I began this day (which is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary – make sure you pull out your beads today and devote some time to our Lord) looking forward to some time deanery teenagers, young adults, and families will spend with Our Lord, present in the Blessed Sacrament, tonight at St. Peter’s in downtown Columbia. I also started off with spiritual exercise – as is my intention every day: don’t judge me, I’m a fallen man – and with physical exercise.

My spiritual exercise took me through some scripture, the Catechism, Liturgy of the Hours, a chapter of The Imitation of Christ, and Prayer.

My physical exercise (always better after time with the Lord) took me through 5 miles around my neighborhood. At the risk of sounding like a complainer, this is my first run of any significant length since I hurt my foot (I dropped a swing set on it). For this story to make sense, you also need to know that I’ve got pretty terrible allergies and they are most annoying around early fall in SC, when the ragweed is in full force.

Thankfully, it was a fantastic run – air temperature was good, a little humid, and it felt good to be out on the road again. My foot seems to have healed nicely and gave me no trouble.

About halfway through I was blessed with a drizzle. It was a fantastic gift, cooled me down, and was a fantastic reminder of God’s presence with me this morning.

As I turned back into my subdivision, another reminder of God’s joyful love was given to me. Every fall, in my frustration with the ragweed, I forget that it’s always followed by the beautiful scent of the tea olive.

It’s always terrific to be reminded that through suffering comes joy, we need the Cross to see the Resurrection, and that after the ragweed, comes the tea olive. Even though the tea olive scent will soon be gone, God’s joy and love are everlasting!

p.s. Be on the lookout this weekend for an exciting announcement.