Good Mornings!

Sometimes I think mornings are the best part of the day – when the sun is at a gentle angle and all delights and disappointments and challenges and problems and opportunities that will come with the day, are softened by the morning mist.  

A Mocking Bird, perched somewhere on a rooftop, joyfully sings its repertoire of songs from other local birds, and a small Wren sits on its birdhouse loudly shouting its 2-note call over and over.  To me it always sounds like he is saying “Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!” 

Today we are at my son’s house on the Hudson River and I hear the waves splashing against the shore after a large freighter has made its way up the river to Albany’s harbor.  Across the river a commuter train heads down toward the city and sounds its loud whistle as it approaches the Rhinebeck station.

I put off getting up this morning – for just a little while.  I put off checking the news and the messages and emails — and just enjoyed the peace.  

Then it was time – so I rolled over, softly kissed my sleeping husband on the forehead, got out of bed and opened my computer – and these words came spilling out!  I hope they will be some inspiration for someone out there. And, like that little bird sitting on its birdhouse I say “Thank you, God, for another day!”  

Be Still ...

Waves crash with thunders roar

Washing sandy beaches clean, 

Before 

Receding back into the sea.

 “Be still and know that I am God!”

Streams tumble through rocky crevice

Over leaves of orange and rust.

Swirling 

Into ponds of clear blue water.

“Be still and know that I am God!”

Cold water laps the shore each morn

Till sun’s bright warmth draws it 

Spiraling

Like miniature tornadoes toward the sky

“Be still and know that I am God!”

From feathery hemlocks and gnarly oaks 

Birds of blue and yellow and black

Sing

And fly to greet the dawn

“Be still and know that I am God!”

City bustle. Voices shouting. Motors. Horns

That stab your ears and pierce your brain. 

Hurry.  

Schedules to meet. Places to go.

Still 

         "... know that I am God"

"Be Still and Know that I am God"  - Matthew 8: 23-27

"It's a Great Day For The Irish"

 ... and a great day to celebrate family roots, memories and traditions. 

In my mind I can still hear my father singing "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" and I say a prayer of Thanks for my Irish Heritage!  

Being Irish Catholic meant that we lived by the church calendar.  We began lent with ashes reminding us of the weaknesses of our temporal bodies and then observed strict fasting and sacrifice.   

However right there, in the middle of lent, came St. Patrick's Day!   

In New York, St. Patrick's Day was considered a special feast day.  School was closed and the rules of fasting and sacrifice were suspended as we celebrated the saint who brought the Catholic Faith to Ireland. 

St. Patrick's Day for me meant watching the parade in New York City and singing and dancing in the St. Patrick's Day festival at St. John's Church in my hometown of White Plains.  Now, living in Maryland, we make our own celebrations – sometimes a party or sing-a-long, but today just a nice dinner and good conversation with friends.  

As I looked around at all the shamrocks and green scarves, bow ties and beads I thought about what being Irish really means to me?  Some have called the Irish a sanguine, happy-go-lucky people and others say we are a melancholy race.  And in a way they are both right.  

But what did I inherit from my Irish roots?   The answer is simple.  Faith!  Faith in God and Faith in Family!

If you want to really understand the Irish, just go to an Irish wake.  Family and friends celebrate with toasts and laughter and stories about the deceased. We celebrate the joy in our own lives, and theirs, because of Faith.  Because we believe, without doubt, that one day we will all be united with family and God in Heaven.  

We truly believe the words from “Danny Boy” 

“… and I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!”

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!!!

(The following is edited from a 17^thcentury nun’s prayer.  I thought it was worth sharing.)

Lord thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday actually be old.  With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but thou knowest, Lord, that I want to still have a few friends at the end, so I send you this prayer.

Release me, Lord, from my craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs.  

Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.  Keep me free from the recital of endless details.  Give me wings to get to the point.

Make me thoughtful, but not moody.  Seal my lips on my aches and pains but give me the patience to endure the tales of other’s pains.  

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.  I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others.

I don’t want to be a Saint – they can be so hard to live with – but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.  So I ask Lord that you give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places – and talents in unexpected people.  And give me the grace to tell them so.

Amen

We Will Miss Him

Our pastor died last night.  Father Paul Campbell.  

