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Renewal – Deacon Dan

October 7, 2021

The annual Autumn spectacular is here as the leaves are ablaze with color. The reds, oranges and yellows call to the senses to come and enjoy the mellowness of October. There is another changing of the season that is mostly hidden and unnoticed. White pines are also turning color and dropping needles.

Wait, you may be thinking – white pines are evergreens. A requirement of being in the evergreen family is that they are always green – right? Well, yes and no. While white pines are predominantly green year-round, in the fall older needles – usually three years old – turn first yellow and drop to the ground where they can pile inches deep, eventually turning brown. It is the newer needles that remain green and remain attached. What can we learn spiritually from white pines?

Always look to the detail in life. Enjoy the large, but never overlook the small. Mary was an unknown little young woman from a little, insignificant town in a little, insignificant country. But God saw in her littleness a pure and loving heart and asked her to become the Mother of our Savior.

With God there is always more. God is more than meal prayers and attending weekly Mass. God is not only with us God is within us – always. He desires active  relationship with you. The more time we spend with God, the more we come to know God and the more we love God. And when we love God, the more we love others. When we love God and others more intentionally, the less we focus on ourselves, and the more that we want to be always in communion with God and we want everyone to be in communion with God. That is how we grow in holiness.

Everyone needs renewal. We are always pilgrims as long as we are on this side of the resurrection. Seek renewal. Read great books. Listen to great minds. Absorb Scripture. Get engaged with something at your parish and something in your community that spiritually challenges you. Live the Sacraments. Find meaning; find purpose; find peace.

 

His Peace,

Deacon Dan