Race to the Finish

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A knot formed in my gut when I clicked on the button to register for the half marathon in 2011. I hadn’t run consistently for many years, and then one of our daughters somehow convinced me I could finish 13.1 miles! After I registered, she gave me a daily training plan to follow, to keep me motivated and prevent injury over the four months leading up to the race. 

Following the training plan helped me keep my eye on the goal and reassured me I’d be ready on race day. I loved running and enjoyed this training, though there were challenges. I missed the camaraderie of running with a group, as I had in college. When it was raining, or when I felt tired, I was tempted to cheat by skipping ‘just this one day’ or by cutting the run short. Then I realized that ‘just this once’ could make it easier to cheat in the future, so I stuck with the plan. I reminded myself that, even though I was alone, what I chose to do each day mattered. And Elizabeth was right: I could run 13.1 miles! I completed the race, was excited with my time, and felt part of a large community of runners who could joyfully shout with me, “I did it!”

Christians have a goal, too. Our goal is to ‘run the race’ toward the Place of Perfect Peace. Our daily finish line is life with Christ. We get there by serving Christ in the people around us. Yes, we encounter challenges. Sometimes it feels like we’re running alone, or our mood matches the dreary rain outside, and we’re tempted to not put in the effort. Some days the road feels extra long and the hills feel steeper than usual. Sometimes we question whether what we’re doing matters. 

Keeping Christ as our goal gives purpose to our living. The Scriptures and our prayer life make up our ‘training plan,’ so how much time we spend with our Lord matters. Being part of a community matters, even if it’s a small group, for we encourage each other to ‘keep running’ when challenges arise, and we celebrate together the joys of following the path to Christ. What else matters? It matters whether or not we resist the temptation to cheat ‘just this once.’ It matters how we treat others – those closest to us as well as those who look, believe, and vote differently from how we do. It matters how often we receive the sacraments. 

Every day we reflect and ask ourselves, ‘Am I running toward Christ or away from Him? Have my choices brought His peace to myself and others today?’ Christ knows the potential in each of us to bring His peace to our world. He is our goal. May we always run toward Him.

“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” – 2 Timothy 4:7

“Lord, keep me strong in my race towards You.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

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Pray for peace at home, in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

 

Forgiveness Is Not a Feeling

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Corrie ten Boom did the unimaginable after surviving a Nazi concentration camp. In her uplifting and powerful autobiography The Hiding Place, Corrie tells of the moment, years after her release, when she came face to face with the Nazi guard who had brutalized her and countless others. She had just finished speaking on the need for forgiveness -- one of many talks she gave across the world -- when the former guard approached her, asked if she would forgive him, and offered her his outstretched hand. Standing there facing him, she did not feel forgiving, yet she knew she had to live what she had just preached. The only thing she felt she could do was lift her hand. So, slowly and mechanically, she brought her hand up toward his. When he grasped it, she felt what she described as a kind of electric current run down her arm and through their clasped hands. She then experienced an unlikely sense of deep, freeing peace flowing through her and toward this man. 

Notice that it was only after Corrie’s hand grasped his did the feeling come to her. That’s because forgiveness is an act of the will, not a feeling. Forgiving is deciding to not hold onto the wrongdoing any longer. (Reconciliation requires both parties. Forgiveness involves only one.)

Who do you need to forgive? A parent? Your spouse? A teacher? A friend? Yourself? We might not feel forgiving, but we can decide to forgive them. We might not feel anything dramatic like Corrie did afterwards but, still, we can set ourselves free from the transgression. We can let it go. We can say out loud, “Lord, I forgive _____ for _____. “ 

Christ lives in us; we possess His power to forgive. Imagine yourself preparing to confront someone who has hurt you. Listen to Christ speak to you these encouraging words:

Speak to him with love. My love. It will come from Me, not you. You have too much pain in your heart right now. Let me fill you with My love. It’s My love you will offer to him. You may not feel you can do that, and that’s why it won’t be your love, but Mine, that you offer. How do you do that? Keep Me by your side and forefront in your mind in everything you say and do. Let My love soak into all your words.

