The Seasons: A Poem

Posted by on
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
0

The Difficulty In Doing Simple Things

Posted by on

 Luke 4:24-30


In the early part of my conversion God graced me with many incredible "signs" that strengthened my faith. I suppose that I was such a lost cause that He needed to use drastic measures to set me back on the right path.

One such instance happened in 1999 while I was working as an electrician for a company at the Port Columbus Airport. I was on break, reading a book, when I heard a voice tell me to go out into the concourse because there was a priest there. The whole morning I'd been desiring to go to confession so this was a real shock. So, in a way, I listened to the voice in my head and walked out into the concourse and looked around but there was no priest. I went back to my break and sat down again. The voice came again and told me he was now by the first terminal gate. I walked out and there sitting in a seat reading a paper was a priest in black.

Of course the devil had to be involved in part of this and he talked me out of asking to confess but I decided to at least ask the priest to pray for my brother who was a seminarian at the time. When I told the priest my brother's name he simply laughed. This priest was the rector of the seminary, Father Olmsted who is now Bishop Olmsted of Phoenix, AZ.

As the months and years went by I continued to experience great gifts like that but over time they appeared to diminish. I notice now that those gifts were what I needed to get closer to God after all that I had been through in life, but He slowly took them away as I became dependant on the sign and not Him. It was sort of like a pain-killing-drug addiction; at first I needed the gifts to survive, to get through the tough times but then I began wanting only the signs and not necessarily the health it was leading me towards.

I think one of my major spiritual faults is that I have this notion that God can only do things on a large scale. I think that in order for me to see the power of God it must be something major. I can see the miracles associated with Fatima but often fail to see the miracle of the sun rising each day. I am awestruck when reading about the miracles of the saints but don't see the miracles of everyday life.

In today's Gospel Jesus shows me that God's signs and wonders don't always need to be large scale miracles. Rather, I am encouraged to see everything as a miracle. Miracles are readily apparent all around if I am open to them, if I am open to seeing them. Jesus mentions the story of Naaman and I think his story really brings this home.

Naaman was a beloved servant of his king who found himself with leprosy. His king sent him to Israel to meet with a "man of God", Elisha, for healing. When Naaman meets Elisha, Elisha tells Naaman to simply go to the Jordan River and wash himself seven times. This infuriates Naaman. He was expecting some sort of miraculous healing at Elisha's hand or word. Naaman refuses to wash himself and begins heading home. His servants, however, talk him into doing what the prophet instructed - "...if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it? All the more now, since he said to you 'wash and be clean' should you do as he said." Naaman relents, does what he was told and is healed.

I hate to think of how many times I have asked God for direction, guidance, or healing and how many times I closed myself to His answer because it wasn't a large scale production. God works more miracles in simple, humble fashion than in a big showy style. I pray for the grace to recognize His hand in the gentle touch and His voice in the whisper.

FROM THE SAINTS - "I'm not miracle-minded. As I've told you, I can find more than enough miracles in the holy Gospel to confirm my faith. But I can't help pitying those Christians, many of them pious people, "apostles" even, who smile when people speak of extraordinary ways, supernatural events. I feel the urge to tell them: Yes, this is still the age of miracles. We, too, would work them if we had enough faith!" - Saint Josemaria Escriva The Way # 583

Did you enjoy this post? Never miss a blog post from James M. Hahn by following now.
 
My new book of cryptogram puzzles "Secret Messages from the Saints" is available now.
  
Click here to read more from James M. Hahn - Blog - Books - Fiction

Check out his ongoing memoir about life with his special-needs daughter.

Our Giant Wall Rosaries are a perfect addition to your prayer corner, chapel, or classroom.

* Contains affiliate links. No, that doesn't mean that the kids should leave the room. Rather, it means that if you click on a link, and if you purchase something, I may get some financial remuneration for that click and buy. All that means is that my kids will finally get to eat, just kidding but I may get something, just so you know...

Comments

Post a Comment