The Diocese of Gary held its annual retreat for deacons and their wives during the weekend of October 17th and 19th. It was a wonderful retreat, very inspirational.

As we were driving to the Lindenwood Retreat Center in Donaldson Indiana, we saw the leaves on the trees along US 30 changing colors. Some were bright red, some were yellow and orange, and others were still green. Some leaves were simply a fading, dying shade of brown.

This made me think of what color of leaf I may be (figuratively speaking) at the end of my life. Will my soul reflect a brilliant, bright color, one that reflects God’s presence in my life? Will I appear green, showing that I did little to embrace the teachings of Jesus in the way I lived – simply existing, but not being changed by Jesus’ nurturing presence in life? Will I be a dried-up, brown color, symbolizing unconfessed sin and a failure to keep the Commandments and adhere to Church teaching?

I hope to show bright colors. How about you? 

By: Deacon Tom Gryzbek