Friar Timothy Patrick Dore, OFM Conv. -- About Me and My Blog . . .

Friar Timothy Patrick Dore, OFM Conv. (Baltimore, Maryland, United States).

On September 3, 1962, I was born at Mercy Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland; I’m the second of seven children: I have an older brother and four younger sisters; they each married terrific spouses and now have families of their own; one sibling, a younger brother who my mother named Joseph, died at birth.  In all, I have fourteen wonderful nieces and nephews, as well as a grand-niece and a grand-nephew, both of whom are absolutely beautiful.  My mom, +Carolyn Marie Winterling (d. 09-13-18), was born and raised in Locust Point, South Baltimore, and was of pure German descent; during her professional life she was a Registered Nurse; my father, +Eugene Anthony “Gene” Dore (d. 07-21-24), was born and raised in Irvington, West Baltimore, and was of Irish/Swedish descent; he spent much of his professional career as a salesman within the heavy construction industry. My immediate and extended family members have always been very dear to me!

I spent my earliest school days as a student in both public and parochial schools: first at Beechfield Elementary, P.S.#246, Irvington (grades K-2), then at St. Joseph's Monastery, Irvington, (grades 3-5) and finally at the Catholic Community School of South Baltimore, (grades 6-8). For high school I attended Baltimore's great Calvert Hall College (a Christian Brothers' school locally known as “the Hall).  

As a child, my family and I were always very active in our parishes (both at St. Joseph's Monastery, in West Baltimore where I lived until the age of eleven, and in later years at Our Lady of Good Counsel, South Baltimore).  I was a member of the boy scouts, an altar server, choir member, youth groups, church cleaner and part time youth parish office receptionist.  As a child, my Catholic faith and my parish identity were always very important aspects of my personal and family experiences!  

After graduating from Mount Saint Mary's College (now “University”), Emmitsburg, Maryland in May of 1984, I entered religious life in August of that year as a novice with Conventual Franciscan Friars (OFM Conv.). I completed my Theological studies at the Washington Theological Union in Silver Spring, Maryland in May of 1992. After a six month period as a “transitional deacon,” on October 17, 1992 I was ordained to the priesthood at St. Casimir Church, in my home-town of Baltimore, Maryland, by Baltimore's then Auxiliary Bishop +William C. Newman.

For seventeen years of my priesthood (in two non-consecutive terms between ‘92 and ‘14), I was assigned to Most Holy Trinity--St. Mary in Brooklyn, New York. Both my Franciscan and my priestly identities were greatly “formed” during my years in Brooklyn!

In addition to Brooklyn, I served as a parochial-vicar at St. Philip Benizi, Jonesboro, Georgia, and at St. Stanislaus Basilica, Chicopee, Massachusetts. In August of ‘14, I began a year-long assignment at Pastor at Assumption Church in Syracuse, New York. Years earlier in ministry, I also spent time teaching young people in schools at St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York (‘87-‘88), at St. Francis Primary School, San Jose, Costa Rica (‘98-‘01), and at Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, Maryland (‘01-‘03). Later, and in the Archdiocese of Baltimore (‘15-‘18), I was Pastor of two wonderful Parishes of St. Ann and St. Wenceslaus, in Baltimore City, Maryland.  Then I was Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel, Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, a three parish “Pastorate” in Baltimore County, Maryland (‘18-‘22). 

I’ve always had an “itch” to be a missionary friar.  Although I have never really pursued such a calling, I did have several opportunities in my life to travel and to live abroad in countries where people live in poverty and in great need.  While still a seminarian in 1991, I did a “missionary internship” for three months in Ghana, West Africa where I lived and worked with our friars who ministered to people with leprosy.  Later, after my ordination to the priesthood, I spent three months in Honduras, Central America, where I studied Spanish and further discerned a “missionary calling.”  I’ve returned to Honduras for shorter visits at least ten times over the years, and I still wonder if someday I should return there for a longer commitment.  In 1998, I began a two-and-a-half year assignment in Costa Rica where I taught English to children in our friars’ St. Francis Primary School in San Jose and also to adults in an evening language institute there called the Instituto Interamericano de Idiomas (Intensa).  My experience in Costa Rica was wonderful!

