May 1982, I was deployed to Diego Garcia with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion SIXTY-TWO, when I get the MARS Gram ... "It's a girl, Jennifer Lynn Gassman, mom and child are well."
September 1984, I was deployed to Autec Island, Bahamas with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion SEVEN, when I receive the phone call, It's a boy, Leo Joseph Gassman.
April 24, 2013, I'm waiting for a family friend to discuss her wedding plans. While I am waiting in my truck outside the restaurant a very pregnant woman and her (I'm assuming) husband came out. Something about the way they were walking and talking made me think, "Does he understand what is happening?" I mean really understand.
I know from my experience those two contacts changed my life tremendously. Jennifer is now 30 and Leo 28. I carry copies of their baby pictures and I love them now as much as I did back then. It is funny how our relationship with our children rides the proverbial roller coaster. Yet, as parents we love them so deeply no matter how rough it might be. If we are separated physically, emotionally, or because of differing points of view, we love them tremendously.
This is how I know God exists and that He came to be one of us in the person of Jesus, human in every way, willing to give His human life for our salvation. This is agape love. The kind of love we live out sacramentally as a married man and woman. We are graced with the ability to be co-creators with our God, by our ability to produce children through an act of love and we come to see God in the child who loves and trusts us unconditionally (until they are teenagers), then we come to know God's pain when we sin (turn away from Him). Yet, He loves us, calls us back, and mercifully forgives us.
This is the 5th Sunday of Easter. The Gospel calls us to love as Jesus (God with us) loves us. "This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35)
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Do You Hear Me!
A phrase I heard all to often as a child, a student, a military subordinate (I said it as a supervisor also), a husband, but today I heard it in a completely different venue.
I was out cutting the weeds at Habitat's new campus, once I shut off the brush hog it was about 6:45 p.m. The evening quiet was broken by a woman's voice coming from the woods. "I'm not going to live like this for the rest of my life! Do you hear me!
Homelessness seems to strip so much from an individual. There dignity and from a societal point of view their very identity.
I've seen the men coming out of the woods to the South of our new campus area, I can hear their moving about to the West of the campus. Curiosity beckons a visit, but respect for their privacy reigns in my mind. I am sure our paths with pass very soon as we clean up the fence line and eventually begin occupying our new campus. I am hoping once we are settled that I can partner with the Housing Authority, who owns the property, to build affordable housing so the homeless will have an opportunity to gain affordable housing beyond their tents.
I was out cutting the weeds at Habitat's new campus, once I shut off the brush hog it was about 6:45 p.m. The evening quiet was broken by a woman's voice coming from the woods. "I'm not going to live like this for the rest of my life! Do you hear me!
Homelessness seems to strip so much from an individual. There dignity and from a societal point of view their very identity.
I've seen the men coming out of the woods to the South of our new campus area, I can hear their moving about to the West of the campus. Curiosity beckons a visit, but respect for their privacy reigns in my mind. I am sure our paths with pass very soon as we clean up the fence line and eventually begin occupying our new campus. I am hoping once we are settled that I can partner with the Housing Authority, who owns the property, to build affordable housing so the homeless will have an opportunity to gain affordable housing beyond their tents.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
...and I'm not him.
In approaching the question of "identity" our pastor gave a very good sermon today concerning a short yet very profound concept that summarized the entire Bible in one sentence.
"God does exist, and I am not Him."
It is funny how many times over my life that I truly felt I was in control of my life. I've learned to laugh about this over time. In reality it has always been God in control.
I enjoy telling the story of how I came to Habitat for Humanity and eventually fully recognized and accepted my call to the permanent diaconate. "I" chose to join the Navy right out of high school and the trade "I" chose the trade of heavy equipment operator. "I" chose the move to serve as an active duty adviser to a reserve battalion in New York because "I" wanted to be stationed close to Judy and my families. "I" discovered and chose to pursue a career change to become an human relations adviser and "I" chose our retirement time to stay here in Florida (actually Judy did, but you get the picture "I" believe).
What "I" have come to understand is that God led me to move in each of these of these life events to prepare me for who I am today and what I do. 11 years in the construction field experiencing the many facets of the different trades as I was placed in roles where I needed to be very diversified and willing to learn on the fly. 11 years as a human relations trainer and adviser where I was confronted with my true self and experienced the diversity of God's people and allowed me to re-appropriate my faith as a Catholic Christian. God, using everyday decisions to introduce me to His chosen people who would guide and form me to be the pastoral leader of a Habitat affiliate and ordination as a deacon.
