"George Bailey, I'll love you 'til the day I die."

A friend recently passed along an article titled, Signs of "Life", in a publication entitled, America, The National Catholic Review. It speaks of the similarities that are struck between the famous Christmas Classic, It's A Wonderful Life, and the Gospels. To someone like myself I have professed this for many, many years. Once, in fact, I gave a weekend's worth of sermons about how one can compare his stewardship to this very story! (I think that's when I caught the preaching bug!) Regardless, this film has played a major role in my life, representing Spirits of Pasts, Present and Future! It is the quintessential story of human choice vs. God choice. It is the story of how Destiny and Fate weave their way into our pre-conceived lives, and ultimately the story of unconditional love and fortune. One of my favorite and pivotal lines of the film occurs when George Bailey has wished his life away ... feeling that failure is the bottom line. He tells his Guardian Angel that in fact if he had never been born countless people would have experienced a better existence. Once George is "allowed" to see a life that contains no George Bailey he realizes how horrible in fact those lives are indeed compromised due to his absence. Thus the line, "One man's life touches so many others, when he's not there it leaves an awfully big hole. " I have always felt that line so significant in relating how small or large someone's life seems to be. Because in God's, "big picture", the reality is it really doesn't matter how big and powerful someone is .. it matters only if they are there. This sentiment can only be known by the hole that presents itself when someone we love, admire, look up to, believe in, trust or simply befriend is missing from our existence. Has that ever happened to you? I feel for young Mary Hatch.. she knew from the age of 12 what and whom was to impact her life. She didn't compromise her ideals. And yet she knew how difficult it might be to hang on to such a dream. She whispers into George's "trick ear" as he relates his intentions of heading down his road of Coconut Dreams, and memberships into the National Geographic Explorers Society, that she somehow would spend her days with this fabulous person. She whispered into a "deaf ear"... "George Bailey, I'll love you until the day I die." As he scooped her decadent chocolate and coconut sundae into a fountain glass, calling her "brainless". She persisted throughout her adulthood fighting off local vixens, and her own demons of self-doubt.. "Perhaps, I should marry Sam Wainwright.. he is after all... "the richest man in town." Thinking George will never loosen his grip on the ideal vision of world renowned living, harems, and building GREAT things one day. She waited and waited until one day she snapped.. literally.. snapping her 72" version of Buffalo Gals, and throwing George out of her home, that he reluctantly and angrily came back for his "hat" that she gave it her "all" in her attempt to listen to what God had been steering her toward all along! Was George to build GREAT things?? YES.. they just didn't look like what he thought they might. (much like my favorite religious story.. The Tales of Three Trees.) DID George settle?? Maybe for a second, But only with his own Ego.. never with God. And did she love him 'til the day she died?? YOU BET! She loved him and knew him like no other.. good, bad and the ugly... even on that fate-filled Christmas Eve when Uncle Billy squandered their money, and George went home on a rampage throughout their lovely, restored, old broken down home! She loved her husband come hell or high water. And would help him no matter what! Perhaps it was in her name Mary, that lends the story so much credence. Or the fallen angel making good on his promises that we all like?? Or could it be my other favorite line... "A man is not a failure who has friends." That makes me see the truth in this story. It is truly the acceptance that we are born as normal folk who are here to affect each other. Love each other despite the weakness and perservere through the daily crap that keeps us renewed. Reborn. The holiest day began, and George has left for work picking up the "Merry Christmas Wreath" that Mary asked him to get... the sign of a man who really was happy before asked to recount what had happened to make him question his path. I love that Christmas Eve morning when George is leaving on a very happy note. Awaiting the homecoming of his beloved brother Harry, he leaves his home practically skipping to the Building and Loan before a drunken Uncle Billy confesses to misplacing 8K! Potter realizes that Billy didn't "misplace it" that in fact, he enables and helps something scandalous to try and ruin an innocent life. Despite the horrific conditions that lie ahead of him, I love that he is so concerned with ZuZu's fever/petals in the midst of his personal jeopardy. And, I love the fact that he questions his wife in the kitchen of their home as to how the hell they got here.... and how she just let's him vent. Mary continues to stay on her path of preparing a meal for their family, simultaneously taking care of a miserably worried George, 4 children belching out orders and maintaining her role as the go-to gal! In the end, George would rather have his life, than no life at all.. even if he must go to jail. And yet, his kind deeds throughout his lifetime will not go overlooked. If there was ever a film modeled after unconditional love it is this one. It is truly the Christmas epic that digs deeper holes in our soul each year, ones large enough to bury our wishes much like Mary buries hers in the deaf ear of her beloved George Bailey! Not Sam Wainwright... it is George who is ultimately the richest man in town! Because honestly, George.. it is a wonderful life! And I'll love you 'til the day I die..... Mary

