Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

The day I met him!

I am crazy about a nine-year-old boy- utterly madly in love with every bit of him.  He happens to be my only biological nephew.  Yet, he is growing and with growth he begins to see that life is more than his small pack of loving Mexican clan.  The first big scary thing that happened was when he came home and startled me (way more than anyone in the pack) by stating that a girl in his elementary class had a crush on him.  It took me quite a few sessions with my girls to calm me down and accept that I am not the only person who will recognize how special he is and that at his age kids have ten minute crushes all the time.  Well, just as I was recovering from such shocking revelations- one day we were talking and he blurted out (as little guys do); that in our family he, his dad and I were the smartest people in it.  Thanks to the Holy Spirit I was able to explain to him how wrong he was.  I explained to him how while his grandparents were not book smart- they had super qualities which he and I had no clue.  “For example,” I told him, “grandpa is a self-taught nature guy – he knows more about plants and animals than anyone I know- you could say that’s his specialization.  And grandma she’s the best cook, homemaker - not to mention self-taught holistic nutritionist – your mom is super crafty she makes cakes, designs, cuts and sews clothes she’s an artist, and uncle is super good with construction work…  Everyone has a type of intelligence that makes us equal and because we are wired differently we need each other and must always work together.”  This speech (inspired by God) really helped him understand that we are all smart and to remove or rather to place all of his pack on podiums because we all shine in our unique way.

Having a little guy as gifted as my nephew who loves to inquire and ponder things deeply keeps me on my toes and after I have these unexpected moments of education I sit and meditate to make sure that what I am teaching him is really, well, right…  I want my nephew to grow up and to be humble to always approach others with optimism and great expectation- kind of like how God sees each of us so full of goodness and potential.  Yet, sometimes it’s easy to give a sermon and for the speaker to miss the lesson.  Sometimes I get scared thinking that I am not smart enough.  I am attracted to intelligent men, and sometimes I get scared thinking – “what if he realizes that I am not at all smart. What if I need CliffsNotes to understand him?”  I know these are stupid worries that should have been left behind in high school with my teenage years.  Yet, that fear has long been with me.  I felt like that every time I taught class as a high school teacher and even now when I teach RCIA.  What if they see that I am really not that instructed that there’s so much that I don’t know.  Last night in my class we went over parts of “Lumen Gentium” specifically the stir that the word “Sacrament” caused among people from other Christian denominations when our church teaching affirms the Church as Sacrament.  To me all this is new so I was fascinated by the discussion that one word created among people and how we are encouraged to think critically so that we can come to a real understanding of church teaching.  I love classes like this where it’s evident how little I know.  Yet, to be in a class and accept that I am ignorant about so much is different and quite easier to accept than when I am trying to get to know another person and my weaknesses just come blaring.  In class, I can just remain silent and absorb all the things without calling attention to my little knowledge, but when I am either leading a class or having a tête-à-tête it’s harder to hide my weaknesses…  This insecurity is probably a matter of humility and of accepting myself as I am. 

I want my nephew to approach people with love and patience because that’s how I try to see others, but I also want him to see himself with that same love and patience.  As we open up our world to others (as he is by growing up) there will always be a lurking fear of rejection, a fear of unworthiness and the temptation to hide by thinking ourselves better or thinking ourselves worse than others- but like I am learning (through our presidential candidates LOL) it doesn’t have to be one or the other. There’s always a more godly option, “to love your neighbor as yourself” (even If she is less smart).  God tells us that we must love others as we love ourselves and part of loving is acceptance.  I must practice self-acceptance and ask God to heal me of this insecurity, to “make me a better channel of His love.”  For space that is occupied by my insecurities is space that I am keeping God out.  

