A Person Is A Person

By Lori Carmody

What does the United States have in common with North Korea, China, The Netherlands, Singapore, Vietnam and Canada?  And what does that answer have to do with us who are fed up with many of our Senators and Representatives of both political parties? 

Last week I was dismayed by our US Senators – both the Democratic and Republican ones.  Let me explain.

Science has made great gains in discovering what the unborn feel while they are in utero.  The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act that the US Senate voted on Jan 29th took into account the scientific information that fetal neural development experiences pain after 20 weeks of gestation.

 

Even with having this knowledge, our Senators voted against passing the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.  (60 votes were needed.)  Let me say that again.  Even knowing that babies feel pain, our elected Senators voted down the legislation that would protect these children.

Republicans needed Democratic support in addition to the votes of their own 51 Republican Senators to stop a filibuster (which requires 60 votes).  Two Republicans voted against the bill – Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski.  That left only 49 Republican votes for the measure to pass so they now needed 11 Democrats to vote with them.  They only got 3 – Senators Bob Casey, Joe Manchin and Joe Donnelly so the bill was defeated by our US Senate by a vote of 51-46.  Heart breaking news as far as I am concerned.

Three facts to consider:

1*  The US is 1 of only 7 countries in the world that allow abortions past 20 weeks of gestation.  The other countries:  North Korea, China, Vietnam, Singapore, The Netherlands, Canada

2*  The nervous system of the child begins functioning in the 4^th month of pregnancy

3*  Since the baby feels pain after 20 weeks, often the abortionist will give the baby anesthesia before the abortion (which suggests that abortionists know that the baby feels the procedure)

I understand that our US Senate will again take up debate on this bill later this year.   A recent poll by the Knights of Columbus discovered that 76% of Americans support limiting abortion in the United States to the first trimester. 

As Dr. Seuss says, “A person is a person no matter what.”   Writing an email to your legislator or making a call expressing your thoughts about the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would be a good thing, don’t you think?   

Thanks for reading,

Lori

#APersonIsAPerson   #Day6

GATE WIDE OPEN

By Lori Carmody

Every once in a while we need to intentionally chase after joy.  

My To-Do list today ~ 

LIVE LIKE SOMEONE LEFT THE GATE WIDE OPEN!

Happy Tuesday, folks.

Thanks for reading.

Lori

#Day4

FOLLOWING NUDGES

By Lori Carmody

Have you ever had a random thought, followed through, and realized it may have come from beyond you?  Me too!

Yesterday my hubby and I were on our way to an out of town outdoor market.  When we drove by a church we hadn’t been to in a long time on our way to the market, I had the desire to stop in the church for a visit.  We decided we would stop by on our way home if we were still in the mood.  

Several hours later we were on our way home and I again was drawn to make a visit.  As we entered the church and knelt in prayer, we were bathed with music as a touring Carmelite choir practiced for a performance they were giving that evening.  

I do not have words to express the peace we felt in those moments surrounded by the Sister’s prayer-filled music. 

Seldom do we know for certain that we are hearing the guidance of God when we have a nudge to do this or not to do that.  After Tom and my experience, we had to wonder if perhaps God had a hand in us being there.  Who knows?   

Amazing Grace draws us – ALL OF US – ALL THE TIME – to receive guidance.  When we respond “Yes” to little nudges of prayer, service, kindness, and love of others it seems to me that we will not be disappointed.   

What nudges are you feeling?  

Spirit, please lead us.

Thanks for reading.

Lori

#CarmeliteSisters #AmazingGrace #FollowingNudges #Day3

AUTHENTIC SUCCESS ~ PATCHES AND ALL

By Lori Carmody

This is one of my favorite coffee cups.  I was drinking out of it when I decided to accept the challenge of writing a month of daily blogs.  Coincidence?  What do you think? 

“Enjoy the simple victory of being exactly where you are”

What a powerful truth starring back at me as I wake up in the morning. 

Now I pass it onto you. 

Will we will victorious in daily embracing who we are ~ talents, foibles and alll?  Are we able to fully accept that where we are in our relationships, job, finances, faith, neighborhood, community, and country is exactly where we are supposed to be today?  Is there enough courage in our minds and hearts to believe that?

“Succcess is sometimes just having one more patch than you have holes in your innnertube”

As we embody who and where we are, fully ourselves and whole heartedly immersed in our lives,
(not as we wish we were or hope our lives will be in the future but as we and they are today), authentic success will be ours.   That is indeed a beautiful simple victory to claim and celebrate.  

