As a newly ordained deacon, this was my first pastoral visit to a parishioner who recently moved into a new development located just on the edge of the parish. Yet my frustration this day was not finding the development, but finding the parishioner!
As
some of you are well aware, suburban sprawl has given rise to many developments
sometimes called "planned" or "adult-living" communities.
Some are actually quite beautiful with little lakes, winding paths and creative
landscaping and lighting. Others, however have a sort of "military base" look to them. The houses bring back childhood memories of Monopoly and are
constructed in three exciting styles: "plain", "basic", and "quaint". Especially in the evening, one could get the impression there's really only
one house with hundreds of mirrors. This accounts for some humorous, yet at
times, embarrassing incidents such as elderly residents who can't find their way
home from shopping, or inebriated husbands who tip-toe in after hours only
to awake on someone else's living room couch. As I was weaving my way through
the development, I was getting very impatient knowing I couldn't blame my present
predicament on either dementia or drink.
My experience was somewhat surreal. Since the development was
still being constructed, there were no trees, shrubbery or sod. I felt like
I was touring an abandoned Siberian labor camp. There wasn't a person, nor
even pet in sight. As my "twenty minute trip" was turning into a forty
minute jaunt, I decided to leave and head to the nearest phone. But just then,
in the far distance, something moved. At this point I couldn't have cared less
if it was either man or beast, so I quickly accelerated and aimed my car up
the unpaved hill. A huge cloud of dust followed me as thousands of pebbles
loudly pelted away at the bottom of my car.
As I
approached the house I saw a middle aged woman jumping, smiling, and waving
away. She looked a bit like a retired cheerleader attempting an old routine.
Suspecting that this was my parishioner who gave me the "simple directions,"
I was tempted to step on the pedal and drive real close covering her head
to toe with dust! Well, both charity and reason prevailed, so I slowly pulled
up and got out of my car, trying not to look too annoyed. By her smile I suspected
she decided to do the same.
After
our mutual introductions and apologies, I handed her the directions in a way
which said, " Here you throw these out!"
Taking the paper in both hands she stood there carefully reading every word
on the page. Suddenly she threw her arms down, closed her eyes, and groaned,
"I bet it was the kids! Oh I'm so sorry, I forgot to tell you!" In an exasperated tone she then explained that all the residents were having
problems with kids from outside the development. Evidently they enjoyed sneaking
about the streets at night and twisting all the signposts around! While the
contractors were waiting for the cement to be poured, mischievous minded boys
were going to bed many nights and laughing themselves to sleep. Well, believe
me, neither of us were laughing, and if we had our chance that day; both of
us would have taken our turns twisting little necks!
Although
this little incident happened years ago, I recount this story for you because
it holds a very relevant message for us today. Even though childish pranks are
both innocent and perhaps understandable, it would be very different it the
roles were reversed. What if adults sent kids in circles, leaving them lost,
alone and frustrated? In fact, something similar, yet more sinister, is happening
today. Because of irresponsible adults, children are not only losing their way;
some are losing their lives! Twisting signs is bad enough, removing them is
wicked.
While it
is all-important to discuss and decide upon environmental issues, one would
think that we should first stop and consider what we are doing to our most
valuable resource- our children. Ironically, as we do our best with both
education and legislation to protect our environment, we do very little to
protect the young. We allow them to wander aimlessly through life, giving them
wrong directions. Yes, the signs of times are twisted indeed, and those who
know better are to blame.
I suspect many of you remember when many
things in life were set in stone. Wherever you went - school, work, church - almost
everyone measured life with the same yardstick. As a child, the law which was
enforced at home was reinforced in school. Even Hollywood was part of the team.
Be it T.V. or the movies, although the scripts were different, the message was
was the same. No matter which way you turned, you were pointed in the right
direction and handed some simple but significant directions for life: avoid
evil and do good. Though the past was far from perfect, one must admit, today
children have more and know more; yet they are also more lost, anxious, and afraid.
I find myself attending funerals of those who can literally be described as a "dying breed". They were all over eighty and lived good, simple, and upright lives. These are the Uncle Don's and Aunt Lena's of the world. They may not have been outwardly pious, but their religion was real. Although not the best educated, their example became the best of teachers. While they may never have had much money, they were wealthy in many ways. Most of all they were, for us children, simple, yet very secure signs even in life's most dark and stormy days.
