HE = always best

The Three Trees

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting

some kind of battle."

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and Queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, "and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one," and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.

We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

(from Weekly Inspirational, The Three Trees, Feb. 5, 2012, emailed by Sr. Theresa Sullivan, DC)

awaken me!

my spiritual director introduced this prayer to me (by Joyce Rupp!) and every time we pray it at our meetings, i love it! each time i pray this prayer, it seems like a different stanza sticks out to me in such a poignant way. therefore, this is a GREAT prayer in my life. and that is the Holy Spirit for you.

enjoy!

The Fruits of the Spirit 
- Joyce Rupp

Surprising One, coming in ways I least expect,
Open me to your Dynamic presence.
Awaken me, Surprising One!

Perceptive Guide, always available to direct my ways,
Advice me in self-discipline and decision-making.
Awaken me, Perceptive Guide!

Freedom Bringer, asking for my willingness to surrender,
Help me to leg to, to let in, to let be.
Awaken me, Freedom Bringer!

Source of Power, providing stamina and strength for my soul,
Support me when I am weak and vulnerable.
Awaken me, Source of Power!

Arousing One, stirring up what is dead or stale,
Urge my stagnant, sleeping gifts into life.
Awaken me, Arousing One!

Divine Transformer, encouraging continued growth,
Grant me both patience and acceptance.
Awaken me, Divine Transformer!

Peacemaker, offering forgiveness and understanding,
Encourage me to communicate with love.
Awaken me, Peacemaker!

Bearer of Love, never-ending font of charity and compassion,
May I share my goodness generously.
Awaken me, Bearer of Love! 

walk, not run

For the past two weeks, I have had the great opportunity to visit some of the sites for the missionary outreach that Sr. Terezinha and I have been preparing for our members from Circles of Discernment, SOSCFI scholars, and for some of our leaders from the Diocese. It has been such a beautiful, blessed experience so far, especially with organizing everything (even though it is so difficult managing scheduleing), and coordinating the plans with the missionaries and the community we will be invited into, but it has been such a great personal experience for me. I am just so excited to be sharing this community (that Sr. T and I have fallen in love with), with this other group of young people who have said yes to accepting this mission! :)

In this past week, I have met with three different groups of people to give them a "mission orientation," to prepare them for what they may expect and to prepare them with their responsibilities as they visit each home.

Here is a list of some of the helpful reminders:
* Take your time and LISTEN
* This is a time to share our faith with one another
*A time for HAPPY SHARING
* If there are children, play with them! Spend TIME with the community
* Do NOT rush, trying to fit in as many visits. We are not looking for quantity of homes visited. We are looking for quality time spent with Jesus and our brothers and sisters.
* If needed, we can schedule another time to visit the communities, if not all of the communities are visited during the course of the day.
* Smile and be grateful for this opportunity
* If you are not welcomed into a house, kindly leave and proceed on your way (this is also the way of Jesus!)

Please pray for us as we tie up the loose ends this week. I will be meeting with the parish priest to get some water blessed so that we can bring the Holy Water into each home to bless the homes, and will be finalizing all the plans later this week too. It will be wonderful!

With wings on our feet, off we go!!