Grounded in Stockbridge

Posted on by charliej373
Divine Mercy Shrine, Stockbridge, Massachusetts

By Charlie Johnston

Time for some prayers, my friends. Today while driving out of Boston to head on into Ohio, the timing belt on my car broke. Fortunately, I was near an exit and was able to coast to safety. The closest garage was a family owned affair. The two sons came out to help me. It is snowing like crazy here. While I was waiting for the tow, a friendly plow driver stopped to check and see that I was okay. He told me he was making circles to keep the roads in that area clear – and if I ran into any problem, just wave at him and he would stop to help. Once I got the tow done, I sat in the shop and chatted with the Dad who owns it. Wonderful fellow – 72 years old, salt of the earth American. They called a friend who owns a tiny roadside motel, who gave me a great rate for two nights and one of the sons drove me over to it. The only thing I worried about was internet – which is usually spotty or near non-existent at such hotels. This may be the best signal I’ve had since I have been on the road. Go figure. 

It is likely a disaster, at least for a time. It could put a crimp in my appointments for a month or better. If I am extremely lucky, I could be back on the road Wednesday. I called Linda G. at my next stop, apprised her of the situation, and we’ll take it as it comes. 

Meanwhile, when it happened, I thought, “Hmmm…what a great place for a disaster to happen. Right near the Divine Mercy Shrine. God must have something here for me in this trial.” Certainly the folks who have helped me have been universally cheery and wonderful. We’ll see what happens.

Meantime, I ask all of you to pray – not that everything be easy, but that whatever God intends I get the full benefit of and give thanks for. Also, this morning I went to Confession with a wonderful Priest that my director, Fr. Babyface, put me in touch with. Yeah, this day has not gone as planned and there is a lot of uncertainty in the next two days. But how can you not see God in it? As I do when I am at my best, I did not pray, “Why me, Lord?” but prayed, “What do you intend for me in this. Lord?” Welcome to the storm!

*********

I was delighted to see that the Vatican has backed off its assertion that any employee who did not get the gene therapy vaccine will be fired. They will be reassigned to a job that does not involve interaction with the public. Hopefully it will not be make-work jobs, but responsible ones. Hope for the best! But you see how your reaction does have an effect! Be charitable, stand your ground, and live fidelity.

I can feel an undercurrent rising, and find myself optimistic. Not that things are going to be peachy keen real soon, but that God is moving more actively in the world. I am so pleased that at all my stops, so far, the faithful are serious and filled with a great resolve to do what must be done, weather what must be weathered, and reach out to both their neighbors and those who finally want to come in from the cold of paganism. I have heard from several Bishops that they will not lock down again. We’ll see. At least in America, I sense that we are at the beginning of the end for the witches who have taken our culture hostage – which is why they are so frantic and angry. Aslan is on the move!

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64 thoughts on “Grounded in Stockbridge”

  1. Awesomeness, Charlie! I was soon to be headed out to fetch the granddaughters from school when you called and I had planned to put up a call for prayer for you here and Voila! Here you are. Love it.

    As you wish, I’m praying that whatever God intends, you get the full benefit of and give thanks for. In addition, as a child of the Father, I will thank Him, in advance, for whatever provision He deems you must have to continue with the talks IF He wishes you to continue with them.

    About this: “I can feel an undercurrent rising, and find myself optimistic. Not that things are going to be peachy keen real soon, but that God is moving more actively in the world.” A thousand Amens. (No Alleluias til Easter Vigil.) I can feel it too, Charlie.

    Liked by 15 people

    2. Beckita, I love, love, love this picture! When Charlie wrote, “I can feel an undercurrent rising and find myself optimistic,” the beginning song from Mary Poppins where Dick Van Dyke is singing in the park came to mind. “Winds in the East, mist coming in, like something is brewing about to begin.” I am sensing it, too. Something is brewing, and Aslan IS on the move! Praise Jesus!