Just A Bit on Holiness

I have to read, “Lumen Gentium” for my new class in Ecclesiology.  For this week I had to read a couple chapters, one being chapter five on sanctity and I must say it blew my mind!  As you know, my initial Christian formation (as an adult) began in protestant churches where it’s very common to preach three things: one that Jesus is our friend, two once saved always saved and three that love is our mission.  In my Christian walk I never heard about my call to sanctity until I arrived home.  Yet, for me when I returned to the Catholic faith this whole notion of sanctity just seemed wildly uncomfortable and at times really exasperating!  For years, I had been taught that love fuels the Christian life and love was something I did towards God, others and myself- which is not wrong, but it is incomplete truth because love is not just an action of “doing” it’s an action of transformation.  For years, I heard that we needed to be more like Christ and I thought I need to be more loving- but that is only the beginning.  When Jesus dies for us he does so to sanctify the church so that we can return to the Father.  For God is holy and only holiness is found in Him.  In the churches I attended, anyone who accepts Christ as our Lord and Savior has complete passage to God; thus, very little is taught about holiness.  Now, the choice to accept Christ is super important, but it’s only the beginning it doesn't end there.  When we are united to Christ as his church we accept the call to holiness because we are called to the fullness of the Christian Life.  I am not sure how in my quest to love I lost sight of the transformation that love invites us to.  I just thought holiness is one of those Catholic things that I have half an understanding about.  Though I did try to be a better person I didn’t have the motivating factor that God wants us to be holy. In fact, when other Catholics told me they wanted to be saints inwardly I cringed and criticized thinking that wanting to be a saint was more of a position or title thing like wanting a PHD or something of the like for the sake of appearances.  Yet, I was terribly wrong.  So, when I read chapter five of “Lumen Gentium” I couldn’t believe how I missed the call to holiness not as a title, but a transformation process in our desire to be more like Christ! 

For the first time in my life I can honestly say that I want to be a saint- though I still feel a little weird saying it out loud because old ways take a while to make it from your heart to your head.  It’s different now to think of sanctity as pleasing to the Lord and an invitation that He makes giving us His Son as an example and leaving the Holy Spirit to guide and help us.  Before I had to be good because that’s what Christianity demanded, now I have to be holy because God invites me to eternity with Him.  To accept my call to holiness is to accept the gift of eternal life with my Father and His Holy Church (smile).         

Modesty Is Deeper Than Clothes

In my path towards returning to the Catholic Church my journey took me to many Christian denomination churches. In all I found fragments of the truth, but as I have stated before the Eucharist called me home.  The journey gave me a deep understanding for the importance of our Roman and Apostolic faith because without our church history anyone can begin a new Christian church keeping only those items of Christian tradition they see fit.  A few years ago, an alcoholic friend trying to recover invited me to an Alcoholic Anonymous retreat that claimed to be Christian.  As she was reluctant to go alone, I figured there was no harm in going with her – besides it was a women’s only retreat on Christian sexuality.  As we began the retreat, the two leaders began by stating that during the weekend we were going to listen and discuss topics about sex that normally in a church setting were taboo areas.  They began by having us name our sexual organs in all slang terms we've heard because after that weekend we would have no shame in identifying these parts of our bodies.  Then they told us that profanity was welcomed because the weekend was about honest communication and one of the leaders began by using a lot of bad words to get us started.  As we began introductions, they told us to share why we were there and one of the ladies who was living with her boyfriend said she wanted to learn tips on how to please him sexually.  A girl shared that she thought purity is over rated because she waited to have sex until marriage and now she was going through a divorce.  As we went around the circle the comments just kept getting more and more anti-Christian.  I was there trying to support my friend, but around the morning of the second day I couldn’t take it anymore.  When it was my turn to share I told them how profanity and vulgarity were not Christian and how more traditional Christian friends than I would have already stormed out of the retreat.  That from the beginning introduction I had felt terribly uncomfortable, but for the sake of my friend I remained.  They asked me what church I went to and I told them that as of recent I attended a Catholic Church.  That seemed to relieve them because they thought that I was just too conservative and probably thought myself too righteous.  Seeing this in their reflections I shared how big of a sinner I am, how much I fall all the time, and that while I am a saving myself for marriage purity is more than just not having sex out of wedlock as is modesty more than just wearing covered up clothes.  Modesty is deeper than clothes.  Growing up my mom always taught us that our behavior and our language matter.  That profanity is a "no-no" and certain topics of conversation need more respect than others.  Her Catholic faith (in addition to life experience) taught her the importance of decency in dress and behavior.

