The Border Walls Around Our Minds

Do you remember the terminology, “Silent Majority?” Richard Nixon used this term in a political speech 1969. The silent majority were discribed as people who did not publicly share their political view. They kept silent even though they had a voice. We have now formed a new group of standing your ground, and not allowing the others to voice their opinion. Today people are entrenched in their own ideologies, they do not want to hear, or consider what you have to say, unless you are in agreement with them.

I have a voice, but I also listen to that still small voice when the Lord is speaking. When it comes to the “Wall” you know the big white elephant sitting on the lawn of Capital Hill? Do we need the wall? Do we need border security?

My material grandparents were from the states of Zacatecas, and Aguas Caliente in Mexico. They crossed the border into California in the 1920’s, My oldest cousin Delia said she still has her father’s greencard. My entire life I suspected that my grandparents crossed illegally. After checking and confirming my cousin Delia’s information with our Tia Maria, the matriarch of the family, my tia said that both of our grandparents came into this country legally. Their purpose was to make a better life for their family. The unique thing about my grandparents is that they both became American citizens. They never took a penny from the government. They paid their taxes because they obeyed the laws of their new land. My grandfather was self-employed, the owner of a barber shop.

I recently had dinner with a Protestant clergyman. This kind man decided to join the caravan that was crossing the border in December. He said that there were very few people in the group that were coming for the same reasons my grandparents came. This gentleman also mentioned that for the most part, what he witnessed was angry young men that belonged to gangs. My friend is a humanitarian, and has always stood for the immigrants. He worked in one the largest school districts for years and knows the ins and outs of this great concern. I know what he is saying is the truth because I have known him for many years. He is a holy man of God who has no reason to lie.

The Word of God says that the truth will set you free. How are we to distinguish the truth from deception? I always ask God to reveal truth in matters like this. We are a country that was established as “One Nation Under God.” That still holds great value for me; when I see wrong, I want to correct it.

I researched the distance from Honduras to the US border and it is about 3,600 miles. With the influx of people crossing over to the US, where do they get their financial support to make such a long trek? They have to eat, drink water, but where does the aid come from? If the last group swelled up to as many as 6,000, did they all get across? If the detentions centers are empty on the Mexico side, where are these people? I believe that this money is supplied by a billionaire, who I will not mention, because not only do I take the 5th, I am not ready for that type of dirty retaliation.

Stephen Dinan, of The Washington Times on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 reported:

“HHS (Health and Human Services) paid more than 1.4 billion last year to accommodate nearly 41,000 UAC (Unaccompanied Alien Child) in its shelters, which means taxpayers paid about $670 per day for each child.”

You can check all the facts for yourselves, the money train is running at full speed, and we are the ones footing the bill.

I have read and researched the terrible plight of immigrants coming into our country. The gangs they are running away from are now infiltrating our country, and we should all be in an uproar about this. You can check these statistics for yourself through the government website of Homeland Security; these are real facts. And while you’re checking, make sure you educate yourself on how many of these gang members are in our prison system.

I pray that there is a way we could aid this desperate situation, but we cannot take on this burden.

We have turned into one nation under a dusty cloud. One thing I’m certain of is that the truth will always be revealed.

I pray a lot. I believe that our Lord is always in control, but we must do our part as well. We cannot continue to operate in hate without facts. Please seek the truth because without it our country will unravel. We cannot take on the problems of the world, but we can make a big difference by praying. I pray that this bit of information will enlighten you to seek the truth because the main stream media is riddle with half-truths and lies to lead you astray.

A half-truth is to get you to believe the lie, this is one of the oldest tricks of
Satan. Remember, truth is never arbitrary or subjective, it’s just the truth.

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Dreams Matter

God speaks to us in many ways, and it was through a dream that He instructed me to continue with a trip to the Holy Land.

I have traveled to the Holy Land for more than 17 years; honestly I do not keep track. The purpose of my travels is to minister as we carry the Cross down the Via Dolorosa on Good Friday. This is also part of my calling in my walk with God.

In 2013 our ministry invited Father Leonard Mary from EWTN, to accompany us as our chaplain. Before Father Leonard became a priest, he was part of our lay group. He had been to the Holy Land many times with our team, but this would be the first time as a priest. This trip included an extension to Turkey, and to Patmos, Greece.

I volunteered to organize a fundraiser to raise money for the trip. The primarily purpose was to be certain that we had the expenses for Father Leonard covered. Father mentioned that Brother Leo, from the same community of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, was also going to join us.