Most of my ministerial experiences have been as a “parish priest.”  Parish work has always been at the core of my priestly ministry, and over many years I feel I've been greatly blessed by the wonderful people of the parishes I've met along the way!  See a short reflection I wrote about the life of a parish priest here on my blog entitled “This is the Life of a Parish Priest” (https://www.frayteo.us/2014/04/this-is-life-of-parish-priest.html).

I think one of my most passionate desires within ministry has always been to enthusiastically serve and to work with Christian outreach efforts done for the poor, the marginalized, and to those who are “different.”  I believe this desire is fundamentally rooted in my identity as one who hopes to live in accord with the teachings and example of the Lord Jesus, and as a Franciscan Friar, a follower of “Il Poverello,” St. Francis of Assisi.

Currently, I am stationed at the Shrine of St. Anthony, Ellicott City, Maryland, and there I am one of the friars in the community of the Friary of St. Joseph Cupertino. These days, I divide my time as a friar-chaplain at St. Joseph's Nursing Home, Catonsville, as well as at the Shrine of St. Anthony.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope the posts you find on it are both thought provoking and spiritually uplifting!   Peace, Timothy

Praised be Jesus Christ!
Now and Forever!  Amen!

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Friar Timothy Patrick Dore, OFM Conv.

My Curriculum Vitae:

EDUCATION

12/99 - 12/00:  The Mesoamerica Spanish Language Program (at the Institute for Central American Studies-"ICAS"), Intensive Spanish Program and Tutoring.  Guadalupe, San Jose, Costa Rica, Completed: December 2000.

Fall 1998:  Centro Lingüistico Latinoamericano, San Antonio de Belén, Heredia, Costa Rica, Certificate, Intensive Spanish Program. Completed: November 1998.

1988-1992: Washington Theological Union, Silver Spring, Maryland, Master of Divinity, Graduated: May 1992.

1985-1987:  Saint Hyacinth College and Seminary, Granby, Massachusetts, Pre-Theology Certificate in Philosophy, Completed: May 1987

1984-1985:  Saint Joseph Cupertino Friary, Ellicott City, Maryland, Novitiate Program, Completed: August 1985.

1980-1984:  Mount Saint Mary's College (now “University”), Emmitsburg, Maryland, Bachelor of Arts  (Majors: History and Theology), Graduated: May 1984.

1976-1980:  Calvert Hall College, Towson, Maryland, High School Diploma, Graduated: May 1980.

WORK & INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES

06/22-Present:  Pastoral Associate, (chaplaincy at St. Joseph's Nursing Home, Catonsville, and pastoral ministry at the Shrine of St. Anthony, Folly Quarter), St. Joseph Cupertino Friary, Ellicott City, Maryland.

08/18-06/22:  Pastor, St. Michael the Archangel, Annunciation, & St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Churches, Baltimore County, Maryland.

08/15-08/18:  Pastor, St. Ann & St, Wenceslaus Churches, Baltimore City, Maryland.

08/14-08/15:  Pastor, Assumption Church, Syracuse, New York.

06/04-08/14:  Parochial Vicar, Most Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, New York.

06/03-06/04:  Parochial Vicar, St. Stanislaus Basilica, Chicopee, Massachusetts.

08/01-06/03:  Secondary School Teacher (Intro to Spanish I & Intro to Spanish II), Archbishop Curley High School, Baltimore, Maryland.

06/02-08/02:  Mission Volunteer, Helping Hands for Honduras, La Paz, Honduras, Central America. 

01/01-08/01:  Parochial Vicar, Saint Philip Benizi Catholic Church, Jonesboro, Georgia.

03/00-12/00:  English as a Second Language Teacher (Conversational–for adults), Instituto Interamericano de Idiomas (Intensa), San José, Costa Rica.

