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February 2003
WHAT WILL WE DO?
(with the opportunities we have)
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February 2003
WHAT WILL WE DO?
(with the opportunities we have)
Recently a very surprising and good thing happened. While I was deep in thought for the sermon on Sunday, a good idea for my Newsletter article entered my mind! Deep thoughts and ideas often come as a pair I suppose but this seemed special to me. So, here is the developed idea, with a lot of help from Father Andrew Greeley and I hope you agree!
Most of us have daily schedules that demand our time and energy, daily schedules that don't vary much. Routine matters occupy our days and when that routine gets disturbed we tend to get anxious, even protective of our schedule. There is a great deal of comfort in having life play out for us in predictable patterns. Yet, as someone said long ago, routine can be another name for a rut. That same someone concluded the thought by adding "and you know what a rut is? A rut is a grave with both ends removed!"
We can become so accustomed to our routine and protect it with such vehemence that we miss the opportunities each day offers. Father Andrew Greeley tells this story to make the point.
"We can go to Ireland for the summer," a mother and father announced to their children at this time of year not long ago. The response was underwhelming. The older teen said the Irish are creepy people, they talk all the time and they talk funny. "Besides I want to spend summer with my friends." "It's a great offer," the parents said. "All the kids are free both on the planes and in the cottage we'll rent in Ireland." "Cottage," said the younger teen. "I don't want to live in any cottage. Is it air conditioned in Ireland? Besides, I have early football practice." "You don't need air conditioning in Ireland," the parents said, "and the cottage is really a nice house and there's a town nearby where they sing all the old Irish songs." "I don't want to sing Irish songs," said the older grammar school kid. "I want to hear rock and roll music." "You'll have a grand time when you get to know Irish kids your age," the parents responded. "I don't want to meet any Irish kids my age," said the youngster. "I like my friends in America. They're a lot more fun."
A crazy waste of a golden opportunity, you say? How many opportunities have we wasted in life for reasons that are very similar?
Let's break free of the routine rut and look for the opportunities each day brings. Jesus said: "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." Nothing routine about that!
Grace and peace,
David
David D. Reed