Eeyore Still Kicking

I wrote yesterday that I was going to try to stay away from politics (I failed) because my inner Eeyore was kicking and that would be no good for anyone.

He’s still kicking today. In a bad way. In a way that even my morning offices and the mass could not help.

It’s not just politics, it’s me personally. I think I need to take a mental health break from political blogging, for a little while, in order to keep blogging, at all.

Besides there are plenty of polibloggers out there who are much smarter than I am, and they have it all covered.

This Advent day I am offering you a diversion that -if you want it to- can keep you distracted and distanced from the worldly noise a bit, and can perhaps help you with your own anxieties and troubles.

I am going to share my prayer list with you, and ask you to consider praying for some of these people, if you would. As I have written often and often, when you are going through difficulties, there is no better to time to pray for others; it lightens the load, helps the perspective, and is an act of generosity of which God will never allow himself to be outdone. In the midst of the whirlwind of your own life, you help bless another, and you get blessed, yourself.

Let us pray for:
Adam, age 18, currently undergoing chemo for very aggressive cancer
Gene, age 80, also in chemo being treated for the first of two cancers (he only just retired; he’s a go-getter!)
Jean, age 80, sick husband, loss of son
Ben, age 15, recovering from a heart attack /blood clot situation that necessitated removal of his leg below knee.
Belle, age 3, fighting a rare cancer
Savana, age 4, family trying to protect her from abusive, substance-addicted mother (yes, authorities involved)
Nicholas, age 8, autistic, beginning to recognize words in books and put-together sentences.
Katie, age 18, developmentally impaired/lupus
Lillian, age 6, also autistic.
(These are my Fab Five; I commend them to St. Nicholas, patron of children, for his prayers, every day)
Cherie: High risk pregnancy
Luci, age 11, lightly autistic
Denise, age 35; battling an addiction
Liz, age 28, a very bad cancer in brain
Kelly & Tyler: divorce and custody issues
Kate: Broken hip; slow recuperation
Gen: Shy college junior, needs friends
Cheryl & Husband: as they explore coming to the life of faith
J & Don: many family issues and health issues
Joseph: Mental health issues
Julie: loss of parent
Pat: Work Issues
Dianne: Work Issues
Dan: Work Issues
Lisa & Joey: Single mom, great son, struggling
Jamie: Needs a job
(A lot of that going around; I ask St. Joseph & St. Benedict to pray for all people looking for work or trying to hang on to their positions)
Ruth: cancer
Jack: School changes, and difficulties
Barack Obama: for wisdom, humility, right judgment
Bev: Difficult marriage
Carol: Work and School overload
Johnny: Quadruple bypass
Sue & Elaine: dealing with cancer
Jennifer: Discerning vocation
Veronica: Discerning vocation
Peter: Discerning vocation
Veronique: Discerning vocation
All of my benefactors; anyone who buys an Amazon/Coffee/Aquinas product via this site, or donates -ever day, I pray for your blessing.
All ministers, priests, religious, deacons, people in ministry in all faiths, by name when I can
Military and family
In Thanksgiving

If you have any spare prayers after praying this list, and or your own (or both), I could use a few, myself. Eeyore, you know?

Now that the sun hath veiled his light,
and bid the world goodnight.
To the soft bed my body I dispose;
but where shall my soul repose?

Dear God, even in thy arms,
and can there be any so sweet security?
Then to thy rest, O my soul,
and singing, praise the mercy that prolongs thy days.
Alleluja.’
(Text by Bishop William Fuller)