September Reflections, 2025 September creeps in through the course of what some think is endless summer. Days can still be hot but if we look more closely the first clues of autumn are appearing. The mist is more enduring, days are shorter, a few leaves are turning and a preponderance of yellow flowers appear. Even the wildlife takes note that things are changing. The produce of late summer continues: green corn, tomatoes, squash, beans, peaches, plums, grapes, and early apples. We are always thankful at the end of the month that we have survived another hot summer. Pinesap Monotropa hypopitys,
September 1, 2025 Labor: Rights and Responsibilities Labor Day weekend reminds us that we need to work, we are fulfilled by working, and we find a social aspect to an occupation no matter where we like it or not. Labor can be seen as our creative expression of self, our prayer through our hands, the way we leave our mark on the world around us, our gift to future generations, our sense of meaning and dignity, our sacrifice for others, and our use of gifts given with our unique mark attached. Those unable to labor can offer their sufferings in the crucible of global labor -- a spiritually communal enterprise of our working with the Lord. On the other hand, for the lazy, working may be a burden, which they would prefer to avoid -- or just tolerate until retirement. But energetic people prefer to talk about a "right to meaningful labor," which is part of the right to live, to breathe unpolluted air, to eat wholesome food, to raise one's kids, and to have peace and prosperity to which everyone is entitled by birth. A capitalistic society, which expects to maintain a pool of the unemployed from which to draw, is cruel to say the least. In such a system people vie with each other for scarce jobs and are willing to take fewer benefits. Dog is supposed to eat dog. In China the surplus of labor has been so abundant that stories exist of enticing rural immigrants to work without written contracts and then dismissing them when the paycheck is due. Closer to home are examples of runaway industries that flee to nations with poorer work conditions, and thus allowing lower wages, more pollution, and no or little social security. Furthermore experts project that a 1% rise in unemployment is accompanied by a 5% rise in violent crime and family discord. Rights include responsibilities: laborers must do a proper day's work; employers must furnish decent working conditions; and governments must become the ultimate employers (even if it takes a constitutional amendment). If citizens are expected to help defend their country, they have the right to a livelihood through honest labor that is guaranteed by that country. A healthy nation should provide jobs and arrange that immense private resources be redistributed to enable the unemployed to work. Self-employment ought to be safeguarded by governmental policies of incentives. Our nation could transfer some of the immense amount of money on the military to environmental and conservation measures, rebuilding the national infrastructure, constructing affordable housing for all, developing a crash program for wind and solar energy applications, undertaking public works programs to expand public transportation systems, parks, medical facilities, and recreational areas (the WPA projects stand as architectural gems and enduring public works monuments), and enhancing AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, VISTA and private overseas voluntary agencies. Work opportunities and workers abound; they must be utilized.
September 2, 2025 Consolation: Kind Words and Deeds A little effort means a lot to those who grieve. The hospital visit or conversation or message ought to be mercifully short in most circumstances. In cultures with prolonged wakes, some folks are satisfied with just sitting in silence. More than spoken words is the act of just being present and showing loving concern, a hug or a warm handshake or just a demonstration of compassion through silence or weeping whichever comes more freely. The awareness of our own powerlessness is itself a sign of comfort; we are not masters of our fate. "I am with you at this moment and that is all I can do." This precious moment of thoughtfulness is really the spice of life. Let's keep seasoning flowing even when it takes some effort. We can grow in the virtue of compassion. Part of giving consolation is also a willingness on our part to receive acts of kindness from others. All of us have to give and all of us sooner or later must receive from other well wishers when our loved ones pass on or we are sick. At those unexpected or awaited moments we ought to be gracious, to show appreciation that the other party has taken the time and effort, and even to be sensitive enough to assist them in giving their self-conscious or awkward condolences with good will and true acceptance. Consolation Words of support They are all the more welcome They awaken within me
September 3, 2025 Reflection on Travel Experiences Labor Day Weekend is history and we return to routines, but should we forget the summer travel just undertaken? Travel mobility gives us a sense of freedom and contentment; some experiences are worth recording for future recall and enjoyment. In the past, travel involved a journey (the Latin word "diurnata" for day's work); getting somewhere took time and effort. Modern travel, by train, plane or automobile, is easier than walking or going by horseback, cramped sailing vessels or stagecoach -- but it can be tiresome and frustrating at times. Travel overcomes isolated communities and allows us to know different peoples and cultures; it is a unique educational opportunity for eager students; it provides an experience for pilgrims; it allows wanderers to reacquaint with their home or roots; and it may be an escape from oppressive conditions. However, travel has its toll and risks; the travel vehicle can be a source of air pollution; the travel facilities require airports, roads, lodging and recreation areas; pristine areas can be overrun by visitors; and noise and congestion accompany many tourist activities. Travel may also help spread diseases from one isolated place to a more populated one. In the past, contagious diseases usually only ravaged limited areas because few people entered and left infected locations. Even so, the fourteenth century Black Plague traveled over trade routes at quite rapid speeds. If true then, what about jet travel? Reference: The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett. Though recording the happenings can prove inconvenient to the traveler, do consider keeping a record. Once I had hiked to the top of the Kentucky Natural Bridge when an arriving tourist asked where he could get the best picture. I said "At the souvenir shop. It's too difficult without a helicopter ride by a professional." When a team traveled to Peru on a solar project in 1993, one of our party had his camera stolen from his backpack at the Lima Airport. Modern digital cameras and audio equipment can record events quite well, but they still need extra care and protection. Consider a handy notebook for recording proper names, places, new friends, addresses and road directions -- and few want to steal notebooks. Our memories fade but review of written records triggers happy memories. Another recording hint is to trace on a map the exact route taken and add abbreviated notes on the map's edges. Maps also help us to familiarize ourselves with the countryside. Acquire maps as early as possible and spend some time looking them over and knowing the basic directions. Modern auto GPS guides leave no record. Generally, we forget salient points and most likely will forget many of the minor ones, unless we make records with the camera, audiotape, notebooks or maps.
