How to Make Palm Sunday Special during Self-Isolation

How to make Palm Sunday special?

That is the question I've been trying to answer during this period of self-isolation and self-distancing. This year it will be different, but since it will be one I'm sure we will always remember, I also wanted to find ways to make it extra special for our family. For example, I thought that in addition to celebrating Mass online with our local parish, we could also:

-go for a hike in the woods and collect twigs and branches to make a cross
-watch the 11 a.m. Palm Sunday service from Rome
-watch an inspirational movie (The Passion of the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, The Robe)

Then I remembered how one year we made "Palm" trees--outlines of our hands which we then turned into a palm tree. And although the boys are older I think we'll do it again, but this time we can include  favorite scripture passages, quotes from the saints, or prayer requests on the palms.

We may even make one for the Nonni, with all our names written on the hands, and then tape it to their front door so they will see it Palm Sunday morning. But don't tell them; it will be a surprise.

Anyway, just some ideas  ...

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us." 

- St. Augustine

Wait for It, Wait for It ...

Last week I decided that I needed to call a family meeting via ZOOM.

I thought it would be fun for the entire family to gather online, as opposed to separate conversations via texts and phone calls. Additionally, with ZOOM we could see each other … you know, Proof of Life during this time of self-isolation.

So I sent an email to my brother, his wife, my sister, her husband, my sons, my nephews, and the Nonni. In the email I told them to download the ZOOM app, and then Sunday even at 6:30 they were to join the meeting by using the password I send.

See? They don’t call me Bossy Bia for nothing.

Last night I signed in at the appointed time and there was my brother! Then his wife and my adorable nieces and nephews! Before long my other nephew (and his dog) and my brother-in-law! Then my sister! And my other, other nephew (there are lots of nephews)! And Timothy! And Jonathan! (And Nicholas? Well, he meant to, but neither of us thought about the whole time zone thing. What can I say? Not perfect we are 😉.)

As we were greeting each other we laughed and wondered about the Nonni. Would they or wouldn’t they figure out how to join the ZOOM meeting? Truthfully, most of us were doubtful, but just in case I had my phone nearby ready to provide instructions.

So we laughed and joked while we waited (and waited) for the Nonni to join us. Or not.

All of a sudden, like a gopher popping his head out of the ground, Nonno’s head appeared on the screen! Then Nonna joined him. We collectively cheered. 

So Nonno and Nonna … we, your doubting children, applaud you.

We didn’t think you could do it. But you did.

We stand corrected ...

but still amazed. 

The Darkness before Dawn

In this complicated world we do what we can to create order. We organize, corral, and categorize because life is busy, busy, busy and time is a precious commodity. There is so much to do and so little time, and yet we are told we CAN do it all and we CAN have it all. Life coaches provide strategy, self-help books teach positive thinking, and even Oprah promises that if we put our mind to it, we can do and become anything we want.

But then, a microscopic virus emerges and the world as we know it comes to a screeching halt.

Suddenly, our sense of invincibility is shattered with the realization that we are dependent creatures. No person is an island, and with that knowledge comes a measure of vulnerability. So much of what we need in life depends on the work of others: the farmer harvests the crop, factories package it, trucks deliver it, and grocery stores stock it. People work behind the scenes to ensure we have electricity and running water. Trash collectors collect our trash, pharmacists fill our prescriptions, teachers teach our children, and mail carriers deliver our one-click orders from Amazon. 

In the hurricane of our busy lives, the Coronavirus pandemic has pushed the pause button on Life, and all that categorizing and organizing means nothing as we now take one day at a time with a new perspective. I am humbled by how much I need others and inspired by how much we need each other; furthermore, the fact that I am dependent on someone else means that someone out there is dependent on me.

And so, I have work to do. As do we all.

During these days of social distancing and self-isolation, and even as we read stories of stockpiling and listen to the doom and gloom featured on the nightly news, the best of humanity reveals itself again and again as people are choosing to think in terms of “we” and “us” instead of “I” and “me”. 

The stories are heartwarming: civic groups shopping for the elderly; parents sharing homeschooling tips on Facebook; mothers sewing masks to donate to local hospitals; children writing thank you notes to health professionals and members of law enforcement; neighbors gathering on balconies or front porches to share musical talents from afar; priests pastors, and rabbis holding services online; residents of China sending inspirational messages to Italy; and people staying home in solidarity, both to fight the spread of the disease as well as to honor those who are working on the front lines. Every kind gesture reflects what it means to love your neighbor. When my mother, who likes to make her own bread, mentioned how she couldn’t find a bag of flour anywhere, her neighbor stopped by with the gift of a 5-pound bag.

