I Met Him in the Ladies’ Room

gembymayme , , , , 






God created man in His own image...male and female he created them.  (Gen 1:27)





Last month, I met a man in the Ladies’ Room.  His efforts were notable, but one glance identified him as a man dressed as a woman.  I said “hello”.  His right hand quickly raised and lowered as he mouthed “hi” with no volume in his voice.  He was nervous.  Trying to escape his “old skin”, he didn’t express comfort in his “new skin” either. My heart melted with compassion for a man so confused about his manhood.





Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had made.  (Genesis 3:1)





Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?”  The woman said, “The serpent beguiled me..." (Genesis 3:13)





I suspect it wasn’t overnight he began questioning his identity as the boy God knit in his mother’s womb.  He’s been cultured while going about growing up.  Chances are high he saw TV shows, commercials, movies, social media, Macy’s ads, went to school and shopped at Target in a secular society raised unfamiliar with the depth of God’s design for man and woman. Through all of this, he’d have a hard time missing the subtle, assuring prompts that professing himself to be female is “the way” to happiness.  The world beguiled him into a state of confusion and hatred of his own being.  The snake in the garden is very subtle. 





…God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (1 Tim 2:3-4)





“We accept you where you are” is a well-meaning message of welcome to those who feel unwelcomed.  Welcoming people is Christ-like.  Holding back the fullness of God’s Truth is not. This silence doesn’t help anyone discover who they are as one created in God’s image.  Increasingly, the welcoming hugs are followed by friendly voices encouraging those confused about their sexual identity to use a new name, don clothes and enter restrooms all meant for the opposite sex, seek chemical hormones and life-altering surgery.  Such changes serve to corrupt the dignity of the person God created. The message “We accept you where you are” becomes hypocrisy with the overriding pressure to change the very nature of one’s self. 





I don’t know the name of the man I met that day.  I do know God loves him unconditionally within his confusion.  God doesn’t pressure a hurting person to change into someone he or she isn’t capable of being.  He offers supernatural grace – His help – to discover and grow into the person He Himself created.  Our mission, should we decide to accept it, is to cooperate in the desire to know and live in Christ as The Way, The Truth and The Life.  (John 14:6)  His Truth holds victory over the confusion so rampant in this earthly world. 





A man…fell among robbers who...beat him...leaving him half dead.  Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.  So likewise a Levite... saw him, passed by...”  But a Samaritan...had compassion...and bound up his wounds...brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, “Take care of him...” (Luke 10:30-35)





It would be easier to remain quiet about this man who now has a place in my heart.  My husband’s wisdom suggested silence might put me in the category of the two “holy men” who walked by the man left for dead.  I don’t want to pass by and forget him, but chances are slim our paths will cross again. So, I’ve spiritually adopted him.  I turned him over to our Lord with a commitment to pray for him every day. 





First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.  (1 Tim 2:1-2)





“There is no soul which is not bound to pray, for every single grace comes to the soul through prayer” (St. Faustina Kowalska, Diary 146).  





I may never know how God will grace him behind the scenes or if the man will accept that grace.  Even so, I trust my prayers are powerful before God who answers every prayer according to His Divine Wisdom. God knows what this young man needs physically, emotionally and spiritually. May he be led to God’s love and mercy and be free from the lie that God’s gift of life has a need to be redesigned by human hands.   





Christ offered Himself completely for the sake of all souls.  We reflect His image best when we follow His example to “offer it up” for the sake of souls. We do this by turning everything each day into prayer – our thoughts, words, deeds, aches, illnesses, sacrifices, fasting, inconveniences, suffering, joys, work, chores, and prayers.  Deliberately joining ourselves to Christ in this way, our offerings to the Father become denarii of grace from Heaven’s Innkeeper to take care of those left on the side of the road.   





Most of us have been beguiled by the world at one time or another.  It is God’s grace that has us cry out to Him from within our confusion to seek His Truth.  It’s sorrowful to see our children go off and fall deep into the culture without the compass of God’s Truth and Wisdom.  All is not lost.  Pray.  We are “bound to pray”.  If not in a position to speak the Truth, pray for the Truth to be known.  Then pray for the wisdom and courage to know when to speak Christ’s Truth with love rather than pass by in silence.











					

		
		

			
					

	




			
				


	

		

					
In Him, With Him, Through Him

								

								 gembymayme
										
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In Him and with Him and through Him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours, forever and ever.  These words conclude the Eucharistic prayer at every Mass.  We respond in agreement with “Amen”!





Because this concluding prayer is so familiar, it had to be a moment of grace recently that those words hit me like a ton of bricks.  I choked up as I considered that it is only through Jesus that we’re able to glorify God, our Father.  United with Him in the Eucharist we’re lifted up to our Almighty Father to give Him the highest glory.   It is only in Jesus we’re able to give the Father glory befitting our God. 





 Jesus was born to do the Father’s will.  He defined the Father’s ultimate will as:   For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life… (John 6:40)    Receiving Jesus in the Eucharist is to be a testimony of belief in Him, in all that He taught, especially in His real presence, and faith that it is Jesus who, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life that the Father wills for us. 





