Sunday I purchased a new book for my new iPod Touch. It’s “Excuses be Gone,” by Wayne Dyer. Like Dyer’s other books its chocked full of good insights many of which I’ve heard elsewhere b, ut he has such a great delivery it’s better to listen to the book than read it for me. In the past couple of years I’ve listened to more books than I’ve read thank to Apple’s i-Tunes Store. I actually wish that more books came this way. Reading is fun, but with an audible book I can take it anywhere. I can listen in the car, while I’m walking, even when I’m laying down for a nap. I really like my new i-Pod Touch which I got for buying my son a new MacBook. I got a rebate for the entire price of the i-Pod just for buying the Mac. I’m still a Ubuntu user and probably will be, but each of our children now own MacBooks. I highly recommend Dr. Dyer’s book and I recommend you listen to it. I’ve found that listening to books is helpful and I can listen again and again. Listening to Dr. Dyer’s positive affirmations help to program my computer for success.
Dad
A few days ago I stood above his grave and looked down at the Veterans Administration plaque that marks the spot where’s he’s lain for the past thirty-six years. He missed a lot of life by dying at 46. Dad is my namesake and there are many things about us that are similar. I bear his name and some say his looks. Looking like your father is not a stretch. He was an intense individual who like me wore his heart on his sleeve. I remember the last time I saw him and the last time I hugged him. We were standing in the terminal in Arcata, CA. It was late February 1973 and I was preparing to be assigned a permanent duty station by the US Navy. There had been a rift, some resentments between us and I almost wasn’t going to come to California where he and Mom were living at the time. I’m glad I did go. I’m glad that I flew to see him one last time. As we stood in the terminal my flight taxied into view and the attendant came to the door to beckon us to board this Hughes Air turbo-prop that was waiting. There was a lump in my throat and I’m sure there was one in his. I was trying to be brave like most 20 year old kids do. He put his arm around and gave me a big hug and told me that he was crying. I was crying too. Neither of us said, “I love you,” but it was there as big as life itself. I turned and walked to the plane and watched from window as he and Mom stood there and waited for the plane to taxi.
Thirty-six years ago tonight our Executive Officer came to the newborn nursery where I was working the afternoon shift. He asked me to come to his office. When he sat me down, he told me that Dad had died that afternoon in California. He told me he was sorry and that I could be relieved of my duty that night if I wanted to. I elected to stay and work. He told me to go to the personnel office in the morning and they would have emergency leave papers ready for me and a car would take me to the Albany, GA metropolitan airport where I would begin my journey home. I remember the kindness of my shipmates and how one guy, a dental technician, Bill Kirkland offered his Datsun 240Z to make the drive home. I’ve never forgotten that.
A year never goes by that I don’t remember Dad on this day. This morning a smile crossed my face as I though of one of his humorous metaphors which I occasionally share with friends and colleagues. He was a treasure trove of metaphors and similes. I’ve inherited some of those expressions from him. Time has healed the grief although there are times like this morning when I wish I had one more hour or one more day just to catch up. I see him in both our son and daughter. I see him in my brother and sister. I see him in my uncle, his brother, who will soon be ninety-two. I remember him often and as long as I live he will continue to live within me.
Bubba
This teddy bear has been part of the family for almost fifteen years now. Originally purchased as a Christmas gift for Dara when she was in elementary school. Dara named him Bubba. About five years ago when we moved to our present home he was excessed and I took him to school and donated him to the Kindergarten classes. He was home there for a few years until I discovered him in the throw-away pile a couple of years ago. I rescued him and put him in my office on the top shelf where he lived for the next almost two years until one of my co-workers suggested I put him in the car as he’d make my vehicle eligible for the HOV lane. That humorous suggestion landed him in the car for the last two months. This weekend my son suggested he needed a bath and so today Bubba got a Lysol bath and he’s soaking up the sun in an effort to make him even more loveable.