12/98-12/00:  Primary School Teacher (Middle School Religion, Second Grade English), Saint Francis Primary School, Moravia, San José, Costa Rica.

01/94-04/94:  Mission Internship, Conventual Franciscan Friars, Campamento, Honduras, Central America.

06/92-09/98:  Parochial Vicar, Most Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, New York.

06/91-08/91:  Mission Internship, Franciscan Community Services, Ankaful Leprosy Camp and the Ahotokurom Village, Ghana, West Africa.

09/90-05/91:  Supervised Ministry in Pro-Life Advocacy, Human Life International (H.L.I.), Gaithersburg, Maryland.

09/88-05/92:  Supervised Ministry in a Parish Setting, Saint Mark Church, Catonsville, Maryland.

09/87-05/88:  Secondary School Teacher, (Freshman Social Studies, Sophomore Religion), Saint Francis High School, Athol Springs, New York

 

end

On the Day of Fr. Sam Lupico's Funeral/Saint Ann Church

On the Day of Fr. Sam Lupico's Funeral and a Stop in Front of St. Ann Church, Baltimore

Today after I left +Fr. Sam Lupico’s Funeral Mass at St. Matthew Church, Baltimore, I headed further into the city for some other commitments and, by chance and just coincidentally, I passed by the now “closed” St. Ann Church on Greenmount Avenue and 22nd Street.

For a few moments and very reflectively, I pulled over and stopped in front of Saint Ann (and while there snapped this photo of the church). +Fr. Sam was the Pastor of the parish from 1974 until 1982. I first met +Sam in 1983 when I first served at St. Ann as a diocesan seminarian (before my Franciscan days) under the mentorship of the then Pastor Fr. Joe Muth. Many years later, I followed Joe and +Sam (certainly nothing like the “giants” they were) as Pastor from 2015 until 2018.

While I served at St. Ann, +Sam frequently called or texted me with encouraging words, lots of advice, and the promise of many prayers. During my time there, it was always a great pleasure and blessing to welcome +Sam (and Joe too) “home” to St. Ann for various occasions. I knew how much a great part of +Sam’s heart was there with that church family and with the diverse community of people in “East Baltimore Midway.” Without a doubt, he was a GREAT inspiration to me!

Today, as I sat in my car for those few moments in front of St. Ann, and for multiple reasons I don’t need to further explain, I felt a deep emptiness of heart, even great sadness . . .

Thank you +Sam for all you did for your parishioners, for me, for the people of Baltimore, for the forgotten, for the homeless, for the marginalized, for those who were misunderstood, for those struggling with addictions, for those left out in the cold, for the “lowly,” and for so many who otherwise were left behind without hope.

Rest in Peace Good and Faithful Servant–Your Good Works Go with You! 🙏

Praise God . . . 🙏

 

Friar Timothy 

Final Homily at St. Wenceslaus, Baltimore

 

My homily given on the occasion of the final Mass celebrated at St. Wenceslaus Church, Baltimore, Maryland.  The Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Christ the King), Sunday, November 24, 2024.

Good morning my St. Wenceslaus church family!  So we gather here at this moment and in this beautiful building, this church that has served so many people for so many years, and we are filled with many emotions.  And I’m sure that I speak for you, as I feel myself, that one of those emotions is a definite sense of sadness.

We come together as a community of faith in this great St. Wenceslaus Church where many of us have been fed spiritually for so many years.  With this in mind, I want to welcome in a special way our former parishioners, those associated with the parish in various ways, and of course our regular parishioners and guests who come here for this obviously bitter-sweet “celebration” of the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Christ the King.  It has to be said that today we contemplate our past, as well as our own future, within the context of this difficult moment.  The reality is  we must “celebrate” together this final Mass in this space so sacred to all of us.  But we have to do so, I think, with the eyes of faith, even though for many of us this has proven to be so very painful.

In the context of this painful reality, I think we can all attest to a truth we all know: that sometimes our faith can be tested greatly.  We might at times feel angry with God.  We might have doubts.  We might be confused, or feel that there is no direction.  No doubt we have all kinds of emotions, especially when we feel our faith is put to the test.  And you know what?  That’s okay: it’s okay to have those feelings.  

