Fr. Don's Daily Reflection - May 21, 2024
Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”
Ryan is a lively, somewhat impish, college sophomore. Wrestling provides some outlet for his energy and feistiness. His friends one day insist that he show his tattoo. It turns out to be a tiger, ready to pounce, on his upper arm. Typically he explains to this Catholic priest: “We Lutherans get this with baptism.” (Would that be the equivalent of that indelible mark?) From the reactions of other parents I'm sure his might be somewhat chagrined by this.
We older and more thoughtful people always think of the long term; will he still want this when he's fifty? At least there is some consolation that it is not a heart encircled with words: “Forever it belongs to Angie.” Protestations of undying love are often premature for college sophomores.
We can't undo totally the mistakes or imprudence of youth; at most we can forget them a bit, expect others to forgive, move on. There is no way of getting through adolescence and youth without mistakes, no way of getting through life itself without mistakes.
Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”