Fishing for Men

Being a single person at my age, often makes folks scratch their heads in wonder. Perhaps,like many do after fishing all day and having caught not one thing. Most do not understand. Think that i might have some sort of intimacy issue, or need some sort of therapy to find out why! The truth is all a Fish Tale, if you will! Our world is swimming with Dating Websites!!! (Actually I think it is drowning in them!) In researching a bit for this blog entry, I was surfing the net for the top sites. Mind you.. I came up with 5 "REALLY BIG ONES".... and then I realized as I cast my line for more options to explore that in fact is was overflowing! Carpe Diem, might in fact be translated as "fish of the day" afterall!!! And that is no fish story!!! Match.com, eharmony, Christian Mingles or Singles??( I forget which one it is, or in fact, both exist!) Our Time, (over 50 site), and such! However, in my search I had to dive to into the "other" sites a bit too. Here were a few I needed to "throw back"... Can I just say I personally dig, Meeting Millionaires, (except they REALLY check your green back status!) The Ugly Bug Ball.com (Oh lord.. "This fish" is too shallow to swim in those waters!). Cougarlife sounded kinda fun. I thought I might join JDate, as Jews & Christians have more in common than not and the personals are hilariously depressing & sarcastic. Then I got to thinking how Holy Week would be our "fish or cut bait" moment each year. And then there was my personal fav.... OnlineBootyCall.com. And of course where all this fishy-ness is leading, is to the site, Plenty of Fish.com, aka...POF! Honestly, until a friend recently told me she was fishing in this pond, I would have never known it to exist. I'm simply, "dead in the pan," when it comes to thinking we go fishing for fiances, flames, fanciers, or even friends with benefits! (Philanders it seems more like!) It's just me, I am sure. I know plenty of nice folks who have found love in all the right places from casting their nets. But for me, it doesnt seem to make sense. If fishing websites, I mean dating sites work then why are so many people on them all the time?? Why do the pools of opportunities seem to grow larger instead of smaller?? If they are meant to help us narrow down our search, it only seems to expand? the oceans are vast, and the fish are plenty.... Ill tell you why.. becuase a fish and bird may find love, but where do they live???? Has fishing changed? Or the fish?? Fishing is boring, unless you catch an actual fish, and then it is disgusting.We are a fickle society now. I often wonder how and why those that have been fishing for mates for thousands of years did it before technology ever did it? Were they fishing in the right rivers? Sometimes.. and sometimes fish were caught to just be eaten. Were they more successful? Were they catching fish when they cast every time? We were obviously a different society then. One that married for reasons, and purpose. Perhaps societal pressure, arranged unions, and the knowledge that our catch of the day,... was just that. We have been afforded so much in life now that the choices are confusing. We are informed that certain fish are better than others for us. Personally, I love cod. It's light and flaky, yet healthy! It's perfect lightly breaded or plain, and not terribly expensive. It doesn't require me to purchase a special wooden pallet for it to lie upon, and it looks lovely next broccoli! Salmon, on the other hand, is considered full of omega-rich vitamins, but it also very oily, gives me a stomach ache, and again, the word "rich" comes to mind. Whatever floats your boat I suppose is right? The right catch for you. The real issue however, is not about how we go about finding a good hole to go fishing in. Because, you cannot catch trout with dry breeches! One must be willing to do the work in order to prepare the fish for the feast! Most do not like that part. It requires getting your hands dirty after a catch! I think there are finite types of fishermen. They fish in only a few ways. I don't think we need hundreds of websites to define who and what we like and are. For many, the charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope. Then the thrill of the hunt is over. Time to throw back what we have and try again. That simply does not work for me! And sadly, I think I have been caught and thrown back more times than I care to mention. Fishermen who think with their flys! Another type of fishermen is one who fishes for fish and not for sport. They've caught their "whopper" and now go fish for the fun of fishing. Throw back what they can't keep, and happily go home at the end of the day. And then there is a type that I mostly resonate with. The fishermen who walks out slowly in high waters and waders, trepedaciously and careful not to splash and scare them all off. Thinks nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught! The reality for me it often has turned out to be more of... The one that got away... In the end! When my friend and I discussed the POF website, (her 2nd or 3rd exhibition). I asked her if she should stop going up stream and let the river come to her?? She agreed. Why in fact, she is a busy career gal with much on her plate already. Perhaps too many fish swimming around her were preventing her from seeing the right catch. Indeed, ... and that she didn't need to keep returning to the same pool or school. Perhaps there was another way? Keeping her eyes on her fries,(Fish and Chips perhaps), was more the hook she needed to be casting and staying with. She asked me well then what?? She, as myself are both very spiritually- minded gals, so I wasn't telling her a another Fish Story when I offered that she buy the bait of all bait. The Ultimate Fish... And that being God. She smiled in text format :) I said, why don't you let God tell you where to cast your net much like he did to Peter that fine morning. Remember, Peter and the others had been fishing all night, and had caught nothing. They were exhausted, and hardly prepared to go right back out and fish again. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, I am too tired, I have been fishing all night and have caught nothing, what makes you think I will catch something now?" And Jesus replies, " Simon Peter, place your net to the right of this boat." AT once the nets were filled to abundance! Obviously the "right", not just the "starboard side", but the "right side". God wants your trust that He has your back! He will wear your vest with lures and He will provide your feast. And not to worry... God would never give you a salmon if that is what makes your stomach ache! God already knows what you can eat that works for you digestion! Some may argue this point with me, by offering, Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion, and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish. However, I choose GOD as my fishsite. Jesus, tells us that nothing is impossible with God, so why do we think we need to go out and do a better job than God can for us?? This girl has stopped fly-fishing, hung up her pole, taken off her waders and hook-woven hat, stopped telling fish tales of the one that got away,and traded them all for a good, strong net. I am tired, much like Peter, but will wait for her casting call patiently. And remember, both on the water and with God the RIGHT side is always the green light! <>-<

