Friends and Water

Today at Catholic masses around the world, the gospel reading from John featured Jesus and a Samaritan woman at a well.  The priest at my church gave a brief homily with a great point. A point that I think anyone—regardless of faith or with no faith at all—can relate to.

The priest referred to Jesus as befriending the woman.  With that, he then tried to relate friends and water, seeking an analogy. 

As he continued to work toward the analogy, he mentioned teaching a class to first graders and asking about what water brings.  One of the kids answered, “The gift of life.” “Very true,” said the priest in his homily.  That gave him the lead in he needed for the analogy. 

So, he turned to talking about friends.  Not a list of hundreds of friends on social media.  But dear friends who have changed our lives.  Perhaps there is no friend to whom each of us owes the gift of life, but each of us has friends who have made an impact on our lives or who have changed our lives.

That allowed the priest to encourage us to be just as thankful for those friends as we are for other gifts in our lives.  People matter.  We should acknowledge that they matter.  We should tell them that they matter.  Finally, we should work to be gifts for others as much as they are gifts to us.  Not just remotely and by emails and texts.  Rather, let friends hear us and visit when we can.  That level of friendship and the gift it brings deserves the attention that can only happen in person or in real time conversation.

These are words of wisdom that I know inspire me, and I’d hope would be inspiring to all.

Christmas Eve Mass

Yesterday I talked about the Christmas Eve run and the mass just a little bit.  Today, I want to take a few moments to comment on the mass itself.  Why?  Because going to such a small church that  relies on those outside the community who visit for vacation but attend the church for at least some support, makes for an interesting spiritual experience when one takes the time to think about it.

The small group of people who are the regular community care a whole lot and give their all.  And on Christmas Eve they gave it their all and were willing to admit where they were having issues.

Take the music.  They had a three piece brass trio that played some songs before the mass.  Were they as fine as the brass quintet that played at the Maryland State Boychoir Nine Lessons and Carols?  Nope.  Not even close.  But they provided an important link in the joy of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

The had a choir that was okay, but the woman who was leading the choir through song on Christmas Eve made several observations.  The individuals who usually played the music and the director of the choir were all out of town for Christmas Eve.  That happens.  People have family and sometimes cannot arrange to stay.  But the group sang on.  And for part of the prelude the group sang a cappella. Then, they invited the congregation to song some familiar carols and the nice thing was that even in a Catholic church nearly everyone sang along.  My heart was touched as I'd been to a non-Catholic church on Christmas Eve the past two years (in addition to my normal mass attendance) and the difference in singing was notable.

The woman who led the responsorial psalm by herself gave it her all.  Everyone involved made absolutely sure that they tried as hard as they could.  They had pre-recorded music on the electronic keyboard but probably would have been better off just going a cappella the whole way.

But the key is they were all in.  And that is what church should be about.  All in for beliefs.  All in for community.  All in for the sense of what it can provide.

And that was beautiful.  It was just one example.  But it was a great example of those who are not perfect, who know they are not perfect, but who love what they are doing enough to do it anyway and to make sure that they do their best.  A lesson for me.  A lesson for all. 

Fascinating Ideas

So, I've kept right on running since my last blog entry.  In fact, I have run ever day including and since Thanksgiving Day (on which I did the 5K Turkey Trot) and every day but one since Saturday November 22, the day before the Philadelphia Marathon.  With all that running I am up to 2123.1 miles and trying to aim for a total of 2222 at the end of the year 17 days from now.

In any case, this morning we went to the early mass at which we heard Fr. Burnham tell us about how we should be the light in our worlds and how we are faced with accepting who we are.  He made the observation that it has been human nature ever since the story of the Garden of Eden when everything was provided in abundance, to always reach beyond and to try to reach what was intended to be limited and not available.

Then, I attended the "Parent Connection" activity for parents while children are at religious education in the St. Pius X parish.  This was the third time that the director of religious education has led a session like this.  Today's session was the smallest (only 4 parents) but it was, nevertheless, a great session.

The topic was how to talk with our children about the role of women in the church.

What was most interesting to me was the fact that there was a clearer explanation of the Catholic church's position at present and the fact that it was not the result of a statement made under papal infallibility.

What was even more interesting was the way the director of religious education recast the question.  Yes, we can ask whether having women be ordained in the Catholic church would help to minimize the shortage of priests the Catholic church faces at the moment.  However, the even more important questions could be "what is the role for everyone who is not an ordained priest?" and "how should women be included in higher levels of decision making in the Catholic church?"

