You will Always Find what you are Looking For

Several years ago, one of Adam’s friends told him about an interesting phenomenon that had happened to him.  Every morning, for the past few days, there was a UFO that followed him in to work.  This story interested Adam because his friend was a pretty level-headed guy.

Now fast forward a few days.  Adam is driving home from work, and three bright lights appear in the sky!  The lights were to the west, and as Adam traveled, he thought he might be gaining on them.

He stopped at home and called us all outside to show us the three distinct lights that hovered just above the end of our cornfield.

“Let’s go chase those aliens!”  He called out, and my four oldest kids eagerly hopped into his truck, all ready for adventure.

UFO or perfectly logical?

Thirty westbound miles later, they were no closer to catching the lights, so they turned around and headed back home.

The next morning, I read a news article explaining the three lights. Although I can’t remember if it was a rare planet positioning or satellites or something else, I do remember that it made perfect sense. With that, our hopes of an extraterrestrial encounter were dashed.

While Adam’s eccentric alien story is a bit dramatic, it is an excellent example of just how powerful our minds are!

If we can convince ourselves that a UFO is following our friend, we soon “discover” that there are aliens on the horizon.

When we have a negative attitude about something, we are going to find the negative.

But the opposite is also true.  If we believe in the good, we will find the good. You will always find what you are looking for.

I am writing this on the heels of the tragic school shooting in Minneapolis.

I sent my kids back to school this week.  Three of them are at our local Catholic School!  With the memory of the tragedy that happened just last week, and the raw experience of the ROCORI school shooting that I experienced all those years ago, it has been an emotional week for me.

Will my kids be safe at school?  Are the teachers and staff equipped to handle an emergency?  What would I even do if something that horrific were to happen to my children?? If the Catholic schools aren’t safe, is there any hope left?   

I can let my imagination and anxiety have a real heyday in my mind, going over so many horrific scenarios.

Will my children be safe at school?

But I can also flip the script.  I can choose to see the abundance and beauty in the opportunities that are provided.  I know there is evil in this world, but I know that my God is infinitely more powerful, and He has the final say in my story.

I know that my children are loved and very well cared for.  I know that they have special and meaningful friends who bring so much joy to their lives.  And I know that when we pray together every morning, asking our patron saints to pray for us, that we are calling down that “Cloud of Witnesses” to cheer for and protect them.

I put my trust in the Lord and cast my burdens and worries on Him because He cares for me and for my family.

My dear friends, I encourage you to look for the light this week and to be the light to those around you.

Dear Lord,

Protect your precious children as they head back to school this fall.  Keep them safe as they learn and grow.  Open their minds to the wonder of the world that You created, and help them to find You in every mystery discovered.

We ask you to surround the Annunciation Community with an army of angels, to comfort all those who are mourning.  Mother Mary, please be a mother to them now, and open your arms to embrace them in their sorrows. 

We ask this in Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Until next time, your sister in Christ,

Leah