GOD'S LITTLE NOBODY

Sometimes-well, often, I wonder what makes people tick.  Is it their DNA, random chemical make-up and synapse, social and culture environment and/or experiences?  I just wonder.
Americans are so diverse that I think it would be really hard to pinpoint or nail down what and who we are as a nation of people. And being "human" we are a complex vessels of emotions, ambitions, foibles and experiences as well as expectations.  I am not even sure of what makes me "tick" other than one infallible belief.


Do you know what and who you are; where you have been or where you are going?  Most of us really do not because for one reason or another we do not take the time to think about it.  We just go with the ebb and flow of the tides, never learning to swim.  We hope we can float our boats and never need oars to propel us through dark waters, not need a sail for the wind or stars to steer by.


Most of the Apostles were like that-just like us-until Jesus walked along the shores of Galilee and spoke to the fishermen; "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men."  And they did.  Would you?


As I don't know what makes us tick I can only state that I firmly believe that there is a God, a one true God in the Heavens.  I think all of humanity knows this on some level or another; past, present and always.  We are the sum product of a greater existence other than our own.  Yes, it is a mystery.  I am not referring to aliens in spaceships, but to the Holy Trinity...The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  I just believe and place my trust and soul in God.


I am a rather simple person; not an intellectual or a theologian or of any great importance at all.  I am just me...a creature of God.  I call myself "Nobody.  God's little nobody.  That makes me "somebody."  I am "somebody" to my Lord.  And God is All.  It doesn't take a big brain or diplomas plastering  the walls to know that there is something...someone...grater than self.  I just accept it.  I know it.  It is intrinsic element of my soul and spirit.  I am part of God and He is part of me.


Some of God's people are given great graces and insights or great gifts of the Spirit.  I don't have any of those and I don't kid myself about ever having such blessing.  At the same time those gifts and graces would be a heavy burden to carry and I know that I am "weak."  So, I do not expect any of them or desire them.  I must be content to know that I am loved by my God and to love Him in return, to the best of my ability.  Peace to all who happen upon this poor blog.

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FINDING MY PASSION

O.K.  So I am applying for a new position or upgrade.  My resume' is ready to hand to the proper authority to scan, scrutinize or comment upon.


I walk up to the Golden Gates and ask for an interview with Saint Peter.  The Angle at the gate says that Saint Peter is really busy with more important stuff to do .  I tell Angel What's His Face that I am not leaving until St. Peter reads my resume'.  Finally the Old Beard Himself comes to the Pearly Gates and accepts my resume' through the bars of the gate and quickly reads over it.


"Not good enough," says he.  Go back and do a "redo" and come back when your ready for a new position.  "We are pretty well stocked up on saints right now and you fall short of our expectation."


"What do you mean that I fall short of your expectations?  I've led a good life...I don't drink, smoke or fool around and try to keep the Ten Commandment!  What more do you want?"


"Passion and good works," he replies.   "What have you done to show your passion for the Lord?  What about good works?  What have you done or sacrificed for your fellow man, His children?"


Of course, in my passion I'm getting hot under the collar and get mad and yell back at good old Saint Peter, "Well, look at Augustine and all the stuff he did!  I've never done any of the perverse stuff he did.  What about Saint Francis?  How dumb was he?  When God told him to rebuild his church he started piling up rocks 'n stuff.  And what about you, yourself, Peter, the Rock?  I have read that you had a hot temper, tried to cut the ear off a Roman soldier, denied Christ three times, couldn't walk on water without assistance and were known to be very hard headed.  And you got to be a saint," says I.


Saint Peter bows his head in thought and finally looks at me and replies to my little outburst.  "All of this is true.  Saint Augustine was a sinner for a good part of his life, but then the fire of God burned in him and he changed his ways.  While Saint Francis might have been a little "dumb,"  as you say, he became a humble man through adversity and prayer, leading many others to follow his path to the Lord.  As for me, Peter the Rock...it wasn't an easy journey.  Yes, I am guilty of all that you speak of, but I too, found my passion and fidelity to the Lord.  I traveled the known world the best that I could, preaching and teaching until I was finally martyred for my Lord.  Now then, what have you done?"


So...I am thinking about this.  I am a sheep within the flock.  I follow: I do not lead.  The world is full of sheep, some are falling off cliffs and some are preyed upon and consumed by the wolves.  Humility, for the most part, is not a fashion statement.  Passion is for the material world and goods.  Adversity comes as an inconvenience in the free world.  We...and I...are spoiled Christians.  Suffering and pain continue to ravage the God's people, like a starving lion waiting to pounce and devour us.  We tend to be oblivious.


Peter is waiting patiently on the other side of the Golden, Pearly Gates.  He looks me in the eyes and speaks to me.  "Go back and find your passion.  Then rewrite your resume' and bring it to me when you are ready for me to see if your qualified for the job, for it will not be any easy accomplishment.  Sainthood is not easily attained nor should it be."   With that Peter turns from the gate and moves away.  I think I've kept him way too long from more important works.  So, I also turn with my resume' in hand...to do a "redo" find my passion.

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One of my favorite Psalms is the 23rd Psalm.  It is a favorite of most Christians around the world.  In some Bibles it is numbered as the 22nd Psalm.  I also like the 83-84th Psalm.  The 23rd Psalm is about peace and trust in the Lord, while the 83-84th Psalm are about rejoicing, happiness and joy in the Lord.  Keep in mind that the Psalms are deeply embedded in the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayers of the Church, along with the sacred readings.  The church encourages us to pray the liturgy each day.  There are other main denominations...other than the Catholic Church, that also urge us to pray the liturgy, daily or as often as possible.

A lot of "strange" thoughts, ideas, or minor inspirations come to me as I drift off to sleep.  That is where the main part of today's blog came from.  It wasn't a vision or revelation or any of that sort of thing; just thoughts that came drifting into my mind between wakefulness and sleep.  I surprised myself for even remembering most of it.

Peace to all who read this poor blog.

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