tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18103266979842292082024-03-12T16:48:14.236-07:00Always and in EverythingS. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-29105804075758714792018-08-16T16:01:00.001-07:002018-08-16T16:01:08.402-07:00Dream onYesterday was a big feast day to celebrate Jesus' mother, Mary. Her life was characterized by a constant yes to God and constant praise for Him. Inspired by her example, I wanted to share the story of the past few months so you can praise Him with me.<br />
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Back in March, my company went through a reorganization. I don't want to give specifics here but if you want to know more, just ask! The transition was very difficult for many reasons and so I resigned at the end of May. I didn't want to leave because I really did love my job, but the changes weren't in line with my values. My coworkers were (and still are) so supportive and fantastic, helping me get through those struggles. I'm so grateful! Anyway, I decided to take a leap of faith and leave behind security to seek personal happiness...crazy, right? Not really.<br />
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Due to the chaos of those months, I needed time to relax and replenish myself. I felt like I'd been broken, like my soul had been crushed. I know it sounds dramatic, but it's really how I felt. That's what led to my 2.5 months of traveling. I went to places with intense, inspiring beauty (and Vegas š) and spent a lot of time with my loved ones. It was exactly what I needed! I was able to be myself again, with happiness and peace at my core. Thank God I was able to have that time!<br />
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A month ago, a wonderful coworker got me an interview with a great place that I was sure would be my next job. However, I hadn't heard back after 2 weeks. Honestly, I started doubting and questioning myself, but I remember praying, "Ok, Lord. I'm not sure what's going on, but I wonder if You have something else in mind." Then I got a call from my dad.<br />
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He was so excited because he'd just met a lady who was looking for someone like me! She had a booming private practice and had been praying for a LAC who 1) was Catholic 2) needed a board-certified supervisor 3) wanted a mentor 4) needed their own office space.<br />
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As my dad was telling me about all this, I started to get tears in my eyes. This sounded exactly like what <i>I'd</i> been praying for and I couldn't believe that this could actually be real!<br />
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I interviewed with Donna and she offered me the job on the spot. Today was my first day and I already have 4 people on my schedule.<br />
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That's the short version of my journey. It's been difficult at times, but I've simultaneously had so much peace about this process. Iāve had doubts and anxiety along the way, but Iāve made a conscious effort to choose gratitude and belief. Itās made a huge difference. I'm so incredibly grateful for everything that's happened. It's such a blessing to be an answer to someone's prayer!<br />
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Why do I share all this? I want you to know that God is good and faithful! I want you to know that it's important to know your values so you can live your life authentically and peacefully. I want you to know that having a support system that speaks your love languages (words of affirmation and quality time for me) is invaluable. <b>I want you to know that it's possible to achieve the dreams and desires of your heart. </b><br />
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Dream on!<br />
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S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-85532874921759651752017-03-17T15:26:00.000-07:002017-03-17T15:26:02.437-07:00How's your day been?I've been to two talks lately where the speaker has mentioned intimacy with God but hasn't elaborated on what it means. That phrase 'intimacy with God' struck a chord when I heard it but I pushed it aside to think about later. Guess what? It's later.<br />
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I was in Adoration this week and decided to tell God about my day. I started off relating it like I would to an acquaintance, "Hi God. My day's been fine. I woke up later than I wanted and then just kinda hung around the house for a bit." In other words, I didn't really tell Him anything. Very surface level. Then I stopped and thought, <i>What the heck am I doing? This is God I'm talking to. Of course He knows how my day was and how I was actually feeling. I might as well be honest about it to Him, especially since we're basically sitting face to face.</i> So I started over. "Hi God. I'm gonna be honest this time. I was really bored today. And afraid. My anxiety felt like it was off the charts! I didn't do a lot of what I wanted to or felt like I should have done. I feel like a failure. I'm given so many chances but I feel like I always let them slip away. I never act right when I should. I mean, seriously, what have I been doing since graduation?!"<br />
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I really didn't expect an answer in words...but I got one. I heard Him say clearly, "I've been holding you." Believe me, I was in tears after that. OK, I'm kind of getting off track, but I wanted to illustrate my 'discovery' of intimacy with God.<br />
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This conversation I had with Him, when I decided to be honest and not hide any of my feelings, was so incredibly powerful and meaningful. It reminded me how well He <u>knows</u> my heart and <u>cares</u> about anything I'm feeling or thinking. I crave to be known and loved. It's a human trait. We want someone to say, "I see you, I love you, and you're not alone."<br />
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Many times throughout the day, I have little happy thoughts that I want to share with someone; things that remind me how much I'm loved or how beautiful the world is, etc. I plan on sharing stuff like that with my future husband. I want him to know me better than I know myself. I also want to talk about the mundane stuff, the most average and basic things that happen. I want him to be able to walk through my day with me. And lately I've felt like it's too far away, like I'll be waiting forever. Not true.<br />
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All of these desires of mine, I can share with God. Whenever I seek love, I'm really seeking Him. I can tell Him anything and everything, and He'll be there.<br />
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I encourage you to give it a try. If you have to, start with the facts of the day. When you stumble across an emotion, whatever it is, tell Him about it. Be honest. Share your heart. I promise it's worth it.S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-12665816523878494032016-06-07T12:52:00.001-07:002016-06-07T12:52:33.028-07:00A snapshot of a peaceful summer afternoonLife is stressful. In class we often talk about topics that hurt my heart and leave questions clamoring around in my head, begging for an answer although a concrete one can't be found at the moment. It's summer time though and NoVA is so beautiful! As I was driving home from school today, the clouds were creating giant castles in the sky, taunting me with their beauty, so I decided to walk down to the little pond near my house for a picnic. I'd rather show you how it was then tell you, so read along and try to imagine you are here! I promise you'll leave feeling refreshed and peaceful. :)<br />
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The warmth of the sun on our shoulders as we walk towards the pond is pleasant and light. Passing the neighborhood pool on our right, we hear the squeals of delight from the little kids splashing around, enjoying their afternoon swim. The whole neighborhood has that lazy afternoon feeling about it, but you can sense that it'll start to bustle too soon with everyone coming home from a long day at work. After leisurely crossing the currently deserted street, we have arrived!<br />
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There's a little black squirrel bounding across the grass as we sit down on the bench in front of the water. A curious little Robin alights nearby, bobbing up and down as it walks around us. The pond itself is surrounded by towering trees that are various shades of deep green which contrast nicely with the light blue sky and giant, white, puffy clouds.<br />
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You can see the leaves of the trees across the way starting to ripple in a breeze that hasn't reached us yet. Before you know it, the canopy of leaves above us, shielding us from the sun, starts to whisper and rustle. Have you noticed that each tree sounds different in the wind? The greenish blue water of the pond is changing too, as mini waves gently land on the rocky dirt at our feet.<br />