September 4, 2025 Curb Soft Drink Use Some health experts say emerging obesity problems among American youth (and adults) are due in no small part to the sugar in soft drinks. And this excess sugar is why the beverage industry has spent time converting to diet beverages or flavored and carbonated water, which some people find less tasteful than sugar-filled drink. A major portion of our over-one-hundred pounds of sugar per person per year is in the beverages consumed. This adds pounds and overall health problems, especially for youth, about a quarter are overweight. Counter-measures are being called for. Along with rising health concerns we witness the invasion of our public schools by the soft drink vendors. Why is there a Coca Cola/Pepsi commercial war directed to school boards across the nation, over the issue of which vendor has a right to set up machines in particular schools? Why should students who wear Pepsi tee-shirts be sent home on Coca Cola appreciation days? These turf wars, while yielding money for cash-strapped school board coffers, are giving the wrong product selection to students. Since the turn of the century youthful milk consumption has fallen significantly, while consumption of soft drinks (with their empty calories and excessive caffeine) has doubled. Recall that youth need the calcium and other healthy nutrients found in milk.
When ozone accumulates near the surface of our Earth as in congested motor vehicle areas, it adds to the air pollution that affects the health of many residents. The internal combustion engine is one culprit along with the owner who wants to drive excessively. The solution requires better controls of air pollution and equipment, and many places do not meet optimum standards for the first, and many drivers possess polluting vehicles. So ozone as foe continues to haunt us. But it is not all bad news. In the past decade, countries have imposed restrictions and non-polluting forms of Freons and other substitutes have been developed and made commercially available for most applications. It is a United Nations environmental success story. Certainly some dangerous Freons are still used, but the upper ozone layer is recovering in a marked degree. The United Nations-sponsored Montreal Protocol of 1992 has followed this pattern with happy results. Former UN secretary Kofi Annan called that Montreal treaty the single most successful international agreement to date; additional banning of successor chemicals have also received international agreement. The ozone as foe at ground levels and in more concentrated amounts has contributed to breathing problems for people in many urban areas both in American and other lands especially in China. We in America are facing the relaxation of fuel regulations and EPA oversight by the current Administration, all to the detriment of human health. Other air pollutants are also culprits and so the mix must be addressed. We have to realize many times in this age of chemical use and misuse that much depends on amounts and where located as to being friend or foe. As in the tale of Freon-use it all boils down to human responsibility.
September 6, 2025 Celebrate the Labyrinth In recent decades, more environmentally conscious religious communities have returned to a Middle Age instrument for furnishing a virtual pilgrimage route for local residents. This is a "Labyrinth,” a form of maze, which entails walking deliberately and prayerfully over a designed pattern on the ground or a building's floor. The person moves on a trail to the pattern's center and then back out to the outer edge. The movement in and out is regarded as a metaphor for life's journey done with concentration and reflection. Labyrinths were a popular form of spiritual exercise and prayer when long trips to the Holy Land were unsafe or financially impossible. The labyrinths in cathedrals such as Chartres in France made it possible for people to make these substitutes for Holy Land journeys with the accompanying appreciation and spiritual satisfaction. Today's return of the labyrinth's popularity may be a desire for symbolic action through moderate physical exertion on one's personal spiritual journey. Maybe it is a good conservation measure, for the person does not have to undertake a long distance pilgrimage, which takes some travel costs. Labyrinths of about fifty or so feet across are sprouting up at retreat centers, church yards, religious retirement communities and numerous other places, especially at mainline Christian institutions. Strolling through a labyrinth appeals across the board to women and men and to young and old. Some participants consider it as preparation for reflection rather than a prayer itself. While not inclined to this particular spiritual exercise, I see its value for many people and especially retreatants. It fits into a growing category of such exercises: gesture, dance, hiking, yoga, and other forms of physical/spiritual exercise. The walking about in a systematic pattern affirms that prayer requires concentration and posture/stance/movement of the whole person. Consider that when engaged in an outdoor labyrinth experience through walking or wheel chair, participants benefit from full-spectrum sunlight and fresh air -- ingredients of a healthy life. Indoor labyrinths can be used as well, especially in inclement weather as a form of exercise. Labyrinths come in various designs, but usually involve a pathway that moves from the outside to the center and then back out. Various labyrinth patterns are available in large plastic sheets, which are laid out on a flat surface. Locating a labyrinth in a place with limited privacy is suggested. Some labyrinth installers paint designs on tennis courts or parking lots, which are not heavily used. Others run a lawn mower over a meadow to build the design into the landscape, but that requires periodic summer maintenance. Other labyrinths are laid out with more elaborate flagstone, concrete, blacktop, gravel or mosaic designs.
Spiritual Empowerment By Fr. Al Fritsch, SJ Ushering in a renewable energy economy must be balanced by equal attention to reducing and eliminating the gross inequality plaguing our democracy. Breaking the grip of Big Energy and the wealthy is necessary lest a renewable economy cannot benefit all the people. Still we call for changes that respect the needs of all. Non-violence and non-elitism must go hand in hand. Greed dominates the situation even while some of the super rich value their well-publicized charitable donations. To truly understand the challenge before us we recognize that greed rests first in the system and secondly in individuals. The inherent materialism filters down to the poor who desire to be like the upper class; many dream of quick wealth through a winning lottery ticket. Unfortunately, only a rare lottery winner can do this; overlooked is the paralysis of a prevailing materialism. The devil is at work. Let's be honest: the materialism of the super-rich has a diabolic aspect. Those who control wealth have a power over others that is not accountable -- and total power corrupts. If we say evil lurks in this economic system then there is already a "spiritual" component, albeit evil. To speak of an Evil One makes many, including secularists and some believers, somewhat disturbed. If evil is behind the systematic greed of the current system, then a counterforce is prayer for divine guidance. Our current economic system is held together through a greed that is diabolic in nature and requires an authentic spirituality to expose, confront and change for Earth's and humanity's benefit. Faith in the future is a prerequisite for success. We can only be motivated to partake in citizen action if there is a possible future goal up ahead. Despair has no place here, nor a pessimism that says nothing can be done. Believing in a future opens minds to what can be done in a realistic manner, accompanied by corrective efforts undertaken for the benefit of all participating parties. How that faith is expressed depends on the compromising nature of agents of change whose leadership is most critical. These agents need to be recognized and supported by all who participate, for encouragement is also critical. Believers seek spiritual assistance at all levels, namely, control of interior tensions, continued enthusiasm (the God within) over time, clear focus on a better horizon ahead, and divine help in exposing evil powers. Political powerlessness of those seeking profound change is recognized if not denied, excused or escaped from through flights of omission; it is a stark reality that holds back the forces of change even in a democratic society. People realize that they are not perfect, nor are there smooth relations within and among small and large groups seeking change. The freedom that it takes to act successfully is hindered through interior struggles and lack of joint endeavors. Climate change has the potential of enhancing that mood of paralysis leading to drugs and suicides. Addressing powerlessness is imperative. Alinsky says The greatest enemy of individual freedom is the individual himself. Organizers are quick to understand limitations within the groups that they seeking to change. Some could argue that diverting attention to self or local groups delays the revolution, but is that necessarily true? Purifying motivations and collaborative efforts are both ongoing processes requiring agents of change who have achieved degrees of compromise and acceptance; the corrective processes are reinforcing and can work in tandem. Spiritual empowerment of change agents precedes political efforts within a democratic society, for greater long-term success. Here some will take issue with the precedence, a matter worthy of debate. We cannot get all participants to be authentically spiritually motivated, but need we? A few can act as catalyst or leaven for the entire body. Spiritual empowerment involves motivated leaders or agents of change; these can become models within an organization so that their qualities permeate the masses. A recognition that some have spiritual powers within their belief system is the prerequisite for joint association of secular and spiritual in one operation. Powerlessness is overcome by some through conversion to closeness to God; their actions can permeate the entire body including tolerant non-believers. Christians view spiritual empowerment in the name of the resurrected Christ. Spiritual interdependence means that believers are aware of the power to act being greater than their individual undertakings; they cannot act apart from God, Source of all power. This acknowledgment of need lays bare the soul to an interdependency that shows the need for physical and spiritual solidarity. Believers seek cooperative endeavors that sees need for God's help, not on mere occasions but with constancy and endurance. Here is a core of difference with that of secularists who manifest no such need. Furthermore, believers see need for moral leadership to render justice in their actions that have spiritual undertones. Early American revolutionaries understood this fact; should not we with a planet at stake do the same? Revolutionaries should be praying folks, and intense prayer is needed to address inequality coupled with renewable energy transition. Human beings, no matter how the flights of idealism show themselves, cannot do this alone. In God we trust!
