Jim Mahoney's Blog - Sacred to Etc.

Do the Dead Go Missing? - August 31, 2020

This may seem like an odd title for a post.  But I have been thinking a lot about those who have died over the past few months - most from the coronavirus  - but a number of other people who did not have the virus, but who died - far more than usual. I remember a situation after 9-11 when people died who were not killed at the World Trade Center. All the focus was on those who died in those horrific events. People who did not die from these events often seemed to be less remembered.  It was not deliberate in any way, but the focus, the oxygen, everything was directed to the 9-11 victims.

Lately, I have been noticing a similar situation with a few different people who did not die from the virus, but from other maladies. Why mention this? For the simple reason that every single person is made in God's image - and our memory of each person who has died is indeed sacred. 

Both the corporal and spiritual works of mercy in the Church mention taking care of the dead and helping those who have suffered a loss. Sometimes, we need reminders about things that are not right in front of us. I know that i do.

 

Why mention in this midst of so many things which are clanging around today in our world? We need reminders.

We remember those who have died when we pray for them, have masses said for them. But what about their families? What about the widows, widowers, siblings, children? Do you reach out to them - let them know that you're thinking of them? Do you just remember them or just reach out to them with a card on an anniversary?  That is good, but it really is not enough. This post is a reminder to me as well as to you. It makes a difference. 

 

 

 

 

Are We Missing Persistence in dealing with the Pandemic? - August 16, 2020

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus reminds us about persistance. He saw persistence as a way to increase our faith, not lose hope - and a way to succeed.  

I don't know about you, but sometimes, I find it difficult to keep going on a steady track through this pandemic. It just seems so insurmountable - and so unending. The brief news at times about cures, success, seem all too fleeting. Our hopes are lifted momentarily when we see that there might be a vaccine. And then, things are seldom as they initially appeared to be. Minimally, it will take more time than we had hoped. Do you still pray for the scientists. I pray that they will not lose heart. I pray that when critics attack these scientists, these scientists hopefully will not lose focus on the biggest possible goal - a cure to this pandemic. 

We all know the simple things we h ave to do, every single one of us, in order to lower the trends of this pandemic. For me, the easiest part of these simple things is wearing the mask. It seems easy to remember to practice hand washing and great hygiene for public safety. Social distancing can get a little tricky - but keeping the right distance from others is at times a moving target. I know that if I am in a group, and I try to minimize the time of exposure, I can still follow the principles and hopefully be as safe as possible.  The darn thing in this pandemic is being aware of the asymptomatic risks of this pandemic. You can do all the right things- and sometimes even that is not enough. What I have to do is not use this awareness as a time to just stop trying to follow the simple remedies which we must practice.

The picture above showing the tortoise and the hare is a classic depiction of what each of us faces. Somehow, tortoises are going to have the upper hand (perhaps I have shown just a little bit of ignorance in tortoise anatomy! - but you get my point).

I believe Jesus is saying to each one of us, "Come on, you can do it. Don't give up. I'm with you - and so is my mother." We need to know this and remember this = and just persist. Ain't easy. But it is necessary if we are going to survive. And survive = we must. We owe this to each other. We owe it to each other - to be smart and not stupid, to keep trying, little tiny steps, and not to give up. Good Lord, this can be hard. But we must help each other keep going. Come on, tortoises!

 

Back to the Future - or the New Normal - August 13, 2020

Yesterday, all the things in my life that were knocked out by the storm a week ago finally returned. This means that I had cable TV, Wi-Fi, internet, email, texting, and whatever else I pay for.  Good Lord, I missed all of those things. I had to park on Main Street in Chatham to make or receive phone calls, go to retrieve email, and just spend time muttering to myself. Sometimes, I productive used time by sitting in the car and scowling.

You do have more time to think when you cannot use these various things that supposedly help us. Did I use that time productively the past six days? Nah. It was just frustrating.

I was thinking about a principle that I learned in college psychology courses called gestalt. This essentially means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Why did I obsess on gestalt theory?  Simple - my electronic desert experience during this time was caused by "bundling." I bundled as many things as possible into a bundle cheerfully sold to me by a cable company which shall remain nameless out of my customary sense of decorum. Those people are #$^%&(*&^%$#@@#!!@@#$%%$##/. Would it have killed them to get a message to their customers on what is going on - and when the thing might get fixed? Their customer service lines were totally misnamed. Bah.

Bundling - one bundle solves all your problems. But where is wisdom?  I should have listened to Linus:

Time to get back to normal - whatever that is.  Would you join me?  Now I'll start writing more regularly since my computer, internet, and brain seem to be back to normal - or at least what I think normal is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little limited for now - August 8, 2020

My ability to blog is a bit limited - and am praying to the heavens for PSE&G and cable company and anyone else who controls all of the technological parts of my life = to please get me connected once again.

