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Monday, October 21, 2019

The Empty Church: Transportation Revisited



I have been deeply blessed in the fact that for the most part I have been able to find a ride to Mass. However not everyone is as lucky as I've been. Over a year ago I wrote a blog post that touched on the issue of transportation titled "Who Do I Ask?" Since that time I've been praying and pondering on what kind of practical solutions could be done. I believe with all my heart that something should be done to make things easier. I think the solutions can be very simple. With the over all goal helping people establish connections with in a parish so they can go to Mass.

I know from my own experience that being able to take part in the Mass and being able to get a ride makes me feel like I truly am a part of the parish community. That I belong to something greater than myself. If we truly want to be welcoming as parish communities then we should make every effort to make getting to Mass easier for those who do not drive such as the elderly or the disabled. It is a chance to evangelize that is often over looked or at worse out right ignored. However it is also something that we can change. By being more mindful of the needs of the faithful with in our parishes. I believe that solutions can be found to any problem that we face. Sometimes that means we have to get creative about it. For my own part I'm starting to reach out to people in other parishes to see what is already being done. In fact if you know of a program drop me a note. I would love to hear about it. I have a deep desire to see this issue looked at more closely. The issue of transportation to Mass (and to other parish events) has been on my mind a lot lately. The question for myself is: What Can I do to help solve this problem?

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Twitter: @kc8wzm



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Monday, October 14, 2019

Those of us...




The blog has always been about collecting my various writings. In this case the post was from something I wrote on FB several years ago as a comment on a group. I have now added it to the collection. 


Those of us who have some kind of disability have challenges most people do not fully realize. It is hard for us to be accepted in a society that paints us as people who should not be allowed to exist. It hard for people to take the time to understand or to even get to know someone who has any kind of challenge. I know in my own walk in the shadow of disability that I have seen this first hand. I have been told that I am a burden on society. I've been told that I would never do some things that others take for granted. Like driving. Or even living on my own. This notion that because we have challenges. That we do not have something to offer society is flawed thinking at best. We are not given the chance to shine because often times we are dismissed or worse overlooked. With me their is a frustration that I feel with trying to be accepted for who I am. That yes, I have a mild case of cerebral palsy. That yes I several challenges related to that. In how I talk. In how I move. In how I relate to social situations. I see this all the time when I am at Mass. I see this many times when I'm doing one of my Lego Church Project displays. Which it's core message is disability awareness. I've had some people get a little uncomfortable when I bring up that issue. They see the big guy with his big LEGO church. But they don't always want to know the full story. Many times it is out of fear. Because people are afraid of what they don't fully understand. I don't expect people to understand all that I deal with. But I want people to know that just because you have a disability or challenge. That God can and many times will use your talents. Often it is in very unexpected ways.
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Twitter: @kc8wzm


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Stewards of this Planet




It is written in the Bible that God created the heavens and the Earth. He also gave us (humans) dominion over it. No matter what your views are on Climate Change. The reality is that we are stewards of this planet and by that extension we have a responsibility to do better in taking care of it. Such a view can be held by all no matter what side of the fence you are on. With in each generation new advances in technology are being developed to the point that their are better ways of living that are far greener than previous generations. Such advances should be encouraged and developed that are practical for every day living and are not falling into the extremes that some are calling for. While I do not believe God would allow His created to be destroyed by our own hands. I do believe that we can take better responsibility in preserving this planet for future generations. Sometimes even the smallest action has the biggest impact in our lives. The problem with taking extreme action in any situation is that it often causes problems in other areas of our lives that we never even consider. Taking a more reasonable look at what we can do will help us over all. It may not be the dramatic changes the climate alarmists want us to make. However even a small step can lead to major improvements in the health of our world.
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Twitter: @kc8wzm


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Saturday, October 5, 2019

While I don't Drive.