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Gazing at the water, we notice the shadow of a bird above. We look up to see a brown and white falcon! Two ravens appear at that same moment and silently shepherd the falcon away from their nest which must be hidden somewhere nearby. As the birds disappear, our eyes are caught again by the clouds as they pass across the sky. Each one is different. Some of them are massive and impressive, with towers and pockets and too many shades of white and grey to count. The other ones are small, just a puff of white, but their beauty is still too marked to let them pass by unobserved. <br />
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Another bird silently wings its way above us, and look! It's a heron! There's so much to see here. I decide to close my eyes for a minute so I can soak up all the sounds around us and concentrate on the feeling of the wind as it dances on my skin. There is the faintest hum of cars in the distance. One or two drives by behind us. Some sort of bug buzzes next to my ear for a second and is gone. Little birds chirp and twitter back and forth to each other. The wind gently shakes the leaves. A fish or two tries to grab a bug off the top of the water and makes that plopping sound.<br />
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It's easy to breathe here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtE72UKLisclLkOyKx2V2w1D-5AeooqpyFFD9d6RCscG2xGy_IIVUM7pvxuMiGH0eXaxWb8K53d2u8apL-ti2ybkbCU7-W6etSoTaTHzglr37-eoRLVDHqgH7pie6DoSHhe424HGVSKg/s1600/13336101_10154477853493322_1060950616520225324_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtE72UKLisclLkOyKx2V2w1D-5AeooqpyFFD9d6RCscG2xGy_IIVUM7pvxuMiGH0eXaxWb8K53d2u8apL-ti2ybkbCU7-W6etSoTaTHzglr37-eoRLVDHqgH7pie6DoSHhe424HGVSKg/s320/13336101_10154477853493322_1060950616520225324_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-13279202368194863542016-05-31T12:53:00.001-07:002016-05-31T12:53:52.799-07:00Limited? <div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Iāve got a lot on my mind. Wonderfully, itās all connected. I think itās an important set of ideas to consider, so thatās why Iām sharing this with you. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">(As a disclaimer, Iām merely presenting thoughts for consideration, not justifying my reasons behind them. If youāre curious or offended, Iād like to know so we can have a face to face talk!) </span></div>
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<span class="s1">In class today, we were talking about the conformist nature of American society. Basically, there are a bunch of ideas and social patterns which people are āexpectedā to comply with otherwise theyāre labeled as bad or weird or bigots or whatever (insert your word here). I remember a poster in elementary school that had a dalmatian puppy with rainbow spots. It said āDare to be different.ā I donāt know about you, but whenever I hear that phrase, there always seems to be a caveat or a ābutā coming. In my head, it really reads, āDare to be different...but only in the ways that we say you can.ā Iāve observed this both implicitly and explicitly in my own life. I bring it up here for you to mull it over and see if youāve learned or observed something similar or if your experience has been different. Thereās also another reason...</span></div>
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<span class="s1">As Christians, we talk about the all-encompassing love of God for each of us; we go on and on about how He accepts us where we are and loves us no matter what; how nothing can separate us from the love of God. All of these things are good and true. I see a problem here though. Itās almost exactly like that poster if weāre not careful. I see, for example, something like āGod loves you no matter what...unless youāre gay.ā This is the problem. We are limiting God. We are putting limits on what He can and cannot do or say, who He can or cannot love. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I donāt want to get into debates about the issue (at least not here). I do want to make you think. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Do *you* limit God? </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Do *you* act in a way that makes people think thereās a caveat? </span></div>
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<span class="s1">When you say, āGod loves you,ā do you mean it the way that God means it? </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Do you understand how your view of Godās love reveals how you perceive it in your own life and circumstances? </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Life is not easy, not black and white, not straightforward. Lives are messy and complicated and intricate. Despite any variable, experience, circumstance, etc, no sin is too great for Godās love to conquer if weāre willing to bring it to Him. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">God is Love and love is one of the most unstoppable forces in the universe. </span></div>
S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-19800528260272066942016-02-06T11:59:00.000-08:002016-02-06T11:59:34.541-08:00Out of hidingWhere to start? I've got a lot to say today that's been on my mind for a while, stuff that seems obvious but was operating as a giant block in my life. It's not easy to share this, but I think it's necessary, and I think you'll see why in a minute. OK. Here we go.<br />
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As I said, I've felt like there's been a barrier in my heart for a while. I can't exactly say how long, because I really don't know. For the past few months especially, I've been trying to figure it out, spending lots and lots of time and energy asking a million questions, testing every theory I could. It's caused a lot of frustration, doubt, and pain. Well, I think I've finally figured out what it is. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that it's true.<br />
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I promise I'll get to what "it" is in a minute. First, I want to say that my anthem for the year is Out of Hiding by Steffany Gritzinger. Give it a listen here https://youtu.be/iSvxaGA2pFo . It's a powerful song. It covers everything. I love it! It's not easy to hear, but it's real. Anyway, I was thinking about that song and thinking about what exactly I've been hiding from. It finally came to me, so obvious but poignant.<br />
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<b>God is calling me to be real, and I've been hiding from that. </b><br />
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There a lots of factors that convinces me that this is the truth. In understanding holiness as embracing yourself in all your strengths and weaknesses, embracing your personal struggles, and always striving to put other people first, (plus like a million other things) this makes sense for me. I also understand it as becoming more and more who I am, who I was created to be. As I've written on this blog before, I'm often afraid. I hide it pretty well, but it's the truth. I like being in control of everything, and I'm terrified when I don't know all of the variables. I hate being different or standing out. I hate being weak and vulnerable.<br />
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I've been living most of my life, especially lately, being satisfied with and often seeking out substitutes for real life, like getting wrapped up in tv shows instead of experiencing things for myself. Ironically, I pride myself on being authentic. (Btw, this is only a very superficial example. I've been experiencing this on an extremely deep level.) Let me say, there is no substitute for the real thing. It's left me feeling so empty and unsatisfied.<br />
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Suffering has been one of the ways that I've been painfully confronted by reality. In suffering, there's nowhere to hide or pretend that everything's OK. I've been suffering a lot lately, for various reasons. I can say now that I'm thankful for it, since it's helped lead me here. It's not been easy by any stretch of the imagination, but it has been necessary. I can say, humbly and truthfully, that it has made me more into me. This, again, is part of my journey to personal freedom, to holiness.<br />
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<b>I can't hide anymore. I can't pretend I'm someone other than myself. I have to embrace me, all of me.</b><br />
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Lent is coming at the perfect time. It's supposed to help us sacrifice the comfortable patterns that we've fallen into, to choose to be courageous and stop hiding behind the false realities that we've created. Only when we've chosen this path can we really experience Holy Week and Easter as life changing as they are meant to be. As part of my Lenten journey, I'm planning on taking back my life, stepping out against fear, choosing to open my heart to any and all chances to follow Love (meaning God). I'd encourage you to do the same, however that looks in your own life.<br />
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I'd appreciate your prayers. This is part of my path to holiness but it's probably the hardest mission I'll undertake. I wouldn't have it any other way. In allowing myself to be open to what I'm really hiding from, I've discovered a freedom that's authentic. It's not fluffy or glamorous, but it's beautiful.<br />
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Thanks for reading this. It's one way that I'm choosing to come out of hiding.<br />
