March 01, 2006

The Imposition of Ashes

this is the Chapel of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word in Irondale Alabama. Familiar to viewrs of EWTN as the location for the daily mass, I show this to demonstrate what my world looks like right now through my eyes. Taken in harsh TV lighting the blurriness and glare is very similar to my current state of vision...

I also want to honor the man seated on the front row, brother Jack, a lay worker at the network that was there for every service and came out of retirement to work for EWTN. I hadnt seen him in the service recently so called to find out if he was ok and Jack had passed away a few weeks ago in his sleep. May God grant him eternal rest. He was a delightful man and was very kind to Woody and I while we were there in November

They call the ceremonies that occur on this first day of Lent the "Imposition of Ashes" to remind us of the griefs of this life, of our mortality and the sufferings of our Lord... Lent is something that is new to me this giving up and doing without... I have always lived as a "Ressurection Christian", and that my faith was about abundance and not my sacrifice as much as His sacrifice... Both god the Father and Jesus son of the Father...

But I have a different veiw this year. As I enter this second week of partial vision I have laid it and the ensuing impediments that this brings on, on the altar as a sort of Lenten fast. I cannot read watch TV, or spend much time in the sun. I cant see the words that I am typing on the computer now and doing with out the daily reading of your blogs is a loss that I truly feel. I miss you like I miss my friends that are near by. I cannot work or certainly drive (heaven forbid!!!)and am not very useful here at home either. So the kitties and I sit around and listen to EWTN and CDs and I do write some in the morning.(Woody says that like my typing my handwriting is very good for a semi sighted person... Years of practice I suppose

But I have hope. The "Smokiness" this sort of visual sensation that I am living in a smokefilled bar is fading. I have less blurriness in my distance vision and I think in a few days it will be much improved. Over the next several months my vision will fluctuate and I dont know how that will affect my life, work and other things but its again a imposition that I can give to God... for this is a blessing of His that will surly bear good fruit in due season.