May Reads: Books Read During the Month of May

May is always a busy month for me. The end of the school year is "crunch time". My word of the year is "READ" (chosen for me by Jennifer Fulwiler's Word of the Year Generator), so during Lent, I began reading during my lunchtime. I continued it (for the most part) during the Easter Season. Here's a run-down of the books read in May:

📙 Hildegard of Bingen, Doctor of the Church: A Spiritual Reader  (Carmen Acevedo Butcher). I knew nothing of St. Hildegard until I listened to the Abiding Together Podcast series on Women Doctors of the Church. This book was recommended on the podcast and it did not disappoint. Included are excerpts from her songs, visions, plays, and letters.  It took me a while to read this; there was a lot of soul-stirring going on. I wanted to take my time and take it all in. Be aware: this book will leave you craving to learn more about our newest Doctor of the Church!

 My recommendation: 👍

📙 Learning to Love with the Saints: A Spiritual Memoir (Jean M. Heimann). I was a bit disappointed in this book since it wasn't what I was expecting. I expected it to be more of a "how Saints encouraged me through my life" instead of a story of a person's personal life. At the beginning of each chapter, there is a quote (most of them are from St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Pope John Paull II, and St. Terese of Avila); however, the author fails to connect these saints and the quotes with what was going on in her life. It wasn't until around the halfway mark of the book that I felt the book was going in the direction I was led to believe it was about. That's when she really pulled the Saints into her life and discussed how they helped her get through her difficulties. That's what I expected the book to be about after reading the descriptions.

I have a hard time getting over a published book with "print" errors, and there were two towards the front of the book. I was annoyed at the beginning of the book: I wasn't expecting a book that was a "look at me, look how wonderful my life is" kind of book. Even when she discusses her troubled marriage, I was annoyed. Personally, this just wasn't my kind of book. Information that was given toward the front of the book was repeated in chapters toward the end of the book. 

My recommendation: 👎

📙 Be Brave in the Scared: How I Learned to Trust God During the Most Difficult Days of My Life (Mary E. Lenaburg). For a more in-depth review, please read this post. If you're looking for a "REAL" book to read, this is it. Mary is a wife and mom to 2 children: Courtney is her special needs daughter. She hits on some tough experiences in her life and doesn't sugar-coat anything. I had a hard time putting this book down. Make sure you have the tissues ready!

My recommendation: 👍

📙 Broken + Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation (Fr. Josh Johnson). I first heard Fr. Josh on the same podcast that recommended the St. Hildegard book. He has his own podcast (Ask Fr. Josh)and is just incredibly humble and wise. This book was fantastic! Fr. Josh gave some very practical suggestions for anyone, regardless of age or stage of life, to use in order to increase their personal relationship with God. For a more in-depth review, read this post.

My recommendation: 👍

Now that school is out, I have more time to read. I hope to have more reviews (both monthly and individually) soon, so make sure you come back! If you have any suggestions for books to read, leave them in the comments.

Book Review: Broken + Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation

The following is a review of the book "Broken + Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation" by Father Josh Johnson. I received no compensation for this review; all opinions are my own.

This book may be designated as an invitation to Fr. Josh Johnson's generation, but don't let that stop you if you are old enough to be his parent or even his grandparent. I heard of Fr. Josh from a podcast and then subscribed to the Ask Fr. Josh podcast. It is so uplifting to see a young priest who just wants people of any age to know God and to have a personal relationship with Him. That is what this book is all about. Fr. Josh intertwines his own experiences with scripture, Saints, and practical ways to get closer to God. The personal experiences keep it relatable, no matter your age.

Perfect for Small Groups or Individuals

I enjoyed the format of the book. First, Fr. Josh identifies a difficulty and then relates it to a personal experience. Each chapter ends with an Invitation to Prayer followed by questions, which makes it a perfect book for small groups. Or, individuals can reflect on the questions and use one, some, or all of them as journal prompts. I found each chapter to be very interesting and came away with ways to increase my prayer life and grow closer to God.

