October 1, 2022

 Reflection

CHANGE #607

Last night I had my #607th conversation about the question, "Can another person change."

Can a person change?

Can I change?

We're always talking about others - especially about those who negate - those who drain us - those we don't want around.

Can they change?

And the answer I keep coming up with is, "Have I ever changed?"

My sister-in-law, Joanne, once said to me, "You've changed!"

Afterwards, while driving, I thought about that.

I'm too close to myself to see change in myself.

People who haven't seen us for years might see a nervous person who now seems much more confident.

I look at sermons I preached 10 years ago. They look so insipid. They seem so uninspiring. So yes I see that I have changed from 10 years ago.

Question: can I sit down and resolve to make a change and then do it?

Once more the question of specifics shows up. Be specific in the how of the changes you want to make.

I could go to be an hour earlier each night.

I could try to eat one orange or apple each day.

I could bite my tongue more and listen better.

I could take one hour each week to clean up and out my room.

I could us my black Progoff loose leaf filler each week.  

Will I?

 October 1,  2022

Thought for Today

"Poetry is the only way to fight television, because we make our pictures with poetry."

Kostis Gimosoulis.

BBC Radio 3, April 1994

 September 30, 2022

Reflection

MIDDLES

Middles are the places where we need persistence, patience, strength and the ability to push ourselves.

Beginnings are easy.  I can dream up a thousand projects a day.

I can start something new - with excitement - but it's that second chapter - it's that noon day devil - it's those interruptions - it's the need for naps - it's those next miles when I run out of gas.

I'm still in middle age - well a bit older - 67.

Translation: there are a lot of things i want to do before I die.

Translation: if I consider myself to be in my old age - then I'll coast.

Translation: I rather stay young - creating, dreaming, imagining, with lots of future possibilities.

So Lord, in the middle of every middle, give me the push - be with me when I stop to sit on a bench for a while - and then get young again.

Didn't Dante use the image of the middle - as the metaphor - the central metaphor for his great writing.

Here I am in the middle of the dance floor - so dance.

Here I am in the middle of the woods - them walk.

Here I am in the middle of the river - start rowing.

Here I am in the middle of my life - just do it.

 September 30, 2022

Thought for Today

"Poems are other people's snapshots in which we recognize ourselves."

Charles Simic

The Unemployed Fortune Teller, 1994

 September 29, 2022

Reflections

SICKNESS

The only advantage of sickness is getting well.

What does that mean?

Well, when we are well, we're out of it, so we don't appreciate wellness till we are sick.

I've been feeling crummy for almost a week now. Ugh.

My voice went to 80%

My energy level is low.

I have not had a chance to do my hour on the treadmill - lest I start coughing big time. Then the cough gets worse - and I end up with a hacking persistent cough.

It's not aging. It's just a summer cough or allergies or a bug - or I don't know.

It's frustrating.

It's laziness coughing.

It's a downer.

It could be worse.

I don't have a fever.

I am able to work.

I  went to Washington D.C. yesterday and enjoyed it.

Yet,  I also did 2 funerals and 5 Masses in the last few day under the influence of a cough.

I'll try to remember this moment when I'm well.

Soon.

Hurry.

Please God.

Amen.

 September 29, 2022

Thought for Today

"The birth of the reader must be at the cost of the death of the Author."

Roland Barthes,

The Death of the Author

 

JOB

 

The title of my thoughts for this short sermon is Job: The Book of Job.

 

Job: the Book of Job – our first reading for these few days in the 26^th Week of the Year.

 

Job has 42 chapters -  poetry and prose -  stories and speeches.

 

The Book of Job goes back into Jewish history – probably with roots in other early cultures. There is probably a few ancient versions, Then it was rewritten – changed - adapted, Then there was a more final version from around the 500 or 600.  Other scripture scholars have other comments.

 

It begins with Satan giving Job a test. Much of the book is loaded with questions - tests – the very tests all people – go through – especially sufferings.  Does God zap people? How come some people have more sufferings that other people?

 

Different characters give different answers – different reasons – different speeches.

 

God is questioned.  God is yelled at.  God is described.

 

The bottom line message seems to be that each of us is that we too are like Job and we have our trials – and our questions.

 

Two weeks ago on television, they had a 3 part documentary entitled: “The United States and the Holocaust”.  It was made by Ken Burns and to me it  was the book of Job in documentary form.

 

It had questions I hope there are answers for in eternity.

 

It told of the 6 million Jews killed in Germany in World War II.  I sat there and wondered once more about all the little kids who were killed – gassed – stabbed – murdered. Jews, the Handicapped, people who were gay, Some Catholics, priests, nuns – were murdered. I found myself saying some of the things I heard in Job. “Not fair – unfair.” Like Job, I was saying lots of words to bring to God and talk to God with. Amen.