With the Eyes of Christ

Speaking in front of an audience is frightening and exhilarating all at the same time. But once you know your "subject" inside and out, it doesn't matter if there are 100 people in the audience or 1,000, it's just fun! Recently Jay and I attended a seminar with five key speakers who are well known for their successes, some nationally, some internationally. They are people who used their strengths to propel themselves to the top. We really enjoyed the conference and came away with some pearls to implement in our own business. They all encouraged social media . . . UNATION, Twitter, Facebook, etc. Since I am on Twitter (@BonnieYoung22), I decided to "follow" one of the speakers. She had spoken of young children at home, and I imagined it must be quite difficult to be a mom and a superstar at the same time. Boy, I have to tell you, she "tweets" a lot. (For those who don't use Twitter, a "tweet" is a post or status update). She is tweeting things such as what is posted on her Facebook page. After a few days of following her, I wondered how she ever found the time to use social media. I prayed she had someone doing it for her or she did it while her kids were sleeping.  Boasting about movie stars you know or snapping a picture of yourself in a well known spa are ego-centric, not God-centered. When I look with the eyes of Christ, I see a very different picture. Celebrities have so much power to make a difference. I only wish the pics were in a beautiful cathedral or having fun with your kids (or grandkids!) and spouse. We only get one shot at this life, and I pray my success is shining His Light by serving others, and loving with all my heart.

In the Gospel from 29May13 (Mark 10:32-45), Jesus asks his disciples to focus on service, not power or position:

The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes,  and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.” Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, ‘What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, ‘We can.” Jesus said to them, “The chalice that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In Volume Five, St. Thomas urges us to service:

"You are being well prepared and this opportunity for enhanced unity between earth and heaven is part of that mercy. We are with you at every moment. You have many friends in heaven. Use them. I, Thomas, pledge to walk with you in times of doubt so that your service to the Kingdom is unaffected. In that situation, you gain the most powerful of graces and rewards because it is far more difficult to serve when you are struggling. What you must concentrate on always is service. I will serve! That is your refrain."

Lay apostles, do you envy the money and power of celebrities? If you do, remember wealth comes from spiritual health, not money and fame. I plan to be extremely wealthy when I die . . . hopefully enough to make a short pitstop in purgatory on my way to heaven!

Thank you, Lord, for keeping me focused on doing Your Will, not my own.

God bless,
Bonnie