One can only wonder what
has happened in the past forty years- who spun the signs? Divine mandates have
given way to personal opinions. Sex has turned from procreation to recreation.
Marital difficulties now easily point to divorce, and children, once considered
a special blessing, are now a financial burden. Education was valued as the key
to knowledge, today only to economic success. Moms staying home tending kitchen
and kids was a sign of love, today it's a form of slavery. While clergy, once
consulted and respected are now insulted and suspected. Also, days and seasons
are no longer holy, but holidays; and churches are often locked while stores are
always open.
How is it that we now have laws which protect eagle eggs yet prosecute
those who protect unborn infants? By what logic does a country preserve its
symbol yet destroy its future? The same government which prints "In God We
Trust" on its currency censures a teacher for explaining to her class what
this might just mean. It is increasingly becoming more apt and ironic that the
icon of American liberty is a cracked bell.
While everyone is outraged about brainwashing children in Afghanistan, what about here in America? No need to turn on CNN, tune into MTV; sit back and discover why Johnny is so hyperactive, depressed, or angry. Stay home one Saturday and play a videogame especially designed for kiddies. Play for hours like they do, and maybe you won't flinch either the next time something blows up or dies. Last but not least, get on the information highway, the Internet, and see if you can get to your destination without being broadsided and disabled for life. One Catholic school parent recently told me her daughter went to her computer to help complete a project for her religion class. When she punched in the word "Chastity" she saw some things I can’t put into print. Talk about terrorism.
Friends, adults are supposed to pray with children, not prey on them. Yes, terrorism must be dealt with, but not all terrorists wear turbans; some wear neckties. Some plan their evil acts from fortified bunkers, while others from fancy boardrooms. Some are hiding out in Afghanistan, plenty more in America. Our sweet Savior had something bitter to say about those who lead little ones astray. They can hide from us, yet not from Him. Little do they realize that in their impiety and insolence, their necks are even being measured for millstones.
The
multi-million dollar toy industry employs media and marketing experts who have honed their skills in squeezing what they can from kids. They know that the children
don't control the purse strings, but often enough their parents will buy anything
just so junior won't whine or be without. First it was the Cabbage Patch craze,
then moms made a mad rush for beanie babies. Later, tickle-me Elmos entertained
everybody for ten minutes before they got intensely annoying. Then Pokeman had
his day in the sun. Now it's Harry Potter's time to shine. The experts know
what's trendy today is tacky tomorrow; so undiscerning adults and undisciplined
children are a winning team, which keeps their business in the black.
Defending
America's freedom is important, but defining freedom is the first step. Freedom
doesn't mean choosing what I feel to be right, but what we know to be right. If
only feelings determined our decisions, then the Flat Earth Society would have
millions of members. Pope John Paul II says, "Divine law is the sole
standard of human liberty." But this modem prophet of God only speaks nonsense
to those who measure truth with rubber rulers. Losing one's sight is sad, but
to lose one's insight is a tragedy. Another prophet chided our past president
and indeed all of us: Mother Teresa warned that nuclear war would be the
direct result of abortion. If you find this reasoning absurd or a bit obtuse,
let me put it in my native Brooklynese: What goes around, comes around.
"To whom much is given", the Savior said, "of him much will be required". In the light of this Gospel parable, those blood red stripes and white bandages on "Old Glory" can be a painful reminder of the lashing given the unfaithful servant who didn't protect God's glory. For every bumper sticker or billboard which proudly shouts, "United We Stand", we need two which whisper, "Together We Kneel".
America, why subject
your children to an anxious and uncertain future? Signs set in sand leave your
future only to a twist of fate. If charity begins at home, so too does justice
and truth. Your noble deeds of old were accomplished only through Divine grace
working through human effort. It is only on your knees and calling on the might
of your Maker that you can ever hope to set things straight once again. This wonderful
work, which the Bible calls "repentance", that is, the turning from self-serving
to self-giving, is the only true measure of your greatness and beauty. What
begins with a prayer will end in peace, but in between the two resides
repentance. Here's a true labor of love, which can be described to the children
as simply a humble yet heroic twist of faith.