      Liked by 10 people

  3. Charlie I thank God that you were not hurt or in a whirlwind of traffic when your time belt suddenly stopped keeping time!!!

    Really sort of interesting that it happened right by divine mercy in Stockbridge!!! Wonder what God and Fr Seraphim are up to?!?!

    I often have the experience that as soon as I go to confession all hell breaks loose!!! Lol Sometimes I’m scared to go for that reason but go I do!!!

    We are all “storming heaven,” Charlie that your car situation will not be catastrophic but in the end we all know God’s will will be done! Jesus we trust in you!🥰

    Liked by 15 people

  4. Congratulations Charlie – I can think of a lot of way-worse places to be stuck than the Berkshires. Even if it is snowy. I hope there is a warm cup of something nice, a book and a fireplace somewhere in the mix. I suggest thinking of it as God giving you a treat rather than a challenge. Enjoy!

    Liked by 13 people

      1. Hopefully they will let you inside the Chapel/Church….one of my favorite places is the beautiful Shrine, only 2 hours north of me, hope all will be well ..God bless!
        P.s. if you get to the Shrine, you have to go in the back of the property and down the hill to see the most beautiful little memorial chapel/sanctuary to the unborn …

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Madkatmomma, that shrine is such Sacred Ground! Every time I’ve visited there, it’s an other-worldly sublime feeling of healing balm being poured out endlessly. It is The National Shrine of Divine Mercy, after all!

      How fitting that you were sidelined here, Charlie. I think it is delightful! A Hug from +Jesus+

      Liked by 3 people

  6. Was just praying for you and your trip Charlie as part of my Rosary intentions, and then I read your post.

    May God bless you and get you safely on the road again soon. Sounds like a spiritual battle to be sure!

    St. Michael the Archangel,
    defend us in battle.
    Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
    May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
    and do thou,
    O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
    by the power of God,
    thrust into hell Satan,
    and all the evil spirits,
    who prowl about the world
    seeking the ruin of souls.
    Amen.

    Hail Mary,
    Full of Grace,
    The Lord is with thee.
    Blessed art thou among women,
    and blessed is the fruit
    of thy womb, Jesus.
    Holy Mary,
    Mother of God,
    pray for us sinners now,
    and at the hour of our death.
    Amen.

    Liked by 15 people

  8. Yes, MadKat…I was thinking the same thing. Enforced rest. Father knows what we need.
    Thank you Becky-TN. I appreciate the prayers! Bless you darlin’…I sure could use some about now.
    Charlie, we are flexable here. If you need to rearrange your schedule we can work around it.

    Liked by 10 people

  9. Charlie, I love how you approach even the toughest of circumstances. This is my favorite today, “But how can you not see God in it? As I do when I am at my best, I did not pray, “Why me, Lord?” but prayed, “What do you intend for me in this. Lord?”

    What a beautiful thing that this happened near the Shrine of Divine Mercy, and what a kind family there to help you. May you find just what the Lord has in store for you on this little bump in the road, and maybe a little rest and renewal for the next part of your journey. Prayers and thanksgiving for you through our Blessed Mother.

    Liked by 14 people

    1. Pope John Paul II declared Isidore of Seville the patron saint of the internet, so hopefully he will intercede for reliable consistent coverage.
      Perhaps if your vehicle needs major over haul-a CORAC collection somehow somewhere…. Godspeed Charlie.

      Liked by 11 people

    2. Will do, Beckita– but it is cool that he got this piece out in spite of the spotty internet! God knows where he needs to be right now.

      Liked by 3 people

  11. When Linda gave me the update, I thought immediately of spiritual foul play!! So we got the prayer chain message out! Hope it works out you can make it on schedule, but all in His time as we’ll see! As Jacquie said, we’ll adjust!!

    My son made his first reconciliation this evening, so I had some time in front of the tabernacle to pray for continued and safe travels!

