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

The postcard from a large city in the South read: "Currently I'm doing Teach for America here. I teach world history to sixth graders. It is nuts! I love it!" The writer is a year out of college. "It is nuts" translates as chaos and energy. An older generation would very likely prefer a bit of order in the classroom. But for Ted it's a welcome, energizing and exhilarating challenge. "I love it!"

That font of wisdom on all things Benedictine, Michael Casey OCSO, writes about the impact and good of new recruits to a monastery. A bit like those sixth graders. New recruits and older monks in a community, more broadly the young and the elderly anywhere, can offer each other "the means of growth and fervor." New members invite the veterans to "greater fidelity." "By being what we are called to be, we give newcomers an inkling of what they can become if they continue to pursue with the monastic ideal." Casey admits this is a demanding responsibility, but there are benefits. "We rediscover our own ideals in the aspirations of the young and–-if we allow it to happen-–we are spurred on by their enthusiasm."

When older people are fortunate enough to be around the enthusiastic young (young could mean almost anyone from 2 to 50), rather than doing our best to dampen or check their spirits, we might allow them to re-animate and freshen our own approach to life. "God, give me again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervor sustain me." (Psalm 51) -- Or: "It’s nuts! I love it!"

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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