September 11th today. We could all do without this day I know. At least we could all do without the the sadness of this day and for sure and the downright evil displayed on this day. But beside all that it would be good to remember the heroes of the day. The many that ran to the trouble to help out.
Someone remarked once that it seems that evil can be accomplished in a flash but good usually takes years. There is something to that. We are still knocked back on our heels by all that happened that day in 2001. But something like the good of Mother Teresa for instance seems glacial in comparison.
I think that I will leave things right here for now with that thought. This has given me an idea about where the blog might go tomorrow but let’s just sit with our thoughts today this September 11th.
And prayers for healing would be most important. In spite of outbreaks of evil we defiantly say life remains alperfect. We keep on, love, Felipe.
Dear Phil,
What a thought… but yes… we know and we face this daily, thousand times, right? The bad guys rule the world, one bomb blows out in a second killing hundreds, and one doctor may be standing in an operation room for 10 hours trying to save 1 life, the ones who are not too honest at work or with money are usually in the top places of companies deciding on the lives and workload of many others who do their job with dignity and brilliance; even bringing your topic from a couple days ago, the Catholic Church as a whole is being judged by the abusive of power and morbo of a few (please note I am not minimizing saying “a few”, I think this is horrible, I am just trying to balance with all the great priests and nuns and others who walked and walk the Catholic Church journey with decency…)… … undoubtedly, it is extremely difficult to understand how this happens… how bad takes over good in such disadvantage…
But it seems that when the question comes, the answer also comes!…
Yesterday, I read an article on Jean Vanier (I quoted him to you a couple days ago in the comments, with the video), there were many articles posted yesterday as he did 90 years old… in this one, he said: “Do we want to win, or do we want to be in solidarity with others?” and I think, even when we are trying to do something as “innocent” as moving the car to a faster line before the car that is behind us does it as we see it coming on the rear mirror, we can do ourselves this question…
And today, I was driving back home and was playing another conversation from Krista Tippett, this one with Br. Steindl-Rast, he was talking about “gratefulness”, and for him, our lives can create this feeling in every moment, if we just think that every moment is an “opportunity to act well, to do things with great love”…
I won’t be able to stop bad things from happening, but I will put my speck of sand on the other side… One day this will be different… !
Solidarity Love,
Cris
Oh Cris, I am so far behind on my correspondence, my apologies. Right now I’m at the hospital in a comfy chair getting two hours of hydration so time to catch up. I really liked your linking up with PFJ via the migrating swallows. They are some of my favorite birds.
Yes, we are all grappling with the reality of the abuse in the Church. This may be the start of some serious conversation and change for the better. Yes, and we always have to be grateful no matter what is going on around us. And your contribution is way more than a grain of sand dear. You are a force and you never know how the ripples that you have created will add to the situation.
Thanks so much for being you as always, Felipe.x
I am often reminded of the Barrigan Brothers. Of Niebuhr. Of Schindler. Carl Rogers and Martin Buber. Many others, the famous and the obscure; all taking principled and conscience-driven stands and living their beliefs on behalf of the well-being of others.
Examples. Examples in a long line of courageous people of faith and principle that do good, know and embrace their callings, and knowing their unique aptitudes for giving where they can best make their own contributions. Those reflections inform my understanding of the tasks that are most important, understandings that are most helpful, wisdom that must be sought in times as turbulent and fraught as the times we live in now.
A community of others who are seeking and striving towards these goals, with similar aspirations for doing good – it seems to me that therein lies the comfort and therein lies the strength and therein lies the sustenance that we all need to experience an everyday joyfulness. Caminoheads– the blog and all of you, surely contribute to my experience of growth and everyday joy.
Wow Steve such a thoughtful and inspirational comment that you wrote. Part of what we have always been doing here is buoying each other up so happy that we are floating your boat. Good to see you the other day even for that short time. The corn is at the bitter end here and time for cover crops. I seem to be finding great comfort in the seasons as they change. Like I’m glad we are getting done with the smokey season, right? Hello to everyone, Felipe.