I've mentioned a few times over the years that I don't drive. Their are a few reasons why I don't. Part of it is because being on disability due to the mild cerebral palsy makes being able to afford or maintain any kind of car/van nearly impossible. Older cars require a lot of work and have costly repairs. Plus the price of gas and rising insurance costs adds up very quickly. It is not cost effective for me given the fixed income that I have. The other reason that I've shared is more medical. My vision in the day time is decent enough. Even with the Visual Snow. However my night vision is another story. I have light sensitivity which also means lots of glare. Also poor recovery time with my eyes. Along with the snow means that my night vision is diminished. To the point that even if I had my own car I would not drive at night because I don't feel safe or comfortable behind the wheel. It can be a challenge at times not being able to drive. Sometimes their is a feeling that you lose some of your independence. I'm blessed for those who help me out. Today I figure it was time that I went into more detail about why I can't drive.
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Friday, October 4, 2019

One of the things...




One of the things that most people don't fully know is the fact that I build and display only one church per year. That's the main reason why I call it a season. That process takes me about 1 to 2 months depending on the design, complex nature of what I have planned and how many orders into Bricklink (online LEGO marketplace) I have in. Once the final display is finished up at Christmas at my home parish. I take the project apart over the course of three or four days and then start the process all over again. It truly is a cycle of faith from start to finish. What has kept me inspired is the love of the Catholic faith. The rich beauty in what has come about and the amazing parishes I've visited or seen over the years. I'm doing this to remind myself and others that no matter what challenge/disability you face God can still use your talents in amazing and often times creative ways. We could all use some hope in this troubling world.
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Thursday, September 19, 2019

Bricks and Prayers




Building the Lego Church Project requires a lot of effort on my part. Not unlike the challenges we face in our daily lives their is a high level of challenge in the build. I'm doing this mostly by free hand with no idea of how things will turn out. The vision that I see may take some twists and turns. This kind of understanding applies to life in general. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. Int is in these times that we have our faith in Christ. We have been given the tools and resources to seek out the wisdom to find solutions to the problems at hand. One of the most important tools is the power of prayer. For us prayer is an amazing resource. It may not always give us the "magical answers" it can however point is in the right direction to help solve the problem in ways we might not even consider. A case in point is during one of the project builds. Near the end of the build I was reaching a point where some important parts were not lining up correctly as they should. No matter how I looked I could not see the problem. Spending time in prayer I discovered one of the beams was not lined up properly on the board. It was just enough to throw things off. Prayer did not fix the issue. But it gave me wisdom to look for something I otherwise would not have noticed. In the same way having a total faith in Christ is what gives us that ability to face our challenges head on. Working on this project can create a lot of fear and anxiety. Yet during those times of struggle I pray a lot for direction and wisdom. Ideas will come and solutions can be found. It is a reminder that prayer does have the power to move mountains if we allow God to move with in us.
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Monday, September 9, 2019

Saints and Sacrifice



A common thread in the lives of the saints is sacrifice. Many did as Christ requested. Literally giving up everything. From friends and family. To social status and wealth. Some even gave up their health. Taking on suffering in the name of Jesus Christ.

We gain wisdom through their eyes. Lessons passed down from generation to generation. Even today they can still teach us about what it means to be Christian. Many in this current age don't fully believe in the miraculous. They look to things that they can touch and see. They do not believe that true miracles can happen. In such ways that direct science can't fully understand. The Saints believe in Christ fully. They believe that bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. The Eucharist that we take part of at Mass. Many of the saints gave up their lives believing that Christ is the Son of God.
When we ignore the teachings of our faith. We in our own way tell the world that the saints died for nothing. That Christ wasn't Divine. That our faith is just something for show with no deeper meaning. That the miraculous is just a fantasy. Yet God calls us to live deeper lives. That our faith in Christ should be absolute. That it requires us to have the same unquestionable view that the child has. It makes sense given that we are children of God. Doing this makes the sacrifice of the saints have meaning.

