In the sun

May God’s love be with you.

Dance Cha-Cha With Me

I love to dance, including cha-cha.  But I’m gonna talk about a different kind of cha-cha…

Chastity - Looking at the subject index in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, these are some topics that fall in the category of chastity:  fruit of the Holy Spirit; cultural effort; gift of self; grace of God; preservation of the integrity of the person; vocation of all the baptized; importance of friendship; lust.  But somehow, most of us think of chastity as just being celibate.  There is so much more to it and I would quote again from an article from The Tidings (June 13, 2008), ‘Chastity and the Enchantment of Life’ by Father Ronald Rolheiser:  “To be chaste is to experience people, things, places, entertainment, the phases of one’s life, life’s opportunities, and sex, in a way that does not violate them or ourselves … Chastity is respect and reverence.”

Charity - ‘the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1822).

Shall we dance?

Coldplay

So today, well, yesterday, I was having a day that was pretty much the same as any other day.  You know the ritualistic happenings.  Open and rub eyes, stretch, get up, brush teeth, wash face, get dressed, skip breakfast and prepare backpack for a class that you’ve lost interest in since your first D on a test.  It was deja-vu all over again.  It gets tiring really. 

But let’s back track.

In a world where everything will never go your way you have to think about your future and how your plans will, if ever, will be taken into effect.  There’s going to be days when it’s going to go to waste.  There’s going to be semesters where my interest will fade.  Insipiration has left me completely these days.   And there’s a void within my being that has been purposely, or unpurposely, I’m not entirely sure, emptied.  My breathing was shorter because of the heavy burden of thoughts that seem silly now.  Those thoughts were the reason for my disconnection with someone close to me.  And that was the day I decided to leave confirmation after going through training and enroll full time as a student, thinking I wasn’t going to have enough time, which I didn’t, but I still could have made time.

Today.

When you listen to Coldplay, you’re bound to feel emotions that you’ve never felt before, or quite possibly repressed in hopes of saving face from your family and peers.  So, throughout a troubled semester, I discovered Coldplay.  I’ve never really listened to any of their material, but one of their songs today spoke to me in the most amazing and uncanny way.

After coming home from school and feeling overwhelmed from the everyday stresses of life that have been seeping their way little by little with every waking breath, I decided to pay a visit to St. Dominics and just reflect.  On Jesus, me, my family struggles, my future, my job, my education, my friends, and past.  I walk into the vestibule and notice it’s irregularly dark, that’s because I forgot to remove my sunglasses.  Once I did, I felt my eyes travel past the aisles across the church and unto the cross and Christ’s image.  And I kept my gaze on His image, even when the sun shining through the stained glass darkened my vision.  I dropped my things on the first front pews of the altar and kept moving towards the feet of Christ.

I was quiet for a few seconds thinking of what to say, like some prodigal son with his tail between his legs.  “Tell me the truth.”  I began.  I could feel my heavy breaths slow.  “Because, I’ve forgotten me, how to feel, my righteous footing, you.  I don’t want to forget you.“  Now my wording isn’t as accurate as I hoped it would be for my sharing, but bare with me.  I swear to you I’m not making this up. “Tell me any truth.”  I needed some answers before anyone else entered the church and saw me.  I kept hearing noises of doors closing behind me, probably parents picking up their kids. 

I find my way back to my backback and just sit and look behind me and see a mother and her daughter entering.  I thought to myself asking if they saw me. 

Insert Coldplay.

“Fix You” is playing on my Zune (Yes, Zune, not iPod).  And before the Chris Martin starts singing there was a different song playing called “Death and All His Friends.”  I started to feel a bit hot and teary eyed.  I suppose it was a spiritual awakening.  I know it was the holy spirit, God’s hand on my heaviness and breathing.  I wept.  For me, my brothers, mother and father, my friends, my church, country, education, past, present and future.  In comes Mr. Acosta, just as the openning of “Fix You” comes on, and I feel a little embarrassed showing emotion in front of the guy.  He walks straight into the Sacristy (sp?) and as Chris Martin sings “lights will guide you home” he turns on the lights.  It was the most beautiful soundtrack of my day.  It was the most reveiling sign that God’s home is where I am complete.  It is at His home where He fixed me.  And “tears stream down your face.”  They did.  I cried for a good 6 minutes before feeling lighter.  My heaviness was gone.  My breathing was normal again, more profound and I was able to taste the freshness of the wind and the warmth of the sun’s rays seeping through the trees.  I found a piece of me that I thought I lost, but in reality should have been looking under my nose.  (I’m totally going to reword this and write something of an extension.)

