November 28, 2015

PRICE TAG

You never know what people are looking at -

looking at what they tag as important. She saw

only price tags and brand names, Gucci, Pucci,

Armani, Versace, Vuitton, Nine West, Fendi, and

Forever 21. Me? I just care if my clothes are

comfortable and don’t show spaghetti stains.

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2015

November 27, 2015

TRUMPET

It was used just for funerals: taps - at the death

of a soldier, sailor, marine, or someone in the

Coast Guard or Air Force. That is: till a nephew

visited the house and spotted the trumpet in its

case. And wow could this nephew play that trumpet.

And wow could that trumpet smile - because it 
finally discovered knew why it was made in 
the first place - not just for death, but for life .

 

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2015

November 26, 2015

THANKSGIVING

The little girl’s first words were, “Tank you.”

A first child’s first words are a moment

in the life of a couple - like the first time she

stood and took a step by herself leaning on

the edge of the couch. They had a contest

going on whether the first word would be

“mama” or “papa” and they privately kept

pushing their name when alone with their

daughter - but no, it was, “Tank you!”

It dawned on them afterwards - only

afterwards what that meant, Their first

born had to have heard “Thank you”

from either them or from Grandma or

Grandpa. Wonderful. Then one of them

said in their daughter’s presence,  

“Thank You, God. Thank You, God.”

Then it hit them - hit them big time - that

this was their first real prayer - perhaps

in their lifetime - and their daughter was

there to hear them say, “Thank You, God.”

“Unless you become like little children….”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2015

November 25, 2015

THEN  AGAIN 

AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER 

Then again, sometimes after taking 100 

pictures digitally, there is one picture that 

I really like. Then again - I see another

person's pictures and I say, "Wow! I wish

I could come up with pictures like that.”

Then again, I know I'm not supposed 

to compare, but who doesn't? Then

again: with camera in hand, imagine 

if I had kids or grandkids and a $5,000

Canon 1D Mark IV camera - I'm sure 
I'd have super pictures - but then again .... 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2015

November 24, 2015

BELLS

Bells - so basic, so simple, so solid….

Wood, rope, metal banging metal ….

Sound resounding, echo, echoing….

Reminding us to worship - to gather -

in sacred spaces, places, below a

bell tower…. with each other to hear

the thoughts of the heart and the

sounds of the minds around us….

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2015

November 23, 2015

WHAT DO THEY KNOW?

Spiders? Where do they get  all

that web - especially when lowering

themselves from a high ceiling?

Birds? The 17^th bird in a swarm of

167 field birds, how does it know

when the lead bird is about to spin?

Leaves? Do they feel the pain of

aging, losing their color, the disconnecting

from the tree that gave it life as it falls

to the ground? Do they relax and take it

all in because they know there is the Spring?

Gorilla? Male gorillas. Do wimpy ones envy

the big guy with the big voice, the drama,

the growls and all that chest pounding?

Bananas, apples, peaches and pears?

Do they know it when someone cuts them

right down the middle - that they are about

to disappear - as if each piece of fruit was

celebrating Mass and saying: take and eat,

this is my body I’m giving me to you?

Sun?  Does the sun regret sunsets?

Or does it know it’s going to get another

shot at this whole cycle again tomorrow?

 

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2015

November 22, 2015

IN CHURCH

WITH OLD AND YOUNG

AND ALL THE IN BETWEEN

In church one can hear the sounds of high heels -

as well as canes and creaking scraping aluminum

walkers - as well as babies cries and lots of “Hi’s!”

In church one can catch the whole human family - the

young, the old, and all the in betweens - celebrating

together this great gift of life with the eyes of faith.

In church one can see candles, stained glass windows,

benches and benches of people - folks in pulpits making sounds from Bibles and prayers from holy altars.

In church one can realize this is one big crying room -

babies out loud - and silent screams from widows and

widowers at funerals and tears of joy at weddings.

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2015