In times of doubt surrender to Christ all that troubles your spirit. For God knows your challenges. While the saints serve a true witnesses for the Passion that we should have for Christ.

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Our Choice




When you tell someone that you are a "cradle Catholic" their seems to be this automatic assumption that as you get older the only reason you are still Catholic is strictly due to the "indoctrination" you got from your parents. This notion that a person is only belong to the faith due to some kind of family legacy seems to minimize the fact that God has always given us a choice in how we live our lives. Though out the Bible, passages are written, about the choices that we make. You realize this when in talking about Heaven that the gate to enter is narrow while the road to hell is wide. As followers of Christ we have that ultimate choice: To serve Christ or not to follow at all.

 Each and every Catholic who follows church teaching is on a unique journey. Even when we have not always been on the right path. We have our missteps and we seek mercy though God because he seeks to draw us closer. For myself this journey with in the Catholic faith has been a rather interesting one. While my faith has always been rooted in the foundation my parents gave me. At the end of the day it has always been my own choice.

At some point as a cradle Catholic we will have to face the storm of doubt. Moments in our lives when it can seem all to hard to fathom all that God has done for us. The Catholic faith has a long and rich history. To reflect on it and to accept it can be a bit overwhelming. Sometimes we struggle with the belief that God gave us his only Son who was handed over and put to death on The Cross! Let alone that Christ rose from the dead! It requires a lot of faith to accept that reality in this current modern age. Those who are able to ride out the storm and remain faithful become stronger over all. Because they have made the choice to embrace the truth.

 When all is said and done. We as children of God must make a choice. To turn away or pick up our Cross and follow Christ. For me it was a choice that I made a long time ago. The key point being is that the choice has always been mine to make. Not anyone else. I am Catholic because I know it to be true. I made the choice to accept that truth.

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Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Too much nitpicking?




You look at social media enough and you realize that their is a lot of people who just love to complain. They will pick fights and argue with you just to make the point that they feel they are correct and the rest of the world is wrong. It becomes more common when people share the same faith. Can easily spend hours reading posts and tweets from every arm chair theologian who feels that unless it's one specific way your condemned to the eternal fire.

 While some criticizing can be justified. It seems to easily get out of hand to the point that we are no longer evangelists. Rather we become over zealous nitpickers who's only goal in life is to point out what everyone else is doing wrong. Instead of leading by example in living our faith. Our presence on social media should be as much of a reflection of who we are as followers of Christ as it is when we are not at the computer screen. Sometimes the best way to evangelize is not being focused on the flaws of others but rather by showing the world who we are by living our life as we are called to live it. We proclaim and reflect the image of Christ in how we carry ourselves in this world. We should strive to do that just as much in our interactions with people online as we do with people offline. We should always carry with us a simple reminder: The Church has never been a hotel for the pious. Rather it has always been a hospital for the broken and the sinner. The world needs more evangelists and less arm chair theologians. Perhaps by putting more of a focus on living our lives as Christ has called. We can share the Good News with everyone we meet.



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Saturday, August 24, 2019

A prayer for our churches


One of the comments I get is "Your church is full of people!" I have often said that my project is not a reflection of the past. But rather a reflection of where things should be. For me it has always been a prayer that more would come to the faith. I have now put that prayer into words. Please share this with others. If any parishes or other service groups would like to use this. Just drop an e-mail to kc8wzm@gmail.com. 


