Silent Spring

 

Dear Friends

On this first day of spring, I just want to share a few quotes of Rachel Carson. She, as you know, is the author of “Silent Spring”, published in 1962. The book begins with “A Fable for Tomorrow”, well worth reading again to grab our attention and, hopefully, continue to call us to action. I just re-read it. It is so powerful and urgent.

I was reminded of her seminal work because she is the focus for the fourth week of Lent in a brochure I have been using: Lent: To Live Anew by Joan Chittister. (The drawing above by Marcy Hall is from this brochure). Here are the quotes:

+++   “The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for human destruction.”

+++   “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”

+++   “One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, ‘What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?’”

+++   “Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.”

+++   “There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature---the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”

Even for us spoiled Southern Californians, that last phrase, spring after winter, sounds and feels good! But as we feel good about spring finally arriving, the dedication at the beginning of Silent Spring is sobering:

To Albert Schweitzer who said

“Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall.

He will end by destroying the earth.”

Fifty-eight years later, progress has been made. But will we have the courage and political will to meet and defeat the dire predictions that remain?

For the beauty of the earth, for our children’s children, Good Lord, deliver us!

John

 

"Where's the (corned) beef?"

 

Dear Friends

I am all in for corned beef and cabbage and look forward to my annual fill of it tonight. But there is more to consider on this St. Patrick’s Day, things to fill mind and soul. And so I share a part of a brief commentary by James Kiefer and one verse of a more literal translation by Kuno Meyer of the familiar hymn “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”.

Patrick was born about 390, in southwest Britain, somewhere between the Severn and the Clyde rivers, son of a deacon and grandson of a priest. When about sixteen years old, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland. Until this time, he had, by his own account, cared nothing for God, but now he turned to God for help. After six years, he either escaped or was freed, made his way to a port 200 miles away, and there persuaded some sailors to take him onto their ship. He returned to his family much changed, and began to prepare for the priesthood, and to study the Bible.

Around 435, Patrick was commissioned, perhaps by bishops in Gaul and perhaps by the Pope, to go to Ireland as a bishop and missionary. Patrick made his headquarters at Armagh in the North, where he built a school, and had the protection of the local monarch. From this base he made extensive missionary journeys, with considerable success. To say that he single-handedly turned Ireland from a pagan to a Christian country is an exaggeration but is not far from the truth.

An aspect of Patrick's thought that shows very clearly through his writings, is his awareness of himself as an unlearned exile, a former slave and a fugitive, who has learned the hard way to put his sole trust in God. 

   

    I arise today

    God's strength to pilot me:

    God's might to uphold me,

    God's wisdom to guide me,

    God's eye to look before me,

    God's ear to hear me,

    God's word to speak to me,

    God's hand to guard me,

    God's way to lie before me,

    God's shield to protect me,

    God's host to save me.

My mind and heart now filled with some knowledge and inspiration, what else is there to say but “Bring on the corned beef and cabbage!”.

John

 

   

 

 

Banking on Blood

Dear Friends

While continuing to choose to stay in the extra cautious lane for now, even after receiving my two vaccinations, I did break out to donate blood the other day. The need is great, as I’m sure you have heard. Great care was given to make it easy, safe and fast. The snacks were good. I also received a $10 certificate for Fandango and a t-shirt. I gave the certificate to Emily---What is and what am I supposed to do with a Fandango certificate? I kept the “I Blead to the Max” t-shirt.

I went with mixed emotions but O, I’m positive I did the right thing. B sides, there were no negatives. A nother positive thing, I didn’t have to stick around too long. Although the nurse was cute, she wasn’t really my type---“We just weren’t a match”, I told Kathleen.

As I left, I left my business card (“Retired Priest: Will Preach for Pasta”) to enter the drawing for a plasma TV! But to tell the truth, there was no such contest and there is no such business card.

Did I mention the sign above the door when I went in?---“No blood, No service”.

Seriously, I like the LifeStream Slogan:

Give Hope, Give Life, Give Blood.

I am thankful for my health and thankful that I was able to do this little part during our world-wide, continuing battle with Covid-19.

John

P.S. To save even more time, you can sign up for Express Pass which means you answer all those questions online before you go in for your appointment.