My Infinity War Part 1

I’m running, all of a sudden, they turned off the lights, and I’m running in complete darkness. That’s kind of difficult because how do you watch your step when you don’t even know what you’re stepping on? I can’t do no right. Story of my life.

Thanos has all the infinity stones, the world is over. We’re doomed. Even the Advengers could not save us, but yet there wasn’t even an ending. We have to wait for Part 2? We have to wait! Story of my life.

I’m crawling to this finish line, waiting for change. I see a door wide open so I shoot my shot. I make a move for the first time in 12 years. I pray, and I act on my prayer. If it’s accordance to God’s will then that’s how the story is going to be told. This test becomes the testimony after all, I’ve been praying about it for over a year.

This is my cross, I have to carry it everyday, but I’ve been carrying it for about 7 years maybe longer. I’ve embraced it. No response. Now virtues have to be acquired. Patience, humility, and so forth. More super powers. Ok, been in this situation plenty of times, and God was there with me every step of the way. Stronger than yesterday at Heroes. I hear that voice again, “Am I not here who am your mother?”

We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds it. Faith is the greatest thing and everything else doesn’t matter. We live in a fallen world and I’m running through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, free of fear. Faith over fear in the name of Jesús, María y José (JMJ). I fearlessly trust in His will. Build anyway, be young and crazy anyway, love anyway, be yourself anyway. A better you, learn from mistakes, always improve. Name someone that has all the answers and has all their life together? I’ll wait...

We all need God, we need our Savior everyday of our lives, time heals all wounds, and we become better and stronger because of the hardships. A year from now I’m gonna look back at this race and I’m going to miss it because these are the exact moments, through the suffering, that put a smile on God’s face.

I’ll never deny any person or kid that asks for help. I’ll always help when I can if I can. Anyone who is crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do. Crazy enough to coach 5 sports, crazy enough to teach multiple subjects, have multiple majors, be in multiple ministries, have multiple jobs, do multiple workouts, and to run multiple miles. That’s me! All things through Christ. Crazy enough through Christ, and with Christ. In the words of Forrest Gump, I just felt like running. 

“Oh Lord, let me be the one to set them free. I will give them every part of me. Put my heart where everyone can see. They can call me whatever they want, call me crazy.”

Run Baby Run

I’m running this race...

People are throwing rocks, others are begging, others are yelling and making noise. I pass by some very familiar faces, but they’re quiet, they’ve remain silent until I start picking up speed, then I hear them again. When I get a taste of cheers and pick up a few fans, the rocks, the beggars, the noise makers, and silencers all begin another attempt to slow me down.

I fell and sprained my knee. I forget that I’m clumsy. I stopped, but still keep going fast, still keep fighting the bear.  Everyday is a new adventure. The knee is feeling a whole lot better, so now they’re in trouble. Lent season will begin, and I will go and hide into the dessert or by the sea, so I’m not really hiding, they know where I’ll be. I’m here! I call them out. They hit me with their best shot and I hit back. Hate is not greater than love, hate cannot conquer, love conquers all my friends! I move forward. They desperately want to be seen and heard, I look the other way. I continue the path. They made fun of me, but yet I continue the path. They doubt me, and I still continue the path. 

Another shooting, more illnesses, more messages from unknown numbers, the world is a becoming a horror movie. Meanwhile, I sit in my mess after a cold shower and drink some tea. The Lord lives in me! It’s been Him all along. I’m just an instrument. When I get called to a deeper and more profound love, I’ll still be His instrument. When I’m running through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, He is there, and along with all the angels and saints, it’s been all Him. He gives me the strength and the endurance during the race, so that by His grace I may earn the prize, not gold. Meanwhile another tragedy, people are getting hurt, and dying inside. I’m leaving town again, I’m never home on the weekends. These are the worst of times, these are the best of times.

It’s time to lace them up again..The path must continue. Only this time, I’m stronger. Something tells me, that they’ll test my new strength. It’s gonna be ugly before it gets lovely. I’m headed down a new road. It’s hideous. I must go. That’s the road less travelled, that’s where I’m being directed. I have allies. More and more are coming. Wait, I didn’t expect this. I’m used to fighting on my own. This is like the Advengers. This is squad goals. Young bloodz willing to fight with me and for me? I didn’t expect this. I’m going to wake up from this dream soon. Maybe that’s when I’ll stop my run. When I do, I’ll smell the pancakes, and the coffee.

In a Secret In a Quiet Place

“Virtuous/Intentional Friendships: it’s not on purpose it’s for a purpose, it’s because you recognize something in that person. You say, ‘yes,’ you look at someone else and you say, ‘that’s it, that’s the race I wanna run, that’s the fight that I want to be a part of, that’s the kind of person that I want to become.’ Would I rather be a faithful Catholic? Or just be known as one who’s the faithful Catholic? Would I rather be the good friend? Or do I wanna be known as the one who’s the good friend?

That stuff doesn’t happen in public, it happens in private, it happens in those moments when no one sees.

Belong to Jesus and that belonging to Him, doesn’t belong in a stage, it’s made in secret. Virtuous friendship doesn’t happen under a spotlight, it happens in secret, it’s hidden. It’s a lot like love, when you shine a light on it, it kinda goes away, but if you live it, it’s unstoppable. Who are you running with? Who are you racing with? Who are you fighting with? In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” -Fr. Mike Schmitz SLS18 Conference in Chicago, Illinois

Sounds like a paradox from setting the world on fire 🔥 because if you set it on fire, people see the flames. Flames are visible and sometimes loud, but setting it on fire like a SAINT can be visible and loud just to be done in secret.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” -Saint Mother Teresa

Privately, one can throw a stone so ripples can spread across any body of water and it doesn’t need a spotlight or be broadcast on live TV, and essentially that’s setting the world on fire.” Nobody needs to know how you did it or when you did it. You just did, and it might have been loud and proud in the name of our Lord. Only those affected were the ones who heard loud and clear. Our treasure is will be stored in our hearts, better yet in Heaven. 

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven.” Matthew 6:1

How simple is it to just do God’s will, without announcing it to the world. There’s no pressure, there’s a sense of peace that resides within you because deep down in your heart and in your soul you have become a living breathing invitation to believe in bigger and better things than just oneself. 

Squat heavy...Run fast...Live full...Train hard...Love strong...Adventure often...Hustle always. Dream big...Compete daily...Make life count. @competeeveryday

ALL IN SECRET, then go back home and rest in a quite place because a clean conscience makes one fine pillow, but get your rest because tomorrow you have to live full again and spread the good news with your life in a secret...in a quite place. ❤️ This secret and quiet place that I speak of is not so much a secret at all, it’s your home, your school, your church, your backyard, the grocery store, even on social media where everyone has access yet not everyone visits, so it’s probably in a public place. Your ministry may not be quiet 🤫 because even when Jesus was performing miracles word started going around. To do God’s will in a secret and quiet place is to be humble, recognizing that we are sinners striving in our short lifetime to be saints. BE-A-SainT mode! Affect enternity! We are reaching for the highest goal, so that we might receive the prize in the Kingdom.