Thornton Wilder's plays are filled with gems of wisdom and insight. Here is one on marriage:
"I didn't marry you because you were perfect. I didn't even marry you because I loved you. I married you because you gave me a promise. That promise made up for your faults. And the promise I gave you made up for mine. Two imperfect people got married and it was the promise that made the marriage. And when our children were growing up, it wasn't a house that protected them; and it wasn't our love that protected them--it was that promise."
— Thornton Wilder (The Skin of Our Teeth: A Play)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
A Milestone Anniversary
We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. We celebrate graduations and first steps. We celebrate first pay check and retirement. So, why not celebrate the anniversary of a disaster.
On August 29, 2010, we will celebrate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Maybe some wish to forget it because they were condemned by it. Others may wish to remember it as a milestone of achievement.
I arrived at Our Lady of the Gulf parish in Bay St. Louis in August 1972 – my first assignment. In visiting people’s homes at the time, I was struck by how freely they talked about a recent hurricane, Camille, that struck the area on August 19, 1969. Embedded in my consciousness, was the novel way people marked the destructive force of Camille. I heard phrases like “BC” and “AC” I found out they had nothing to do with a Christian context or air conditioning. Rather, they stood for “Before Camille” and “After Camille.”
On August 29, 2005, the sign outside Our Lady of the Gulf Church read: “Sometimes, you have to lose everything in order to do anything.” Was it providential, accidental or prophetic? I am always amazed at the irony of how, months earlier, it was scripted for Hurricane Katrina.
Prior to leaving my former parish for Bay St. Louis in September 2000, a parishioner there, with the gift of discernment, told me that “the Lord will stretch you.” For five years, I struggled with the meaning and implications of such a challenge. I found out its true meaning and impact following Hurricane Katrina.
The vestiges of Katrina still remain – the unfinished roads; the blighted countryside, the empty, overgrown lots, the contortioned trees; the untouched, petrified monumental homes; the scattered exiles in newer and unfamiliar surroundings.
Beneath the surface, a more insidious trauma lurked. A sense of helplessness and paralysis set in; a sense of indecision took over; a sense of defeat threatened; a sense of vulnerability visited. Men cried inside and women talked freely.
Some began to talk in the past tense. “I used to have…” others mourned their losses and healed. Rebuilt houses replaced memory-laden homes with hopes of being homes again. Updates, upgrades changed complexions and a way of life. All were changed, utterly changed; new persons were born.
What have we discovered about ourselves? We discovered how fragile life can be and how we need to handle it with care, concern and love. We discovered that the treasures that really matter are people, not things. We discovered that snapshots of our past are locked deep in our memory rather than in photo albums. We discovered that it is more important to be surrounded by people, not by things. We discovered strangers who became friends; that we are islands of people often brought together through pain rather than through success or achievement. We discovered the inherent goodness of people who are more willing to lend you a shoulder, a hand, a tear and a heart. We discovered that there are people who are willing to mend hearts as well as homes. We discovered deep within ourselves gifts untapped, opportunities unknown and strengths unbridled. We discovered that the power of resilience is much greater than the power of water. We discovered a God who can bring us to our knees in order to teach us his mastery, wisdom and plan. From a faith perspective, we discovered that it was necessary to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor hurricane can destroy and where thieves cannot break in and steal.
In the quiet of the evening, God will walk with us on our Emmaus road of recovery, listening to our heartaches as he shows us that lives blessed, broken and offered can be transformed into resurrected hope.
On August 29, 2010, the electronic sign outside Our Lady of the Gulf Church will once again reflect the same message as it did five years ago. This time, rather than being providential or prophetic, it may be a sign of realistic hope, lessons learned and providential care; not just another milestone anniversary.
On August 29, 2010, we will celebrate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Maybe some wish to forget it because they were condemned by it. Others may wish to remember it as a milestone of achievement.
I arrived at Our Lady of the Gulf parish in Bay St. Louis in August 1972 – my first assignment. In visiting people’s homes at the time, I was struck by how freely they talked about a recent hurricane, Camille, that struck the area on August 19, 1969. Embedded in my consciousness, was the novel way people marked the destructive force of Camille. I heard phrases like “BC” and “AC” I found out they had nothing to do with a Christian context or air conditioning. Rather, they stood for “Before Camille” and “After Camille.”
On August 29, 2005, the sign outside Our Lady of the Gulf Church read: “Sometimes, you have to lose everything in order to do anything.” Was it providential, accidental or prophetic? I am always amazed at the irony of how, months earlier, it was scripted for Hurricane Katrina.
Prior to leaving my former parish for Bay St. Louis in September 2000, a parishioner there, with the gift of discernment, told me that “the Lord will stretch you.” For five years, I struggled with the meaning and implications of such a challenge. I found out its true meaning and impact following Hurricane Katrina.
The vestiges of Katrina still remain – the unfinished roads; the blighted countryside, the empty, overgrown lots, the contortioned trees; the untouched, petrified monumental homes; the scattered exiles in newer and unfamiliar surroundings.
Beneath the surface, a more insidious trauma lurked. A sense of helplessness and paralysis set in; a sense of indecision took over; a sense of defeat threatened; a sense of vulnerability visited. Men cried inside and women talked freely.
