21 October 2007

Business trip or something else

A few weeks ago I was flying to Costa Rica to visit the manufacturing facility of the company I work for. Getting to Costa Rica from the Detroit area is an all-day long event. My travel plan was a 2.5 hour flight to Miami, 2 hour lay-over, followed by an almost 3 hour flight to Costa Rica.

I sat in the Detroit airport reading The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin (Not that I know him, he does belong to the same parish as my wife and I). This was a subtle form of evangelization. The book is rather large and anyone looking will notice it (and the fact that it is not the normal reading material you see in airports). NOTE: Another thing I do when I travel is to pray a Hail Mary when the plane is taking off and landing - followed by the sign of the cross.

The book is incredible and I was really getting into it when I noticed that the seat next to me was now occupied. To my surprise the person sitting next to me was none other than Sister Ann Shields from Renewal Ministries (heard on Ave Maria Radio - Food for the Journey).

After introducing myself, I rambled on about only being a Catholic for 4 years and how I listened to her in the morning, and who knows what else. She had this look in her eyes that had tremendous depth. It was not only touching but was also something that I yearned to achieve. The look of total faith in God!

During our brief talk she told me how she was travelling to Brazil (about 12 hours in the air followed by 250 miles on the ground - I am such a wimp!). She was going to speak at a mission down there to help re-invigorate the folks, then give a seminar.

Then I said something extremely trite. I can't remember exactly what it was but it ended with "You are doing God's work". She looked me right in the eye and said "You too are doing God's work"!

After fumbling to find the right words I stepped away. She agreed to watch my bags, and when I returned her seating was called, I thanked her, and she boarded the plane. On my briefcase she left the following prayer:

OH, HOLY SPIRIT, BELOVED OF MY SOUL...I ADORE YOU. ENLIGHTEN ME, GUIDE ME, STRENGHTEN ME, CONSOLE ME. TELL ME WHAT I SHOULD DO...GIVE ME YOUR ORDERS. I PROMISE TO SUBMIT MYSELF TO ALL THAT YOU DESIRE OF ME AND TO ACCEPT ALL THAT YOU PERMIT TO HAPPEN TO ME LET ME ONLY KNOW YOUR WILL.
(Cardinal Mercier).

Praise be to God!

And the winner is...


The picture shows Gladys, Deacon Lou, and the luckiest man on earth.

06 October 2007

Married...Finally

Today, October 6 2007, my beautiful wife Gladys and I exchanged vows and are now our marriage is officially recognized by the Catholic Church. Pictures to follow.

Honey, I love you more than ever!