God bless you. I hope that this Lent leads you to see how God's redemption is real in your life, so you can truly experience Easter joy!S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-91701769123580268042015-10-11T19:24:00.002-07:002015-10-11T19:24:50.788-07:00Suffering
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<span class="s1">Suffering is something thatās been on my mind and heart a lot lately, especially since Grampy died and I started my internship. My heart has experienced real pain, whether itās through my own sense of loss or through hearing about everything that my clients are struggling with. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I know that suffering is a huge question and I think weāve each wrestled with it in one way or another. Iād like to share a little piece of what Iāve learned these past few weeks. Maybe it will help you as you grapple with this portion of the human experience. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">A few years ago, my neighbor Pat died. I wrote my reaction to that here <a href="http://alwaysandineverything.blogspot.com/2012/07/its-my-party-and-ill-cry-if-i-want-to.html"><span class="s2">http://alwaysandineverything.blogspot.com/2012/07/its-my-party-and-ill-cry-if-i-want-to.html</span></a>. What I didnāt share in that post was how I was learning to perceive suffering at that time. Hereās what I wrote: āOur lives are a constant journey of becoming closer to God. What if, while being pulled into Godās embrace, weāre being pulled away from chains? Jesus Christ suffered on the Cross. He suffered pain and humiliation, and He was innocent. What He did, He did out of love. He chose suffering, so we could be reunited with Him in Heaven. Suffering, then, instead of a separation, is an embrace. Itās proof that weāre moving closer to God.ā</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I also remember reading in the Bible how the widows and orphans are the ones close to Godās heart and how He always hears their cries. I kept thinking that if He loved them as much as He said He does, then why do innocent children get horribly abused and why do people hurt so much. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">In sitting with my clients through their pain, Iāve had to start looking at it as a way to be closer to Jesus. For some unknown(but good) reason, Jesus is present in the pain but He still allows it to happen. Itās a āgoodā reason because itās God, and He is Goodness itself. And yes, there are many different points to be made about free will, etc, but Iām not gonna touch those; itāll get too complicated. My point is that this idea of suffering as an embrace helped me to start being able to maybe wrap my head around the presence of Jesus in those moments. Since suffering is an inevitable part of the human experience (and it really is inevitable), then tying it to Jesus is the best thing we can do. Attributing meaning to it, even if itās that God is present somewhere in the midst of it despite being unable to see Him or feel Him, allows hope to enter and start to shine its beautiful light. Hope always insists that life will get better. Allowing that little glimmer of light to enter your heart really opens the doors. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">After Iād reached this point of Jesus embracing myself and my clients in our suffering and being present to us, I started to wonder if there was anything that I could possibly do to help ease the pain. There is an answer. Simply being with someone helps; listening to their story, letting them cry, providing whatever encouragement you can, all of these help produce hope, even if itās unspoken. Next, I thought of Jesus on His walk to Calvary and His death on the cross. There were people who walked with Him. Simon, the Cyrenian, carried His cross with Him. The Bible doesnāt say if they talked or what happened aside from them struggling to bear it together. Two innocent men were forced to carry a burden that neither of them deserved. According to tradition, Veronica wiped Jesusā face. Again, who knows if she said anything to Him or He to her, but she was there when He needed someone. I can picture her wiping off the blood and His tears of pain and exhaustion. She provided a brief moment of rest to Him. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The more I think about it, pray about it, read about it, and experience it, the more Iām realizing that suffering provides a lot of opportunities. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Suffering typically makes us cry out, looking for a reason and help to get through it. If the person is open, it affords an opportunity for God to say āIām here!ā It opens us up at our most vulnerable and broken places, where true, deep healing is needed. Thatās where God enters and can provide comfort. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">In my quest for answers, I found it helpful to read Salvifici Dolores (<a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1984/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris.html"><span class="s2">http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1984/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris.html</span></a>). While I havenāt come to any definite conclusions about suffering, I do know that itās helping my heart to grow. Iāll be praying for you and that you can find some meaning in the midst of your suffering. Itās a mystery, but faith tells us that we donāt go through it alone. Jesus didnāt hold anything back when He died on Calvary; even His heart was pierced! Hopefully this is able to bring some comfort or at least remind you that there are answers to your questions, even if theyāre unknown at the moment. </span></div>
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As you persevere through your pain, I pray that you become aware that you're being held close to Jesus' pierced heart. God bless!</div>
S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-4827668280975227662015-09-27T19:51:00.001-07:002015-09-27T19:51:53.898-07:00Hope is a powerful weapon<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Tonight Iām writing about Hope. Hope. Itās something that is vitally important and seems to be constantly under attack. Iāve always loved the idea of Hope, and now I feel like Iām actually learning what it means in real life. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Hope is a natural part of the human spirit. Itās also a theological virtue, along with faith and charity.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Hope is a battle. I used to think that it was something that made a bright day even brighter, which it does, but thereās much more to it than that. Hope is so powerful because it can stare Despair in the face, and choose to keep believing and fighting. Thatās what makes it so incredible. Hope says that thereās an answer and relief when all you can see is darkness. Itās an epic virtue! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Hope is not a walk in the park. Hope is an anchor amidst the battering, swirling waves of darkness. Hope is what makes you stand your ground when youāre faced with a thousand foes. See? Iām telling you, itās an epic virtue! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Hope is a battle of the will against the evil that says life wonāt get better. Holding onto hope requires an iron grip. Hope is standing at the foot of the Cross, staring at Love Himself dying, and knowing that He has overcome all the evil that exists. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Hope is a sacrifice. It is a good that casts light into the darkness. Hope knows that Love Himself is here with you, no matter what youāre struggling with. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Hope is beautiful because it's your choice. You can always choose hope, even when it seems hard, which is exactly when you need it the most! Hope is not easy by any means, but it is worth it and more powerful than you'll ever know. I pray that you always hold onto Hope. Know that Iām fighting along with you!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">āBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.ā 1 Peter 1:3-7</span></div>
S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-65064210233125998922015-08-20T18:37:00.000-07:002015-08-20T18:37:12.436-07:00Blood, sweat, and fearI've been thinking so many thoughts today! My mind has been swimming in a sea of thinking. It's a little crazy. Of all the thoughts I've had today though, I wanted to share one that really hit me the hardest (in a beautiful way!). In fact, it brought me to tears because it was so powerful. Hopefully it brings you some peace as well.<br />
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Ok. As I was adrift on the sea of my thoughts, I wandered into the question of fear. Fear is something that I experience often in my own life. I think it's also fair to say that it's part of the human experience. Fear is something necessary, but only really serves its purpose when it's not running rampant in your life. Anyway.<br />
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Fear. I was sitting in the chapel, having a very serious conversation with Jesus about it. I asked Him about His experience of fear. At first, I assumed that, because He's God, He couldn't actually have ever been afraid. Then I remembered His humanity, which means He did have to feel fear at some point in His life. Also, this verse kinda cements it: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)<br />
