All posts by Fr Tom Tirman

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A WHOMPIN start…….

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Not that I have not mentioned this before, but as the Women’s Head Lacrosse Coach for the high school, I am usually busy and not able to see any men’s games, but it is early in the season (the first game) and tonight I was able to see a special one.

Why was it special? Well, first of all it was my son Scotty’s first game as the starting varsity goalie. He stepped into playing goal, sort of as a joke with the Assistant Coach last year. The JV goalie was hurt and wanted to move to another position, and Scott mouthed off that he was a baseball catcher for many years and could step in for the practice…..he has never stepped out. He played the full year as the JV goalie and the heir of the position on Varsity this year.
So tonight was beginning of his season on Varsity as the goalie…..but it was more than that. I have coached my team for four years, this is my fifth….the first was as the Assistant, the last three as the Head Coach. The Assistant on the men’s team has been Coach Andy McIntyre, or Coach Mac (to me Mac). And he was the coach who goaded Scott into the goal. Tonight was his first game at the helm as Head Coach…..so it was the start of an era for sure.
And what a start it was. Park Tudor is no opossum. And Mac and the boys handled them soundly, beating them 13-5. Scotty was a rockstar, but as I tell the girls, it’s a TEAM SPORT. And tonight Andy’s team showed amazing poise, discipline, and execution. I made sure I stuck around to shake his hand after that first big win.
Both of us have high pressure positions….it takes a lot to be a high school coach. But he is a good one. As a coach myself, I try to just watch, but we all get too involved. I however understand the pressures of the job. This was his showcase of what is to come…..it was an awesome start.
Andy (Mac) has actually coached, not for me, but in place of me one time. When I had my stroke, he and another Assistant Coach, Michael Treinen came over to take my first game. It showed a lot of character, and so did taking the team from the first NHS Head Coach and moving it forward. Great win Mac and congrats! The best I am sure is yet to come.
I would have taken a picture of Scott in goal if my cell phone camera could get close enough, so I had to settle for a picture of my dad, Amanda, and Ben in the stands. Scott’s girlfriend was with us, but seemed to always switch sides to the goal he was defending…..he best pay attention too….
Why? She is my starting center!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Busy…….

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With both hope and determination, I hope to complete the repairs on my office closet and move everything back into it tomorrow. Of course they say that the road to procrastination is paved with hope and determination, so we will see. At least it’s a goal.

The problem is being so busy. Over the past few weeks I have been more frenzied than a squirrel breaking into a Planter’s factory. And since my “projects” are not priority number one, they are done in between other things, yet when something as important as this office closet is not finished, it slows down my ability to do other work. It’s like how a little bit of sugar can ruin a whole glass of iced tea…..yep, I am from the north, deal with it!
But the good news of being too busy is that is distracts me from things I need distracting from, such as the fact that I am still dieting or that I am entering my 50th season as a Cubs fan. Things I suppose could be worse, yet I am hard pressed to think of any examples…..oh wait, I could be my wife. That poor soul.
But the big blessing tomorrow is that I will end the day with actually being able to be AT Scotty’s season opener at Park Tudor. I cannot tell you how excited that makes me. As the coach of the women’s high school team, I am generally coaching my own game somewhere. It just happens that I am off tomorrow night! Yee ha!
So it is off to bed for me. I am hopeful and determined to have a relaxing and wonderful night of peaceful dreams, but I imagine I will dream of some construction project instead. There is no escaping all the busy work…even when I am unconscious!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+
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Lacrosse boys living the basketbal dream…..

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Brothers…..go figure. Tonight Amanda is meeting a friend of hers for dinner, and although I am dieting, my two boys ordered themselves two pizzas (since they both want what they want) and then after gorging themselves went out to play basketball together in the driveway. As for me, I was not invited to play, so I just watched them as my stomach growled and my nose kept saying, “isn’t that pizza I smell?”

