Management by Walking

 Happy almost spring! Today the sun is shining and is incredibly beautiful. Even with the days stretching a bit longer, there still doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! 

This week, the topic of Lenten discussion is the Father. There is a quote by St. Augustine of Hippo that has been on my heart. He said, "God loves each of us, as if there were only one of us." And that is so true. How many times have we felt compelled to be in competition even with ourselves for being lovable, for earning love, for being worthy of love, or fearing what love demands of us? God the Father in His abyss of endless love for us, encompasses each of us as if each of us is worth All of Him. 

Early Christian baptismal font in Naples, Italy

There are certainly hesitations we each have in accepting love, mostly because of wounds that have shaped our scars to teach us to be cautious of love, and of the unknown. The deepest wounds often stem from the very source that taught us how to love and be loved: our parents. In this sense, it can be difficult to see that there is not only a love that is just for us and thinks of us as being totally awesome, but that the love of this source is from the Creator of the universe. The Creator of the universe loves me infinitely? He absolutely does. You are so worthy of His love because He created you to delight in you, give you free will to choose to do what you will and hope that you love Him back. Love is an act of receiving and sacrificially giving to keep receiving. When it is one way, it is only unrequited love, but the love in our direction from the Father is still there. 

Centuries later, the hidden altar of persecuted Christians remains underground

The tomb of a young family who died for being Christian, knowing that there was the Father beyond opening His loving arms to them.

In today's podcast Kevin Wells and Father Dan Leary talk about how Father Al Schwartz, founder of World Villages for children, was the spiritual father for the thousands of children. One thing that stuck out to me from the podcast is how Father Al used to walk around the campus of the schools and in each classroom during the day to let the children know he was present to them and there for them.

 Father Dan called it "Management by Walking". I was thinking of how God the Father does the same. He is always present in each moment of our day, walking in the campus of our daily life, entering into our classrooms of learning and blessing us with gifts, sunny days, good food and ever-present love. How easy is it to miss Him? When we become accustomed to what we have or don't  have how easy is it to not notice the presence of God, and see only the ordinary of each day and each situation when in fact it is extraordinary and there is so much supernatural in each moment? In the classroom of the beltway, He is there, in the moment of aches and pains, He is there, in quiet of feeling lonely even if surrounded by people, He sees you, and when you feel that you are alone, He is right there. 

He was here

He enjoyed creating this magnolia

And He was here while I listened to the bluegrass

And was here watching His handiwork below

And here in NYC with each person on the metro. Each one of them are His unique kids.

Father to the fisherman

He walked the halls of this old home with each person who  lived in it

And loved the incredibly wealthy noble individuals who lived in this palace.

A father is present, he isn't someone who takes off physically or emotionally when it is too much, he is there walking with you in your reality. Father Al imitated the consistent presence of God the Father to His children by being present to the thousands of children who had only him as a spiritual father. 

That gift of self is something we each can give to someone. We all have something to give, a smile, a glass of water, time, attention and love. The act of truly being present is a gift that is so beautiful to unfold and let God reveal Himself to us. "Who are you?" I have often asked my Jesus on the crucifix and another question I've asked is "Who am I to you?" There are books and theologians who could tell me volumes of who God is to me and who I am to Him. But He calls each of us by name and each of us is His beloved child. All that matters is you in His eyes. He is a Father who will go into the desert for forty days and sit, with no food or comfort for forty days for love of you. 

I sat with this wounded deer one night and thought of God the Father sitting with me in my pain when I have felt all alone. I didn't hit the deer, but when I drove past him I knew he didn't want to be left alone.

Wrapping our head around such love in human terms is hard. There is no way any human I have a relationship would be constantly around, constantly present  let alone go in the desert for me or go into my desert, my areas of spiritual dryness, and remain. I couldn't do that for the people I hold dearest in my life. But God the Father does each day. He's present, walking in and out of our inner classrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, lawns and inner deserts staying with us, it is up to us to look up to see Him and allow Him to help us with management of our heart so that we can be present to others with the same love.