We forgive others in order to free ourselves from the desire to retaliate. This doesn’t mean we put ourselves in dangerous or vulnerable situations; we have to protect ourselves. Also, forgiving may not lead to reconciliation. Yet when we’ve forgiven from the heart, the person who hurt us no longer controls our emotions. 

“ (Pray), ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.’... If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

--Matthew 6:12, 14-15

“Lord, help me to forgive.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

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P.S.

Pray for peace at home, in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Be a Thermostat

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Are you a peace keeper or a peacemaker? A peace keeper avoids conflict at all cost and is passive in their interactions with others. A peacemaker, on the other hand, takes active steps to create peace where there is none. In his book Access and Release God’s Peace, Paul Martini says the difference between the two is like the difference between a thermometer and a thermostat:

“We can be either a thermostat or a thermometer. Thermometers tell the temperature and climate of a room, but thermostats actually change the temperature and set the climate of a room. Think of the fruit of peace working in you and through you as something that strengthens your thermostat capabilities – your ability to change an environment. As thermostats, we can confront real-life circumstances and choose to express peace until the environment matches what is inside of us... It is impossible to be a peacemaker, at least the way Jesus intended it, without the Prince of Peace taking up residence in our souls. We must stay connected to Jesus and choose to be bold and fearless in peace if we are to grow in peace and strengthen our thermostat capabilities.” (Pages 53-54)

How do we do this?

First, believe that Christ is alive and wants to help you. Pray repeatedly the simple prayer of St. Faustina: “Jesus, I trust in You.”

Next, look for ways to be proactive in creating peace. In times of trouble, maybe you need to leave the room for a moment. Ask Christ to calm your nerves and help you find a way to express your feelings without attacking the other. Ask Him to help you listen with an understanding heart. Ask Him to help you be compassionate instead of judgmental. Ask Him to help you offer His love to the other. Also, God designed each of us to feel better with specific activities like digging in the garden, writing in a journal, or going for a walk or bike ride. Doing this helps you blow off steam and organize your thoughts. Then, ask Christ to show you a peaceful solution. 

Also, a dear friend once told me: “Take ten minutes to just sit and praise Jesus. Just ten minutes of praise. Then ask Him, ‘How do You want me to handle this?’ Write down everything that comes to mind. Don’t try to force it or edit it. Just write down what comes to mind. That’s how Jesus speaks to you.” When you’re faced with a dilemma or difficulty, follow my friend’s advice. Praise Him, and then write down what He says to you. He wants to help you.

Instead of passively waiting for peace to happen, let’s strive to create peace where there is none. Let’s be bold thermostats. Let’s be proactive in bringing Christ’s peace to ourselves and to our world.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9

“Enlighten me, Lord, so that I may know how to bring Your peace to every situation.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace at home, in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Taking Lessons From Antihistamines

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There’s a commercial on TV where allergens like pollen are depicted as a giant green monster invading the town. People flee in terror except for one man who’s oblivious to the chaos around him. He’s unfazed by this ‘monster’ because he’s taken the antihistamine they’re advertising. He knows from past experience that an attack is likely to happen, so he took the antihistamine as prevention.

We can take a lesson from that commercial. We know that we’ll suffer chaos of some kind many times in our lives. Most of these attacks come from outside us, though sometimes they’re a direct result of the choices we’ve made. Regardless of the details, our troubles and pain are real. 

Prayer is our spiritual ‘antihistamine.’ While going through difficulties we probably won't remain unfazed, as the man in the commercial did, but here are a few ways we can build up our ‘defenses’ and handle life’s hardships with Christ:

“Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17). 

Reflect often on His unconditional love for you and His promise to be with you always.

Attend weekday Mass; follow the daily Scripture readings on the Laudate app, which also gives brief reflections on those readings; or google ‘Mass readings for today’ and reflect on them.

Pray the rosary while you sit, while you walk, while you drive, and when you have trouble sleeping. This prayer connects Christ’s life with yours and oftentimes brings tranquility.

