freedom for individuals and families-from here through eternity?! Our Lady of Hope is the most accurate and profound description of the Blessed Mother's life. She has been many things to many people, but the instrument of hope has clearly been her starring role. Mary's hope held her together...gave her life meaning. As she watched her son being killed, his suffering became her own...and she clung to the hope that one day their sacrificial pain would serve to free the world from its painful prison of sin. She hoped that her son's birth, his death and his resurrection would be a living sign in the heart of man-that God's Love, conquers death and restores new life. Our Lady of Hope, in St. Augustine Florida is a vibrant, living, breathing community of hope, amid the chaos of our world. Young men who were once lost and

Sixteen candles today for Benjamin! And what a year it's been-for Ben! Sixteen sounds so simple and innocent...but for this soulful kid it has been the most revolutionary of rides. Hospitalization, recovery and back to reading, writing and arithmetic...It's enough to paralyze most people, but Ben is still going strong! I marvel at Ben's tenacity...His grades are great...his attitude amazing and he's working hard to maintain the monumental strides he's made...against all the odds. I'm just grateful Ben is alive and kicking...excited about getting his permanent drivers license and morphing back into the wonderful world of being a teen. From the beginning there has never been a dull moment with Ben...I almost lost him-in the early weeks of pregnancy...Low on progesterone, I laid in bed for a week, bleeding profusely, praying unceasingly...willing him to live...Today-my will and his-are just as strong as ever! Ben's a lot like me-he doesn't like to give up..

It is an awe inspiring vision, to see the purification of a young man's spirit...to watch the light return to his eyes and to see the shadow of despair miraculously lifted. It is an act of God and it is a tremendous gift to this grateful mom. My oldest son Johnny is on a spiritual journey...carried by the cross through the darkness and into the light. For the past six months he has been living in Communita Cenacolo, Our Lady of Hope, in St. Augustine Florida. It is an oasis of Love, lead by the Holy Spirit, carried in the heart of Mary, straight into the arms of her son. Johnny entered the community a couple days after his 24Th birthday and this weekend his brothers and I were allowed to visit him, for the first time since his departure. As we talked, wonderful words of wisdom flowed from his lips...letting us know that something deep within had begun changing...An evolution of the soul, a transformation of the mind...an awakening to the many wonders of the world beyond, that are p

We buried my friend George today. Placed his human body in the ground, laid to rest his time here on earth, honored the eternal imprint of his life. Crossing over to the other side is the continuation of our destiny-designed exclusively by a deity that Loves us, unconditionally. It is true-no one knows the hour or the day-the circumstances or the why. We do know that somewhere-somehow-our final departure from the land of the living, to the paradise of peace-has been planned, long before we entered the womb. Our lives have been carefully crafted, Lovingly cultivated and breathed into existence, by the power of God...who also carries us home, in the palm of his hand, to his heavenly embrace. As I listened to the farewells today...I heard the words of Love from the friends of one whose life can only be described as-unpredictably robust...And I felt, George watching-weighing in on every word, wanting to speak his mind-wishing he could let everyone know that God-really is in charge. Death i

My friend George Ackel died suddenly yesterday. Complications following a medical procedure took his life, leaving everyone stunned. George was a larger than life kind of guy. A big, burly bear of a man...loud and opinionated, he growled at the slightest provocation, intimidating most people, inadvertently scaring others. But behind that tough, gruff exterior rested a gentle teddy bear, with a big heart and deeply rooted loyalties. George called me several days ago, asking for prayers as he shared the shocking news. One doctor told him he may have throat cancer, while another diagnosed a blockage of the heart. Within a few days, a second opinion made him believe he didn't have cancer, but he wouldn't know for sure until he underwent an exploratory procedure. We talked often, as he rode the emotional roller coaster that left him more stressed than ever. Yet-somehow, he remained stoic and strong and hopefully optimistic. I got the phone call about George's passing-as I

"This thing we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down." Mary Pickford A young mom tonight shared she fell off the wagon last night...Couldn't handle the pressures and resentments and the loss of her husband's job-so she scoured the pantry and found something to make herself feel better. A few hours later, the high wore off and the uncomfortable feelings returned...along with an additional feeling of failure. But from where I sat, she looked like a winner. She could have stayed DOWN...drowned her sorrows even further, instead-she picked herself up and pushed through the day one step at a time, until tonight when she admitted her flaws and her failure. She found the strength to make the one choice that would make all the difference in her tomorrows. Sometimes we have to stumble-just to see how far we've come. And as Maya Angelou so eloquently put it, "We can dream, fail and still survive." So face your failures, fast forward...and ne

As we sat in silence, meditating...I nudged my friend Terri, "What do we have to complain about?!" I whispered. There he hung, pain stricken, vulnerable in his nakedness, sharp thorns cutting into his head, pleading eyes fixed on the heavens. What I thought, on God's green earth, do I have to complain about?! That's probably why they do it...place the life like crucifix dead center-above the altar, just above the Blessed Sacrament, right where you can't miss it...just to remind us-things could be worse, but they're destined to get better-if we keep our eyes focused-on the solution. Another friend-likes to remind me-he's not on the cross anymore...So why do we keep him there? Every one's got an opinion, but to tell you the truth, I need to be reminded of the sacrifice...and every painful moment in between. Puts my problems in perspective...helps me see clearly...gives me strength to proceed. We went to first Friday adoration in the upper ninth ward..

We pray today, for the dead, the victims of the shocking mass slaying at Fort Hood Texas...And we shake our heads at the senseless, insanity that drove the gunman to murder innocent people. I wonder at the intense interior isolation, desperation and hopelessness...that triggered the bizarre behavior...from a psychiatrist-no less. A doctor trained to treat mentally ill people...schooled in the solutions to complex mental health issues...Someone who knew how to make healthy choices...and what he should do when darkness and despair threatened to drive him mad. When a human being snaps, losing all sense of the value of life-their life and the lives of others...It is an extreme example of the numbness that comes when that person is separated from their higher power. There may be other factors, but there is always a shift in consciousness from the will of the divine which has destined us for good, not for evil. The shift may be gradual, may be affected by chemical imbalances, trauma or di

Our home is full this week..as it should be. The sounds of laughter and Love and old fashioned family fun are bouncing off the walls in this big bear of a house. My sister and my soul sister Kat have descended upon our world, having crossed the mountains and the miles from the shores of sunny California-to the lush marshlands and bayous of New Orleans Louisiana. It's a brave new world for them...A world away from their quiet, peaceful surroundings with Boris and Sophie their beautiful dogs. A house full of boys is quite a match for man's best friend...because the activity never ceases. It seems like forever since they last visited...and the kids are really enjoying their company and the attention. Last night we ate homemade sea weed wraps with lobster and sushi rice, tomatoes and cucumbers. It was almost too pretty to eat. Tonight a medley of veggies and prawns put smiles on the hungry faces gathered around the kitchen table. Swoop--in a few short minutes the dishes are