Oh...What a Ride!

It has indeed been a while since my last blog entry. Perhaps this will be my incentive to be more discplined in this meaningful activity for me. This blog is dedicated to my 1st mentor, employer, and recently departed friend, Elliot. Many of you will know the story of this recent tradegy. Elliot was an avid cyclist and was killed on Memorial Blvd in Newport, RI the end of June 2012. I was heartbroken when I learned of such an unecessary event. However, through my faith, I have come to understand that Dr. Elliot Kaminitz, in fact, had taken each day as though it was his last ride. And quite honestly, taught me how to ride through life at a very young, but impressionable age! In my very early adult life, (well teenage years really), I had been invited "strongly" to investigate the dental field. It was not really my thing... however the thought of actually being a dentist was cross examined by me many times! I began to pursue an education in the dental field. I worked VERY hard taking sciences and myriad of anatomy classes to pursue such a career. In my 2nd year of study I thought I should probably pursue "work" in this area to further confirm this was something "I wanted" vs. something "someone else wanted for me." I was sent to Dr. Elliot Kaminitz. He then became far more than my dentist, or employer, but more a mentor and truly a life coach. A friend. A father figure. A brother. I worked for him for nearly 10 years. 5 or so, while I decided that teaching was more my thing... and the other 5 on an off subbing for women on vacation during my summers off. I did that mostly for our "reunion shows". You know on television, (especially from the 60s and 70s), when members of a show would leave only to be reunited in a "Special" from one year to the next. I did it for that! I did for the love of his laughter, his wit, and humor. I did for the feel-good comroderie that happens between actors when they do perform a good show.. and honestly.. I did it to keep my hand in dentistry a bit, just in case... well... you know! He taught me about "The SHOW". He taught me how to enter into "hair and make up" everyday before we went out to our public. Put a smile on.. no matter how crappy you felt.. whichever boyfriend du jour dumped you, or that you had a Final or 3 that week. ( I worked a full time job 10 hours a day and drove to Providence 4 nights a week just so i could learn how to put on another show later in life! All with his help, understanding and encouragement.) He taught me ... much like his bicycle escapades that if you get caught in traffic, yelled at, feel under pressure to be perfect, (and he WAS a PERFECTIONIST), to get back on that bike and keep going! He taught me that this too shall pass... and that being the best was better than worrying about what others were doing. He possessed a very good sized ego.. and I admired it! He believed in God, doing the right thing, and helping others. He was a compassionate man. (Even if the outside windows were always beckoning him to finish a patient early so he could go for that ride at the end of the day!) He cared.. about us all. Coming from humble beginnings.. both of us... I learned that you could call your travel agent at lunch and book a ticket to Israel or Rome..in 45 minutes. I learned that friends with airplanes were a good thing to have.. especially when you felt like going to Nantucket for lunch! And I laerned that great success can come upon ANYONE who wants it and lives for the moment. Carpe Diem would have been his signature phrase had he had one! Becuase he certianly did it! The expression, as trite as it can sound at times.. "Live each day as though it were your last," must have been coined by my friend... as HE DID THAT! And