Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”

San Francisco, Summer 2016

While I grab two posts to pull myself onto the cable car a young man near the curb comes over and gives me an additional boost. – Coming back to where I'm staying, next to the church, I meet Miriam from the adjacent bookstore. She introduces me to the homeless man who sleeps at one of the entrances to the church bundled up in whatever he carries with him. After this, most evenings I hear him call out, "Hello, Father." – In a local French cafe; with all the accoutrements of a Paris cafe, Maria, one of four people from Hawaii sitting nearby, comments on my good appetite and goes on to loftier concerns once she finds out that I taught theology. She asks: "Tell me, what is the secret of life?" Without a lot of pondering, I answer: "I think a life filled with gratitude would answer that." She seems 'grateful'. Thinking about it later I feel in many ways that's easy for me to say! But even with that qualification I'd stand by it. – In the same venue another day, more earthly concerns prompt a couple at the next table to urge me: "You must try the croissants." An unnecessary, tardy suggestion!

Passing by as I wait for a cable car a fellow who carries a broom, wears an orange vest and a large smile, hails me, "Good Morning." I respond in like manner and he adds: "God bless you." – A bit of name dropping: Willie Brown stops in at a restaurant where I was enjoying a salad. Though no longer in office (30 years in the California assembly and the first ever African-American to be mayor of San Francisco--eight years), he still exudes charm and geniality. – A notice outside the Fairmont Hotel speaks of another personality to be honored when a statue of him is set up there, Tony Bennett. "I left my heart in … high on a windy hill." – While on that windy hill my sun hat is blown out into the middle of California Street. I was not going to risk chasing it but a cab driver, stopped for a red light, gets out of his cab, picks it up and brings it to me.

An Uber driver named Ronnie tells me he came to the United States six years ago from Ecuador. I mention that I 'work' in alumni relations and he gasps: "Todavia trabajando?” (Still working?) I explain that my 'work' is summed up as 'fun, food  and funerals.' – Cable Car grip man Byron stands out even amid many friendly and helpful people. Any time I mount his car he jovially tells other patrons that I come from Minnesota, prefer San Francisco's cold to heat and humidity and that I will get off at Grant. Another time he says: "Didn't you hear me calling your name this morning?" Apparently I was walking nearby and missed it. Whenever he has the opportunity Byron uses me as an excuse to josh with the passengers and share his good humor! What a gift he is! His exuberant spirit is a joy, something wonderful to encounter. Bless him!

Outside a restaurant, a man sees my unsuccessful efforts to hail a cab, comes out and says, "Let me do it." When he has no success himself he asks where I'm going (about 10 blocks away), goes back in and says that a friend is calling Uber for me! In the meantime I'm successful. The cab driver is Nigerian–born; I mention a Nigerian student of ours named Obi and from the rest of the name he tells me, "That's the same tribe." – The young man exiting the coffee shop before me with coffee in one hand and a pastry in the other insists on holding the door for me. “You already look quite occupied.” Smiling broadly, he says: “No problem!"

Paying for my items at a supermarket I apologize to the fellow behind me for being so slow. He says: "Take your time; I'm in no hurry." Since he's so cordial, I ask him (in a security man's uniform) if he knows where I can catch a cab. Picking up his package he has me follow him some steps, tells me to sit on a handy bench for a few minutes. He asks my first name, disappears, comes back and pronto, the cab is there. As he is about to disappear, I call out a thanks! Looking back he smiles.

In the same vehicle with Adam, my colleague in Alumni Relations visiting the San Francisco area, I converse with the Nashville-born driver. Hearing that at my age I am in such work with such inspiring and affable people, he says: “You are blessed!” Amen!

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!”

Reply to Fr. Don at: DTalafous@csbsju.edu

Watch Daily Mass online at: SaintJohnsAbbey.org/live

Send your prayer requests to the monks