Why Now?

How did it happen that I began a new blog on Epiphany Sunday 2010? I guess that depends on your perspective. It all started with the Dominican nuns of Summit, New Jersey. My daughter loved their recent sledding post. While trying to set a new password for my Google account so Annie could send a message to the nuns, Google intervened.

"Would you like to set up your own blog now?"

"Well, why not" I thought and spontaneously began the ridiculously easy process of locating a template and filling in the required information.
I thought a bit, began writing and then hit Publish Post to see if it would really work, and, er, it did.

"Snazzy", as Deacon Greg likes to say.

Thérèse of Lisieux was chosen for me as my patron saint of the year. Perhaps she was behind this blog.

Or perhaps it was just the connivers behind the scenes at Google who are trying to get more ad revenue posted.

One thing remains certain, though. Beyond filling in a template and putting words to the page, I have no clue how to be a blogger. I don't really understand how they work, how, for example to put lovely pictures on my masthead or whether to allow Google ads on the sidebar. (By the way, helpful hints are always welcome.)

I am sure that Jesus dwells with me, in me and through me to the extent that I allow his grace to penetrate the barriers I erect, the wandering attention, the preoccupation with choosing paint colors, the frustration of clearing up the daily clutter. If writing blogs is his way of keeping my attention directed towards him, and then allowing him to speak through me, then it doesn't matter how it came to be, only that it did.

I wouldn't be surprised if Therese were involved after all. Learning to sense the gentle and guiding hand of God throughout each day is one of the joys of being a Catholic. As is trusting in the undoubted presence of the saints.

I will say a prayer of thanks to the Dominican nuns of Summit, and for that matter for all Dominicans everywhere, for I love them dearly. And I will thank the saints and even the masterminds of Google for making blogs an option for the least among the writers of the world. Most importantly I will fall on my knees at the 5:00pm mass later today and thank God for answering my prayer that my path be united to his, however imperfectly.

Deo, dicamus gratias!