honestly, this kid had to learn HOW to do that! it took me a long time... but I learned... I wish I had learned that as fast as how to root canal a tooth or pull one! He was a teacher of life... and truly, that, I think, before a dentist. If that is even possible?? But in the field of education, HE was my first instructor! Life Instructor. I am attracted to funny people. I am funny. I can be dark... and perhaps sarcastic in nature... and it helped that he was too. We shared many a fun moment all while 5 inches apart and strictly communicating with our eyes! The AIDS virus had just been discovered while I was entering the field of Dental Surgery. It was scary times for us all in a variety of ways! So masks and gloves, (which were never part of my original training), became a mandated edict. You can learn an awful lot about someone when you can't see them!! And I did! If the phrase that the eyes are the window to the soul means anything, or holds validity, than surely I learned it there with him! Dr. K was a devoted family man. He loved his family more than life itself. The only son of an older Jewish couple... he really was a walking metaphor! He was loved to death by his parents. And in turn he loved his kids to death! And his beloved wife. There wasnt a thing he would not do for them all. Again, he lived right out on the front line daily. And he tried for so long... to get me to do the same. He and I had so many religious and spiritual conversations over patients... who believe me had lots of "patience." They listened to us, (like it or not), and our candor over the teachings of Joseph Campbell, Christianity, Judaism, and any other religous groups or experiences we could think of! Its a wonder that I write and teach spiritually. I never thought it a developed piece in me then, I come to see it was there waiting for me. He taught me about Classical, Jazz, and Theatre music! He would often give me tickets to such events so I could develop a finer taste in music. AND I DID! And honestly, I do owe that to him. I was a classically trained ballet dancer... so he knew.. And he knew I just didn't know it all! He taught me! He loved my appreciation for rock-n-roll, and would often play a game called guess that band while we, "drilled and filled". In those days.. B101 and LITE 105 actually played the "oldies"... HAH.. its hard for me to grasp now that Queen and Tunes from the 1980s have rolled into the slots of Herman's Hermits, and The Monkees! Elliot died doing what he loved to do best..(not cooking Chinese food.. although a close 2nd). He was riding his bike. He was an avid cyclist and health nut. It is indeed ironic that he died doing what he loved to do! Not his fault, but still.. it happened. The ONLY piece of sense and logic I can come up with is that "the other side", truly, TRULY, must be, "All that and a bag of chips!" As if he had a choice to stay and live his life here... with all the wonderment he had... HE WOULD HAVE! Never have I ever met someone that had such a zeal to live... a passion to live his days out the way he felt, and the drive to Just DO IT! ( A living Nike advertisemnt). ALL I can offer is his parents must have done the Hava Nagila when he showed up! Is it tragic?? YES! I wish I could have said goodbye... and really we did 3years ago, unbeknownst to me. Always remember that you never know when the goodbye will happen sometimes. SO, I can say that he in fact did have quite the ride! He would always tell me I reminded him of "Mary Richards" from the Mary Tyler Moore Show ..."Oh Mr. Grant..." and I suppose he was right about that too.. but he needs to know that I did flip my beret to the air a while ago... and I owe it all to him! Oh Mr. Grant... What a ride that was! Love, Dawnie

Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Why do you look for the living among the dead? What a phrase??!! What power??? What force??? What truth!!!!!!! Kids know this innately.. And somewhere along the way we lose this power!!!! Honestly.. I must recite this several times a year in regard to daily situations that may come across my daily fare!! Are you living? Truly?? Are you among those who embrace each day as the day of all days??? Do you see life as a new lease on life? Do you understand that each day we awaken we have the power to transform our way of being and living? We can be new again tomorrow? Or are you someone that views the world cynically, critically, and harshly… and thinks each day is spelled out and mundane? No one, or no event changes?? And nothing can alter that??? I am always the correct one?! Need to be right?? I can or can’t make the difference in someone else’s life?? I am too good for them.. Them for me..Etc??? Life is what it is….sadly, many of us do. This, my friends, is in fact the Easter epistle. This is why every Sunday is Easter. This is why we should never take for granted people, places and things in our lives that bring us to understanding how to live a better way... a newer way… or simply a more accepting and loving way. This is why we proclaim after Easter, and every Sunday after Mass is concluded... “Alleluia, The Lord is Risen let us go out in peace to love and serve our Lord”. The Easter message. Life is fragile. Life is evolutionary. Life is for understanding those and ourselves when we are confused lonely and lost. Life is about getting back on that untamed, never ridden before donkey and taming him. It is about being a sacrifice to others as Christ was in his servitude to the disciples at the Last Supper; it is about ultimately sacrificing ourselves for the people we love the most. Still never comparing us to Jesus on Jesus’ last day. But rather only needing to give up little to love and treat another the way I would like to be treated. (Our Preschool mantra we shout out each day after the Pledge of Allegiance.) I give you a new commandment. “Love one another, as I have loved you.” That is living among the dead. Truly. Christ was killed, placed in a tomb and not expected to be seen again. A very confused Mary Magdalene, never giving up on her devotion and beliefs went, the minute she could to the tomb. Do you understand how inspiring that is? Women are rarely valued in ancient Isreal..except however in the Easter story. Jewish women weren’t allowed into Holy buildings usually. And if they were permitted, were to do so fully covered. They didn’t make choices. Vote, work, or the like. They didn’t decide on futures. They’d didn’t work, and they didn’t know what would become of them if their husbands should pass away. But in the story of Christ’s Passion, the women play a major role! Do you understand how important it is for Jesus to be seen by Magdalene for the 1 st time after his resurrection? And why on earth it would be placed into print in our Bibles???? Surely, if this were something to hide or deny you wouldn’t mention. Many of the Gospels have been “unacceptable” to religious scholars. So why the women as witness? That is modern view for such ancient times. An anxious and a disturbed Mary Magdalene approached the tomb that sunny Easter Day. In my head, I have her nervously running down a path to see her Jesus. (Dead mind you))…. Laid on slab covered with a linen sheet. She is ready to spend time with him, alone, or not, anointing his body. She is prepared to spend time with a dead being. Lifeless and perhaps without peace. (Perhaps). She is hoping all her good works and love will create the peace that SHE needs to be happy in this moment. Because in the end, we all as humans only seek out the peace we need to make ourselves content and safe. The dead have gone on to other places. What Mary finds though is her master gone. Her life and hope “stolen” if you will. She turns to a man whom she believes a common gardner. “Do you know where they have taken him?” She is lost. She feels He is lost too. She needs to know where she should be. That’s hard place to be living in the middle of an empty, cold tomb and searching for the life blood that (even in death) that makes you feel whole. She is only answered by the words. “Why do you look for the living among the dead?’ That surely is her message. But her Jesus comes back for her.. and to many others to show them that there is life beyond the confines of living in death. And that anything is possible with God... even coming back to life. AND YET WE CAN DO THAT ANYTIME! Death is never a way out. Some think it is. It’s an easy way to not deal or cope. But death isn’t real. If we truly believe in the Christian message then we know that death is only in the flesh. Not who we are! Mary didn’t get this yet. She didn’t understand that we don’t live thru death. Or some kind of life results from death! And certainly Jesus did not either. Death is merely a moment we move thru dimensions much like those on Star trek lived. “Beam me up Scotty”. Death is a movement not a solution. The ending should always be a new way of living… it should be about healing, forgiveness, and love. And I can tell you this… It should never be the last ditch attempt to solving a problem! Like in Corinthians 13… Love lasts forever. Love is eternal and never gives up. It is never fearful. It never boasts holds deceit or hatred and never sits in own junk. It is forever. And that is that. Let this Easter knock the fear out of you. I’m telling you! Cause Easter is not about shoving crap in a tomb and closing it off with a big huge rock… while also being guarded by 2 Romans. It is about letting the rock… roll. Letting the spirit run free. And allowing the life force to rise up among us and heal even our scariest wounds. That BTW can be touched in the end! SO there Thomas! We live though our wounds! But more importantly.. as Jesus says.. Blessed are those who never touch them and still believe! That’s all of us! Miss Dawn