    Liked by 9 people

    5. BillBad, if it is indeedy foul play, it’s sure ironic how Holy that ground it Charlie’s stuck at! Must have cost some pretty baaaad scorching and torment for the foulers, in other words a pretty stupid strategy, LOL.

      St. John Paul II went there and I’m certain he must have had a very, very good idea of how important that shrine would be to USA and the world!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. certainly, praying for you regularly, but will specifically pray for your discernment on this for sure!!!
    (I pray for discernment for myself often too)
    Blessings to you, yours, and your WORKS!!! -keivn-
    Come Holy Spirit Come!!!!

    Liked by 10 people

  13. When I saw that you were stranded in Stockbridge, I thought, “Well, if one has to be stranded, that is a great place because of the Divine Mercy Shrine.” And then you said the very same thing. 🙂

    Liked by 12 people

  16. I had a parallel of car trouble today.
    I caught Covid-19 on a trip three weeks ago and my wife and I had planned a trip up to Ohio tomorrow to participate in the confirmation of our eldest daughters youngest son, Noah.
    The trip had been on again off again because this covid thing has been seriously kicking my wife. Over the weekend we had decided to plan the trio and see what happens come Tuesday.
    Alas, the auto shop called and said there was a code from the diagnostic machine coding something serious about the transmission. I had wanted them to do a road trip go-over on the van before the trip expecting them to air the tires up, fill the fluids and such.
    Didn’t expect the transmission to be out of commission but here we are!
    Interestingly, before they called about the van, we had already decided not to go because my wife was still having Long Covid fatigue and she felt the long trip there and all the excitement might cause a relapse. We could have taken my truck, but my wife hates it because it’s a lifted 4×4 and her short legs have no fun entering and exiting it.
    So God has another plan for us too Charlie.
    Wonder what this week will bring?

    Liked by 6 people

  17. Glad to see God stopped you at the Shrine. Our dear Fr. Seraphim must have a blessing for you. Hopefully you had a chance to visit his grave. Praying that you are on the road soon and all goes as God wills. Viva Cristo Rey, Friend and welcome back to the Berkshires, are you doing any meetings here? God Bless, Maryanne Santelli

    To Jesus through Mary✝️🙏❤️🥰

    >

    Liked by 3 people

  18. May ASLAN move so MONUMENTOUS that many doubters and unbelievers will be whiplashed into TRUTH!!!!!And if no one can see the hand of GOD in your ‘mishaps’, are either hard headed or as dumb as rocks!!!Sounds like God favors you BIGLY Charlie!!!!God bless all here in CORACland…hope that ain’t far from the place where that big picnic is gonna happen when this all finished!

    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

    Liked by 3 people

  20. Praying for you Charlie ~ and for everyone here.
    My word, I was just wondering where you were in your journey…
    God wants you near and what is more near than the Divine Mercy?
    O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus, I trust in you.
    Relax and let God our Father hold you near.
    God bless, katey in thawed out Oregon.

    Liked by 7 people

  23. JESUS = GOOD NEWS …… 😉

    https://www.ncregister.com/blog/equality-act-alert

    https://amgreatness.com/2021/02/21/is-the-biden-administration-stumbling-into-war/

    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2021/02/21/fear-and-falsehood-dr-anthony-fauci-states-masks-could-be-needed-until-2022-or-beyond/

    https://thehayride.com/2021/02/nancy-pelosi-is-stuck-on-stupid-so-of-course-russel-honore-now-runs-capitol-security/

    https://patriotpost.us/digests/77921-mid-day-digest-2021-02-22
    https://townhall.com/

    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/wikipedia-bias-socialism-pages-whitewashed

    https://crimeresearch.org/2021/02/the-false-narrative-of-white-supremacists-doing-mass-public-shootings-racial-gender-religious-and-political-views-of-these-killers-from-1998-through-january-2021/

    DeepState will not stop this persecution till Trump is in the grave …. and his Deplorables are silenced into submission.
    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/supreme-court-trump-tax-records
    This is Why!
    https://thefederalist.com/2021/02/20/there-is-no-gop-civil-war/

    https://trumptrainnews.com/2021/02/22/justice-thomas-calls-scotus-decision-to-reject-pa-election-cases-inexplicable/

    https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/02/our_supreme_court_goes_full_nicaragua_in_pa_election_case.html

    GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!

