Letters from Canada 21 June 2015
+ Father Mark: Theodore, I am surprised to find out how much you know about my daily routine. But there is more to my schedule than watching TV and hobbies. After I finish watching all my favorite daytime TV shows and am bored with my many hobbies, I hang around with some of my friends.
One of my friends is Susan, a practicing family and business lawyer. Together we hang out at shelters for abused women, children, and people battling addictions. We also deal with cases of extreme poverty and homelessness. Susan uses her legal, network and organizing skills to find help from government and charitable institutions to aid God’s children who find themselves in a deplorable state. True some find themselves here because of a combination of bad choices and misfortunes, but others are just plain unlucky by birth and circumstances. We don’t judge the reasons why they are in such need, we just do all we can to help them.
My task is more daunting than Susan’s as I stare into the eyes of Human Beings in both physical and mental anguish. It’s not easy to find words of comfort and meaningful actions that will quickly turn their lives around. And yes we sometimes fail.
My other friend Linda, a volunteer at a nursing home and an all-around do-gooder drags me to hospitals and medical facilities. Not being blessed with good health she spends a lot of time in doctor offices and hospitals. It is here where Linda is in her environment. She scopes out other patients, cozies up to them and finds out why they are under medical care. Then Linda swings into action with compassion, humor and anything she can get away with. On occasion, I become an unknowing volunteer and sidekick in one of Linda’s scheme.
Most people Linda and I comfort, recover from their illnesses, but not all. Both of us spiritually braces ourselves as we pray and hold the hands of those we escort to Heaven. Most heartbreaking moments no words can describe or ease are of a Child’s earthly departure from his/her parents. Yet one of us somehow is able to reassure the sorrowful and grieving parents that the separation is temporary and things will be alright when they all will be reunited in Heaven with God.
+ Janice: Father Mark, it’s great you are able to be upbeat and help others, but that because you probably had a normal happy upbringing. I did not! For me it’s always an uphill fight. I could barely take care of myself let alone deal with other people’s problems. If there is a God, why does God play favorites, making it easy for people like you and terrible for people like me?
+ Father Mark: Janice, everyone from the moment of their birth to their physical death experiences moments of joy and periods of suffering with no exceptions. True, I was fortunate to grow up in a nurturing and loving environment, but I do realize that’s not true for everyone. At the present time, I don’t have good and clear explanation why God created our world with just some people bless with wealth, health, and intellectual abilities and everyone else suffering and struggling to survive. Personally I harbor a theological explanation why things are the way they are, but I am not ready to share that with everyone.
God did not spare me from sorrow and grief. My younger sister in her teenage years survived a car accident that killed five of her friends. After multiple surgeries and a lengthy hospital stay, my sister Joanne is quadriplegic in a wheelchair. Because the accident occurred during my preparatory seminary years, I was denied updates and visits to Her bedside at the hospital. The reason given was that it would put my priestly vocation in peril. Even though I was surrounded by religious people who daily prayed for Her recovery, I was emotionally going through hell. It wasn’t easy, but with God’s help She partially recovered both physically and psychologically to continue a productive and active life. God did not prevent the accident, but God gave Joanne, me, and my family the strength and courage to pull thru this ordeal.
A few years ago deep sadness again hung over our family when my older sister Marta, an inspiration and saint to all, died from cancer. Her life, an exemplary act of kindness and generosity is my blueprint for dedication in serving others. Today, when things get really tough, I hear her voice telling me: “You work for God, giving up is not an option”.
Janice, recall that some of the people that helped You bounce back from a turbulent past were motivated by their faith in God to be there for You and help You recover.
Earlier, Theodore questioned the relevance of God to all of us. The answer is that God provides purpose and meaning to our temporary physical lives and then a transition to an eternal heavenly existence. If does not matter to me if You believe that God is real or not, because You and all of us are still personally responsible for our attitudes, behavior and accomplishments using the talents (abilities), opportunities (good fortune), and support (all those that contribute to our success) provided by God . Soon enough all of us will be dealing with God about God's investment in us. The brains, the inspirations, the passions, the creativity, the powers to transform and understand our world does not come free.
Unless someone has anything to add, let’s conclude this session. Call me when you are ready for the next session.
+ Janice: Father Mark, if I want to directly talk to you without going through the parish office is there a phone number you can share.
+ Father Mark: Sure, here is my cell phone number.
(As Theodore and Janice got up and headed for the door, Theodore turned around)
+ Theodore: Next month, my parents are celebrating a wedding anniversary with family and friends. I would like you to be there. Your invitation will be soon in the mail. I will tell my parents and family why you were invited and that you would like to talk to them.
+ Father Mark: Need to check my schedule, but I will make every effort to be there.
(Once Theodore & Janice left the parish office, Father Mark turned his attention to upcoming tasks on his schedule.)
+ Father Mark: My next task is to prepare a sermon that would help my parishioners understand why Mary is in trouble and needs to be found. Following that, Susan, Linda, Tom, and I have to develop a strategy to find Mary.
Another issue I must deal with is that Tom is interested in dating Susan, but is aware of my previous relationship with Susan. This might make things a little awkward as we work closely together in trying to rescue Mary.
