It's Not What You Know, But Whom You Know

I was delivered by the Green Bay Packer team physician two days after a game.  In those days, hygiene wasn't what it is today.  I could very well have Packer blood in me.  I was born too late to remember the Packer "glory years" of the 60s.  For most of my youth, we considered a Packer loss by less than 10 points to be a victory.  Even with that factored in, the Packers still lost most of the time.  My family had (and still does have) season tickets.  I think I went to 7 games before seeing a victory.

As the years went by, I always hoped I would live long enough to experience the Packers winning a Super Bowl.   That really was one of my top hopes for life.  Along came the mid-90s.  The Packers became one of the dominant teams in the NFL.  They were on a roll.  My father and I went to many playoff games.  When it looked likely that the Packers would go to the Super Bowl, the Packer organization held a lottery.  The few winners would have the opportunity to buy tickets to the Super Bowl at face value.  My father's name was picked!  I could not believe my good fortune - I was going to the Super Bowl and might actually see the Packers return to glory!

Fast forward to the Monday after the Super Bowl.  That Packers won.  Time spent in New Orleans was amazing.  I saw more people I knew from my hometown there than I would have walking around my hometown.  I had seen the Packers win the Super Bowl!  My hope was realized. 

However, I was given much more than what I hoped for.  Yes, I saw the Packers win the Super Bowl.  What was more significant was that I saw the Packers win the Super Bowl with my father.  At that time, he was close to 70 and retired.  On the tour we took to the Super Bowl, we had to stay at a hotel that was 90 minutes away from New Orleans.  At my father's suggestion, we took the first shuttle bus into New Orleans on each of the three days we were there and the last bus back.  Yes, we left at 8:00 am every morning and returned at 3:00 am.  We experienced all that New Olreans has to offer.  Several times during the trip, my father said something like "Don't tell your mother about this." 

I saw the Packers win the Super Bowl.  More importantly, I experienced that event with my father.

I was thinking about this earlier today while attending the funeral for Sylvia, a 90 year old woman that I have gotten to know over the past year during weekly visits to bring Communion to people at a nearby assisted living and rehabilitation center.  Although suffering from dementia, Syvia became crystal clear whenever I brought her Communion.  Invariably, she would say, "Thank you so much.  You don't know what this means to me".  Sylvia experinced many things in her life.  She was very well-educated at a time when many people felt that educating women beyond high school (except for teachers and nurses) was a waste of time.  Sylvia earned a Ph.D. in English Literature and Communications.  She taught for many years as a full professor at a major university.  Given all that she achieved, one might think her obituary and eulogy would be full with a list of professional milestones.  However, at Sulvia's request, these were the words that were shared.  "I have enjoyed many highlights during my life.  My family, friends and students comprise those highlights.  Thank you all for sharing this journey with me."

It is not what you know, but whom you know.

On The Clock

I just learned that the father of a good friend passed away recently.  His mother passed away lassed year.  So, he is experiencing the feelings one has when both parents have passed away.  Two weeks ago, I attended the wake for the mother of another friend.  Her father passed away last year.  She, too, is discovering the feelings one has when both parents have passed away.

Like my friends, I am experiencing what it is like when your parents are no longer living.  Fortunately, like my friends, both of my parents lived long and productive lives.  While there remains a deep sense of loss for all of us, we share the joy knowing that our parents lived full lives and are now on another journey (and reunited with other loved ones that have passed away).

I guess I have to get ready for this.  I am of an age where most of my friends still have both parents that are living.  In a few years, that will no longer be the case.  A few years after that, most of my friends will have no parents that are still living.  A few years after that, an increasing number of my friends will pass away due to natural causes.

This does not have to be a morbid thought.  All of this is part of both the earthly and spiritual the life cycles.

Who Cares?

LeBron James is hosting a one hour special that will be aired live on ESPN to announce which NBA team he plans to join as a free agent.

Would Nelson Mandela or Mother Teresa have held a televesion special to announce the next cause(s) to which the would devote themselves? In twenty years, LeBron James will be remembered by those few people that memorize sports statistics. Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa will be remembered as being being a part of positive world history for centuries to come.

Why My Musical Tastes May Seem Strange

...and it is not because ABBA is the greatest pop/rock group of all time. That is obvious.

However, let's harken back to 1982. For that year, the #1 song of the year was "Physical" by Olivia Newton John. The #1 song at my (all male Catholic) high school was "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band.

My number #1 song for 1982 is one of which the vast majority of people have never heard. The singers are, for the most part (especially in the U.S.) unknown. The music production in the song isn't the greatest. The lyrics are not too deep. However, the strength of the tune (of which the vast majority of people should be familiar) is the glue that brings numerous weak features together in a manner that makes the song work.

Another Reason Why Others Might Dislike The U.S.

While walking the beloved canine this morning through a "swanky" neighborhood, we got caught in a downpour.  Still, we continued our walk...right past a property that had automatic lawn sprinklers going full tilt.  I am sure the millions of people suffering in the world from lack of water would feel better knowing that this property owner's lawn was getting a double dose of water.

Why Others Might Dislike The U.S.

Would the media in other countries cover an event like a hot dog eating contest?  On the holiday that celebrates the birth of our county, ESPN had live coverage of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.  I am sure all of the starving people of the world that have no food or televisions could not wait to learn that Joey Chestnut won the contest by eating 54 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

A Better Way

I am currently taking an online course through the University of Notre Dame on Emerging Models of Catechesis.  The course discusses the differences between traditional faith formation models (those that use classroom learning techniques targeted to age specific groups) and intergenerational faith formation models (those that bring a broad range of people from a faith community together to be both learners and teachers).  Most of the other people in the course have some formal role in catechesis at their parishes.  I am one of the few in the course that do not have such a formal role.

I think I caught some of the catechesis veterans off guard when I mentioned that this method of learning/teaching is not special to faith formation.  What is the best way to learn a language?  Immersion.  One can learn a language in a classroom with vocabulary and grammar drills.  However, things don't "sink in" until one has the opportunities to apply the language - conversations with other people in the language, reading magazines in the language, seeing movies in the language, etc.  The idea is to get people to apply what they have learned about a language without really thinking about it.  That can only come about with exposure to diverse opportunities to use the language.  That further comes about only through contact with a diverse group of people.

Why should one not expect the same with faith formation?  I can read and memorize the Catechism.  However, unless I have access to experienced mentors that can help me apply what I have learned to my daily life, I haven't learned anything - I have just memorized some information.