Even though he hasn't been a priest for a long time, Fr. Josh has such words of wisdom. Yet he remains so humble. He talks about his struggles with his own prayer life and his life in general. I saw a lot of myself in situations that he spoke of. Millennials have such an advantage over my generation: They have access to priests on social media that we didn't have.

Breaking Down the Book

In the Introduction, Father Mike Schmitz describes Fr. Josh as "authentic". The reader definitely gets that vibe from this book. Here is a man who understands that his brokenness is just like ours.

In the chapter Intimacy with God, Fr. talks about knowing who God is versus actually knowing God. He puts it in completely understandable language. He is able to use pop culture so it is relatable to everyone, regardless of age. He also brings in the lives of the Saints to drive his message home.

This book hits on so many different topics: humility, truly knowing God, Lectio Divina, the brokenness of the Catholic Church as an institution, divorce & annulment, inviting God into your life completely (despite the messiness), vices, praying the Rosary, suggestions on how to pray, as well as how to make prayer a priority.

In the chapter Breaking the Chains of Sin, we are given excellent advice on how to break out of the trap of envy. Included is the Litany of Humility with the suggestion of substituting the person's name for "other". Also included in the Invitation to Prayer section at the end of this chapter is an excellent examen of conscience using 1 Corinthians:13:4-6.

I often will give a book away after I have finished reading it, telling the person to pass it on. Not this book. I will keep it to refer back to; however, I plan on buying a couple of copies to give to my sons to read...just in case!

Tying Preparation To the Ascension

We are always being prepared for our future whether we realize it or not. I have been working as a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) for 35 years; 33 of those years have been in the schools. The other two were spent working for a company who contracted to nursing homes. When I left that position to go back to work in the schools, I thought I had wasted those two years. At the very least, I thought the only thing I got out of it was the necessity of making sure I was able to "CYA" (Cover Your A_ _) with paperwork to keep from receiving insurance denials as well as to make sure I wasn't sued.  It wasn't until 20+ years later that I realized why God wanted me in that setting: my dad got sick.

We (my siblings and I) were on the receiving end of God's mercy because it wasn't a prolonged illness. He went into the hospital with pneumonia on 01/01/2017 and passed away 02/01/17. At one point, he was actually diagnosed with "aspiration pneumonia" and a swallow study was ordered. If I had not worked in a nursing home, I wouldn't have had any idea about some of the medical stuff one of us should have known to make sure daddy was receiving the best care. I was able to go with him to the swallow study and was allowed to watch the study being performed. When the cardiologist visited daddy later that day, I was able to tell him that he did, indeed aspirate. I was able to thicken daddy's liquids and show my brother how to do it. I was able to make sure daddy correctly used the techniques recommended by the hospital SLP during his meals.

If I hadn't worked in the nursing home, I would have had no clue about the study or the recommendations (swallowing wasn't a course in my graduate program way back in the stone ages). How does this tie in with the Ascension? When the apostles were just looking up at the clouds, the angels gave them a shove and basically told them to get on with it. Jesus prepared them for this moment. They were ready to take what they learned and spread the Word. He prepares all of us for what we need; we just don't realize it. He won't let us down, especially if we rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us.

As I said in a previous post, the apostles were told to "Go do something". As I get older, I look back at certain periods in my life & realize that He prepared me. Little things that happened are just a piece of the bigger picture. I challenge you to take a few minutes and think of how something that seemed insignificant prepared you for something bigger. I'd love to hear how God has prepared you.