This is not to say the events unfolding daily aren’t sobering, frightening even. We must acknowledge this. But in darkness there is light, in silence there is music, and in the face of overwhelming odds there is faith and hope.

IF we work together.

It has taken a microscopic virus—scary and lethal—to unite us in a big way. Even closed borders, travel bans, and self-isolation cannot stop us from seeing how the world is not so very big after all and, in all the ways that are important, we are more alike than we are different.

Outside our bedroom window is a tree where, every morning, two birds perch on a branch to sing during the darkest hour just before dawn. The birds trill, warble and whistle, but as soon as the sun begins to rise over the horizon they stop singing and fly away. In many ways, we are in that period of darkness before dawn.

Nobel Peace Prize recipient Desmond Tutu once said, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” We are all in this thing called Life together, and if we do our part for the common good, just like the birds we will soon be able to spread our wings and fly once again into the morning sun.

Maria Novajosky is a freelance writer and author of the book An Ocean, an Airplane, and Two Countries Full of Kisses.

Come to the Quiet

A few years ago, my friend and I were in Rome standing in front St. Peter's Basilica. It was late—almost midnight—and no one was around.

No one, that is, except for the Pope. If you face St. Peter's Basilica and look up and to the right, you can see the windows of the Papal Apartments. And that night a light was on.

It was a surreal moment. A place which can be filled with hurricane frenzy—bustling crowds, long lines, tour guides yelling follow me!—now felt like the eye of a hurricane in which all noise and chaos are suddenly gone and there is that moment, however brief, of blessed stillness.  It's a moment which illuminates the fundamental truth that we are not alone; that sometimes we simply need to ignore everything else to focus on that light and know there is a God in heaven, there is peace in the world, there is hope.

Yesterday, I gathered around the television with my husband and sons to watch Pope Francis give an Urbi et Orbi blessing. Translated from Latin “to the city [of Rome] and to the world” this blessing is usually given on three occasions: when a pope is elected Successor of Peter, at Christmas, and at Easter. So the fact the Pope was giving this solemn blessing yesterday was an important occasion, one which called the faithful from all over the world to participate.

I again experienced that surreal feeling as I watched the Pope walk to the sagrato of St Peter’s Basilica and, facing an empty square, addressed the world. It was sad, poignant, and hauntingly beautiful—St. Peter’s Square, glistening in the evening rain, and a solitary figure calling the world to prayer. Then, there was those precious moments before the Blessed Sacrament in which there was Silence.

Silence in Rome. Silence from the television. Silence in our homes.

And it was exactly what was needed. What a blessing to stand in peace, quiet, and tranquility among the news of deaths, shortages, and self-isolation; to recognize our vulnerability and yet know we are loved; to come into ourselves and hear Jesus’ probing question, Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?

To answer Jesus’ call to Come to the Quiet.

 

 (photo credit: Vatican News)

(photo credit: Vatican News)

Become a Lending Library

When libraries are closed, become a lending library.

Leaving these out on our front porch today for a friend.

Birthdays and Lego Sets

No matter how many birthdays come and go, a LEGO set still makes the best gift. And in solidarity with our beloved Italy, the LEGO® Fiat 500 was perfect. Vintage character, iconic style, and a roof you can roll back to enjoy the Italian countryside.

A reminder that la dolce vita will return.

#lego #FIAT500

Stations of the Cross ... Bringing them Home during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Lenten Friday during a Pandemic. Sharing a few ideas on how to pray the Stations of the Cross from home ...

Our favorite way to pray the Stations involves placing fourteen votive candles across our mantle, with a black and white etching of each station taped below. Then, as we read a station we blow out the corresponding candle until, when the last one is blown out, we sit in the darkness in silent contemplation. On Easter morning we gather to read the 15th station, and instead of blowing out a candle, we light an Easter candle in celebration.

As a family, we love praying the Stations of the Cross using candles; it encourages active participation, and by reading aloud, lighting candles and then blowing them out, we become part of a ritual as old as time itself.

Here is a link for the etchings.

This year I decided to try something different. Rather than using our mantel, I placed fourteen tea lights in a French bread serving board and, as we sat around the kitchen table, we took turns reading a Station and then ceremoniously used a candle snuffer to put out the candle.

Another idea is to pray the Stations of the Cross virtually via Skype or FaceTime. I plan to do that with my parents. We will also have our traditional Sunday dinner together via Skype.