+ Father Mark: Theodore, I am surprised to find out how much you know about my daily routine. But there is more to my schedule than watching TV and hobbies. After I finish watching all my favorite daytime TV shows and am bored with my many hobbies, I hang around with some of my friends.
One of my friends is Susan, a practicing family and business lawyer. Together we hang out at shelters for abused women, children, and people battling addictions. We also deal with cases of extreme poverty and homelessness. Susan uses her legal, network and organizing skills to find help from government and charitable institutions to aid God’s children who find themselves in a deplorable state. True some find themselves here because of a combination of bad choices and misfortunes, but others are just plain unlucky by birth and circumstances. We don’t judge the reasons why they are in such need, we just do all we can to help them.
My task is more daunting than Susan’s as I stare into the eyes of Human Beings in both physical and mental anguish. It’s not easy to find words of comfort and meaningful actions that will quickly turn their lives around. And yes we sometimes fail.
My other friend Linda, a volunteer at a nursing home and an all-around do-gooder drags me to hospitals and medical facilities. Not being blessed with good health she spends a lot of time in doctor offices and hospitals. It is here where Linda is in her environment. She scopes out other patients, cozies up to them and finds out why they are under medical care. Then Linda swings into action with compassion, humor and anything she can get away with. On occasion, I become an unknowing volunteer and sidekick in one of Linda’s scheme.
Most people Linda and I comfort, recover from their illnesses, but not all. Both of us spiritually braces ourselves as we pray and hold the hands of those we escort to Heaven. Most heartbreaking moments no words can describe or ease are of a Child’s earthly departure from his/her parents. Yet one of us somehow is able to reassure the sorrowful and grieving parents that the separation is temporary and things will be alright when they all will be reunited in Heaven with God.
+ Janice: Father Mark, it’s great you are able to be upbeat and help others, but that because you probably had a normal happy upbringing. I did not! For me it’s always an uphill fight. I could barely take care of myself let alone deal with other people’s problems. If there is a God, why does God play favorites, making it easy for people like you and terrible for people like me?
+ Father Mark: Janice, everyone from the moment of their birth to their physical death experiences moments of joy and periods of suffering with no exceptions. True, I was fortunate to grow up in a nurturing and loving environment, but I do realize that’s not true for everyone. At the present time, I don’t have good and clear explanation why God created our world with just some people bless with wealth, health, and intellectual abilities and everyone else suffering and struggling to survive. Personally I harbor a theological explanation why things are the way they are, but I am not ready to share that with everyone.
God did not spare me from sorrow and grief. My younger sister in her teenage years survived a car accident that killed five of her friends. After multiple surgeries and a lengthy hospital stay, my sister Joanne is quadriplegic in a wheelchair. Because the accident occurred during my preparatory seminary years, I was denied updates and visits to Her bedside at the hospital. The reason given was that it would put my priestly vocation in peril. Even though I was surrounded by religious people who daily prayed for Her recovery, I was emotionally going through hell. It wasn’t easy, but with God’s help She partially recovered both physically and psychologically to continue a productive and active life. God did not prevent the accident, but God gave Joanne, me, and my family the strength and courage to pull thru this ordeal.
A few years ago deep sadness again hung over our family when my older sister Marta, an inspiration and saint to all, died from cancer. Her life, an exemplary act of kindness and generosity is my blueprint for dedication in serving others. Today, when things get really tough, I hear her voice telling me: “You work for God, giving up is not an option”.
Janice, recall that some of the people that helped You bounce back from a turbulent past were motivated by their faith in God to be there for You and help You recover.
Earlier, Theodore questioned the relevance of God to all of us. The answer is that God provides purpose and meaning to our temporary physical lives and then a transition to an eternal heavenly existence. If does not matter to me if You believe that God is real or not, because You and all of us are still personally responsible for our attitudes, behavior and accomplishments using the talents (abilities), opportunities (good fortune), and support (all those that contribute to our success) provided by God . Soon enough all of us will be dealing with God about God's investment in us. The brains, the inspirations, the passions, the creativity, the powers to transform and understand our world does not come free.
Unless someone has anything to add, let’s conclude this session. Call me when you are ready for the next session.
+ Janice: Father Mark, if I want to directly talk to you without going through the parish office is there a phone number you can share.
+ Father Mark: Sure, here is my cell phone number.
(As Theodore and Janice got up and headed for the door, Theodore turned around)
+ Theodore: Next month, my parents are celebrating a wedding anniversary with family and friends. I would like you to be there. Your invitation will be soon in the mail. I will tell my parents and family why you were invited and that you would like to talk to them.
+ Father Mark: Need to check my schedule, but I will make every effort to be there.
(Once Theodore & Janice left the parish office, Father Mark turned his attention to upcoming tasks on his schedule.)
+ Father Mark: My next task is to prepare a sermon that would help my parishioners understand why Mary is in trouble and needs to be found. Following that, Susan, Linda, Tom, and I have to develop a strategy to find Mary.
Another issue I must deal with is that Tom is interested in dating Susan, but is aware of my previous relationship with Susan. This might make things a little awkward as we work closely together in trying to rescue Mary.