There are a few roles that only priests are eligible to perform in the Catholic church.  But, our parish is a great example of how the role of administering a church and leading a church community can be undertaken by a woman (we have had a female pastoral life director for over a decade) while the priest focuses more specifically on the sacramental aspects of his work.

What I also thought about was the ways in which I had experienced women in important roles in my spiritual life throughout my life and the ways in which I have chosen to express this.

Clearly, my tattoo shows St. Sebastian (a man) depending on Irene (a woman) to rescue him after he was shot by archers.  I have reflected multiple times on how, in my life, I have been helped in general (as well as in my spiritual life) by women.

My mother recommended strongly that I join the Newman Student Association at Penn State.

Many of my closest friends in Newman were female.

There was an important female ministerial presence in my experience at both Penn State and Michigan.

The people with whom I have had the deepest conversations about faith and life in Baltimore have been women.

The pastoral life director already mentioned.

All but one of the individuals who has led the children and/or youth ministry program at St. Pius X in our time here have been female.

Obviously, my wife has been a great influence on my spiritual life.

I have written about it.

I show it every time anyone can see my right calf.

And so, I don't have any reason to suspect that women cannot be as important a light to the world in the priesthood of all believers as men can.  In fact, my experience points to women being just as important.

So, my own outlook says there is no reason to think that women cannot be an important part of spiritual life with unique insights that could add something important to decisions made by the Catholic church.  I will continue to rely on women in my life to help with my own spiritual journey.  I don't feel a strong need to debate whether women should be ordained in the Catholic church.  That is a debate for another day.  What I do think is that the church should continue to redefine ways in which to involve women in the most important discussions and most important ministries of the church.  If anyone ever needs convincing of the importance of women in spiritual life, in shaping spiritual life, in making decisions about how to strengthen spiritual life, in making decisions about how to minister based on spiritual life, and to be the light for the world that Fr. Burnham suggested this morning, I have a long list of testimonials I could provide. 

Track Workout and Knowing How Much to Push

Today, I ran 7 miles at the Dunbar track.  Nicely lit.  Glad to see it open the second straight time I showed up.  We did 800's.  My watch was acting up so I think I ran five at sub-3:10 and the last one at 3:12.  The last one sure felt a whole lot easier than 3:12.  It may have been in part because that was one during which I had company.  On the first one, I nearly kept pace with the two guys faster than me.  Fell behind more on 2 and 3.  On 4, I nearly kept up.  On 5, I fell way behind.  So I dropped back to run with the person who had been one behind me.  We ran 3:12 together and the whole thing just felt easier.  My slowest.  Her fastest.  But each of us got what was needed from that last segment of the workout.

The seven miles puts me up to 393.5 of out 2000.  Nicely on pace despite running only five days.  In 5 days, I ran 42 miles.  That was after four days off.  It's been an odd nine days.

The distance puts me where Royalton Rd turns into Ohio Route 752 headed west in Asheville right near the Blessed Hope Bible Church.  I am in the southern Columbus suburbs.  That is kind of cool since I was born in and have traveled multiple times to Columbus.  Once when I was 16 to see where I had lived when I was an infant.  Twice for work to Ohio State.

What did I ponder this morning?  Well, in light of the name of the church I am near on my virtual pilgrimage, I can think of a few things.  

First, a bit more of taking life in stride.  My watch has worked recently.  Acted up a little just before I arrived at the track.  But I didn't worry.  I just ran.

Second, blessings.  The beautiful morning weather was a blessing--although I should have stuck with short sleeve rather than long sleeve.  My running friends are a blessing.  My family and especially my kids who were up to take the banana bread out of the oven this morning long after I'd left are a blessing.  The opportunities that my boss has provided me for professional development are a blessing.  My ability to deal with variation that I discussed with respect to my previous run is a blessing.  And the fact that I can figure out how to make the best of almost any situation--from keeping up with faster guys to enjoying a run with a friend who is usually behind but will benefit just as much--that is a blessing.

The third thing is hope.  Hope that I can make the most of the opportunities I have been given.  Hope that whatever I run it will help me.  Hope that using variation will make me a better runner.  Hope that I will be able to maintain where I have been or be even better.  Hope for the success of all my boys in their musical, skating, academic, hockey, lacrosse, and other artistic pursuits.  Hope for my marriage.  Hope for others I know who have challenges with relationships.  

