July   21,   2020

LADDER

At times I wish I had a ladder, 

to climb up and see tomorrow – 

to see the other side of where 

I'm headed – but I don’t. Nope. 

Nope. I don’t – so there is only 

today – and just the now of now. 

And I have found out I won’t  even 

know the now of now till tomorrow. 

And that's a maybe, maybe ....

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

July   20,  2020

APPOINTMENT  WITH  DISAPPOINTMENT

Does every desire have a disappointment

built into it? Now that’s a lifetime question.

I enjoyed my  meal. It was in a dark red

restaurant – but his steak was over cooked.

It was a good marriage – certainly better

than my first – but wow could she nitpick.  

The novel – good story – real characters –

but I figured out the ending on page 101.

Do I say I was looking for God in every desire,

but if I did, would you be quite disappointed?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

 July  20,  2020

Thought  for  Today 

“Prayer is the shortest distance between  two  points infinitely distant apart.”

REDEMPTION

Freedom, feeling at peace, 

have decided to drop a fishing net 

full of fears – arthritis, dementia, 
the possible impossible virus, 
the unknown nexts - as well as being  
unable to control the waterboarding  
feel of some conversations. It’s Sabbath  
and sometimes I want to get off this phone. 

Then there is eternal redemption – 

the complete letting go in death - 
putting my life in surgeons'  hands -  

letting God be resurrection 

and new life – the possible dawn 

in the eternal not knowing if 
and what's on the other side of  

the forever and ever. Amen. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

3rd Sunday in July, 

Holy Redeemer Sunday

 for Redemptorists

July  19,  2020

Thought  for  Today

“Too  beautiful for our ears, and much too many notes,  dear Mozart.”

Emperor Joseph II

July  18,  2020

FOR  A  MOMENT

Something is always moving – if,  if 

we  keep on watching. Pause as you 

sit there on the porch or at the window 

or in the house or at the ocean. 

Stop and watch the baby breathing …. 

Watch grandpa’s chest as he snores …. 

The cloud is creeping cloud creep …. 

The leaves love the drip drop of rain …. 

Close your eyes and your ears …. 

Watch your monkeys go to sleep …. 

Your cows sometimes stop chewing …. 

Your inner orchestra takes a break …. 

Maybe I’m wrong …. Maybe sometimes 

nothing is moving …. sometimes there 

is peace – stillness – rest – pause …. 

Be still and know there is still God. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

July  18,  2020 

Thought  for  Today 

“Now, were you to ask me what are the means of overcoming temptations, I would answer: ‘The first is prayer; the second is prayer; and should you ask me a thousand times, I would always repeat the same.’"