Lifestyle

I recently attended a high school awards banquet. There were so many strong young men and women. I happened to look over at one student to see in her face filled with visible sadness. She was sad because the burdens God gave her to carry prevented her from competing. It breaks a person’s heart to see a young adult realize that a door is perhaps permanently closed to them. What do you say? What do we as Christians do in that moment?

Twenty-eight second graders from St. Mary’s Parish and the Church of Japanese Martyrs received the sacrament of their First Holy Communion at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Sunday, May 7. Pictured, front from left: Emmaline Braulick, Brynnley Helget, Leo Schultz, Leonard Seidl, Emma Schmid, Kaitlyn Ziegenhagen, Rose Pietig, Quinn Cook and Brogan Braulick. Second row: Ralyn Krebs, Josie Pelzel, AlleeJane Hoffmann, Bryce Fischer, Coraline Mathiowetz, Piper Ibberson, Jack Heiderscheidt, Jack Sellner and Franco Gonzalez. Third row: Bennett Braulick, James Visser, Bristol Nachreiner, MJ Wagner, Avery Cook, Valeria Hernandez, Kayden Seifert, Preston Rothmeier, Sammy Petersen and Charles Currans. Back row: Fr. Sam Perez, Fr. Mark Steffl and Fr. Tanner Thooft.

In his helpful commentary on the book of Psalms, Dale Ralph Davis writes: “We expect to be lied to in our society in advertising, media, politics, legal system, religion, and government.” This is a sadly accurate comment. People seem to say what they want, thinking they are accountable to no one.

It is official: Charles is King. It is a safe bet that whether you care or not, you know that King Charles III of England was crowned properly this past weekend. If you caught even a glimpse of the event, I am ready to bet as well that the coronation over there in London, impressed you as “overthe-top” stately.

There are certain “rites of passage” that we must all go through in life; moments in our life where we recognize that until I learn a certain skill or have a particular experience, I haven’t truly reached my full potential. All of us who grew up on a farm, (but I would dare to bet even if you did not), know that one of these “rites of passage” by which you find that you have attained another level of prestige and social prowess is the ability or skill to successfully back up a trailer. We know that this is a skill that looks like it should be so easy to master; we have seen our brothers, sisters, parents, neighbors, and even grandparents do it time and time again. However, once we find ourselves in the driver- seat and throwing the truck or tractor into reverse, we truly become aware of the great skill, technique, and finesse that is involved with backing up a trailer. A skill, that no matter how hard others try, with the best of intentions, cannot be explained (and their help really is not helpful). It is a skill that must be learned all on its own. However, once we go through all the heartache, frustration, and embarrassment to master this skill, it really becomes for us a badge of pride that we are ready to pull out at a moments notice!