Pastor's Message

July 25, 1999

MY TILLEY

Since I have become much more conscious of skin cancer and the dangers of too much sun, I have developed the habit of wearing a brimmed hat when outside. In fact, I have started collecting quite a few hats.

Last week I acquired a Tilley hat. That is the hat that calls itself the Rolls Royce of the hat world. (Anyone involved in the Persian Gulf War may know that they were worn by many of the personnel to protect them from the dessert sun.) It looks sort of like an Australian outback hat with sides that can be buttoned up. There’s much more: it floats; it has straps in case there is wind; it is washable and can be reshaped; it has a pocket inside; and, of course, it does a great job of warding off the sun. It comes complete with an owner’s guide and a life-time guarantee.

That’s a lot to be said about a hat. Mr. Tilley writes that he developed the hat to meet many of his own requirements. In the process, he has set new standards for the hat-making industry.

Setting new standards and trying for something better than the norm takes a lot of serious work and planning. It means not cutting corners or just getting by. Details are important, too.

If people can become so dedicated to developing a new hat, it seems that we could become equally creative at finding better ways of living and working together. There is always a need for more listening, better acceptance of others, and for forgiving. Maybe Mr. Tilley’s type of commitment and enthusiasm are needed in our relationship work as well.

- Fr. Herb

Pastor's Message July 25, 1999 MY TILLEY Since I have become much more conscious of skin cancer and the dangers of too much sun, I have developed the habit of wearing a brimmed hat when outside. In fact, I have started collecting quite a few hats. Last week I acquired a Tilley hat. That is the hat that calls itself the Rolls Royce of the hat world. (Anyone involved in the Persian Gulf War may know that they were worn by many of the personnel to protect them from the dessert sun.) It looks sort of like an Australian outback hat with sides that can be buttoned up. There’s much more: it floats; it has straps in case there is wind; it is washable and can be reshaped; it has a pocket inside; and, of course, it does a great job of warding off the sun. It comes complete with an owner’s guide and a life-time guarantee. That’s a lot to be said about a hat. Mr. Tilley writes that he developed the hat to meet many of his own requirements. In the process, he has set new standards for the hat-making industry. Setting new standards and trying for something better than the norm takes a lot of serious work and planning. It means not cutting corners or just getting by. Details are important, too. If people can become so dedicated to developing a new hat, it seems that we could become equally creative at finding better ways of living and working together. There is always a need for more listening, better acceptance of others, and for forgiving. Maybe Mr. Tilley’s type of commitment and enthusiasm are needed in our relationship work as well. - Fr. Herb
July 18, 1999 DEER CROSSING A woman called the Sheriff’s office to complain. She told the officer that there was a problem near her country home. Very close to her house, she explained, there was a “deer crossing” sign. She went on to say, “You just have to move it. This road is far too busy for deer to cross. Already there have been several hit by cars.” Of course, deer crossing signs are placed to reflect common patterns of deer movement. They do not indicate to deer where they should cross. Sometimes it is easy to forget what causes what. We laugh at the woman on the phone to the Sheriff. Nonetheless, many of us are just as confused when it comes to cause and effect. One of the most common confusions is that people still seem to think that God causes bad things to happen to people or that people’s past behavior is being punished by a physical pain. When someone is suffering from a chronic disease or injured in an accident, people often ask what kind of sins they must have committed to bring that pain upon themselves. Or they wonder why God must be punishing such a good person. Sickness and injury is NOT punishments. All people, including very good ones, have to suffer. No one is exempt from pain. That doesn’t mean that suffering is desirable, but good things can come from pain. God can be found in the way we bear the pain when it comes. - Fr. Herb
July 11, 1999 BE FESTIVE This weekend we, the members of St. Peter’s Parish, have our annual Summer Festival. That occasion has started me thinking about the word “festival.” Although we have come to equate festival with a major fund-raising program, the word really means a time for people to come together in celebration. Moreover, we are supposed to be festive and go beyond the norm in our social interactions. Putting on a church festival demands countless hours of planning and coordinating. Hundreds of volunteers have been enlisted. There will be many acts of heroic effort in the summer heat. Most of the people involved do their work joyfully because they know the wonderful results of their commitment. We don’t want to take for granted the workers who help us have this occasion for being festive. Thanks to all who have and will be working this year. Merely saying the word “thanks” hardly seems enough. I have been especially aware, in recent years, of the alumni and other sons and daughters of the parish — many of whom live elsewhere — who come back to see each other at the festival. They have a great time and renew their connection with this parish. We are glad to have you here. Whether you are part of the work crew or one of the visitors to the festival this year, please remember to enjoy yourselves in your social interactions with each other. Be festive and extend yourself a bit more than usual in friendliness to others. - Fr. Herb
July 4, 1999 A WHOLE NEW WORLD I read in the newspaper about a recent discovery by astronomers of a new solar system. Somewhere, millions of light years away there is another solar system like ours with planets that circle the sun. The song, “A Whole New World,” from the Disney movie “Aladin” comes to me. Perhaps that is why astronomers, like all explorers, are constantly searching. They are intrigued by new worlds and new possibilities. We know, however, that it is not necessary to travel many miles, much less light years, to find new worlds. Many new discoveries are made within. For example, anyone who has ever loved another knows that that love introduces them to a whole new world. It opens doors to new realizations about self and other. Life is about new discoveries. A new world of wonder awaits those who search. Looking deep inside our human longings, we can discover satisfaction only in God’s love and wonderful mystery and power. That, too, introduces us to a new world with new clarity of the meaning of living. - Fr. Herb