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This got me thinking about specific examples in Jesus' life when He could possibly have been afraid. All of a sudden, it hit me.<br />
Jesus was so afraid(and sorrowful) that he sweated blood. JESUS SWEATED BLOOD! Whoa. His fear and sorrow were so powerful that it caused Him to sweat blood. That means Jesus can totally understand when I'm afraid of something, because He experienced it in the most profound way.<br />
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Not only did He have an unbearable amount of fear, He demonstrated the ultimate trust possible by immediately turning to God and declaring "yet, not as I will, but as you will." (Luke 22:42)<br />
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This was such a beautiful reminder to me that God is present in my life in every moment, because He understands what I'm feeling. He's able to walk through it with me.<br />
The next time I'm afraid, I can think of Jesus' agony in the garden and be comforted. I can turn, just as He did, and invite God to have control of the situation. Once I've let go and placed it in His hands, He can give me some of His peace which surpasses all understanding.S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-59081106652013536122015-07-25T12:14:00.000-07:002015-07-25T12:14:51.736-07:00A Month to RememberThe past four weeks have been like something out of a dream, with many ups and downs, unforeseeable twists and turns, and powerful moments. Let me start at the beginning.<br />
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1) On June 27th, I received a text from my mom saying that Grampy was in the hospital. I called and was able to talk to him that night. He said he knew that I was there in spirit. The next morning, he quietly slipped away in his sleep. That's how a great man left this world; peacefully dreaming.<br />
2) On June 30th, through a fog of sadness, I emerged having finished my first year of graduate school. My dad arrived the same night, bringing much needed hugs and comfort.<br />
3) On July 5th, the USA Women's National Soccer Team won the Women's World Cup in amazing fashion.<br />
4) On July 6th, I bought Maximus, an adorable little Corolla.<br />
5) On July 9th, I left with three wonderful friends on the trip of a lifetime to visit Ireland. We spent a week roaming the country, driving on narrow roads that led through rolling hills of open fields, trees, and cows. We walked the cliffs along the ocean and explored mountain paths that brought us to breathtaking views.<br />
6) On July 20th, I started my year long internship which will make me into a therapist.<br />
7) In six days, I'm turning 25.<br />
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During these four weeks, I've experienced life in dramatic fashion. I am a changed person. Through everything I've learned this month, I'm struck even more with the beauty of the human experience.<br />
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Life should be lived with arms wide open, head thrown back, a song in your heart, and a smile on your face.<br />
Struggles make you stronger and loss makes living sweeter.<br />
No matter what obstacle you're facing, it will be overcome.<br />
Go live life to the full!S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-67411130472120376232015-07-02T08:44:00.000-07:002015-07-02T08:44:28.104-07:00"God made man to be imperishable."<div class="p1">
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"God did not make death,</div>
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nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. </div>
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<span class="s1">For God formed man to be imperishable; </span></div>
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but by the envy of the devil, death entered the world."</div>
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"For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."</div>
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"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."</div>
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God didn't make man for death, but He took what the Devil meant as revenge and turned it into the sweetest source of comfort and power! Now man can be completely restored to full union with God forever in Heaven, which is what we were created for! </span></div>
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The separation hurts beyond words but the joy we will experience will be even more than we can possibly imagine! I can put words to the hurt that don't quite describe it but I am speechless when I think of the complete, pure joy to come. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Today is Grampy's memorial service. My grief is still very real, and while these thoughts and verses don't relieve the pain, I know that I have hope and can see peace on the horizon. </span></div>
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A priest recently reminded me that God wants us to be fully human. I'd been pondering what that meant for a few days before Grampy died. Now, I think I understand a little bit more. Jesus lived and died. He experienced the joys and pains that come with the human condition. Feeling the devastation of loss, feeling the depth of real love, these things make us more human. And hope. Hope is a natural part of the human experience. </div>
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If one of your loved ones has died, know that I'm praying for you. Know that you're not alone. Jesus is there to hear your cries and to help you get through this. </div>
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<span class="s1">"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help."</span></div>
S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-10623376580721163302015-05-22T17:20:00.001-07:002015-05-22T17:20:59.159-07:00Another existential crisis (resolved)<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Every so often, especially as a grad student in Psychology, itās important to have an existential crisis. Iām kidding. Kind of. Those things do seem to happen, especially since one is supposed to explore their background, their motivations, their own biases, etc. Naturally, constantly asking all those questions can be a bit taxing. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Over the past two weeks, my āsummer break, part 1ā, Iāve been asking myself a lot of those questions. Iāve managed to answer a few of them, but some of the deeper ones had left me feeling unsatisfied. Why am I sharing this vague summary? Well, I did come to one conclusion which kinda trumps everything. Delving to the very heart of me, I found something which continually amazes me and sets me adrift on a sea of hope. I can answer the most basic yet complex question of who I am. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">Hereās the revelation; I am Godās.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Thatās who I am at my very core. I am Godās. Itās an answer that doesnāt say much but speaks volumes. It means that I have the whole world at my finger tips because I can literally never escape Godās presence, which also means I have a constant traveling buddy. Pretty sweet if you ask me. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Yes, Iām treating this very lightly, but this really is a profound statement. To be Godās is to always belong. To be Godās is to never be alone. To be Godās is to be accepted completely. To be Godās is to be loved in every single moment. To be Godās is to be.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Knowing who I am helps direct my steps towards what I want. Some people(maybe even a lot of people) will laugh at me and tell me that Iām old fashioned for saying Iām Godās. They can also say that Iām dumb for believing that. You know what? Dare to be you! Because I know who I am, I can actually be fully me. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Hereās my question for you (which I really think you should consider answering): </span></div>
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<span class="s1">who are you?</span></div>
S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-73338114104359567262015-03-24T17:22:00.000-07:002015-03-24T17:22:57.735-07:00The CrossLent's almost over but I'd like to share some of what I've been learning over the past few weeks, as well as the months prior. :)<div>
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Most of my thoughts have focused on the Cross. I've been wondering what it'd be like to stand at the foot of the Cross with Mary, Mary Magdalen, and John, looking up at Jesus in all His agony, drops of His blood falling all around, and His eyes looking down at me with pure love. It's a powerful image. This face that's directed towards me is a face that makes angels tremble as they gaze. As I look at Him, I know all my mistakes, all my sins, all my indifference towards His love, but He looks at me with so much love still! </div>
