By Fr. Justin Fulton
You ever made a smoothie? In the pad where I live, I have an awesome NutriBullet that basically cooks for me. I find it is difficult to cook for one person and sometimes time just does not allow my culinary skills to come to fruition.
So many times at night I crank out some fruits, vegetables, and juice and put them in a NutriBullet to make a decent meal in less than two minutes. And then after three minutes of consuming the smoothie I find I have been blessed with a nutritious meal in less than a total of five minutes. Lately, I have pondered the amount of lives that have impacted me in those five minutes of nutrition... and how all of those lives are connected. And I think about how all of those lives and those ingredients are blessings from God. In a world where it seems there is so much division amongst us I try to see God bringing about unity even though we do not realize it. So, here is a simple recipe and prayer exercise over a quick smoothie:
NutriBullet Smoothie recipe with prayers:
Spinach: with a prayer for the single mom working at a grocery store counter trying to make enough money to put herself through community college. 
Banana, from South America: said a prayer for the worker who helped harvest it so that his family may not starve.
Green Apple from Nebraska City: said a prayer for some friends/family in Neb. City and the underpaid farmer who produced the apples, and all Nebraska farmers.
Blueberries: with a prayer for the high school kid stocking shelves at the grocery store to keep gas in his car and maybe get a gift for his parents this Christmas.
Orange Juice, from Florida: said some prayers for friends down there and for favorable growing conditions. And also for just prices for all farmers and laborers.
A prayer for the over-the-road truckers that spend way too much time away from their homes and families bringing these goods from distributorships to stores so that I may purchase them and consume them in five minutes. And a prayer for the safety of all travelers.
Think of all of the people who have impacted one person for just a five-minute smoothie. Incredible.
Be grateful to them and to God and remember them with a prayer and Him with praise.
At CSS, we realize our duty is to align our will with God’s Will and to perform the Works of Mercy in response to His call. God Himself is perfect Unity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three persons of the Trinity live in perfect unity and complete relationship. And it is our duty as Catholic Christians to be living instruments of His unity in all of our relationships. We realize the lives that impact us and we try to impact others’ lives in a positive, loving Christian way.
May we all work for unity in southern Nebraska and may we all bring Hope in the Good Life! May we live greatly and see the hand of God working in our work. Thank you for your support of CSS! And may God bless us always.
