Sal's Reflections

The reality of life is that it is a process of constant change. It is almost always a continuous series of happenings that force us to adjust. Some of the events are difficult, and cause anxiety and even pain. Other changes are filled with joy and are welcomed as positives. There are those that are beyond our control, but as we enter the end of one year and welcome the new it is an appropriate time to examine at least one aspect of life that we can change. Control over everything is pure myth, but there is at least one opportunity that we can embrace. Seize the day with not only hope, but with determination and belief.

We are all touched by the Christmas description that there was no room at the Inn.Today in every city and town in this country there is no room at the Inn for thousands of men .women and children. They sleep in cars, parks ,under bridges and a host of other unimaginable cold and freezing places. They are often unseen and feel the pain of being homeless most vividly at this time of year while we the fortunate sit around the fireplace and experience the warmth and love of our families and friends. There are those like Sister Mary Scullion and Rob Hess who refuse to accept this as inevitable, and through their dedication many today have shelter and care .It is never to late to join them in providing shelter and food for all of our brothers and sisters.

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Yesterday flying home from Dallas I was aware that many military women and men were fling to various cities. I was struck by how young most of them were, and more than a few were traveling with small children. In this season when we are celebrating various civil and religious events I pray  that  they will be safe, and that the service they provide will be honored by all of us who benefit from their willingness to be in harms way.

I have always been a fan of Dickens” Christmas Carol” but it is easy to forget that poverty and want have not vanished from society. Many like the characters in  Dickens story, through no fault of their own suffer deeply at this festive time of year. For those of us who are blessed to have more than the essentials it is the time to give of our time, bounty and love.

On my flight to Dallas yesterday I sat next to an Army Captain. We chatted about a variety of subjects and finally landed on the issues of guns. He is a gun owner and member of the NRA. I do not own a gun, and we began the discussion on opposite sides, but after an hour of civil discourse we agreed on a few issues that would improve the current situation. As we were getting off the plane he said”Too bad the congress can’t do what we did in the last hour”.

It has been one year since the tragic killings in Newtown and the gun carnage continues all over the country. No real movement by the congress and the polarities of intransigent positions on all sides of the issues continues to do nothing. I am reminded that years ago in Copenhagen children were regularly being killed by motorists while riding their bikes. Adults by and large accepted this tragedy as part of live and merely shrugged heir shoulders. However a group of young children started a protest that became so overwhelming that the adults finally joined in and today in Copenhagen the streets are filled with more bikes than cars. Perhaps it is time for the children here to lead because we as a adults have done almost nothing to protect them.

There are many times when I put off some decision or action that has meaning but may be difficult. It could be simple like rewriting a section of a novel, or more complex requiring some risk. Procrastination is always based on the belief that there is more time and I will get to it next week, next month or some vague date in the future. I always am glad when I whisk the procrastination  genie out the door and seize the moment that is at hand. The tough ones always require guts and courage, but they are the ones that make life more worthwhile. The only impact opportunities are in the now, seize them while they are here.

Years ago as a young seminarian I had envisioned that the Roman Church would reform itself and burst into the world with boundless energy.The Pope,John the 23rd had called a universal council and despite tremendous opposition opened the window and desired to let the fresh air allow the church to grow and flourish. This courageous intention was squashed by the  vested interests of those who followed his papacy and the pre council fortress mentality occupied the leadership again. The church largely became a depository of don’ts rather than a vibrant source of ministry and caring. Many of the brightest lights were diminished, and millions of those who hoped were left with only the dreams of the “good news.” But again despite the pressures of the status quo a new voice is being heard. Pope Francis has stormed upon the scene with a clear message that the church is not merely a depositary of rules. He has modeled love, caring and an openness that has been shelved since Pope John. It is too soon to determine whether the changes will be subsanative but he has already given hope to all who truly love the church.

Unless you were born into a totally perfect world there are prejudices that attach themselves early in life. Many of these are at the subliminal level and are not easily dispatched. As adults these influence our decisions ,and it is too easy to label people because  of their beliefs. It is a worthwhile exercise to examine the beliefs that guide us in the light of rationality and common sense. The other person in almost all cases is not a villain because of their gender,race,sexual preference or cultural dispositions.We have far more in common with those we fear and  old beliefs that prevent us from understanding and acceptance can be altered and changed.

Years ago My son John received a wonderful education at Holy Ghost Prep. My wife was on the Board of Directors for years and I truly loved and respected the values and Vision that was the foundation of the school. This morning I am saddened by the school’s position on why they fired a teacher because he was about to marry his partner. The administration knew that the teacher was gay, and had been open about the fact that he and his partner had already experienced a civil union.As a Christian I respect others religious beliefs, but unlike Pope Francis the behavior on the part of Holy Ghost does nothing to further the beauty and value of their mission. This act may be in concert with the letter of the law ,but it in my opinion denigrates the beauty of the Beatitudes.I prefer to believe that the ancient observation of those who were edified by seeing how the Christians loved each other should still be the norm. This action is on the wrong side of history as well as antithetical to the real value of love and acceptance of others.As a straight man I value the love and commitment of my gay brothers and sisters who wish to pledge their commitment publicly to each other.