CHRIS BENGUHE

Be open to the changes God brings forth in your lives, in our nation, in our world and even in our Church. And meet them all with love in your hearts.

I hope you all had an amazing, safe and fun Independence Day. How many of you did something on that day to help someone who needed it?

The Catholic religion is first and foremost about actively bringing love and peace to a world that always seems to be in the middle of some kind of strife and conflict.

What better time to remind ourselves of the value of life than at Lent, when the message of sacrificing for others beckons us to see and respect the value of all humanity.

My teen niece called me last week to tell me her dad — my brother — was getting on her nerves. What teenager hasn’t said that, right?

The 40-something eternally optimistic guard looked particularly young and fit for his age, especially considering his condition. He was a kidney transplant recipient in need of a second transplant.

How will we testify to the greatness of our God, to the unconditional love of Christ and to the forgiveness and grace we believe we have been endowed with — even through the challenges and heartaches — if we are not joyous?

Last year I wrote a column about how love conquers hate. That was true then, and it’s still true now. But as global terror rages on, as global economic crises loom, and as national security concerns hang over our heads like a wet rag on our spirits, maybe it’s important to also realize that love beats fear too when the chips are down.

Prompted by my father, I am inclined to consider what I suggest is a more Catholic view of a nation where we are free AND morally obliged and eager to earn our keep by giving others something they need.

Happy Mother’s Day and Father’s Day to all you moms and dads out there. And to all of you who might be on the verge of becoming a parent, I say congratulations as well.