Horsin' Around

Do you ever come up with a "master plan" for something, get deep into carrying out the "plan", and then when someone from the outside asks you, 'why did you do this' you have a brain fart and stutter about...uh....hmm I can't remember.

This is typical me and my horse operation.  I initially started to breed two old cow bred mares to high performing stallions every other year.  That way my kids will have horses I'd never be able to afford and with only every other year I should in theory be able to keep them rode.  This plan has been in affect for less than 10 years.  So far I sold the first 2 colts because I didn't like them, bred only 1 mare on the right year and then I bred both on the next right year (so far 3 crops of colts in 5 years!) .  Then I went ahead and bred 1 mare on an off year to a home raised stud, not a high performer like the plan, then I bought a high performing stud colt last fall, also not the plan!  This year is a breeding year and I'm getting lazy at hauling the mares to a stud!  And with my horse buying habits the stud fee could be hard to come by!  Anyway I digress, point being: if somebody asked what I was doing breeding mares I'd have to think about it or else I'd answer "uh...I don't know".

My wife and I have been apart of helping with a retreat for engaged couples in our diocese.  We started helping prepare 1 local couple for marriage as well.  As you could well suspect our views and beliefs of the dignity of marriage are formed by our Catholic faith, and since these couples come to US you'd think their views and beliefs would be the same.  The last retreat this was not the case.  I gave an hour long talk to the men, afterwards one gentleman told me that he was deeply offended.  Whoops, sorry dude.  I was slightly shocked and smiled said thank you and the small group discussion went on!  But I meditated on this for quite awhile and I kind of asked myself 'why should these guys believe all this stuff?  Especially when they can find a church that teaches what THEY believe and not form their beliefs to what the Church teaches?'  God pulled through like a champ.  Took a couple weeks but he finally used a pile of bricks to make the point...The Trinity.

I've given talks on this before,  I've had the whole idea given to me before.  But for some reason I got caught up in the ministry I had a brain fart as to what the point is.  We don't do it because it's easier paper work at the court house, bank, and post office.  We get married because it is HOLY.  It is how we humans mirror the Godhead.  St. John Paul II said that the "Balance and Dignity of the WORLD depend on who MAN will be for WOMAN and who WOMAN will be for MAN" (paraphrased).  In God's family the Father and the Son pour ALL THAT THEY ARE into the love for the other.  That generates the HOLY SPIRIT.  Why has marriage been muddled?  Because men and women forget the master plan of who they are called to be FOR EACH OTHER.  We are called to pour out all that we are into this love for one another, so much so that love becomes a real person.  Ours are named Tymber, Retro, Remi, and Creed

So what?  The world is off balance.  Sometimes our marriage is out of balance.  Change your marriage will ultimately change the world.   It all depends on who YOU will be for HER.  Will you be like Christ and lead your family spiritually, serve them like Christ washed his Apostles feet, and ultimately die for her?  If you don't the balance and dignity gets lost and we forget the point of why we got married in the first place.
My cousin Cole Elshere is getting married tomorrow, pray for him and his new bride that they strive to pour out all that they are for each other!  I'm praying for everyone's marriage!
Be A Man, die for your wife.
Peace Brothers