The Last to Leave

This is my third attempt.  The first was Abandoned.  The second was Abandoned Again.  And this is my last attempt; I've rewritten this to death.

The Last to Leave

The caller ID on my phone read, “Jill Byron.”  I had just been to a meeting with Jill, a couple of hours ago.  I quickly picked up the phone.  “Hello.”

Shocked!  I heard crying.  “You left me alone!  I was alone.  It was dark.  I was scared—all alone!”

I-I-I didn’t know what to respond.  I thought back. 

Jill was traveling from Medfield to Holliston’s Community Center.  She didn’t know the way.  We made arrangements to meet at a shopping plaza on Rte. 109, in Medway.  The actual directions were simple.  I’m sure she could have found the Holliston Community Center on Rte. 126, herself.  All you do is take Rte. 109 until it intersects with Rte. 126.  Then you take Rte. 126 towards Holliston, until you come to your destination. 

And we did meet at the plaza and she followed me to the meeting, which wasn’t long.   It just ended a little while ago.

But here is Jill sobbing.

 “I’m sorry.  I thought you were following me.  Everyone left the meeting at the same time.  I thought you were behind me.”  I did remember thinking that I hoped she was in one of the cars behind me.  I was first, and everyone else poured out of the parking lot, one right after the other.  I don’t know how that happened.  So what did happen?

Jill seemed collected now as she told me her story.  First, she couldn’t believe that I, and everyone else, were gone.  She was hurt and bewildered to find herself so suddenly in this situation.  We were all together laughing and talking and then suddenly it was dark; it was quiet; she was alone.  She felt intense fear.

She bowed her head in prayer.  The limbs and leaves of the nearby trees also bowed, as the energy in the air condensed and collected itself into a whisper of a breeze that grew and grew into a powerful wind.  Wispy shadows reached and stretched towards her.  Jill sensed an evil engulfing the car in its shadows.

She looked around for a person?  An explanation?  Her only answer was the shaking of leaves and …and a murmuring.  A sound that grew louder.  A chanting that grew vulgar with throaty moans creeping out of the woods.

The wind gave a howl and suddenly Jill saw a group of people—weird people.  Some had arms and legs missing.  Their walk was a heavy stagger.  Their eyes were all wide, wide open, with blank stares.  Yikes, some had no lips.

She made sure the doors were locked. Jill was shaking as she dumped her pocketbook out looking for her keys.

Where were they?

She started to cry.  “Help.”  She couldn’t think.

They had reached her car and started to shake it.  They were trying to get in.  Jill was paralyzed. 

Her eyes mirrored terror.  Her screams were frozen in her mouth.  Her heart stopped.

"Are you OK, Miss?"  

Jill blinked.  Knocking on her window were some people.  They were carrying brooms, vacuum cleaners, and other assorted cleaning supplies.  A radio played in the background. The cleaners, they were the cleaning people, of course.

"Do you need help?"

"No, no, I'm fine," she said, as she inserted the key in the ignition and drove off like she was being chased by zombies.

Coloring the Book of Kells

Since hubby and I are visiting Ireland in the spring, we have put seeing the Book of Kells on our itinerary.  The book dates circa 800 A.D.  It was made by monks, stolen a few times but still is a beautiful example of art and history.  To get the most out of our experience, I am reading up on the Book of Kells.  I also bought a coloring book on the Book of Kells and I'm surprised by two things.  One, I'm learning more about the book from the coloring book, than the nonfiction book.  The coloring book explains what you are looking at; the book--not so much.  Compare the coloring book explaining that the design is the beatitudes to the colored page in the nonfiction book.  These are the four evangelists.  If I didn't know that, how would I know what I was looking at.  Even so, I still can never remember who is who.

The second revelation that I am surprised at is that when I am coloring, I find myself praying.  I caught myself praying the Jesus prayer.  After the initial surprise, I continued praying and coloring.

Disc Golf

Hubby is teaching me to play disc golf.  Here's a photo essay on the lesson.  Pictures from Dacey Field Disc Golf Course.

There are shovels to shovel off the snow.

Teacher Extraordinaire    

Whew!  It didn't land in the water.

Hubby has a lot of patience.  But if I can't see the basket how can I throw the frisbee disc?  "Throw it!  Throw it!"  He yells.

I just knew my disc was going to land in the water.

Do you see the basket?  Neither do I.

Hooray!  He did it!

This is my disc in the basket.  

We only played about half an hour.  It's a good exercise because the discs don't go straight into the baskets.  They hit trees, they hook right or left, or even boomerang back to you.  And that means that you have to walk around to look for your disc.

Help Given, Help Sought

Announcing a great way to help out returning residents from prison.

A Stitch in Time Textiles

Dear Friends of Bethany House,

We are so excited to share with you our new joint venture with our good friend Guido Jacques, Vice President of Operations at A &M Tool and Design Company in Southbridge, MA.

For the past year we have been working with Guido who has begun a program to give employment to folks being released from prison. He has given our brothers a job opportunity with a future....it has been a positive experience for all.