Once he’s ready I’ll put him back in the car where I’ve enjoyed having him as he brings an occasional smile to the faces of folks who see him on the highways of our area. I don’t know what there is about teddy bears, but I’ve loved them all my life. I have a collection at the house and I even have a footstool that looks like a bear cub. Some wags have suggested that I’ve been riding around with a bear behind.
Dan Riley, OFM
I’ve seen this video a few months ago, but tonight I came to it off a Twitter feed from St. Bonaventure University. I first met Dan Riley in the winter of 2000. I came to Mt. Irenaeus in search of I don’t know what. I had been leading a Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle and I was looking for something more. Coming to Mt. Irenaeus was a stretch as I’d been away from the active practice of my faith for almost thirty years at that point. I’d become disillusioned with the a church that didn’t seem to live up to its mission, at least in my own eyes. I’d read Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen and was an occasional visitor to Abbey of the Genesee, but I was not a regular communicant until that Sunday in February 2000. I don’t know if Dan was the celebrant that first Sunday, but I met him very soon after coming to Mt. Irenaeus and I distinctly remember that it was a homily by Dan on Holy Thursday night of 2000 that brought me back home. His manner bespeaks a man who is the epitome of what it is to be a Franciscan. Fr. Dan taught me how to be holy by being wholly myself.
This video pays tribute to Dan and the sharing of these students demonstrates that Dan’s ministry transcends generations. Recently he was honored by St. Bonaventure University with the Gaudete Award. It’s the highest award given by St. Bonaventure University. I saw him on campus on Thursday and he was as warm as ever.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbCVbCn2Z4c]
Wiring the web for global good
This is a great speech and it’s great to hear a national leader of a great country give such a talk.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7rrJAC84FA]
Bill Maher: New Rule: Not Everything in America Has to Make a Profit
This link from Bill Maher’s commentary on Huffington Post is well written. In fact Bill’s commentary reminds me of something I learned when touring George Eastman’s home in Rochester, New York. Eastman, the founder of Kodak, made a lot of money in World War I as a government contractor. Do you know what he did after the war? He gave all the money back. That’s the sign of a real patriot. Don’t you wish there was less emphasis on profit in our country and more emphasis on helping people and truly performing a service.
Bill Maher: New Rule: Not Everything in America Has to Make a Profit.
Health care reform is good for business
This story comes from a story and video I’ve just seen on one of my favorite blogs. Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Senator John Edwards, a woman currently battling cancer really does a great job of debunking some of the myths surrounding the health care debate which have heated up quite a bit this week. Some national Republicans are calling this Waterloo for Obama. Health care critics are always citing phony number and I’ve had a sense of that for sometime, but the statistics shown in this post are remarkable.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg1VSH1_eLo]
A few years ago I was speaking to a technical support representative of a major printer manufacturer. In our conversation I noted that he sounded very Canadian, which in fact he was. I quizzed him about why his company had located their technical support in Alberta. Why Alberta? Why put your technical support people in the middle of the Canadian Rockies. Why such a remote location? His answer was that the company wanted highly skilled English speakers but could not afford health care costs so they moved their operation to Canada. The light came on for me that day. As a business owner and an American citizen who wants to see my country grow and prosper I began to realize the imperative of health care reform. Small business will not be saddled with benefit costs which have been driving many out of the market place. Health care reform is therefore our patriotic duty. Taking advantage of people in the fashion that health care conglomerates have is very un-American not to mention un-holy.
Sadly the American health care system is deadlier than our neighbors to the north. Take a look at some numbers that come from this link.
Circulatory disease deaths per 100,000:
- Canada: 219
- United States: 265
Child maltreatment deaths per 100,000:
- Canada: 0.7
- United States: 2.2
Digestive disease deaths per 100,000:
- Canada: 17.4
- United States: 20.5
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births
- Canada: 5.08
- United States: 6.3
Intestinal diseases death rate
- Canada: 0.3%
- United States: 7.3%
Proability of not reaching age 60:
- Canada: 9.5%
- United States: 12.8%
Respiratory disease child death rate per 100,000
- Canada: 0.62
- United States: 40.43
Heart disease deaths per 100,000:
- Canada: 94.9
- United States: 106.5
HIV deaths per million people:
- Canada: 47.423
- United States: 48.