But it is worth it. You see, there are more pictures than that cute little picture of Ben taking communion yesterday. There was also one of who I originally though was Jabba the Hut, but as I looked closer I thought, “Either Jabba the Hut is wearing a purple vestment, or that is me.” And it was. I really felt ashamed and wanted to call everyone I knew to apologize. Enough of the screwing around. Things are gonna change.
I was looking at a friends posting of our high school hockey pictures on Facebook earlier today. I was skinny, sure, and we used to lie on our program about my height and weight. But that was 30 years ago. So with God as my witness, I will be back in fighting shape by my 50th birthday.
Of course, here’s the confession…….I will be 50 June 19th. So this is to say that I am not really 35 like I have been telling everyone….nor is my nickname “Thor.” I am just a guy like so many others who needs to get it together.
What I want you to know is that I will.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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First Communion….

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Today was a BIG day, but a long one too. It is technically about an hour into tomorrow as I am typing this, but that’s just the way some days go.

But the big news is that Ben and his life-long friend Bella made their First Communion today. It was a real blessing to see them both together and so excited. And there was no pressure on either of them, considering that EVERYONE was watching them too! Ben was a little less aware of all the eyes than Bella, but the god part was that we got them both through it all. Way to go guys!
Then, late in the afternoon I got a call from my uncle telling me that my grandma had been hospitalized in Goshen where she lives. She is in her mid-90’s and needless to say it worried me something fierce. I took a shower and quickly drove up for a visit. My grandma is great, and we had a nice chat. She looked good, and hopes to be out within the next few days. Sadly, it looks as if she will be giving up her apartment at the retirement center and moving into their assisted living building. I’d be happy to move there too, but I am currently five years, three months, and 5 days too young….but who’s counting?
So it has been eventful to say the least. I am typing in bed next to Ben who is in here because he is running a low grade fever. I am betting it’s going to be another trip to Dr. Kelly to look at his ears.
After all, it couldn’t be the Communion…….
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Oh my world……

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Originally today was the day when Scotty and I were scheduled to head to St. Louis for his college visit, but lacrosse (the sport that consumes only 137% of our family’s time) happened to interfere. Scotty had a game (scrimmage) today at 1pm.

Fortunately, we were on the college visit on Tuesday, making today a typical Saturday in lacrosse season….a day to wrestle Ben in the stands. Fortunately for me, I do not have to be a spectator at many games as I am more than not coaching my own team somewhere else. But today we had no women’s games, so I was blessed (as I am supposed to call it) to be able to watch Scott…..and not so blessed to be able to wrestle Ben.
Sure, being in the tent that Ben made (with the blanket my wife HAD to bring) and playing Transformers was fun. It was very manly. But in the end, I was able to see the lion’s share of Scott’s game, and got “tent-credit” as well. It was a pretty good time.
But the world of work has been beckoning me home, and that’s what I am doing tonight. Tomorrow is the First Sunday in Lent, and I am WAY BEHIND.
But thus is the life I live. I am tired though, and hope I am able to live into just one more day!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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The last church you will ever need….

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I have been up to Christ the King Kokomo twice this week, but each time I drive there from my house I pass two churches with very interesting names. The first is “The General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn,” which has a hand painted sign that screams IMPERATIVE! And it is located between Aroma and Omega, Indiana.

Of course the cool one is the “Omega Christian Church.” I really must confess however, that although I took this picture of their sign I have no idea what the church looks like at all. I just liked the sign, and not for its pizazz, but for its unintended meaning.
But my drives through the country really amaze me. There are churches all over the countryside and they are really in the middle of nowhere. They are often beautiful buildings too. It just amazes me that they are still around, and in truth, I am happy they are.
But if you have a choice, my preference of course is that you attend one of our churches. Nothing against the GACFB (not to be confused with the sound my cat often makes), or OCC (they also make pretty sweet choppers, the bikes, not teeth) but I like what we are about better.
So if you are ever traveling across Indiana and are looking for a church, come see us instead. We don’t use snakes in the service, although I am sure some of the wives may say we have a few there. But that’s a marriage counseling issue. As for me, I am just a priest and a traveling church photographer.
Goodnight and God Bless!
Tommy+
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I remember……

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March 10th…..oddly enough we were at dinner with my dad tonight when I remembered that I was priested today some 21 years ago.

