Having No Connections

I just went through the wonderful experience of moving a small office. We only moved about two miles away. However, we still had to pack everything up.

As with every move, I knew there would be glitches. As expected, we had problems with our phones and internet. At first, I viewed the situation as a major headache. However, after a couple of days, I rather enjoyed not having to figure out how I was going to work my way through the well over 100 voice-mail and e-mail messages I receive daily.

My feelings were bittersweet when I figured out how to fix the phone problems. Our technology guy has me connected to the internet, but my e-mail isn't quite working. I can receive messages, but can't send any.

This experience reminds me of those one or two winter storms we get in the midwest each year. Everything shuts down. Nobody can go anywhere. Once people get over the inconvenience, they simple learn to deal with it. What are the options?

So, I will be fully connected in a day. I have enjoyed the break and highly recommend that everyone become disconnected for a couple of days each year.

Remembering Lou

I had the opportunity to grow up in a pretty close-knit neighborhood. Even though it was a pretty nice area, there were remnants of some goofy informal neighborhood policies. For example, the man that owned most of the lots in previous years was "open minded". He sold some of the lots to Jewish families. However, those lots were limited to a small part of the subdivision - a part that was off to the side.

Like many Catholic kids, I grew up thinking everyone was Catholic. I was a very social little kid and spent a tremendous amount of time walking around and talking with neighbors, including Lou and his family. Lou and his wife were extremely nice to me, as was their son, Tom. I think I remember someone telling me that they were Jewish, but I thought that must have been a "sub-group" of Catholics.

In second grade, one of the teachers informed me that Jewish people did not believe in Jesus and were going to hell. I was crushed. How could this be? My Jewish friends were so nice. Tom even gave me rides in his hot rod car and on his mini-bike.

Little did I know that Lou was a very prominent and wealthy businessman. Yet he and his family always took the time to talk with the young neighbor kid that never seemed to keep quiet. Lou always waved and smiled whenever I saw him drive by in his car.

Lou passed away last week after a long and fruitful life. Although my second grade teacher might disagree, I have no doubt that Lou has met his eternal reward.

A Personal Conversion

I try not to reveal to much personal information or experiences in this blog. However, I really need to share an amazing story of conversion.

Readers of this blog may recall the following from previous blogs: I am Catholic and my wife is Lutheran, my wife and I went to Rome earlier this year and that close family members were in a motorcycle crash this summer. Those seemingly unrelated things have lined up to form a marvelous situation.

My wife is not only Lutheran, she is a WELS Lutheran. When we were married, we wanted an ecumenical service, but her pastor would have nothing to do with it. We were married in a Catholic ceremony over eight years ago.

Skip ahead to early June of this year. While in Rome, we visited the tombs of the Popes beneath St. Peter's Basilica. When we approached the tomb of Pope John Paul II, there was a woman kneeling on the tomb, crying loudly and dropping flower petals. She was obviously a family member or close friend - nobody else would have been allowed past security. My wife was really struck by this scene.

Skip ahead a few days. On our last day in Rome, I bought about a dozen Pope Benedict XVI mini-rosaries (the ones that are one decade) as small gifts for Catholic friends back home. I bought them at my wife's suggestion.

Skip ahead a few more days. Shortly after returning from Rome, my wife's parents were in a freak motorcycle crash hundreds of miles away. My wife's mother was not expected to live. My wife drove out to be with her mother. On a quiet evening when she was alone at her mother's bedside, my wife took out one of the Pope Benedict mini-rosaries. For some reason, she felt compelled to bring it with her. She didn't even know what to do with the rosary. Even though it was a Pope Benedict rosary, my wife, recalling the scene at his tomb in Rome, prayed for the intercession of Pope John Paul II on behalf of her mother. Although she did not make a "prayer deal", she asked that her mother survive and, should that happen, my wife would take that as a clear sign that she should convert.

