Before I forget&

     Remember your childhood prayer at bedtime:  "Now I lay me down to sleep... " It seems that someone has taken that prayer and given it a new twist.  Here's the modern version:
     Now I lay me down to sleep
     I pray my Cuisinart to keep
     I pray my stocks are on the rise
     And that my analyst is wise
     That all the wine I sip is white
     And that my hot tub's watertight
     That raquetball won't get too tough
     That all my sushi's fresh enough
     I pray my cordless phone still works
     That my career won't lose its perks
     My microwave won't radiate
     My condo won't depreciate
     I pray my health club doesn't close
     And that my money market grows
      If I go broke before I wake
     I pray my Volvo they won't take.

     Great prayer, isn't it?  Even though it was obviously written with tongue in cheek, it probably reflects our true feelings.  We like what we have and wouldn't mind a little more!  Maybe we play the lottery, go to the casino, make a bet on the Vikings, and hope we win some extra cash.  Or, we watch Who Wants to Be A Millionaire and picture ourselves on the show with Regis answering all the questions correctly.  What would we do with all that extra cash?  Pay off the debt for our new Pastoral Center?  Sure!  G. K. Chesterton wrote: "There are two ways to get enough:  One is to accumulate more and more, the other is to desire less."
     Recently I read that "The only reason a great many (North) American families don't own an elephant is that they have never been offered an elephant for a dollar down and easy weekly payments."  Do we really need an elephant?  What do we really need?  If you could ask the Lord for one thing, what would it be?
     While you are talking to the Lord, I would ask for your help.  Please pray for vocations to the priesthood, religious life and lay ministry in the Church.  If ever prayer was needed for vocations, it's now.  If you know young people, and not so young, who would be good for Church Ministry, lift up that person in prayer.  Do we encourage women and men to look at a vocation as a possible career, or second career?  Maybe you, the reader, feel such a call.  Don't hesitate to call Fr. Michael or myself.  We both would be happy to talk with you.
     Priests are not all alike.  We come in all shapes, sizes, races, ages, political persuasions and theological learning to the left and right.  Some think Vatican II went too far; others are waiting  for Vatican III.  But what is really important we all share.  All of us realize that we need conversion, a lifelong process of turning our hearts to God.  We take seriously the Gospel of Jesus Christ and try to live it each day.  The Eucharist is the center of our lives.  All of us have our unique devotion to Mary, the Mother of God.  As disciples of the Christ we must commit ourselves to justice, to stand in solidarity with the poor and the oppressed.  We defend the sanctity of every human life and raise our voices on behalf of the voiceless.  Hopefully, we share what we are and have with friends and strangers.  We need to be flexible, remembering that the Holy Spirit is full of surprises.  And, after all the prayers, meetings, acts of charity and justice, we do our best, only to discover that it isn't good enough, we need to have a sense of humor and laugh.
     Interested?

     Fr. Bill