Balyna Parish. Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin

The Value of a Smile

bernard — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:49:47 +0000

A smile costs nothing, but gives much.
It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give.
It takes a moment, but the memory of it lasts forever.
None is so rich or mighty that they can get along without it, and none is so poor but that they can be made rich by it.

A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friendship.
It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and is natures best antidote for trouble.

Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.

Some people are too tired to give you a smile.

Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as those who have no more to give.

(Author Unknown)

Time to be set free

bernard — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:29:28 +0000

Very soon the dreaded leaving cert results will be distributed to thousands of students. It is a time of worry and opportunity. A time I’m sure many of us remember in all our lives. I think of the following story because fear and anxiety are forces that take away our fulfillment and peace. The story begins with a child playing with a vase his mother had left on the table for a few moments. When the mother turned at the sound of her son crying she saw that his hand was in the vase and was apparently stuck. She tried to help him and pulled and pulled until the child cried out in pain. But the hand was stuck fast. How would they get it out? The father suggested breaking the vase but it was quite valuable and the child’s hand might be cut in the process. Yet he knew that if all else failed there would be no alternative. So he said to the boy, “Now, let’s make one more try. Open your hands and stretch out your fingers out straight, like I’m doing, and then pull!” “But Dad,” said the boy, “If I do that I will loose my penny!” The boy had a coin in his hand all the time and was holing it securely in his tight little fist. He wasn’t prepared to open his hand and loose the penny. But once he opened his hand it came out of the vase easily.

The story, though simple, may well reflect our own lives. Often we can hold on tightly to hurt, fear and memory, that it hinders us to experience freedom and contentment in our adult lives. Many of us at times in our lives may well hold on so tightly to our possessions, fears and hurts that in fact we can become imprisoned. There are many prisoners in all our communities who are confined to a very limited sense of freedom, because of a great struggle in regard to being able to let go.

Jesus Christ is a great liberator and patiently encourages us to let go, so that we may taste the true sense of human freedom. That vase in the story can well be likened to the entrance of the kingdom of God. It is narrow but quite easy to pass in, but first we must “open” our hand to God and allow all that is necessary to leave so that we may be truly unburdened and enjoy true contentment and fulfillment. If we keep our fists closed and hold fast to what we have and keep it for ourselves, we will be unable to take hold of the “Hand of God”!

We arrived with nothing and will depart the same way.

We need to grow in our awareness that the precious things in life are often not at all the material things we possess or indeed the fears and uncertainties that we may hold on to. For the leaving cert students, points really are not what is important. In the coming days may God renew his hope and optimism in all our lives especially our young students at this time.

Paddy Byrne

Fr. Paddy Byrne has a weekly column in the Nationalist papers.

This column appeared in the edition published 11th August 2010.

Christopher Hickey

catherine — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:18:31 +0000

Christopher Hickey, Derryart. 4th August, 2010

Interred in Ballyboggan Cemetery on Friday, 6th August, 2010.

May he rest in peace.

Abba Father

bernard — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:40:26 +0000

Often times when we as a family are out for a drive in the car the children would fall asleep. When we get home I would transfer them to their cot and bed. More often than not they will wake slightly as I am lifting them from the car. I always reassure them by saying “it’s only daddy, lye on my shoulder”. It usually works!

Jesus called his father, “abba”, which means’daddy’. He did not see God as a distant father, but as a loving one.

There are fearful and uncertain times in our lives when we need to hear God say “it’s only daddy, lye on my shoulder”. It usually works!

Brian Lacey

Faith – A Game of Tennis

bernard — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:13:20 +0000

Recently I watched one of my favourite childhood movies, ‘The Wizard of Oz’. As a child I found the story colourful, enthralling and magical. As an adult I interpret the Yellow Brick Road and Dorothy’s search for her real home, somewhat differently. Surely the character of the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion in search of a Heart, a Brain and Courage may well be our desire to find meaning, purpose and fulfilment in all our lives. This is a time when we have a huge hunger and desire to find that inner sanctuary which is our home.

The recent death of Lt Gen Dermot Earley, brought with it great sadness and huge loss to many people throughout our country. Dermot Earley, in his life was a disciple of hope. His sanctuary, was a place where he experienced intimacy and friendship with his God. His energy, enthusiasm and compassion endeared him not just to the military and sporting world but to all who encountered this faith filled man. Dermot Earley’s plan for life included five important principles:

   A. Enjoy the time with my family
   B. Give the best to my work
   C. Give back to my community
   D. Spend my leisure time well
   E. Make time for God in my life

In our search for meaning and purpose so often our hearts and minds are orientated to that beyond the now. To something beautiful, peaceful, beyond words. A silence that yet speaks loudly, a place where we can make sense of things and find our way forward. I was truly captivated recently by the fantastic and legendary, longest game of Tennis ever recorded in Wimbledon, lasting over Ten Hours, burning over Sixteen Hundred Calories. Two competitive athletes displayed the very best of our human spirit.

A spirit of resilience, commitment, energy and desire to achieve.

The same spirit echoes in all our hearts. Hearts that are wounded longing to be healed. Minds that are overwhelmed, and disillusioned, seeking new understanding and enlightenment. Souls longing to find a living sanctuary where we can share and be nourished by our living God.

Keeping with Wimbledon, I conclude with another legend – Serena Williams, who articulates her hearts desire in her Biography ‘My Life’.

“Faith. It’s at the root of everything I do, everything I believe. It’s what gets me out of bed each morning before first light, to head out to the tennis court. And it’s what keeps me believing that anything is possible—not just on the court, but all around. Without faith, what do we have? What’s the point? Where’s that silent fuel to drive us through our days and get us where we’re going? It places my life in a kind of context and lets me know I’m not just going through the motions but moving instead to some higher purpose. There’s got to be a reason we’re all here on this earth—reaching, striving, pushing—don’t you think? I feel strongly that we all need to believe in something. Open your heart to the idea that there’s something bigger out there, something bigger than we can know”.

Paddy Byrne

Fr. Paddy Byrne has a weekly column in the Nationalist papers.

This column appeared in the edition published July 2010.