I formed a committee with my daughter Sonja, Deane, Leslie, and Lauren. These woman were all seasoned in fundraising. The first thing on the agenda was to give the event a name. Since it was a pilgrimage, we all reached the consensus that we should named the event “Bread, Wine and a Good Time.”

We made gift baskets, and auctioned off a dinner for eight, with Mike preparing a gourmet meal. Our son Mikos donated tickets to the Laker game, and we raffled off a Coach handbag with matching wallet. Our menu included appetizers, Sonja made pulled pork for sliders, and we had an assortment of fruit and cheese, which complemented the wine tasting.

The Team

At the end of the night the money was counted, and we had enough funds to cover Father Leonard’s trip, but there was little left for me. I went to bed grateful for all the support, but was I sad and worried that I was not going to make the trip because of the lack money. I remember speaking to God before I went to bed, saying, “Dear Lord, unless I hear from You, I will be pulling out of the trip tomorrow.”

The following morning I received a dream from the Lord. I got up to journal the details of the dream. If you receive dreams, you should always be prepared with a journal and pen. You may think you will remember the dream, but if you do not journal, more than likely you will forget important details or the entire dream.

The Dream

I was in my back yard, at a party, I could see tables with white linen cloths. The tables looked as if they went on for miles. Father Leonard was with me, and as we greeted people, they handed us money, cash, so much that I could no longer hold it in my hands. I started to place the money around my waist under a belt.

The dream switches: Now I’m walking and a lady from our ministry was in a taxi. She stops, and rolls down her window and tells me, “Get in!” But I answer (pointing to where I was going), “Oh no, I can walk.” I had almost reached the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City of Jerusalem. This was the end of the dream.

I knew that this was a confirmation from God that He would supply funds for the trip.

This is my interpretation:

Back yard – Safe, private place

Party – A happy gathering, to celebrate

Tables – Symbol of communion, priesthood, fellowship, divine food (Ps 23:5)

White – Symbol of purity, righteousness, holiness ( Ecc 9:8)

Taxi – A means of transportation

Walking – I know my way

Church of the Holy Sepulcher – is located in the Old City of Jerusalem

Father Leonard was with me; Father Leonard represents Father God, and that He is with me. The Lord was pleased with the fundraiser; the tables represent a banquet, a party. The white linens represent purity; the money from the people is what God had put on their hearts to give. The taxi is there if I needed to get there sooner. I already knew the way by walking, which means that in my (spiritual) walk, I always go to prayer for answers.

Through the generosity of my family and a few close friends, I did get all my money for the trip.

Lazarus’s Tomb, Carmelita, Father Leonard, Patrice, me, and Bro. Leo

Garden of Gethsemane Mass in Jerusalem

Bro. Leo and Father Leonard preparing for the outdoor Mass in Patmos, Greece

It was during this trip that I got into the habit of attending daily Mass. Istanbul’s population is mostly Muslim, Father Leonard held Mass in the basement of the hotels where we were staying. It was one of the most holy trips and most spiritually rewarding. We had a lot of fun too, as part of the trip included dinner on a boat cruise on the Bosporus in Istanbul. Unfortunately, I had lost my favorite raincoat, and had to improvise by cutting a big enough hole for my head into a thin small blanket. I then wore it as a poncho to the dinner cruise, as it was a bit chilly that night. We danced with other members of the team, while Father Leonard took pictures and kiddingly treated to blackmail us.

Father Leonard lives in Alabama, but made a special trip to thank all the volunteers, and held private Bible study for us. Then when we were done, Father Leonard heard confessions. He is a Holy Man of God, and I pray for him daily.

Currently Father Leonard is working toward another degree, pursuing a Masters of Communication Management from USC. Father also has a Masters of Divinity from Mount St. Mary’s.

When his schedule permits, Father Leonard says the Mass for EWTN, a global Catholic television network based in Irondale, Alabama. DirecTV carries this broadcast on channel 370. This is one of the only stations that I frequent because they operate in the true Word of God, no fake news. I also listen to EWTN via podcast on my phone.


Joel 2:28 New King James Version (NKJV)

God’s Spirit Poured Out

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.

If you have a dream that needs interpreting, email me, and I will be happy to help you with the meaning. ciriza7@aol.com


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Ski Diaries Part Two

I’m here with my family at Mammoth Lakes, a ski resort in California, but I no longer ski. Mike still skis, but has added more than goggles as part of his headgear, he now wears a helmet. I don’t ski for three reasons: 1. Fear of falling, and getting injured; 2. All the heavy gear; 3. I never liked it in the first place. I sit in the lodge and meditate on all the fond memories we have as a skiing family.

