I thought it was going to be just an ordinary, everyday haircut, but it ended up being a faith-filled encounter with God. Here are the 5 ways I found God at the hair salon.
Jesus | Deacon Allen Tatara Catholic Speaker - Part 4
On the Inside; On the Outside
There’s a story about a priest and his friend, a soap maker, who were out taking a walk. The soap maker said, “What good is religion? What good is Jesus? Look at all the trouble and misery in the world. People fight. People steal, People kill. People hate. After thousands of years of talking about goodness, truth, and peace – after all the prayers, homilies and teachings, things haven’t gotten any better.”
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As you got up this morning, I watched you and hoped you would talk to me even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday – but I noticed you were too busy to find the right outfit to put on and wear. I waited again.
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‘Twas the rush before Christmas, when all through the house,
I was stirring like crazy trying to wrap my wife’s blouse.
The stockings were crooked, the house was disjointed,
If Santa were to come, he’d be very disappointed.
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Surprise! We Are All Pregnant!
Posted by Deacon Allen | Discipleship, Emotions/Feelings, Everyday Life | No CommentsI believe that there are two types of people in this world: those who like surprises and those who don’t. I, for one, do not like surprises. And I think the reason why is that the surprise usually doesn’t end well for me. Let me give you a perfect example.
An Original is Worth More than a Copy
Posted by Deacon Allen | Discipleship, Everyday Life | No Comments“Imitating Christ does not mean living a life like Christ, but rather living your own life as authentically as Christ lived his.” ~Henri J.M. Nouwen
We’ve all seen it or heard it before. It could have been in a scripture passage, a spiritual book, a church hymn, or even in a preached homily at Mass. The message was this: each and every one of us should strive to imitate Jesus.
As the weather begins to change from the warmth of Summer to the crispness of Autumn, I began reminiscing about summers long past, back when our children were younger. Those were enjoyable times that were filled with carefree days and never-ending summer fun (at least for the kids). Read More
When you were growing up as a child, what was your go-to object when you needed comfort, safety, or security? Was it a snuggly blanket, a pillow, a doll, or a stuffed animal? For me, it was my stuffed Winnie the Pooh. He may be small in stature, but to me, he was a giant. His protective presence was always felt, and he never failed to make me feel safe. When powerful storms bombarded the night-time sky, he was always there for me to grab on tightly and hold close. I always felt comforted when Pooh was there.
There’s something very special that happens when we are being held, especially by a loved one – like a spouse, parent, or friend. There is this intense connection that permeates any negative emotions that we are experiencing – and almost instantaneously, these vanish from existence. There is an unspoken power in that embracing hug that tells us that everything is going to be alright. In that very moment, we feel loved, appreciated, and worthy, and we feel as if we can overcome anything that comes our way.
This is what we experience when our Lord holds onto us. When we are filled with fear because we cannot see the road ahead of us or where we are going, Jesus tells us that everything is going to be just fine and points us in the right direction. When we have doubts about our abilities or talents, Jesus tells us that we already have everything that we need for our mission. When we feel like we’re carrying all of the world’s burdens on our shoulders, Jesus is there to take the load from us. When we hit rock bottom and when life seems to keep handing us insurmountable hills to climb, Jesus is there to give us a hand and help us up.
Anytime we experience pain, struggles or setbacks in our lives, we need to remember that Jesus is right there with us, giving us the biggest bear-hug ever. Our loving Father is always there to wrap his arms around us, brush off any remnants of our worries, fears, concerns, or anxieties, and simply hold onto us – and he will never, ever let go!
May God’s loving embrace strengthen us during our times of weakness, and may his powerful words always be with us when he says: “Fear not, I am with you. I will strengthen you and help you.”
While on retreat at the Redemptorist Retreat Center in Wisconsin, I had the opportunity, or shall I say the necessity, to pray to our Blessed Mother for something that was going on in my life. It just so happened that on the center grounds, there was a shrine dedicated to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Realizing that I could use all the help that I could get, I ventured inside.
It was a beautiful afternoon as I hopped into my vehicle to run some errands. The sun was glistening in the sky and the birds were soaring amongst the giant, puffy clouds that decorated the Spring landscape. Drivers were hurriedly passing me by as if all were late for an important engagement. Sometimes I feel like the speed limit is only a guideline for most people. Regardless, it did not deter me from my tasks at hand.
As I was cruising down the road, a car passed and signaled to enter into my lane in front of me. Once in the lane, I noticed a bumper sticker on their rear fender that read: God Bless The Whole World: No Exceptions!
That really struck me in a number of ways. I immediately thought of all of the hate that exists in our world – and our nation. A thought often crosses our minds that some of our enemies should not exist. And I’m not just talking about those in other countries, but also the individuals that cross our paths in life. But to see this statement on that bumper sticker reinforces the fact that no matter the color of your skin, the language you speak, the faith you profess, or where you call your home, each of us is made in the image and likeness of God. We are Gods’ creation and his chosen people. Every single person in this entire world is worthy of God’s blessings and love.
The modern-day mantra of “it’s all about me and what I want and what I think or believe” is really getting old – and it has to change. It must change! Everyone needs to accept the fact that God loves and forgives all people – no exceptions. God has chosen each and every person on this earth for a specific reason and purpose. Each of us is called to do great things in Jesus’ name and to make a difference in this world. Each of us needs to spread the love of Christ to others. But we cannot do this if we are prejudiced and biased against one another. We have to find a way to genuinely love our enemies and forgive those who have wronged us. This was the message of Jesus, and this needs to be our message as well.
We need to make sure that we pray and ask God to continue to send his blessings down upon us AND everyone else – always!
May God bless the whole world: no exceptions! Amen.