And finally, persistence.  While that is not part of the church's name, we ran 9 laps on the track at an easy pace after we had finished the six 800's so that I could claim my 7 miles.  Nothing forced that.  That was pure enjoyment.  That was conversation.  That was experience.  That was aiming for a goal.  That is my making sure I get stuff done.

So, as I stop by the Blessed Hope Bible Church and think about my relationship with God, how Lent is a time to strengthen and set right my relationship with God (seeing as how we would not have a need for Lent if humans had not turned away from God in the first place), and how lessons from the Bible, and homilies, and other things I read all help me to focus on my relationship with God, life is good.  Another day of focus and energy at work.

We will see what I run tomorrow.   

The Spirituality of Advent, Day 7, Week 3

Today was my first 14 mile run since mid-September.  And in the course of this amazingly warm day (a high in the upper 60's or even 70 in Baltimore on the winter solstice), I was in touch with so many things that bring joy and that help me to see what I am just a part of that is so much bigger than me.

We can begin with before my run.  I didn't leave until about 6:30 and interacted with both one child and Sherry before the run.  Family is a big part of who I am.  I am not always perfect at being a good family member.  Not the perfect Dad or son or husband or brother by any means.  But I try to always remember the importance of family and I try to make sure that my family members know I care.  I don't always have the opportunity to interact with family before I run in the morning, so it was a great way to start the day.

And if we go back one step further, I walked the dog before I ran.  In fact, I took our dog China for all three walks today.  That is a reflection of a close relationship that I would never ever want to lose.  But it is one that takes time--just like any other relationship.  And being a part of God's kingdom in which we were called on to be stewards for the earth.  This is something much bigger than me--clearly.  

Then, I met a friend to run 14 miles.  We met at the Maryland Zoo.  She had missed a turn to get to the zoo parking lot, so she called and thanks to cell phones in general, my familiarity with the city, and smart phones, I got her safely to meet up with me to run.  I have been running with this friend when we are both healthy for 3 years.  We have been there to support each other through running and personal ups and downs.  Friendship is something bigger than me.  It has to be.  It requires at least two people--except for when I had an imaginary friend named "Adam 12 Roger" as a kid.  (I failed to realize that the on the TV show, the copy was saying "Roger" as in turning the conversation over, not as part of a name...)  

The run, being my first 14 mile run since mid-September, being my first run of more than 10K in two weeks, being my first run after three days off, and being my at a sub-8 pace overall, was challenging.  And I should have had water with me given how warm it was.  I'll make sure next time.  My friend offered gatorade, but I stuck it out.

We ran from the zoo to the other side of Druid Hill Park.  As we passed the lake, we could see the sun rising over the lake.  This is always a beautiful sight.  Then we went past the Stieff Silver building.  We turned south on Sisson and ran past the city's recycling center.  Then, we passed the Mill Valley General Store at which I get bulk flours, dried fruits, and today (long after the run) nutmeg.  I pointed it out to my running partner.  Maybe she'll check it out sometime.  

We proceeded across 28th street past streets like Hampden, Huntington, and Remington on our way to Charles.  On the way to Charles, it is a pretty gritty section of town.   

Then, we took the long trot down Charles.  First, working our way through the numbered streets.  Some residential.  Many businesses and offices with few open at that early hour.  Then, across North avenue and approaching Penn Station.  As we passed the infamous Man-Woman Statue, my friend commented that her kids call it the Mama statue because that is just what one of them called it when he was two.  Continuing along Charles past Peabody (where I'd seen two concerts last weekend and where I have become a little part of the community that my son is integrally involved in), and to the area south of Mt Vernon with many restaurants like David and Dad's (good for breakfast).  

Finally, I was going to turn on Fayette but instead went down to Baltimore Street and we ran from Charles to President on Baltimore.  That took us past "The Block" in Baltimore which is not a place I typically run.  But it was harmless at 7:30 in the morning.

Along the way to this point (and then later as well), I saw at least a dozen Back on My Feet runners.  Another community that I am a part of.  

We went down President to Lombard and took Lombard (occasionally gritty) all the way over to Patterson Park Avenue.  There, we turned south.  As I ran along, I could see some sights at the port and the beautiful Ukrainian church on Eastern Avenue.  Things that give a real sense of what Baltimore has to offer.  And really making it clear how much of the city this 14 mile run took in.

Then, we turned north on Linwood and passed the ice rink in Patterson Park.  Many people don't even know there is an ice rink there.  The ice hockey community is another one I am a part of.

