My "Stations" in life

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While anyone who knows me might likely agree that I am a bit of a sap, my definition of the word "Love" has changed a lot since my younger days of puppy love. Still the ever hopeless romantic, I know that romance is not the end, but only a means to show your beloved how much they are loved.

Now that I have been blessed beyond words in my new engagement, pondering on how to love as Christ would have me, has never seemed so immediate, so real.

Thankfully, God's timing is always perfect, and "our" (have to get used to the blessing of no more "mine") engagement started during the Lenten season, with my parish's regular Friday night "Stations of the Cross" only a few days later. As my love and I walked the stations in honor of our first Love, I wept as I knew that this was true marriage prep for any man, with the full knowledge that if I am truly to love this wonderful woman (and any small persons our Lord would bless us with) than this way of the cross, this ultimate act of love and sacrifice, must be how I am to live.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church
and gave Himself up for her"
Ephesians 5:25

The Stations are not only our way of knowing and/or experiencing our Lord more deeply, but they are so obviously a true and perfect Love lesson (especially for us guys). You can take all your silly romance novels and chic flicks (the ones yer Mass'keteer admits to kinda liking, and possibly tearing up to on occasion), and replace them with the Sorrowful mysteries or Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" as guides on how to love.

It is easy for writers to pen tales of those early months of a relationship, yet almost every "romantic" story ends with the marriage, or the "I love you" . . . .yet this is when real love not only begins, but is also when it starts it's testing. I have to admit, that one of the most true to Christian love stories I have seen in recent years, was the movie "50 First Dates", and the truly sacrificial way that Adam Sandler's Henry loved Drew Barrymore's "Lucy"(you'll have to watch, I don't spoil endings). Yes, it is also a true Adam Sandler movie, with all the silly locker room humor you expect, but for those with "eyes to see", there is a story of love . . .God's way.

It teaches, in it's own way, that love is not what I can get, but what can I give. If I truly desire to see my beloved in heaven, than I must be willing to take the nails in my hand. If I honestly wish her to know she is loved, I must be willing to wear the crown of thorns in her name. If I completely am to be worthy of this beautiful bride, I must be willing to be made ugly before men. If I really wish for her an abundant life, I must be ready and willing to give up my own life.

I knew I was ready to "pop the question", when I said yes to the above, and with God's grace, hope to continue all the days He lends me breathe.

Anyhow, rambling on as I do, I will just end with two things. First that any of my married, or hoping to be married, brothers out there, would just meditate on "perfect love" before a crucifix (the perfect symbol true love) for a few minutes each day, or at least once a week.

Second, that you could pray for this silly man, who desires nothing more than to lay down his own desires, and his life, for the amazing person (and hopefully lil' persons) God has entrusted him with.

Thanks and God bless, mike
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Elmo - Goo Goo Dolls

for all of you who know of my other, not so hidden, "talents" (O:

Don't Judge a Book by the Eye Liner

A recent trip to Phoenix allowed me to visit Alice Cooper's Cooperstown, and it even afforded me an opening to share my faith with my hosts who were unaware of Alice's strong faith. Me thinks it also may have helped to break down the silly stereotypes people have about us wacky followers of the Lover of all.

I once used "No More Mr. Nice Guy" as a metaphor for the misconception of the "shiny happy Mr. Rodgers" Christ, and how the real rebel Jesus would be treated in many churches today. . . .heh, when yer workin' with kids, you use anything you can (O:

Also, check out this awesome CNN interview with Vince Furier (aka Alice), and visit the Solid Rock website.
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Good News or just Good Advice?

Is not the popular idea of Christianity simply this, that
Jesus Christ was a great moral teacher and that, if only we
took his advice, we might be able to establish a better social
order and avoid another war? Now, mind you, that is quite
true; but it tells you much less than the whole truth about
Christianity, and it has no practical importance at all. It is
quite true that, if we took Christ's advice, we should soon be
living in a happier world. You need not even go as far as
Christ. If we did all that... Confucius told us, we should get
on a great deal better than we do. And so what?... If
Christianity only means one more bit of good advice, then
Christianity is of no importance. There has been no lack of
good advice for the last four thousand years. A bit more makes
no difference.

C. S. Lewis - Mere Christianity

After the last tear falls

Not the best version of this wonderful tune, but with a week of mother's going home to heaven, friend's going under the knife, and aging parents forgetting their children's names, it it good to remember that before, during, and after the last tear that falls there is God's love!

Andrew Peterson - After the Last Tear Falls

After the last tear falls
After the last secret's told
After the last bullet tears through flesh and bone
After the last child starves
And the last girl walks the boulevard
After the last year that's just too hard

There is love
Love, love, love
There is love
Love, love, love
There is love

After the last disgrace
After the last lie to save some face
After the last brutal jab from a poison tongue
After the last dirty politician
After the last meal down at the mission
After the last lonely night in prison

There is love
Love, love, love
There is love
Love, love, love
There is love

And in the end, the end is
Oceans and oceans
Of love and love again
We'll see how the tears that have fallen
Were caught in the palms
Of the Giver of love and the Lover of all
And we'll look back on these tears as old tales

'Cause after the last plan fails
After the last siren wails
After the last young husband sails off to join the war
After the last "this marriage is over"
After the last young girl's innocence is stolen
After the last years of silence that won't let a heart open

There is love
Love, love, love
There is love

And in the end, the end is
Oceans and oceans
Of love and love again
We'll see how the tears that have fallen
Were caught in the palms
Of the Giver of love and the Lover of all
And we'll look back on these tears as old tales

'Cause after the last tear falls
There is love
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