Random Thoughts
|
The old song has it this way:
|
When we’ve all had our quarrels and parted
We’ll be the same as we started
First traveling on
Singing this song
Side by side.
|
Where are we traveling to? Ultimately we all know the answer though we don’t like to think about it. That song stuck to me like glue since the passing away of Fr Philip Demarco. It was the only song we sang together when he entered the seminary some 50 years back.
So much water has gone under the bridge since then and as we grieve our departed ones we can’t help reflecting on the meaning we give our traveling here “in this valley of tears”.
Erma Bombeck has some pertinent reflections she made when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. In her book “If I had my life to LOVE over” she points out the mistake we all do in giving importance to petty things and side-tracking what is really important, among them: not listening to grandpa’s stories; not spending more time with the kids; insisting on cleanliness of the carpet and sofa to the detriment of relationships with our loved ones, and on and on!
This is a reflection very few young people can do – but for those with some white hair on their heads, it is nice to look back and evaluate what progress we have done with our achievements and progress, I mean, in the fields of relationships, happiness, maybe health - and most important of all how closer are we to our creator.
Reading the Bible one is often struck with some words of wisdom that one would have read a thousand times and never reflect on. Lately, I’ve read from Leviticus chapter 25 that God, through Moses, ordered a year of grace for his people – meaning that all debts are forgiven, all land to be returned to its original owner and all slaves to be set free. The argument behind it was that no one was carrying any property on his birthday – we all came naked and we are not going to take anything with us when we go. Whatever we are or have is all God’s gifts. Everything belongs to HIM, but we live and act as if we’ve made it! How grateful are we?
Oh! For a walk in the country – or a stroll by the seaside to give us some time for reflection! Even a visit to the Blessed Sacrament chapel might help!