December 16, 2025
Holidays are so good at bringing out the worst in people… that’s right I said it. It is a strange twist that a time that should be most centered on family, community, faith and hope, suddenly becomes a period of stress and aggravation in our lives. We are so consumed with what we have to do or what others are doing, we lose our focus. So, the advice is simple “STOP”!! YOU have to create the beauty in the moment sometimes instead of waiting for it to hit you in the face. YOU have to be the one to look for the everyday surprises that are hidden in each encounter. YOU have to see the blessing of people in your life for who they are and not for whom you expect them to be. No one is going to do these things for you.
I just returned from the National Catholic Conference for Youth Ministry and as with all wonderful experiences of reflection, the “retreat high” ends when reality creeps in. So how do we keep our spirit lifted when “everyday life” wants to take over? It is certainly not easy, but we have to do it or what we believe really wasn’t worth the time we took to be reconnected to our faith. For me, it is that person who calls to say hi just because they were thinking of you or I prayed for you today. Today I reconnected with an old friend and his genuine interest in my life amazed me. He was intrigued by the general enthusiasm that exuded as I began to speak about my ministry and love to share inspirational messages with others that in most cases are complete strangers. I believe that in a moment when my “high” begins to fade that this reminder is put there for support and not just simply for me to have another friend, a simple God incidence of reassurance.
Sometimes we must force ourselves to be grateful despite our need as people to immediately get caught up in all inconsequential aspects of life. Don’t let it happen, look for the surprises in the day. Trusting and being faithful involves belief in the things that others just may not understand today but by your example of living it they will be guided in the future. However, you cannot do it alone and we must be there for each other. You cannot be the light of Christ if you do not allow others to help light it for you every once in a while. We are all just children of God doing our best to rise when we fall and search for light through the darkness looking for what surprise God has in store next.
“You can ask me if I am worthy, ask me if I sin, ask me if I get weak, but at the end of the day, just understand I am a child of God and NOT the Messiah.”
Posted by Greg Wasinski
