Seniors Faith Formation-OLL-Sat 22nd Sept 12

SEEING STARS 

  - AS I  UNDERSTOOD IT...

Rev Speaker Father Michael Chua

 Two men looked out from the prision bars, one saw mud and the other stars...Frederick Langbridge

At the chapel OLL 

Now if everyone could see stars and not mud....if everyone could just learn to look up and occasionally gaze upon  the wonders and power of God around them -appreciate ..instead of looking at the dirt and mud at their feet all the time;  if people could learn to keep faith and belief in God  and steadfastly uphold  their hopes ...then it is a certainty that they  could  keep themselves above the  snares of muddy baggages.... keep positive and believing in the amazing and complete goodness of God... Then they will be able to walk their hopes and faith with good purpose....

The very Rev Michael Chua, spoke  about looking at life through the eyes and minds of faith...it is all about believing and trusting.in the power of God to make all things possible.- that no matter what happens, God will never abandon us. He lifts us up. Life is very much about choices and decisions according to the will of God.It is about the ability to see beauty  and blessings beyond the situation and the circumstance.And people of advancing age need to cultivate that ability to appreciate the beauty of Autumn.

Catholic faith formation almost always come
with food-plenty of goodiesfor brunch

How do you do Rev??

When we were young, strength and conviction made us  fearless...the tide seemed to flow in our favour and even if it does not, we could easily rise up to the challenge..after all opportunities abound.but when the greys come creeping in and the figures rapidly multiply,  self confidence and self belief erodes.  Dread and fear invade....people start to fear losing  their once glorious days and with it the many  benefits and resources, that came with it. Like the Rev said, you look in the mirror...you see wrinkles instead of the clear smoothness of  youth...and despair cries, Oh Mgosh! I'm old and nobody wants me any more!  But then..  age and endings need not necessarily mean disaster...or a total stop of whatever you were previously enjoying. It is just a time for change. With endings, there is always new beginning ...it is how you adapt to the new  beginning , the change that takes place, that  speak for your good health. That guys - will depend very much on your own mental attitude.. do you  want to be walled in or open your mind to other opportunities??? Depends entirely on yourself. Embrace change positively and positiveness will smile upon you! Certainly,  ..people sometimes, need total darkness before they could see the brilliance of the skies... and yes, sometimes, God does shock us into awareness, else our eyes will never be opened to  new paths...Whatever it is, God has a very central position in our lives..if you trust in your Creator...He will ensure that your trust will not be in vain...

Elaine & Mary hard at work
for the next  seniors event on 7th Oct.
Sign up for the treasure hunt and dinner folks!!

At the Registration Table- SCM President
Chacko with his team

YT liked the handy  tools dished out by the speaker -the how to keep away muds  which comes with the seniority of age. That goes into another write up...Let's touch a little on the Solitude thing. Guys, that prickly thing was once a major issue for YT, then, it was negative until she invited God into her space...and started her daily conversations with Him. That was the antidote for the "stand alone" feeling ...solitude in God, and that has become a blessing.... Guess what? Where God is, so will all the angels be...

Loneliness can be an issue for many even though  they keep themselves  busy...because the heart is rather emotional and the mind can create situations... . Like  the Rev said, you fear that giving  up positions of authority, will lose you the control over everyday situation......when in your household- your son or daughter  took over as voice/head  of the household (happens right??) extra...xtra.. .you sort of felt a drain of power...and resistance builds up...denial steps in.... And that sort of situation can get pretty muddy....perhaps you'd slip and find difficulty getting up. But guys, the earlier, you face up to reality and embrace change .....the better, because then, you will be able to channel your energy to other more suitable pathways... Ask yourself-Do you raged about loneliness  but when,  friends rally around, energy fails you, and you just want to be left alone?? You want to do so many things and when people give you the opportunities, you find you are not up to it because your do not have sufficient stamina??? Conflict within self!! Aaah... that's what the tint  of gold does to you.The spirit is still game but the flesh groans..SO, be realistic...

So how to see stars and not mud??? Let's see what the Pope has to say about this issue-  Pope's homily on his 85th birthday...

I find myself myself on the last stretch of my journey in life and I don't know what is awaiting me...I know however that the light of God exist-that He is risen, that His light is stronger than any darkness and that God's goodness is stronger than any evil in this world, and this helps me go forward with a certainty...

Loved that simple declaration ...that's reality  truth  worth trillions...a powerhouse to keep self belief bouncing and  old engines running smoothly. Trust is in God. Old is gold...always remember that...Home?? Not so soon! The end is still not in sight and the road stretches on...so no matter what happens- Autummers- keep fit...keep faith , stay on course and leave the rest to God.

A little mind teaser from the Rev Speaker:-Good chewing gum of the edible kind!! Ask thyself-

1. What is the mud in my life that keeps me from seeing the stars??
2. What are the stars that sustains me in this phase of my life???

Start Chewing People!