"Lord we pray for those who have drifted away from the flock. For those who have been hurt or are angry. We pray that the Holy Spirit would open up their hearts to the call of the Good Shepherd and return home. That all of us would have a deep desire to come to the Mass and take part in the Eucharist. So that we may be able to embrace Christ fully and believe in the truth of the Gospels. Amen"



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Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Tools within Reach




The other day when the project was brought back from the most recent display. One of the two bell towers was totally destroyed. In a lot of ways. Our faith is not unlike that tower or other things that we as humans create. Faith can be easily shaken or in many ways damaged or destroyed. Stuff with in the world can shaken us to the point that believing is Christ becomes very difficult if not impossible. Yet much like the builder working on one of his or her creations. We have important tools with in reach that can help us restore that faith. Of course it starts with prayer. For someone who believes Christ that should always be the simplest but easily important parts that can help restore our faith. We should always take time during the day to talk to God about what troubles our hearts. If our faith is shaken talk to God about those worries and concerns. As a Catholic we also have the Mass both in the form of our Sunday obligation and in the Daily Mass (if a parish offers it). Taking part in the sacraments also helps to strengthen the frame work so our faith can remain strong. Even in times of crisis. That is however just the tip of the iceberg in terms of  what God has given us. Their are many ways in which we can build, repair, and maintain our faith in Christ. So at the end of the day. Even the bell tower that was destroyed can be rebuilt better than it was before. 

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Sunday, July 21, 2019

The Old Church: Woman in Prayer




The Old Woman sits alone inside The Old Church in one of the front pews lost in her own thoughts. It's at a time between Masses of the morning. With the exception of the lights at the Altar, The Old Church, remains dark. The old woman has on a forest green dress which is in contrast to the pure white veil she has on her head. It's the first time The Man has seen someone wearing a veil in a long time. It casts about a striking image as the woman is clearly deep into prayer. Kneeling as she lightly holds on to her Rosary while she is having private conversation with God. Her words nothing more than thin whispers. When she is finished she looks up and gives a warm greeting to The Man. They have a short conversation while she tells more about her life and her past. She is an immigrant from a country far away with a name that has changed more than a few times. A world traveler that has seen many wonders in her nearly eighty years of life that most people would never even dream of. Content to spend her days before God during daily Mass. She tells The Man that is rare for her to skip daily Mass unless she is traveling. The Man sees in The Old Woman truth in her words. It is reflected back though her eyes. Her dedication to prayer that is never ceasing. It is clear that she seeks to know more about the Mysteries of Our Faith. Such a devotion and dedication that makes The Man wonder about his own commitment to God. 

 Sometime later a fellow walks over to The Old Woman. It is still a bit of time before before the next Mass. The fellow has a look of deep sadness in his eyes. You can tell he's been spending more than his fair share of time in tears. He asks The Old Woman to keep his wife in prayer. She is deathly ill and it does not look good. With a reassuring hug The Old Woman tells him that she will indeed pray for him and his wife. Their is a calmness in the fellow as he knows that he is not alone in this world and that their are indeed others willing to offer up their prayers in times of need. You can tell from the way The Old Woman acts that this is not the first time she has done this. Such an act of compassion to someone who is struggling to hold on. It is a reminder of that unending faith in Christ. Watching the story unfold before him. The Man wonders where his own faith is at. At times their is a deep desire to draw closer to God. The Man had come to the church very early to take care of some personal matters. After witnessing this he decides to set those matters aside and to sit down in one of the pews and to take time to have a private conversation with God. Reflecting on the lessons the Woman in Prayer has taught him this day. Taking time to pray inside The Old Church.

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Twitter: @kc8wzm

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Thursday, June 27, 2019

Can a Dream become reality?


A dream to display at the Solanus Casey Center:

 Their are many places that I would love to take the Season 20 Project to. But one of the more important ones on that list is the Father Solanus Casey Center in Detroit. My reasons are a bit more personal than just the project. In many ways I have taken up his cause and have taken the time to look more into his life. I see a common connection when it comes to challenges with learning and still being able to serve God despite the challenges that he faced. Their are lessons in his life that we can all learn from. It is a place that I do want to visit to give me more of a chance to learn and to pray.

