Signposts On The Way

July 31, 2023

by Marcos Guerrero Martinez

We are God’s Beloved

Then I started to reflect. I noticed that God provided a cool breeze and some trees that gave me shade. My van was towed to my usual shop. They printed out for me the work that had been done last year and all important parts had been done. I was expecting the worst, but when the mechanic called me to pick it up, he said the thermostat was still on warranty so there was no charge! The first thing that came to my mind was Praise God! Thank you, Jesus for these blessings! God does love me and continues to care for me even when I do not recognize his presence in my life’s blessings and challenges.

This reflection is a humbling experience for me, as I see how God has been there for me through all my life experiences. Life is full of surprises and God remains faithful no matter what. I learned that God is always present with me and my family. I seem to forget when I focus on my own life problems that are actually opportunities to grow close with God and my family. In today’s reading we hear, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.” This helps me to remember that God provides everything we need. He remains a constant presence in our lives with open arms and ready to love us dearly. We are his beloved.

Preparing for a fishing trip with college classmates, I encountered life experiences that became opportunities to deepen my faith: Concern for my elder parents and my sisters who care for them, my son had an ER visit and discovered he had kidney stones, then my daughter and her husband moved to another state and they needed my help. I had to cancel the trip. Next, I threw my back cutting the grass during my vacation break. I hurt for a week. I learned that my body is not as young as I thought it was. After recovering, my 2007 Dodge Caravan engine heated up and left me stranded roadside in the 102-degree heat. I sat and waited for roadside service and I started to wonder if my van had finally died with over 202,000 miles on it and was trying to think how much is this going to cost or is it time to get rid of it? I felt tired and wondered, “Does God still love me?”