August 6, 2022

Reflection

CONTROL

She said she was getting better with trying to control things - people - everything and everyone.

Change came with having a baby. "I gave up when I realized he is not an adult. He's going to eat  the way he's going to eat. Sometime it's food. Sometimes food becomes a toy to play with. Sometimes food is face cream, shampoo or stuff to throw."

I asked her what it was like to be married and why she married him. I quoted an old quote I once read and that I had mentioned to my niece Margie. "A man marries a woman; a woman marries a project."

Then I added, "When I told that to my niece, she kicked me."

Then realizing what she did, she said, "Sorry!"

I pondered the whole theme or issue of control: Traffic control. God control. Other control. Weather control. Air conditioner control. Babies in church control. Who has the clicker at TV control. Times people show u for meals. When the phone rings control.

I thought about the prayer, "Thy will be done."

I thought about Self Take Personality Tests - and how they show how different people can be.

She brought up the "power" word.

We talked about power and control.

We talked about bending - letting things go - letting things slide - letting go - having a relaxed grip.

How do teachers do it?

How do nurses do it?

How do attendants on airplanes do it?

How do parents do it?

How does God do it? God remains quiet. God learned how to let go a long time ago.

Me? Someday.  We'll see.

 August 6, 2022

Thought for Today

"Through the Thou a person becomes I."

Martin Buber,

I and Thou (1923)

August 5, 2022

Reflection 

MAIN STREET

Main Street: how come it so often becomes the main street?

Did they know that when they named it that?

Was it named that the first day - or was it gradual - and it named itself?

I've been to many small town - and so many had a Main Street.

I like it when they have some sidewalk restaurants. They are great places to watch people walk by.

I love walking or driving up Main Street in the early morning when street cleaners are cleaning up - when store keepers are opening up - when walkers and joggers are waking or jogging by - when folks are walking their dogs.

Life after the night before ....

A new day....

Breakfast - lunch - or supper....

Boutiques - Bodegas - Baskin Robbins....

Looking at life, I guess, we have a main street - so many side streets -   back alleys - and cuts - quick ones across town.

Main Street ....

Didn't Babbitt - or someone with a name like that - have a book named that?

I'm sure it's the name of a newspaper or magazine or shoppers guide.

Main Street ....

And the Word became flesh and walked up our main streets....

 August 5, 2022

Thought for Today

"Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church                  where a wedding has been,                                                Lives in a dream.                                                                Waits at the window, wearing the face                                  that she keeps in a jar by the door,                                      Who is it for? All the lonely people,                                    where do they all come from?"

John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Eleanor Rigby (1966 Song)

 August 4, 2022

Reflection

50TH  ANNIVERSARY

Everything was gold.

Little gold 50's were sprinkled on every round table.

Her shoes were gold. Her dress was gold. The hall was draped in gold.

It was a golden moment - 50 years of marriage.

I got into a seat where I could see it all - the pictures - the children - the golden  grandchildren - the friends - lots of friends.

Their marriage worked.

They said they worked at it.

Six children: three girls, three boys.

Johnny, the oldest, gave a toast  from a small stage. It had humor. It had seriousness. The  sound that hit me was: not everyone makes it to 50.

People die. Divorce. Or just give up and separate.

This couple made it.

I sensed gratitude - thanks - grabbing the spotlight on their faces and in their eyes. Sober simple gratitude as they talked together near the end to all 100+ present.

At a wedding a newly married couple work the room together.  At their 50th this couple worked the room separately - and this made sense doing it this way. 

You have to know them. You have to have been there.

There was so much to share - so many connections and re-connections - so many stories to tell the other in small connecting groups.

50th Golden Gathering - so much to be thankful for.

Thank You, God - so much to share on Monday morning....

 August 4, 2022

Thought for Today

"Music is spiritual. The music business is not."

Van Morrison, 

Irish singer,

songwriter,

and musician.

 August 3, 2022

Reflection

PLANE  FLIGHT #1488

It was a long flight from Phoenix to Baltimore. I had gotten on Southwest #1488. We left from John Wayne Airport, Orange County, California. We headed to Phoenix.  We then picked up passengers for Baltimore.

The front bathroom was broken - from Phoenix to Baltimore.  Someone threw something down into the toilet - perhaps diapers - on the short flight from Los Angeles to Phoenix.

The maintenance crew couldn't fix it.

Other than that, oops, someone spilled something onto the food trays. As a result of this second mishap, they didn't serve water, soda, beer, and cheese on this flight. No peanuts either.

It was a chance to look out the windows and see the southwest on Southwest.

All was dry. However, I didn't see the areas where fires were raging. It has been a long drought in Arizona and Sidona. Every news program in California had highlighted the fires.

I bought a Los Angeles Times.  It was only $1.50. Not bad. It's tricky opening and turning  pages on an airplane - especially with a person in the seat next to me - especially from John Wayne to Phoenix.

So I  had a chance to read the Times A1 to the last page.

I also had a chance to look at America - from the plane windows.

I also has a chance to look at my upcoming weekend - flying out on a Friday from a NIH - a National Institute of Health meeting in California - finishing up Phase I of the Clinical Trial for Convergence Insufficiency that I was part of.

I also had a chance to look at my life - at the age of 66 - a priest - a human being - a person who doesn't stop to think enough.

I like to step back  - and fly somewhere - because then when I arrive home - I have a different perspective.

In the meanwhile I still wondered, "Who blocked up the toilet  on this plane? Who was that person?  If they didn't know they did it, they might do it again."