I’m feeling a bit exhausted as I write this. I’ve got an adorable child who should take up farming, because she is convinced the world needs to wake up when the sun rises, if not before. I just returned from a catechetical conference in Steubenville, Ohio, where the organizers schedule sessions from 9AM until 10PM. Whenever I’m out of the office for a week, the regular works backs up and awaits my return. I also have a side gig as an editor. (I know. I don’t catch mistakes in my own column. Even editors need editors.) Oh yeah… and I’m writing a sequel to my novel, Skull Valley.

And in all honesty, it might also be that some friends have decided to name their unborn child “Liliana.” (The name of the little girl we lost to a reversed adoption.) When I first heard the name they chose, I thought, “No big deal. Our grief doesn’t have exclusive rights to the name.” But then I saw the very pregnant mother yesterday and because grief is an unpredictable bugger, it was pretty hard.

Tremendously hard, in fact.

So that is what I have to give as I write this. Exhaustion.

Maybe you in are in the exhaustion boat with me. Or are you discouraged? Are you feeling lonely? Frustrated? Angry? I pray at least some of you are on a mountaintop and life has never been better.

In this weekend’s Gospel, there was a boy with five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus took it and fed about 5,000. He could do it because HE IS GOD.

If he can do that, what do you think He can do with our exhaustion, grief, discouragement, loneliness, frustration, anger, joy, enthusiasm… faith? If only we can muster the words, “God, I offer you everything that I am. Everything that I have. I want to cooperate fully with your will.”

Who will be spiritually, emotionally, and/or physically fed by your cooperation with the Lord’s will?

And even if you aren’t on a mountaintop, what an honor to—like the boy with a little bread and less fish—be able to participate in the Lord’s provision for others!

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