Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast – Tuesday August 18, 2015

Dear Vincentians:  Welcome to Spain and all new individual members.  We are so blessed to belong to such a caring giving family.  We are different and live in different parts of the world, but we have a couple of things in common.  We love Our Lord and wish to talk to Him and seek His guidance in all we do and we love to serve those in need and help to lift them from their poverty.  We bring joy to them and each other.  Pray always!  Pray for each other our clergy, religious, seminarians and deacons and especially, our Pope Francis who seems like a Vincentian every time he speaks or writes.  May you and your loved ones always feel the blessings of our Lord.  Bless your week. Amen!  Lynn

Life Changes – There are three stages in life we go through.  We always need God with us especially through these stages.  Stage one happens when you are young.  You have great energy, loads of time, but no money.  Stage 2 is middle age.  You have plenty of money and energy as well, but no time.  Stage three you are a senior.  You have all the time in the world and for the most part you have all the money you need, but your energy has left you.  God is there for us.  We hear of the manna from heaven.  He is always there for us in each one of these stages.  Interesting in every stage  we are ready, able and willing to help those in need, however it may be slower, or not so often and perhaps little or no donations, but a good deal of prayer and support at our level.  We must learn to accept each Vincentian in our family at the level they are at and know God is with them always and us.  Don’t lose track of His presence, love and support.

In Gratitude – People we know who have no riches and live humbly are many. Those who are the happiest never did have everything.  However, they are thankful for everything they do have.  We think we are grateful but often are looking for more.  My granny had a plaque over her bed which read, “I complained because I did not have new shoes and then I met a man with no feet.”  I always remember this little statement and tried to be happy with what I had.  She also told me to pray always in thanksgiving for a roof over our head and food in our stomachs.  She told me to always thank God for even the simplest gifts and joys of our life.  She said, “One day you will meet people and recognize how much you have, compared to others who cannot feed their families nor have a roof over their heads.  When you meet them always give them what you can and pray they have more.”  This is what we do as Vincentians.  We give to others and are grateful God has given us the joy of serving and feeding His lambs.

Life is a Journey – We journey toward God, who is our destiny. Yet it would be a mistake to think that God only shows up at the beginning and the end, with perhaps an occasional appearance in between.   Each time we do a visit in homes, hospitals prisons or on the street we know we need Him each day and each moment of the day.  We learn as we journey when we attend workshops or listen to lectures and we especially learn from those in poverty, whatever their poverty may be.  Helping others is a part of our journey; Christ is with us every step of the way.  Take it all in and soak up the joy to give to others.  “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

In God’s Image – God created us in His image. We are able to know and love God and share in His life. Our souls most clearly reflect the image of God. Our bodies also reflect the image God by becoming temples of the Holy Spirit. Our service in His name reflects His image clearly and helps others to see His goodness and joy.  We are His image when we journey to serve in His name.  He places those in need before us.  We see His image in all those we serve.  We encounter Christ in all we serve and we bring Him to them by our presence.  We are God’s image when we serve those in need and they are His image.  Know this and service becomes a prayer and pure joy.

Blessings, Lynn

Lynn L’Heureux is Special needs co-coordinator & Advisor of the Society of St Vincent de Paul Calgary Alberta Canada.