 From the Project side of things. I think it would be a neat display of showing what God has done in my life. Their seems to be a lot of people in the Detroit area who would like to see my work in person. Given that I live two hours away the transportation aspect for a weekend display for the project and myself would be a bit more challenging. But one that I also feel would be rewarding. A reminder that I do not drive. Nor do I have easy transportation.  The only way for this to work out on this level is that the center would have to contact me with a direct invite. For something like this I just can't reach out an call. From their volunteers would be needed. 

 For now I am only asking for your prayers and that you would share this blog post with others. If a display of this level is mean to be. I'm sure God will work out all the details. For now this is only a dream of mine. But I am wondering if it can be turned into a reality.



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Saturday, June 15, 2019

Different set of Lenses


This is the updated version of a previous post. However rather than just cut/paste/replace. I've decided to keep both versions intact. -JM

I am someone who has a disability. Those challenges impact me often in ways that most don't fully understand. It is something that I live with daily. Often moment to moment. Sometimes I don't fully understand how they impact me. Other times the effects are crystal clear. I am someone who sees the world though a different sent of lenses. I notice and focus on the inner beauty of the world around me. It is a source of endless wonder and fascination to see how things work in relation to one another. To see how all life plays out and the role it has in our daily lives. By seeing this beauty I understand how important life can be. Even with in the nature that exists around us. For me I love seeing nature around me. The animals and how they exist. You can say that I'm easily amused. However it is more about looking at what God has given us and being deeply thankful.

 This lens that I see though is also reflected in my relationship with God. I see more of the spiritual side of things and have come to see the wonder and beauty in it. I see this in how I embrace the idea of going to Mass and seeing that it should be the foundation of anyone who proclaims they are Catholic. It is a foundation of our faith that should not be over looked. For I know that even on the days when I'm struggling. Even with paying attention. I know that I am in the presence of Christ. That though the Eucharist I am filled in a spiritual way. When I am at Mass I am always looking. Always learning. Seeing what is in the windows and in the stones. As I look I am always finding something new and exciting. It is a feeling that I hold on to because it never gets old. Being Catholic is the core of who I am. It has guided me though many things with in my life. 

 It has never been easy to embrace who I am. Living in the shadows of my own disabilities I have often felt like I wasn't a full person. Overly self critical of my own limits. However as I've gotten older. I've learned to be more accepting of who I am and how I interact with this world. With in that acceptance I have found peace. Finding that peace I have found that it allows me to draw closer to God. Closer with my relationship with Christ. It is my faith in Christ that drives me to do what I can. Even on the days when I struggle with those limits. The days can be a challenge at times. However Christ is very much the light and the guide. I see the world though a different set of lenses. Take a look at my own work to see what I see at times.




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Saturday, June 8, 2019

Reflection 6-7


When you look at the history of the entire Church as a whole. You realize that the evil one has spent countless hours and countless generations trying to destroy what cannot be destroyed. For with Christ we will always stand strong and firm. Scandals and misdeeds have always had some kind of role to play in our history. People who became corrupt with power and at times abused it. Often in many ways that sets our hearts on fire with righteous anger. Yet though out our history we have remained strong. No matter what has taken place the Church remains as it always has been. The pillar on which our foundation is built on.

With in the last twenty years. More and more stories have been filling the papers about various abuses with in the Catholic Church. It seems you cannot go a full day with out some new report coming out. Such news can be heart breaking and can make us question why remain Catholic. To be sure such questions rattle us to our very soul. But when you look at those who do stay. You see a common thread. We believe in what the Gospel teaches us. We believe in the traditions handed down to us from the days of Christ. These are elements of the Catholic faith that go deeper than the buildings we go to. Than the Priests that lead us. While they are indeed our shepherds to guide us. It is Christ above all else that sustains us. For a Catholic the most important part of why we believe is in the words Christ: This is by Body. This is my Blood. The Eucharist is something the evil one does not want people to have. Though out history the evil one has gone out of his way to try and ruin what Christ has built for us. Corrupting many souls along the way. Yet generations later we still are here. Not destroyed or ruined. Our faith should always be deeper than the foundations of the buildings. For Christ has already won the victory. Scandals will rock us to our core. But no matter what. We shall remain strong as ever.
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Thursday, June 6, 2019

Reflection 6-5


Writer's note: This post is semi connected to a previous reflection I did recently. 

