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Have you ever said to yourself, "I hate _________." Fill in the blank. My cousin, in our infrequent phone call right after Easter, shared how he is trying to stop using the phrase "I hate..." and broccoli was the first thing he thought of; he then proceeded to expound on that word, "hate." He realized it wasn't as black and white as the word implies but earlier years of various times eating broccoli, he is just not fond of it. We have all been there.
There are other words like "always" and "never" that leave no room for any grey on the spectrum. This brought us to the idea of believing in God or not. This is a very hard concept for some.
One thing about my cousin is that he is always trying to live in a good, orderly direction. He is very thoughtful, compassionate, respectful and loving. He realizes how the word, "hate," is a strong, antagonistic, limiting word. I really think words like "acceptance", "tolerance" and "like" would be more to his liking in his vocabulary.
He proceeded to go into a theological direction, sharing his "heady" explanations and beliefs. He readily shared his words that are in his head, explaining his stance on his lack of belief in a God. I have known many people who have an aversion against formal beliefs and dogma surrounding a particular religion or even the thought of whether there is a God or not. Sometimes, the faith and beliefs some were raised with end up not supporting them in later years; so it is with my cousin.
One thing that caught my attention was that he is always doing the right thing, is kind to others, respects and is tolerant. He lives in a very good orderly direction. He could agree that this is how he tries to live. I then proposed that even if he did not have a formal thought of the presence of God that within this good orderly direction, God is there.
This was a new way of thinking for my cousin. He wanted me to make a post of this conversation and after we talked awhile he said, "You know, I couldn't put my thoughts all together but I knew you would come up with something.
It might behoove each of us to think of things we might "hate." Sometimes we may just need a good conversation with another person who might see or say something in a way that opens the heart to other ways of thinking.
Maybe it's such that if we no longer say "I hate (broccoli)" we can come to be more tolerant and accepting and be conscious of living with new thoughts and behaviors. I wonder if this isn't the real meaning of Easter? Happy Easter, Greg!
Today, Holy Thursday, Maunday Thursday to some, begins a wonderful liturgical time called the Triduum. It encompasses, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and then Easter.
Holy Thursday recalls the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood. It isn't about being on a high pedestal or thinking one is better than the other but of service. This is when Jesus washed feet, an act of service. We are asked to do the same, asking ourselves how can we serve one
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another.
It means a humbling of ourselves to be there for others. Lately, for me, it has come to my doorstep in a very concrete way when I received 3 masks from friends to wear during this corona virus pandemic. Our ways of serving one another can take on many different forms, limited by only our imagination.
So, even though today is a memorial of the institution of the priesthood, each of us is called to this priesthood of service and ministry of being there for others. How will that look like for each of us? Think about it. And God bless you during this Holy Week 2020!
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| Courtesy of Pixabay |
Some may not remember the original telephone company, Bell Telephone. The splits and breakups occurred and more and more names of phone companies came into the headlines. Those were the days when each long distance phone call had a price. It was cheaper to call on the weekends and after 9 p.m.
There were times I would call home, not wanting much of anything, and just wanted to hear mom's voice. Of course, those days were long before the computer, internet and cell phones, even if I do not want to admit that I am no longer an eighteen year old! Once she out rightly asked if I was homesick. I denied it but she knew!
My mom was famous for informing me of the cost, especially if I called on a day other than a Saturday or Sunday. Then dad died as well as a couple of her friends. One day she called me on a Monday, of all things. This was very unusual for her, and she really did not have much to say.
I played my mother with her and told her that it was not prime time to call and wondered why she was calling on Monday. She simply said she was "reaching out to touch someone!" That was their advertising catchphrase. I bet many of you do remember it!
So, Ma Bell was way ahead of this pandemic curve. That catch phrase is most pertinent now. It works and helps us all to stay connected. It's not the end of the world but we need to live in some very basic ways for now. Maybe you'd even want to make a call. Thank you, Ma Bell, for helping us take good care of one another by "reaching out to touch someone!"
Have you ever had a cat wash? Yes, you read that right...a cat wash! I had my first big cat wash yesterday morning and it was the neatest thing yet! Let me explain. You know how cats will lick and groom one another? Well, my older cat, Pepper, did that to me as I was laying next to her; she licked the whole left side of my head for the longest time and indeed, it was wet. For cats to groom one another is a huge sign of love. I just smiled and smiled as she did this.
This morning I read two entries on Facebook related to this virus/pandemic. One shared how three women, former Holy Family Memorial employees and now volunteers, are making plastic shields for staff. The second one was from an employee at a care facility explaining what they are doing for residents to assist them and families in coping. Actually, a third was a message from the HFM hospital CEO reaching out to viewers with numbers to call and then resources to assist us in coping.
It was amazing what these individual ways of reaching out to "us" helped me to feel more optimistic and energized. I got to thinking how a car wash (yes, now carwash) cleans our car and even protects us from dirt, salt and the elements. All these individual acts felt like an arm of love around me, washing off some anxiety, sadness and fear and all that has come with these days.
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So, how have you felt like you have been reached out to, washed and had a good "cat wash" lately? Some of you may not be cat people, but it sure is an analogy for me that struck a cord all the way to my heart. The bottom line, too, is how can each of us give another person a little "cat wash?" Hearts in windows, plastic shields, face masks, phone calls, entries that encourage on Facebook...some sign of caring and love...the list goes on and on...if we do! Thank you, Pepper, for your wonderful cat wash!!
PS. You might even share this post to others in order to give them some "love" knowing you care. Thanks!
I am a fan of Mitch Albom. A friend of mine and I went to a presentation of his in Green Bay many years ago and meeting him has been a delight, even this many years later. He wrote Tuesdays with Morrie and other books. Now he has podcasts called, Tuesday People Podcasts. In one of the podcasts he talks about our need to be helpful.
He cited how children are so ready to help when asked. It excited them and they often came back after one task asking what they could help with next. I sat through the whole podcast and it was like someone lit a fire under me. I had been sitting on a phone list of folks I was procrastinating calling.
That did it! Immediately I called the people on my list and felt entirely different about that task; I had been useful to those I called and felt better for talking to someone, too! Of course, my mind goes out to how to be helpful during these times with the pandemic raging.
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Then I thought of various posts on Facebook asking for help from the public in making surgical face masks. Lots of ways to do it and lots of folks pitching in. There are other posts offering to help those who need something picked up, or delivered, in order to save that person from going out in public.
Yes, these are times we have never seen in this century but hopefully, they are times we will see more love, more generosity, more kindness and compassion toward others. Each of us can figure out what helpful means for ourselves; there are as many ways as there are finger prints. Thank you Mitch Albom for your weekly podcasts! It was the most helpful thing I have heard all week!
