If someone asks how you are doing tell them you are blessed. You are infinitely blessed all the time because God is continually pouring out his very life in your heart. It is such an important practice, like Israel of old, to stream towards his blessings.

The blessing is always there yet we so often fail to notice it. Slow down, take time to smell the roses and enjoy the beauty of God's uncountable blessings. The following story points out how we can rush by God's blessings with our life.

One cold, January morning, Joshua Bell, one of the best violinists in the world, played 6 Bach pieces for about 45 minutes in a Metro station in Washington D.C. One piece was one of the most intricate ever written for a violin. Two days prior he sold out a theater in Boston and the seats averaged $100.

During his 45 minutes of playing thousands of people passed by him at the metro station. The response? One middle age man stopped for a few seconds but then scurried off to meet his schedule. Many children wanted to stop and observe but the reaction was the same among all their parents - they forced their children to move on. In the end, only 6 people stopped and enjoyed the music for a little while. About 20 people gave him money which amounted to a grand total of $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. Here you have one of the best violinists playing some of the best music ever and only 6 people took the time to savor it.

How much of this story is a caricature of how we rush by the blessings of God in our lives instead of streaming towards them?

God wants us to enjoy and savor his blessings. Do we?

Blessed by the BEST,

+Fr. John