September 7, 2025 Self-Denial Needed Today If anyone wants to be a follow of mine, let him renounce himself No one likes to renounce anything personal and that includes all the stuff we collect to improve our persona -- if that is possible. We live in a world of fiction, make believe, self-improvement gimmicks, and ultimate consumerism, where profit-making corporations make every effort to entice consumers to buy, buy, buy. Electronic gadgets manufacturers stumble over each other with one new improved device for greater convenience that the consumer is expected to panic in keeping up with peers. On the other hand, a stance of self-denial is regarded as unpatriotic, for 70% of our American economy is based on consumption. However, self-denial is the truly Christian thing to practice. Being Christian in a consumption-oriented world requires several points for reflection: Christ gave of himself totally for us; we also have crosses in our lives; and we must consider self- denial as a proper Christian practice. None of us can remotely equal the cross that Christ accepted and his total gift of himself for us. He emptied himself and became one of us. St. Paul says that even while we were sinners Christ died for us on a cross, the extraordinary sacrifice for those who do not deserve this act. Our own accepting of a cross includes recognizing that I am imitating Christ through a more generous sacrifice. My cross may be accepting limited talents, inability to gain a desired position, certain charges in physical condition beyond my control, lack of resources to do what needs to be done, or an illness or disability of some sort, which at times make me feel depressed and undeserved. When we recognize and accept this cross with a sense of gratitude then we can become shining examples to a world that shuns crosses and become angry that such even exist. In order to accept a cross more readily, we have to turn from the allurements of this world that confuse us and force us to overlook who we really are. The Lord expects more of us and we must respond. Self-denial is the Christian way to go. In the past the traditional practice included abstaining from eating meat on Fridays and fast days. This practice was not difficult for those with many food choices and certainly not much of an option for those who could only afford meat a few times a week. Each of us are able to understand what denial means in our own life: those who compulsively need to be connected by phone ought to consider allowing it to be turned off for a period of time; those who enjoy shopping ought to take a break; drivers can become occasional walkers; eat less or fewer times; give some of our surplus for the benefit of needy neighbors.
September 8, 2025 Solar Greenhouses and Cold Frames Solar greenhouses retain solar heat that is used to grow plants during the cooler portions of the year. They work better in milder climates and need to be well-insulated with a heat-retaining system such as a water tank or stone heat storage. Ample literature is available on where to buy or how to construct free-standing or attached solar greenhouses. The free-standing ones are somewhat harder to heat, because they have more exterior surface, but this can be compensated for by excavating and sinking the structure at a lower level than surrounding surface, with the soil serving as low-cost insulation. Lexan and other good plastic and glass glazings enhance the insulating quality by retaining critical heat to sustain greenhouse plants. All structures should face south. With good planning and proper choice of plants, a solar greenhouse becomes a producing garden without using high-priced fossil fuels. The greenhouse acts like a large permanent cold frame, which provides greens and fresh vegetables and herbs throughout the cooler months of the year. For proper growth of spring seedlings some auxiliary heating may be required. When attached to a building and properly constructed, a solar greenhouse has the added advantage of providing a substantial amount of space heating. A 120-square foot solar greenhouse at Mount Vernon, which we added, supplied a 2,000 square feet environmental office with nearly 40% of space heating on sunny winter days. An attached solar greenhouse can be used as a sunny atrium with flowers, a seating space, a social gathering place, or a meditation area and chapel space, and in a water backup tank can even be used to raise fish. Non-permanent, low-cost cold frames can be easily built using natural or synthetic fabric covers; these can be useful for protecting plants both in spring and autumn. To build the "caterpillar" variety of cold frame, measure the garden plot; make hoops by bending quarter-inch rib bar and rust-proof the edges (or use American bamboo hoops of bent stems); insert hoops every three feet along the length of the bed with about a two-foot air space above; cover with Reemay or other cloth fabric; and tie the cover down with pegs like a tent. Air out on sunny days.