To many, skiing is a fun sport, but for me it was a laborious task. We always did winter skiing, and we had to protect ourselves from the elements that Mother Nature threw our way. The turtlenecks, the sweaters, the jackets, the hats, the gloves, the pants – and this is all before stepping outside. Next came the ski boots, and skis, adding more weight. So by the time I hit the slopes I was already exhausted. Even in a blizzard, I was sweating by the time I got on the first chairlift.

The chairlift is a moving object that you have to mount with strangers. There is no room for error. I suffer from dyslexia, and I could never figure out what hand to hold my poles, or which way to turn. It was a small miracle each time I got on safely.

Dismounting the chairlift was no different. I’d just look for a soft landing. One thing I did master as a beginner/intermediate skier was how to get up after a fall, I was proficient at recovering from a fall

When Sonja was 5 years old, I accidentally knocked her off the chairlift. You can imagine the shock seeing her little face through the opening slates of the chair as I was going up. This is when I discovered that I could only be responsible for myself, and I had to forget that I had small children while loading and unloading the beastly bench on cables.

Deer Valley became our favorite ski resort in Utah. When Mikos, Sonja and Carter, Mikos’s best friend, were still in their teens, we invited our best friends, Larry and Helen, to join us to ring in the New Year. Larry and Helen were not skiers but agreed to meet us in Salt Lake City. On the morning of their scheduled arrival, I asked Mike if we were going to pick them up at the airport. Mike waved one of his ski gloves in a downward motion saying, “Forget them, we’re going skiing!” There were no cell phones available, so I could not forewarn them.

So many things went wrong after that, and I was the subject of all the punishment. I took a really bad fall on the first run. My right calf was injured to the point of tears. I immediately skied back to the lodge and waited for the rest of the family. I could barely walk, let alone ski, but Mike would not hear of it. I had cried wolf one time too many, so he made me go back out.

I was being extra careful not to re-injure my right leg, so when I fell again, I placed all the force on my left side. With the weight of my body facing forward, I heard a loud crack as I fell. Thank God it was my boot that cracked in half and not my leg, but now both of my legs were injured.
God always sends special agents to help, and I know this is the only reason I got down in one piece. My pain was so intense when I removed my skis, I became delusional, and had no idea where I parked them.

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.” Psalms 34:7

Once again no one believed me, but this time I had tangible proof. I showed them the cracked boot and convinced everyone, with the exception of my son Mikos.

When it came time to leave, Mike asked Mikos to carry my skis. One problem: I had no idea where they were. Mikos was 18 years old and had the patience of a hungry newborn. Mikos did not appreciate the hide-and-seek game either, so he and Carter finally found the skies.

I wondered if all this happened because we left our friends hanging at the airport. Larry and Helen traveled with Selena and Jason, their teenagers, and Richard, Helen’s nephew, along with Bea, a good friend of Selena’s. They waited for us at curb side, but we were too busy creating our drama on the slopes. Larry told Helen that maybe we’re going to pick them up at baggage claim; they finally gave up and rented a vehicle.

One of the highlights of the trip was eating at “La Caille,” a French Château. This restaurant is situated at the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, and long meandering cobblestone road leads you to the door of the one of the most beautiful eateries in the US. We wanted to share this experience with our friends. We were a party of eleven, driving two SUV, the teens in one and the adults in the other.

After dinner I struggled getting into the vehicle; with both legs injured, I could not get in without causing a small scene. Larry got impatient and helped me into the vehicle with a shove. I let out a loud scream, that was followed by unsympathetic laughter.

That night one leg hurt more than the other, so I could not remove my cute leather boots. Mike was fast asleep and had grown tired of my moaning, so I called Sonja to help me. Mike ended up driving us to the ER. This would not be my last visit to the ER while skiing.

The injury separated my calf muscle, leaving a permanent reminder. It appears as if I’ve developed a muscle from working out, but it’s not. And this, my friends, is just one of the many reasons why I no longer ski.

We had a wonderful trip with Mikos , Jenny, Maddie, and Will. To see them interact as a family made my heart glad. Mikos and Jenny’s lives are so busy that I cherish these special bonding times spent together. I always worry about our grandchildren occupying too much time on electronic devices, but this time a 2,000 piece puzzle kept us all busy.

“And now these three things remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Larry has a much more interesting version of this story, and always reminds us how we abandoned them at the airport of a strange city. Happy to share that we are still best friends.

May the Good Lord Bless Your New Year!



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