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CMO 123: Coffee Break Short Break Daily Thought: "Standing Under"

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  Standing Under (Shownotes): ☕ Coffee Breakers — “Standing Under” Every now and then, God drops a phrase into your heart that rearranges the furniture a bit. Today, that phrase is “standing under.” It came from something Chris Stefanick shared, but it’s been echoing in my own thoughts for years. We often think we need to have everything figured out before we can help someone else. We imagine that ministry, encouragement, or even simple friendship requires us to be standing above our struggles — polished, steady, unshakable. But the truth is far simpler, and far more beautiful: Real understanding happens when we stand under the weight together. Not above it. Not beyond it. Not pretending we’ve mastered it. But right there — shoulder to shoulder — under the same human condition. When Paul wrote to the early Christians, he didn’t hide his wounds. He didn’t pretend to be perfect. He shared his trials, his heartaches, his weaknesses. And then he said something astonishing: “God comf...
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CMO 122: First Saturday Devotion: What is it?

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  The Heart Behind the Devotion The First Saturday Devotion isn’t meant to be complicated or burdensome. It’s meant to be: A monthly moment of peace A way to repair the wounds of sin in the world A practice that draws us closer to Jesus through Mary A gentle rhythm of prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal It’s not about perfection. It’s about intention and love . What are the requirements for First Saturday Devotion? The Four Requirements of the First Saturday Devotion (Fatima) To fulfill the First Saturday Devotion as requested by Our Lady of Fatima, a person completes four acts , done with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 1. Confession Confession should be made within 8 days before or after the First Saturday. The key is the intention : offering the confession in reparation to Mary’s Immaculate Heart. 2. Receive Holy Communion Communion must be received on the First Saturday itself . Again, the intention is reparation. 3. Pray the Rosary ...
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CMO 121: In The Fog But Not Lost.

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  The Fog: I am walking in a fog. Not in darkness. I know what darkness feels like, and this is not it. Darkness is blind. This is different. This is fog. There is light in this fog. Enough light to see what is right in front of me. My hands. My feet. The next step. But not beyond. I cannot see down the road. I cannot see what's coming, or what's been left behind. Sometimes it feels like darkness is surrounding the fog, pressing in on the edges, but it hasn't swallowed the light. Not yet. Not here where I am standing. I am not afraid. That's the strange part. I am not afraid, but I am troubled. And if you asked me why I am troubled, I could not tell you. I cannot explain it. I don't have a reason that makes sense, even to myself. I am feeling everything at once. A rash of emotions that don't belong together. Sadness. Then frustration. Then surrender. Then fight. Then a moment of joy that comes out of nowhere. Then this need to be alone, but not reall...
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CMO 120: Here's What Is Next!

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  What's Next!? In Thursday's "CMO 119" titled "What's Next?" I attempted to answer the question of what happens next now that the awards are over, my son is out of the house, my friends are on paths not lined up with mine, I am retired, unemployed (can I be both?), and have no money save for what the $400 per month, my family is on the "left" coast and I am about to drown in debt. You may ask, "Why in the world would you share that!?" Well, because it is true! But here is the kicker -- it's okay, but it's not okay.  It's not okay because when I was but a wee lad, I should have listened, planned, and acted better. Wait! Unless you are a young saint, most youngsters aren't going to quote "do the right thing all of the time." Not an excuse. Never should be. Just sayin'. Truth be told, 'I am where I am because I am a goof, punk, idiot, proud arrogant clod' who tried so hard to be somebody that he rem...
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CMO 119: What's Next?

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  Done! I originally began writing this on Wednesday, 08/19/26. Today is day five, post CANO Awards. I have begun what I said I would do on Tuesday 08/18/26—reduce spending, terminate unnecessary work accounts, and seek new revenue sources. Next up is generating a plan to move forward with. Here is what I did this morning.. I went through the Visa statement and cancelled the following accounts: 1.         Zoom (Reinstated until the end of 2026). 2.       Wix (Website) 3.       YouTube Premium (Reinstated until the end of 2026). 4.       Experian 5.       Microsoft CoPilot 6.       RIPL 7.        OpenArt 8.       HappyHorse 9.       DropBox 10.    Poster My Wall Savings: $221.37 per month I still have a way ...
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CMO 118: Broken Compass

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  "Everything Will Be Okay!" This is more of rhetorical question. I am not really seeking an answer. Why is it when someone is hurting, depressed, angry, or just plain broken, we say to that person, “It will be okay. Everything will turn out okay in the end. You just gotta have faith.”   Don’t get me wrong, I understand the person expressing the words care, otherwise they wouldn’t waste their time attempting to console the individual in question. First, just because one is as I described above, especially a person of faith who has suddenly lost their faith because of how they are feeling. Faith is still within them. Sure, they may buckle under the weight of the event, experience, or tragedy. They might even be angry with God, I know I was yesterday, but in the end, most of us who are people of faith will return or hang onto that faith.   I responded the same way when it came to my son.   There were days when the episodes he experienced due to ASD, Intellectua...
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CMO 117: Until We Meet Again!

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  I know I have spoken about this before, but given what is happening today, I believe it bears repeating. There was a time when my mother was angry with me—or perhaps deeply hurt by me. It was a difficult season for both of us. Looking back now and remembering the commandment to “Honor thy father and thy mother,” I wish I had never caused her pain.  On that day, she said to me, “One day you will know what this pain feels like—the pain a parent carries for their child, and how deeply it hurts when that child is hurting, or when that child hurts you.” I believe she was speaking of mental and emotional pain, not physical pain.  At the time, I could not understand what she meant. Today, I do.  Since June 2024—and in some ways even earlier, beginning in 2021, before I understood what mental illness my son was living with—I have been walking alongside him through Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual Disability, and Schizophrenia. These past two years have be...
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