September 9, 2025 Ten Commandments of the Forest 1. Enter the forest with reverence. Walk softly and gingerly in the woods for it is holy ground and God's presence can be experienced here. Teach others not to see forests as wastelands that are exploitable, but as precious areas having intrinsic worth. 2. Do not trash the forest resource. Remember that the forest is worth much more than just the trees turned into timber, idols of material profit. Rather promote the forest's natural beauty. 3. Celebrate the forest. It is not enough to refrain from misuse; the trees, the understory, the wildlife, and the sheer biodiversity are all worth celebrating. These give us joy through public recognition. 4. Honor and encourage native species. The forest is our fellow creature with whom we are members of the family of beings. We need to honor this coexistence and see once more how much the family of all beings must be appreciated. 5. Walk lightly in the forest. We can easily harm or kill the understory by use of heavy equipment, by driving motorized recreational vehicles or by allowing certain species to proliferate for hunting purposes. Forests can be seriously harmed by human activity or through introducing exotic and invasive species. 6. Do not rape the forest. To take a little of a resource is acceptable; to take too much endangers the target species and may threaten its very existence. The habit of taking just enough of a species to satisfy personal needs allows for continued vitality. 7. Do not make excessive commercial gain at the expense of the forest. Our woodland harvests should be for our own immediate needs and not be stolen from future generations. We need to think ahead, for future generations own some of the things under our immediate care. 8. Do not bear witness against the forest. The forest is not almighty with guaranteed replenishment. Rather, the forest is a vulnerable resource that must be protected from exploitation. 9. Do not turn the forest into an economic commodity. Realize that the forest's value goes beyond mere economic designation, for just seeing the forest for what it is without trying to make demands on it is a better approach to respecting the forest. 10. Do not covet the Commons. The forests of the world are the lungs of our planet, a gift to all, and for the benefit of all; let us preserve and enhance them for future generations.
September 10, 2025 Networking with those in Trouble If your brother or sister listens to you, you Such corrective measures require a form of networking, a connecting of correcting agents with wrongdoers. Networking means getting involved, a first step to specifying the wrongdoing and addressing the problem. We live in an age of instant communication -- phones, e-mail, radio, television, all of which can help us in public interest activism. However, the relatively low price of these connections means that information overload has crept into our lives and the amount of material scatters our focus on important issues. We may try to focus by avoiding being placed on mailing lists; we want regulatory agencies to stop spam or unwanted phone calls. But we cannot remain silent when we know about wrongdoing in our midst -- and yet we most often cannot effect corrective measures alone and thus must reach out for assistance. Driven by a sense of responsibility we want to take effective action and that means joining with others. Discerning what to network requires prayer to God for assistance.
September 11, 2025 In Defense of Wilderness Wilderness is that part of the world that has not been changed by human activity and remains in an undeveloped condition. Forestlands or drylands minus trees can be wilderness as can mountains and polar regions -- though presence of wildlife is considered a component of the designation. Though some of us are convinced that human activity can enhance wilderness, we still must understand that leaving some areas in a natural state may be better. After reading the book 1491 I was impressed by the argument that what we regard as "wilderness" was what the first European settlers found in the Americas. Actually lands cultivated by Native Americans were lapsing back into uncultivated states due to high mortality rates among indigenous populations from smallpox and other introduced diseases. Colonizing Americans often regarded wilderness as a danger zone that could not be tolerated but needed to be developed or conquered for the sake of civilization. Holmes Rolston, III asks, "Can or ought we to follow nature?" and answers in a number of interesting ways. Activists champion biodiversity. In truth, activism involves confronting developers, exposing damage and defending the worth of wilderness amid a climate of favoritism to corporate exploitation. Furthermore, activism also involves creating wildscape in yards, artificial wetlands, and conservation areas. The federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service must redouble protective programs in the face of a sea of exploiters lobbying for state controls and privatization of public lands. See Philosophy Gone Wild, Holmes Rolston, III.
As the first chill of autumn appears, we think of the warm, snug domestic environment, where winter time hobbies flourish. Which ones can be entertainment and which may contain hidden dangers? Emphasize those that are sociable, fulfilling, attention-catching and healthy for all parties.
September 13, 2025 Christians, Genesis and Earthhealing Some critics fault Christian philosophy/theology as the root cause of the environmental crisis due to the misinterpreted mandate in the Genesis account of creation on the sixth day -- God blessed them, saying to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and conquer it. Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, and all living animals on the earth" (Genesis 1:28). Could it have been misinterpretation or cultural limitation that was involved? Lynn White, Jr. in "The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis" (Science, Vol. 155 (Number 3767), March 1967, pp. 1203-1207), regarded as the most requested reprint in scientific literature, said that Christians found in Genesis a certain mandate to subdue our Earth. He added that "wilderness" occurs approximately three hundred times in the Bible, and all its appearances are derogatory. To his credit, White mentioned St. Francis as a model of good environmentalism. However, does theological understanding need a new interpretation in the light of modern science -- and technology or can we keep the Bible open? Conquest by a primitive people meant living in harmony with a hostile world of natural disasters and unknown diseases challenging conquest. An eco-spirituality as seen by a people who barely could keep alive and flourish was relative to that particular time and place. With the growth in understanding and practical application, science and technology offered immense benefits but these opened the way for exploitative conquest by neo-colonial capture of other peoples and a lack of respect. What was a commons as the Creator's gift was turned into an exploitable resource. Was Scripture at fault or misused for a sinister purpose? Some justified enslavement by far-fetched interpretations of Scripture; so do they justify mistreatment of Earth herself. While White focused on the justification by Western explorers/ exploiters (same word in some European languages) for conquests, what was lacking was an exegesis of the words "mastery" and "conquest." Conquest or subjugation required some degree of mastery; so does protecting and caring for all creation. The Genesis account was highly nuanced, and "control" meant responsibility over what was entrusted by the creator to imperfect human beings. When lacking reverence for God and creation, control and mastery lead to misuse.
September 14, 2025 The Sign of the Cross So the Son of Man must be lifted up. (John 3: 13-17) Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. We Catholic Christians (and also Orthodox and Anglicans) publicly sign ourselves with the sign of the cross even at times when the eyes of others seem critical to the practice. This action says much, both in the words and in the moving sign about our central belief: it is a creative blessing in the signing person when reverently calling on the name of the Lord; it is a public witness to the redeeming act of Jesus on Calvary through the sign of the cross itself; it is a blessing in words that does not rest on me alone but is the going out by the Spirit to all the world to which I am a witness. The cross is not just fixed to places or the sign performed at individual periods of time. Christians carry the cross to other parts of the world through spreading the Good News; some defy civil authorities by wearing a cross even in prisons; and some sign themselves as witnesses at the moment of martyrdom. Some identify this as the cross of suffering they carry in their own bodies, or they assume and help carry the cross for others as caregivers to those who suffer. The words of the "sign of the cross" were first spoken over us at baptism and the final words and sign will be given as we are placed in the grave. All have a Trinitarian character when performed properly and is honored throughout life. The paradox is that a sign of ignominy becomes Good News for it involves entering into others' suffering and inviting them to participate in ours. Compassion is love and is witness to the love God shows us. Through the eyes of faith we can perceive our individual crosses as joined with others in a universal Calvary event stretching through the centuries. It is the "now" of the cross when we sign ourselves more thoughtfully. Also it is the sign of eternal glory.