God’s will is reflected in Christ’s teaching on the Eucharist:  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  (John 6:53-55)





The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:  The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. (CCC 1324)   The Eucharist is the food and lifeblood of our souls.  Jesus transfigures us when we center on Him and receive Him in the Eucharist.  He infuses Himself into every cell of our being, body and soul, to move us, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to be the people God created us to be in our everyday lives.  That is:  a reflection of His Son.  





We have no clue of what life is until we embrace the reality of receiving the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.  Jesus brings us Heaven on Earth.  He makes God’s will of eternal life obtainable for us.  Jesus provides Himself to us as the truest form of life for the glory and honor of God our almighty Father forever and ever.  Amen. 

					

		
		
	




			
				


	

		

					
A Rabbit in God’s Hat

								

								 gembymayme
										
												

					


				

			
There is this desire in my heart to be a saint.  It’s been there for a long time.  I don’t need to be one who gets a feast day on the calendar, but God’s saint, none-the-less.  Last night I was saying goodnight to our Lord, and I included my repeated request for Him to turn me into a saint.  Then a smile hit my face and I chuckled as I silently said to Him:  “That’ll be like pulling a rabbit out of Your hat!”.


Oh, Lord.  A split second after that wry remark slipped into my prayers, I recalled the Gospel story about the priest Zechariah, who was St. John the Baptist’s dad. (Luke 1:5-20)  These scripture verses detail the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Zech that he and his barren wife Elizabeth would conceive a child in their advanced old age.  Upon hearing the good news, Zechariah voiced his doubt.  Then BOOM – he couldn’t speak.  The priest was reintroduced to God as God by the silencing of his tongue until his son was born, then once again he could proclaim God’s glory.  For nothing is impossible with God.


The first thing I did upon waking this morning was very loudly say “Good Morning, Lord”.  Just making sure.


Seriously, though, God expects me to be His saint.  He expects all of us to be faithful saints.  One thing I’ve learned is to trust that if God expects something of us, He will provide the grace to fulfill His expectations.  We just need to open our hearts to accept the grace and persevere in His timing.  It is He who put this burning desire in my heart to be holy.  It is through Him that this desire will be fulfilled.


Sometimes the progression to sainthood is just so darn slow because my footprints are riddled with steps in the wrong direction, lots of falls, scars and skid marks.  Despite frustration with my shortcomings, I comprehend that God is transfiguring me.  There are days when I immediately recognize His handiwork at play.  There are also times when it takes many moons before I put His pieces together.  All along the way, He has taught me abundantly, graced me non-stop and mercifully forgiven me as He faithfully draws me intimately closer to Himself through His Son.


Almost 30 years ago, I began taking God’s hand as a young adult.  If I drew a graph between those first baby steps versus my relationship with Him now, the chart would show a giant leap of faith.  Trusting that nothing is impossible with God, I so look forward to the next 30 years.



					

		
		

			
					

	




			
				


	

		

					
Do you see what I see?

								

								 gembymayme
										
												

					


				

			
‘Tis the season of singing and listening to age old Christmas carols. The classic line “Do you see what I see?” had been joyfully resounding in my thoughts.  However, my mind kept saying “no” in response to the question.


So, I thought about it. I certainly had the time as I sat in traffic on the busy road leading to my eye-doctor appointment.  The toddler strapped in her car seat in the vehicle next to mine observed with her eyes the exact scene I viewed with mine.  Waiting it out at the same intersection for the third cycle of red, the child was nothing but delighted as she looked out upon the idling cars surrounding us both.  Even though I understood that the extra delays at the lights were caused by a heavier flow of cars at this time of year, I was nothing but a grinch. I wish I saw what she saw.


That little child guided me back to the delight of the world instead of the inconveniences that side track us from seeing the joy that accompanies us on a daily basis. We could see what she saw if we took a minute to observe our moments the way a toddler does instead of being drawn only to what irks us. When I catch myself being “grinchy” or down, I make it a point to ask the Lord to allow me to be joyful.  He is with us! That is cause for joy. So are the little things like a blue sky, my dog’s antics, my husband’s old jokes, a good cup of coffee, a call from a friend or sibling, a bright red cardinal on a branch outside my kitchen window.  Open my eyes, Lord, every day to the simple joys that pile up on my doorstep!


We have tidings of great joy always in our midst.  The Bible tells us so. Thus it was so for the shepherds of long ago and three kings from afar who were given a message from above to be delivered to the world eternally.  It was tidings of great joy in the form of a tiny infant whom they would find if they were willing to search.  So then, each of them let go of their distractions in life and set off to find this great joy.  The destination was reached when the foretold infant was found. Each observed with different eyes, but all observed the same profound joy. They each found the one Truth.  His name is Jesus.


 

					

		
		
	




			
				


	

		

					
Don’t Wait to Do What Needs Doing

								

								 gembymayme
										
												

					


				

			
During one of my morning walks, my thoughts were drawn toward the resurrection of our Lord. While there are many angles to this event that could be pondered, I became entranced on the idea that Jesus didn’t wait to do what needed done. Christ made good on His prophesy that He would rise from death on the third day.  He did so even though there was no one standing around to applaud such a spectacular feat. Had He waited until the fourth or fifth day, perhaps someone would have seen Him being great. Instead, though He had no witnesses, He did the right thing when it needed to be done. He kept His promise.


