Lisa Hendey
On Thursday night, I had a brief interaction, lasting approximately three hours, that will substantially change the way I read news headlines in the future.
I was flying home from Atlanta (from a very cool project that I’ll be sharing here soon). Seated next to me (in the unfortunate “middle seat” position) was a very young looking man. I judged him to be a novice flyer and about the same age as my youngest son, a twenty year old college sophomore. But unlike my Adam who has such ease with travel, this young man was obviously more than nervous. He was scared, and he wasn’t too shy to tell me that it was only his second flight. I tried to put him at ease, the mom in me unable to resist the urge to nurture. We struck up a conversation that lasted for the duration of the flight.
As we flew from Atlanta to Dallas, I learned some of the details of “Bryce’s” life. He was older than he looked, but he’d also had a more storied life than I could have imagined. A single father of two little ones under the age of three, he was on the way home from his basic training in the army for a short break to see his family. I see travelers like Bryce quite a lot when I’m on the road. My favorite moments are the ones when I witness the reunions of soldiers coming home to their families. The love and joy are palpable, as is the relief that a strong, brave solider has returned home safely.
Bryce and I left without formal introductions. I will not likely meet him again. But my parting words to him were that he would be in my prayers daily. I believe his gratitude when he looked me in the eye and said, “Thank you for that Ma’am” was genuine.
On my layover, I asked social media friends to remember Bryce and his fellow soldiers who are so admirably serving our country. Hundreds of friends replied, with promises to pray but also with news of their own loved ones who are serving. One particular Facebook friend reminded me that service in the military is a worthy profession and that the families of our troops need and deserve our ongoing support too.
Over the last few days, as I’ve reconnected with the news of the week, my mind keeps going to Bryce and his fellow army recruits. I cannot know how the inconceivable tensions with ISIS or other international hotspots will play out. But I know that our military, men and women like Bryce and his family, will be on alert and ready. Rather than thinking of them as nameless units, I will be praying for them as individuals.
At the same time, I want to remember to pray for the individuals who are suffering around the world–the victims of unspeakable terror, but also those who suffer in lingering ways from illness, poverty, or abuse. When the headlines we read daily are so very grim, it’s easy to begin to gloss over the pain and to dull ourselves to the people who suffer. This is how atrocities are perpetrated. When we neglect to care, to pay attention, to pray like warriors for God’s intercession against senseless acts of hatred, we give in to the enemy.
My heart is with Bryce this week as he rests and recuperates, and as he prepares for the unknowns that are to come. May God keep and protect him and his loved ones, today and always.
Saint Michael the Archangel, patron of soldiers, bless and protect all of those who serve.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!
I’m grateful to my friend John Clem, O.F.S. for this week’s Top Catholic Tweets:
Top Catholic Tweets 02/20/2015:
- Papal Tweet: “During Lent, let us find concrete ways to overcome our indifference.” (Pope Francis Feb. 17th)
- Examining Our Social Sins (Fr. Dan Horan, O.F.M. – America Magazine) ow.ly/J0ABg
- Beautiful Video: Easter at Ephesus by Benedictines of Mary (DeMontfort Music) ow.ly/J0BL7