Some of us aren’t fortunate enough to grow with a person who teaches us these important lessons, but if we look at Jesus at our Christian faith he shows us the way.  Yet, when we look at God for instruction we really need to make sure that we go to a place that won’t lead astray.  I spoke up at the AA retreat because I felt like these people were using Jesus to teach their own doctrine and sadly that’s really common.  It wasn’t until I spoke up that my friend realized that what we were learning (while maybe therapeutically for some) didn’t coincide with Christian teaching.  A younger more impressionable me, might have gotten caught up in this type of “Christianity,” but luckily for me I attended the retreat when I knew my faith because I belonged to the Roman, Catholic and Apostolic Church.  A church that is grounded in Christ, has history from its beginnings in Rome and was passed down from Jesus to the apostles to us.  After I shared with the group my thoughts about the retreat, other participants were encouraged to also come forth and share similar thoughts.  Later one of the leaders came up to me and we had a great conversation.  She asked me what she could do to make my experience more comfortable, but I told her that I would be leaving the retreat early because the next activity involved dancing and chanting around a fire.  I am taking a class on ecclesiology and I think that’s what inspired this memory- not because what this group offers is wrong (I was told that in its five year run it has helped a lot of women with addictions) but because the group advertises this as a Christian founded experience- and that, it is not. 

It’s important for us to be learned in the faith because only our knowledge in Christ and tradition will enable us to identify the truth.  God’s word encourages us to “beware of false prophets, who come to us in sheep’s clothing.”  There's a lot of new age spirituality  that tries to disguise itself as Christian, I've often encountered it.  I like to look at this movement as people's desire for God.  Yet, whenever we need help with discernment our Catholic Church will always point us in the right path as it has done from the beginning (smile).

Building: Mission San Juan Bautista

I didn’t always dream of becoming a mom, but I did always want to be an aunt.  My nephew was conceived almost a year after my brother died, and like in the Book of Genesis, Rebekah came to Isaac after the death of his mother, my nephew came to us after our loss to offer the same comfort.  A witness of God’s perfect timing.  In his nine years of life, he’s gone through many different selections in terms of what he wants to be when he grows-up, most currently he wants to be an architect because he loves to draw plans and build things.  Taking advantage of his love for building, we have been working (for the past couple of months) on learning about the California Missions.  

First we did a saint chart, so that he would get a proper introduction to the twenty-one missions and then select the one he most wanted to replicate.  After, selecting Mission San Juan Bautista, I ordered an online kit that promised the most from scratch building because I know my little man loves to do it all himself.  Well, the kit was an absolute nightmare!  I recommend getting the one that already has all the parts cutout for you to just glue.  This one we had to draw the pieces onto the cardboard, cut them using an X-Acto knife and then put them together.  It took us a couple weekends to complete because of the complexity of the construction, but in the end it turned out pretty good.  The best part is that we learned a great deal about the missions and we spent a lot of time together.  I am a teacher at heart and I always love looking for activities that are not only fun, but are also educational.  Below are pictures of the grueling process.  We finally completed it last night! 

The dreaded kit.

Cutting the plans and gluing.

A smile of encouragement.

 A builder proud of his work.

 We added animals and he's adding fields of the crops they produced at the mission.

 It still needs bells and a few other details

Overall it was a huge success because we spent a lot of time together, 

we both learned a  great deal and had fun each step of the way (smile).

Dating a Practical Catholic Guide

I often meditate on how I can be a better Christian in all areas of my life.  Lately I have been thinking about dating simply because I believe that I need a lot of growth in this area.  Once when my ex and I were talking about the topic of marriage he told me words that hurt me like crazy, “Penny, do you know how much I researched, pondered and discerned whether I was getting the best truck for me.  The same applies for marriage, I need to look for the best person out there for me.”  He equated the search for a spouse to the process of buying a car.  Now before you label him as a total jerk, I think dating in today’s terms can really be just that- what’s in it for me?  In conversations with other friends (even Christian ones) I mostly hear complaints a list of the weakness and buts in regards to the “other” person.  In my own experience dating can feel like being a contestant on “The Dating Game” where I am placed in a position for serious criticism and judgment.  While I am not of the mindset of Joshua Harris, author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye, I recognize that dating needs a Christian makeover.  Recently, I read a great manuscript (Dating a Practical Catholic Guide by Jason King) on the subject which I am paraphrasing and quoting throughout my post today because I found such enlightenment.  It’s extremely helpful because it explains how we should approach others with a Christian mindset always- even while establishing friendships with the opposite sex.  As King explains, dating is not wrong, “while the Catholic Church hasn’t address the issue formally,” as Catholics we need to take this process and evangelize it.  Below are the six areas that King focuses on and gives great advice in regards to pursuing each other (if you want to read the full guide you can download it for free here).

