30 Days In The Desert

  Looking For The Beauty Around Me Day 8: June 8, 2021     O ver the last several weeks it has been so easy for me to see the bad and ugly in things. To see how sometimes people really are wolves in sheep's clothes. But over the last several days I have been working hard to see the beauty in the things God has created.      We have been given freewill. And that is not just when it comes to making bad choices. It very much applies in how we move through everyday.      A friend sent me a message last night asking if I had seen the double rainbow. I had not, so I ran outside. I missed the rainbows, but I did notice the sunset happening down the street. I hopped in the car and headed for the river front park.      His paint brush was so mighty last night. I was so thankful that I took the few minutes to witness it. I could have gone back in the house and watched tv or cruised Facebook. But instead I got to see and capture one of th...

  Little Signs Day 7: June 7, 2021     I do not have a ton to say today. Yesterday I kept to myself and did some roaming around and enjoyed the sun and being alone.      I have over the last couple of days been seeing a lot of things that remind me to be still and that He will take care of me. I just need to let him and trust his timing. Posts on Facebook people have made, words people have spoken to me, and just an over all feeling that this too shall pass and I will find my place.  Blessings Always,  Shaunnessy

  Creative? Day 5, June 5, 2021     If you are reading this, I will assume you know me. Maybe you don't... but eh... A lot of my connection with the Lord is through creativity. Music, decorating the church, but most especially photography. I feel very connected to Jesus when I have my camera in hand and I am capturing beautiful moments in the church, or even in quite moments when I notice something beautiful or unexpected.      Having taken a step back to figure things out, I have lost a large creative outlet for myself. I can only take so many pictures of flowers in my yard or any given garden center I may be near. So, I have been adrift with my spiritual home and my creativity.      Yesterday I was afforded the opportunity to take pictures at a coworker's son's high school baseball game. If they didn't win last night, it would be his last high school game. I was happy to take the pictures, but I was worried because I have never taken sports...

  Why is 'Being Still' So Hard? Day 3, June 3, 2021     Today I am feeling very 'what if-ish?'  What if I had done this?          What if I do this?                 What if I can change this?                      What if I can't change this?     As part of who I am I play the same scenarios over and over in my head. I have done it my entire life. At times it can be nearly crippling, but it is what it is and has always been.           I think 'being still' is going to be the hardest part of this whole process for me. I am sure I can learn to have forgiveness for what has happened. But the 'what ifs' are going to be a struggle. In my heart I want to be able to hand things over to Jesus. I want to be at peace with how things have played out and move forward with a peaceful heart. But dang...

 Adoration Day 2, June 2, 2021     I have kept the same adoration hour for nearly four years now. 11pm on Wednesdays you will find me sharing an hour with Jesus in our parish's adoration chapel. It is one of my favorite places on the planet. I feel very connected to the Lord when I am in that space.      Incase you do not know what an adoration chapel is, please let me explain. Some parishes have small chapels that are called Perpetual Adoration Chapels. In these small chapels the body of Christ, in the form of a consecrated host, is exposed. The host is placed in a monstrance, which has a glass window to show the body of Christ. Members of the parish are encourage to spend at least an hour a week in the presence of Jesus. Each hour is attended, so Jesus is never alone. Different people spend their hours in different ways. And for me it has depended on the season in my life.  I have done Bible study, journaled, read books about Saints and other Christ...

Rejoice & Bloom Day 1: June 1, 2021     Today is day one... Rejoice and bloom. Isn't that the plan? To rejoice in the Lord and bloom? But that happens when you are struggling to bloom?      That is where I am right now. Telling my heart that my relationship with the parish has little to do with my relationship with Jesus Christ isn't always easy. So much of my relationship with the Lord has been founded in this parish.      March of 2018 I accompanied Owen to his first reconciliation. I had insisted on sending Owen to CCD and that he make his sacraments. Joseph didn't have a problem with that, but was confused since I had not really attended mass since we got married (that is another story for another time). I just felt like I was "supposed" to send him there and follow through with the sacraments.      That evening Sister Clementia, the Director of Religious Education, came up and made small talk with me. Or so I thought it was...