7 Quick Takes Friday #28

Oh, my, it is time already for some quick takes to share with you and with Jennifer Futwiler, who hosts this meme over at Conversion Diary. Rather than share the events of my life this week, I thought, given that the events were rather sporadically clustered, that I would introduce the people in my life who were associated with the events of the week. Most of them pop up periodically in my life. So, here goes, in alphabetical (sort of) order:

Anne is my neighbor in San Ignatio. She is a retired high school English teacher with a a master's degree in theology, among other things. She is also a good cook, who knows her way around my kitchen better than I do! When she is part of any group we are entertaining, Donnie typically cooks and Anne serves. (I am spoiled.) I don't remember how Anne and I first met, but it was through Old Mission somehow. We are both members of the Old Mission prayer group, and she, like me, is a candidate in the SFO (Secular Franciscan Order). The SFO was on our minds on Sunday because we had the regular monthly fraternity meeting at our local St. Francis Retreat Center, as well as breakfast at a local cafe with two members of the Council prior to their Council meeting. There are some difficult issues that Anne and I -- and the Council -- are dealing with in recent months. Rather than give full details here, I will refer you to a series of posts I wrote about the events from a spiritual perspective and uploaded to my Modern Mysticism site: Tasked.

Doah has developed an allergy to cats this past year. Or, perhaps more accurately described, we discovered this year that he has an allergy to cats; he may have had it for a long time. Since we have three of that kind of critter, instead of bringing Doah to San Ignatio for the weekend, we have been going to visit him where he lives in Santa Clara. This weekend was no different. Late Saturday afternoon, we drove up to spend some time with Doah at his favorite restaurant: KFC. (He is a cheap date.) Then we took him on a mini-shopping trip at the local CVS (yep, cheap date). Happy to have had at least a few hours with us, he returned to his group home with a smile and a bag of recyclables (we save them for him) in one hand and his just-purchased goodies in the other.

Fr. Daniel is our parish priest. Although he has passed the age of 50, he still loves parties. I remember one time, when he returned from out of town, I told him after Mass that we had missed him the week before, and he asked, "Did I miss a party?" "No, Fr. Daniel," I replied. "You missed Mass." We can always count on him to celebrate with us. This time, though, he was the host. For Saturday mid-day, he put together a BBQ at the former restaurant that belongs to the church. The "casa" has a veranda and a patio area, both quite large, with wonderful views of the valley, as well as four indoor large seating areas. He wanted to bring together some folks who had contributed to an Old Mission project. By chance, Donnie and I were the fortunate ones to end up with Fr. Daniel as our table mate. However, it did put a crimp on our plan to eat and run off to another engagement prior to going to Santa Clara to see Doah. So, we ate. We did not run. The other engagement slipped past while we enjoyed our time with Fr. Daniel at the casa.

Jack is the leader of our Bible Studies group that meets at Old Mission. Somewhere in his 80s, he has been slowed down by all kinds of events in life, but his knowledge is the exercise in patient listening. His wife, Ruby, comes with him. She is wheelchair bound but otherwise an active participant. They have been married 50 years, and we have celebrated three of their anniversaries, leading up to this year's big 5-0, over the past three years that we have been studying together. Jack worked as some sort of scientist; I have long ago forgotten the details. They parented five children, who have seen a fair amount of trauma, including one being shot as a child (he survived) and another losing a child of her own (Jack's granddaughter) in a car accident. Through it all, Jack and Ruby have maintained a sense of peace. Jack, like me, is a former atheist who had a dramatic conversion experience, lasting for two weeks, as did mine. So, he is like a big brother in faith to me, and I like forward to our Wednesday evenings.

President Karzai and General McChrystal showed up on Friday, unexpected and unannounced, at my Kentucky branch. They wanted to observe the language and culture training that we were providing for people who will be going to Afghanistan. Truly, the US government's emphasis is turning toward the tongue as weapon of first choice, and given my background as a language teacher, this warms the proverbial cockles of my heart. (Anyone know what a cockle is?) The one day I take off, a rather important personage shows up, and I am not even around to hear about it until the end of the day when the email, having crawled through the chain from Kentucky to California, finally reached me. My boss was a bit taken aback, especially since no one, including our local manager, had any idea that this was going to happen. (I imagine that was intentional for security reasons.) The president expressed pleasure in being able to converse with our people in his own language. You know, sometimes it takes very little to make friends and create peace. Caring enough to step across the culture divide and communicate in the language of the other is all that it takes to initiate that process.