Brother Fly
I’ve been enjoying a lovely summer. For the first time in almost ten years I’m not working twelve months. God has been very good to me and us and I’ve found consulting opportunities which have allowed me to make up the difference. Our weather has been very rainy and I love to see the sun, but it’s been great to sleep in and just enjoy sitting still. I’ve been doing a lot of reading and writing which have been very fulfilling pastimes. I’ve loved to read ever since I first learned how. As a child I lived next to a public library and it was my second home. I frequently tell people that a visit to a bookstore is a religious experience for me. Other than monasterys and other quiet places I frequently find myself in libraries and bookstores. In the past several years I’ve become very adept at reading RSS and that’s opened some new vistas for me.
St. Francis referred to sloth as Brother Fly and I can see how that could become habit forming. I do enjoy the stillness and lack of routine this summer has brought into my life. Frequently I’ve found that epiphanies follow a change in routine. This summer has been filled with change. I fought it at first, but now I’ve come to see that it’s just what I needed and I’m grateful for it. Seeing God’s hand in my life often requires lots of help for me. This summer has given me new eyes.
I stand with the President!
Be a real American and your brother and sisters keeper. Support real health care reform.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lQQ7GPvaWo]
Regina Fratrum Minorum
Regina Fratrum Minorum is what is written on the lintel above the entry into this small side chapel which is adjacent to the University chapel at St. Bonaventure University. Translated literally I think it means, “Queen of the Friars Minor.” Mary held a very special place in St. Francis of Assisi’s heart and it’s depicted in this mural behind the altar in this small chapel. I used to come here and sit when I first moved to the area in 1979. I loved the quiet and peace and I always felt very secure in this chapel. Today when I was on campus at St. Bonaventure University waiting for the staff of Graduate Admissions to return from lunch I walked into the University Chapel and then here.
Today was a homecoming and an epiphany for me. Yesterday, I formally applied for admission to the University and today I met with the head of the department I will be a student in. I wanted to stop by admissions too and make sure that I was covering all the bases. With some extra time following a great lunch at Cafe La Verna I stopped by this chapel and sat where I sat so many years ago and thought how much my life had changed and how grateful I am for the direction it took and continues to take. I thought too of the Franciscan influence in my life and how these men and women in brown had so deeply influenced my life. I began my formal education at St. Pius X School in Delevan, New York in 1957. Fifty-two years later I’m in the process of application at St. Bonaventure University. How much my life has been formed by Franciscans.
Today, as I walked about the campus I discovered that I knew many people. I met Dr. Gibbs who will be in charge of my education here. At Graduate Admissions I met Tina Dewe, a woman whom I still owe an airplane ride. I talked to Br. Ed Coughlan and Fr. Dan Riley. In fact Dan Riley has more to do with me being at St. Bonaventure other than my wife and daughter than probably anyone else I know. It was a homily on Holy Thursday night nearly ten years ago delivered by Dan that brought me home to my roots. Although the experience of a student is new, the surroundings are old and familiar. I did get to sit in St. Joseph’s Oratory for the first time in my life. I’ve passed it many times throughout the years and been intrigued but never had a chance to venture in until today. St. Bonaventure has always held a special place in my heart. I remember sitting in study hall at Archbishop Walsh high school and looking south at the orange tile rooftops. It was here that I attended basketball camp in the summer of 1970. It was here that my wife and I came on our first date almost twenty-eight years ago. Here it was that our son Devin began to play organized basketball in Butler Gymnasium. Here we’ve come hundreds of times to watch the Bonnies basketball teams. Now, my daugher and I are students. I stopped by the bookstore to pick up a t-shirt that says St. Bonaventure University. I look a bit more official.