Sunlight and Silence

The pale blue sky fades into dark trees on the horizon. I can see the bell towers and steeples of several churches in the city. I can also see the domes of two churches. I can see a man straining to push a cart on the roof of a nearby building. There is a cool breeze. I can feel the warmth of the sunlight on my neck and face.

I can hear multiple sirens, becoming louder, louder, more insistent and then fading away. And then become louder and louder before fading away.

Earlier today, I decided to write about the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

When I opened my eyes this morning, I searched for a topic. I wanted something to anchor my imagination, to direct my mind.

Life has many constants and many variables. In a city constants are automobiles, pedestrians, sidewalks. Variables are sidewalks, pedestrians, and automobiles.

Life provides questions, answers, and mysteries. Every question does not have a solution or an answer.

I find it comforting to see church architecture, the domes, steeples, bell towers are inspiring. They suggest a quest for something beyond a convenient parking space, a freshly laundered silk shirt, or pasteurized orange juice.

I find the Catechism of the Catholic Church comforting. Here is an explanation, a description of my faith. Here is the ultimate companion to the Bible. Here are the Church teachings.

It begins simply.

“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself.” CCC no. 27

That desire for God has been written and explored for centuries. That desire for God is the reason I am writing and asking questions and reading various books and texts.

God’s call becomes louder, and louder and more insistent and then it fades away. And then it returns louder and louder.

“Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice” Ps 105:3

And so I am trying to create more time devoted to prayer, more time devoted to silent reflection.

And more time to glance at the horizon, to feel blessed, and to offer thanks to God.

Clouds In The Sky and I Am Learning How to Feel

Looking at the white clouds against the blue sky, hearing the beeping noise of a truck backing up, feeling a warm breeze against my skin I try to concentrate and write about this day.

Recently, I had a brief conversation with a group of friends. I denied the existence of true happiness. I said that in modern America, rabid consumerism has made happiness impossible. I said that materialism creates neither altruism or peace. There is too much anxiety, too much avarice, too much avoidance.

The Church offers an antidote to all of these things if we take the time to examine our consciences and to decide what is really necessary in our lives.

Many luxury items are masquerading as basic necessities. Are cell phones really necessary? Is it necessary to have a pair of alligator shoes? Are designer shirts and jeans really necessary?

I constantly ask myself questions. I sometimes find the answers.

But, I think that I am happiest when I am completely calm, when I am silent, and when I allow myself to thank God for the blessings in my life.

Sitting in the sunlight, occasionally searching the skyline for the Capitol Dome or the Washington Monument in the distance, I realize that consumerism is not the evil enemy; the problem begins with the behaviors which our society freely allows and often encourages.

I wish that consumerism allowed a little room for civility and charity. Our society is in a hurry to deliver the next punch line, to download the next song, to race through yellow lights.

Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s sidekick on the Tonight Show died. He was 86. He was an integral part of the show.

Investigators are still trying to determine why a Metro train rear-ended another train on Monday during rush hour. Nine people were killed in the worst commuter rail accident in Washington’s history.

These events remind us of life’s fragility, our own vulnerability. They remind how connected we are to our fellow man. They remind me how much I should close my mouth, stop complaining about little things. They remind me how important it is to follow Jesus’ example and love my neighbor. They remind me that life on earth is short. It is best to spend time in God’s service.

Last night I received a phone call from a friend, who told me that a former coworker was among the dead. My prayers are with the family of Cameron Williams.

Prayers for Victims of Metro Crash

My prayers are with the seven people who were killed yesterday during the collision of two Metro trains on the Red Line. My prayers are also with all those who were injured, their families, and their friends.

There have been conflicting reports concerning the number of fatalities. 76 people were taken to area hospitals. Two of those were in serious condition. The crash site is being treated as a rescue scene as the search for more survivors continues.

Moving Forward With Hope & Love

I had intended to write a beautiful essay on social justice. I wanted it to inspire others to action. I planned on adding quotes, creating a learned, entertaining peace.

Instead, I will provide a more personal account. I believe the power of social justice is the personal involvement.

February 12, 2007 is the date of my introduction to Catholic social justice teachings. It is the moment I thought about doing faith based volunteering as an adult. I sent my first email to the Social Justice & Community Services Director at St. Matthew’s Cathedral.

She replied with an immediate thank you. We scheduled a meeting. I began volunteering with the both the Homeless and the English as a Second Language programs.