There are many versions of the Stations of the Cross. Sometimes we like to keep things traditional, sometimes informal, sometimes short and sweet. Here are some ideas:

St. Alphonsus Liguori
Scriptural Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross for Children

The Stations below are from my childhood. They are perfect for fidgety toddlers or antsy teens and are often a springboard for discussion.

Finally, Pope Francis gives us 8 reasons why we should pray the Stations of the Cross, and no matter if we meditate upon them in church or around the kitchen table, the important thing is to enter into the story, follow in Christ's footsteps as he heads to that cross on Calvary, and then be guided from that cross to resurrection. 

FIRST STATION: JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH
Jesus, we stand in silence as you are condemned
by Pilate. Standing in silence is not new to us; we have stood in
silence as you went hungry by our tables, as you were orphaned
in our wars, as you walked powerless in our world. We stand in
silence because, like Pilate, we are bowed, broken, and afraid.
Give us the courage to speak in your behalf. Amen.

SECOND STATION: JESUS ACCEPTS HIS CROSS
Jesus, we watch you bear you cross and do not
understand. We are afraid of suffering. We flee sickness,
sorrow, and pain. But you carrying your cross says something
different about suffering. Help us to follow you even when we
do not understand. Amen.

THIRD STATION: JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME
Jesus, you have fallen with your cross. Everywhere
we see signs of weakness: in our Church, our nation, our world.
We see dissension, controversy, turmoil. We do not understand.
Our faith falters. Help us know and understand your strength
beneath the cross. Amen.

FOURTH STATION: JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER
Jesus, we are moved by Mary’s love for you. She
saw beneath your grime and agony. She saw your hidden beauty.
We know she does the same for us. We need to be understood
these days, and with Mary we are not alone. Amen.

FIFTH STATION: SIMON HELPS JESUS
Jesus, we have to admire Simon. He took up
your cross and followed you. He had so little doubt, so
little hesitation. We see you suffering all around us: in
the poor, the powerless, the misunderstood. We are often
hesitant to come to your aid. We find so many excuses.
Grant us the wisdom and the courage to help the least of
our brothers, and in doing so we help you. Amen.

SIXTH STATION: VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS
Jesus, you rewarded Veronica for her courage.
You left your face upon her veil. Help us forget our fears
and reach out to serve others so you will leave the imprint
of your face upon our lives. Amen.

SEVENTH STATION: JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME
Jesus, you must have been discouraged by your
second fall. We, too, know discouragement. Our best efforts
sometimes end in failure, and life does not bring us peace. What
shall we do? We will imitate your example and try again …
even in the face of futility. Amen.

EIGHTH STATION: JESUS SPEAKS TO THE WOMEN
Jesus, in the midst of your sufferings you had
compassion for others and their pain. Too often we are so
self-centered. We want pity, kindness and understanding,
and yet, we are unwilling to do the same for others. Help us
forget ourselves. Awaken us to the pain of others. Amen.

NINTH STATION: JESUS FALL THE THIRD TIME
Jesus, your third fall is the beginning of your
death agony. Our world I filled with dying people: in war,
in famine, in hospitals, on highways. Many this day will die
alone. May our prayers be some comfort to the dying. Amen.

TENTH STATION: JESUS IS STRIPPED
Jesus, there is something fearful in thinking of
you stripped before the crowd. Even the privacy of clothing
is taken. You have given up everything for us. May we have
the grace to give of what we have to help our brothers and
sisters around us. Amen.

ELEVENTH STATION: JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS
Jesus, the pain of those nails was unjust. Your hands
which did such good and your feet which walked on errands of
mercy are now punished. You received little gratitude for the good
you did. Help us to be like you: to give, and ask nothing in return.
Amen.

TWELFTH STATION: JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS
Jesus, you have the greatest love for us. What
can we say in the face of it? We can only try to imitate
you by responding to the brothers and sisters you have
given to us to love. Amen.

THIRTEENTH STATION: JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN
FROM THE CROSS
Jesus, you are laid in the arms of your mother.
The agony is over, but resurrection is not yet. Your Father’s
plan requires patience. So it is with us. We reach moments
when only patience can carry us on. We know that something
better will come … but when? Help us find some of your patience
in our lives. Amen.

FOURTEENTH STATION: JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB
Jesus, the end of life is so definite. We fear it
deep within. We do not want to die, but help us understand
that our lives are but a prelude to a new life … a life with
you and your father. Amen.