      

Thanks for reading.

Lori

#SimpleVictory  #OneMorePatch  #AuthenticSuccess  #DayTwo

DIVE IN

By Lori Carmody

I received a challenge (challenge: a call to take part; an invitation to engage) to write a blog each day for a month.  Since I love taking photos, I knew with this invitation I would also want to include some of my photography.

I was hesitant at first to accept the challenge.  My usual objections quickly rose up within me (I call them my “companions” since I am accustomed to hearing them whenever I am asked to do something new)  …..

~ What do you have to offer?

~ What if you fail? 

~ Or possible even worse, what if you follow through and enjoy yourself.  What then?

I simply pondered the invitation allowing it to percolate within my being and giving space for Grace and my best knowing to inform my decision.  Thoughts, fears, prayers, desires, and what ifs all had a voice at the table of discernment.  Slowly I noticed a quiet sense of joy.   Hmmm.   Discernment, thank you.

So today I begin with this message of a challenge, my questioning, the discernment journey, and a simple beginning.  Here goes!

Oh!  One more thing.  May I ask you to challenge yourself to consider doing something in your own life over the next 30 days so that we will be on this journey together?   If so, consider yourself challenged to dive right in!  The space between where we are today and where we will be in 30 days is sacred ground.   Here WE go!

                                              “DON’T DESPISE SMALL BEGINNINGS”

                                                                                                  ~ Anonymous

#DiveIn  #30DaysChallenge

Thank you for reading. 

Lori

SIMPLE ADVENT THOUGHTS IN A COMPLEX WORLD

By Lori Carmody

Although I pray every day, more times than not, it is what I listen to and read that opens my eyes and softens my heart to understand where God is showing up in my life.  Is that true with you as well? Who knows?  Perhaps it’s the praying that allows us to be more open to God’s messages.

I want to share with you two reflections from the Center of Action and Contemplation.  Franciscan priest, Father Richard Rohr has been one of my “go-to’s” for years. In this short video, he invites us to see Jesus this Advent season less as a baby we are waiting to receive and more as Universal Christ who, along with Spirit. is revealed through our humanity.  It’s good to be human! The video from James Finley wonderfully leads us to remember how we need to move out of our complex world into simplicity.  His memory of when he was 3 years old is gift.  Enjoy!

 https://cac.org/faculty-advent-messages/

For those of you who live in the greater Seattle/Bellevue/Issaquah area, I want to let you know of an upcoming (free) concert.  ST Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue will be having the Maureen Still Band perform their O Come O Come Emmanuel concert on Friday, Dec. 15^th at 7PM.  Their music is wonderful and will be a great family event. 

Finally, another opportunity to grow in our faith is coming this spring.  Matthew Kelly, internationally acclaimed speaker, bestselling author, and best known for helping people become “the best version of themselves” is coming to town.  Matthew’s topic “Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose” will be in two locations:  April 13^th at St. Louise in Bellevue and April 14^th at Holy Rosary in Edmonds.  Tickets will go quickly.
https://dynamiccatholic.com/passion-and-purpose-bellevue-wa-apr-13-2018

Mercies and blessings to you as our Advent continues.

Thanks for reading.

Lori 

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

By Lori Carmody

Most of us know the popular song “Do You Hear What I Hear?”  Just recently I discovered the history behind the writing of this 1962 hit song. 

Noel Regney had been commissioned to write a Christmas song in the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Folks were preoccupied with the threat of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. It was a tense time.

One day Noel happened upon two mothers walking their babies in strollers.  The two babies were smiling at one another.  Noel yearned for the peace he felt as he pondered the baby’s joy.  This was his inspiration to write the song we love.

Once again today, almost 60 years later, we are a nation preoccupied with the threat of nuclear war, this time with North Korea.  Might this song awaken in us our deep yearning for peace and remind us of the path to reach it?

..…Listen to what I say

Pray for peace, people everywhere.....

Advent begins this week.  Perhaps a daily prayer intention for peace between the United States and North Korea or, closer to home, in our own neighborhoods and/or families might be worth considering. 

…..the child, the child, sleeping in the night

He will bring us goodness and light

He will bring us goodness and light.

Thanks for reading.

Happy Advent, my friends.

Lori

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Meu_uczBEqM