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A Tender Embrace

A Tender Embrace (6/18/2018) Walking from my car to where I work at Central Clinic, I ran into a gentleman carrying his young girl – Maybe 4 years old. The girl had her head gently resting on her dads shoulder. It was a loving embrace. This was what I first noticed – how tender it was. I walked with him as we crossed MLK drive. It is an awful intersection to cross and I had this internal sense that I needed to be protective of them as well as myself. That tender embrace – the love they showed each ... other is something that needs to be protected. The loving embrace of a child to a parent must be protected and honored.   We reached the other side and I said to him, “Happy belated Father’s Day.” He said, “Thanks man.” There was a brief pause and he added – “Ya know, you’re the first person to say that to me in 2 days, thank you.” I said, “Absolutely, my gift to you.” I walked on my path with emotions surging and tears beginning to emerge. How can it be that ...
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Reflection - Mt 20:1-16 - Beyond Competition-Finding Community

St. Veronica Retreat Reflection (10/19/17) Mt 20:1-16a Beyond Competition-Finding Community We have many competing forces around us.  Competition is everywhere.  The subtle message we hear in our culture is - how do I win and get what I want?  I deserve it! It’s the pursuit of happiness - right?  - To be the top of the class - get the better Job - the bigger house -the nicer car.   Although there are blessings that can come out of competition - (challenging us to do our best - to work hard to reach our goals in life) - this way of thinking often leads to division.  It pits me against you. and Me trying to climb over you.  We see others as obstacles to getting what I want or what I think is owed to me.   Competition can cause us to be constantly comparing - a way of thinking that rules the day - at work, at school, with family, and friends.  Fr. Del - preaching on this gospel a few weeks ago - telling us that this constant com...
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Instant gratification -not very gratifying

Instant gratification -not very gratifying Recently I've realized in my persuit of everything vinyl that being able to get music at the moment the impulse hits me -that something is lost. I have many reasons for avoiding the instant download of music.  I really love record stores ! Ever since I was young the anticipation of a new album was so exciting.   Leafing through hundreds of titles, the artwork, and the unknown find that brought me so much joy.  I even love the smell when you opened the new tape or cd.  I really like supporting local business.  They offer the real character and culture of the town you live in. You meet people and are supporting your neighborhood instead of huge company box stores. When you go to a store and buy music -it's in YOUR hands.  Who hasn't been dazzled by the idea of having your whole music and book collection accessible at all times on tiny devices! Digital storage has an obvious upside.  For me th...
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Prologue - Sign of Jonas - Thomas Merton

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The Sign of Jonas. The monastic life is by its very nature "ordinary." Its ordinariness is one of its greatest blessings. The exterior monotony of regular observance delivers us from useless concern with the details of daily life, absolves us from the tedious necessity of making plans and of coming to many personal decisions. It sets us free to pray all day, and to live alone with God. But for me, the vow of stability has been the belly of the whale. I have always felt a great attraction to the life of perfect solitude. It is an attraction I shall probably never entirely lose. During my years as a student at Gethsemani, I often wondered if this attraction was not a genuine vocation to some other religious Order. It took me several years to find out that all con­templative Orders have much the same problems. Every man called to contemplation is called to some degree of solitude. God knows well enough how much each one needs. We need faith to let Him decide how much we are to o...
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