He Shoots.... He Scores!

As I sat on a very lonely date this evening... I found two wonderful substitutes for my
company ...and that was good food and good television.

The perfect hockey game... and the perfect hockey player's food!

As I sunk into both, (forgetting what was around me), I quickly realized how focused a hockey game is! How violent... how sexual... and how agressive! hmmm... Just what i needed for a perfect distraction!

I was raised on Boston Bruins Hockey; my father being an avid fan. I can still remember the nights of the ceiling, or floorboards, screaming the word, "SCORE!" It's a wonder I fell asleep at all on those evenings. With rockstar athletes such as Bobby Orr and Phil Espisito... I truly have wondered HOW hockey has survived since the golden years of the Bruins??


According to Wikipeida the following defines the sport of Hockey:
Ice hockey sticks are long L-shaped sticks made of wood, graphite, or composites with a blade at the bottom that can lie flat on the playing surface when the stick is held upright and can curve either way, legally, as to help a left- or right-handed player gain an advantage.
Games played with curved sticks and a ball can be found in the histories of many cultures. In Egypt, 4000-year-old carvings feature teams with sticks and a projectile.

WOW! after reading this and coupled with my very graphic viewing this evening... I decided how "exciting" it might be to blog about hockey!

Why... curved sticks and projectile pucks is what every girl dreams about!!??

Well... more exciting than dinner, (that being said), and a wonderment placed upon men from my past who engaged in such violent fun! I decided to blog the minute I got in.. but alas.. I was tired!

I have never been so intrigued by a man who can skate backwards, beat the shit out of some guy for stealing his puck, and hip check another man without it being a part of a 70's disco dance at the Boom Boom Room. Never, have I been part of man who is missing teeth. (My men usually have ALL of them whitened!) Willingly spend time in the Penalty Box without having to own his own shame, (In years of therapy), or wear an oversized jersey, (NOT from Brooks Bros), that displays both some symbol of ownership while simulataneously displaying his name in big bold 4 letters.

Again, usually not my kind of guy! I do have to say tho... in recent years, I've come to appreciate a man who, "shoots and scores", according to Wayne Campbell. Likes the anger and no-nonense approach of reaching his goal, and ultimately lets his best chick friend wear his jersey as a comfort for bed!

Black eyes heal... Sticks are replaced, and numbers on the jersey... are just numbers.

But its the man who gets back out onto the ice again and again, despite the shape of his stick... shoots for his goals and ultimately sacrifices it all to score, that wins my heart on the ice! (In the middle of winter).

The next time I'll play his number in Powerball for the win! (Cause it's more than just a game to me.)
And ultimately in the 4th period...seconds remaining.... I'll still want a guy who knows how to skate in the oppostie direction sometimes!

Happy Valentine's Day

#72

Keep your eyes on your fries!

Of course the children laugh their heads off when I repeat this line to them while doing many a task, production, or lesson! I am positive that they really do not know the history of this phrasing! (Heck, some of the teaching staff I work wouldn’t either!- showing my age.) It is an old McDonald ‘s ad from the late 1970s warning folks to keep eyeing their delicious McDonalds French fries, lest someone sneaks them while you aren’t looking!

The reality is that this phrase was modified from the even older expression, “Keep you eyes on the prize”, that is actually more of what the children understand – However the latter sounds so much more kid friendly and funny to me!

Regardless, both expressions lend themselves to many of this month’s messages in regard to Jesus. Stories of His walk in faith with the Father. One in particular, is walking on water! (A metaphor we all seem to use with frequency in order to explain in a positive or negative way the strengths, or misconceptions, one has about one self, or another!)