O, Our Jesus, guide us from the Cross to the resurrection and teach us that evil shall not have the last word, but love, mercy and forgiveness. O Christ, help us to exclaim again: "Yesterday I was crucified with Christ; today I am glorified with Him. Yesterday I died with Him, today I live with Him. Yesterday I was buried with Him, today I am raised with Him." 

– Pope Francis, Good Friday, April 18, 2014

Good News during this Crazy Time

Last fall Jonathan started grad school with a plan: complete his course work, hold down a part time job in the accounting lab, and study for his CPA exam. His goal was to pass all four sections of the exam BEFORE he graduated in May.

And so he studied, and worked, and studied some more. 

When he was home for the Thanksgiving and Christmas, he got up every morning to study, only coming downstairs for lunch before disappearing again until dinnertime.

He took part one of the exam, and passed.

He took part two, then part three, and passed both. 

Jonathan's tax professor told him that if he passed the last section, he would not have to come back to class.

Yesterday Jonathan found out he passed the last part of the CPA exam. Only 12% of people who take the exam pass all four sections on the first try. 

It was good news during a time of canceled plans, social distancing, and self-quarantines. 

It was good news when faced with the fact that his entire college career came to a screeching halt--after five years, without any fanfare or celebration, school is over. The rest of the semester will be taught online and the entire campus has closed.

It was good news for someone who has worked hard. 

Four friends, heading to Myrtle Beach before all the craziness hit. 

All will graduate this May with a master's degree in accounting. 

All four already have jobs lined up in Atlanta, three with the same firm. 

How to have a Coronavirus pandemic, social-distancing, no school, stuck-at- home birthday

This is Timothy.

Everyone feel sorry for Timothy.

Today is his birthday.

Timothy is personally insulted that his birthday occurs in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, especially since it's his sixteenth birthday.

Timothy has been looking forward to being sixteen and has been diligently studying for his driving test. Except his testing appointment scheduled for next week was cancelled because of you-know-what.

Timothy, who always looks forward to his cereal bowl presents, feels cheated. His mom accidentally left them out on Monday after she went shopping, so when Timothy came home from school he saw them. His mom said, "Oh my gosh! Don't look! Don't look! Forget you saw them."

Too late.

When things like this happen Timothy likes to remind his mom about his Confirmation cake that said, "Happy Confirmation, JONATHAN!"

One of Timothy's favorite things to do for his birthday is pick a restaurant. This year he wanted to go to Bonefish Grill. This is NOT happening. His dad is grilling steaks because of you-know-what. Timothy likes steaks, but still ...

Timothy's older brother, Jonathan, sent him an Xbox game for his birthday. Except it hasn't arrived; in fact, the TWO presents his Mom ordered haven't arrived yet either. But his other older brother, Nicholas, came through. So there will be at least ONE present to open.

But Timothy is a good sport.

Timothy will open his cereal bowl presents and pretend he never saw them before, go for a birthday hike on the canal, do his dumb school work (his words), have a lunchtime Mo Willem's Doodle competition with his mom, finish designing his model airplane, play Xbox with his friends, eat a cowboy serving of a grilled steak, and open his ONE present today with the knowledge there'll be another to open tomorrow AND Friday.

And his birthday cake will not have JONATHAN written on top because there will be no birthday cake. Instead, there will be homemade chocolate chip cookies.

So be like Timothy who, despite a Coronavirus Pandemic, social-distancing, no school, stuck-at- home birthday, knows how to have fun anyway.

The "Funny-Not Funny" Speeding Ticket

When we were in Virginia last month, a lunchtime conversation turned to speeding tickets and how Emporia is NOTORIOUS for giving out fines. Especially to cars with out of state tags. Everyone at the table had a story.

Well, the conversation jinxed us because on the way home we went through Emporia and Joe got pulled over for speeding.

"We start giving fines at 10 miles over the speed limit, and you just hit that mark back there," said the not-so-friendly officer.

Joe was MAD. A four lane highway, on a Sunday morning with no one around, and he gets pulled over for just hitting ten miles an hour over the speed limit. He wanted to ask the officer if the radar had been recently calibrated because he swears he was only going 5-7 miles over, but I told Joe to hush, be polite, and sign the darn ticket. While I totally agreed with him, I had no desire to get stuck in Emporia trying to raise bail for a husband who was behind bars.

As we were driving away from that cursed town we Googled speeding ticket and Emporia and read all the angry comments on Tripadvisor from travelers who had been ticketed while driving through that area. It was funny, but it wasn't.