Then, we turned back West on Baltimore Street and ran over to Central then up to Fayette, and across to Fallsway.  I suppose you could say we began the climb when we hit the southeast corner of Patterson Park and headed back toward the start.  But at Fallsway the climb really began. While running along Baltimore Street, someone looked out of a car window and yelled my name.  That person, I did not recognize but it was another sign of just how much I am a part of the Baltimore community.

We went along Fallsway, across Mt Royal, and up St Paul.  On St. Paul we passed North Ave and the Lovely Lane church where I briefly took African drumming lessons years ago (another interesting community to have been a part of), and Terra Cafe at 25th and St Paul (where Christopher plays occasionally). Then, we proceeded up to 29th, across past the Wyman Park Dell, around the edge of the JHU campus, and back to where we started.

When we ended at the zoo there were many families getting ready to enter the zoo--another cool thing for families to do to understand how they are part of the bigger world and to enjoy together.

Later in the day I took my eight year old to the Mill Valley General Store.  We bought atrisan and semolina flour, two types of dried fruit, and some egg nog and chocolate milk.  That was a fun trip. I love spending time shopping with Daniel and he was extremely helpful getting the bulk goods.  I talked with the owner about the flours and mentioned that I'd recommended the store.  She appreciated the recommendation and had some insights about the flour.  

Then, I started the pizza that my family would eventually enjoy for dinner.  Went to the other grocery store but by myself.  Took a slight nap.  Made and served dinner.  

Then, I took my 14 year old to pick up one of his fellow boychoir members and the boy's older sister.  We had a good conversation on the way to boychoir.  This is another community I have become part of.

Then, I came home to pick up the rest of my family to proceed to see the Lessons and Carols concert. Nine biblical lessons, carols after each.  Plus one at the start and finish for good measure.  I was particularly moved by Marco Merrick's deliberate reading of the story of the wise men.  Being a part of the MSB community and those who love to listen to the boys and those who spend time thinking about the meanings of their concerts is pretty cool.

So, I guess I could say that in so many ways--running, family, friendship, Back on My Feet, ice hockey, MSB, shoppers at Mill Valley, etc.--today was about recognizing community.  There is joy in community.  And the opportunities to be part of a community are all around me.  Moving ahead, I may need to prioritize participation in some communities over others.  But the joy is there to engage in if I want to make the time.  

Tomorrow, I engage another community--church.  

It is all good.

The Spirituality of Advent, Day 4, Week 2

Today, I want to address preparation for running.  There are many activities that are part of preparation for running and some of them have changed over time.  

One activity that used to be part of preparation when I was a teenager but is not part of preparation now is stretching.  We used to do a lot of stretching on mostly cold muscles.  The evidence these days suggests that stretching cold muscles is just as likely to lead to a pull as to help to prevent a pull.  So, I stretch some these days, if I stretch at all I usually stretch at the end of the workout or at least after a warmup.

Before a fast and hard run one thing that I still do is a warm-up.  This gets the muscles ready for the stress that the harder workout will put on them.  A bit of slow and easy running.  Or when at the gym, even some other type of exercise.  This does help to prevent pulls and strains when doing a harder workout.

Then there is dressing properly.  In Baltimore this sometimes means wearing as little as possible while not being indecent.  At other times of year, it means figuring out how many layers I can wear while still being able to run.  And sometimes, it means choosing just the right number of layers and right clothing for each part of the body.  

Then there is making sure that I have whatever liquid or nutrition I need for during the workout.  Sometimes just water.  Other times Gatorade.  Then I might take a variety of nutritional supplements.  All to make sure that during the run, my muscles are ready.  

Finally, there is the need to make sure that my digestive system is as empty as possible of everything I ate before the workout.  Even if it was the day before.  I find it very uncomfortable to run with anything in my stomach.  This is interesting when it is paired with making sure that I have the right liquid and nutrition to take with me to ingest during the run.

All of these are pretty basic and very functional aspects of preparing to run.  So how does any of this come back to the spirituality of Advent without repeating that there are many aspects of preparation for anything and this is just another example of an activity that requires me to undertake a large number of activities to prepare.  

