The Celtic Monk

It surprises me when in times of reflection on grown-up issues or problems, childhood nursery rhymes seem to hold the wisdom of the universe. Take Humpty-Dumpty for example. No one put him up on that wall from which he fell,he got up there all by himself. And likewise no one pushed him; yet it seems that the fact of his being up there led to his demise. Then once the deed was done--well you know the rest not horses nor men could restore him. As I watched the Komen for the Cure and Planned Parenthood debacle unfold this week I though about old Humpty. Komen is small potatoes in the not-for-profit world. I have to say that I didn't even know they were in the business of giving the money they raised to anyone other than for breast cancer research. But it seems along the line they decided to climb up with the big guys (in this case Planned Parenthood)and rub shoulders with the rich and powerful. But when they tried to slip away with a mere 700/k--small potatoes to PP--they were slamm...

2011 was jam packed with many opportunities to use my gifts, talents and abilities in ministry. I was priveleged to continue ten months of the year at First Naples preaching and teaching with amazing colleagues in ministry. My opportunities to enter into spiritual direction relationships continued to grow. In June I returned to St. John's Abbey, and then was blessed with a trip to Ireland for some personal retreat and the World Community of Christian Meditation annual conference. The last quarter of the year brought the opportunity for a change of venue for parish ministry closer to home. The chance to preach each week has been a blessing combined with my continued priority for spiritual direction. I've had to cut back on the weekly 100 mile trip for the meditation group which has been an important part of Peace River Spirituality Center since 2009. These changes have given me pause to evaluate not only my gifts but also what makes my heart sing. I'...

Last Sunday was World Communion Sunday. The church I'm serving, First Presbyterian of Naples celebrated the day with music of diverse cultures. It was as if we, sitting in our uni-ethnic congregation, stretched out our hands a little further into the rainbow of the worlds peoples. World Communion Sunday was also the debut of FPC's new quartet who are an exercise in diversity itself. Three long-time section leaders who'd been with the choir for many, many years retired to greener pastures this summer. The diversity comes in as the age of their three replacements, added together, is likely less than the age of one of the senior retirees. Don't mis-understand. I'm not being ageist. It's simply a huge difference that's hard to miss. Their youthful voices, youthful style, youthful attitudes, youthful demeanor could be startling. However, they've entered with such grace to fill shoes that were beloved, and they're doing it like ducks take to water. [see ...

I’m feeling a little torn, as we approach this weekend and the Remembrance of what has come to be known simply as 9/11. Many newscasts and some radio stations have broadcast or rebroadcast stories of that terrifying and tragic day all week. It was sad then, it is sad now. There's nothing that can change what happened, or bring back those we lost, or erase the scar from the wound on our national conscience. And so we grieve together, again, these 10 years later. But in my little corner of the world, we’ve been working hard this week to plan RALLY DAY for the children of our church. Rally Day is the day our Sunday school classes begin again in earnest. We’ve ordered curriculum… shined and polished classroom spaces…lined up teachers. This Sunday, September 11th, is a day to celebrate the lives of little ones who are just beginning to grow into the love and likeness of a Gracious God; most of them were not even alive when the Twin Towers fell. I’m sure there were babies born on 9/1...

LAURENCE FREEMAN, OSB - DIRECTOR OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN MEDITATION Have you ever met one of your heroes? I'm not talking about someone who saved your life, or won the game, but someone who you've admired from afar. Maybe it's an author or a public figure who you've grown to respect more than simply admire. Who are these people who loom large in your life? Laurence Freeman (above) has been a hero of mine for some time. Over the past three years, I've read everythng he's written on Christian meditation and have listened to CD's of talks he's given around the world. He was chosen as the spiritual guide for WCCM, after the death of its founder,Fr.John Main. While in Cork at the pre- conference retreat of WCCM, I had the opportunity to listen to six presentations by Laurence and the photo above was taken by a Canadian participant as I was talking to him following one of the sessions. Freeman's topic was living in times of crisis. Looking...

It's hard to believe that my time here is over. It has been a wonderful journey from a variety of perspectives. I'll have much to unpack spiritually, emotionally and intellectually long after the suitcases have been returned to the attic. In reality, I cannot do justice to the graces I've received in one final pilgrimage blog; but I can let your know some of the things that will continue to work deep inside me in the weeks and months, likely years ahead. Right now they're no more than a list of words. In reality they are the raw ingredients of what I've learned about myself, the Church, and God that I hope will become a magnficent feast. So here's just an appetizer of what's filling me and calling me as I return home: BEAUTY --God gives us glimpses of Himself each day, do we look for Him. PEACE --Not as the world gives. WELCOME --As in, how can we be more welcoming to others. RADICAL UNITY --Each person breathing is made in the Image of God; how can we act l...

"HOW FAR FROM THE TREE OF RED-HAIRED KATIE" If you've sent me an email since I've been gone, you've received a poem about my pilgrimage that contains the line above. Katie Walsh McDonough, my dad's mother emmigrated from Castlebar, in County Mayo on the western coast of Ireland. I don't know if her sister, Auntie Lily, accompanied her or they reunited here. Auntie Lily never married. Katie Walsh married Tom McDonough, Sr. and had three children: Mary Catherine, Lill and Thomas McDonough, Jr.-my dad. I grew up knowing I was Irish. While having an awareness of my mother's family background (German)it wasn't the bigger part of our identity. Maybe it was because our name was McDonough. Maybe it was because my mother converted from Lutheran to Catholic. Don't ask me how exactly it was communicated that Irish was the identity we claimed, I really can't say. Maybe it was because Grandma Katie and Auntie Lily never lost their brog...