Cycle A: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Deacon's Bench
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A special occasion
My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package.- Ann Wells the Los Angeles Times
This, he said, is not a slip. This is lingerie.He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached.
Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She said she was saving it for a special occasion. Well I guess this is the occasion.He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me.
Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion.I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Mid-western town where my sister's family lives. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing they were special. I'm still thinking about his words and how they've changed my life. I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event - such as loosing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function just as well as my party-going friends. "Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see, hear and do it now. I'm not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food. I'm guessing - I'll never know. It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with - someday. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write - one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God. If you've received this it is because someone cares for you and it means there is probably at least someone for whom you care. If you're too busy to take the few minutes that it would take right now to send this to ten people, would it be the first time you didn't do that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships? I can tell you it certainly won't be the last. I don't have to make up silly stories about people being hit by buses or crushed by falling disco balls for not sending this letter on. You've seen the result of this neglect in your own relationships that you have allowed to fade, dissolve and fall into disrepair. Take this opportunity to set a new trend. Take a few minutes to send this to a few people you care about, just to let them know you're thinking about them. It's even better if they're not the people you already correspond with every week. The more people that you send this to, the better luck you will have. And the better you'll get at reaching out to those you care about.
You've got to dance like nobody's watching, and love like it's never going to hurt.
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Fr Bob Susann
A Missionary of laSalette
former pastor of St Ann's parish, Cobb County GA
former Faithful Friar (chaplain) of Knights of Columbus Assembly 2161, GA
chaplain Orlando International Airport
former pastor of St Ann's parish, Cobb County GA
former Faithful Friar (chaplain) of Knights of Columbus Assembly 2161, GA
chaplain Orlando International Airport
brevity
| the number of words | in/on |
|---|---|
| 272 | lincoln's gettsburg address |
| 401 | bag of lay's potato chips |
| 418 | irs form 1040ez |
| 1200 | average usa today cover story |
return to index B
aging
When you win, you're an old pro. when you lose, you're an old man. - Charley Conerly, US football player
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return to quotes A
return to index A
return to quotes A
Courage Does Not Always Roar
When life gets you down and the problems you face
are certainly more than your share.
When you run out of strength and you want to give up
because it's just too much to bear.
I want to remind you, my precious friend,
that you have what it takes inside,
extraordinary courage that may not ROAR
but it doesn't cower and hide.
It's the quiet voice inside you that says,
"Tomorrow I'll try again."
It's the courage to keep on going
to see things through to the end.
You are not defined by this moment in time.
You are not what has happened to you.
It's the way that you choose to respond that matters
and what you decide to do.
Courage is not the absence of fear,
but a powerful choice we make.
It's the choice to move forward with a PURPOSE and joy,
regardless of what it takes.
It's the courage that's found in ordinary women
who are HEROES in their own way
exhibiting strength and fortitude
in life's challenges every day.
Valiant women of exceptional courage
with enduring power to cope
taking each problem one day at a time
and never giving up HOPE.
These brave-hearted women have great resilience
and they lift each other as well
bonded by a common understanding
each with a story to tell.
- Paula Fox
Notes:
- Caps as found in my source. Other sources have variant capitalizations.
- sometimes attributed to Bobi Seredich because she made a movie of the poem
- return to poem C
- return to poems
The Touch of the Master's Hand
'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks?" he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar"; then, "Two! Only two?
Two dollars, and who'll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars twice;
Going for three" But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand! And who'll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice,
And going, and gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand
What changed its worth." Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a master's hand."
- Myra Brooks Welch
alternate phrasing - not better but different
bio, background and another version
bio, background and a kitschy presentation
sketchy background and yakp
return to poems
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks?" he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar"; then, "Two! Only two?
Two dollars, and who'll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars twice;
Going for three" But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand! And who'll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice,
And going, and gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand
What changed its worth." Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a master's hand."
- Myra Brooks Welch
alternate phrasing - not better but different
bio, background and another version
bio, background and a kitschy presentation
sketchy background and yakp
return to poems
Myra Brooks Welch
(1881-)
(1877-1959) www.findagrave.com
wife, mother, and poet
The Touch of the Master's Hand
return to index W
(1877-1959) www.findagrave.com
wife, mother, and poet
The Touch of the Master's Hand
return to index W
project management case study #1
Note: this appears to be a broad parody of project management, academic student management, esp. at the graduate level and government disfunction
The Court of King George III
London, England
July 10, 1776
Mr. Thomas Jefferson
c/o The Continental Congress
Philadelphia PA
Dear Mr. Jefferson:
We have read your "Declaration of Independence" with great interest. Certainly, it represents a considerable undertaking, and many of your statements do merit serious consideration. Unfortunately, the Declaration as a whole fails to meet recently adopted specifications for proposals to the Crown, so we must return the document to you for further refinement. The questions which follow might assist you in your process of revision:
The Court of King George III
London, England
July 10, 1776
Mr. Thomas Jefferson
c/o The Continental Congress
Philadelphia PA
Dear Mr. Jefferson:
We have read your "Declaration of Independence" with great interest. Certainly, it represents a considerable undertaking, and many of your statements do merit serious consideration. Unfortunately, the Declaration as a whole fails to meet recently adopted specifications for proposals to the Crown, so we must return the document to you for further refinement. The questions which follow might assist you in your process of revision:
- In your opening paragraph you use the phrase "the Laws of Nature and Nature's God." What are these laws? In what way are they the criteria on which you base your central arguments? Please document with citations from the recent literature.