Going to the Homeless Ministry for the first time did create a little anxiety for me. But, within a few minutes it was gone. The other volunteers were friendly and encouraging, the Director was full of energy and inspiring and the clients were well behaved.

The Homeless Ministry encapsulated the teachings of the Catholic Church. Here hope and love collided with suffering and destitution. The Homeless Ministry reminded me that there are no differences between people, everyone wants to be treated with dignity and respect.

Being a volunteer allowed me to see a part of life which I completely ignored as I kept myself busy running errands, going to work. I was able to see some of my own prejudices and personal nonsense which I began to challenge.

The Monday morning’s with the Homeless Ministry allowed me to put into practice church teachings and helped me to begin to pray for people beyond my closed circle. Whether I was taking names at the door, putting fruit on a plate, or arranging clothes on a table, it all contributed to a desire to do more, to want to do more.

And the other volunteers and the Director created an atmosphere of hope and love, a welcoming space for everybody.

Social justice can be obtained only in respecting the transcendent dignity of man (CCC no, 1929).

The beauty of volunteering for God occurs when you let go of yourself, let go your fears and expectations and just do what God asks of you. Sometimes it might just be serving a warm casserole or listening to someone or searching for the mate to a size 14 shoe.

Wouldn't It Be Wonderful

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if on the front page of every newspaper, headlines about inspiring articles could be seen? Instead there is a collection of articles about death, murder, rape, war atrocities, cyberwarfare, and identity politics.

Judge Sonia Sotomayer is the current political bellwether. Her judicial opinions are being pulled apart and dissected which such an angry fervor, that to the casual observer it might appear that Judge Sotomayer has created the worse crime against mankind.

Just one day, all the intense money making needs to stop. Just one day, all the stories about corporate and personal greed need to stop.

Is it possible that people become what they are exposed to?

What would the world be like if love, mercy, and forgiveness were the main themes? What would the world be like if peace and human dignity were respected?

Isn’t it time that we evaluate our lives and our impact on others? Are we making the best choices for our lives? Are we living lives of love and sacrifice? Are we offering hope and charity to our neighbors?

These questions are always with me. As I learn more about Catholic social teachings, the questions increase. I am happy that these questions are within me. I am happy when new questions appear.

There will always be sadness in life. There will always be poverty and suffering. There will always be a need for prayer and penance.

To love unconditionally is difficult. Yet, that is what we are asked to do by God. There are days when I feel that I have the right mixture of innocence, hope, and faith to share unconditional love with the entire world. There are also days when I don’t.

And on this Sunday morning, before I prepare to go Mass, my mind wanders across the minefield of headlines about world events and celebrity misadventures and I decide what matters to me. I am continuing a very personal journey. A journey of faith.

The headlines can wait until tomorrow.

A Road Trip

Life is a collection of accidents and almost accidents. Life is a conversation overheard. Life is a dream repeated and remembered.

For me one of the things which holds my life together is my faith, my belief in God.

Each day I acknowledge my flaws, my weaknesses and ask for God’s grace and help. At least once a day I pray for a “clean heart” for myself and others. And I remember other prayers, other voices asking God for guidance.

My plan was for the first blog entry appear sometime on Wednesday. But on Wednesday I took an impromptu road trip to West Virginia. That morning I decided to use road signs as a clever way to discuss faith and religion. I was happy with the plan.

Since I was the passenger, I debated bringing my laptop but decided that was a little silly. Instead I brought a steno pad, an ink pen, two cameras and a copy of the Magnificat. I did not have a plan on how I was going to use any of these items but I knew that I would.

I used the pen and steno pad within the first five minutes. I was going to write down every road sign that I passed. I was surprised by the purple ink which appeared on the paper as I wrote my first words. Only ten words were written before the pen and steno pad were put away.

And then I explained my plan. The car drove through North West Washington, past many two story houses with impressive stone and brick facades, past many trees, graceful and protective, with green leaves more vibrant against the overcast sky, past women pushing perambulators on the sidewalks. I saw this and more. There was too much to write down, too much to try to capture with words.

Here was life. Here was hope. I could see it.

Since we were leaving the Washington metropolitan area, I asked if we could stop at a bank because I needed additional money. While I was at the automatic teller machine, the Magnificat was skimmed by my friend Natalie. When I returned to the car, she flipped a couple pages and asked me to read a passage.

It was the Twenty-Third Psalm. It was a responsorial. I glanced at it once. Then, as we drove on the freeway, I began to read the Twenty-Third Psalm.

In my heart there was an instant of pure joy and hope as the words were repeated and loved ones remembered.