God does exist, and I really know now, I am not Him.
"God does exist, and I am not Him."
It is funny how many times over my life that I truly felt I was in control of my life. I've learned to laugh about this over time. In reality it has always been God in control.
I enjoy telling the story of how I came to Habitat for Humanity and eventually fully recognized and accepted my call to the permanent diaconate. "I" chose to join the Navy right out of high school and the trade "I" chose the trade of heavy equipment operator. "I" chose the move to serve as an active duty adviser to a reserve battalion in New York because "I" wanted to be stationed close to Judy and my families. "I" discovered and chose to pursue a career change to become an human relations adviser and "I" chose our retirement time to stay here in Florida (actually Judy did, but you get the picture "I" believe).
What "I" have come to understand is that God led me to move in each of these of these life events to prepare me for who I am today and what I do. 11 years in the construction field experiencing the many facets of the different trades as I was placed in roles where I needed to be very diversified and willing to learn on the fly. 11 years as a human relations trainer and adviser where I was confronted with my true self and experienced the diversity of God's people and allowed me to re-appropriate my faith as a Catholic Christian. God, using everyday decisions to introduce me to His chosen people who would guide and form me to be the pastoral leader of a Habitat affiliate and ordination as a deacon.
God does exist, and I really know now, I am not Him.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
JoeSeabee
JoeSeabee is a nickname I picked up during my service with the Naval Construction Force as a Heavy Equipment Operator and has affectionately remained a part of me.. I was reminded today how deep this identity still exists as a permanent part of "Who I Am".
Remember when JoeMaMa was a comedy routine for Flip Wilson? JoeSeabee came about one evening while on deployment while we were sitting around and joking. The name became my first email address. It was JoeSeabee who gave me the first glimpse of how our environment, our profession, and the people we hang out with influence who we can become.
You see JoeSeabee wasn't the high school athlete, the quite child raised in rural Western New York. He was a very strict military professional, full of pride and ego, often very selfish and distant, and a willing participant in things Joe should not have been doing. Yet JoeSeabee was successful, a strong leader that military men and women wanted to follow, but there was a cost.
Battalion life contributed to my military success opening my eyes to discovered gifts I never fully used growing up. I also learned how intoxicating power can be. The good news, there were those in my life (Judy my wife, being one of the most important and influential) who kept me grounded and prayed for me constantly that helped bring me back to a faith life that would school me in retaining the discovered gifts and use them for the greater good of others.
Back to what reminded me of how deep this identity of JoeSeabee is within me? I was asked for input on a bulletin note to encourage our church community to prayer "with" the families of military members serving throughout the world. Drafting the request and prayer became a very emotional thing for me as I remember that piece of my life. 22 years, thousands of brothers and sisters in arms, the experiences, the growing and maturing.
I am proud to have served my country and proud of the men and women who volunteer to defend and serve today and into the future. May God bless and protect them. May their families feel our prayers of support and compassion for them.
Remember when JoeMaMa was a comedy routine for Flip Wilson? JoeSeabee came about one evening while on deployment while we were sitting around and joking. The name became my first email address. It was JoeSeabee who gave me the first glimpse of how our environment, our profession, and the people we hang out with influence who we can become.
You see JoeSeabee wasn't the high school athlete, the quite child raised in rural Western New York. He was a very strict military professional, full of pride and ego, often very selfish and distant, and a willing participant in things Joe should not have been doing. Yet JoeSeabee was successful, a strong leader that military men and women wanted to follow, but there was a cost.
Battalion life contributed to my military success opening my eyes to discovered gifts I never fully used growing up. I also learned how intoxicating power can be. The good news, there were those in my life (Judy my wife, being one of the most important and influential) who kept me grounded and prayed for me constantly that helped bring me back to a faith life that would school me in retaining the discovered gifts and use them for the greater good of others.
Back to what reminded me of how deep this identity of JoeSeabee is within me? I was asked for input on a bulletin note to encourage our church community to prayer "with" the families of military members serving throughout the world. Drafting the request and prayer became a very emotional thing for me as I remember that piece of my life. 22 years, thousands of brothers and sisters in arms, the experiences, the growing and maturing.
