Poetry 2

A long time ago I use to write all the time. Their was a fun challenge in taping into my very soul to see what I could find....


The Endless Noise
JM Kraemer

In the stillness of the night,
we long to hear the silence

For in the emptiness around,
such things as quiet do not exist.

A place that can bring peace,
fails to do so in our lives.

Stalked we are always,
By the noise only we can hear.

To hold out hope that someday,
we are freed from this eternal enemy,

This sound that seeks ever slowly,
constantly trying to consume us.

Their is an agony in what we hear,
for us it is a silent cry of despair

Facing a battle head long,
yet knowing for now winning will not be.

A struggle that is daily in our lives,
to be able to enjoy the simple things.

While most enjoy being in a quiet room,
for us it is like being trapped in hell.

Grim is the reality of the fate we always see,
With no real escape from this struggle.

In the stillness of the night,
we long to hear the silence.

In the stillness of the night,
we long for our freedom to do so.

For while you enjoy your quiet,
All that we will ever hear is the endless noise.

Fr Solanus

With in the last few years it is not uncommon for me to dedicate a project to someone who has an open cause for Sainthood. This is done by including a picture or statue that is placed somewhere inside the project. Over they years I have featured Saint John Paul II, Fr. Michael J. McGivney, Fr. Patrick Peyton. I didn't do one for Season 17. Not fully sure why. Wasn't even planning on doing it for Season 18. However God had something else in mind. If I am going to include someone it is done in the early stages so I can make the picture more visible. I want people to see the image clearly so they can get an idea of who I have included. By the time I had the project half way built. It normally would have been "too late" with out some kind of major redesign.

Ever have something placed on your heart in such a profound way that it cannot be easily dismissed or ignored? That was the moment I had when I called the monastery down in Detroit. I suspect the people answering the phones had no idea who I was or why I was asking for a "wallet sized photo". You mention "Lego Church" or "Lego Church Project" and your bound to get a lot of confusing looks. But once again God clearly had an idea in mind. They sent me some pamphlets and sure enough. One of the images once cut and sized would work. The image was a bit larger than normal. But it fit into the frame I built with out much trouble. I decided on the location. Even with the image/frame being bigger than I would have preferred. It still worked! Even with the walls, not even finished, from a distance you could look in the back and see who it was. Also even being over sided it comes across as a bigger than life painting when next to one of the mini-figures. I can't even begin to describe my emotions when they announced that Fr Solanus was going to be beatified. Mind you the Season 18 project build was finished by that point. Clearly God had a plan in place.

Their is a deep connection between Fr Solanus and my family. My late Grandmother, Margret, was a strong supporter of his and knew him in life. I knew about him before most people did. After she passed I got one of the small prayer cards with a small cutting of cloth that had been touched to his tomb. It remains in my wallet and is always with me. So in some ways I have taken up her devotion. It is a cause that I am drawn to more so than others. This past Sat was the Mass for Fr Solanus. I was unable to attend. But that is not what God had planned for me. What I do know is that this has been one of the busiest seasons of the project in a very long time. I firmly believe that Fr Solanus had a direct hand in that.

Soon the Season 18 project will be nothing more than a memory and will be taken down in Jan. Such is the nature of the project. A full life cycle from start to finish. However in this case that will not be the end of Season 18's impact. The image and the frame will be pulled out and a small stand will be constructed that the frame can sit in. That will go on to a shelf where I keep the statue of Saint John Paul II that was used in Season 14. A humbling reminder of the blessings of Christ and away of saying thank you to Fr Solanus for hearing my prayers.

Till Next Time.

-JM

Important display Part 1

I am often humbled by the response I get when it comes to The Project. With each passing year it is something that I always take to heart. The freedom to be able to create something that people enjoy. The Christ the Good Shepherd display (St Helen) is the most important of any display.

The reason for this is because this is my home parish. It is a place where I grew up. I have a lot of history with this place and it is a church that I am proud to be a member of. It is also a celebration of Christmas and the chance to share my love of the faith with others during the season. It is why I try and encourage as many people as I can to come out to this display.

It also the conclusion of the current season and in some respect the prelude to the next build. After this showing their will be no more Season 18. Each year stand on it's own as a testament to the deep Passion I have for the Catholic faith. I pray that you would come out and see this passion during the final display of Season 18. What makes this display even more special is the history. This will be the 15th project I have brought over. So you have the invitation to come on out starting in Dec to see this project and to see a wonderful parish as well. 

Till Next Time

-JM

With each year...

With each year that passes by. I am often surprised by my own ability to create the Lego Church Project. Their is a level of patience that is required. Something that I'm not known for having. Yet sitting down at the bricks can be rather fun. I guess you could say it's organized chaos in motion. If you've ever seen any of the galleries or see me work on the project in person you can tell what that is like.

On a typical day I'm working on at least five or six sections at once. Sometimes going back over and making major changes as I'm building. Of course their is a healthy level of fear involved that I fight with. Will it hold up to the end and will I have enough parts to complete it are the common ones. But it is that fear that drives me even harder. To know that I have a lot of experience so even when something doesn't go according to plan I can still go with the flow.

Keep in mind though I'm doing this because I enjoy it. I find the challenge helps me. I enjoy people's reactions. The joy they get out of seeing what I am doing. I enjoy sharing my story. This project is a yearly gift to the community. Something that needs to be shared with others. Not locked away somewhere. I pray that I always remain humble and thankful to those who support me in what I am doing. It is the fuel that fires the engines of creativity. Allowing me to do what I do best.

Advent is coming up fast. The Season 18 project will be at Christ the Good Shepherd here in Saginaw. This is the last display with this season and for me one of the most important ones. The end of the journey and the prelude to the next. This year however is special. This will be my 15th project that I have brought to this parish in a row. A long standing Christmas tradition. One that I hope and pray you will share with me. You are invited to come out to see what I am doing. To see what God has done in my life. By helping me to build faith. One brick at a time.

Till Next Time.

-jm

Reflection 11-5

Another evening goes by and another attack takes place. Another moment for the various groups to fire up their banter and demand extreme change. Been following stuff unfolding on twitter and to be honest it didn't take long for the anti-religious groups to jump down on those of us who posted public prayers. Those who are anti-guns to demand radical changes to the existing laws. With some feeling that guns are the only problem. I can understand their frustration. It is easier to blame the weapon of choice instead of the darker truth that we are afraid to admit to ourselves: No new laws would have changed anything. The attack in New York proved that point. Evil will use what ever tools it can find to strike in our hearts. Doesn't always have to be a weapon in a conventional sense.

Perhaps the issues at play are not so much about the choice of the weapon. But rather the spiritual bankruptcy we have these days. Perhaps we have opened up the doors in our hearts to a darker evil and have not even fully realized it. In our daily lives. We blow off our commitment to Church because we don't see the benefits of it. We let petty disagreements distract us from Christ and we avoid going to Church because of it. We don't make time for God, for prayer, because things are going good in our lives. Think of it this way. When we have Christ in our life. When we embrace him fully. Evil cannot destroy our spirit. When we go out of our way to push Christ aside. Forcing prayer our of the public circle. Removing Crosses and such. We allow evil to enter into our hearts. Before we can change the nation. We must first change ourselves. To look deeply into our own hearts and realize that above all else we must seek Christ. To find that peace so we can give that light to those who need it most. People want to knock prayer. But doing that won't solve the problems. Showing mercy and compassion even when you disagree with them. Can open up the doors of peace with in us. So that we as a society can become better. To live as Christ would have us live. Though the road is by no means easy one.

Till next time.

-JM