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Thinking about this made me wonder what it would mean to spend the rest of my life standing there with Him. I thought about how only 3 of His loved ones were there for Him. What must it have cost them? What did they give up to be there? But, more importantly, what did they gain? For them, Jesus was all that mattered. Jesus made it all worth while. In His look of love, the world melts away and the peace, purpose, and joy that we all seek is fulfilled.</div>
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For each person, our staying by His side is going to be different, but for each of us, it involves putting aside our fears and insecurities and letting ourselves realize that Jesus' love is all that we need and more than enough to fill us up. It also means that we can't hide in the crowd, but we have to step out for everyone to see. It means being vulnerable. However, letting go of what other people think means that we step closer to Jesus, letting Him see us more completely.</div>
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Sometimes the things that are holding us back are bad, but sometimes they're good things, like our loves and desires and goals. I'll give you an example from my own life. I tend to hold on too tightly to my loved ones, like my grandpa. He is one of my favorite people in the whole world. He's always supported me, believed in me, and I know how much he loves me. He's changed my life. He's someone I know is in my corner and has my back. Even my fear and sorrow as he approaches death is something that's holding me back from standing at the foot of the Cross. If I want to be there, I have to let everything go; I can't hold anything back. God has been teaching me how to do that, very slowly and very gently. I can picture me clinging to my grandpa and Jesus is right there next to us, His arms open wide, ready to embrace him. Very, very slowly, I'm opening my arms so Grampy can go to Jesus. But as I let go, I'm embraced too, meaning I'm drawn closer to Jesus. That act of trust doesn't mean that I love less, but it helps me to love more, because I can trust my loved ones to the Creator and Lover of us all. I hope that's a helpful description. Think of this too; if our hands or arms are full of something else, how will there be space to hold onto Jesus? </div>
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As we let go of whatever is holding us back, we become more ourselves. Remember, in stepping out to the Cross, there's nothing to hide behind. We're seen for who we are. In letting go, we begin to open up. We don't have to hide because we're free. </div>
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Holiness is you becoming more yourself. God uses you where you are and with everything that He put inside you. Don't be afraid to let go and grab onto Jesus! </div>
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May God bless you as you approach the Easter season! I pray that you are filled with knowledge of God's mercy and His unconditional love! He's standing right there, waiting for you. </div>
S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-62296294881290852452015-02-02T13:10:00.000-08:002015-02-02T13:10:59.920-08:00One of my favorite walksI'd love to tell you about a place that's slowly becoming more and more dear to my heart. How about you come on a walk with me? It's a walk that I make often and I'd love to be able to share it with you, though I'll make it a little shorter since you're with me. There are so many things that I'd like to point out, but I'll try to let the beauty speak for itself.<br />
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Let me paint this world for you:<br />
There's a beautiful light blue sky above, heavily guarded by thick grayish clouds, allowing the sun to burst out occasionally and say a quick hello before retreating again.<br />
There's a slight breeze that gently sweeps across the path in front of us, causing the bushes and bare tree branches to stir and relinquish the few brown leaves left clinging to them.<br />
The light and dark brown leaves rustle past us, skipping and rolling up the path.<br />
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As we walk along, the bouncing leaves startle several female Cardinals nesting in the bushes by our feet, and the birds spring up unexpectedly, chirping lightly as they quickly flit away. We try to follow their flight but they are soon lost to our sight, as their light brown feathers soon camouflage them among the trees.<br />
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We continue our walk, following the leaves on their helter-skelter way. The trees surround us now, reaching their bare fingers towards the sky, swaying in the wind, their branches lightly clacking together. Looking to either side, the forest floor is a tangle of brown and gray, with leaves and branches scattered about, blending each tree with another, creating a forest of webbed branches.<br />
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We notice squirrels jumping from tree to tree and racing from branch to branch. As they bound along, their bushy tails twitch. They freeze for a brief moment to watch us, deciding if they need to dash away or if it's ok to go about their business.<br />
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Through the trees, we begin to come across houses on either side. They don't seem intrusive or out of place; rather, they seem to belong here. Each house is unique and seems to capture a piece of what it means to live and move through this forest. One house has a porch that appears like a watch tower, peering through the trees. Another house is set far back from the road with a small bridge to cross over an even smaller brook.<br />
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We soon come to our own small bridge and we pause for a moment to see if we can hear the tiny brook. If you listen very closely, you can hear it quickly and quietly murmuring past you. Once we've listened to the secret of the water, we start to stroll up a steep hill that's paved and well-light. We hear a train horn in the distance as we wind our way up the path, admiring the sky and concentrating on not breathing too hard. Once or twice, I say, I've come across some deer on this hill. They haven't run from me, but we've stared at each other before slowly going back to our own separate worlds.<br />
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The trees fall back a little at the top of the hill as we've entered a slightly more residential area. These townhouses fit with the scenery as well, appearing very cosy and sheltered but not entirely tamed. There are patches of tress here too, blending the landscape again. Some pine cones litter the sidewalk as we continue on our way. Thus far, our path has been a very straightforward one. Now we'll make a right turn off the sidewalk and cut through another section of the woods.<br />
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The trees surround us once again, but they're pushed back from the path so we finally have a clear view of the sky and the land, which seems like it stretches on forever. I've seen more deer here, I say. In fact, we've startled each other a few times, and I laugh as I think about it. I've also come upon a fox, hiding in the bushes. As we keep walking, some Robins fly right in front of us, landing on branches above us as they observe our trek. If you're really lucky, I say, you'll see a Blue Jay. I think they're one of my favorites.<br />
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Another squirrel dashes in front of us and away as fast as it can, up a tree to watch. We've made it back to the main road now, so our walk is done. I'll turn towards my home and you'll head back to yours. Thanks for letting me show you how beautiful it is here and thanks for joining me on one of my favorite walks.S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-46051578782416003502013-12-17T23:16:00.000-08:002013-12-17T23:16:24.919-08:00The Touch of a Child Advent is a season of hope. It's so easy to be dragged down by worries though that we often let go of that hope. Jesus is the cause of our joy and that's why it's important to prepare for His coming as a baby, but also as our King. Here's a little insight I got during Sunday Mass recently:<br />
It was just after Communion and I was having a hard time focusing on my prayers. My eyes were wandering about, watching each person as they approached the alter. The last man in line was hard to miss; he was a big guy, probably about 6'2 and 250 lbs. As he walked away, he sat down in the front pew for a brief moment next to the tiniest little alter server girl that I've ever seen. I'm guessing it was his granddaughter, because he had a big, tender smile on his face as he looked at her. She got a big grin on her face too, and reached her tiny little arms as far around him as they could go, barely covering his belly in a hug. In that moment, I knew one of the reasons that Jesus came to the world as a baby.<br />
The touch of a child brings healing like no other. Just looking at that little face, gazing so trustingly and loving back up at yours, moves hearts. They're so quick to say "I love you" and mean it from the bottom of their little hearts that overflow with love. As much as adults take care of children, the children take care of our rougher edges and bring us back to simplicity. There's something about their innocence and their smile that can break down walls.<br />