Some began to talk in the past tense. “I used to have…” others mourned their losses and healed. Rebuilt houses replaced memory-laden homes with hopes of being homes again. Updates, upgrades changed complexions and a way of life. All were changed, utterly changed; new persons were born.
What have we discovered about ourselves? We discovered how fragile life can be and how we need to handle it with care, concern and love. We discovered that the treasures that really matter are people, not things. We discovered that snapshots of our past are locked deep in our memory rather than in photo albums. We discovered that it is more important to be surrounded by people, not by things. We discovered strangers who became friends; that we are islands of people often brought together through pain rather than through success or achievement. We discovered the inherent goodness of people who are more willing to lend you a shoulder, a hand, a tear and a heart. We discovered that there are people who are willing to mend hearts as well as homes. We discovered deep within ourselves gifts untapped, opportunities unknown and strengths unbridled. We discovered that the power of resilience is much greater than the power of water. We discovered a God who can bring us to our knees in order to teach us his mastery, wisdom and plan. From a faith perspective, we discovered that it was necessary to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor hurricane can destroy and where thieves cannot break in and steal.
In the quiet of the evening, God will walk with us on our Emmaus road of recovery, listening to our heartaches as he shows us that lives blessed, broken and offered can be transformed into resurrected hope.
On August 29, 2010, the electronic sign outside Our Lady of the Gulf Church will once again reflect the same message as it did five years ago. This time, rather than being providential or prophetic, it may be a sign of realistic hope, lessons learned and providential care; not just another milestone anniversary.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Resilience
In reflecting on people's efforts to rebound from Hurricane Katrina, commentators often mention the idea of people's resilience.
Psychologist Robert WIcks definies resilience as "the ability to meet, learn from and not be crushed by the challenges and stresses of life."
I wonder what is it that allows some people to rise from the ashes of destruction while others remain totally paralyzed and incapable of moving beyond the trauma?
Psychologist Robert WIcks definies resilience as "the ability to meet, learn from and not be crushed by the challenges and stresses of life."
I wonder what is it that allows some people to rise from the ashes of destruction while others remain totally paralyzed and incapable of moving beyond the trauma?
Monday, April 12, 2010
What is Katrina teaching me?
Katrina is teaching me never to take anything or anyone for granted because some day, that “anything” or “anyone” might be wrenched from your inner being.
Katrina is teaching me to value friendships more than things because things can be replaced and friendships which are taken for granted may not.
Katrina is teaching me that I am never in complete control of life; that I have no choice but to live it as a mystery, not a problem to be solved.
Katrina is teaching me more about myself, a self that is constantly in process, a self that is always in transition.
Katrina is teaching me that perspective is determined by my willingness to grow through adversity.
Katrina is teaching me about the inherent goodness of people who unselfishly and without the need for recognition shine at the darkest hour.
Katrina is teaching me that just as it is darkest just before dawn; that our greatest potential surfaces in seemingly hopeless situations.
Katrina is teaching me that hope, coupled with faith and a generous supply of love, can move us even through the worst disaster.
Katrina is teaching me more about myself than any book could ever as I become an open script for the book of life that the Author of life is writing through me.
Katrina is teaching me I can never really know myself fully until I am stretched on an ongoing basis.
Katrina is teaching me that if I use the raw materials that the Lord has blessed me with, then he will provide me with the blueprints that will guide me on life’s journey.
Katrina is teaching me to love surprises, as big as a hurricane or as small as a morning greeting.
Katrina is teaching me that the Lord, who knows me most intimately, believes in me enough to take me through the darkest moments to new life, new growth and new possibilities.
Katrina is teaching me that weakness is a special gift because it allows me to lean more on the Great Architect of my life.
Katrina is teaching me that tears are a gift which can cleanse not only the eye but also the insight which comes from deep within.
Katrina is teaching me that a few minutes of fame may be fleeting, but can become a stimulant to impact lives behind the scenes.
Katrina is teaching me that it is okay to accept a compliment if I am willing to use it as an extra incentive.
Katrina is teaching me that time is not necessarily chronological but instead is programmed by my own gifts, opportunities, courage and determination.
Katrina is teaching me that life is cyclical; that everything has its seasons; that there is a time for everything under the heaven and under the deep recesses of my heart.
Katrina is teaching me that life is a journey that is sometimes disrupted by a pebble in a shoe or a hurricane in a Gulf Coast bottleneck.
Katrina is teaching me that interruptions are really opportunities, some times in sheep’s clothing and other times, in wolves clothing.
Katrina is teaching me that often the most scenic as well as the most difficult part of the journey’s terrain is the richest and most life-giving as well as life-changing.
Katrina is teaching me that I will never be able or should I be able to put a period where in fact there is simply a pause.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Ironic sign
The sign outside Our Lady of the Gulf Church in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, on August 29, 2005 read "Sometimes, you have to lose everything in order to do anything." Ironically, Hurricane Katrina not only ripped away the sign but counless peoples lives were changed drastically because of it.
This Blog is created to give people, affected both directly and indirectly by Katrina, an opportunity to reflect on how it has changed their lives; what they have learned about themselves and how they continue to grow. Through this process, we can all grow strong at our broken places.
This Blog is created to give people, affected both directly and indirectly by Katrina, an opportunity to reflect on how it has changed their lives; what they have learned about themselves and how they continue to grow. Through this process, we can all grow strong at our broken places.
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