My Slow Takes About Ave Maria, St. Stephen and Seekers.

1. This is from “Christin’s Quote Book.”

"We're all a little weird and life's a little weird. And when we find someone who's weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." – Dr. Seuss

2. Monday evening our men’s group had a guest speaker. Her name is Katie and she is daughter of one of members, Brother Tom. Katie is attending Ave Maria University. It is located south of Naples, Florida.

“Ave Maria University is a Catholic, liberal arts institution of higher learning dedicated to the formation of joyful, intentional followers of Jesus Christ through Word and Sacrament, scholarship and service, inspired by Saint John Paul II and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and devoted to Mary, the Mother of God.”

Katie spoke of her decision to attend Ave Maria, her experiences as a student, her friends, professors and the campus in general. It was easy to see that she loved talking about everything. Her talk was uplifting, like a spark igniting our faith journeys. She spoke of discipleship. Of seeing Christ in the faces of others and how they should see the same when they look at us.  

3. If you didn’t read Steve Givens blog on Saturday, here is part of what was written.

“As we arise each day and search for ideas and meaning and insights, as we face empty screens and journals and canvases and sketchbooks, the Word (co-present with God since before the creation of the world) moves around inside us and kicks us like an unborn child aching and yearning to see the light of day. We give birth because of his birth. We create because we have been created.”

4. "Stephen, filled with grace and power,
was working great wonders and signs among the people.
Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,
Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,
and people from Cilicia and Asia,
came forward and debated with Stephen,
but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke."   Acts 6:8-10

Stephen was the "first Martyr," his feast day, December 26. Read his story here.

5. Their names were Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar. Three scholars or perhaps kings from Persia, India and Arabian. Traveling together, following a bright star. One that would lead them to Bethlehem in Judea. There they would find Jesus, worship Him and present Him with “gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” 

Kings, scholars and shepherds receiving word that God had sent His son and they were to go and witness our saving grace. A rather odd selection of witnesses, but perhaps a foreshadowing of what was to come. A message that “all” would be able to worship.

here 6. Celtic Woman - “We Three Kings.”

7. "May you live as God intended, in a world at peace and the awareness of His love in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile, every lover's kiss, and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our heart." 

Have a Blessed New Year.