We hear this expression used often. “He walks on water!” or, “He THINKS He walks on water!” However, it is used, none of us… including the sainted, “walks on water” without Christ! Through, and with Him, we are invited to do such feats! BUT only while in His Spirit, not on our own merit! I have begun explaining to the children in the last month all of this.

Once the “MAGI” left, we begin the real meat of what we are to learn about in Christ. The children had their eyes so firmly fixed on the “Star” that it was actually work to get them focused on what Jesus’ ministry would entail. But again, their eyes were on their fries! Right?? But now, we are fixed upon WHY he was sent.

I love when I can mess around with Jesus’ days leading up to and including his ministerial work. Or really, Ordinary Time! We focus so much on holidays and the bigger feasts, I truly love when we just embrace ordinary life. Although, I beg to differ that Jesus’ life was ANYTHING but ordinary on any day!

The kids are so engrossed on Jesus’ infancy for so long, they ask me about how it is Jesus becomes who He is… or born to be what He does…. Where are Mary and Joseph? Did he go to school? What kind of childhood did he have? And of course they worry ever so much of the whereabouts of the dreaded King Herod! (Wait ‘til I start dropping words like Sadducees and Pharisees on them in the months to come! Better yet, Pilot!) What I LOVE to tell them is the 2x he was, (as I say), “A little bit fresh to His Mother!” There eyes look like moons when I say this! “What Miss Dawn?? Jesus was fresh to His Mother?? TELL US!” They love it, (and although it comes across that way...and has deeper meaning- even to Mary), I love to impart to them.... that Jesus was, “a little bit like them!” It humanizes Jesus to where THEY are on THEIR journeys.

And that to me is okay.

Jesus taking off on His parents for 3days to preach at 12 years of age without notifying them is enough to frighten any child to never leave their parent’s side again. And Jesus then delivers the retort to a worried-sick Mary, “Did you not know I’d be in my Father’s House?” I am surprised she doesn’t wallop him in front of all the big shots there! In Jesus’ “arrogance” or “freshness” are still a mother and son, going through a moment each and every child experiences, life without the other and how sickening that must feel! Mary has “almost” seemed to forget in those first 12 years of mother and son, what Jesus was sent here to do. But, HE HASN’T! His eyes are firmly on his fries! It’s a big nudge to her that Jesus will be sacrificed as told to her. He will leave her for 3 days “someday” in the future, and that she needs to be there for Him when he returns. AS ALL children are “lent” to us. Again, Jesus will confront Mary at His 1st Miracle… Changing Water into Wine at the Wedding. Yet this time it will be Mary pushing Him forward into His destiny. Her eyes completely focused on what she promised God when she said, “Yes”, to God 30 years prior.

As Jesus calls the 12… numbers of events and everyday stories occur. The children are intrigued. They are so absorbed they want to know about each disciple as an individual and how they felt about not fishing for fish anymore, but fishing for people! Their eyes became focused on Jesus when they cast their nets for something very different. Doing what it was they were called to do. The children are intrigued by stories of healing, loss of loved ones, (only to be brought back to life on occasion), and the constant foretelling of what will become of Jesus.

But it is when I deliver the Walking on Water story, do the heads turn. If only we could walk on water as Jesus did. Well, Peter does it. He does it despite his own temperament, and his inability to conceive that he actually can. When the 12 are caught in a storm… and Peter sees Jesus cascading like an ice skater across the top, he alarms the others that he believes they are seeing an apparition, a ghost. (Perhaps another premonition of what is to come). Upon Peter’s request to be able to do such a thing, Jesus invites Peter to walk! To do the impossible with God. Isn’t this the point??

Peter is not shy... he hops out immediately, (Like any of my 5year olds would!) And he does it truly because he has his eyes firmly planted on Jesus. He does not understand the act, but the only thought is that he wants to be with Jesus… That is enough to make it happen! You can only imagine the fervor on the boat…with the Disciples. I can only hear this… “Peter, Peter, Peter…” as they all cheer him on. His eyes are on his fries. He is doing the impossible with God! Bang... right there is the only message one needs to understand the Christian concept! The kids’ eyes are now focused on this concept. Anything is possible with God.

The storm becomes louder, or the disciples… and we are distracted… our focus is behind us. Peter turns to it… takes his eyes off … AND into the drink we go! Jesus tells Peter that his faith wasn’t strong enough. That in fact if he just did the impossible with Him he wouldn’t have lost his balance and begun to drown.