Dating relationships are never trivial in God’s eyes:  All relationships are intended to be joyful because we are made to love and be loved.  God’s greatest commandment is about how to relate to God and others and that is through love.  Thus, all our relationships should be motivated by love and not the ego, “What can I get out of the other person.”  We objectify the other person by looking at him/her as a list of strengths and weaknesses.  

Dating relationships are a practice in loving:  Catholics view all relationships as a practice in loving.  Our greatest vocation is love, we don’t use people to figure out if we are compatible.  "We get into relationships to hone our ability to love those with whom we are in relationship with."  I remember after my ex and I broke up, my heart was broken and for a while I really wanted him to hurt like I was hurting.  Then one day I saw a homeless man on a corner asking for charity and I thought I would never like to see my ex in that situation.  God used that moment to show me that love always wants the best for the beloved or else it’s not love.  I know that sometimes we are conditioned to protect our hearts through all means, but in protecting ourselves we still need to express love and mercy.  

Dating relationships should strengthen our friendships and family relationships:  It’s easy to get lost in the beloved and want to dedicate our complete lives to them, but that’s not healthy.  We all have had that friend that when she has a boyfriend we never see her.  Yet, our Catholic faith is about community about getting to know each other with the help of our friends and families, “Christian love always reaches out to draw others in… A relationship that isolates you from your friends, strains your family relationships or keeps you from the church are problematic.” 

Dating relationships should connect us to parish life:  Dates should not only include dinner and the movies because our sole focus will be too narrow and non-Christian.  Dating should strengthen our communities incorporating volunteer gigs and opportunities for prayer and worship.

Dating relationships need to know forgiveness:  Our purpose to love one another as Christ does, is HARD!  We all have our failings, brokenness and sin.  Thus, we will inevitably hurt one another and just like we rush towards the Sacrament of Reconciliation we too have to learn to forgive each other again and again.  “Christians are called to love by continually and repeatedly repenting of their failings, by ongoing conversion, trying to live up to their faith again, and forgiving those around them who fail.”

Dating relationships change over time:  First, it’s never a process to try out another person for compatibility – “that assumes a consumer mentality with regard to people.  It becomes shopping for a partner.”  Kind of like my ex described the process.  BUT, people are not commodities- if we treat each other like a product than we are reducing the likeness of God in each other.  We are violating the greatest commandment.  Thus, dating begins as a friendship that grows and helps us to learn about another person and care about him or her.  It also allows us to learn to love other people for who they are and continue to grow in this love…”

I found King’s guide extremely helpful, because that’s how I try to approach all my relationships (whether romantic or not).  I try to be loving, and accepting of the other person because God tells me to do so- it pleases Him and because I want to be treated with the same regard.  Throughout King’s description of Catholic dating God gave me a lot of areas to work on.  The first and foremost to look at everyone with the same Christian eyes of love and kindness; to see Christ in everyone no matter my intentions.  Even if we are not at the moment dating anyone, this information is great practice for when God sends on us on that path.  That’s why I was so eager to share it with all of you.  

Mercy In Motion: Forget About Me I Love You

At the conference I attended a couple of weeks ago, a speaker introduced a group of individuals that began a community to inspire people to take the 2016 Mercy challenge as a direct response to Pope Francis’ “Year of Mercy Jubilee.”  The group, composed of young people of all faiths, began this movement here in California because while they might differ about religious views they all agreed that the world needs more mercy.  They developed a selfless, unconditional love mission and their goal is to “provide a simple practical way to show mercy to fellow human beings.”  Using the corporal works of mercy they developed a bracelet system as a reminder to live out God’s Mercy and a way to accrue monetary help to feed the homeless in the Santa Monica region.  For a small donation, Mercy in Action will send you eight bracelets one with their slogan F.A.M.I.L.Y. (Forget About Me I Love You) and the other seven with an Act of Mercy to be performed.  You always wear the F.A.M.I.L.Y. black bracelet so that if people are curious about its significance you can begin a conversation about mercy with others; and one blue bracelet with the act to perform, which serves as a reminder of your goal.  Once you have performed the act you pass on that specific bracelet to someone else (to continue the chain of mercy) and you wear the next Act of Mercy bracelet until you complete all seven.  For someone with such a scattered brain as myself I think the bracelets will definitely help remind me of my call to service.  I have attached the website in case you are interested, go and check it out- we still have a few months of the jubilee (smile).