And now Bethany House Ministries is entering into a joint venture with Guido in a business that is more geared to women. Two members of our Bethany family, Joli and Lisa have begun "A Stitch in Time Textiles" company on the 4th floor of the mill of Guido's business in Southbridge, MA.

Our mission is to build a profitable business that serves both its customers and its employees. "A Stitch in Time Textiles" was formed to provide employment with a living wage to folks who have been released from prison. The skill acquired by the greatest number of incarcerated people in the Massachusetts Department of Corrections is sewing and embroidery.

Joli spent 8 years of her incarceration working in Prison Industries and has 5 years of direct experience running a Tajima machine head embroidery machine. Lisa, prior to her incarceration spent 12 years working as a manufacturing engineer. In addition,she was instrumental in the establishment of two engineering consulting businesses primarily serving the medical device industry. Their combined experience is invaluable.

As we move forward with this venture, we are asking for your support. First and foremost for your prayers...this is a huge undertaking for all of us.

If anyone knows of a good corporate lawyer who works with non profits please let us know. In the future we are looking for investors.

If you are able to help us with start up costs we would be so grateful.

Finally, Joli and Lisa, in the near future will be taking new embroidery orders. If you have or know of any organization that would have embroidery needs, tshirts, sweatshirts, hats,etc. let us know. When Joli and Lisa are ready to fulfill these orders I will have them get in touch with you.

With much gratitude,

Sr. Kathleen, Ruth and all of us at Bethany House Ministries 

P.S. We would be so grateful if you would share this post on social media!

508-376-9923

Bethanyosfop@aol.com

Friends from the Magic Mountain

Monastery of Lunden in Oslo

Friends from the Magic Mountain  is an interesting story about a Lay Dominican.  Marie Knudtzon certainly under the influence of the Holy Spirit converted to Catholicism, became a Lay Dominican and helped found a monastery.  


Her story will make you feel helpless, if not a downright failure.  

Patron Saint of Confessors

Martyrdom of St. John Nepomuk by Szymon Czechowicz, National Museum in Warsaw.

 St. John Nepomucene (1340-93), was the vicar general to the Archbishop of Prague.  King Wenceslaus IV, was a vicious, young man who easily succumbed to rage and caprice, was highly suspicious of his wife, the Queen.  St. John happened to be the Queen’s confessor.  Although the king himself was unfaithful, he became increasingly jealous and suspicious of his wife, who was irreproachable in her conduct.  Although Wenceslaus tortured St. John to force him to reveal the Queen’s confessions, he would not.  In the end, St. John was thrown into the River Moldau and drowned on March 20, 1393.  He would not break the Seal of Confession.

Hear O Dubia

This morning's Gospel for the Memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus, was Mark 4: 21-25.  Jesus is speaking in parables because people like stories and they can relate even though they may not understand.

 I will add another reason.  People remember them.  People aren't sure they understand so they discuss them.  And today's Lectio Divina is an attempt to unwrap Mark v. 21-25.

There is one line that makes the people in the pew eyebrows go up: Mark 4: 25, To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Harsh?

Think deeper.

Lectio: Mark 4: 25

 To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Studium:

This saying is an adaption of a popular proverb.  Jesus is speaking to his apostles and those disciples who are learning from him.   Remember the apostles asking Jesus in Matthew 13:10 why He spoke in parables?  His answer is in the next v. 11: Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.  Understanding the parables is a gift.  It was given to the apostles because they wanted it.  The others not only didn't want to understand, they rejected the option.  They didn't even want to try.  This situation is predicted in Isaiah 6:9.

                                        You shall indeed hear but not understand

                                        You shall indeed look but never see,...

Meditatio:

Who knows but God how people think?  Jesus speaks Truth right in front of everyone but some reject Him before He has even opened His mouth.  They have closed their hearts and minds.  Then leave them be.  Only those who have accepted Jesus as God, the apostles, and other disciples will understand.  They will be given the gift of understanding.
     I can't help but think of a student I once had.  He was a bit of a troublemaker.  He was gifted intellectually but if he continued in his juvenile punk behavior, he was destined to waste and ruin his natural gifts.  I specifically picked out a book I thought (everyone thought) would be entertaining and perhaps hopefully, seduce him to like reading.  It was always the favorite of those who read it.  I only had one copy.  I saved it just for him.
     He never read it.  Everyone else was clamoring to read it and I had saved it just for him--to encourage him to read.  He wasted that opportunity.
     I never bothered with him, again.   from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Oratio:

Lord, I pray to be Your disciple.  I long to hear, understand and love Your Word.  I pray that others will hear and understand, also.  Your teaching Lord is in our magisterium.  Our Pope is a "disciple heavy-weight".  He is Your choice as our Father.  His teachings make Your teachings present for us today.  Let those who have eyes see that.

Contemplatio:

Beloved, I wish to have eyes to see and ears to hear You, My Lord, only You, My Lord.