Saint John's Abbey

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Fr. Don's Daily Reflection - September 27, 2021

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

A few years ago, Bill was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, and happily, for several years he avoided any symptoms. But more recently he writes: Testing revealed that I was losing lung capacity. Winter was difficult for me: in addition to my fibrocystic lung problem, I had undiagnosed pneumonia.

When I have had difficult things happen to me, I usually spend a day or two feeling sorry for myself. Soon I realize that gets me nowhere.

Regardless of my problems, a trip to the Mayo Clinic makes me feel quite healthy. There in the waiting rooms and elsewhere I see people, obviously in poorer condition than me, coming for treatment. I am determined to stay positive because feeling sorry for myself will not change anything. Looking within, concentrating on myself, thinking of ‘poor me’, I realize does not make me feel any better.


Exercise /physical activity helps. A friend who lives nearby is 85, and his wife is dying of cancer. Almost every day he is in his yard working.


Further, I simply must help others. That’s what makes for happiness. In college Bill played basketball. An opportunity for me to coach two local high school boys who are starters on the local basketball team was timely.


Finally, he says, I continue to smile and be pleasant. That makes me feel better and makes life easier for my family and friends.

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

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