- Seal of confession on the court docket | National Catholic Reporter ow.ly/J0DHO
- Even non-believers may want to visit the $400 million Museum of the Bible (The Washington Post) ow.ly/J0Hzj
- After desecrations, bishop orders all tabernacles in his diocese to be emptied (Deacon Greg Kandra) ow.ly/J1pfJ
- Support Daughters of St. Paul for 100th Anniv.: Catholic Nuns Audiobooks Ministry | Indiegogo ow.ly/J1BWb
- NEW Podcast: A Seeking Heart w/ Allison Gingras (Real Life Radio) 02/12/15 ow.ly/J1Ifd
- Cardinals Support Reforms So Far in Roman Curia, Particularly Vatican Finances (America Magazine) ow.ly/J1RfC
- Pennsylvania’s governor suspends the death penalty (The Washington Post) ow.ly/J28pS
- Vatican’s finance czar reports $1.5 billion in hidden assets (John Allen – Crux) ow.ly/J2ins
- Can Catholics Fall Deeper in Love Online? (uCatholic) ow.ly/J2nMR
- Pope Francis tells new cardinals to be models of love, not brooding schemers (Religion News Service) ow.ly/J3ouL
- Consistory: three new canonisations approved (News.va) ow.ly/J3oB8
- NEW Pope Francis stamps from the Vatican’s Philatelic and Numismatic Office. ow.ly/i/8E68R
- The Internet: Not the Mirror of the Soul – New Evangelizers ow.ly/J3xsn
- Show Me Real Love: Romantic Movies Worth Watching (Sr. Helena Burns, DSP – LifeTeen.com) ow.ly/J3DHy
- Anchored in faith: Lester Holt on religion and journalism (Deacon Greg Kandra – Patheos) ow.ly/J3TIP
- Video: God’s Beauty at Mount Saint Michel in France (Dailymotion) ow.ly/J436L
- Consistory : Cardinals from the peripheries (Sean Patrick Lovett – Vatican Radio) ow.ly/J46gR
- Coverage of Consistory 2015 | National Catholic Reporter ow.ly/J87qY
- 5 Ideas for what to do with the dress after the big day – CNA Blog ow.ly/J4koV
- Saintly Sinners, Sinful Saints (Fr. James Martin, S.J. – America Magazine) ow.ly/J4l6o
- 5 Reasons Every Man Should Love St. Joseph (The Catholic Gentleman) ow.ly/J7OjA
- Time for Clergy to “Man Up” – How the Exhortation of St. Catherine of Siena is Still Needed Today! (ADW) ow.ly/J7TdW
- St. Teresa of Avila’s survival guide for Catholic women | National Catholic Reporter ow.ly/J7Uba
- 7 Reasons Why Evangelicals Should Read Thomas Merton (Michael Wright – Patheos) ow.ly/J83cC
- The Family Rosary (Catholic365.com) ow.ly/J887S
- Photo: Mary carrying our burdens: This statue is outside of a cancer center at Mercy Hospital-Council Bluffs, Iowa. ow.ly/i/8FbnC
- The Catholic Roots of Carnival/MardiGras (The Roman Catholic Mass Explained) ow.ly/J8o9B
- Bishop Martinelli vows to stay in Libya with his flock (Vatican Radio)ow.ly/J8qq4
- O’Malley says cardinals’ denial of the seriousness of sexual abuse is fading (John Allen – Crux) ow.ly/J9RoW
- Pope Francis Opens a Barbershop for the Homeless With Free Showers, Shaves (Newser) ow.ly/Jbvv8
- Pope Francis’ Message for World Youth Day: “Have the courage to be happy” (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/JbFF4
- NEW: Beloved: a new video series on the sacrament of marriage – part of Symbolon Series (Augustine Institute) ow.ly/JbNSF
- What ISIS Really Wants (Graeme Wood – The Atlantic) ow.ly/JbREt
- Year of Consecrated Life: Sister Gabi on urgent mission (The Catholic Leader) ow.ly/JbSLq
- Cardinal Dolan: Civilization is threatened by evils of ISIS (New York Post) ow.ly/JdXDR
- Special Guest: Sarah Reinhard on Making a Pilgrimage with Kids in Tow (The Faithful Traveler – Diana von Glahn) ow.ly/JccCu
- Pope prays for Coptic Christians murdered by ISIS. Laments violence and arms trafficking (Rome Reports) ow.ly/Jcxno
- Obama Immigration Policy Halted by Federal Judge in Texas (NYTimes.com) ow.ly/JcB6a
- Nutella Founder Dies, Said Secret of Success Was Our Lady of Lourdes (Aleteia) ow.ly/JcIVI
- Three year-old Brazilian boy with cancer ‘celebrates Mass,’ wants to be Pope :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) ow.ly/JdV0w