Harmony in the Universe By Fr. Al Fritsch, SJ A goal that must be reached for the ultimate success in curbing climate change is a global harmonious collaborative effort. Can this occur for all practical purposes with so many people of various backgrounds and aspirations? The task will not succeed at only lower levels of governance such as cities or regions; it must be among nations as well. All must resonate in an effort to save our threatened Earth. This is the theme of my recent book Resonance: Promoting Harmony When Confronting Climate Change, which is available from Amazon Books. The first portion of this reflection is an undertaking to see our global willingness to join forces with others through a harmony similar to what exists in our universe or in our art or music. We seek in an act of good will to cooperate with others for a common good and future. In our will to live we include the vitality of the environment and world around us; the core group are believers in the future and are pro-life. If one is hostile to any aspect of life, a barrier exists that must be overcome in order to save our threatened planet. To marvel at the grandeur of our universe is something celebrated in common with others of different cultures and religious practice; this is the beginning of global collaboration that is a unique experience. The second portion is addressed to Christian believers who are committed to working for a future. A Trinitarian God creates a vast universe, the mystery of life itself, and human beings endowed with free will; this God is expressed in the harmony of all creation, but especially in inspiring us to curb and address the climate change crisis that is demanding unprecedented human harmonious cooperation. Harmony works at both a universal and at a local level; so it is expected to work in a global undertaking. Ironically, in so acting we can show the presence of God in our midst in a unique manner never before experienced in human history. The global crisis becomes a golden example of human empowerment. The universe as now known through the latest advances of science is a starting point, a fresh source of enthusiasm to aid us in the gigantic enterprise ahead. Science resonates with the theological truth of a beginning that believers call a creative act of God. The concept of a “Big Bang” beginning includes from a scientific standpoint a dense quantity of matter undergoing a set of complex initial conditions; this beginning initiates a long 14-billion year process with a basic sound, the echo of which is heard today by us humans through a sophisticated form of scientific observation. In turn we resonate with our beginnings -- and with a future that lies ahead. Einstein and other brilliant intellectuals have no answers prior to the universe’s beginning, but only showed it to be more mysterious. The act stands out in a world of mystery. Modern science, rather than being arrogant, humbly brings us closer to the ongoing creative act that is truly unique. And Earth's vitality is part of that uniqueness. Even a few hundred billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy and a hundred billion galaxies, then the chances of similar systems are possible, but are they actual? Heaven knows! Some are searching for other life today on planets similar to Earth. Are we alone even in our seven billion human beings community in all this vast and expanding universe? Beyond our imagination are the observations of modern astronomy and cosmology. We recognize that extremely delicate conditions had to exist for cosmic processes to come to where we are today. Sub-atomic forces must be strong enough to hold the protons and neutrons together among elements, but weak enough for fission to occur. If it is difficult to explain the existence of galaxies and planets in the star-studded heavens, how can we ever explain the origins of life in its manifold expressions on this Earth? Some brilliant minds say life forms came from another cosmic source; but we then ask how did that source acquire life? Planetary conditions had to be just right for "random" situations, which for the believer is meant to have an eternal purpose. We start our process of finding harmony to work together in the atmosphere of a world in which we are destined for greatness. If we were to allow our threatened Earth to collapse through an eco-suicide then we will not fulfill our destiny. Rather, we are called to accept the challenge and save our fragile Earth.
Many of us do not like the way things are going politically and we want to do something about it. Regulations we hold dear are being abandoned; climate change curbing is being left unattended; the rich seem to be getting richer at the expense of the poor. In so many ways with terrorism continuing and the Middle East conflict still unresolved, we are drawn to consider methods of becoming more active. Are there allied groups to join, causes to focus on, and ways of becoming effective as individuals and among compatriots? To be successful in organizing requires effort and resources that may mean forming coalitions in order to work to a final goal. Saul Alinsky, a Vietnam War era community organizer, became the guru of this approach to public interest work. He stressed choosing good issues, obtaining results through the use of community resources, making the results known through confrontational tactics, and learning to move from minor to broader successes. Certainly, not every issue is worth use of our limited resources. If the chosen issue cannot be handled in a traditional individual manner, join with like-minded people on the issue. Being focused on the particular issue requires learning facts, facing the demands for change and compromise, and seeing the need to make the issue all the more public. Some require meetings, planning, letter-writing, e-mails, phone calls to legislators, face-to-face persuasion, local participation in political events, lobbying or marches, petitions, financial support, and direct confrontation with the powers to be. Crystal balls simply reveal no future. Still we can plan and estimate what can be achieved if we limit ourselves to what is practical. Often, the best approach is one of public demonstration or practices that encourage others to join in cooperative action. Some organizers dream of far-reaching results, far beyond what is reasonable. We always stand amazed that our founding parents were able to envision a great nation during the dark years of the American Revolution. They found the organizing of the republic was tricky and exhausting, but they were able to find it rewarding in the longer run even with its wrinkles. They were faithful to the cause and did not stop until victory was won.
Mid-September and expected costly fuel bills make this a perfect time to think ahead to further winterizing the home. It pays to search for possible leaks at sole plates, wall outlets, external doors and windows, fireplaces, and kitchen and bath vents. * Caulking, like weatherstripping, is a good low-cost way to enhance the winterizing of home or office. Caulking comes in all types of cartridges, fillers, rope caulking or glazing compounds. Don't caulk in cold weather, and apply the caulk on clean surfaces. Cut the plastic cover at a slant to allow for better "bead" control in the application. Oil-based caulking materials are the least expensive, but last for several years. On the other hand, caulking of small and medium cracks with more expensive polysulfide, polyurethane, or silicone will last for two decades. Fillers made from hemp treated with tar, glass fiber, caulking cotton or sponge rubber are used for larger cracks (more than a quarter of an inch), and then the cartridge caulking is used. Rope caulking is good for temporary jobs around AC units and storm windows. * Insulation is a good investment, with rapid payback along with immense long-term savings. Determine needs depending on your heating zone location and the "R" value (measure of resistance of insulation to heat flow) listed on each package. When shopping, consider price, ease of application, area needing insulation, and availability. Some rock wool, glass fiber and cellulose fiber must be blown into spaces with special equipment by a professional contractor. This is the method of choice when retrofitting insulation of wall and some ceiling space. An unfinished attic floor can be insulated by loose fill which is poured in (rock wool, glass fiber, cellulose, vermiculite or perlite), or by batts (foil side down for barrier effects between insulation and attic floor). Don't hand- pack loose insulation; keep it fluffy. Use protective clothing in application. Cellulose insulation is made from old newsprint using a chopping machine and a fire-retardant chemical such as boric acid (don't use corrosive retardant chemicals). When buying cellulose insulating materials, look for third party testing such as Underwriters Laboratory for fire safety and corrosion.