Many of us, me included, pursue the accolades that go with doing the right thing. We enjoy a pat on the back after doing something out of the ordinary. Sometimes, we even delay the timing of our actions to make sure we have at least one witness to a good deed. A simple example comes from my own experience – or struggle – with the need to have someone know.  One fine Saturday, I cleaned the double-glass door leading to the deck outside of our sitting room.  It truly needed wiped down after a long, harsh winter. So, I did it.  No one saw me put forth the time and elbow grease necessary to tackle the build up of dirt. I waited that evening for my husband to notice the sparkling glass glinting in the waning sun.  Alas, he didn’t comment. Swallowing the need to tell him about the effort, I made it through that night without forcing him to acknowledge what a good job I did on the doors. The next morning was a new day. Over coffee, I pointed out with pride how beautiful the doors looked after a good scrubbing.  The two second-long celebration of my disclosure was disappointing, but now that someone knew, I could go on with my life.


Did it make a difference announcing what a good thing I had done?  No. There are times, however, when it is proper that someone witness or be made aware of the great things we do.  Jesus, for instance, decided it was the right thing to make sure people knew that He rose from the dead.  This miracle was for human sake, but His followers didn’t believe it beyond doubt. For the right reasons, for forty days after rising, Christ went about squashing those doubts, assuring disciples that He was indeed risen, that He would be with them always, and teaching them what to do with that knowledge.


So, we are left with the moral of my story:  If we imitate Christ, we accept our duty to do the right thing at the right time, without attachment to that need to be the center of attention for pride’s sake.  When we imitate Christ, we act knowing – at appropriate times – our actions are witnessed or shared because they become teaching moments and/or will positively affect the lives of others.  My cleaning those glass doors was not one of those moments.  Realizing that every breath I take is witnessed by God, my task could have been offered as an act of love to be acknowledged only between me and Him. It is with humility that I turn to Him asking for the ability to act for human sake instead of pride’s sake.

					

		
		
	




			
				


	

		

					
The Chessboard

								

								 gembymayme
										
												

					


				

			
The other night I couldn’t sleep.  My mind was comparing my spiritual self to the pieces on a chess board.  In this prayerful thought mode, I told God that I pictured myself on His side of the board.  Different situations have me playing the various pieces as I go about life.


In many circumstances, I’m a number in a crowd – an invisible pawn moved around at the bequest of others.  Perhaps I’m waiting in line at the grocery store, driving in traffic in an orderly fashion while obeying the rules of the road, or moving through the security check point in the airport.


Sometimes, I’m a knight serving others as opportunity arises.  One of my sisters, being nervous about city driving, considered me a “knight in shining armor” when I drove her – not once, but twice – on a trial run to map out the route to an urban college campus where she would soon begin classes.


Others detect a bit of wisdom in me now and then, which brings out the advisor or “the bishop” in me. Examples are the heart-to-heart talks I enjoy with nieces and nephews, especially over a nice, long walk.


As a rook, I’ve stood in service as a buffering wall of strength for friends or family going through a rough time.


There are those moments when I am treated royally, as a queen, when others reach out to make sure I have what I need when it is needed.  For instance, I remember my baby sister bringing me home-made chicken soup when I needed TLC after surgery a few years back.  (If memory serves me correctly, she hasn’t brought me soup since!)


Periodically, there are situations when I’ve been in charge, like a king, with people depending on me to follow through with marching orders.


Alone, each member has individual limitations.  As a whole, those limitations are minimized as the strengths of one make up for the weakness of another. Like the pieces on the chess board, we are designed as people to work as a team for the good of the whole.


No matter which role on the board I have taken on, no matter how high or low in status I have appeared, all of my pieces have fallen at one time or another.  Whether I am knocked down by another or by my own moves, there is always that someone who stands in a position ready to move in and help.


Circumstances have come about when I had to learn to wait or get out of the way for others to take over. That’s when God picks me up off the field, lets me rest in His infirmary off to the side, and when I’m healed and ready, a new game begins.

					

		
		
	




			
				


	

		

					
Welcome!

								

								 gembymayme
										
												

					


				

			
Good day to you.  Welcome to the God Expects Me website.  My intent is to post thoughts that will, hopefully, inspire others to see the reality of God in daily life.  Even though we experience the ups and downs of daily living, He has given us the eyes of faith to find that life is full of beauty, peace, joy, love, and hope.


Sometimes, when we wonder why God has allowed our glass to become half empty, it is because we forgot to look at the glass through those eyes of faith. If we seek to bring God into our daily undertakings more often, He will open our eyes to notice that our glass is neither half empty nor half full, but it is overflowing.


On the days when it is difficult to even glance at the glass for fear it will be empty, all we need do is ask Him for help.  Ask from your  heart, and then keep asking.  Drop by drop, day by day, you will see the glass in a different light.  One day, you will see it as overflowing.  Then, you will find that you are able to share, with joy, your overflowing cup.