This process reminded me that we all need to show people love and kindness even though sometimes showing our feelings might feel scary because we are opening ourselves to hurt. Many of you probably don’t need the bracelet system.  My mom and dad are the most loving and serviceable people, I know.  They help people everywhere and are never embarrassed to offer help.  When we go to Mexico to visit grandma my mom will constantly talk to the poorest of the poor and give alms without fear of offending. For me fear of offending others or of rejection many times keeps me from offering my services or showing kindness.  Service makes us vulnerable, it places us at a lower position to the other – it really is “forget about me, I love you.”  Yet, that’s what Jesus constantly teaches us, a great example is when he washes the feet of his friends.  That act was extremely radical when he performed it and it still is because our culture hasn’t changed it still teaches us to aim for power, fame and money.  As Christians who live in the world – it’s extremely hard to remove that conditioning and to live 24/7 in a spirit of humility, a spirit of mercy.  That’s why I bought the set of bracelets- to help remind me of my place in life- the lowest of the lowest and to help me put aside my fears.  I have a long way to sanctity, but God continues to provide assistance to keep me in the path full of hope for my conversion.  I often think that when Jesus said, “let the dead take care of the dead,” he might have been saying leave your old self behind and follow me each day little by little.  He doesn’t expect great things from us, for He is GREAT and He loves us as we are.  Yet, even the small tasks He gives us sometimes can be so challenging, like living mercy. BUT- like Saint Paul said, “I can do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens me.”     

Penny, Dollar and Saint Francis

In the theme of things that refresh my soul- spending time with my furry boy does miracles.  I was reading an article about how science discovered that dogs can understand language and have a developmental intelligence of a two-year-old.  After years of study, scientist have discovered that dogs comprehend many words and also the tone of their master.  I find these studies a little lame because all dog owners know this and much more (smile).  Now, don’t hold this against me, but I am a dog person who also through circumstance became a bird mom and from a young age my dog has been conditioned to chase cats away and keep his bird brother safe.  I give the command in Spanish, “gatos, gatos,” and my babe runs out into the yard ready for the chase.  He always returns with the proudest grin of a job well done.  I joke that he’s trilingual, because he understands English, Spanish and Dog.  When I am around animals (especially mine) my soul is utterly happy.

 Sometimes I need to bribe him with treats.

Sometimes he needs a lecture, "just one picture please."

After my reversion, I had two areas that I was very hesitant even resistant in terms of my Catholic faith: Mary and the saints.  I felt that both distracted me from my worship of God, I even told a priest once during confession that I felt guilty asking Mary or the saints for intercession because I was afraid to make Jesus jealous.  Though he gave me a great explanation, it took quite some time before I converted in these areas.  My first conversion was in regards to the saints, the priest told me that they were my friends and just like I would ask any friend for prayer I could do the same with these holy people.  Yet, I wasn’t convinced until I met Saint Francis of Assisi.  He came to me through song.  It was around 2007, I was in a very dark place, and had just started attending Jovenes Para Cristo meetings.  One night we were asked to close our eyes and the choir began singing the “Peace Prayer.”  The words had such power over my spirit and I remember sobbing a good snotty cry.  Afterward I discovered that hymn was inspired by Saint Francis and my curiosity led me to learn more about this Catholic man.  I found his life absolutely fascinating, but what I most loved was that we had so much in common.  Things that (at the time) I would not associate with God.  Little things like the stories of him speaking to birds and saving a town by converting a wolf were things that spoke to me as an animal lover.  His profound love of nature and his complete love for all creation surprised me.  I loved that he had an awareness for all these things that I so loved.  And because of these small commonalities he became my friend who slowly led me from God’s creation to the Creator. 

Love my cheetah print shirt!

Saint Francis, was the first saint that I didn’t feel uncomfortable or suspicious around and that’s why to this day he’s my favorite, my special beloved saint.  Through Him, God showed me that it’s good to have holy friends and who better than the saints - that saints lead us to God, challenge us to become better people and intercede for us!  Some say we shouldn’t have favorites among the saints, but I disagree.  

My Weekend in Pictures...

Hope you had a great three day weekend!  I sure did…

On Saturday, after debating on whether or not to go, I finally decided that I had to attend (for my second year) the Southern California Renewal Communities conference.  Am not sure how you nurture your spirituality, but I really enjoy attending special events because I get to see Catholicism at it’s best.  I was able to have such a great confession with a priest who really guided me and gave me some great advice.  After reconciling with God the mood of my day just completely changed… I enjoyed some great talks, worshiped God in various ways and was spiritually renewed.  During a moment of prayer I asked Saint Therese for a flower and a few hours later a girl I had just met bought me a flower crown! Wow! Wow! Wow!  After that experience I joyfully closed my day with a grand Eucharistic celebration.