I feel for Peter, at least HE was WILLLING to jump out and try it… walk with God doing something that seemed unimaginable. And I’m positive God, knew that too despite how frightened and distracted he became.

Don’t take your eyes off your fries… you may miss the moment God invites you to walk with Him! No matter how scary it looks, God will be right there because His eyes are always on us! He has far more planned for us than we are ready to embrace at times. By looking away we rule out yet another chance to walk the impossible with Him.

Peace, MD

That's My Plan!

A New Year's Quote... An Epiphany, if you will!!

‎"You have done what you could — some blunders and absurdities have crept in. Forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." Emerson


Not only, is this appropriate for a new year, it is more the philosophy I use with my students each day… and should be how we all view our blunders and absurdities in life.. As well as the new challenges and new ways of being ourselves! I love the part about your spirit being far higher than the old nonsense.


I love the Epiphany, (and not so much the New Year, at times.). It is funny. I am one of these people who are hit with it all at one time. As I write this I am embarking on the eve of my 46th revolution around the sun. (Yes. my birthday). One gets a little contemplative when Christmas, New Year, Birthday, and yes. Epiphany occurs all within 12 days of each other! Makes for some interesting couch time during the holidays! One can spend a great deal of time sitting in a blunder from 6 months ago or last week. One can find the most scrupulous ways to bring oneself down. Tell themselves, “Hey guess what?? You did it again didn’t you??” Or better yet, “ You did it more than once this year...” And sit within the “old nonsense” of uncertainty and judgment. Self-doubt, impatience and fear. And ultimately, in the end the reason we miss the moment of anything we set out to do is simply out of fear.

Do you know that I’ll bet the Magi felt this way plenty of times in their 2-year journey toward the Savior. Think about not having GPS, a media-packaged mobile device, or even a map maybe?? They studied the stars, (Its all they had!)They had faith, though, more importantly. They had faith that they were about to witness a miracle. The manifestation of God in human form. They were willing to step out and journey toward something they’ve only heard about. Perhaps read about. And certainly had no idea about. Most Gentiles (non-Jews) were not awaiting a Divine King to come down and save the world from itself. There’s some absurdity for ya!

They stopped to converse with King Herod about the whereabouts of “This Child” … Herod, knew they meant business. Why do 3 learned men travel so far to bestow gifts upon a poor infant if not for all the right reasons??! And yet Herod, in all his human weakness could still only think about how the Infant King was somehow sent here to depose him! And there is how limited our humanness ventures!


Herod begged them to return to Jerusalem after paying homage, so that Herod might do so as well… Again, talk about absurdity. Melchior, Balthazaar and Gaspar were fortunate “wise men” who paid attention to dreams and signs… listened to their internal GPS... their gut, and got the message LOUD and CLEAR one evening before leaving Bethlehem. “Go home another way.” How on earth would they have known otherwise? Stupid? Absurd? Perhaps the biggest blunder in history could have been in the works, until the signs came. They serenely climbed back onto their camels, spirits held high, and certainly unencumbered to go back home and preach about the coming of God’s Son to the other corners of the world.

Were they scared? Probably. But not half as scary as it would’ve been if they did what they thought to be “right”. No, instead God always has a larger plan for us if we are willing to shed are earthly encumbered junk and just, well... “Follow His Star.” Make God the pilot! So, put your GPS’ away, Power down your Mobile Devices, roll up your man-made maps and IPADS and do what I do every Epiphany for my children and myself, crack open a V8… Hit myself upside the head... and say...”I could’ve had a V8!” to explain what exactly an Epiphany is! A delicious, nutritious drink that fills us, gives us energy, and makes us healthy, rather than the empty Diet Coke that seems easy to drink, falsely sweetened, and full of empty calories. “Ah... what a difference.”

Epiphany is really your new start. Not 2012. It is a start that doesn’t happen at the Winter Solstice or just beyond each and every year… it is always present to us as long as we choose to see God in all of our works, actions and encounters…. And let Him to plot our course, take the wheel and drive!


“Let Him plot our course, take the wheel and drive!” That’s my resolution for the New Year. That , my brothers and sisters in Christ, is my plan!