The Richness of the Catholic Faith: A Poet's View
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Results of living with our Catholic beliefs sometimes are reflected in unexpected ways. There are occasions when we know immediately that our beliefs are enriching our lives. However, the recognition of how our beliefs affect others may be delayed while they are experiencing life events with, and through, those beliefs. The following note reminds us of how living with our Catholic/Christian beliefs affects our lives and those of our children. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Father's Day Hi Dad, I'm so glad we got to unexpectedly see you yesterday afternoon. It was a whirlwind weekend of sports. I never got to pick up a card. So, I share these thoughts with you about Father's Day... I thank you for all that you do for us as a family. You may not realize the value of the lessons you have taught us in the last half a century. Those lessons are recognized deep in our hearts, though we rarely speak of them. You have given us inner strength flowing from the strength of your own spirit. Your life has been a model of what it is to be a good Christian. You have instilled within us strong family values. You have helped all of us to pack, to move, to paint, to prepare houses for ourselves while facilitating our efforts to provide homes for our own families. You have raised your spirit and voice to the Lord to show us the importance of faith in our lives. You have taught us how to grieve and to forgive. You have shown us how to honor our mother and to love a partner. You scooped out ditches so that water doesn't flood the place. You and mom washed windows so that life looks a little clearer when we gaze at it through our own lenses. You have loved and sat with our children for twenty years and taught them about beliefs that are springs of effervescence in life. Because you and mom have lived life with zest, we succeed, we love, we thrive. Thank you for being our father and our mother's companion.
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About the Book
The stories and poetry in this book are reflections about the richness of my own life experiences springing from Catholic beliefs. They arouse the spirit of healing by taking us into the familiar experiences of: Δ Laughing with God. Δ Learning how our faith shapes our life events. Δ Recalling friends who have added happiness to our life experiences through their own beliefs. Δ Enjoying a rare set of stories about how our male friends contribute to the richness of the life experiences of their families, their friends, and their communities.
About the Author
About John Patrick Gatton My first poem was titled “Imagine.” My own spirit responded to that poem’s description of our daughter Cindy’s arrival in heaven. That spiritual response has inspired my writings for more than twenty-five years. After having cancer and experiencing MariEl Healing through a wonderful woman of healing, Patrice Cheviot, I became a MariEl Healing practitioner. MariEl Healing emanates from Jesus flowing through Mary. The practitioner is a participant in the prayer process. Friends knew of my history and asked to personally experience this healing prayer. Twenty years later, I have prayed with hundreds of people who have cancer. Out of those prayer experiences, and based on a career of formulating and delivering executive development workshops, I created workshop experiences for people experiencing cancer. Recently, I have been delivering workshops for people who are searching for deeper peace and emotional freedom through their own relationship with God. Over the years, these workshops have been given to the American Cancer Society, conducted at churches, and at the Upper Room, a Catholic spiritual development center in Neptune, NJ. Before writing, a prayer asking for guidance helped me feel spiritually connected and attuned to persons whose stories are reflected in this book. These stories are about spiritual life based in Catholic/Christian beliefs and our increasingly graced relationship with God that springs from those beliefs.