A Hospice vigil was canceled this morning and afternoon due to the passing of a patient. Now unexpected free time presents itself. The Hospice is keeping my social life active, a plentitude of meaningful and animated occurrences touching my life, while work steps into overdrive with overtime, demanding seven days a week for the short term future. By September, I am determined I will be in a position to present myself to a religious community as debt free. In addition in swamping personal time, a YMCA membership allows a reemergence into exercise and basketball. It is soothing that everything seems to center around the location I once viewed as distant, the locale of Dr. Nichta’s office. I wanted to post photos I took this morning at St Clares. The Church is settling nicely into ruminations and expectations regarding the spiritual life, the founding of a new spiritual home. The Joseph and Mary statues together represent a maturing in emotional and recovery efforts. The ability to be a worthy partner; capable and able to provide strength, comfort, and committed intimacy to a spouse. Joseph rises in ascendency regarding my prayer life, the identifying of myself as a righteous man of God. Within humility, I ground myself in manliness and the strength of the father of Jesus. Tomorrow is the new men’s group inviting attendance at Sacred Heart. I also met the woman I felt destined to meet the first time I saw her at St Clare. She warmly drew me into conversation at Casa Dolce, introducing me to her husband, intimate in knowledge with the Saturday morning men’s group, assuring me I am in good Catholic company. I feel blessed God is expanding and deepening my spiritual life by bringing in those courageous, humble, and psychologically sound enough to establish a Catholic family within a world of chaos. It lifts my contemplative efforts to greater heights. Joseph ascends as a role model. St Francis de Sales elaborations on Joseph nurturing the Divine Son graced my thoughts with insight. The idea of the Son of God in obedience to Joseph, loving his earthly father, sharing intimate moments of a new life with him, watching him, imitating him, growing under his tutelage, learning from him immensely heightening my awareness of the love and humility of God. Understanding the profound nature of Mary, her natural inclination toward obedience, it is only obvious that her Immaculate Conception would lovingly, respectfully, and trustingly repose into the strength and manliness of her good husband. It is a marvel to grasp Jesus and Mary were placed under the care of Joseph. Joseph the righteous heir to the throne of Israel, relegated by a corrupt world to the vocation of a carpenter, always obedient to the will of God, proved to be a worthy husband and father. The extern sisters at St Paul Shrine are fond of the newer movie ‘Mary of Nazareth’. There is a moving scene in the movie when Joseph struggles mightily with Mary showing up pregnant. He cannot accept her condition, honoring the woman he loves by dismissing her properly, obedient to the commandments of his faith. He strongly and righteously determines he is done with Mary. Emotionally, he breaks down when alone, tearing apart the scaffolding and efforts he was conducting in the construction of a home for Mary and himself. He is a man deeply hurt, wounded to the core. God gifts the beloved man he has chosen to father His Son with a dream, encouraging and inviting the worthy man to take Mary as his bride. In the movie, Mary sits alone in a garden, undisturbed by occurrences, even family members, shamed by Joseph’s dismissing of her, whispering in the background. Joseph appears in the garden in a loving and tear evoking scene. He drops to his knees and proposes to Mary. The statues of Joseph and Mary together attain expanding relevancy to my life; potentialities, proper healing, and a passing beyond called forth. The photo of the Blessed Sacrament chapel hints at the intimacy provided by the quaint setting. The space becomes profound in prayerful consequence. I am drawing great strength and concentration by centering my Adoration first thing in the morning, following mass. It provides perfect structure for late mornings and afternoons open to the call of the Hospice of the Western Reserve.