But let me tell you what's really funny: every few days we have been getting letters from lawyers with dire warnings that a speeding ticket "can affect your insurance rates, your job, and in some extreme cases, your freedom." (This was, by the way, a direct quote from one letter.) Some mentioned jail time and court appearances. They all promised to have the lowest fees of anyone around.

Huh. One lawyer charged a flat fee of $149.

For a $124 fine.

You do the math.

Anyway, as a responsible, law-abiding citizen I realize the moral of this story should be: Don't speed. But as a responsible, law-abiding citizen let me be even more specific: Don't speed in Emporia, Virginia.

Things I Never Thought I'd Say

"I'm headed to court with my first CASA case."

(last Friday)

Who, What, and Where (a coronavirus post)

We're all over the place lately, Corona Virus or not. And many of you have been asking about my relatives in Italy.

Joe ... is headed to Albuquerque, after which he will stop in Little Rock to spend the weekend with Nicholas. He is armed with a pack of Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, and good ol' common sense.

Jonathan ... will be headed to Myrtle Beach next Sunday for his last official spring break before he graduates in May. On the way he will stop here with his buddies for lunch (and beach chairs), and I will supply him with Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer. As for good ol' common sense, they're on their own.

Nicholas ... just returned from a business trip to San Diego, and later this month he will travel to Florida. Again, the Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer.

Joe, Maria,  and Timothy ... are headed to Sedona, Arizona next month. Our plans have not changed.

My relatives in Italy ... ARE in one of the regions (Veneto) with the Corona Virus outbreak. So far, the city ofVerona has not been closed, but two cities to the east of them--Padua and Venice--are in the red zone and have been quarantined (you need special permission to travel in and out). Life goes on, despite the fact that schools are closed, public events are canceled, churches are closed (Mass is not even being celebrated in St. Peter's in Rome!), and weddings and funerals have been suspended. 

Coronavirus in the city of Romeo & Juliet

Empty tables in  Piazza della Signoria in Florence.

Photo by: Georgette Jupe-Pradier

A sparse crowd for the Pope's Angelus blessing

Speak to Me Sunday: A Nun's Rebellion

[I have learned many faith lessons from Sr. Gaudiosa, a sister to me in every way but blood. This is still one of my favorites ...]

Several years ago, I was curled up on the couch the day after Christmas watching The Sound of Music with Sr. Gaudiosa, a nun from Tanzania who has stayed with our family many times throughout the years. We were alone, it was snowing outside, and there was a crackling fire in the fireplace. 

This was Sister's all-time favorite movie; she has seen it half a dozen times and can sing the songs and even recite some of the dialogue. Her favorite part is when Mother Superior challenges Maria to consider that maybe she is being called to a vocation outside the religious life.

It was interesting watching this movie with a nun, especially when Maria decides to leave the Abbey. While Sister and I have had many heart-to-heart conversations, this scene in the movie made me wonder if she ever questioned her decision to join a religious order or if she ever had any doubts about God's call.

So, I asked her.

And curled up on the couch in front of the roaring fire, she told me a story ...

She was in her third year at the convent—a  year before taking her final vows—when she and 18 other postulants decided to leave. They made no announcement and gave no notice. They were tired of working, tired of studying, and so they just walked away.

"Just like that? You walked away?" I asked.

"Just like that," she said. "We got up in the morning and walked away. We told no one."

All 18 returned to their separate villages. All 18 had no more contact with one another.

Once she returned home, Sister told her parents the convent was on break. She didn’t tell them what happened, and she even hid any correspondence that arrived from her Mother Superior.

Days went by.

Then weeks.

"Did you talk to any of the others who left?" I wanted to know.

"No one," she said. "But, oh, how I struggled. I didn't know what to do."

Finally, after days and days of praying, at the end of the month she packed her bags, said goodbye to her family, and returned to the convent.

And a miracle happened.

Amazingly, on the very same day she returned, slowly, and all throughout the day, the other 17 returned, too. One at a time, from different villages, they all came back.

I looked at Sister, astounded.

"We all came back on the same day," she said, smiling and nodding. "All 18 of us. We had been very foolish, but God showed us—each in a different way—that we needed to come back."

Today, Sister continues her work both here and in Tanzania. When she is here, she works with African immigrants and refugees; when she returns to Tanzania, she takes what she has learned here and adapts that knowledge to address the needs of her community, all while facing ignorance, prejudice and, inevitably, bouts of malaria.

