It seems that as Christians we are asked to be in two places at the same time. We physically live here on earth but we are told that our real home is in heaven. How are we supposed to live in two places? The answer to that question is fairly simple. We can't live in two places. We can't fully be in this world and yet, at the same time, be in the next world. As long as we hold our Christian beliefs in a Christ who has ascended into heaven and who is coming back to bring us home, we will always experience some dissatisfaction and restlessness in this life. I guess that's the real question: How are we to live with the dissatisfaction and restlessness which we all experience?

It seems to me that the first thing we have to do is to accept that dissatisfaction is a way of life for all of us. Nothing and nobody will satisfy all of our needs. If we could only accept that fact, it would make all of us more compassionate, kinder and gentler with one another and with ourselves.

Do we have expectations that are bound to fail? Until we become aware that those expectations are unreal and that our search will never find perfection on this earth -- until that time, we have condemned ourselves to an unhappy and frustrated life. We will never find completeness and flawlessness in any person, job, house, car, child, friend, church, school, public institution etc. It just doesn't exist.

We have to work with what is, accept life in all of its messiness and unpredictability, while at the same time keeping our eyes on the Risen and Ascended Christ who promises us that one day our restlessness and dissatisfaction will melt away like the mist on a sunny morning.
       Peace to all, Fr. John