- US dioceses consult Catholics on family issues for fall synod | National Catholic Reporter ow.ly/Je0Oz
- A priest, a rabbi, & an imam walk into a website – Deily: explaining religion, together :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) ow.ly/JhKLJ
- Metal coils and furious women: The stunning controversy behind an FDA-approved birth control (CNA) ow.ly/JplSZ
- Rocker priests launch album to honor 500 years since birth of St. Teresa of Avila (Rome Reports) ow.ly/JpmDM
- Support Fr. Roderick creating videos and podcasts for Trideo & SQPN (Patreon) ow.ly/JptBu
- Dominicans keep hope alive among Iraqi Christian community (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/JpCH6
- Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop Lori Urge Support For The Health Care Conscience Rights Act (USCCB) ow.ly/JpDAJ
- Grandmother, florist may lose her business and home for declining gay wedding :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) ow.ly/JqdM9
- Ukranian bishop meets with Pope Francis as country’s crisis rages on :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) ow.ly/JqdZW
Lenten Resources
- Lent 2015 Resources from PAX CHRISTI USA ow.ly/J0wEK
- Check out Sisters Water Project – Lenten Calendar to raise awareness of water issues (Sisters of St. Francis) ow.ly/J3FrF
- Monday & Tuesday were the period of Shrovetide ow.ly/i/8Fa2k
- The Catholic Roots of Carnival/MardiGras (The Roman Catholic Mass Explained) ow.ly/J8o9B
- The Lenten Experience (Fr. Paul Lostritto, O.F.M. – Franciscan Bread For The Poor) ow.ly/J9QwK
- Lent Resources from AmericanCatholic.org ow.
ly/JadXB - Carnival Around the World – Mardi Gras | Epicurious.com ow.ly/JbHwv
- At Mardi Gras, God dwells among the motley crowds | National Catholic Reporter ow.ly/JbQsR
- Interactive Quiz: What Should You Give Up For Lent? (Catholic) Link ow.ly/JdN8j
- Say No to Fish Sticks: 7 Meatless Meals for Lent (Busted Halo) ow.ly/JdOJl
- Fast Pray Give calendar for Lent from Busted Halo ow.ly/JdVws
- Lent: My 40/40/40 Prayer Pact (Lisa Martinez – Closed Doors Open Windows) ow.ly/JdXhf
- Piety in the #Ashtag Era (Third Culture: A Blog by Peter Chin – Christianity Today) ow.ly/Je0l3
- Immersive Audio Experience: The Way of the Cross – Archdiocese of Denver (ArchDen.org) ow.ly/Je46X
- Why Lent? Fr. Barron Explains (Video) | Word On Fire ow.ly/Jg74p
- uCatholic | A Complete Guide To The Rules For Lent ow.ly/JgbOq
- Infographic: Lent & 3 Pillars (CatholicLink) ow.ly/i/8GTdb
- Lenten Fast for Climate Justice | The Global Catholic Climate Movement ow.ly/JglGL
- How Catholics, Lent, and bowls of rice are changing the world :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) ow.ly/Jgqpe
- 7 Apps to Help You Do Lent Right (Aleteia) ow.ly/JgsLo
- Fast from…Feast on, Lent 2015 | Blog | Order of Carmelites ow.ly/JgvSU
- 40 – A Video Of Jesus In The Wilderness (Adam Young) youtu.be/P-6a25Yo2wE
- Lenten Resources from the Franciscan Earth Corps | Mount La Verna Fraternity ow.ly/JhRt5
- Lenten Survival Guide for People Who HATE Fish (EpicPew) ow.ly/JhZVd
- Pope Francis thumbs down to fancy seafood: Don’t let meatless Fridays be selfish, soulless, seafood splurge (CNS) ow.ly/JpkLX
- Satire: Local Catholic To Substitute Medium Deep Dish Stuffed-Crust Pizza For Meat On Fridays During Lent (EOTT) ow.ly/Jplgk
John Clem, O.F.S is the Director and Media Minister at Catholic Web Services (http://catholicws.com/). John is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and loves to share his talents in faith, technology, and journalism in service to the church. John also writes a blog entitled Call To Holiness (http://www.calltoholiness.
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