Skip ahead to the present. Within the next week or two, my mother-in-law will be returning home after over four months in various hospitals and rehabilitation centers . Two days ago, my wife completed her second RCIA class.

A Home in Green Bay

Here is yet another good story about a parish doing the right thing. St. John the Evangelist Church in Green Bay has planning to open a COTS program for homeless people. I do not know what COTS stands for, but I assume it as a somewhat standardized program to serve homeless people. Well, the "good" neighbors of the church expressed concerns to the City of Green Bay. The city said that the parish could not open the church for such a program. The "good" neighbors of the church didn't want those "undesireable" homeless people in their neighborhood.

The City of Green Bay stated that, if the church opens the program, the city could fine the church $600 per day. The church and the Diocese of Green Bay replied with a rousing "So what?!" The director of administration for the Diocese of Green Bay went so far as to publicly state that it is unconstitutional for the City of Green Bay to deny the diocese and/or any parish from working to fulfill its mission. The church plans to implement the COTS program with or without city approval.

Obviously, the leaders of the City of Green Bay and the "good" neighbors of St. John the Evangelist Church missed the sermon on compassion.

Out of Bloggy Experience

Will technological marvels never cease? This is the first post I have made from a remote wireless location. I just feel so enabled. I have yet to determine whether this experience is positive, negative or a bit of both. While it is certainly wonderful to be able to make a post while waiting in a hotel lobby to give a presentation, I now sense a new level of pressure to make regular posts to the blog.

This does represent an opportunity to do something creative, such as a "Where in the world is Joe Lunch Box?" contest. Here are some clues to my current location: fairly large city, Great Lakes, fermented malt beverage and Mile.

O'Brien Speaks Out

Archbishop Edward O'Brien, formerly the Archbishop of The U.S. Armed Forces and recently named as Archbishop of Baltimore, recently gave a speach in which he stated that military chaplains should do all that they can to advocate against using torture and targeting civilians. Archbishop O'Brien was particularly concerned about the documented torture by U.S. forces against detainees in Iraqi prisons.

While I continue to have significant concerns about the hierarchy of the Catholic Church (concerns that are no greater or less than those I have with civil leaders), I must give Archbishop O'Brian a significant amount of credit for publicly stating his feelings on a very controversial issue. Given that he is no longer Archbishop of the U.S. Armed Forces, he might have felt a bit more freedom to question some of the policies of the White House and the Pentagon that relate to how our forces treat (or mistreat) prisoners of war and other war detainees.

Archbishop O'Brien is right on this issue. However, most of the members of the Conservative Right will argue that he is wrong.

Lemonade from Lemons

For the first time in many years, I went through the application and interview process for a new job. I have a pretty good job, but the demands are increasingly difficult for a 'baby boomer" to handle. In addition to at least 40 hours a week in the office, I spend 30-40 hours a week travelling throughout the state to give presentations.

The position I applied for was located right in my hometown. It seemed to be a good match for my experience and skills. Fortunately, I was one of a handful of people that was invited for an interview. I handled the difficult interview process very well and thought that I had a good chance of being one of the two finalists called for a second and final interview.

Three days after my interview, the phone rang. Caller ID indicated that it was the individual in charge of the recruitment process for the position. I was very please that they the person was calling - I had kept the date for the second interview open. Tons of disappointment came crushing down on me when the individual stated that I was not selected to continue in the interview process. While I was stunned, I politely thanked him and the other people involved in the process for giving me the consideration they did and wished them the best in their recruitment efforts.

I felt sick for about a day. I did not think I had the job wrapped up, but I thought I would be one of the two finalists. Some friends knew that I was applying for the position and offered some support. After a day, I felt much better and had the belief that the people in the interview felt that, while my skills and experience may have been strong, I was not the best match for the position. A couple of days later, a couple of people with knowledge of the entity shared some insights with me that confirmed, from my perspective, that I would not have been the right match for the position.

So, all turns out well. Perhaps a guardian angel, with much more comprensive vision than I have, is keeping an eye on me.