Our Apartment is So Cute!

So, tonight, instead of going out, Roomie and I decided to continue to beautify our apartment. We planted some pansies into a upcycled postal service box, I made a yarn wreath (my first attempt!) for our front door, and Rooms hung a new picture above our TV. Here are some pictures to highlight the experience. The rest will be on facebook/tumblr.

 Punching holes in the bottom so that it can drain.

 Oh no! Out of potting soil!

 Emergency trip to Lowe's for more potting soil/rocks for the bottom of the planter.

 Yeah! Got some soil/rocks!

 Arg....these rocks are SO heavy!

 Rocks in ze bottom

 I set you free extra soil that spilled on the balcony!

 Puttin' in some pansies!

 Water 'em in.

 Super cute planter!!!

 Rooms putting nails into the wall.

 Look at the super cute picture I picked out!

 Ain't it pretty?

 New over the TV area!

My yarn wreath!!!!!!!!!!

Loving

by: P. Jacob

Blessed are the poor
...not the penniless,
but those whose hearts are free.

Blessed are those who mourn
...not those who whisper,
but those who raise their voices.

Blessed are the meek
...not the soft,
but those who are patient and tolerant.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice
...not those tho whine,
but those who struggle.

Blessed are the merciful
..not those who forget,
but those who forgive.

Blessed are the pure of heart
...not those who act like angels,
but those who life is transparent.

Blessed are the peacemakers
...not those who shun conflict,
but those who face it squarely.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for justice
...not because they suffer,
but because they love.

Reflection on St. Peter

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Students/2010-2011%20Reflections/s041911.html

This is a reflection that I wrote today about the daily readings. It is about St. Peter and Jesus' love for him and for us. Enjoy.

Be Not Afraid

From October 17, 2010

Today we sang "Be Not Afraid" in Mass. I think that this might just be my favorite hymn. It is very apropos to sing a hymn about wandering in the desert and relying on God when we are facing the fact that people wander through the desert into this country and we will be wandering in the desert of Tuesday. I feel that I will not get through this week, especially Tuesday, without Him. The one part that is resonating with me right now is "And if wicked tongues insult and hate you all because of me, blessed, blessed are you." Being hated does not seem like a blessing. But the Bible, especially the Gospels, are full of seeming contradictions. I think right now I am wrestling with these seeming contradictions and I am trying to understand them. Why would God call us onto a path that will not be east. Why is salvation hard and what is right always the wrong thing in the eyes of society? Why do we treat others like dirt and sub-humans in the name of freedom and justice?

Quick Thought

I wrote a couple of weeks age about my struggle with the passage from Job made famous by the praise and worship song "Blessed Be the Name." Then on October 24, 2010, the Psalm response for Mass was

The Lord hears the cry of the poor, blessed be the Lord.

I have been struggling with this. With what I have just experienced (in my immersion trip, by visiting with my Hospice companion every week, etc.) it is easy to think that the Lord does not hear the cry of the poor.  But, maybe the Lord does hear the cry of the poor. Maye He calls people like me to answer and alleviate the cry whenever, wherever, and however we are needed. I think it is important for me and for humanity to stand up for this call: to hear the cry of the poor.

Blessed Be the Name

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

I keep hearing this song everywhere, at Praise and Worship, on the radio, popping at random times in my head. This

song comes from the Book of Job.  Job tells the story of a man who lived in the land of Uz (Job). He was blessed by the Lord and had many things: children, camels, oxen etc. He was God-fearing and avoided evil. He was a good guy. One day, Satan came before the Lord. God said, "Have you seen Job? He is pretty awesome and no one is like him!" Satan says, "He is surrounded by blessings. If he was suffering, he would not be blessing your name." Then God allows Satan to control all of the things Job has been blessed with. In the end, everything is taken away from Job. After these things have happened, Job says "Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I go back again. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. blessed be the name of the Lord!" (Job 1:21). This class I am taking on suffering is really testing what I have believed my whole life, and I am struggling to come to terms with suffering and Divine providence. We haven't talked about natural suffering (earthquakes, tornadoes, etc.), but we have talked about suffering by human free choice. I am accept that humanity has fallen and we the choices we make can hurt others. But were we created like this? The professor of my class takes up the stance that suffering was even necessary to be elevated into the Beatific Vision. Through a really complicated process, we saw how he has come to this conclusion. But where I am struggling is, is suffering necessary? If humanity had never sinned, and we remained in our state of original grace, would we be elevated to the Beatific Vision? If we do have to suffer, how could our loving God create a world like this? I can bless the name of the Lord when life is going well, and I can even bless the name of the Lord when there is suffering because of our world, but can I bless his name when suffering is necessary for my salvation? I think a lot of my confusion is over this class, and my dealing with a very difficult topic to wrestle with. But, how can God willingly allow Satan to harm a child of his, a child who trusts him so completely?