Marie I met when I enrolled in the RCIA. She was Fr. Terry's helper at our sessions. She has been the mainstay of all the priests who have led the RCIA. I still learn from her. A retired elementary school teacher, she has taught nearly all the adults in San Ignatio, their children, and grandchildren. She seemed to know more about the members of our RCIA group (except me since I am a new resident) than they knew or remembered about themselves. She read the pre-publication manuscript of my book, Blest Atheist, and continues to be a mentor to me. Although professed as a Third Order Carmelite, she appears at home among the Franciscans, our local community having been founded by the Franciscans and sporting a retreat center, convent, and monastery, all Franciscan. So, having taken Friday off work for some medical tests and attending noon Mass, I was not surprised to have Marie invite me to the rosary that a handful of retired residents who don't have to trot off to work like I do say after Mass 2-3 times a week. As a converted Catholic, there are things I am still learning, and Marie is gentle and instructive in guiding me through them. After the rosary, we relaxed with coffee for her and milk for me at the local bakery. Ah, a totally laid-back day! Not! That was the day that Karzai came to play!

Nathaniel is finishing up his baseball season. His last game will be tomorrow, but at that time I will be on a plane, winging my way to Jordan. So, on Monday, instead of going to prayer group, I watched him play for the penultimate time this year. Surprisingly, given his scientific proclivities and frequent oblivion to his surroundings, he played well at first base and actually hit the ball (well, once the T was brought out). It is progress, though, and more important, he enjoys the sport, which is really all that matters. I also like the side benefit of watching his games: I get to see Shane, Lemony, and always-laughing Nikolina more often.

And now I am going to go to bed. If you are already up, have a great day ahead!

Blest Guest Wednesday #4: Thank God for Good Bible Translations

Since early August, it has been difficult for me to post regularly although I have somehow managed not to let more than a few days go by between posts. Considering that my crazy travel schedule is definitely going to continue for a few more months, I have been able to bring a little sanity to the blogging part of my life by asking for help. Some wonderful fellow bloggers have been willing to write guest posts for me on Wednesdays, hence the name "Blest Guest Wednesday." As today's "Blest Guest," I asked Karinann, who has been with me on this blog from nearly its very beginning and who writes a blog called Daughter of the King. I think you will find her blog and her post here interesting. Here goes:

Thank God for Good Bible Translations

The Douay Rheims Bible is my Bible of choice. It is translated from the original Latin Vulgate. While reading Father George W. Rutler's beautiful tribute to his friend and fellow priest, Father Richard John Neuhaus, I was reminded of why I use the Douay Rheims in my personal reading of Scripture. Father Rutler referred to the fact that although Father Neuhaus was not conscious when he anointed him, he may have been aware that he used the Douay Rheims translation. It was then I remembered the articles I read written by Father Neuhaus on the topic of Bible translations. Father Neuhaus often said that "he found the language and the music of the revised liturgy a cause of sorrow". I tend to agree. The lectionary and missalettes printed for use with the Novos Ordo Mass use the New American Bible translation. When compared to the Douay Rheims or the Revised Standard Version (Ignatius Bible), well there is no comparison. First and foremost these versions seem to give a more precise translation. I (along with others)find the language more beautuful and poetic. Father Neuhaus gives numerous examples and comparisons in his articles "Bible Babel" (First Things May 2001) and "More Bible Babel" (First Things- January 2006). Both articles are definitely worth reading. You can find them by searching the archives for the dates listed above at the First Things website.

Now having said all that, I will add that I got my start reading Scripture with the NAB and for that I am grateful. However, I do recall, after awhile, feeling the need for "something more". It was probably around that time that the Holy Spirit gave me Father Neuhaus' articles. So thank you Holy Spirit and thank you Father Neuhaus.

