Sunday, April 18, 2010
Take Me Out To The Deep Freeze
Emory's opening day of baseball started off with a bang! Snow and winter temps ruled the day. The whole day was nothing but a mix of snow, rain, wind, and cold, cold, cold! Hats off to those guys who braved the elements for America's game! I'll try to post some pics, still new at this computer stuff. We're very proud of you Emory!
My Catholic Journal
I don't know why but I feel compelled to write before attending church today. Perhaps it means that I will be unwilling to learn anything today. I can be a little hard headed. Regardless, It has been a challenging week to say the least. Our dryer broke and we haven't been able to get a new one yet. Also it was a slow couple of weeks for hours in the per diem would at SRHS. To top it all off I have been very stressed. My blessing have been to numerous to count lately especially when it comes to work....but it has not been without some stress. I have been fixating all week on being new at all my positions. I have been longing for that day when I can go to work and not be the "new guy" and feel confident that I can handle whatever comes my way. Instead, every decision or task is a hard one that I have to put much thought into.
How has God answered me....he gave me access to yet another new position. My new position will be to train in x-ray. This should greatly help the "hours" situation. It will however be a challenge to not feel stress as I have been away from x-ray for quite some time now. Wow! Be careful of what you ask for....Amen! Regardless I am trying to look at this with humility and openness which has seemed to work thus far. One thing is for sure...things like prayer, church, the rosary have all been great gifts to kind of center myself to face my challenges. I guess that's probably why I am writing before church this week. I am looking forward to receiving these blessing.
Oh ya....mom called last night, they may be getting a new dryer and wanted to know if we wanted their old one.
How has God answered me....he gave me access to yet another new position. My new position will be to train in x-ray. This should greatly help the "hours" situation. It will however be a challenge to not feel stress as I have been away from x-ray for quite some time now. Wow! Be careful of what you ask for....Amen! Regardless I am trying to look at this with humility and openness which has seemed to work thus far. One thing is for sure...things like prayer, church, the rosary have all been great gifts to kind of center myself to face my challenges. I guess that's probably why I am writing before church this week. I am looking forward to receiving these blessing.
Oh ya....mom called last night, they may be getting a new dryer and wanted to know if we wanted their old one.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
My Catholic Journal
As most of you know...I am now catholic. It was very personal and deeply peaceful being able to take communion in this first mass after Easter Vigil. I have been thinking a lot of where I go from here in my faith? When I started this process, I did so with neither courage or certainty. And so that is how I approach my faith now. With the sincerity and naivety of a child and I open myself to prayer and whatever grace comes my way. As a result I will continue to write a journal of my journey. No longer my RCIA journal....I will proudly head this my Catholic Journal. I now consider myself not a "cradle catholic" but more of a clumsy catholic, occasionally stumbling through my prayers and vigilant from one week to the next on what holiday or devotion is on the horizon. My rosary prayers are going quite well and I feel see unlimited potential for using these devotions in my daily life. I do indeed hope that my children will someday read this. To them I say...one of the things I have learned in my 40 years thus far is that there are three things in precious short commodity in our world. First is peace....take it wherever and whenever you can. The second is love, take it and give it whenever and wherever you can! The rosary and indeed my new found religion give me both of these and I hope it will give serve as endless supply of both of these two the both of you as well. When I got to meet Bishop Trautman, he blessed me with an offer for my journey to bring me peace. Seems to be a theme developing here huh!
Oh ya....the third thing! Respect! Hold on a minute... I have to climb up on my soapbox for this one. For this one I need to rewind just a minute to the "non-catholic" Jason. When I attended mass with my wife I always got a little nervous when in the presence of a priest. I respect not just the devotion to Christ which a priest represents but also devotion to their fellow man. For one second think of the countless hours, ministering to pretty much anyone who needs it. How do any of us feel after a long day at work. Now picture being "on call" 24/7. I have been hearing a lot in the media of what the Holy Father knew or didn't know...what he did, or didn't do. REMEMBER I AM SPEAKING AS A NON-CATHOLIC FOR JUST A SECOND. Maybe some of my Amish background is leaking through, but as a christian should the Pope be held to a lesser standard than we regard anyone else. If you met a doctor, lawyer, mayor, teacher or indeed anyone on the street you deemed a professional....you would give them respect. Do you ask yourself...what sins have they committed, have they cheated on their wife, embezzled funds, or abused their power. Eventhough you don't know, you would give them the benefit of the doubt. You certainly would not accuse them blindly in the public arena in an attempt to discredit or maliciously hurt them. Why then is the Pope worthy of less....EVEN TO NON CATHOLICS! The next time I pray...I will pray for the Holy Father that he may receive courage and peace because I have faith that HE DOES THE SAME FOR ME! AMEN.(I believe)
