Miracle Moments

“Are you worried about Johnny in Liberia?”  That’s the question I am asked almost daily since the Ebola outbreak. Every mother naturally worries about her children.  However, in this case worry is not the word I would use to describe my feelings.  Trust is much more accurate.  I trust my son’s judgment.  Five and a half years ago he chose to enter into a faith based community, Comunita Cenacolo, to heal his interior brokenness and the drug addiction that placed him at death’s door.   I trust he will continue to make healthy choices that will protect him from Ebola.  I trust God who is the author of my son’s life and the source of his decision to commit two years of his life to serving the Liberian people by caring for their orphans. I trust my son’s heart, knowing that he is on his knees asking God for strength, courage and direction in the face of both his interior challenges and the exterior hurdles.   I trust God who ...

“I am a doctor visiting. John looks great. See pictures below.” “He is wonderfully well and full of joy you should be very proud” “I'll let you tell the other parents that everyone in the community seems well.”         Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan I opened my email and those wonderful words greeted me!   A surprise message sent all the way from Liberia by an American doctor who traveled there on a medical mission. God is so big…and technology has made the world so small…and the hearts of good people are exploding with love and I am so grateful to be a recipient of that river of grace pouring forth all the way from Liberia to New Orleans! Sunday I spoke with my oldest son Johnny and he told me about an American doctor who met with him and the other members of Comunita Cenacolo who are caring for orphan children in Liberia.  When I hung up the phone with my son I immediately searched the internet for information about the good Dr. a...

One of my son’s lost an old friend to a very long battle with drug addiction. Three days before his 25th birthday he overdosed on heroin and crystal meth, two of the most lethal drug combinations and a growing threat in communities all around the country. When I heard the news, I thought back a few years to my conversation with this young man in my living room. He had just exited another rehab facility and he was facing legal charges from crimes he committed in order to support his illegal drug habit. We were all hoping and praying that he would make it. “I’m going to try to stay clean,” he told me. “I really want to.” “I know you do,” I replied. I encouraged him to seek additional support in a long term program like “Comunita Cenacolo” where my oldest son flourished. “I feel you need the safety, security and the spiritual support to break the chains of drug oppression that have enslaved your mind. It’s too hard to do it on your own.” He admitted he was worried because ...

Howard Pierre and I never met, we never even spoke to one another…and yet, he left an indelible imprint on my heart! Through his daughter, my friend Monica Pierre, I could literally feel his faith, his charity and the soulful resiliency that carried him through the challenges of feeding, clothing and caring for his wife and five children on the earnings of a sharecropper. It must have been a daunting task every single day. But honestly, that’s not the message I heard nor is it the feeling Monica passed on. Humble, unconditional love-that was Howard Pierre’s charism. He lived love, shared love and his legacy of love keeps on flowing even though his heart has physically stopped beating. I became fascinated with Monica’s dad and the rest of her family after reading her book, “Found My Soul In A Sweet Potato Patch.” (monicapierrepresents.com) Mr. Pierre was a leader who successfully compelled his young children to wake up extra early every morning so they could pick sweet potato...

"St. Monica was a woman of great faith," the priest declared as he began his homily at morning Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church here in New Orleans. That’s all it took. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes and a sudden rush of emotion as his prophetic words penetrated me to the core. “A woman of great faith,” I thought to myself as I sighed deeply. “She certainly was.” I admired her and I understood her. St. Monica knew God intimately, and she relied on him completely. She was a woman who believed in the power of steadfast, unbridled prayer. She was a wife who kept a hopeful heart during intense and prolonged suffering at the hands of her abusive husband. And she was a mother who allowed God’s grace to carry her through the torment and pain triggered by her prodigal son. St. Monica put her faith in God every single day…and she never took it back. She remained faithful to God, and he remained faithful to her. During 17 years of suffering, St. Monic...

In 5 1/2 years I have never received an email from my son Johnny who is a member of "Comunita Cenacolo." Computers and emails are just not part of community life. So you can imagine my surprise when I opened my email today and found a letter from Johnny-from Liberia no less! Johnny lives in a remote section of the country that is without electricity...so this email transmission is really amazing! I am gratefully sharing his thoughts with each and every one of you in thanksgiving for your love and prayers! GOD IS FAITHFUL! "I want to express my gratitude to all who have interested themselves in my own safety and well being here in Liberia. Thank you for your concern. I think it’s only right to respond in some capacity and inform you of my current situation. I’ve been in Liberia as a Catholic missionary for over eight months. Here at our mission we have twenty children, some of whom are orphans and some of whom come from very difficult situations that hav...