Flower Power!

I couldn't resist!

This renewal helped me begin my Sunday, with a lot of hope and energy, as I begin year three of RCIA.  This year we have a smaller group only about fifteen students.  As we began introductions two students had teary testimonies – though the group is small there’s a lot of need.  So please pray for our ministry.  After a morning of such strong emotions, I picked up my nephew and we headed to the annual Civil War Reenactment that my city offers every year.  We had so much fun learning history in such a neat way, we spoke with soldiers, medics, musicians, women, General Grant, President Lincoln…  Then we caught the thirty minute war reenactment and my nephew was just mesmerized by the action.  He loved the loud cannons! Afterwards he practiced his shooting skills with some toy rifles and pistols and the rest of the weekend he couldn’t stop talking about the Civil War.  He even began recreating the Civil War in his Minecraft game- Aww my little nerd!

 With President Lincoln.

 We got to learn a great deal about how cannons operate.

I love horses!

Yesterday, after such a busy weekend- I relaxed.  After attending Mass, we went for a walk and my furry boy got to play with a dog friend.  Seeing him happy makes me so happy.  After, wearing him out at the park, we came home and relaxed just the two of us.  It was such a great weekend, hope yours was too.    

A Night to Remember with Bishop Barron

In the studio audience.

Last night my diocese hosted a night with Bishop Robert Barron, who is promoting the release of a new film series entitled “Catholicism the Pivotal Players.” The night was arranged in three parts: appetizers and wine, the premiere of a one hour segment delving into Saint Francis of Assisi as one pivotal player and then we became the audience for a segment of EWTN Bookmark!  The evening was such a lovely surprise because when my friend sent me the invite all I saw was that a film about my favorite saint would be showcased; yet, as I got ready for the event I found the full scoop and I was super excited about possibly meeting the man of the night in addition to being part of my first televised audience experience- so look for me on September eleven when the episode will air.  As I was sipping on a glass of Chardonnay involved in a conversation with a gal I met, the bishop passed right by me and I shrieked.  Then like a panther stalking her prey I pounced grabbing my buddy and the gal as photographer.  When he turned to speak to me, in my nervousness I think I might have called him Bishop Brown!!! Was I thinking of Charlie Brown? All I remember is saying, “I really love your work, and I would love to take a picture with you Bishop Brown!”  He smiled and granted my request.  Then as I walked back to my wine, flustered and thankful at my good fortune, I realized that my mouth had betrayed me!  Maybe the bishop needed a humility check and God said, “let me use this fool.”  Nonetheless, next time I meet him I can always begin with, “remember me, I am the one that baptized you Bishop Brown (smile).”  Thankfully that was the only faux pas that I committed during the night (that I am aware of at least, LOL).

My sister and mom made my dress.

Over 200 people were in attendance.

 Classy gals sipping on Chardonnay.

My buddy enjoying the appetizers.

The video on Saint Francis was really well done, I can’t wait to watch the other five in the series that have been released.  It’s always nice to hear the story of my beloved saint from different perspectives and this film captured locations, people and art that were of importance to Saint Francis.  It brought the saint to life in an aesthetically beautiful manner, tackling some misconceptions and legends that have attached themselves to Saint Francis and showing the mustard seed effect of one man who transformed the world.  The film is deep in content, provides many humorous narratives and the visuals are just absolutely captivating. I totally give it a two thumbs up.

 We got to say hello to our Bishop Vann.

 Waiting to meet Bishop Brown (LOL).

 Meeting Bishop Barron.

I have never been part of an audience for a television show, so I was a little nervous though mostly excited.  After a fifteen minute break after the movie, we were ready to begin filming.  One camera was pointed at the audience the entire time and we were directed to not stare at the cameras, while a man stood to the side and directed us when to clap.  So, we only had two directions don’t look at the camera and clap when instructed - pretty easy gig.  I could sense the excitement of people around me, but once the show took off we really had no trouble acting normal because we were really engrossed by the chat taking place on stage.  The hour flew by rather quickly and before we knew it our audience gig was over.  It was such a special night, I am just so amazed by the things God allows me to be part of, He truly is a good, good Father.