The translation of the Bible a person uses for personal reading and study is a personal choice. If you are feeling like I did for the need for something more, treat yourself to a sampling from the Douay Rheims, the Ignatius Bible. I promise, you won't be disappointed.

7 Quick Takes Friday #7

Although it has been a week full of events, I cannot believe that it is Friday again already and time to contribute to the 7 Quick Takes Friday meme hosted by Jennifer at Conversion Diary. I am grateful to Jennifer for coming up with this meme; it is about the only time I truly look back on the near events of my life and take stock, which is a bit easier to do, sitting quietly in a hotel room in Georgia than in a corner of a frenetic room at home (the center of frenetic activity these days being our cats).

1. The week started out with lots of fun. Saturday night we held a joint birthday party at our local pizza parlor for Donnie and Doah, whose birthdays are two weeks apart, so we split the difference. The party began right after mass. Doah, Donnie, and I were there, of course, and some of our friends from church. Shane, Lemony, Nathaniel, and Nikolina showed up. Nathaniel was a tad hyper; after all, he was surrounded by game machines and lots of people, so he kept darting back and forth betwixt and between. Fr. Ed came -- it took him a bit longer to get there because he had to greet parishioners after mass; we did not. This was his first chance to meet little Nikolina who has been on the parish prayer list for months. He was delighted to see how happy she was -- until he got really close, making her bawl. (He said he has that effect on all babies!) Also part of the group were friends and their kids from Morocco. The Muslims and the Catholic priest hit it off quite well, and the two kids charmed Fr. Ed, and he charmed them. Doah took lots of pictures, but he seems to have taken his camera back with him without downloading them to our computer. If I come up with any, I will add them to the pictures on the post about Doah at Clan of Mahlou (and announce in the sidebar). Fr. Ed is very good to Doah, and Doah was pleased as punch when Fr. Ed announced Doah's birthday to the parish at the end of mass.

2. Sunday ended in calm splendor. A friend and I attend a contemplative prayer group, followed by mass, both conducted by Fr. Kevin Joyce at St. Lucy Church, quite some distance from us, but the once-monthly experience is always worth the drive. We are reading Christian Mystics by Ursula King, and that is informative. More important, the lectures and teachings of Fr. Kevin are formative, highly so. I wish it could be every week. No, let's be honest. I wish it could be every day! But life goes on, and we don't get those kinds of wishes. What we do get every day, though, is the opportunity for lectio divina, for contemplative prayer, and for spending time in the presence of God. God is never too busy for us; it is we who are too busy for Him.

3. On Monday nights, my prayer group from Old Mission meets. This Monday was our first film night. There are so many good Christian films that have come out in the last ten years that we cannot possibly see them all. After complaining about the fact that we just don't have time to watch even a few, we decided to do something about it and turn the second Monday of every month into a film night. We meet at my house -- Donnie got a good deal on a huge flat screen television last year -- where we can crowd around the TV on the sofa, chairs, bean bag, and floor of our small living room (the television takes up the entire wall, not because it is that gigantic but because our living room is small). Physical closeness makes for good comradeship, or emotional closeness. We watched Faith Like Potatoes. I would recommend it to anyone who has not seen it. Donnie, who is still agnostic but leaning ever more slightly toward believing, joined us. Yes! Then, when the movie had finished and we settled down to prayer, he retired to his office. Our group leader, a spiritual director, gave everyone a little book of advent readings and prayers. He left one for Donnie, too, and yesterday I noticed that Donnie had been reading it. Yes! Oh, my, God is patient, and in this respect, so am I. I know that the two of them will one day meet.