I will never forget yesterday.  It was a revelation of how God can work through music, environment, and others.  All the answers I want are a question and a shuffled playlist away (That’s a little extreme but when I exited the church Speed of Sound started to play).  It’s probaby all coincidence, but I have never been able to cry and to feel His presence since I don’t know when.  It was a good day.

In closing, God + Coldplay = religious experience for Paul.

Your Heart Will Lead You Home

We had a talent show yesterday at school and one of the kids performed this song by Kenny Loggins.  I think the video with Calvin and Hobbes says it best.  This is a tribute to all my friends.

 

Sunny days and starry nights
And lazy afternoons
You’re countin’ castles in the clouds
And hummin’ little tunes
But somehow, right before your eyes
The summer fades away
Everything is different
And everything has changed

Longing to Worship

I first heard this song from our Music playlist, sung by Evie Haskell. 

I came alone ashamed
You gave me a new name (?)
So I’ll pour out all I have, all I am
Longing to worship you. 

I long to see your face
Rest in your warm embrace
Linger once more in your presence, Oh Lord
Longing to worship you.

So I come here before you
Worship, adore you
Bringing you all that I am.
I bow down before you
Worship the great I AM,
Who holds me in His hands.

As I pour my life on you
Come anoint my soul anew.
As I pour my love on you
I can see how your love floods over me (?)

Click here and click on ‘Longing to Worship’ to hear song.

DMB

I am a big Dave Matthews Band fan.  They are coming to Los Angeles, so I’m planning on going.  They are going to sell out fast.  If you want to join me, let me know so we can buy tickets together.

Ticket Info
Tue., August 19
7:00pm

I’m looking at the best available seating ($75 seating charge + $11.60 convenience charge).  All the floor seating is already gone.  At the moment areas 11-13 were still open, and will probably only be the seats in the upper deck soon.  We need to move fast, before they are all gone.

[For those going, the tickets were bought Monday night 9:50pm.]

You Are My God

Originally posted by briandismasg as comment to Fr Stan Raps His Jesus Walk:

Thanks for the link Fr. John. I found this video and it just set me on fire and hunger for some ‘Eucharistic Adoration’ :’)

Tony Melendez
You are my God and the rock on which I stand.
I have found my place in your arms of grace.
Oh, oh. You are my God.

Lord of heaven, king of all the universe,
Architect and poet of eternity,
Abba Father, breath of life. creation’s dawn,
Ever-living, one who knows and loves me.

First forgiver, ever present “God with us”,
Lamb of love, who died triumphant over sin.
Risen Savior, brilliant bright and morning star,
Shining in me. Light of glory lives within.

You Were Born To Be Loved

You were born to be loved
And you are receiving that love through your life.
You were born to be loved
And you are receiving that love through your life.

The love from God that started since the beginning of your birth
Becomes connected with us meeting each other.
You were born to be loved
And you are receiving that love through your life.

If you think those words are powerful, check out who sings it…

It Is Well, With My Soul

Words: Ho­ra­tio G. Spaf­ford, 1873.
Music: Ville du Havre Phil­ip P. Bliss, 1876 The tune is named af­ter the ship on which Spaf­ford’s child­ren per­ished, the S.S. Ville de Havre.

This hymn was writ­ten af­ter two ma­jor trau­mas in Horatio Spaf­ford’s life. The first was the great Chi­ca­go Fire of Oc­to­ber 1871, which ru­ined him fi­nan­cial­ly (he had been a weal­thy bus­i­ness­man). Short­ly af­ter, while cross­ing the At­lan­tic, all four of Spaf­ford’s daugh­ters died in a col­li­sion with an­o­ther ship. Spaf­ford’s wife Anna sur­vived and sent him the now fa­mous tel­e­gram, “Saved alone.” Sev­er­al weeks lat­er, as Spaf­ford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daugh­ters died, the Ho­ly Spir­it in­spired these words. They speak to the eter­nal hope that all be­liev­ers have, no mat­ter what pain and grief be­fall them on earth.

 www.cyberhymnal.org

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul!

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.