Think, then, for a minute about Jesus growing up. He started off as a little baby, crying and completely helpless. Picture the joy that His first smile must have brought to His family, and the pride when He tottered around, taking His first steps. What did His first laugh sound like? What was His first word? Then think about how much healing He must have brought by smiling at the people around Him, innocently saying "I love you", maybe even to a complete stranger. What about how He could have boosted someones confidence by placing His little hand trustingly in theirs? How many people smiled when He laughed and felt their hearts move?<br />
If you're having a hard time holding on to hope, picture little Jesus trying to reach His tiny arms around you in a hug of pure love. Maybe He can only reach around your leg. Don't you feel your heart melting? :)<br />
S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-7719170115779087912013-11-08T21:28:00.002-08:002013-11-08T21:28:53.686-08:00Exploring IPS On day 3 of my trip to Washington DC, I made it to my real destination: the Institute for the Psychological Sciences. It's a Catholic graduate school for Psychology, located in Crystal City, Virginia. I first discovered IPS 5 years ago. After my first psych class, I knew this was the field for me and I immediately began to look for Catholic schools. So yes, IPS has been on my radar for a long time. The first thing that caught my eye about the school was the banner across the top of the website that read "Do you have a vocation to heal?" To me, vocation is a powerful word. It means that it's a person's call from God to fulfill their specific purpose in life. Anyway, that's what I first loved about IPS.<br />
After all these years, I finally arrived at the school. While waiting to officially start the tour, I found my way into the little library that was packed full of books on Catholic things, ways to help families, famous Psychologists and their theories, and many other awesome topics(in my opinion). The tour didn't take long, as the school only occupies a small portion of an office building, and then I got to meet some students and faculty. Everyone was humble and friendly, which really impressed me. The best part of the whole day was meeting with the founder. She had a quiet voice but it was filled with determined passion and gentleness. She referenced Blessed JPII's Love and Responsibility, stating that too often, psychologists use their clients to some end and only seek to treat their symptoms, instead of providing real healing. She said that the IPS mission is to look at each person through God's eyes; that is, to see them for who He created them to be and not for what they've done, which means loving them as a unique human being. Establishing such a relationship provides the foundation on which to begin to rebuild lives. It's so incredible and powerful!<br />
What I can say at this point is that IPS is the real deal. It's everything I dreamed it would be and more. The union of Catholic theology with Psychology provides a view of the whole person that's based on their inherent worth and dignity as a human and seeking to bring about their greatest good. Sounds amazing, right? Who knows, maybe this time next year I'll be taking my first few classes. :) Whatever God has in store, I'm ready. Hopefully it includes getting to study at IPS. ;)S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-78711082927275195102013-11-08T12:26:00.000-08:002013-11-08T12:26:22.262-08:00Exploring DC My trip to Washington DC was wonderful! I was able to see a friend for 30min in Denver, which was awesome. I almost felt like we were on a sort of speed date. haha Flying into DC, the first thing I noticed, aside from the gorgeous Fall colors of the trees, was the Capitol building. Next, I noticed tiny sailboats below, sailing on the Potomac river, speeding along thanks to the cold fall wind. After landing and getting settled in my hotel room, I ventured out into the city to find some yummy food. I met two Arabic men and their giant African-America bodyguard while I was waiting in a tiny little Chinese restaurant. They complimented me on the indoor soccer shoes I was wearing(the body guard stooped down to give me a high five) and then they promptly disappeared into the noisy bar attached to the restaurant. It was an odd encounter but I didn't think about it anymore once I was eating some of the best Chinese food I've ever had and watching MLS soccer on TV.<br />
That was day 1.<br />
The next morning, I was up early and riding on the metro, gearing up to see the sights of DC. I walked past the Arlington cemetery and across the Arlington Memorial bridge towards the Lincoln Memorial. I was immediately confronted by the huge tress that looked like they were dipped in gold or were burning with fire. Talk about amazing colors! I couldn't spend too much time admiring said trees because of the amount of runners on the bridge. I noticed that few of them had bibs from a race and it turns out that there was a 5k going on. How cool! By now, I was almost at the base of the Lincoln Memorial and I'm pretty sure I had a goofy grin on my face from seeing the runners. When I reached the top of the stairs, I gasped and was transfixed. Lincoln was sitting there in his giant throne, staring sternly towards Capitol hill. It got chills from the look in his marble eyes and they're still haunting me as I write this. He seemed so powerful, imposing, determined, and...beautiful! He appeared like a guardian of the people, reminding the lawmakers to protect them or face his wrath. Whoa.<br />
I made my way along the Reflecting Pool and thrilled to the sound of the wind in the trees. I walked around the World War II memorial and get teary eyed as I saw the tribute to the fallen heroes. The Washington Monument was getting some work done, so it was outlined by thick wire cages. I followed the well worn trail along the Tidal Basin that led to the Jefferson Memorial. The tall statue of Jefferson was also facing the lawmakers, entreating them to remember the spirit of his words. From there, I trekked along the National Mall, surrounded by enormous museums. On the large lawns that stretched towards Capitol Hill, there was an odd assortment of people playing pick up games of flag football, ultimate frisbee, and soccer. I had to laugh when I thought how much I was in awe of the history around me while they were busy shouting at each other to pass the ball or disc. Everywhere I looked, there was another statue or tribute. Finally on Capitol Hill, I was overwhelmed by thoughts of the incredible people who had stood where I was standing and seen what I was seeing. I may have cried a little at this point. ;) haha<br />
I caught the metro to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. My jaw dropped when I saw how huge it was from the outside and I could hardly believe my eyes when I stepped inside. I most definitely cried here when I beheld the beauty and power of God depicted in gorgeous mosaics from top to bottom of this incredible church. Mass was beautiful and the choir sounded like angels. I worshiped God in a church fit for a king while surrounded by people from many different nations and languages. It was incredible! After Mass, I explored every single side alter, icon, mosaic, and room, which took me almost 2 hrs. I got a real taste of the universality of the Catholic church as I was comforted by the many titles bestowed on our Blessed Mother by her loving children. Amazing.<br />
For the rest of the day, I continued to explore DC. I enjoyed the Air and Space Museum and the Botanical Gardens before walking back towards Lincoln at sunset. Venus was shining brightly by the time I reached the steps for the last stop of the day. My breath caught as I saw him again, this time lit up, still keeping his vigil of protection for his people.<br />
And that, my friends, is the end of day 2.S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-67370561513026885762013-10-29T00:11:00.000-07:002013-10-29T00:11:51.817-07:00God's creationI went to a camp/retreat this weekend as a favor to a friend. During those few days, I was reminded how incredibly beautiful God's creation was, not only in the changing leaves of Fall, or the sky full of stars, but in His people.<br />
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God's been teaching me to be aware that everyone I come into contact with has a story of their own and ways that they're broken. Instead of simply taking the person at face value, I need to acknowledge their journey, whether I know the details or not. Thinking that way seems to make the people all around me more 3D.<br />
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At camp, I saw some of the girls open up. My friends were also honest about some of their struggles. And then it hit me again. A few years ago, I was struck by the seeming contradiction I beheld when a strong friend confessed that she was afraid. At that moment, I realized that I was seeing her as she truly was for the first time. It's odd. Here she was, telling me that she was afraid, almost like airing a dirty secret, and in that moment, I realized how beautiful she was. That's what I saw again this weekend.<br />
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For some reason, we humans like to pretend that we're invincible and perfect. When life is hard, we "grin and bear it" so no one will guess that we really don't have it all together. And that's just it. We all know we're just pretending, but we want to keep up appearances and so we let others keep their masks so we can keep ours. I've often wondered about this. Here's my "discovery":<br />