I am proud to have served my country and proud of the men and women who volunteer to defend and serve today and into the future. May God bless and protect them. May their families feel our prayers of support and compassion for them.
Monday, April 15, 2013
St. Ignatius Spiritual Exercises
Well tonight was the last night for our 30 week practice of the St. Ignatius of Antioch, Spiritual Exercises. In part the Exercises are what prompted my desire to open a blog and share my interior journey.
The first time I participated in the Exercises (5 years ago during diaconate formation) I was graced with the insight to Jesus' humanity. This time I was graced with a more intimately connection to God's mercy and love for all of His children, all of His creation.
Every time I do the Divine Mercy Chaplet I feel more connected to the pain of this world. All the fears and illness, the pain and poverty, attack me as I begin the prayer, bringing me often to the brink of tears. Yet I have come to know God's mercy very well, Has has forgiven me. During my general confession I was graced with the ability to let my past sins and wounds be forgiven, I learned to let go and truly give my entire being to God. What a freeing experience!
The first time I participated in the Exercises (5 years ago during diaconate formation) I was graced with the insight to Jesus' humanity. This time I was graced with a more intimately connection to God's mercy and love for all of His children, all of His creation.
Every time I do the Divine Mercy Chaplet I feel more connected to the pain of this world. All the fears and illness, the pain and poverty, attack me as I begin the prayer, bringing me often to the brink of tears. Yet I have come to know God's mercy very well, Has has forgiven me. During my general confession I was graced with the ability to let my past sins and wounds be forgiven, I learned to let go and truly give my entire being to God. What a freeing experience!
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Commitment
On the Third Sunday of Easter the word that stuck with me from the sermon was COMMITMENT. Actually it was more than just the sermon. I had the pleasure to participate in a Men's Conference at Holy Name of Jesus, over 500 Catholic men singing (yes, I typed right) singing praise and worship songs led by Josh Blakesley, and intently listening to inspiring presenters (Bishop John Noonan, Peter Herbeck and Fr. Mike Fones).
But let's go back to that word, COMMITMENT.
Using Peter Herbeck's analogy of a poker game with Jesus. When its my turn to make the bet, with the chips representing all the things in my life, how do I bet? To make a long story short, there is only one answer Jesus is looking for from me, bet it "ALL IN".
Is this what I've done? Reflecting on the many moments and identities (masks and costumes) I've encountered I can see where I have only bet a few of my chips and clung to the rest, fooling myself in thinking I was in control. It wasn't until I figured out and acknowledged how little control I really have that I could begin to shove more and more of my chips into the pot with Jesus.
The question I am sitting here honestly asking myself is, "Am I REALLY all in?" For others they may perceive I am, but even that begs the inner question to myself even louder, "Am I REALLY all in? Peter is confronted with this question in the Gospel of John (Jn 21:1-19).
The blessing in my self questioning and Jesus' response to Peter, Jesus will be with us and meet us where we are at. I believe I am moving in the right direction and am working on being more boldly a disciple of Jesus. I believe this is the purpose of this blog, may I do this in remembrance of Him who went "ALL IN" for my salvation.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Who are you?
You never know who you will run into.
While entering our regular watering hole (Old School Pizza) and with the regular bar shuffle that occurs to get a space to belly up. Low and behold who offers his seat up? Boston Colleges Heisman Trophy winner and Buffalo Bill favorite... Doug Flutie.
He was a very gracious man as he stopped in for some of the best pizza in town.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
In the beginning...
Often I've reflected on where I've come from, what & who has influenced who I have become, where I have traveled and how I've landed. While I consider myself "A Regular Joe" I also believe God created me to be a unique as every other created person and thing. We all have a place and purpose.
My experiences as a child, student, military member, husband, father, handyman, Habitat President, and permanent deacon have provided me with many joys and challenges which I just feel like sharing at times as I move forward.
I am in constant contact with people from all stations in life and they are amazing! With their permission I would like to share our relationship story and life's learning's that have helped me to be continually shaped and reformed into a passionate servant of God.
My experiences as a child, student, military member, husband, father, handyman, Habitat President, and permanent deacon have provided me with many joys and challenges which I just feel like sharing at times as I move forward.
I am in constant contact with people from all stations in life and they are amazing! With their permission I would like to share our relationship story and life's learning's that have helped me to be continually shaped and reformed into a passionate servant of God.
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