The Seasons: A Poem

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Sunrise over Amazing Grasses Family Farm The mad Artist wields His brush, Painted colors rush, To life and give flush, Before the quiet autumn hush. The life seems to pour, As colors fall to the floor, To be seen no more, Outside the dark, grey door. Brightness from below, Sun upon the snow, High, cold clouds blow, Flakes and ice appear to grow. The man melts with little seen, Underneath, pale, grey green, Hides life in dark unseen, Waits for warmth and to careen. Buds on branches show, Patience starts to grow, Trickles, streams and veins flow, Bringing fruits of melted snow. Sprung to life it springs, Bees, birds, sound rings, Lush green flings, Its gift bounty brings. Green growth gives one last rush, Underneath the Painter's brush. The mad Artist wields His brush, before the quiet autumn hush. More poetry is available from James M. Hahn in  The Last Dragon and Other Poems  available now. My new book of cryptogram puzzles " Secret Messages from the Saints " is avai
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Like, Follow, and Subscribe to my Humility

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Ya'll don't even know how
hard I laughed at this image!
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

The Gospel today brings us back to the Sermon on the Mount. Remember, this "sermon" isn't simply a listing of the Beatitudes. It is 3 chapters of living the commandments rather than simply following the commandments. You can find more on this idea here.

Just for fun I want to share a modernized version of today's Gospel in an attempt to help bring it closer to home:

"Take care not to perform righteous deeds and post them on social media for likes and hearts. Rather, give to the poor, the sick, the homeless without taking out your phone and recording or having someone record you. Otherwise, you will have hundreds or thousands of likes and follows but no recompense from your Heavenly Father."

"When you give alms do not get a giant check, create an event, and share it on social media. Amen, I say to you, your worthless likes and follows will be your reward. Rather, give anonymously and in such a way that only you and your Heavenly Father know what good you have done and He will repay you for sharing His generosity with others."

"Do not brag about your prayer life. Do not try to be a prayer "influencer". Do not share on social media your Adoration visits or that you assist at daily Mass. Rather, when you pray, create an inner room where you can pray and God can hear you and you can hear God. This allows you to pray always, anywhere, and in any circumstance. You can pray at school, sporting events, at your work place, while eating, while playing, and in all that you do without trouble, hassle, or legal battles."

"Do not babble in your prayers hoping something sticks or catches your Heavenly Father's attention Do not try to make deals or offers to God. Rather, pray like a child, from the heart, fearlessly for you always have the Father's attention."

"When you fast, and you should as often as reasonable, do so in secret. Do not announce to all that this day is your fasting day. Do not post on social media that you are fasting from social media. Do not tell the entire world that you are participating in the Exodus 90 or similar program. Keep your fasting, from whatever it may be, a secret that only you and your Heavenly Father know. He who knows all and sees all will repay you with in a far greater way than the cheap dopamine spikes of social media."

Ok, not my best work but you get the idea. Our social media culture has lured us away from humility and into seeking our 15 minutes of fame - each day. We not only post our best selfies, most delicious looking meals, and uber-fun vacations; we have also been conditioned to proudly boast of our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Our reward? Pixelated "likes' and "follows", cheap dopamine hits, and the undeniable impulse to top our last humble post with another yet more humble post of how holy we are becoming.

If this sounds like you, you are not alone. The guy writing this is extremely guilty of all of the above. Maybe it's time we step away from our imagined celebrity status and once again begin the real work of growing closer to God through quiet anonymous prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Even if the "work" is simply replacing one day a week on social media with prayer, reading, giving to, or serving others, we can begin rebuilding our treasures and "likes" in Heaven.

Like, follow, or subscribe to this post for more fantastic ideas on living a truly authentic spiritual life like me.....hahaha, just kidding!!!


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God bless you - Jim Hahn
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