Monday, November 7 – “not for grandeur, nor from fear”
Pretty much everyone I know around here is slamming work these days, like the heavy equipment pushing and growling as skilled workers build the College of Health Profession’s new wing. Energy blending with over-worked to-do lists and overdue emails.
A shout out to Sr. Beth Ann Finster, csj yesterday — a packed university chapel for mass celebrating her 50th year as a Sister of St. Joseph and her 32nd year at the university. Who packed the house and got volunteers hauling in loads of extra chairs? Students from this year, students from 25 years ago, lots of Detroit Mercy co-workers, some retired, some work-slammers for whom this Monday is the beginning of a new week. The congregation tested the acoustical range of a chapel radiant with sunshine pouring in. “Beth, lots and lots of people came out to tell stories about the beauty with which you live your life.” After mass an even larger crowd came over to the Jesuit Community Courtyard, partly made locally famous by the roses Beth plants there and partly by Jesuits who tend them through their season.
It would be a shame, I thought during morning prayer today, if the press of work and the tensions of this anxiety-laden election season allowed autumn to slip by us. Wherever you live, in Motown where the colors are breaking open these days, or Colorado, or Sweden, pause and listen 3 times today; let autumn be a song and you the listener. Want to?
Have a blest week,
john sj
Today’s Post – “Autumn’s russet colors”
“For the dogwood in our yard, late October
West Philly c. 1976 during grad school”
Autumn’s russet colors
Age without solemnity
Earthy and simple, they linger
Linger,
Not for grandeur
Nor from fear of the dust they will become
Their affection for this place
These ripening moments
Even me the beholder
Slows the pace of changing.
Let me be won by this warmth
To slow my chosen pace
To ripen affectionately.
jstsj
