Friday, June 15, 2018
COUNT
This time last week
it seemed this posting
would be delayed a day.
Happily, here we go
right on time!
Hi There !
So, come on.
Let's count 'em up,
because they sure do
COUNT.
Let's count up all those
"nobodies"
of this world who have made
all the difference in the world
to us in our spiritual lives.
Honestly, right here, right now,
let's
COUNT
our for real "patron" saints,
the whole ones, the holy ones,
who have been our spiritual patrons,
our spiritual benefactors,
those who have endowed us so richly
by their lived example and sharing.
As a prompt, please permit me to share
a few examples from my own long
COUNT
of my patron saints and benefactors.
NOTES ON NOTABLE "NOBODIES"
WHO REALLY
COUNT
My Mother
-She didn't talk it, she walked it.
- She was the real deal,
really and truly
rooted, centered in
"The Love Who Is God."
- So centered, she was energized
to raise eight children and
one husband.
- Steadiness, generosity, hard, hard work.
- The good of all others always first and foremost.
- Encouragement, high ideals
blended with workable practicality.
- A warm, nurturing way.
- Found beauty everywhere.
- Knew how to laugh.
- Knew how to cry.
- A right at home mystic.
Brother Marius
- The care taker and handyman
at the seminary.
- So singularly, totally in full focus on God.
- A mystic on a lawn mower.
Father Anthony Vivona
- A quiet, not much noticed priest.
- Had the courage to be
who and how he really was.
- Introduced me to
the contemplative, mystical life by
his passionate love affair with God.
FYI
The weekly greeting here at
"frankly speaking"
of
"Hi There !"
comes from Father Vivona.
That's how he always greeted me.
Rita "Ma" Willett
- Rough, tough widow.
- Raised thirteen children
in extreme poverty and
with a determination
of steely faith.
- She wasn't pretty or poetic,
but she sure was beautiful.
Father James McMillan
- The greatest thinker and scholar
I ever met.
- Taught in an obscure setting.
- Introduced me to the intellectual life,
one with soul,
one open to unendingness.
"Craenie"
- Strong, vigorous farm woman.
- Robust of spirit.
- Generous to a fullness.
- Could laugh at a bug walking backward,
and most of all at herself.
- Free and freeing soul.
- Contagious zest for life,
life received, life given.
OK, time out.
Let's list the
"nobodies"
of this world
who have made
all the difference
in the world to you
as you have come alive spiritually.
LIST OF
NOTABLE "NOBODIES"
WHO REALLY
COUNT
Let's think and pray, then name the top six,
and reconvene in ten
-___________________________________
-___________________________________
-___________________________________
-___________________________________
-___________________________________
-___________________________________
Ten Later
Pretty counter intuitive, right?
And there's the paradox.
Those named
so different and delightfully so
than the
"Big Names,
the
"Somebodies"
of commerce, politics,
entertainment, the academe.
Try this on.
When we come to die,
who will
COUNT
for us?
Bill Gates or our own Father Vivona?
Well, before we get there,
we have a lot of living to do
right here, right now.
So, over the next week let's focus
on those dear ones who are
our spiritual patrons saints
and
benefactors.
Let's let them be present to us anew.
It will renew and refresh us.
It will redirect and reconstitute our spirits
out here on the street of every day living.
Like most of them, we don't
COUNT
in the public eye.
Thank God !
One less illusion and distraction.
Happily, though, we are invited
to what really does
COUNT
in the long ( forever ) run -
free, full, open, joyous,
rambunctious, expansive
ALIVENESS
received and given,
and that without end.
Numbers just can't go that high,
but we can.
We are meant to really
COUNT.
As my dear friend, Bill Engisch say,
"Love to all."
John Frank
**********
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WELCOME!!!
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