4. On Tuesday, I participated in a Veterans' Day ceremony that involved hanging a beautiful wreath at the "Berlin Wall" at work. (We were gifted years ago with actual slabs from the Berlin Wall after it was torn down; those slabs now stand on our campus as a memorial.) Since I am a veteran (Vietnam War era), the ceremony was very meaningful to me although originally it came about to honor the vets from WWI (the so-called "War To End All Wars" -- if only! We are still only dreaming about world peace and keeping the only home we have, i.e. planet earth, safe.) After the ceremony, I returned to work and found that one of the senior managers had offered a junior manager position to someone who worked in another of our directorates, someone with whom I have had an ongoing monthly lunch and discussion of spiritual matters for quite some time. She wanted to know whether we would have to give up that colleague/friend relationship and activity up if she were to take a job two echelons down from me in my directorate because if that were the case, she would turn down the job offer. "Don't be silly," I assured her. Our directorate is pretty flat, and I have these kinds of relationships with everyone from the senior managers to the rank-and-file. Moreover, we are a happy group of people, and spirituality, while we are supposed to separate religion and work, infuses our directorate. I think that is because we don't put up any barriers to God coming to work with us and helping us out.

5. Wednesday, wonderfully, was a holiday, the real Veterans' Day. While errands crowded in on me -- with all my traveling recent and upcoming, I had many things to catch up on and put in order at home -- I had a moment of peace at my oasis, Guadalupe Chapel. Daily mass is celebrated not inside the mission church but inside Guadalupe Chapel, a much smaller and more intimate place. Whenever I have a holiday or can play hooky from work, I come to the chapel for mass. The chapel is old; the aged, open-beam wooden ceiling tells the age. The cracked stucco walls tell the age. The rough-hewn cross on the wall tells the age. The lack of heat (we bring coats) tells the age. Built by the local Indians about the same time as the rest of the mission and the mission church under the direction of the Franciscan friars, in particular Bl. Junipero Serra, Guadalupe Chapel served as the primary church for some years until the mission was completed. It is peaceful there. Fr. Ed's homily touched home, Sr. M was back from out of town, and a friend from our prayer group who generally does not attend daily mass was able to make it, too. It was a small gathering of about a dozen people -- typical for the daily mass -- and a special half-hour: the oasis between a busy morning and a busier afternoon, a wonderful interlude with God. I wish I could have more of them.

6. I definitely doubled my pleasure on Wednesday. First, there was the noon mass, and then there was the weekly evening Bible study with an elderly member of our parish and Secular Franciscan from the chapter where I am a candidate. It is an interesting gathering and includes some teenage girls, their parents whose first language is Spanish, Sr. M, some other members of the English-speaking part of our parish, and a couple of non-Catholic outsiders. (Once, when we were discussing some aspects of the Hebrew scriptures in depth, one of my assistants, who is an recent Orthodox Jewish immigrant from Israel who studies daily with a leading rabbi in New York [I allow him to come a little late to work and work into the evening so that he can do this] came to our Bible study group and answered questions on interpretation of the same scriptures from the original Hebrew.) As a result, we end up reading the same texts in multiple versions: American Catholic Bible in several versions, Santa Biblia in several versions, the King James translation, and some other Protestant translations, and, on the one occasion, the original Hebrew. One does not come planning to relax but to study in the meaning of the word associated with the religious universities of Old Europe and the Middle East of yesteryear. What a blessing to have this opportunity in our tiny little town! Oh, but it is a mission town; that makes such a difference!

7. Down to the last day of the week: Friday. It is here, and I am here. Here is Georgia. I left early Thursday morning and arrived just a few hours ago. I was here in August, visiting one of our branches. They have some new things that they want me to see, so on the plane I hopped and here I stopped. It is more exciting to be here now, though, because in August my daughter and son-in-law, Lizzie and Blaine, moved to a city in South Carolina near the Georgia border where I am right now, she from New York and he from Illinois. Finally, they are working in the same state again! Funny how kids follow in their parents' footsteps. Donnie and I have spent a lot of time in our nearly 40 years together working in different cities, different states, and even different countries. I understand the stress of separation all too well. So, I look forward to seeing them back under one roof, along with recently "repaired" Princesse, the cat from Tunis, and her sidekick, Woods -- a huge Siberian woods cat who was found stranded in Illinois years ago. Yep, just like her mother, Lizzie is a cat rescuer!

And now I need to take a breath and get on with the rest of Friday. I wish you as good a day and weekend as I plan to have! :)