When you build up your ‘defenses’ with prayer, you equip yourself with His strength, joy, grace, peace, and unconditional love. Then, when difficulties arise and you feel the chaos closing in all around you, remind yourself that you have Christ’s power within you to strengthen you. Wrap yourself in His peace. This isn’t pollyanna peace where you deny your suffering, put on a happy face, and pretend everything’s OK. Rather, in the midst of your pain, cry out to Him and cling to Him in prayer. Pour out your heart to Him and He will help you. Offer your suffering to Him; ask Him to take it from you and use it for some benefit. Trust that He loves you. Trust that He can help you. Look around with Him for solutions and ways toward a resolution. Also, sometimes Christ shows Himself in the people you love, who you can trust and turn to for holy guidance. Lean on them and feel Christ’s presence in their love and support. When you do this, you’ll have greater peace than if you tried to manage the struggle on your own.

Clinging to Him in prayer and reminding ourselves over and over again that He’ll be with us at all times will build up our defenses. Then, when hardships arise, we’ll be equipped with His power and immense love to weather those storms. That reassurance will bring us His peace, even in the midst of chaos.

“In You, my God, I place my trust.” – Psalm 91:2

“Lord, help me stay focused on You when chaos hits.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

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P.S.

Pray for peace at home, in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

What Do You Want?

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Our friend Len shouldn’t be alive today. Watching him build a fence around his yard and remodel their home, you’d never know that this man, now in his 70s, almost died. Twice. Len had a near-death experience 45 years ago, and more than 15 years ago was told he had months to live. He was in so much pain that he asked God to let him die. That’s when someone suggested he see an MD in Cleveland who had a reputation for treating -- and healing -- terminal cases like his. Len made an appointment and let this physician, Dr. Issam Nemeh, treat him in his office. Len was healed immediately. Later, when he saw his own doctors, they were shocked. 

Dr. Nemeh is adamant that it’s God, not he, Who does the healing. He’s quick to point out that Jesus healed people 2,000 years ago and continues to heal people today.

In Mark’s gospel we read about the blind man Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). As Jesus walked by, Bartimaeus cried out, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus called him over and asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  

Why did Jesus ask him this? Wasn’t it obvious that Bartimaeus wanted to see? Jesus asked because He wanted Bartimaeus to have clear in his mind what he wanted Jesus to do. If Bartimaeus could see, his life would change, so asking took courage. Christ also wanted the crowd to see the connection between Bartimaeus’ faith and his healing. 

Do you want anything from Christ? Any kind of healing? Physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual? How would you answer Christ’s question?

He’s asking you: “What do you want Me to do for you?” 

Maybe you want Christ to ‘make it better’ but haven’t asked Him for anything specific. Maybe you’ve become complacent. Maybe you’re afraid of what might be asked of you if you’re healed. Maybe you don’t believe Christ can heal you.

Christ wants you to trust Him to do for you what you want Him to do. He wants you to ask so that He can heal you. When you ask Him for anything, your humble prayers acknowledge His power, and your faith is strengthened. When you ask Him to rid you of your pain, you become more like Christ because He, too, begged the Father to spare Him the pain of His passion and death. When your prayer isn’t answered as you wanted it to be, ask Him to use your pain for some kind of good for someone else. That gives purpose to your suffering. 

Let Christ open your eyes to how our loving God can heal you, strengthen you, bring you closer to Himself and, in the process, make you more like Him.

 “Jesus said to (Bartimaeus), ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ The blind man replied to Him, ‘Master, I want to see.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go. Your faith has saved you.’”

–Mark 10:51-52

“Lord, ________________”

(If you’d like to hear Len’s story, go to BLIND FAITH LIVE! Real People. Real Miracles. on Apple Podcasts   Scroll way down to November 25, 2013, and you’ll find “The Miracle Story of Leonard.” In this podcast, Len and Dr. Nemeh relay Len’s story to the radio personality you may know as Trapper Jack.)

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

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P.S.

Pray for peace at home, in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

There's Power in Praise

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We were walking around the neighborhood with our son under sunny blue skies that gorgeous June day when I looked around and said, “Oh, what a beautiful day!” Michael didn’t miss a beat and replied, “Yeah, and the weather’s nice, too!” 