I didn't know him well.  Not personally.   But I go to Mass frequently during the week -- and of course on Sundays -- and I came to look forward to, and really appreciate his homilies.  

On weekdays they were short -- never more than 3 minutes -- but always straight forward with a clear, specific message to carry through the day.   

On Sundays he became the dramatic story teller, engaging the entire congregation.  He would pull out a particular phrase from the days gospel or prayers -- often some remote passage -- and he would frown or maybe laugh, sometimes mimic or exaggerate -- whatever it took to draw us in.   And then he would explain the doctrine, the meaning, the logic and common sense of those words and impress on us how that phrase, written so long ago, is not only relevant but vitally important in our lives today.

He made us think.  He encouraged us to question.  He met the challenges and criticism of the church today with honest admission of our shortcomings and failings -- and with prayer, hope and encouragement for the church.   And he always insisted that the church be "inclusive" -- that Christ's message and love is for every single person!

These are just a few of the things I will remember from his teaching.  These are the reasons I was so grateful that he came to our parish. 

This morning a small group gathered in the chapel for our regular Monday morning Mass -- a young priest from the local seminary was at the alter -- and in our hearts many of us were questioning "Why?"  Why would God let this man who was spreading God's message so effectively be taken away?  Why would this man who had so much to share and the ability to teach and influence so many in such positive ways, be struck down so suddenly?  

Maybe Father Paul himself gave the answer -- just a few weeks ago in one of his weekday homilies he said  "When you don't understand why something happens, remember the Lord's Prayer -- 'Thy Will Be Done'. "   

Too simple an answer?  Perhaps.  But I think that phrase holds much more truth than simple acceptance.  I'll have more thoughts to share about that in my next blog.    

Meanwhile, we pray for the repose of the soul of Father Paul Campbell, and ask God to comfort his family and friends.

Accepting her award for Best Actress at Golden Globe Awards the other night, Glenn Close gave an emotional and passionate acceptance speech in which she quoted her 80 year old mother as saying “I feel I haven’t accomplished anything.”  

Ms Close went on to acknowledge “Women, we are “nurturers” … but we have to find personal fulfillment!”   

The implication being that personal fulfillment for a woman is not found in nurturing their families … and to me that so sad!

I certainly agree that women should have the freedom to follow their dreams and choose their own role in life — whatever that may be.  Woman should be free and feel respected (and not at all “guilty”) if they choose a career that does not include the traditional roles of wife or mother, or if they choose to combine motherhood with other careers.   

But women should also feel free and be respected if they choose the traditional role of wife and mother as their primary career!  Sadly that does not seem to be the case in our society.  

When I was growing up my mom used to get very upset with women who “apologized” for being “just a housewife”.  "I’m proud of being a housewife” she would proclaim!  For my mom, the role of housewife was a completely fulfilling and full time job.

When we came home from school, Mom was always there, ready to sit down and share a snack.  She was always anxious to hear about our day, and if we had a problem we could tell her.  If we had a question we could ask her.  

And the conversations weren’t limited to after school.  At any time of the day, if we suddenly thought of something we wanted to ask or share, it didn’t matter what she was doing, she would stop and it down and listen.  We knew we could share our stories and our feelings and concerns with her — and she shared her stories and feelings with us. 

From these conversations, and by her example, we learned the tools of life: seeing our own strengths and value;  accepting others as they are and not “judging" them because they are different;  realizing that no one is perfect, not even our mother; recognizing the results of our own choices and understanding the importance of the freedom we have to make those choices.   

The list of all the things I learned from my mother — the “housewife" — would fill several books!  I am so grateful to her and I believe that the world would be much better if there were more “housewives” like my mother!

Our daughters  need to know that they have the freedom to follow any career they choose!   

And they need to know that there is just as much need and importance and respect for women to choosing a career as wife and mother as there is for any other career!

I wish Ms Close, at the Golden Globes, would have followed up her comments with a thank you to her mom, publicly recognizing her mother’s contributions to her own successful life.   

And I hope that Glenn's mother was able to look at her daughter standing there on the platform, and say with pride,  “I did accomplish something very worthwhile!"

Sunset over the Eastern Bay