July 29, 2022
Dear Friends,
Did you realize that we are at the end of another month? July is pretty much over and that means we only have the month of August before we shift out of our own vacation mode (unless you are retired than every day is vacation mode!) and raking season begins, shoveling season, pollen everywhere season, and I am finally warm again season. I envy that. We each have our own calendar and what is important us. We each try to find balance between work and play. Often, balance is linked more to seasons and what we think we can do in each of the seasons. I can only take time off in the summer because summer is vacation time. I can only go to Vermont in the winter because that’s when the snow is there. Our thoughts sometimes turn into absolutes, which seem somewhat immutable.
I realize, if we have kids in school, it is harder to vacation outside of the summer months. We aren’t always tied to the summer mentality. Did you know Vermont is beautiful in the fall and spring? While you might not be able to ski, they have amazing places to hike.
I offer this commentary because, at time, it is easy to think in absolutes on topics, not just vacation. I feel that for many people, life has become one of absolutes. There is the proverbial cross that we will die on for topic a, b, c. We are so focused on what we believe to be that true that we aren’t open to anything else. In life, we must find balance not just between work and play, but in our lives and opinions on things. We need to be
open to the perspective that somebody else has. It doesn’t mean we are going to change our minds but being open to other ideas really helps us in our balance in the long run.
Let’s be honest, when you think of Vermont is your first thought skiing or hiking? When you hear vacation, do you think summer over fall or winter? While it is not easy to have an open mind with everything, I think it is something we need to strive towards. In answering Christ’s call to serve and love all His children, we are going to have our own setbacks. We are going to be challenged to think beyond our own opinions and absolutes about those around us. I am not saying your opinions are wrong. I am reminding you that true balance needs to be found outside of thinking in absolutes. If we do that, we may miss the chance to hike in the fall.
I offer this commentary because, at time, it is easy to think in absolutes on topics, not just vacation. I feel that for many people, life has become one of absolutes. There is the proverbial cross that we will die on for topic a, b, c. We are so focused on what we believe to be that true that we aren’t open to anything else. In life, we must find balance not just between work and play, but in our lives and opinions on things. We need to be
open to the perspective that somebody else has. It doesn’t mean we are going to change our minds but being open to other ideas really helps us in our balance in the long run.
Let’s be honest, when you think of Vermont is your first thought skiing or hiking? When you hear vacation, do you think summer over fall or winter? While it is not easy to have an open mind with everything, I think it is something we need to strive towards. In answering Christ’s call to serve and love all His children, we are going to have our own setbacks. We are going to be challenged to think beyond our own opinions and absolutes about those around us. I am not saying your opinions are wrong. I am reminding you that true balance needs to be found outside of thinking in absolutes. If we do that, we may miss the chance to hike in the fall.
God Bless,
Fr. Brian
Fr. Brian
P.S. How do you discipline a coffee bean?? You ground it.