Fortnight For Freedom Ride

Sometimes it's hard not to feel helpless when the tempest rages all around us in the world today.  The Fortnight For Freedom has been a great (and positive) force to help conquer that feeling of helplessness.  Like a good family, Catholics around the world have rallied around Mother Church to pray, fast, educate ourselves, and stand up for Religious Freedom in our country.


Some of the families from our parish Youth Group decided to take a little extra step to show our support...A bike ride for freedom! 
T-shirts were quickly made...

front and back.  One of our priests suggested we put something on the back to be sure that bystanders would see it while we were riding:)  Great idea!

We met for morning Mass and gathered in prayer...

 Mother Mary, please pray for us!

We were set to go on our ride around the city...Approximately 6.8 miles.  (Even blessed to be joined by one of our priests) For some of us it was a small mortification and for others it was just something...A small action step towards something bigger than ourselves...A sign of our faith.

As for me, I'm not the most coordinated bike rider...Even Father said it was a good thing I was wearing a helmet! As for dear husband, he was riding just 4 weeks after a minor knee operation so he offered up his struggle.

It turned out to be a glorious morning to be out and about in the community.  Though we did lose a couple of riders due to bike malfunctions, the rest of the riders gave it their best "umph."  After all, "The difference between try and triumph is a little upmh!"
Drafting might be a cycling trick where riders go in single file to block the wind for the other people behind them, taking turns being the one in front.  Yet we can also use this analogy in our life of faith.  Yes, the battle wages on like a powerful headwind, but we are encouraged by a community that we can take turns drafting behind.  As in our Freedom Ride, there is always drafting support and hope to be found in the body of Christ, despite the struggles we face.  

Sports And The Spiritual Life

I watched a lot of basketball today since 3 of my children are playing recreational basketball.  One child had 2 games so that was 4 games to watch.  It's such a fun sport!  I have to admit that I love the fast pace and the fact that games are only about 40 minutes and you're done:)  It's only about a 7 week season and it's great physical exercise during the winter...Good lessons on teamwork are learned by all.

And what about the spiritual life?

This game of basketball got me to thinking...

I enjoy looking at things around me through the eyes of my Catholic Christian faith.  It's so beautiful and it helps keep my eyes "on the ball." 

I thought about our life of faith as I watched the kids race back and forth with the ball.  They struggled and wrestled with that ball until they were red in the face and sweating buckets...All in the name of making that beloved basket, the goal of the game.

I wondered what life would be like if we worked that hard, both physically and spiritually, for our heavenly goal.  No one really wants to die but we all certainly want to go to heaven...Don't we all want that "slam dunk?"  My goodness, then we ought to be working up a sweat to get there!

I pictured this scene...There I am jumping up and down, waving my arms, shouting, "Over here, Lord, it's me, it's me!"...Do you recognize me on your team? Am I worthy of your pass?

Just as I'm shouting out to the Lord, someone runs by and steals my joy, running off with it, just like the opposing team runs off with the ball.  That reminded me of my sin and how it feels to be robbed of that intimate closeness with Jesus.  

If only we got that sense of urgency for reconciliation that we race down to the confessional, just like those kids racing down the court, to get our JOY back.  Lord knows I should be wrestling for it all the way!

Once we get that JOY ball back, we are always ready to head back down the court, eternally grateful:) 

Along the way, we might lose sight and feel alone...

But just as these kids are part of a team, so we are all one body of Christ...We are one team with many members.  We walk together, we should never feel alone.

1 Corinth. 12:12-14

What are we doing to help one another...

Are we pointing the way to heaven?

Are we showing we are Christian by our love?

Well, that's what I love about the spiritual life...Never a dull moment and there's always enough work to keep my ball bouncing off the court, that's for sure.

Will we WIN or LOSE?

Just as we tell our kids...

The answer lies in how well we play the game!
The ultimate win is the goal of course, hoping to someday exclaim...
"I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance."
~2 Timothy 4: 7-8~