I suppose I forgot about it, like I do many other anniversaries, because really they all are indicators of events. And although there is a propensity with events, like ordinations, weddings, graduations and such, to see them as arrival points, I in fact see them quite differently……I see them as sort of starting lines.
To explain, after all the hard work of getting to any of these events, why would we then just focus on the event rather than what it signifies we are moving into…perhaps a ministry, or a marriage, our our lives, or a vocation? Too often however I find people holding onto the date, or the memory of the event, as if it’s really the THING. It’s not. Life is waiting, and we are supposed to live it.
So off of my soap box for tonight and off to bed I go! I will celebrate the day by admitting that being a priest often wears me out….apparently for the last 21 years.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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“Lent me entertain you…..”

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Although I posted earlier in the day for Ash Wednesday, I thought I would post again tonight. I am home now, the day is almost done, and if I can last just about 30 minutes more, Ben’s new Transformer sheets and comforter may be dry and it may lure him to his own bed. But at this point, I do not think I really care where he wants to sleep. I am totally beat.

But we are now in the season of Lent, and I am picking exercise and diet as two of my disciplines as I go through it. The exercise I am not looking to be a real problem. The weather is getting warmer and the dog and I will be out and about everyday beginning tomorrow. (Today I was swamped.) But the diet will be much more of a challenge. Habits, bad or good, are hard to change, and the medicine I am on does NOT help. But in truth, if I go off them my life would be miserable, because post-stroke I need them. AND on the other hand, if I cannot get myself back in shape I will also be miserable, because I will either be way too heavy and out of shape or dead. To be honest, I want to keep at this so I can be a burden to my wife and kids.
So this is to say it starts. I already feel the struggle, but with God’s help I can get there. For crying out loud I will be turning 50 in June and I am raising two teenagers and a 3 year old. I am no weenie! Say a prayer for me and encourage me to get to it. 50 is going to be just my halfway point. Let’s see if I can live the next 50 hearing the words, “he’s that skinny old priest over there in the Cubs jersey.”
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Ash Wednesday

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Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It’s a day we contemplate our mortality in light of our faith. A powerful day, it’s one of my favorites, and most meaningful of the entire Church year. Today Christians all over the world will receive the imposition of ashes while hearing the words, “you are dust, and to dust shall you return.”

My prayer for you this day is that you not only attend an Ash Wednesday service, but that you take the time this day to rededicate your life to the Lord. And there is no better time than Lent to begin a journey of re-dedication too. You can adopt a Lenten Discipline or two to help fine-tune and deepen your journey along the way. I encourage you to do so too.

There are opportunities to attend services today all around you. I encourage you to attend one.

Every journey begins with the first step……commit yourself to taking yours today.
God Bless you on this very special day!
Tommy+
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Meet us in St. Louie Louie……

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Although I could never fall into this naturally, Scotty has been accepted and visited St. Louis Christian College in Florissant, Missouri today…..just 10 minutes away from where Stephanie goes to college. As a matter of fact, Steph and two of her friends joined us last night for a carbfest at the IHOP too. It was a blast, and a real blessing to me.

And Scott absolutely loved the school too. He is heading toward working in ministry, and although he is clearly an amazing musical talent, he and I have discussed the possibility of working in the Anglican Mission “with me.” (I would never say “for me” because nothing can sour an offspring’s attitude like the potential for being under a parent’s supervision for years.) So to make it more like Harvey Korman’s “I am working for Mel Brooks,” I hope one day to hear Scotty say “I am working for Doc Loomis.” We shall see.
But the good news is that I am home and can prep for Ash Wednesday in the morning. I am doing a 7pm service in Westfield and that will be after an instructional lacrosse practice at the library with my team.

I missed the pancakes today for Shrove Tuesday as we were traveling, but my last big meal was at the Sonic in Florissant. I hope to end Lent a far different soul than I start…..but there is some intention to do so.
So I will finish the night and head to bed. It has been a marvelous few days. I am not sure where Scotty will head, but I am thinking it may be St. Louis. A lacrosse scholarship may change it all, and I am certain he wil be offered one. But until then I will just imagine heading just one direction to see the kids. No, life never really works that way for me, but then again, I can dream.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+