September 17, 2025 Citizenship Day: A Forgiving America On Citizenship Day we Americans should realize that our day in the sun as the world's sole superpower may be quite brief, for empires since ancient times have had definite time spans. A growth of our American indebtedness at ten thousand dollars/second and a trillion dollars a year could shorten that duration in the U.S. case. We cannot continue to build the largest military in the world (greater than the next seven military powers combined) and constantly omit taxing the rich fairly. In this age of terrorism we sense that nations with larger accumulations of power and wealth have become targets of terrorists who threaten our quality of life. On Citizenship Day we recall the struggles to establish a sense of equality and tolerance in what it took to make our nation great. Consider forms of retribution for the descendants of the original slaves when this nation came to be; * A crass materialism leads to insensitivity to the needs of others especially the destitute both in this country and abroad. Teaching others to break from the throwaway culture and become more sensitive to basic needs also requires a forgiving heart; * Unsustainable affluent lifestyles include overuse of resources, obtaining fuel and food from distant rather than local places, expanding space requirements for buildings of all sorts, and using inefficient vehicles, heating and cooling devices and electric appliances. We need to confront the consumer culture and inform the culprits that it seeks to entice -- a balancing act; * The value of a forgiving culture that is not sue-happy must be emphasized along with solidifying family values; * The sacred web involving the human, animal and plant life is under attack in many ways (destruction of the physical environment, invasion of exotic species, mistreatment of animals, abortion, and continuation of the death penalty); and
September 18, 2025 American Foreign Aid and Charity Budgets proposed this year for the State Department has included steep foreign assistance cuts. This occurs with the first famine in six years along with the beginning of climate change damage as well as massive stress from wars and refugee problems. How could one talk about cuts except with an adverse selfishness that only the pampered rich could dream up? Our destitute brothers and sisters in other lands and even some in America need charity. A billion people suffer from food insecurity. We ought to continue to debunk persistent myths about international charity first enunciated a decade ago by Bread for the World: * Most foreign aid is wasted by corrupt bureaucracies. Answer: With time, experienced aid workers recognize the signs of corrupt governments and are able to raise a signal of alarm that allows avoidance and the taking of remedial steps for the needy. * Foreign aid is a major federal expenditure. Answer: Not so! Only a fraction of one percent of our budget is foreign aid, and only a third of that is slated for development. The U.S. ranks last of twenty-two industrialized countries in percentage of national income given away in development aid, generally less than 0.1%. * Americans want to cut foreign aid. Answer: This has not been true, for Americans are willing to assist others as is witnessed in giving to natural disaster victims in many lands year after year. * We should take care of problems at home rather than devote resources to helping others. Answer: Our country usually ranks low in the international giving, but here we seek to attack the poverty at a more comprehensive level. Our world is one family and all of its citizens are brothers and sisters. We Americans, and others who have much, need to radically share until it hurts. * Private charities help poor people around the world. Answer: When the natural disasters occur, private charities do great work and yet in these times the amount of relief for such suffering nations as South Sudan, the newest nation, is in short supply.
September 19, 2025 Use Caution with Household Chemicals Chemistry has been used to duplicate nature's ways but it is not always fully successful. There are over a million commercial synthetic chemicals. Some are manufactured in large amounts, possibly properly tested, and found suitable to be made by the tons or thousands of tons. In large concentrations many of these chemicals are toxic and must be handled with care; some do not decompose easily; they can bioaccumulate in the higher-level members of the food chain. Red flags go up when these are used as domestic agents and around individuals who are unskilled or lack protective gear. For instance, highly versatile chlorinated compounds are used in the production of organic and inorganic commercial chemicals; one of these, vinyl chloride, is a primary chemical building block used in making a multitude of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products. Without proper safeguards the processing of most chlorinated compounds can involve severe health effects on chemical workers at processing plants or those in the path of escaped transported chemicals. Caution! Respect extends to end use as commercial household chemicals for few can successfully handle toxic chemicals without spillage or inhalation. Some of these classes of chemicals that deserve proper storage and protection from children include: * Household pest control agents; Be on the alert! More than proper storage of these classes is to leave many totally outside the domestic scene. The storage compartments should be safely locked and apart from the home living space for those classes tolerated by the homemaker. Get rid of chemical containers that have corroded or lost labels by finding the local services that collect these dangerous items. An ideal general rule is to show the deepest respect for all chemicals used.
Gardening can definitely be a social enterprise engaging the natural community of plants, animals and people of all ages. This inter-communal and intergenerational collection of creatures and community members includes the companion effects of proper vegetation and pest control agents, elder expertise and youth enthusiasm (see August 9), energy of the able-bodied, and the attentiveness of learners and part-time observers. People with various talents, skills and energy levels can learn to work together for a community success story -- and garden space is a good school for learning. In truth, some of the best results can be obtained on school property and as integrated part of a formal physical exercise program among youth and adults. Also church property and unused cemeteries are choice and overlooked locations. Community gardens. All participants can share together the sheer delight and joy of gardening even when their working space and one in the same, adjacent to, or at a short distance from another's. All learn together that gardening experience takes time and patience, especially when the inexperienced cannot distinguish plants and may risk damaging them or regarding them as weeds. Gardening is more than socializing; there must be time to point out what each plant needs and how even footprints near the plants can be damaging. Teach the inexperienced where to stand, walk, step or pick. Carelessness and informality harm gardens, just as rigid formality can discourage gardening in general. Establish a middle ground, for people only gradually acquire gardening skills. Family gardens. The saying that "the family that prays together stays together" can be extended to the family that gardens together. A gardening exercise can be a happy occasion when all who desire can be present though not fully participating. Be welcoming, make rules clear and simple for the protection of plants, assist the elders to garden, and reign in toddlers for the garden's sake. Excusing ourselves from involving neighbors by calling our gardening a private matter is shortsighted. Gardening ought to be a public act that shows Earth in its bounty, that attracts learners, and that can advance them in their own skills through participation. Gardening's ripple effect can extend beyond the immediate locality; make everyone feel at ease in coming, seeing, and even helping where and when they are able.