As I contemplate these very human emotions, I’m compelled to think about our understanding of who Jesus himself was.  He was both God and at the same time one of us! He shared in every aspect of our own common humanity with the exception of sin itself!  Therefore, I believe we can say that one of the most wonderful things about Jesus is that he came into this world as one of us.  Jesus, the Son of God, Jesus the Lord of the Universe, Christ the King, who we celebrate today was born into this world!  And he was born in a stable in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, and thus from the beginning he joined himself to our own humble humanity, and of course he also shared the humility of his parents, the Blessed Virgin Mary and Joseph, who like most of us were very unpretentious and ordinary people.  They weren’t rich or famous. In fact they came from a little town called Nazareth which was in the middle of nowhere, and was said to count for nothing.  

As we contemplate and celebrate Christ as Our King, we might ask: How could a king be born into poverty in a stable where there were the sounds, the filth, and the odors of animals? How could a king hail from the insignificant town of Nazareth?  How could a king, then needing to accomplish his purpose on this earth, have really no place to call home?  How could a king wander around with twelve simple men who, truth be told, weren’t the most stellar type of people in the world? How could a king fail to gain respect from others, even by his own people and in his home town?  How could a king find himself so despised by the most important religious leaders of his time, those who were the chief priests and elders in the Holy City of Jerusalem?  How could a king be forced to carry a cross and suffer and then die on that cross like a common criminal?  It doesn’t make sense!

And with all of these questions in mind, we might even recall that from the cross, as Jesus suffered so greatly, he cried out: “Father, why have you forsaken me? Why have you abandoned me?”  Clearly Jesus knew what it meant to suffer and to experience the range of human emotions!  And even now, he feels our pain too.  From the perspective of his own humanity, Jesus feels our anger, our confusion, our doubt, and our lack of trust.  Jesus himself knows all of these very real emotions!  And yet, even so, we call him the Lord of the Universe and the King of Kings!  And maybe that’s just the point!

When we think of kings we usually think of power, majesty, palaces, armies, royal robes, thrones, lots of gold and silver, and things like that.  But that’s not at all as Jesus was.  Not at all!  Jesus walked the dusty roads of Galilee and Judea, and he went around preaching about the love of God and the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus didn’t have a home to call his own, he didn’t have a palace or a castle as most kings do.  Jesus was humble and he was a pilgrim.  He was an itinerant, and he went from place to place preaching the Gospel and assuring the people of God’s love.  This is the King we celebrate today.  

In the Gospel today we hear that the “Jews,” the chief priests and religious elders of the temple handed Jesus over to Pilate, the Roman authority, who then asked him if he was a king.  As a side note here we must remember those specific “Jews” highlighted in the Gospel were only those who were hypocritical and unfaithful members of the broader Jewish community.  We should always remember that Joseph and Mary, and Jesus himself and all of the Apostles were Jewish.  The negative language about “the Jews” in the Gospel really refers to those, for example, who allowed the Jerusalem temple to be turned into a market place where the poor were sinfully exploited for profit.  And so we can then identify in some way with that Jesus who finds himself in opposition to the powerful, the hypocritical, and the faithless.  He challenges them and he confronts them.  And its for this reason that he suffers and dies for us!

So what might we learn from this as we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King?  Especially at this time, on this day, and at this moment in this beautiful but soon to be closed Church of St. Wenceslaus?  

I think that first of all we should remember that Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, had no palace, had no castle, had no royal throne, had no armies, had no possessions; he was itinerant, and he went from place to place.  They say he had nowhere to lay his head!  I think we might be able to identify with that!  

What then was the focus of Jesus’s ministry?  We believe that Jesus came to give his life as a sacrifice for us, that he forgives our sins and saves us and that he restores us to a life that is eternal.  We believe that Jesus is the perfect sacrifice.  He gave away everything in this life in order to give us the fullness of life!  

