Dear Friends of LIS,

Every time I see brightly colored caution tape it is a reminder that I’m still “under construction.” The liturgical seasons always give me an opportunity to allow God to spiritually reconstruct those areas where I need to grow in understanding of His ways.

Last week, I was reading through a journal in which I had recorded notes from an Advent mission at my parish a couple of years ago. “Let this be your best Advent ever” was scribbled on top of the page. As soon as I read those words I immediately remembered the story. The priest presenting the mission began telling a story of his friend, our parish deacon who, after hearing the priest’s homily, was inspired to make the upcoming Advent the best he’d ever had. The priest revealed that after Mass the deacon excitedly shared what the Lord was prompting him to do to make the best of his Advent season. Soon after and without warning, the deacon succumbed to a heart attack a week into his best Advent ever.

The priest explained that he told this story because he wanted us to realize that we often forget to live intentionally. We assume we’ll have time to address personal concerns, to reconcile with family members, to pray more, to let go of burdens and to have meaningful conversations with others. As long as we think we have more time, we tend to put off addressing areas in our lives that are “under construction” and need our attention. Whenever I’m prompted to proceed in a direction that is rather challenging, I hear the words, “God can’t bless you unless you’re outside of your comfort zone.” Because it is only then when you’ll look to Him for strength, instead of relying on your own. Stepping out in faith will, in the end, take us to a place of surrender and into a state of God’s peaceful grace. Right before the mission ended, the priest encouraged us to live purposefully and with a resolve to follow the stirrings in our hearts.

My prayer is that we all can strive to make this Advent our best ever. St. Augustine of Hippo’s quote sums it up for us: “Take care of your body as if you were going to live forever and take care of your soul as if you were going to die tomorrow.” My father, Deacon Joe Stripling, is the deacon whom the priest referenced at our mission. I can’t help but think my father was taking care of his soul by resolving to have his best Advent ever. May our Lord give each of us the grace to do the same while we still have time.

Peace & Blessings,

Lori Stanley,

Executive Director ­