Think of this and you'll live fully.

Saint Jerome by Van Cleve ( H/T Crescat)

(The ribbons are grandpa's.)

I can't get a skull from the unclaimed bodies at the morgue so,  I bought myself an urn.  I look at it every morning to remind myself that the cold box cannot hug my children.  It cannot say to them, "How proud you made me feel."  The box cannot put clothes in the washer to give my wife a hand or give her a little slap at the fanny to let her know how sexy she is to me.  The box cannot wash the poop from my toddler and tell her to use the potty nor can it protect the kids while they build a leaf pile at the front yard.  That box cannot push my seven year old girl at the swing or talk about the greatness of serving God in the priesthood or religious life.  That box cannot have a drink with a friend whose wife is divorcing him nor can it blog about the deceptions in Obamacare.  That box cannot go to a 7 am Mass and thank God for all His graces nor can it fast for past sins.  At death, life continues for it is changed and not ended.  But for me, I shall still grieve because I can no longer love the way I can while I had a body.

Oh yes, the title.  The saints used to say, "Think of death and you will never sin."  I say, "Think of death and you will live fully."

Music video: Jeannie's Afraid Of The Dark (+ Christian reflections)

Do you have kids who's afraid of the dark?  Here's an interesting take on why that may be so.  The eternal flame reminds me of the many times the Lord Jesus compared Himself to Light.  See below.

If the video fails, click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY8O5ErJpng


"John presents man as either belonging to one of two things: the darkness or the light. There is no in between. The darkness is associated with death, while the light is associated with life. This theme is developed throughout the Gospel. In 1:4-9, John portrays Jesus as being the light of men and demonstrates that the darkness does not understand the light. John the Baptist came to bear witness of the light in order that men would believe through him. In the third chapter (19-21) Jesus states that the light has come into the world, but men have loved the darkness instead of the light because their works were evil. Evildoers hate the light and are afraid to go into the light lest their works be exposed. On the other hand, the ones who practice the truth come into the light so that it can be seen that their works were done through God. In 5:35 there is reference to John the Baptist as being a lamp that gives forth light. Jesus is also referred to as the Light of the World (8:12; 9:5) whereas the devil is called the "prince of this world" (12:31; 14:30; 16:11). In 12:35-36 Jesus tells the crowd that it is necessary to walk in the light because the person that walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. He also tells the crowd to believe in the Light in order to become sons of the light. Lastly in 12:46, he states that he has come as light into the world so that those who believe in him will not remain in darkness." from http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/intros/john.cfm

Music Video: Randy Travis - Three Wooden Crosses

A song about a hooker, a preacher and a farmer who were in a fatal traffic accident.  An inspiring presentation of God's Providence and the meaning of life.  Enjoy.  Ric

Click here for source or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_I-sTv6NV0

Flew in by mistake

This little bird flew in the house by mistake.  My son picked it up and gently laid it outside to fly.  If only it can be that way with the fetuses that somehow flew in the womb by mistake.  I guess we can still reach out gently to help the mother and save the child.

From here, I can only point out web sites of people who are happy to adopt that "little birdie".

http://adoptionnetwork.com/

Infant for sale

Sadly, but it happens. There was an ad in the web. Those folks must be in dire straits. I hope I never get into a situation like that. But even if I do, I don't think I can ever sell my children.

Yet, God did not sell His Son; He gave Him up freely. And for what? To pay for our wrongdoing. That's a very unprofitable transaction. Here we are wallowing in selfishness and utter disregard for God and He gives His Holy and Loving Son just to give us another shot at eternal life later and to a more meaningful & transcendent existence right now. It is what God does.