You know, every time we come into this church, Saint Wenceslaus, or any other church, our focus as we celebrate the Mass is what happens on the altar.  On the altar we place simple and very humble elements of bread and wine.  Very humble elements.  These things are not at all expensive!  In fact, to be honest, we use very inexpensive church wine and hosts that don’t really cost that much!  We place these very humble and simple elements on our altar as we remember the words of Jesus at the Last Supper, when he said to his Apostles and to us, this bread is my body given for you, this wine is my blood shed for you, for the forgiveness of sins.  That’s it!  On the altar in this church, and in every church where we celebrate the Mass, the Eucharist is the focal point of our faith and of our community.  The focal point is not the building, and not even the people sitting next to us, really!  Our focal point is the sacrifice Jesus offers for us in himself as the perfect sacrificial lamb for the forgiveness of our sins.  And we remember that at the Last Supper Jesus also said “As I have done, so you must do!”  

And what did Jesus do?  He wondered the world, he preached the good news of the Gospel.  He gave hope to those living in despair, he cured the sick of their illnesses, he forgive sinners, he gave people hope, and he promised new life and resurrection!  We believe Jesus then fulfilled his promises by dying on the cross like a common criminal, by rising from the dead, by ascending into heaven, and then by sending us the Holy Spirit so that we might, in His Name, continue his work on earth.

As we gather today in this beautiful building, as we gaze once more at these beautiful windows, as we celebrate our history and our time together, we thank God we can share this moment with all of our wonderful parishioners, with so many former parishioners, and with all of our guests.  But let’s be sure to keep our focus on that which is most important to us: we have come together to share the Eucharist in this space, and to thank our God for his never-ending presence among us!  And the focus of our faith is something that can never be taken from us!

Here at St. Wenceslaus, a place I love dearly, I’d like to think that although we are in a sense being torn from this place, what’s most important to us is the message and promise of our Eucharistic faith!  This has been true for many, many years at the altar in this church, and now going forward, surely will remain true for us at any altar to which we go, and around which we might gather with other believers to celebrate the Eucharist and our common faith.  You know, on the altar we say “heaven meets earth,” and this is true of every altar where the Eucharist is celebrated.  This tenant of our faith ought to give us great hope.  Jesus, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, will always, although in simple and humble forms of bread and wine, be present to us, “body, blood, soul, and divinity” as we celebrate the Mass today, and also tomorrow in any church where we might find ourselves with members of our limitless church families!

Once again today, Jesus offers his body and blood to us, and he empowers us “to go out onto the other side of these church doors” and to live the Gospel.  That is the most important thing to us. To live the Gospel!  And frankly, we don’t need this building to do that!  We need faith in our hearts and we need the confidence of the others who walk with us.  Oh sure, our hearts are heavy today.  But from an eternal perspective, we know that Jesus is always with us wherever we go. As we go forth today, let’s not forget that the altar in this church is exactly the same altar that’s found in every church.  It’s the same Mass; it’s the same sacrifice; it’s the same promise; it offers us the same hope; it gives us the same life, and that my sisters and brothers is what is most important to us!  

Today as we come to this place, perhaps for the final time, we give thanks to God for all of the people who have been blessed by this parish for so many, many, many years.  We have appreciation for those original Bohemian immigrant people who more than one-hundred-fifty-years ago founded the first St. Wenceslaus Church on Central Avenue.  We are grateful to those first parishioners who eventually moved to this location where they built a school and a church and established this beacon of hope in this Baltimore City community.  We thank God the foundations of the parish enabled a tradition that continued with the inclusion of more recent and diverse cultural communities who came to these doors.  Today we give thanks for the Redemptorists priests and brothers who served this parish for most of its history; we give thanks to the Franciscan Friars, including Fr. Peter Lyons, and hopefully myself, and of course we are grateful to the Josephite priests and brothers, who under the excellent leadership of Fr. Xavier have done such a superb job serving St. Wenceslaus and our sister Pastorate parishes of St. Francis Xavier and St. Ann for the past six years.  And we must also note Fr. Xavier’s commitment to Pastorate development for the several years before he even became our Pastor at St. Wens!  We are grateful to the School Sisters of Notre Dame who taught for many years in the school, and for the more recent presence of the Missionaries of Charity who have served the people in our community so well.  We have so much for which to be thankful!  