Be Brave in the Scared: A Book Review

Mary E. Lenaburg (author of Be Brave in the Scared: How I learned to trust God during the most difficult days of my life) defines "Being Brave in the Scared" as facing the hard challenges that we can't escape no matter how hard we try. I have to admit that I started following Mary on Instagram after I saw a post about her daughter, Courtney, as she was in the last phase of her life. Me, being as selfish as I am, said a prayer but then went on with my life. The posts didn't pop up in my feed and I soon forgot about Courtney...until I started receiving posts about the book. Being a Speech Language Pathologist, I've worked with children with severe disabilities before. (My current position does not allow me that privilege.) I can't imagine what the families' daily lives are like: the appointments, the feeling of siblings being left out, the medications, etc. Courtney being an individual with special needs drew me to the book.

Keeping It REAL

I halfway expected this book to be another Oh, life is just wonderful. God took care of all our needs and feelings, and once we accepted Courtney as she is everything was roses. Boy, was I wrong! Mary kept it real in this book. I can't imagine how hard it was for her to revisit difficulties in her marriage and put it out there for all of us to read. It had to have been hard for her husband as well, to admit some not so proud moments of their Christian lives. If I had to summarize this book in one word, it would be REAL. Because it was. It wasn't preachy and Mary doesn't pretend to have all of the answers. She doesn't make herself out to be some saint who sacrificed for over 20 years to give Courtney the care she required. It's just...REAL.

Tissues Required

I cried toward the end of the book. I cried for Mary's marriage. I cried when she wrote about Courtney dying. I cried when I read about her feelings about not knowing who she is without Courtney. I had those same feelings when my youngest was beginning his high school years. I remember standing in the kitchen one afternoon after getting home from work. My oldest was away at college, my middle was at football practice, and my youngest was at band practice. I just stood there not knowing what to do with myself. I told my husband that I questioned what I would do when no one needed me. Mary's feelings had to be magnified a gazillion times more than what I felt!

All the Feels

Mary laid out her feelings for all of us to feel. She laid out her experiences and exposed feelings that I felt, although probably not on the same level as hers. She opened up herself and her family so we can experience Courtney and know that we have a saint in heaven that we can call on for intercession. I can honestly say that when I work with students with disabilities, I will certainly be calling on Courtney to give me patience and understanding during my therapy sessions. Thank you, Mary E. Lenaburg for writing this book. Thank you for writing it from the heart and for giving of yourself and your family. You certainly could have sugar-coated the whole thing. You certainly could have made it "preachy", but you exposed all of the ugliness that many see in their daily lives. We are all struggling to be the saints we are called to be. Thank you for sharing Courtney with us!

Finding Peace and Joy in the Midst of Rejection

Rejection. Paul and Barnabas were thrown out of the city because of their preaching. They were rejected by their own people, so they turned to the Gentiles who drank up all they said and relished that the tables had turned- they now had a chance at salvation if they truly believed that Jesus died for our sins and that he rose-just like Scriptures said He would.

Feeling Joy After Rejection?

How did Paul and Barnabas deal with that rejection?  They shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 13:51-52) Rejection is a part of life. No one can escape it. Jesus even knew how it felt to be rejected. What a great example of how we should deal with it! It's easier said than done, to "shake the dust off our sandals", or in other words, to disassociate with those who reject us. Or, to just say, "Yes, I'm hurt/bothered by the rejection, but obviously, God has other plans for me." It's really hard to feel joy after being so hurt from rejection.

Inexpressible Peace and Interior Freedom

Paul and Barnabas were in it together. They had each other to lean on, and they had the presence of Jesus. We have that presence as well, as long as we can put our trust in Him and let his love shine through. He will give us peace if we trust in Him. Father Jacques Philippe in Searching for and Maintaining Peace says "...he who accepts to put everything into the hands of God, to allow Him to give and take according to His good pleasure, this individual finds an inexpressible peace and interior freedom." THAT is what Paul and Barnabas had and that's why they were "filled with joy and the Holy Spirit". Yes, it's harder for us because Paul and Barnabas saw Jesus first-hand. But isn't that the beauty of faith? To believe what we haven't seen. To believe because those who have gone before us didn't stop when they were rejected. They knew there would be people who wouldn't believe them. They knew there would be people who were scared of what they were saying. They responded by shrugging their shoulders and maintaining their peace.