Harmony through Human Collaboration By Fr. Al Fritsch, SJ Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. (Mark 10:44-45) Collaborative success is forthcoming in a global attempt to curb climate change, the greatest threat that has ever been encountered on this planet. The 2015 Paris Climate Change Accord has achieved partial success. A major barrier is the rapid rise in energy consumption that calls for retaining fossil fuel applications while renewable (wind, solar, hydro, etc.) applications strive to meet demand; last year the greenhouse emissions, which should have been declining, rose by about 3%; this cannot continue; however, there is no change in the first part of 2025. Add to this the horror of the U.S., the largest polluter since the start of the industrial revolution, being the only country that does not work within the Accord -- a crime against humanity. Individual collaboration. On a positive note the individual undertakings of multitudes of people in among the larger consumer nations have become willing to make basic food choice changes; this means replacing meat-based fast food items such as hamburgers with veggie substitutes that taste and look identical. This small change of choice is an immense savings, for veggie burgers use less resources (land, feed and energy) than hamburgers made from beef; animals take immense resources to graze, feed and mature and give out almost one-sixth of greenhouse warming methane. Savings in resources can curb climate change and help feed the hungry. Libertarian and regulation. While some actions such as eating less meat can be -- and are being -- done by individuals, we are aware that the cumulative effects may not be reached quickly if at all. Too many think they can take a little extra from the commons because of self-interest (e.g. extra air trips) and they can offset them by some donation to reforestation. This offsetting practice has been debunked as a sham by a recent UN report. The issue is too important and the climate change damage, especially to the poor, is so great that we must consider social regulations as well. Solutions difficult. Part of the problem is the influence of prevailing Capitalism that strongly colors ordinary lifestyle activities; a tolerance of inequality allows those who are rich enough to take and do what they want with their immense undertaxed financial resources. Furthermore, it allows the poor with their grasped lottery tickets to cultivate aspirations to follow the billionaires who have purchased legitimacy through their support of candidates for public office. The current cultural tolerance of the wealthy is so deep-seated that the concerned become doubtful; will evil ways be exposed and good practices (fair taxes and redistribution of wealth) be implemented in time to curb climate change? Or will the privileged continue to extend the wasteful practices that have brought us to our current conditions? Spiritual struggle. The salvation of the planet herself looms before us; the question is whether we will make a correct choice in curbing climate change in sufficient time. As mentioned in the July reflections on this website, the ability to overcome evil that tempts individuals and institutions to greedy self-interest is both powerful and frightening. It is problematic whether enough believers will respond to this immense opportunity to save a threatened world. We can save our world but will we succeed? However, if not all see the spiritual ramifications of this titanic struggle between good and evil unanimity it is not needed -- provided that those who are believers in the future respond forthrightly and prayerfully. Imprinted opportunity. We have the privilege to be here at this time and place when our very Earth is threatened by human misdeeds of which we have participated. Our grandparents could not conceive of such a struggle, but we can follow the Spirit and show God's imprint of harmony and mercy in our world. God leaves an imprint upon us and our world and in discovering this, we open ourselves to new possibilities in our journey of faith. In doing so we may be drawn to increase in gratitude for being called to serve in this time and place. While our efforts as believers can add harmony to a threatened world, the process is the ultimate return of the harmony that is in Godself -- a Trinitarian expression. Harmony and mercy. In an atmosphere of gratitude we open ourselves to work with others, for the grandest manifestation of the divine harmony is in our collaboration with fellow human beings in saving our wounded Earth, for this harmony is Trinitarian in nature. In the fullest sense, the harmony among people of good will is to be proclaimed, for it is God at work in the world around us. The very imprint of God is realized in the world of vibration, not primarily in visibility. Do we feel it beneath our feet? God loves us with a tangible love and asks us to reciprocate in a resonating love. God sends us the Messiah who opens the way to new life; the Spirit remains with us inspiring us to use our talents for global betterment. Divine mercy gives us time to respond, but that time is short. God's guidance is needed to collaborate in saving our threatened Earth.
September 21, 2025 Consider Simple Funerals Funerals are always difficult whatever time of year they occur, even after close preparation. Too many are unexpected. With deaths some issues arise that were not foreseen and these involve quick decisions that distraught loved ones find difficult. Besides, the simple and low-priced funerals of the past where folks were laid out at home and where graves were dug by friends are rarely the case today. Nevertheless, we can simplify our own final adieu by keeping it spiritually oriented; some suggestions include: 1. Make preparations well beforehand and store a record of the person's wishes in an accessible place known by a few key people (we Jesuits are required to keep and update funeral options). The notes should include the type of service, hymns, the principal persons involved, flowers, coffin type, memorials, manner of eulogy maybe even composed by the deceased, and possibly place of burial. 3. Preferably consider underused cemeteries. Over half of designated "cemetery" space especially in rural America is unused. Using a seemingly forsaken cemetery is a chance to renew interest in and upkeep of older family plots. 4. Be buried rather than cremated, if custom permits. Natural decomposition uses far fewer resources (energy) and permits a natural approach to composing and returning to dust. If burial space is limited then cremation may be the choice -- for it does not require an expensive coffin. 5. A cemetery is greenspace that can also be used for recreational purposes. Talk over the possibility of planting perennial flowers such as roses at the burial site. 6. Request charitable donations instead of additional flowers for memorials -- or consider using seasonal wildflowers. A memorial action may prove a fitting tribute. 8. De-emphasize the viewing. "She (or he) looks so natural." That is a fib; except for the door sign many may be unable to recognize the corpse. How about a closed casket with a photo?
