It’s the afternoon and late for getting this post out. Oh, but I’m here now. And at this point I can honestly say that this was one of my hardest weeks with my chemo marathon. It hasn’t been fun but it has been important. I am crawling up the old learning curve to hopefully figure out how to live with these new chemicals. Learning the ropes they used t say.
So, while I am doing that I can carry on with my life as best as possible. It’s actually a nice day out and normally I would be out there making the most of it but I lack the energy. But there is playoff football this afternoon and am looking forward to that.
Back to movies, a couple of nights ago I watched Molokai the story of Father Damien. Very well done and accurate as far as I know. And I don’t know too much. But what a powerful story.
The basic story is the quarantining of Hawaiians who had caught leprosy on the remote island of Molokai. People were serrated from their families and basically dumped there with only primitive facilities to live out their days. It was a bad situation. But Father Damien stepped forward to go and minister to that population. In the process he comes down with the disease and dies but not before the world knew about it an things improved for his flock.
I have been reflecting on it ever since. What a story of dedication and sacrifice. We had a discussion about sacrifice this morning at Bible Guys and I brought up Father Damien. We were studying Hebrews chapter nine which is all about ceremonial sacrifice and how that plays in the Hebrew Covenant and the Christian Covenant. So, after that when we took some time for personal thoughts I mentioned Father Damien’s story.
Molokai is highly recommended to you. You have to be in the right mood though I must mention, no light weight viewing. OK, you have been informed.
Off to football, love you, Felipe.
Felipe! Did you see the movie version with Sam Neill and Kris K? Good on you. Damien’s life story is good to study.
Jessika ~ Well, Kris K was in it. I just took it back to church so I can’t look at the cover. Must be it. Heavy duty, right? Felipe.x
Hola, Felipe!
Back in the 70s and 80s, James Michener was the blockbuster writer, and Hawaii was one of his first megahits. The story of Fr Damien was so exquisitely portrayed in that book. It’s worth reading just those chapters if you want a life-like view of the hell that Molokai was before the good Padre arrived.
SF,
PFJ
Juan ~ how did you know that my life needed a Michener novel. Thanks, Felipe.
¡Hola Felipe!
Father John, a Sacred Heart priest like Saint Damien…and whom you met on your visit to Damien High School…spent time as a pastor there in Hawaii. Damien’s spiritual and physical powers are still very much alive today in their communities and churches that Damien personally built. It was Fr. John’s dream at an early age to follow the Way of Father Damien.
In the fall of 2009, myself and several faculty and students made it to the Vatican for Fr. Damien’s coronation. He and 4 others were honored that day by over half a million of us pilgrims. Banners, costumes, singing and dancing before a beautiful outdoor mass and ceremony by Pope Benedict.
A Buen Camino indeed!
Gracias Diego, thanks for the back story on Father John. It is all an amazing story, the before, the during and the afterward. And that is so wonderful that you made it to Rome for that amazing event. Hope to see you at some point, Felipe.
Dearest Phil,
You’ve been in my thoughts and heart this week. Hope you’re starting to feel a bit better.
There’s a great book called Molokai also. An interesting personal story is that after WW2 but before Hawaii became a state, my grandfather was stationed in Pearl Harbor and my mom started school there. Every few months my grandmother would leave the kids with a neighbor or someone and would take a boat to Molokai for a week to work with the lepers in the colony. She counted it as some of the best times in her life but I wonder sometimes if it’s because she had a week without being a single
Mom to 4 small children.
I’ll look for the movie; you look for the book.
We are always alperfect. XOXO,
Esther ~ hi! Thanks for the book tip. It is an amazing story and all the ripples that went out and touched you. Take care, Felipe.x
Hola Felipe,
Sorry to read the second sentence of your post… 🙁 🙁 🙁 On it resides one of the reasons I wake up and go to work each morning, we not only need treatments but we need treatments which side effects are not this life altering. Stay hydrated.
I haven’t heard of Fr. Damian ever, but was thinking of all the Lay people (as Esther’s grandma), Fathers, Sisters, Buddhists, atheist, you name it, who go out there (or stand up where they are, as Mandela), to these places where there are people in need and stay no matter what. But I also think of the story of each of us, or our own “ancestors” who thrived with way less things, resources and comfort than the one we have today, that in the end is what allowed us to be here. Somehow, this is linked to what I was trying to say too in my New Years message.
Wishing you feel better soon.
Cris
Cris ~ I know, we stand on the shoulders of giants. And thanks so much for your dedication to your work. It is the thing of giants too. Felipe.x