When we take off our mask, when we open up to others and show them our fears, we're not really showing them our ugliness.<br />
God has created each of us and put everything within: weaknesses, fears, strengths, positives. He knows what's there because He put it there. When we acknowledge our whole, entire selves, that is, the good as well as the weak parts of us, we finally embrace who God created us to be. We can begin to see ourselves and others how God sees us. And it's incredibly beautiful.<br />
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God has created everything in this world and has declared it to be good. Unfortunately, because of sin, we have distorted some of the beautiful things. "But God's ways are not our ways, and God's thoughts are not our thoughts." Our weaknesses exist to point us back to Him, so we don't try to accomplish anything with our own strength. And our strengths exist to help build each other up.<br />
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I guess all this is to say that being vulnerable is beautiful because it's showing others who you truly are.<br />
Acknowledge and embrace all of you, because God has declared you to be good.S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-66810012092813134622013-10-15T15:32:00.001-07:002013-10-15T15:32:57.839-07:00Superhero I love watching tv shows and movies with superheroes. The feats that the characters accomplish are so amazing! They continue to fight against evil, no matter the cost, and the bad guy always gets brought to justice. There is always a point in the plot when it seems like the hero can't go on, and that's when I hold my breath, though I know they're going to succeed. At about that point, at least one of the hero's friends shows up and helps them keep going to their happy ending.<br />
As a kid, I definitely dreamed of being the hero one day and saving the world. As I grew up, more and more people told me it was a fairytale and could never happen. I'm a dreamer though, and I argue that we <i>can</i> be superheros, but in a different way. I know that I'll never have the ability to become invisible or fly on my own or have super strength but I do know that I possess special powers. I'm able to use words to help people realize that they're important and loved. I have the ability to listen to someone else tell me their troubles and be able to comfort them simply by being with them. I possess the will the succeed and to see justice and love in the world around me. And that's only the beginnning.<br />
In one of my favorite movies, Kung Fu Panda, the main character learns that the secret to limitless power lies within. "There's no special ingredient; it's just you." Think about that! We have all we need to succeed already within us. Life is how we learn to see those special gifts and abilities and put them into action. So guess what? My childhood dream can come true! I can be a superhero! I don't need radiation or a vat of toxic waste because I have all I need already inside me. Using my individual gifts to bring about justice and peace is what makes me a hero. It's ok if no one else realizes it, because all heroes have a secret identity.<br />
Use your powers for good and go help save the world! :DS. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-78207453593464872222013-08-28T23:24:00.001-07:002013-08-28T23:24:28.254-07:00Happy thoughts that give my heart wings! I've been thinking about what makes me into Me. I've been thinking about what makes me happy and seems to give my heart wings. Here's a small portion of my list. :)<br />
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I love seeing people happy and I want everyone to know that they're loved. I love running and playing sports. I love mountains and aspens and pansies. I love the sound of the wind in the trees and the sound of thunder. I love poetry and I love books about characters who were weak but became strong because of their struggles and with the help of their friends. I love beautiful, swelling music that almost brings me to tears because it's so soothing. I love imagining a world where anything is possible, especially being able to fly. I love huge, puffy clouds scattered across a baby blue sky. I love watching birds soar and wondering what it'd be like. I love listening to the sound of water, rushing over boulders and trees, and calming, stilling, slowing. I love pausing in the stillness to soak up the sounds around me and feeling myself take a breath. I love the stars and how they seem to shrink everything down but also remind me how big the world is. I love the feeling that I get when I actually catch a glimpse of how much I'm loved. I love the feeling when someone opens up to me and I feel a real connection and bond.<br />
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Make a list of what refreshes you and makes you happy. I dare you. :)S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-34199852005157202742013-02-19T14:30:00.000-08:002013-02-19T14:30:12.199-08:00CourageDriving home from Mass, the car in front of me caught my eye. First off, it was a Mustang. Secondly, they had a window stick that said "Got courage? Let go and let God."<br />
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That totally took me by surprise! I'd never really thought that courage could consist of letting go and trusting God. I mean, it makes sense when you actually think about, but the thought had never occurred to me. I often pray for courage, and I often pray for trust in God, but I'd never prayed with them both in mind.<br />
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Officially, the definition of courage is doing something that scares you. It's scary letting go, especially of future hopes and dreams, or of loved ones, or really anything for that matter. That's what God calls us to do though. If we let go, that means we're acknowledging that there's Someone out there who knows better. And I don't know about you, but trusting that the Creator of the Universe has a plan sounds like a good idea to me.<br />
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Courage: letting go and letting God work. That's what's up.S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-72205602352642793842013-02-14T23:00:00.003-08:002013-02-14T23:00:53.015-08:00LoveLoveLoveI've been reading Love And Responsibility by Pope John Paul II. It's an amazing book! He walks through, step by step, the fundamentals of human behavior in relationships, breaks down the various types of love that exist, and how explains how love develops. For example, he says "Love is always a sort of interpersonal synthesis and synchronization of attraction, desire, and goodwill."<br />
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JP II explains that love progresses from sympathy, to friendship, to betrothed love, to reciprocal love. He defines sympathy as "experiencing together." Next, friendship occurs, which requires shared experiences in order to grow. After friendship, betrothed love occurs, where each member of the relationship begins to make sacrifices to please the other. Finally, it progresses to reciprocal love, where "the acts of surrender reciprocate each other...they combine to produce a perfect whole, an act of mutual self-surrender." Reciprocal love is true love.<br />
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Here's where it gets even better. He comments on the battle between the sexual instinct and reciprocal love. "The sexual instinct wants above all to take over, to make use of another person, whereas love wants to give, to create a good, to bring happiness." That's why love should be based on friendship, as well as physical attraction; both are needed to balance each other out. He mentions that, since true love desires the unlimited good of another, it's a divine aspect of love because "to desire unlimited good for another person is really to desire God for that person: He alone is the objective fullness of the good, and only His goodness can fill every man to overflowing." Beautiful!<br />
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Part of the reason that I find this so fascinating is because I've seen it in my own life. I also like the idea that man has a higher nature, that we're called to strive towards, that is actually attainable. True love affirms the value of a person, and shows that a person "possesses spiritual perfectibility" and is more than "merely a 'body' magnificently endowed with life." Looking at love this way gives so much more meaning to life and is incredibly powerful. It explains why we spend our lives searching for another person to love us so passionately, and how it draws us out of our animalistic nature. I'm amazed and humbled that I've been on the receiving end of this love.<br />
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One of my goals is to move to reciprocal love with Jesus. That's my focus for this Lent. I encourage you to think about it too. And read Love And Responsibility! It will change your life for the better.<br />