Oh ya....the third thing! Respect! Hold on a minute... I have to climb up on my soapbox for this one. For this one I need to rewind just a minute to the "non-catholic" Jason. When I attended mass with my wife I always got a little nervous when in the presence of a priest. I respect not just the devotion to Christ which a priest represents but also devotion to their fellow man. For one second think of the countless hours, ministering to pretty much anyone who needs it. How do any of us feel after a long day at work. Now picture being "on call" 24/7. I have been hearing a lot in the media of what the Holy Father knew or didn't know...what he did, or didn't do. REMEMBER I AM SPEAKING AS A NON-CATHOLIC FOR JUST A SECOND. Maybe some of my Amish background is leaking through, but as a christian should the Pope be held to a lesser standard than we regard anyone else. If you met a doctor, lawyer, mayor, teacher or indeed anyone on the street you deemed a professional....you would give them respect. Do you ask yourself...what sins have they committed, have they cheated on their wife, embezzled funds, or abused their power. Eventhough you don't know, you would give them the benefit of the doubt. You certainly would not accuse them blindly in the public arena in an attempt to discredit or maliciously hurt them. Why then is the Pope worthy of less....EVEN TO NON CATHOLICS! The next time I pray...I will pray for the Holy Father that he may receive courage and peace because I have faith that HE DOES THE SAME FOR ME! AMEN.(I believe)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
My RCIA Diary
One day before baptism. Things have been hectic around the house trying to get ready for Easter dinner plus baptism at Easter Vigil. We did make it a point to attend Good Friday service today. It was interesting to be a part of. It was also nice to be able to answer my son when he asked why the church was so bare and all the statues were covered. We have been talking a lot about the passion and why it is referred to as such. As I previously discussed, this process has been a blessing in so many ways not the least of which has been the discussion as a family that it has inspired. As I sit here and contemplate exactly what this means to me, the end answer is...I don't really know. As I said previously, I have found so much room for growth in this process that I really can't ever see it ending. Just when I thought I was getting a handle on saying the rosary I am hit with a new set of prayers to say with their own intention. These things are so deep and so spiritual that they literally do seem to have a life of their own. I used the example last week in class that the passion is so mysterious that I am almost 40 and every year I look at it in a different way or discover something new. I think that God has always had a purpose for my life and I now see that in some ways it is probably better that I went through this process at this stage in my life.
As this may be my last post for my RCIA diary, I do feel the need to thank some people. Jack, Frank, Joe, Lydia, Kelly and all my classmates.....this class was always a blessing and I always walked away learning something. As I have said before...my experience with the Catholic religion has always been that I have felt welcome and never looked down upon. You not only teach well but you all have provided an excellent example of what it means to be Catholic and promote your faith to be inclusive not exclusive. To all of you THANK YOU!
To my mother-in-law...pretty much the same thank you. There have been many times since I have known you that you could have been very judgemental toward me. You have always welcomed me into your family and treated me with dignity and respect. You never once questioned my beliefs even though you are so devout in yours. I truly respect this and that is why I asked you to be my sponsor.
To my wife, Lora, I know that this has often been a difficult process for you to. I have seen you grow in faith right beside me, and that has proved to be a wonderful example also. You came to classes when your mom couldn't. You participated right beside me which again was an unanticipated blessing. THANK YOU!
To Father Dan.... Please let me say that when you are not Catholic, interacting with a priest can be a little intimidating. I suspect this can also be said for a lot of "Cradle Catholics" as well.....Father Dan has been beside us all along this process. Working in a hospital I do get to see just a small part of what you must go through on a daily basis. You have made time for us and made us feel truly appreciated. Some people exude confidence, strength, determination, etc. When I see you...I see sincerity which has been the ribbon on this present. Saint Michael's Parish is lucky to have you...a deep and heartfelt Thank You. I am honored to be in your first class.
Thank You!
Jason Jay Thomas Shrock
As this may be my last post for my RCIA diary, I do feel the need to thank some people. Jack, Frank, Joe, Lydia, Kelly and all my classmates.....this class was always a blessing and I always walked away learning something. As I have said before...my experience with the Catholic religion has always been that I have felt welcome and never looked down upon. You not only teach well but you all have provided an excellent example of what it means to be Catholic and promote your faith to be inclusive not exclusive. To all of you THANK YOU!
To my mother-in-law...pretty much the same thank you. There have been many times since I have known you that you could have been very judgemental toward me. You have always welcomed me into your family and treated me with dignity and respect. You never once questioned my beliefs even though you are so devout in yours. I truly respect this and that is why I asked you to be my sponsor.
To my wife, Lora, I know that this has often been a difficult process for you to. I have seen you grow in faith right beside me, and that has proved to be a wonderful example also. You came to classes when your mom couldn't. You participated right beside me which again was an unanticipated blessing. THANK YOU!
To Father Dan.... Please let me say that when you are not Catholic, interacting with a priest can be a little intimidating. I suspect this can also be said for a lot of "Cradle Catholics" as well.....Father Dan has been beside us all along this process. Working in a hospital I do get to see just a small part of what you must go through on a daily basis. You have made time for us and made us feel truly appreciated. Some people exude confidence, strength, determination, etc. When I see you...I see sincerity which has been the ribbon on this present. Saint Michael's Parish is lucky to have you...a deep and heartfelt Thank You. I am honored to be in your first class.
Thank You!
Jason Jay Thomas Shrock
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