Miles for Mary Update

Thanks so much to all who participated in the Miles for Mary challenge during the month of May.  On June 1st, a random winner was chosen via an online “wheel of fortune.”  All names were entered and with the press of a single key, the wheel spun and landed on the winner, Dan Klare.  I videotaped the “drawing” with my sister, also a hopeful participant, as a witness to the validity of the process of choosing the winner.  The total amount to be split was $1600, with 50% to be given to Embodied Magazine and 50% going to Dan.

But as with all things that we entrust to our Blessed Mother, there is a greater story to be told about our winner and his “Fiat” to what was asked of him.  I hope to inspire all who actually read this to recognize the astounding and beautiful way that the Lord and His Mother are present in all of our affairs.  So much so, that sometimes they make it glaringly evident.

When Dan first heard about Miles for Mary, he was immediately captivated by the idea of exercising and praying at the same time.  After all, who better to give thanks for our health and vitality than God himself?  So to combine something good for our bodies with something also so good for our souls was an awe inspiring idea to Dan.

From the start, Dan wanted to spread the Miles for Mary message.  He rallied friends, neighbors and anyone who would listen to join in our efforts to honor Mary in the month of May with exercise.  In fact, the reason we have a $1600 pot with only 85 participants is because Dan solicited extra donations from non participants, some of them business donations.

Dan and his wife, Karen, walked daily and prayed the Rosary.  Actually, I did my 30 miles, but full disclosure, there were times I did not even think about Mary until after I was done.  Sometimes hours later!  Me… the coordinator of the challenge!  That wasn’t my plan but I got lazy.  Dan’s enthusiasm often pulled me back to the whole goal of the challenge-  to honor Mary.  And so I would resolve to hit the reset button.

Now this is the part that Dan doesn’t want known, but it is important because it is actually not about Dan.  This is about how GOOD Mary and Jesus are and just how much all of our daily dealings, when entrusted to them, have a ripple effect that reaches places we can often times never know in this life.  And so I must tell it.

Within minutes of Dan learning that he had won, or rather, that Mary had chosen him as the winner, he donated his portion to Embodied Magazine.  This beautiful magazine, which promotes Pope St. John Paul 2’s Theology of the Body in an awesome publication, would receive the entire $1600.  If you know parishioner, Ann Gundlach, you may also know this is her magazine.  Ann disclosed to me that the news of her magazine as the recipient of the proceeds came at the “perfect time” as she was having some questions about what it was God was asking of her as the magazine budget was so slim.

Of course it was perfect timing…we involved our Heavenly Mother!

Now, lest we shower Dan with all kinds of glory and praise, these were his comments:

“Thank you for the kind words, but all the glory let us give to our good God through our beautiful & perfect Mother Mary.

God has already blessed me and my life beyond all measure, pressed down and overflowing with his graces onto me through our Catholic faith, my amazing wife, children, family & friends like you all.

I once read from a saint who described Mary as one holding a mirror up before her, always reflecting her Son’s love to others and always staying behind the mirror, the unseen, selfless and humble handmaid and servant of the Lord. I have always liked that image, although I rarely live that as Mary teaches us to do.”

So you see, Dan isn’t the star of the show, nor does he want to be.  Dan simply said “yes” to what was asked of him from our Lord and His mother.

First, God heard the silent prayers of his faithful servant, Ann.  Through the prayer and the workings of the Holy Spirit, he revealed to me that her magazine should receive our Miles for Mary winnings.  He then lit a fire in Dan, already strongly devoted to His mother, to embrace this challenge full speed and gave His mother the authority to choose the winner (naturally, it was Dan). He then spoke very clearly to Dan what He must do.  And Dan said “Yes” with zero hesitation.

You will never convince me it happened any other way.

I hope this story inspires you to trust our beautiful Mother, who always points us to her her son, our Savior.  I also hope it inspires you to join Miles for Mary next year!  And remember, God doesn’t always ask us to be gracious givers in a particular situation.  He also asks that we are gracious recipients in his answers to our prayers.  And sometimes that, too, comes in the form of winning money (lest everyone thinks they MUST give up their portion if they win)!  Simply honor His mother and then listen for directions.  He will never steer you wrong.