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

Novelist Jon Hassler admitted that dialogue he heard in restaurants and other public places was suggestive and helpful for writing his books. I was struck late one Saturday morning at the remarks I overheard while walking in a part of the city popular with the young and trendy. For instance. Two young men on the street talking as they walked past me. Number one says: “She left you?” The other says: “Well...” That's all I hear but the last remark suggests that her departure was a bit more complicated. While lunching a bit later, I hear a woman say to a friend: “I'm two years from forty.” Clearly a bit of concern there about aging. A bit later I hear two others in their late twenties, I'd guess, talking as they go by. Number one says: “He's antsy.” The other asks: “About what?” Number one: “The rent.”

The area I'm in and all the beautiful young people around hint that a certain appearance and address push people to live a bit beyond their resources. The topics in these snatches of randomly heard conversations are of universal interest. One touches love, friendship, intimacy. Another, our inevitable concern about aging. And the last, the unavoidable economics of daily life. Love, growing old, money. How much more basic can you get? These are the same matters we should unhesitatingly bring before God in our own unique words of prayer. Like the fellow walking alongside us on the street, God is a good listener and even more.

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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