    Liked by 6 people

  24. One of the things I love about New England is that, once you are away from the big cities, upper class suburbs and college towns there is still a very real down to earth, conservative, mind your own business, work hard, assist your neighbor, approach to life among many of the good folk. I think this is a remnant of our profoundly Protestant history, which in the nineteenth century was overlaid with Catholic life by immigrants bringing their faith with them from afar.

    This has always made it difficult for me to consider living away. Or for that matter, even traveling for very long away.

    I am happy Charlie, that you got to experience a sample of this first hand, even though your plans had to be disrupted. Stockbridge and the Shrine have been a font of grace in the years they have been there. If you have to be shipwrecked. Not a bad place to be.

    Prayers for your continued journey.

    JT

    Liked by 11 people

  25. Hey Charlie, I’m about 30 minutes from the shrine, and a very good friend of mine works there, let me know if you need anything! Dinner, I dunno.

    Liked by 9 people

  27. Prayer need for twin boys in utero 20 weeks…sons of Jacob and Julia, one twin is much larger than the other so it is time for a miracle. Jewish friends of my Christian community.
    Our monthly USDA surplus refrigerated 40,000# food truck is postponed and maybe cancelled. Folks in my neighborhood are missing it already. Some St. Paul schools are kind of back in partial session, and their food distribution seems to have stopped.
    On a lighter note, one time I was returning to Colorado…..planning to leave before dawn when I was temporarily blinded by a visual migraine. When I left hours later the authorities were still clearing I35 and the surrounding fields from a massive icy crash. Thank you Jesus that I was safely incapacitated instead of driving into that mess.

    Liked by 11 people

  28. Charlie, if the engine is fixable [meaning it didn’t auto-destruct with valves bending and going through other ‘stuff’ – If it is possible – try to replace the belt with a timing chain. I know that isn’t likely, but it may be possible.

    Liked by 3 people

  29. I think this was actually a sign Charlie! You are supposed to stay in the Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts until you can lead her repressed people out to the promised land. It was great to see you again this past weekend. It gave me great hope to meet wonderful people that are close by. God Bless you and keep you safe on your trips. P.S. Stockbridge is a fantastic place to be. Check out the Red Lion Inn. My family roots in the U.S. began in nearby Tyringham.

    Liked by 5 people

    1. “You are supposed to stay in the Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts until you can lead her repressed people out to the promised land.” Aaaargh! Good one!

      Liked by 1 person

  30. While pressing through my morning duties eagerly to read the post from Charlie, I noticed a connection to needing Charlie the same way as needing Trump and Rush. So I paused a moment to thank God and ask for a healthy separation of spirits and grace to live the message despite the messengers presence or not — then read the post also in relief at the gentle Godwink of many levels!

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Great to hear from you, Lesyek. You know, Charlie has spoken forcefully against ever making of him a guru or idol. That said, I rely on Charlie – in the best of ways- and his God-given gifts which bring him to lay down his life for God and His people.

      Liked by 2 people

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Published by charliej373

Charlie Johnston is a former newspaper editor, radio talk show host and political consultant. From Feb. 11, 2011 to Aug. 21, 2012, he walked 3,200 miles across the country, sleeping in the woods, meeting people and praying as he went. He writes on cultural, global and political issues from an orthodox Catholic perspective. He emphasizes that we find God most surely through the ordinary, doing the little things we should with faith and fidelity. His constant refrain is that, to live real joy, we must acknowledge God, take the next right step, and be a sign of hope to those around us. He lives in the Archdiocese of Denver in the United States.