Perhaps it is useful to think about analogies.  Stretching and warming up muscles is like preparing the heart and soul to focus on being ready to accept God when I go to church.  I contend to this day that God does not care how I dress for church and that any expectations for clothing are a human convention.  However, I think that considering how to dress is like preparing myself for whatever challenges the particular trip to church will present.  Some readings are tougher to deal with.  Some priests are more difficult to appreciate.  There are other situations that lead to variation in my experience of the community experience of mass and in the same way that I can be best prepared for them, I need to prepare myself to face whatever weather I face along with many other runners.  Making sure that I bring liquid and nourishment along the way makes me think of being ready to receive the spiritual nourishment that the community experience of church offers.  And finally, clearing my digestive system is like trying to leave everything that may be troubling my heart and soul behind so that I can appreciate the community experience of church in the most meaningful way possible.  

So, I really think that there are some cool ways to think about how preparing for running is like preparing for a spiritual and communal experience at church each week.  

Easter Mass

Just a quick note today.  Father Sam had his walker at church toda.  I worry about his health.  However, it was not the fact that he was using his walker that caught my attention the most.  What caught my attention the most was his multiple efforts to make everyone feel welcome.  He said that he was not concerned about people showing up only once in a while.  He mentioned that not everyone may be fully engaged.  But he noted that everyone is welcome.  What a wonderful message.  What a gift--on the day we celebrate the greatest gift of all from God.  

Music also went quite nicely today.

It will be interesting to see how St. Pius X as a parish and the Catholic church as a whole under the new leadership can continue to make people feel welcome.  

Another Quote from the New Pope

A quote form the new pope: "We need to come out of ourselves and head for the periphery."  I found it at http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2013/03/14/pope-francis-in-his-own-words/ after it was brought to my attention by the leader of the children's and youth ministry at my church and the pastoral life director at my church (in two different settings).  

In any case, it is a cool reminder that we can't just continue to serve the people already in the pews and act within our comfort zones.  The evangelical mission is about outreach to those whom we don't normally see, those from whom we don't normally hear, and those whose lives we don't normally touch.  It is a turning outward rather than turning inward. Not to say, of course, that the Catholic church couldn't stand to do some cleaning up by turning inward but to note that it will not survive if it does not turn outward and bring more people in.  

After a very long email to a friend about the music ministry group that I am a part of, I think of how this would apply (or not) to the music ministry.  Do we operate too much within a comfort zone too much of the time?  What would moving out of our comfort zone mean for a music ministry?  And how would a must ministry reach the periphery?  Not easy questions but ones that might, just might, take the music ministry to a higher level some day if people were willing to struggle with the issues raised and come away with a better sense of what our ministry does mean and could mean than we have now.   

Sunday's Response

In the Catholic church I attend we rarely use the written and recited response.  We always have a song.  Despite rehearing on Tuesday night, I could not tell you off the top of my head what the song we will use instead of a response will be this Sunday.  However, looking at the written response that is to be recited, we find that the Catholic church chooses to draw on Psalm 96--more or less verses 1-10 on this year's second Sunday of ordinary time and feast of St. Sebastian.

The people's response is "Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all nations."  Certainly after having one amazing year (20th anniversary, qualifying for Boston, new career opportunities emerging, children maturing) and with another amazing year ahead (still teaching Sunday school, still playing bass, more running, more cooking, approach our 21st anniversary, looking forward to celebrating my parents' 45th anniversary, helping our oldest apply to college), I see many reasons to proclaim marvelous deeds that I, for one, attribute in part to God.  I realize that plenty of people see no room for God.  But I do and I think that all this good begins with God.

The verses talk about singing a new song from all the lands that reflects the blessing of God's name.  I know that St. Sebastian spread the word of God.  I don't think of myself as necessarily singing a song to the Lord, but every day when I blog, I am proclaiming in some way.  Each day is new.  Each year I teach Sunday school there is something new.  And I thank God every day for what I have.

The verses proceed to mention that we should announce his salvation day after day. Again, for me this goes along with blogging.  And for St. Sebastian it meant continuing even after he knew just how much his life was at risk.

Then the verses shift to giving glory to God's name.  And they chose with a reminder to worship God who is king and rules with equity.

In some ways this is a bit repetitious. Simple praise verses while being very positive and uplifting tend to repeat the same message.  It is that way with many of the songs we sing  It doesn't make them bad.  It simply makes them read as though whoever was inspired by God to write it was inspired to "beat us over the head and remind us in every way possible" of the importance of the message.  Still, reminders are important.  Reminders are what St. Sebastian brought to the world in his words and reminders are what he kept bringing to the world even thought it put him at risk.  I have never felt at risk from the reminders I bring.  I try to use actions as much as words and let the way I lead my life following God speak for itself.