But on that day after Christmas with the snow gently falling outside, I knew Sister's story was just as hopeful and happy as the movie we were watching. She had her rebellion, but in time realized that she could still hear God's voice calling her to Him. 

And so she went. 

Saturday, Chore Day

1- Early morning yard sale hunt with Joe. Purchased a couch and a slip-covered chair for Jonathan's apartment this May. Yes, he has a job lined up and, yes, he will be moving to Atlanta after graduating from grad school and, no, other than a television he doesn't have any furniture. (Here is a post on how we helped Nicholas furnish his apartment when he moved to Little Rock: Getting Ready: How to furnish your apartment.)

Bonus: The couch was purchased from our lovely neighbors who were raising money for another family who is adopting a child. Hurray for adoptions!

2- Joe is doing his annual pressure washing of the driveway. Better him than me.

3- I am painting baseboards in the upstairs hallway. On second thought, maybe I'd rather pressure wash the driveway. It's easier on the knees. Then again, it's cold and I don't want to get wet, so never mind.

4- We're one week into March and I have yet to even begin Masters cleaning. I have lists, but NOTHING is checked off as done. Except the driveway, but that's all Joe. But since I'm feeling tendrils of panic starting to creep in, I will start today with the guest bedroom.

5- And what about Timothy? He's still sleeping, but the minute he wakes up I have a list for him too. Poor thing.

A Mother and Son Day

After two years, countless appointments, a gazillion rubber bands, and a much-depleted bank account today was THE DAY.

Timothy's orthodontic treatment finally came to an end.  

And because he had a mid-morning appointment, we decided to make a day of it. Just me, the bambino (all 6 ft. 3 inches of him), and a whole lot of rain. Here's what we did:

1- Slept in. It was dark; it was raining.

2- Went to Dr. Trotter for braces removal. The office gave Timothy a celebratory gift bag.

3- Came home and assembled canvas panels of a Nissan GTR. Timothy received this panel series for Christmas, my dad made the frames a few weeks ago, and today Timothy and I stretched and stapled the canvas panels onto the frames.

4- Watched an episode of Lego Masters. 

5- Had lunch. Not one, not two, but THREE Taco Bell Crunch Wraps with a large Baja Blast Mountain Dew for Timothy. Organic Greek yogurt for me.  

6- Took a post braces photo. When the bambino started to protest, I was sweetly snarky: "Look, we just spent thousands of dollars on your teeth, you owe me a photo."

7- He smiled. Sorta.

And now we're going to share a dessert of popcorn, Nerds, Starburst, and Swedish Fish because that's what you do when you get your braces off. 

clockwise from bottom:

Timothy checking out his older brother's braces

Eighth grade with braces

Tenth grade ... braces no more!

Celebratory gift bag

The Open Window

sitting by an open window

words written in raindrops

and poetry whispered in the wind

outside, a river of books

of quixotic quests

crumbling castles

loves lost and friendships found

the exotic 

and exceedingly ordinary

Once Upon a Time and The End

sitting by an open window

wishing I were a raindrop

yearning to be the wind

*from the files of very bad poetry by bia

Speak to Me Sunday: Take Our Bread

Once Upon a Time I was traveling with a medical team to Haiti when we stopped in a small village for a quick break. As I was wandering around, I came across a woman removing a loaf of bread from an open campfire. She saw me, broke off a chunk, and with a smile offered it to me. 

And I hesitated to take it.  

In the months leading up to our departure we had attended training sessions to prepare us for traveling in a third world country. We were given immunizations, a bottle of anti-malarial medication, and a list of do's and don'ts that were whittled down to this: Do NOT drink the water and Do NOT eat food that isn't cooked by a member of the staff. 

So when the woman offered me a chunk of bread, all those training sessions, the bitter-tasting anti-malarial pills, and the warnings of dirty tap water and contaminated food converged in that moment and... 

I reached out and took what she offered. Because it was all she had.

And so we broke bread together. 

That memory resurfaced while reading the Gospel of John's Bread of Life Discourse. Christ, the Living Bread, who died for us. 

A sacrifice in which he gave us everything he had. His body, blood, soul, and divinity.

The act of giving from a place of nothing, the love that comes from a complete emptying out of everything, takes on greater meaning when we step forward to take what is offered. And during Mass, when I go forward to receive what was given to each and every one of us, as I accept the precious gift that comes from a wellspring of sacrifice and love, I will remember that woman.

And I will feel grateful that Once Upon a Time in a remote village somewhere in Haiti, God's grace showed me how to be fully present in the moment so I could reach out to take what was offered.