- In the same paragraph you refer to the "opinions of mankind." Whose polling data are you using? Without specific evidence, it seems to us the "opinions of mankind" are a matter of opinion.
- You hold certain truths to be "self-evident." Could you please elaborate. If they are as evident as you claim then it should not be difficult for you to locate the appropriate supporting statistics.
- "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" seem to be the goals of your proposal. These are not measurable goals. If you were to say that "among these is the ability to sustain an average life expectancy in six of the 13 colonies of at last 55 years, and to enable newspapers in the colonies to print news without outside interference, and to raise the average income of the colonists by 10 percent in the next 10 years," these could be measurable goals. Please clarify.
- You state that "Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new Government..." Have you weighed this assertion against all the alternatives? What are the trade-off considerations?
- Your description of the existing situation is quite extensive. Such a long list of grievances should precede the statement of goals, not follow it. Your problem statement needs improvement.
- Your strategy for achieving your goal is not developed at all. You state that the colonies "ought to be Free and Independent States," and that they are "Absolved from All Allegiance to the British Crown." Who or what must change to achieve this objective? In what way must they change? What specific steps will you take to overcome the resistance? How long will it take? We have found that a little foresight in these areas helps to prevent careless errors later on. How cost-effective are your strategies?
- Who among the list of signatories will be responsible for implementing your strategy? Who conceived it? Who provided the theoretical research? Who will constitute the advisory committee? Please submit an organization chart and vitas of the principal investigators.
- You must include an evaluation design. We have been requiring this since Queen Anne's War.
- What impact will your problem have? Your failure to include any assessment of this inspires little confidence in the long-range prospects of your undertaking.
- Please submit a PERT diagram, an activity chart, itemized budget, and manpower utilization matrix.
John J. Veret
If you allow me, I would like to tell the story of a WW2 Catholic Chaplain, John J. Veret, who died living his faith in the Battle of the Bulge, 1945Jan9. I was inspired to tell about Father Veret after seeing your (Fr James Martin SJ) Tweet on Memorial Day, and your recognition of Chaplains who died in war. As far a I know, I am the only person to write the following account of the moments leading up to his death in an artillery barrage.
My father was a paratrooper in the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Normandy, D-Day, 1944Jun6. After the Normandy campaign the 507th was assigned to the 17th Airborne Division and fought in the Battle of the Ardennes Forest (Battle of the Bulge).
At one of the reunions of the 507th during the 1980s, my mother asked one of the veterans, "Did you know Father Veret? He married us in Alliance NE." Across the dinner table the vet replied, "Did I know Father Veret? Let me tell you about Father Veret. He saved my life!"
The vet told how he had been carrying wounded soldiers down a hill to an aid station and ambulances. Under a constant artillery barrage he carried his fellow soldiers one at a time, over his shoulders, and then went back up the hill for another wounded paratrooper. After a short time his uniform was soaked in the blood from the wounded that he carried. He was not injured himself.
On one of the vet's trips down to the ambulance, Father Veret saw him, ran up to intercept him, took the wounded soldier from him, and put him on his own shoulder to carry the rest of the way. Father Veret had seen the vet's blood soaked uniform and assumed he was wounded, also. Father Veret said, "I'll take him. You go and get yourself taken care of [at the aid station]." Of course, the vet turned and started back up the hill to get another wounded paratrooper. He turned around just in time to see Father Veret loading the wounded soldier into the ambulance. A direct hit from a German 88mm artillery shell destroyed the ambulance and killed Father Veret and all the wounded inside.
Father John J. Veret's name is on the memorial plaque at Arlington Cemetery on Chaplain's Hill, with the names of other Catholic Chaplains. Father Veret was killed in action - ministering to his soldiers and saving the life of one paratrooper in his flock who could tell the story of how he died.
- Norman Costa q.Americamagazine.org
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ao14
Cycle A: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
http://www.patheos.com/community/deaconsbench/2011/07/02/homily-for-july-2-2011-14th-sunday-in-ordinary-time/
back to Cycle A
http://www.patheos.com/community/deaconsbench/2011/07/02/homily-for-july-2-2011-14th-sunday-in-ordinary-time/
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