Discovered

Each day when I come into work I set up my computer so that I have my Gmail, Hotmail, school email, and Blogger open and next to each other so that I can check them each incessantly throughout the day.  I get so frustrated when my "dashboard" of blogs doesn't change for a week.  I mean, c'mon!  I want my friends to entertain me!  :) And yet, here I am waaaay overdue for a new post.  Life just takes over so quickly.

Last week I was sick.  Miserably sick with a sinus infection.  On Monday I just couldn't move off of the couch.  I still have lingering effects going on and it makes me think that I never fully appreciate when I am well.  It also made me think that anyone can "do the right thing" when they are feeling 100%, but your character really shows when you have to do things when you are not 100%.  I need to work on that.  But I digress...

Upon scanning my profile last week out of boredom, since there were no new postings to be found, I saw that I actually have a follower!  (Hi Bmart!)  I was shocked and not a little terrified- what do you mean I'm not invisible anymore?!  I also spilled to my husband that I have been blogging- and he was a little shocked himself!  I feel that this discovery of my blogging comes at a poignant and appropriate moment.

To expain, I cantor at my home church a couple of times a month.  At one particular Mass at which I sang, actually the first Sunday of Lent, the celebrant was a priest who sometimes would help out at our church.  He was vaguely familiar to me but I couldn't remember his name, so I introduced myself and shook his hand.   I'll call him Fr. R. 

During Fr. R's homily, he asked the congregation if anyone had a blog.  Maybe one hand went up (it was tough to see from sitting behind the pulpit).  He then proceeded to ask how many people were involved on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks.  Of course most of the congregation admitted that they spent time each day on at least one of these. He then asked us to consider using this technology for our Lenten purposes.  Why not post what it is that you are doing for Lent or documenting your journey.  He encouraged us not to hide our faith but to proclaim it.  Thus, the seed for this blog was planted.

Tragically, Fr. R suffered a massive heart attack and passed away on a New York City street two weeks ago.  I did not know him well, but his words that day spoke to me and inspired me and for that I will always be grateful to him.  If you are reading this right now, please say a prayer for him, that he is with God today.

In honor of Fr. R, I will not keep my blog a secret any longer- I will not be embarrassed to let at least the people I love know what I've been up to.  Thanks, Fr. R., for this opportunity, and this one is for you.