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<br />S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-86768338489347109942012-10-25T10:52:00.002-07:002012-10-25T10:52:54.446-07:00Don't just react; live!I started doing an assessment with my clients. It reviews how they were raised and how they are raising their kids, what's currently going well for them and what's not going so well. Most importantly, it asks what their "perfect world" would look like, and then details a few simple steps for them to get there. This got me thinking.<br />
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Time flies. Seriously. I'm trying to remember the last time that I actually noticed the date and consciously realized what I was doing. I'm finding, more and more, that I'm becoming reactionary. I see what the day throws at me, and I try to handle it as best I can. I feel like I'm being too passive in "seizing the moment" so to speak. I want this to change.<br />
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Think about your "perfect world". What would it look like? What would you do? How would you spend your time? Guess what. You can do it in real life too. The intangible can become reality; it takes discipline and conscious effort.<br />
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I'll give you an example. Currently, I'd like my day to look something like this: Get up early. Run about 4 or 5 miles. Workout for 30min. Spend an hour in prayer. Work and do my visits until 5. Have the evening to do activities(soccer, volleyball, etc) and read(spiritual works, psychology, counseling, Dickens, etc).<br />
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See? That's totally doable. In order for it to happen though, I have to cut out the unnecessary distractions, such as TV(why are TV shows soooo addicting?! haha).<br />
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All this to say that I'd like to encourage to take back your life. Don't just react; live! Work towards achieving your perfect world.S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-35365585547868620152012-10-07T23:45:00.001-07:002012-10-07T23:45:42.203-07:00Fun factHere's a little known fact about me; I own a telescope. My uncle gave it to me on my 13th birthday. I had completely forgotten about until today, when I was rummaging around in my closet and stumbled upon it again. Talk about a cool (re)discovery! <div>
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Lately I've been craving green and growing things, mountains and hiking, star gazing, and pretty much anything else that will allow me to spend some time with Mother Nature. I was in Denver 3 weeks ago, and got my tree and flower fix. Washing Park is the place to be! Yesterday I went to Sedona, and got my hiking fix(plus more gorgeous trees and even a creek!). I sat on a boulder in the middle of the creek and let the sound of the rushing water pour over me. It was so lovely. On my flight home from Denver, I watched the Big Dipper the whole time. I'd never seen it so big! Looking at it from above the clouds makes a huge(hehe) difference. Tonight, courtesy of my telescope, I got another taste of that star gazing-ness. Unfortunately, the bugs in our back yard also got a taste of me. I got about 6 bites in 5 minutes. Good old Mother Nature. </div>
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All this to say that I'll be back tomorrow night, armed with bug spray this time, prepared to peruse the sky for more celestial wonders. I'm pretty sure I saw a planet tonight, but I'll have to look again when I've got my bug armor on. ;)</div>
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S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-75811562156280340742012-09-25T23:54:00.000-07:002012-09-25T23:54:38.497-07:00Are you worth it?Worth. Self worth. It's an incredible topic. It's also a sore spot. When people really take time to think about how they value themselves, if they really think they're worth it, it opens up a world of insecurities. Deep down, I think we all are struggling with if we're good enough, or if we're worth something. We each have our own way of dealing with what we find, but the question is still there.<br />
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This is something that's been on my mind for a while now. That is, since February, when I was suddenly confronted with the revelation that I didn't believe in me, didn't trust that I was worth it. Let me tell you, it was not a pleasant experience. Ever since that day, I've noticed Insecurity rearing it's ugly head all around me. Once I really stopped and looked at me, that is, alllllll of me(insecurities, failures, successes, strengths) I found ME. And it was almost like I was seeing myself for the first time.<br />
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I was afraid to accept everything about me. Afraid to embrace it all, because it's not all pretty stuff. In the moment that I found ME, I began to really understand Jesus. Me and Jesus, yeah, we're buddies and we have been for as long as I can remember. This was a profoundly different experience though. Think about it: Jesus Christ fell. GOD FELL! He fell 3 times. And each time, He got up. He got up, and kept walking towards His death.<br />
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Now tell me, how does that make sense? No. It really doesn't. Plain and simple. And that's God. He doesn't make sense. But He does. I love it!!!! "The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." God is the King of Contradictions; He brings us out of our natural inclinations, and draws us up into our higher, better, spiritual nature. What He says makes sense but doesn't at the same time. Somehow, that is a beautiful wonderful, powerful, crazy awesome thing!<br />
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My main point is this: everyone struggles with feeling worthy or wanted. Guess what? You are good. I'll say it again. You are good. You don't have to earn it, you don't have to do anything at all, in fact. Simply because you are, simply because you exist, you are good.<br />
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Wanna know why Jesus was crazy enough to get up 3 times? Wanna know why He embraced His Cross? Wanna know why He kept getting up, and walking to His death?<br />
<b>It was for you.</b><br />
You don't have to do anything, or be anything.<br />
<b>He thinks you're worth it. </b><br />
If God, the Creator of the universe, the Source of all that is good, thinks you're worth it, believe me, my friend, you are.S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810326697984229208.post-27463865391402776492012-09-11T19:19:00.000-07:002012-09-11T19:19:04.787-07:00Stand in the gap!I've always loved the phrase and accompanying image of standing in the gap. Let me walk you through what I picture when I hear that phrase:<br />
There's complete and utter darkness about to engulf a lone person. This person is completely bowed down, unable to lift their head; everything about them bespeaks weariness. They aren't alone though. There's someone standing over them. This person has his arms spread, forcibly keeping the darkness at bay, as if by the sheer power of his will. Everything about him is strong and determined. With his arms spread wide, he takes every blow delivered. He doesn't flinched or cry out. He simply stands his ground, taking the hits while the weary person rests. He shields and protects them.<br />
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So yeah. In that simple phrase, I found a fascination and power that I can only very poorly describe. Actually, this image brings tears to my eyes every time. It's so incredibly beautiful.<br />
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My clients have been through Hell; their lives are often living nightmares. Some of them have been almost beaten to death. Some have been completely abandoned, and left to barely survive on their own. And those are practically standard cases. Despite all of that, there are people fighting for them. These people exist to make horrendous visions disappear. They exist to bring light, peace, joy, healing, and strength back into life. I have come to an even deeper appreciation of God because I've seen this process. Why did my clients have to experience Hell? I don't know. What I do know is that God hasn't abandoned them; He's placed people in their lives that can make life livable and beautiful again. I've been able to witness, first hand, this incredible advocacy. There <i>is</i> help. There <i>is</i> a way out. There <i>is</i> a chance for healing and growth. Nothing is impossible.<br />
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Love can bring about incredible changes. Loving someone involves a certain amount of vulnerability. It means being willing to reach out, even when there's a chance of getting hurt. Love isn't easy, but it kind of is. To love is to sacrifice, but it doesn't always feel like one. Yes, life is hard. Yes, bad things happen, things that no one should ever have to experience. It's not hopeless though. There are people who can and will help. They will never stop fighting, because they have truth and justice on their side. Yes, it's an exhausting fight, but seeing someone set free makes it totally worth it!<br />
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Don't be afraid to fight on the front lines, because you'll never fight alone. Jesus Christ is there, with the angels and the saints. The darkness cannot overcome Him. Fight on! Stand strong! We will have the victory.S. L. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830392702156684142noreply@blogger.com2