 It is not easy being a follower of Christ in this day and age. Hard from the stand point of all that goes on around us. The idea of any hope for the future seems so far out of our reach. It's not that hard to understand given all the information that social media puts at our screens. With in a moment we can expand on any number of thoughts or opinions. Sometimes it is hard not to give into the temptation to lash out in anger at what grave injustice that we see. Or to become depressed at the state of the world. We wonder how Christ can be our light in these troubling times. It can be overwhelming. So why do we follow Christ when it seems that all hope in this world is slowly fading? Why do we embrace the Son of God despite the fact that things in this world seem be getting worse rather than better. With so much violence in the world and at times in our own backyards.

While their are many differing opinions with in the Christian communities their are a few common threads. The primary one is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That he gave his life for us. Powerful love that was shown. At that same moment the followers of Christ felt as we do in this day and age. At times hopeless over the state of the world. Yet even in their disrepair they held on to hope. Even when losing it would be easy to do so. Looking at the entire history of the world. Believers in Christ had to face many world events. Such things that like in our time was probably overwhelming. Yet they also stood strong and above all else. They Believed in what Christ teaches us. That is why we embrace the Cross. Because of all Christ has done for us. It is easy to read the Bible and think of things in the past tense. But events are still unfolding in our lives. The message and lessons of Christ still ring true as they did for the eleven after Christ had gone into his Glory. It serves as a constant reminder that even when all hope seems to be lost. Christ is still very much with us. Amen?
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Sunday, June 2, 2019

Different Lens


Writers's note: This post may be revisited and/or edited later. I just wanted to get this up on the blog so I could show a few people who I'm not connected with on FB.

I see the world though a different sent of lenses. I see the inner beauty of the world around us. It is such an amazement and fascination to see how things work in relation to one another. To look at all life and see the roles that life plays in our daily lives. By seeing this beauty I understand how important life can be. Even with in the nature that exists around us.

The lens reflects how I see things when it comes to my relationship with God. That foundation that we get when we take part in the Mass is such a critical point for me as a person. To be there in person and know that I am in the presence of Christ. Even on the day when my own attention span is limited. Still my eyes are constantly looking around. Seeing what is in the windows and in the stones. Always finding something new and exiting. It is a feeling that never gets too old.

Living in the shadows of the disabilities that I face with at times I have often felt like I wasn't a full person. Often chastising myself for my own limitations. Yet by finding peace with in my own challenges I have found that I draw closer in my relationship with Christ. It is that relationship that drives me to do what I can. Though the days can be challenging at times. I know that Christ is here to guide me. I see the the world though a different set of lenses. I think sometimes my writings is a reflection of what I see....
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Thursday, May 30, 2019

Reflection 5-29



I find that at times the world around me can easily overwhelm my own sense of reality. Due to the nature of events and troubles that we are facing in this world. Along with the issues we look at with in our own cities and communities. It is hard to fathom that though it all God stands with us. To the point it is hard to figure out why God would want to with all the chaos going on around us. No matter where I turn their seems to be some new crisis brewing. Events unfolding that make it feel like the world is tearing itself apart.

In my own prayer time I am often reminded of how powerful my faith in Christ is. How we should make Him more of a focus in our lives than the world around us. It is not to say that we shouldn't pay attention to what goes on around us. If anything we should. But by putting our faith in God a head of everything else will put things into a proper perspective. That we all await the day when we can see God face to face. It is though that faith in Christ that my own sense of peace is restored. That I am given strength to face the challenges I never knew I could. It gives me a small measure of freedom knowing that no matter what evil will throw at us. Christ has already won the victory. -
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