Accepting the Rejection

We have that same choice: to turn away or to stay joyful. In those times of rejection, may we turn to Jesus and say "Yes, Lord. I accept the rejection because it turns me back to You and helps me to maintain my peace and joy."

Feeling Let Down After Easter Sunday?

Photo courtesy of Negative Space

“Stop holding on to me.” (John 20:17) The past few Lents have been very meaningful to me. I’ve not only learned a lot about God, but also about myself. I hate to admit it, but this has resulted in me feeling a bit of a let-down after Easter Sunday. I should feel joyous, right? As St. John Paul II said, “We are an Easter people.” So why am I not feeling it?

An "AHA" Moment

As I reflected on Jesus telling Mary Magdalene “Stop holding on to me,” I had that “AHA”  moment. It was as though Jesus was speaking to ME, telling me to let Lent go and rejoice. Easter Sunday is an end, not only an end to death, but an end of Lent, of fasting, and, in my case, of doing something extra, sacrificing something to spend more time with the Lord. I feel a little lost trying not to fall back into my Pre-Lenten habits so I can focus on the ultimate goal.
Maybe that’s why I’m having trouble finding the joy: I was so wrapped up in everything I did for Lent that I was focusing on the fight (suffering) and not the prize (the Resurrection). I know I over-extended myself this Lent. (See this post.) I was caught up with my fear of being left out that I took on too much and lost focus of Easter Sunday.

Plenty of Time

But thankfully, it’s not too late. One of the great things about being Catholic is that, after sacrificing for 40 days, we rejoice in the Resurrection for 40 days. Easter isn’t just 1 day; we follow the apostles for 40 days during the Easter Season until the Ascension, then 10 more days until Pentecost. We travel with them as Jesus’ ministry becomes theirs. We watch and learn how our Catholic faith began. Exciting stuff, isn’t it?
It’s time to let go of Lent and rejoice in the Resurrection. It’s time to get excited about learning how Christianity- and Catholicism began. Easter Sunday is an end, but also a huge beginning.

How Walking the Dog Inspired My Spiritual Life

On one of the first warm days this season as I was walking my dog, it hit me: How cool is it that Lent is this time of year? I've never thought about it until this year: Lent begins in winter and ends in Spring. Seeing color popping up all over gave me inspiration. I took a good look at the trees: they look dead, but after taking a closer look, you realize that they are coming back to life, first by the buds that will grow into leaves and flowers.

We see color popping up in the most unusual places. I think we should see that in our lives God pops up when we least expect it.

Spring is a time for us to wake up and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. What was once sleeping or dormant is now bursting into life with all of the colors in the palette. Just as the trees and the flowers and even the weeds are coming to life with color, so should our spiritual life. We've made it through ordinary time and are making our way through Lent, so now is the time to start awakening.

With spring comes storms just as with our spiritual life we will have storms. Some may be rough and some not as rough as the others, but they will happen and we just have to trust in God that we will be safe. I think it's a beautiful thing that Lent starts in winter & ends in Spring because with the blooming of the spring flowers, so our hearts bloom for our Lord.

If the weeds can produce beautiful flowers then surely I, being the miserable sinner that I am, can also produce something beautiful. God gives us that chance to repent and to have our souls become beautiful again.

Spring is a time of renewal: The earth wakes up and is renewed. The animals start the renewal of a new generation.

I would encourage you to get out as soon as it's warm enough in your neck of the woods and take a walk. Take is slooooow. I'm usually all about getting around the park with the dog so I can get my 30 minutes in and be done with it. I am so thankful that I took the time when I started this post to take it slow and look...really look at what is going on around me. It is truly a wondrous thing, made more wondrous when putting it in the context of Lent and just how beautiful nature coinciding with the liturgical calendar is. I'm pretty sure it's no accident!