On sunny days, literally and figuratively, our blessings are easy to find. It’s easy to praise God when things are going the way we want them to go. It’s easy to feel grateful when the sun is shining. The challenge, of course, is to thank God and praise Him in all circumstances and for all circumstances. How do we manage to do this?

Let’s look at the feast of Pentecost, which we celebrated this past Sunday, for some insight. On Pentecost, not only do we commemorate the day when the risen Christ sent the Holy Spirit to empower His disciples, but we also remember that He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us, too, when we were baptized. We were given this power to help us become more like Christ and bring His kingdom to earth. The Spirit is within us to fill us with gratitude, guide us in making difficult decisions, strengthen us against worldly temptations, help us grow in charity, and otherwise lead us closer to Him. For as long as we live He’ll give us more of His power whenever we ask Him to. 

So, when we thank and praise God, in easy and challenging times, we take the focus off ourselves and remind ourselves of His infinite goodness. We open our hearts to receive more of His loving power. We move closer to Him. Then, we’re able to see more clearly how He wants us to use His power to grow in charity and bring about His kingdom. 

When He empowers us, we grow in holiness. Through the Spirit, we all have the potential to be holy, which goes far beyond simply being good people. With His power within us, we’re able to give more than we thought we could and bear what seemed to be unbearable. We’re able to do the impossible, as Christ did:

“...whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and they will do even greater things than these...” – John 14:12             

When we use His power, we’ll experience what we most long for: His peace and joy. And the more we exercise His power, the more powerful the Spirit becomes in us. Charity – holy love – becomes a habit, a part of who we are. We mature in holiness and become more like Christ. 

We change our world. And it all starts with thanking and praising Him.

So, praise and thank God in every circumstance. Open your heart, and ask Him for more of His Spirit to empower you so that you can do the impossible, as Christ did.

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be ever in my mouth.” – Psalm 34:2

“Lord, increase in me the power of Your Spirit!”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

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P.S.

Pray for peace at home, in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Pray First and Then Decide

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Congratulations to all the graduates! Remember the excitement and apprehension before your graduation? The future looked like a wide open field of countless possibilities and opportunities. So many decisions to make! More school? Get a job? Stay close to home or move away? These are just a few questions that young adults have to answer.

Graduates aren’t the only ones facing life decisions. Over time we may decide to go back to school, change jobs, or move. No matter our age or education level, we’re always called to give to society in a positive way. Deciding on what that looks like can be a challenge. 

We may ask ourselves: “How does our Lord want me to use my particular skills? How can I use my gifts to contribute to society and to the needs of others?” As we get older, our questions may switch from “What career do I want to pursue?” to “Now that the kids are grown and gone, what’s my role?” or “Now that I’m retired, how will I use my time?” 

Our Lord has given each of us a unique combination of our personality, talents, and circumstances. He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows your strengths, your weaknesses, and your potential. He knows what brings you toward Him and what pulls you away from Him. He knows your heart, and He knows your motives. He sees you, He knows you, and He loves you. He wants you to have His peace – the peace that comes from following Him and uniting your will with His.

Regardless of your age, whenever you’re presented with an opportunity, or are facing a dilemma, pray first. Let Christ guide your mind and heart toward Him and what He wants you to do. Pray, and ask Him what He wants for you. Pray, and ask what He wants from you. Pay attention to what comes to mind. When you consider your options prayerfully, you allow our Lord to direct your steps toward what will bring you and others closer to Him. The key is to make these decisions with prayer. Christ will lead you to His peace if you ask Him to. 

Praying before deciding isn’t just for life decisions. Every day, we’re presented with situations that require a decision. For example, we decide what to watch on TV and what sites to visit on the internet. We decide whether to be kind or irritable toward the wait staff when the service is slow. In how we treat our coworkers and family members, in the emails and texts we send, and in how we spend our time, we have countless decisions to make. Stop and ask our Lord if what you’re about to do or say is pleasing to Him. Then, pay attention to how your mind and heart respond. 

Pray first. Then, you can decide.

“You, Lord… know the hearts of all.” – Acts 1:24

“Lord, guide my decisions on what I do and say today.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, at home, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.