“Hey, I’m Pretty Busy”

I was having a light conversation the other night with Judy and one of my daughters; we were  chatting about our full schedules. I have to admit some of us got a bit defensive when the topic of a fresh assignment came up and who might be able to do it. 

A classic generalization surfaced, “well dad, you’re retired and have plenty of time… therefore you should take on this assignment”. Well, I felt the need to get out my calendar and review my very full life. As I was expounding on my marathon of human activity, I noticed that no one was giving me the expected applause and deference…. I felt like a bum that sits at home all day looking at the ceiling and eating Twinkies….. boy o boy o boy.

Anyway, right now it’s getting late and I haven’t done my BLOG for tomorrow. Yes, I again had a very full day…I won’t go thru it with you, but it’s been pretty full. I just mentioned this situation to another daughter on the phone, mentioning that I don’t really have a BLOG topic on the tip of my tongue. She said, “dad, you just came off retreat, you should have many topics to expound on…pick a point or two from one of the talks and knock it out…”. Boy o boy o boy….. is that how they treated Shakespeare…”hey Bill, take 15 minutes and knock off a new ending to Romeo & Juliet where they ride off into the sunset”. Yikes, it’s clear that true genius is never appreciated. Okay, so where am I ? 

Well, it is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Perhaps he can give me some wisdom. Let me review one of his favorite prayers:  

 “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace …… O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive …. “

I think that may be the key….. “Lord grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand.”

Lord, help me to not think first of my needs, but to look to understand where others are coming from, and look to help them. Lord help me to look to relieve the burdens of others. 

You know, I think I should volunteer for that assignment. I actually do have some time and I think I could do a good job with it. Stay tune to future BLOGS to see how this works out…… and hey, I finished my BLOG for tomorrow. I may be pretty busy, but I guess I still have some time, and that’s pretty good news.