Pastor's Message

July 29, 2001

LETTING GO

I was talking to a priest who was describing his vacation. Although he had gone to Florida to visit family, he chose to call back to the parish every other day "just to check on things." That reminded me of a pastor I had when I was a young associate. He took only one week of vacation per year. Then, during that week, he came back to the parish "to visit."

Priests are not the only ones who have a hard time leaving their work. About ten years ago I was visiting the Grand Canyon. As I stood there, enjoying the view from the south rim, I overheard a man at a nearby phone booth, talking to his office staff back in New York. He was reminding them of some of the customers they were supposed to call on. And these days, with the ubiquitous cell phones, vacationers on beaches, in campgrounds, and at resorts are constantly in touch with their clients or allied companies.

Is the whole country becoming workaholic? The sad thing is that people are losing their ability to relax and get away from it all. No doubt there are times when someone must stay in touch. But the number of people unable to take time off from their work is reaching epidemic proportions.

What follows such work-compulsion is that the very ones who haven't really gotten away, come back un-refreshed and un-renewed. Sometimes that leads to resentment or even more extravagant efforts to escape the grind of work.

Taking time away from work is not a cop-out from life's demands. Sometimes it is what keeps us sane and human. People are not made for work only. Time with family, time for quiet, and time for re-creation are also a necessary part of human development.

Fr. Herb

July 22, 2001

A WONDERFUL GIFT

Earlier this summer Fr. Tony and I decided to put up a bird feeder by the garage. Then we carefully selected bird seed that would attract a variety of birds. Of course, we know that many folks only feed the birds in the winter when our feathered friends cannot find seeds by themselves. Our goal, however, was to keep birds coming to our small yard here in the middle of the city.

And we were successful. Flocks of birds have made their home in the lone maple tree outside our door. Robins, finches, song sparrows, grackles, doves, cardinals, and more are regular visitors and grace our back yard.

What do we get out of it? Besides the joy of watching the birds at the feeder every day, we get to awake in the morning with the melodious sounds of bird songs. We get the challenge of finding nests in the bushes near the church (there are several!). And we get to connect with nature in the midst of our property full of concrete, bricks, and stone.

In short, by feeding the birds, Tony and I have invited nature to be fully alive in our midst. (Perhaps some of you who read this live in a wooded area and already have plenty of nature, but remember where we are located.) Nature - birds, flowers, trees, and insects - often brings peace and sanity into a crazy world. God gives us varieties of living things to help make our world more alive and more peaceful.

Fr. Herb

July 15, 2001

NOT A WALLFLOWER

I think I first heard the word "wallflower" when I was in elementary school and the teacher was trying to convince us "not to be a wallflower but get involved in life." It was a lesson that stayed with me.

Have you ever noticed how many people are quite content to stand on the sidelines. They are hesitant to take risks, to try something new, or to bother with something that may make demands of them. They are the true wallflowers of our world. They exist in every organization including the church.

Sadly for these wallflower people, they often don't even know what they are missing. They may not notice until much later that they have failed to live their lives. It's like standing next to a beautiful garden but choosing not to walk in. Or maybe like going to the beach but never touching the water. What you see from the outside is good, but it's far from truly experiencing what's being offered.

A healthy parish like ours constantly encourages ALL of its members to participate. Sometimes you may think we do that because we need more workers, more volunteers, more.... The real reason we want everyone to participate is that we want everyone to experience the fullness of church life.

Once wallflowers step away from the security of the "wall," they really start to grow and bloom!

Fr. Herb

July 8, 2001

NO MATTER HOW SMALL

I have recently come upon the Dr. Seuss book about Horton the Elephant. It seems this gentle elephant, with large ears, has such acute hearing that he hears a cry for help from the "Whos." They are tiny, tiny persons who live on a speck of dust, which in turn is on a clover bloom. As he tries to save the Whos from being blown away or drowned, he keeps saying, "A person's a person no matter how small."

In the process of caring for the Whos, the other animals, who do not see or hear them, make fun of Horton, thinking he is crazy. They even plan to boil the clover, so that Horton will no longer be a nuisance to them.

As if often the case, Dr. Seuss has given us a point to remember. All persons are important. They are significant whether they are large or small, rich or poor, influential or voiceless.

So often it seems that only the loud or famous get our attention. Little folks - children, those who are incapacitated, the helpless, and the unborn - are at the mercy of larger folks like ourselves. They have to be respected and treated with dignity.

Also it is good to note that when we speak out for others, we often may get ridiculed ourselves. For some odd reason, people don't like to be bothered or have to think in new ways.

What Horton the Elephant had was ears to hear the Whos. We have to open our ears, and our eyes as well, to hear and see the ones around us who are being overlooked. Remember, a person's a person no matter how small.

Fr. Herb

July 1, 2001

GETTING MARRIED

Perhaps you read the article in last Saturday's News Journal about the "Marryin' Marm." It was an interesting article about a woman who offers quick marriage ceremonies as an "alternative to church or courthouse weddings." From the article, it appears she normally doesn't even meet the couples until they come to be married.

As one who has officiated at many, many marriages, I had varied reactions to her way of marrying people. The first one was that although that type of ceremony fills an apparent need, the entire approach speaks of the shallow and casual way in which marriage is often viewed. All that is needed is a license, twenty-five dollars, and ten minutes. (She says she fills out the forms while a tape of the wedding march is played. Then she has the couple say their vows.)

Somehow marriage as an institution has to be taken more seriously. Time is necessary for the man and woman to understand what marriage is all about, to work with mentors to explore their relationship, and to learn both their strengths and their weaknesses. And marriage as a Christian sacrament means, even more, that it be connected with one's faith life.

The article brought forth something else that I find sad. When the Marryin' Marm's efforts are contrasted with what would happen in church, it implies that church marriages are all big and expensive. In fact, I have had couples tell me that they chose not to come to church to marry because they couldn't afford a big wedding. That is, unfortunately, how people interpret a church wedding.

What makes a church wedding a church wedding is not the size or the elaborate planning. A church wedding is not to be chosen because the aisle is long and the building is beautiful. Rather, a church wedding flows from a couple's faith and expresses the couple's desire to grow in Christ through their marriage. It does not have to be big or formal (i.e., tuxedos and long gowns are not necessary.)

Perhaps it is necessary to re-think what marriage is all about and how it fits in with someone's true desire to live daily as an active Christian.

Fr. Herb