God-instances!

Lay Director, (Each month, one of our Lay Directors will write an article.)

I love this time of year. The air is crisp, the leaves are beginning to change, the crops are being harvested. There is a sense of completion. The hard work has been done. It is appropriate that this is the time of year when we look at our lives and offer thanks to God for the many gifts we have received.

I think that my favorite gift from the Cursillo movement is awareness of God’s presence in my everyday moments. Not that I don’t appreciate grouping with friends, discovering more about God and my Catholic faith, and learning to become more involved in God’s plan for the world. What helps me to put my Catholic faith first and foremost in my life is the realization that God is with me every step of the way. Deut 31:8 “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

It’s amazing when God works mighty deeds for us and for our loved ones. It’s even more amazing to me when God works in small ways in my life. We know that there are no “coincidences”, but there are “God-instances”. Like the woman (not in the choir) from my parish who saw a copy of the list of hymns I had left at my church for a funeral at our sister parish that I was playing the organ for. She had felt that God was nudging her to come and sing but hadn’t made the decision yet. Seeing the list of hymns encouraged her to come. I needed her to be there for a variety of reasons but didn’t ask because it wasn’t at her parish. God knew I needed her participation, and He took care of it. We all have these “God-instances”, and we are aware of many of them, and thank God for them. And there are so many more that we don’t notice!

I am reminded often that this is not heaven. I am overwhelmed sometimes by difficult circumstances. I take such comfort and gain so much peace from the realization that God is always at my side, providing direction, support, insights, and love directly and also through His many disciples who are listening to His call. 1 John 4:16 “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

I am so thankful!

De Colores! Love you! KO

May the peace of Christ always disturb your life!

John Lyons

Kathy Otermat