I admire my 29 year old son Johnny.(He's in the blue shirt) He is not jumping ship, running for the hills or taking the easy way out. He is staying in Liberia, standing on faith and stepping up to the commitment he made to care for the orphans entrusted to his care. Johnny and I spoke by telephone for over an hour this week about life under the threat of the Ebola Virus. “We are taking precautions,” my son assured me. “The fruit bat carries the virus, so fresh fruit is off limits”… “We can’t go to the open air market and shop for food, and we aren’t supposed to shake hands with people.” Shaking hands is apparently a very important custom. Johnny told me the virus, which is not airborne, is carried by fruit bats which some locals eat. A man apparently ate a contaminated bat that had not been thoroughly cooked and because he came in physical contact with people before his death, the virus spread. If the bat had been cooked all the way the virus would have died along...

“Never question in the darkness, what you were shown in the light.” I believe firmly in that principle. Sometimes God tells us his will during prayer, at a conference, through someone else-in any number of ways. And in that one illuminating moment we often respond with a resounding yes, even when we want to say no. Our hearts, our heads, our entire being understands that God has given us his word, his will, his way. No amount of worry or worthless speculation carries any weight at that moment. God has spoken! Then lo and behold-time slips away and slowly, temptation slips in. We begin telling ourselves tales of desire that tempt us into listening to that gnawing voice in our head. “I want this, I deserve this, I need this!” It’s as old as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, or Cain and Abel in the field of dreams. Jealousy, anger, prideful poverties push us into following our will and not the will of God. Instead of stopping the enemy at the gate, we romance our thoug...

I spent this weekend with the “Beautiful people.” Bruised and broken, soulful and searching, loving and hopeful, beautiful women of courageous faith and extraordinary lives. A “Hedy Conference,” guided by the Holy Spirit, nudged us to Natchez Mississippi, into the old world charm of The Elms B & B, where we descended into the warm embrace of our heavenly father. We came seeking greater intimacy with Christ, to humbly enter into his passion through the dusty details of desperation and darkness, which have drifted in and out of our human experience. In return we slipped into the, cascading river of hope that pours forth every time we are graced with the glory of our amazing God! As I sat in this circle of faith, I felt the illuminating movement of spiritual muscle-pushing through the pain, pausing only to reflect on the pride that often keeps us prisoners to our own self-imposed sentences. We entered the most intimate chambers of our heart, peeling away the layers of our...

Liam Neeson is right. “It’s a virus.” Drug abuse is a virus. I could just hug him for his sobering remarks! As a substance abuse prevention specialist, and a single mom, I need all the help I can get. As an Iconic actor, Neeson may not know it, but he’s part of the genre known as “super peers.” Popular public personalities who together with the mass media: movies, music, television, the internet, influence adolescent health-related attitudes and behaviors, like the use and abuse of legal and illegal drugs. Neeson got honest about drugs and alcohol during an insightful cover story that appeared in the April issue of GQ magazine. The single dad of two sons said, “A teenager can take it and suddenly they can be hooked, and it changes their life and their family's forever. That's my constant worry. And I trust them, and they're sensible boys, but it can be just that chemistry that doesn't work.” What powerful insight! When youth mess around with drugs, inc...

Hedy Boelte is a lightning bolt! She leaves a searing mark on whoever she meets, on whatever she does, wherever she goes! Like rapid fire flashes that streak across the sky during an electrical storm, Hedy literally illuminates her world with an extroverted confidence that burns desire. A deeply rooted conviction that there is no force, no love, no purpose greater than the will of the almighty God! Intimately, powerfully and joyfully-Hedy’s life breathes an intense passion that is both persuading and providential. She is determined to share her God with anyone and everyone! “To ignite like fire and spread like wildflowers.” One human being at a time, one conference at a time, one conversation at a time, Hedy is changing lives. I have been privy to countless discussions with Hedy and her overarching goal is always focused squarely on sending souls to God. I have never seen anyone quite like her! So this week, we who cherish Hedy give thanks for the vibrant blessing ...

Several years ago I brought my husband inside the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and as we sat before the Lord I asked, “Do you really want this divorce?” He looked down nodding his head as he replied almost timidly, “Yes.” I wasn’t prepared for the sudden rush of emotion. Tears spilled down my face and an unexpected, heart palpitating tremor surged through my entire body. Death…It was that awful familiar feeling brought on by-death. I wanted to run from it. I stood up, my body shaking…and then-my husband frantically grasped for approval, “I thought you wanted this too?” he implored. I was dumbfounded! Death wanted my approval! I wanted a miracle! Looking him squarely in the eye I took a deep breath and replied, “This is your decision, don’t put it on me.” I turned and walked out of the chapel. Denial immediately stepped in, circling my heart, seducing me into believing this wasn’t really happening. Denial helped me cope with the shock of death. And yet, somewhere deep dow...