To make and receive phone calls, have to go park on Main Street in Chatham to pick up (steal?) a cell signal. 

Is my situation any worse than other people right now? Probably not. Well, definitely not. But it’s feels like it. I simply cannot wait for it to get past that.

Went out for a drive this morning - and at 7 a.m., I saw the entire parking lot of Livingston Mall filled with power trucks and other service vehicles. POssibly 300 vehicles. I blessed them - and prayed for their safety - and could they please get me back to technological and electric speed sometime soon. I did also pray for the people who do not have these things all of the time. Sigh.

So, I will blog when everything is up to speed. Until then, I will do this little thing while parked on Main Street.

Please stay safe. Stay healthy. If you see me start to whine, just laugh at me.

 

 

 

 

 

Is There Always a Calm Before the Storm?

We have all heard the phrase - Calm Before the Storm. We know what it means in terms of weather. In fact, right now, looking out my office window, I see a storm. I don't recall if there was calm. I do know that I would like to glare at the storm so it goes away. Need Superman. Not me.

Let's set aside the meteorological issues for now - and just look at the issue of calm in our lives before the storm. Here I'm talking about storms that involve the problems of life, not of weather. The problems that we know are serious and we have to find some way to deal with them. Instead of the phrase "Calm Before the Storm" - might be more helpfully phrased this way: Spiritual Resources Needed Before the Storm - What we Need.

First, we need to simply say to God- Be With Me. Let me know that you're here. Focus on the non-abandoning love of God, the presence of God.  My hunch is that we may not need God so much in the good times as we do in the bad times. My theological hunch is that we need God all the time. But I think God understands if we focus more on the bad times. I also recommend that you connect with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to prepare for the storm. My favorite description of Mary in this regard is this one: "Mary Who Undoes Knots."  Tell the Mother of God that you need help. If you feel like you're drowning, tell her. If you feel you cannot take anything else, tell her. Don't be bashful or tongue-tied.

Second, light a candle (or even a battery-operated one - -- or PREFERABLY a battery-operated once to you don't dirty the ceiling with soot and so that you do not have to summon the fire department.) I find this to be something that is incredibly helpful. I focus on the flame. I like what it does to the total atmosphere. It helps to calm me down and leads me into prayer. Try it.

Third, there is no third here - because i want this to be terribly simple. I personally believe that lots of spiritual writers make prayer far too complicated. Best example was Jesus - who simply told us that, when we pray, call God Abba. One word. That's pretty simple. Try it.

In the calm before the storm in our lives, these are two simple things that can help. If we're in a situation where there does not appear to be any calm at all - then go into the bathroom, lock the door, and establish your own calm, if only for a couple of minutes. It will help. If you don't do this and just careen right into the storm, you won't make things better. We all need this little quiet time to help us get ready. We often must make our own calm period. 

Right now, as I'm pressing "Publish" on this post, I'm looking out the window and seeing the storm. Bah. I'm going to sic God and Mary on the storm. A storm won't change right away. But the calm will have helped me.

 

 

 

 

 

The Strangers or Saints Next Door - Do you recognize them? August 3, 2020

 

Do you know your next door neighbors? Over the decades, I have had a small variety of next door neighbors. Vast majority of them were really nice people. I did not know a couple of my next door neighbors over the decades, but from a quiet distance, they seemed nice.  

I used to have a little condo down the shore (this is correct Jersey grammar). When it came time to move and move into retirement mood, I stopped at the condo office to notify them that I was moving. The Condo manager asked if I was new to the condo development. She did not recognize me. I told her that I had been there over 20 years. I'm shy. End of story.

Well, this is a brief intro to a short reflection that Pope Francis recently gave where he mentioned the "Saints Next Door." Here is what he said: "Let's look at the "saints next door" who, with simplicity, respond to evil with good, have the courage to love their enemies and to pray for them."

It is an intriguing thing to reflect on. I believe that saints are all around us. Sometimes, they are in our neighborhood, town, certainly parish, work site, and all kinds of other places. One of the greatest blessings in my life is knowing a large number of people whom I consider saints. I have lived with saints.  (Hmm, living with me can certainly mean that the other person is a saint!). 

It all comes down to my favorite definition of a saint: "a saint is a sinner who keeps trying."  You and I are called to be saints. Which means, that you and I are called to keep trying. Sometimes, I find that I give up on people, especially annoying people. I know that, when I'm tired, someone who is annoying is hard to be around. I try to be patient. Most of the time, I succeed, but sometimes not. My track record in this regard is pretty good, but certainly not perfect. Sigh.

Think about saints who live next door to you or down the block or even are part of your family. They are a treasure that God has placed in your life.  Thank goodness. Have you thanked God for these gifts?