A Beer in my Handbag

      I have recently started reading a book called There's a Beer in My Handbag- Unusual Thoughts about Everyday Faith.  It was written by a lei person that teaches at Spring Hill here in Mobile.  Just one of the many random books in the house, but this one happened to be on my mantle.  The book is titled after a short story from one of his students.  This student shared with the class how his mother and him gave some change to a woman who was asking for money.  The boy then saw the woman sitting outside of Winn Dixie and decided to run over and giver her bananas.  When he approached the woman, he noticed beer in her purse but he did not say anything he gave her the fruit and said have a nice day.   At the end of that particular passage David O'Brien says something that stuck out to me.

"I mentioned to the class that no matter what we did in ministry, whether at a parish, a hospital or with the homeless, we should try to remember we are no better than the people with whom we minister.  We all have beers in our handbag and we always will.  Still somehow, with incomprehensible generosity and graciousness, God continues to bless us, even though we do not deserve it.  All we are doing is passing along His love.  Nothing more. "

I like to think I have not thought I was better than the people I serve.  But I bet at one time or another we all compare ourselves to other people and look at our differences.  But I am challenging you to look at your similarities.  We do not always deserve God's love but he gives it to us anyway-unconditionally.  See the similarities with someone and try to pass God's love to your neighbor, your family, a significant person, a friend or a stranger, it is really all we are called to do.

First Day of work

    Today was my first day of work. But I think it may have also been a pretty good introduction to my life for the next year.  When someone says 815, they really mean 835.  When someone says do something right now, they really mean do it within the day.  When you get time for lunch, they mean an hour. And everyone actually takes an hour.  This year of my life is going to be a lot more relaxed than anything I have ever done.  No one is in a rush, no one is ever really in a hurry.  We're on southern time and I need to get used to it.  Along with being on southern time I also need to learn to talk slower.  I am a jersey girl through and through, but it truly shows in how fast I talk.  Also, everyone is so shockingly nice coming from the north.  It truly is a nice change and it makes doing anything that much more pleasant.  I am so grateful for this opportunity and to be able to live this year of my life down in Mobile.  The only thing that I may not be willing to get so used to is the humidity.  Just sitting on my bed, I was sweating.

SO my words to you, talk slower, walk slower, just exist in the moment.  It will all get done.  If you do it slower, you may just find the little graces of God throughout your day.