I've spent the last five days visiting my folks in Springfield Missouri and today I continue my travels to participate in the regional MINK meeting for Diocesan Religious Education Offices. This year we are meeting in Kansas City, Kansas. The MINK region is made up of the states of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. I always look forward to the MINK meeting as an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and discuss the ministry we are committing our lives to.
We will take time to pray and share our successes and frustrations. We will talk about catechetical resources and the newest approaches to catechesis. I will come home renewed, energized and grateful.
Even though Lent is just six days old, I see my need to live with more gratitude. I have been blessed with a great family, loving parents, and friends who support me. This Lent I intend to develop an attitude of gratitude. As Norman Vincent Peal, reminds me: "...a basic law: the more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for. This, of course, is a fact. Thankfulness does tend to reproduce in kind. The attitude of gratitude revitalizes the entire mental process by activating all other attitudes, thus stimulating creativity." (Norman Vincent Peale, American pastor, Author 1898-1993)
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. (John 6:63b)