October 6, 2024

Dear People of God,

Life is difficult. As children, we all have hopes, dreams and goals that will undoubtedly become reality. However, the twists, curves, hills, and forks in the road called life change our plans. John Lennon beautifully summarized life’s journey with the powerful line: “Life is what happened while I was making other plans.”

Life’s journey is not easy, but we do not walk alone. The Lord Jesus is our hope, strength and guide along the way. We must realize all is a gift, and whenever we have a gift, we must have a giver — and God is the giver of all gifts. As we grow older, is the gift of life making me bitter or better? Do I trust God, or does life always have to be on my terms? Am I grateful for what God has blessed me with, or do I focus on what I do not possess? Tough questions with no easy answers.

The key to a “successful” life is rooted in God, faith, family, friends, and prayer. Prayer is the thread that weaves and connects all the facets of our life. I share with you a powerful story that was given to me. Read and pass it on…

Daddy’s Empty Chair

A man’s daughter has asked the local minister to come and pray with her father. When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows.

An empty chair sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.

“I guess you were expecting me,” he said. “No, who are you?” said the father.

The minister told him his name and remarked, “I saw the empty chair and figured you knew I was going to show up.”

“Oh yeah, the chair,” said the bedridden man. “Would you mind closing the door?” Puzzled, the minister shut the door. “I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter,” said the man. “But I have never known how to pray all my life. I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer at church, but it went right over my head.”

“I abandoned any attempt at prayer,” the old man continued, “until one day four years ago. My best friend told me, ‘Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of conversing with Jesus. Here is what I suggest. Sit down in a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith, see Jesus on the chair. It’s not spooky because he promised, ‘I will be with you always.’ Then speak to him like you’re doing with me right now.”

“So, I tried it, and I like it so much that I do it for a couple of hours every day. I am careful, though… If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the hospital.”

Deeply moved by the story, the minister encouraged the man to continue his journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church.

Two nights later, the daughter called to tell the minister that her father had died that afternoon. “Did he die in peace?” he asked.

“Yes, when I left the house about two o’clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me, and kissed me on the cheek. When I returned from the store an hour later, I found him. But there was something strange about his death. Just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed.”

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Always remember, If God brings you to it, God will bring you through it.

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Exercise daily — walk with the Lord!

Enjoy fall,

Fr. Greg