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Grace Notes from Father David June 2008 I think I read most Nancy Drew Books (and a few Hardy Boys) over and over until I was at least 45 years old. And then one day the experience left me cold...like eating too much ice cream too fast...brain freeze! Why did I ever read them in the first place? In the beginning I read them because I could. I meet people who don't read and have no real interest in doing so but they might if they found something they liked. One young man I know with an aversion for reading had no problem reading the works of Jules Verne. He could read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea where he couldn't read anything else. I could read Nancy Drew where I had an aversion to most other things. As the years rolled on I experienced the wonders of James Michener, Leon Uris, Gore Vidal, Taylor Caldwell, Irving Stone, and so many others. But I had to begin somewhere. I had one daughter that was a very poor reader. She also had an aversion to going to bed on time. Finally I told her she could stay up as long as she wanted as long as she was reading. She now has a voracious appetite for the printed word, and in spite of facing great difficulties in her life, she survives...successfully...because she reads! Why read at all? Because reading is the surest way to grow yourself into all that God intended and if you don't grow...you shrink... You can't stay in the same place or you'll get...Brain Freeze! Whoever you are and wherever you are in your life, it's not too late to start reading, never too late to start growing. It doesn't even matter what you read as long as it gets you reading. In time your interests will expand and The Library will become your best friend. Reading is a life changing experience. I selected a number of books at a used book store in Roswell, NM one day. I asked the proprieter if she would take an out-of-state check. She indicated that it would be no problem because, "people who read never bounce checks!" I found this such an amazing statement that I have asked other used book owners about this phenomena and they all concurred. Not a one of them had ever received a bad check. So, you see, reading alters your very character. In how many ways, I will never know but I have always observed that those who read turn out OK no matter what difficulties life throws at them. ~ Father David July 2008
Summertime and the living is easy, Our first summer here and we couldn’t be more delighted. We’ve seen eagles and pelicans, muskrats and raccoons and so many different kinds of flowers. I particularly love the Columbine in Grace Gardens. Some time prior to the official designation of ‘Air Force One’ President Eisenhower dubbed his aircraft, “Columbine” because it was the official flower of Mamie’s home state of Colorado. Columbine is an early summer flowering plant. One of the easiest perennials to grow with a delightful, interesting flower shape almost reminiscent of fairies. When one contemplates the Columbine you wouldn’t be surprised to see an elfin creature darting among the stalks. Their beauty and unusual graceful tails can be almost hypnotic yet their seeds and roots are highly poisonous, and contain cardiogenic toxins which cause both severe gastroenteritis and heart palpitations if consumed. How like so many things in life… highly attractive but deadly. Now that’s probably the best definition of sin I’ve come up with to date! ~ Father David August 2008 Such an interesting word, August. It is the name of the 8th month of the Gregorian calendar or the 6th month of the Julian calendar in honor of Caesar Augustus. You remember him...he sent out a decree that all the world should be taxed! Many words are derived from August such as augment, auger, augury and, of course, inaugural. primarily, however, its meaning is: inspiring reverence and admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur, venerable, eminent. The whole point of church, of preaching, is August, ie to inspire reverence. Instead of inviting your friends to come to church or to come to Mass, you should invite them to come to August! Wouldn't that make heads turn, especially in February. I can see the snow and sleet swirling about and somebody saying, "How about coming to August with me?" Golfers would love that. It reminds me of a book I read years ago where one of the key figures was a cat who was constantly looking for the door that led into summer. Well, we have that door. Though August is slipping by, remember we can go to August anytime we want. ~ Father David
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