God wants us to know that even in the most difficult moments, even though we face doubts, anger, grief, distress, and perhaps a sense of despair.  Whatever our emotions, Jesus understands us.  He knows our pain.  He desires to always walk with us, and he promises always to do so.  Let’s gather around this Eucharistic altar today praising the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, in thanksgiving for all of the blessings we have received and let’s ask our Loving God to continue to bless all of our efforts in this world as we go forth from this place and out into the world spreading the Gospel of God’s love to all we meet.

“Go thee therefore and teach all nations!  Go! Go! Go! Baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost!  Go! Go! Go!”

Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever! Amen. 

 

Friar Timothy

A Prayer for Patience

 

 As a follower of Jesus of Nazareth I say:  

“Love everyone, even those who follow a different path, and let God take care of the details!” ❤️🙏

With this in mind, I really dislike the expression “love the sinner, hate the sin” (sorry St. Augustine!).  Let’s be honest: truly such a strategy is humanly impossible (and perhaps is actually an underhanded and self-righteous excuse to hold in contempt those who are “different”).

Here’s a nice prayer I recently discovered that I believe resonates quite well with the thought I first stated above:

A PRAYER FOR PATIENCE

O Lord hear my prayer for patience and perseverance in all situations.

Purify my intentions and correct my thought patterns.

Help me to try my best 

and sincerely to pray for myself,

for those for whom I have great love, 

as well as for those with whom I disagree!

 
Bless me with the light of understanding, 

kindness, compassion and forgiveness.

Help me to trust others, 

to give them "the benefit of the doubt" 

and to rely upon your grace daily 

as I give myself to you 

and in the service and care of others.

O Lord mold my life 

after the pattern of your own patience, 

after your mercy, 

and after your never-ending unconditional love!

Amen.

 

 

 

 

The Meaning of “Blessings”

 

My Thoughts about the Meaning of “Blessings”

Very frequently in my ministry I pray for blessings upon all kinds people who are facing important life decisions, or trying to discern God’s will, or who are in emotional distress, or dealing with sickness, or who are trying to let go of anger, or who are facing illnesses or medical procedures, or who are women expecting a baby, or those who are celebrating significant life moments, or for struggling people who simply want to feel a sense of God’s love (and for many other reasons for which often I’m not given an explanation by those who are seeking God’s blessing).  Often I'm even asked to bless objects such as food, religious articles, rings, houses, places of business, boats, cars, and even animals, especially beloved pets!

I believe it’s not I who “give” the blessing, but it's rather an action of prayer to God done by myself and the one, or group of people (and/or for the objects), who/that is/are being “blessed.”

I don’t ask those seeking blessings to submit a “qualification certificate” before I pray with them.

My assumption is that those seeking blessings from God have a true desire to conform their lives to the divine will of God–our God who loves each and every one of us more than we can possibly imagine!  And in the case of the blessing of objects, that such things may in some way remind those who possess them of God's desire for them, and for all people, to be happy, safe in their endeavors, and to prosper according to God's will in this life. 

It’s as simple as that.

A marriage (for example, and by contrast) is by its nature a much more formal act that requires lots of paper work, conformity to civil laws, obedience to the Scriptures and to the teachings of the church (and is always done at a specific time scheduled in advance, and usually with a lot of fanfare).  The “Nuptial Blessing” done during a wedding is also a “prayer of petition directed not to the couple, but for them to God.”  We could say the words of the prayer are a form of “pleading to God” asking for special graces for the couple–including for their lasting fidelity, the blessings of children, and that they may have many happy years together.

Actually if we are clear about this, then we can understand that a “blessing” is not actually by its nature a “stamp of approval” but rather a petition for God’s grace.  I’ll leave it up to God to work out the details.

