Radio Time and Winds of Change

Yesterday, I did an hour on Father Anthony Bus' radio show.  The show airs live during the noon hour and has listeners in four states. It also streams live at Father Tony's website. Complete with a professional producer, an engineer, an intern and a beautiful modern radio studio in the basement of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in downtown Chicago, this show airs five days a week. St. Stans is also the archdiocesan center for the Divine Mercy Devotion.

Random thoughts while on the way: "What am I doing, driving to Chicago to be on the radio? Who do I think I am? Some celebrity? Harrumph. I'm not ready. I should be more nervous."
Then, I thought:"What t'heck. Here I come ready or not."

Reflections on the experience:

1.  Gratitude that Father Tony thought enough of me to bring me on the show.  How many people get a chance to speak on a powerful station like 750 AM Chicago, and at prime time, between Noon and 1 PM?

2.  Father Tony is an engaging radio personality who has a knack for filling an hour with information, devotionals, prayer and human interest stories.

3.  I added humor to the show. I told stories that made Tony laugh and the other guests (a young woman intern and an older woman supporter) smile. I usually try to get people to listen to me by grabbing their attention with something funny.  I always run the risk of overdoing it or not making my point. But, I think I did both yesterday. I overdid it and made my points.

4.   I was on "Winds of Change" to talk about two things: the founder of the Resurrectionists, Bogdan Janski and my work as a Global Fellow for Catholic
Relief Services.

 Tony and I discussed Janski's conversion to Christ. Though raised a Catholic he fell away in his youth, hit bottom with abuse of alcohol and addiction to sex and then slowly opened his heart to God's grace.  That grace came to him while he participated in bible study and the Eucharist as a member of a group of men dedicated to Christ and the Church.
I hope someone listening to us found it helpful to learn about a man who overcame
his addictions by cooperating with God's grace.

5.  I had fifteen minutes to talk about CRS so I limited myself to promoting Operation Rice Bowl. I think I was successful.

6.  I hope Father Tony invites me back and this time I will be better prepared with
stories that will lift the hearts of listeners. I would like to avoid the bantering that Tony and I did. It was too "inside." It was what we priests do when we are together and kidding one another. Maybe not the best approach for this kind of radio.

All in all it was a wonderful experience for me.

"Hey, Father!"

A message on a marquee fronting a Shell station neare Chicago: "The boss told me to change the sign so I did."  I feel like the guy who needed to change the sign because I haven't posted a message here for some time.

Usually I approach this blog at the end of the day which for me is about 8:30 PM. I'm often too tired to think much, but responsible enough to want to get something down before I miss another two weeks.

Today was the sabbath and I celebrated two Masses. The people were wonderful and the deacons at St. Isidore's are interesting and make me want to know more about their callings. One of them preached at my Masses today.

Deacon Don, whose real job is as a private investigator is a convert. His mother, Episcopalian,  refused to go to his baptismal ceremony in the Catholic Church. She did come to his ordination some years later.  Businessman, father and clergyman, his life is full.

When he told us today of his grandson, William who is handicapped and functions at the level of a child, it was wonderful to see his affection for this boy, now a twenty-two year
old man. He called him "grandson" and "my buddy."

Sometimes, my celibacy hurts.  There are no children in my life and no grandchildren. And, no wife.  Also, no in-laws, pediatric appointments or arguments with a wife. I know where everything is because there is no one around to move things except me.  I also have to worry only about myself most of the time. Let your guard down and that kind of life can make one deveop into a crusty old bachelor.

My prayer life always helps to relieve any pity-party stuff going on in my soul about this
lack of family. Serving in the Church and meeting warm-hearted parishioners reminds me that I have a family.

Maybe I should pay more attention to how people address me after Church: "Hi, Father!"
"God bless you, Father." Hey, Padre! Take care of yoruself, O.K.?

I know the Church is my family and it is enough for me.

End of a Day in Winter

It is the end of the day here in Bull Valley, Illinois. A Friday. In January. And it is frigid
as the sun goes away for another day. I wonder what it is like to be homeless in this freezing weather. The thought itself makes me feel colder.

I guess those who have to be out in the cold develop a kind of numbness to it all --the ice, the snow, the barren trees and bushes. Even the sparrows, like the homeless, are hunched up somewhere saving their strength. 

Light seems to be on a holiday.  The days are short and even daytime is muffled by blankets of clouds.

If I think about it too long I begin to get sad.  Maybe, you do, too.  I miss the light and the warmth of spring and summer. But I guess if we had sunshine and pleasant breezes all the time, we would take it all for granted. Absence does make the heart grow fonder.

The snowbirds are in Florida and Arizona for the winter. I think they miss something by not being with us here and not seeing our houses and cars dusted with snow as fine and white as powdered sugar. However, some people cannot bear these winters. I have a good friend who simply has to fly south when the days get shorter. She suffers with disthymia, or seasonal affective disorder.

Mmmm.... Lack of light can make you sick. There is a sermon in there somewhere but it is late (for me) almost 9:30 PM. Maybe you can find it. Tomorrow will come with all its bright promise and another day will speak in its own way out of the cold darkness.












F