Bernie Klein’s life took a pivotal turn when he died. His death shocked him into seeing himself as God saw him. It was painful. When he returned to life inside his battered body which had suffered the effects of a massive heart attack, Bernie knew what he had to do. He made amends for the unhealthy choices he had made. He resolved to devote the rest of his life to serving God. Bernie’s death had pumped new life into the wounded heart of a man who had rejected the call from God. Physically-Bernie would not recuperate. He never went home from the hospital. Yet he had been healed-in every single way that matters. His vision became crystal clear as he viewed his life through the eyes of his soul. His fragmented heart began pulsating to the rhythm of divine love and his conscience became illuminated by a glowing light that framed a contagious desire to know and serve the Lord. Bernie shared his experience with his wife Judy, who is a close friend of mine...And now she is shar...

My fifteen year old son Zachary, lay down on the sofa next to me and asked, “Would you cry if I died?” “Absolutely!” I replied. “A lot?” he continued. “I would cry rivers and rivers of tears,” I assured him. “I don’t know if I could handle it if you died,” he said. “Of course I’ll probably be able to handle it one day when you’re old,” he added trying to sound brave. His questions pierced my heart. "Zack" I continued, "If you died I would really suffer. I love you and you mean more to me than you can ever comprehend." My youngest son is struggling with some uncomfortable emotions triggered by the tragic death of his friend’s 8 year old brother Joseph. The little boy was also the cousin of another one of Zack’s close friends and so my son is suffering for both his buddies. Unquestionably sad and heart wrenching death demands a lot from the living. Grief seizes every waking moment and is often characterized by disbelief and anger, fear and powerlessness...

Today as we remember those who died while serving in our country’s armed services, I’d like to express my gratitude for the gift of their sacrificial lives and let their families know very sorry I am for their loss. In addition, I thank all the men, women and children who have served and continue to serve this wonderful nation of ours! Thank you for your sacrifices, for your struggles and for your perseverance in the face of incredible odds. Thank you for defending our freedom to walk into our lives and our futures with fearless abandon! I am a military brat and my brother is an Army veteran and I can tell you from experience, that a military vocation is an act of heroism and a sacred source of strength within the fabric of our society. Though I will never fully understand the hellish hatred that pits one human being against another, I clearly embrace the human ideals of faith, family, duty, commitment, heroism and honor that soldiers strive to uphold. No, I've never been ...

I received the best birthday present today-even though it’s not my birthday! As soon as I heard the young man's "Hello" at the other end of the telephone line, I instantly recognized my oldest son’s voice! “Happy birthday Johnny!” I exclaimed! And then his brothers and I belted out our familiar rendition of “Happy Birthday to you…cha cha cha”…and many more!!!!! It was our first conversation since he left the U.S. for Liberia six months ago, and as I listened to Johnny’s description of the world that is now his home, I marveled at his uniquely personal tale of triumph! Twenty nine years ago I would never-and I mean never-have believed that on this day my firstborn son would willingly be spending two years of his young life as a missionary inside a Catholic orphanage in Africa! Praise God! Yes, praise God! But really-think about it. How often does that happen?! I guess every time someone answers the call from God with a resounding “YES!” I remember when Johnny...

Why should we care about what is happening in Ukraine?! Because when evil meets up with indifference, human beings are savagely murdered. In 1991 I traveled to Russia and Ukraine and produced a documentary on the fall of communism and the rise of the faithful. I will share with you just a few examples of why Ukrainians are fighting so hard to keep their independence and freedom. My video tells the haunting history of Ukraine under Russian communism. I saw with my own eyes the results of unfathomable persecution and murder of innocent human life. I interviewed a former KGB prisoner who described a living hell inside the prison walls. He said at night the shrill cries were almost more than he could bear. Prisoners were not only tortured, they were mutilated...Women had their breasts cut off and a priest had been crucified on the wall, his stomach ripped open and a dead baby placed inside. Behind another KGB prison our cameras captured an insidious secret that had literally be...

P.S. "Don't worry that I got malaria. I'm fine!!!" Resilient and strong my son Johnny never ceases to amaze me! I was so excited to sit down and read my very first letter from him since he left for Liberia several months ago. Though I'd already heard through the grapevine of "Comunita Cenacolo" that he'd survived malaria, I was expecting him to share the uncomfortable details. Nothing! He completely side stepped the obvious and moved straight into explaining the missionary work that is now his life for the next two years. Johnny is helping other community members run an orphanage that is home to 18 kids. Nine babies, 4 girls and 5 boys. And guess what?! God absolutely has a sense of humor because Johnny-who is the oldest of my 5 sons, is staying with and caring for the 5 boys! As I read the letter I had to laugh...Johnny wrote, "For the normal reasons, I lose my patience often with them; but you learn to say sorry, and then you move...