I don’t think my thoughts on this can be any clearer than that.

“There are three things that last: FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE, and the greatest of these is LOVE.”  ❤️  1 Corinthians 13:13

Friar Timothy

Gamaliel and the Golden Rule

Gamaliel and the Golden Rule

My thought for today . . .

In the early days of the church the followers of Jesus, for witnessing to the Gospel, were threatened with persecution, and even death as martyrs.

When asked if such persecutions were a Godly way of treating those disciples, a saintly Pharisee named Gamaliel had some strong guidance to offer to his contemporaries.  He was a leader of the 1st century Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, and teacher of Jewish law.  Although Gamaliel approved a relatively mild public admonishment of those disciples, his overall response was very cautious and rather “open-minded” for a religious leader in that time and place.  

In Acts of the Apostles Gamaliel is recorded to have said the following: “I tell you, do nothing to persecute or harm those who preach the Gospel of Jesus; leave them alone!  If their endeavors or activities are of human origin, they will destroy themselves.  But if these things are of God, we will not be able to bring harm to them; we may even find ourselves fighting against the will of God” (Cf., Acts 5:38-39).  

In our own time, as we deal with complicated and often difficult questions, value systems, politics, faith perspectives, and alternative ways of life chosen by those who are “different from us,” perhaps we ought to consider following Gamaliel’s advice (albeit with the proverbial “shoe on the other foot”).

The ancient admonition known as the “golden rule,” comes to my mind: “treat others as you would like others to treat you.”

The bottom line: BE KIND! 🥰

Praise God! 🙏

Pulled-Over by a Maryland State Trooper on I-95

Pulled-Over by a Maryland State Trooper on I-95

Today, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, I drove home to Maryland from my sister Kelly’s house in Sullivan, Maine.  It took me almost twelve hours (including a couple of short stops along the way). 

Just as I crossed over the Maryland state line, and after traveling for most of those hours, I was so very happy to be close to home!  And so, as I continued to drive south on I-95, I called Kelly and her husband Toby to let them know I was almost home (using my hands-free blue tooth, of course!). 

Perhaps because at that point my blissful adrenaline had kicked in just a bit, I quite frankly moved speedily along (more or less), and just as fast as the rest of the traffic around me.  

Then . . . I suddenly noticed the dreaded lights of a police car tailing close behind me!!  I told Kelly and Toby I was being pulled over and better hang-up.  “I’ll call you after this is over,” I said, as I pulled my car onto the highway shoulder.  

Soon after I stopped (disappointed the cop had not passed me for someone else), a very polite Maryland State Trooper approached my car and asked me if I knew why I was being pulled over.  I sheepishly responded that I had “no idea.”  

He told me that (1) I was speeding, that (2) one of my headlights was out, and that (3) my license plate annual sticker tags were “expired.”  

I then very politely, and with a bit of a chuckle in my voice, responded to him:  “My gosh, I’ve really hit the jackpot tonight, no?”

In response to my comment, the officer smiled broadly, and he literally laughed out loud! 

I gave him my driver’s license and the car registration card and he returned to his squad car, returning to me just a few moments later. 

“I’m giving you a warning for the speeding and the tag sticker, and a work order for the burned-out headlight.  There’s no fine for anything this time . . . but please drive safely,” he said very cheerfully. 

“Thank you sir, and also thank you for your service,” I joyfully responded!  

I then safely pulled back into traffic, continued on my way home, and in my thoughts thanked God for sparing me from the legal consequences the traffic stop really did merit!  

Perhaps it was the trooper’s sense of humor that spared me?  I guess I’ll never know, but I truly am grateful for all police officers’ self-sacrifices, their service to society, and their willingness put their lives on the line for the safety and good of others.  I hope I would have thanked this particular cop for his service, even if I had driven away from that encounter with the otherwise warranted fines! 

To all the men and women in blue, I’ll say it again: 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!! 

And I'm also happy to report that my wallet isn't lighter today than it was yesterday!

Praise God!  🙏