September 22, 2025 Celebrate Autumn Time Today is the Autumnal Equinox, the time in September when day and night are of equal duration. Fall starts especially for people with this as a seasonal favorite. In aging, some of us change our choice of favorite seasons; I used to prefer summer because of distance from formal schooling, but now I like both spring and fall better than the harshness and extremes of summer and winter. No matter what our seasonal preferences, autumn offers a time to say no more hot weather, no more mosquitoes, no more sunscreen. Autumn people often await changing leaves, cooler days, football games and parties. My favorite aunt would take each season in stride; she liked to celebrate the seasonal changes rather than think one is better than another. She was happy to be among temperate zone folks who experience noticeable seasonal changes, something lacking in certain tropical areas of the planet where change is measured at best in rainfall or its lack and not by temperature change. For us in the temperate zones, solstices and equinoxes mark distinct weather differences; they give us fresh starts and conclusive finishes. Summer foliage and flowers turn to autumn colors. Times are Changing Labor Day and all's quiet after summer play,
September 23, 2025 Spice Your Meals with Variety At the end of one year I bought some black-eyed peas, following the Appalachian tradition of fixing these on New Year's Day. The grocery clerk looked surprised and asked what I was going to do with the package, and I said, "Cook them." She asked in astonishment, "You, a man? My husband can't boil water!" So much for the general consideration of male culinary arts -- and I'm no gourmet cook. I like food that is locally accessible, at low-cost, nutritious, and capable of being prepared in multiple ways. Variety combined with convenience is a good culinary goal: "240 types of Crockpot meals" -- It takes little more time to fix most Crockpot or solar cooker prepared meals than to buy, unwrap and prepare a TV dinner, and the home-made meals are far more nutritious. In place of soup beans, one could have a wide variety of combinations of different types of dried beans, peas and lentils with a host of spices singly or in combination. Now be bold and move to stews, chili and local dishes. Added snacks -- Besides the regular soup, salad and main dish make sure variety is a main concern. See 365 oatmeal selections, 730 peanuts and other suggestions on this website. For snacks between meals consider raw veggies, fruit, spiced popcorn and other low salt, fat and sugar varieties of snacks. Note the absence of animal products. Certainly meat, eggs and dairy products are healthy and nutritious but their absence is because we ought to consider ways of curbing their overuse so our food resources can be more equally shared on a global scale. These animal products take more resources (feed, pasture) to produce -- and so more limited use is recommended.
September 24, 2025 Mold, the Asbestos of the 2000s Mold, that most common of living kingdoms, comprising a quarter of the biomass of the Earth, comes in about 20,000 varieties. Mold helps in the recycling process by breaking down organic matter; otherwise the globe would be overwhelmed by dead matter. Mold is useful in flavoring, such as in blue cheese, and the filtrates of mold are used to make the penicillin that keeps us healthy. However, by 1991, microbial growth was rated as the number one indoor air quality problem. The American Hotel and Motel Association estimated that mold and mildew caused several hundred million dollars’ worth of damage each year. The environmental consciousness has expanded in the mold frontier. Mold, while highly beneficial, can become problematic when it attaches to our homes, especially the indoor portions. Gradually residents and their care providers determine that mold causes headaches, skin irritation, chronic sinusitis, breathing problems including asthma attacks, and a variety of allergic reactions. Mold can make some homes unbearable for certain residents. Affected people are often moved to abandon the dwelling rather than spend thousands of dollars in trying to combat the contamination and to attempt permanent restoration. Modern tenant sufferers are party to billions of dollars in lawsuits again home owners for personal injuries caused by living in these contaminated buildings. Several causes for the increased mold problems in modern buildings can be given. Older homes with their high ceilings, airy corridors and their native building materials simply did not have the conditions of high humidity and other features that mold loves to feast on. The increased use of home insulation, the prevalence of air conditioning and the closed home, and the use of paper-faced gypsum board are considered some of the causes of the increased mold problems. Excessive moisture and improperly installed HVAC equipment may be the more proximate cause. Often vapor barriers do not work or are improperly designed. All of these factors have created problems for allergy sufferers and gold mines for the trial lawyers. In addition, private dwellings are generally unregulated. Remedies may be helpful, though indoor air sampling can be expensive and is not always totally effective. Visual inspection along with ample ventilation is a first step. Reducing moisture leaks and controlling the humidity are others. Since the mold may go far beyond the evident dark spots on the walls, take precautions to eliminate all the contamination and strive to contain it in the affected parts of the building. Professionals may be needed to help solve the problem. See: http://epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home. If you are a building manager consider reading "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings."
September 25, 2025 Just How Much Insurance? Security often is as much a concern for the moderately well off as for the very poor. Like others, Americans too often seek security in insurance policies rather than in trust in God. Yes, we all know that insurance policies are inherently limited and this creates an uneasy feeling; we respond by adding more and more types of insurance -- automobile, health, life, fire, homeowners and other property, hail, earthquake, accident liability, non-profit board liability, mail insurance, travel insurance, and on and on. Today many insurance rates are so high that this factor becomes a detriment to our quality of life and peace of soul. In fact, insurance determines whether one works or retires, where one lives, and whether one's actions could precipitate possible litigation. Community insurance is one answer -- in the style of some close communities such as Amish groups; these folks all chip in and rebuild when there is a fire, or take care of their own or their neighbors when a disaster strikes. This may work well if all the people will assemble when needed, if they are willing to restore the loss according to a commonly accepted design, if the neighbors are all willing to pitch in at time of need, and if there are no major community divisions. Such community insurance may work on a level of pre-existing relationships, but does it work in an amorphous geographic local community? Through mobility, American community life is not always geographically based but today is more is based on economic similarity. In our competitive culture, victims may expect more than what the community is willing to give. Community self-insurance has great advantages: mutual sharing is developed; joint planning is expected; insurance money stays in the local community instead of hemorrhaging to outside insurance companies. However, the community efforts work best if a rare disaster is localized. A Katrina or a major flood event can easily overpower local resources. In such circumstances one asks: who deserves first treatment while limited funds are available? One way of addressing fairness problems would be a governmental back-up program, a FEMA or disaster relief fund, which insures the community self-insurers in times of large scale catastrophe. Seeking security is part of being human, is not ever totally satisfied, and is behind a certain restlessness -- for we can only be satisfied spiritually in eternal life. A reasonable insurance by a community can work to alleviate many needs. Major health needs can only be fair and proper through a single payer system, which accepts that every citizen has a right to reasonable health care. A rampant materialism does not provide for growth in security, since it is inherently insecure in itself. The basic foundation for community insurance is the people's faith in a common future of respect for the Creator. This involves trust that others will help in time of need -- a national priority.
Press orange arrow > to play sound clip above. September 26, 2025 Natural Sounds All Around Let the heavens be glad, let earth rejoice, Nature's sounds are all around and if we listen we can hear some of them. Paradoxically, when our hearing is attuned to nature, we become sensitized to the cries of pain from our suffering Earth. Both the harmony and the human-caused disharmony found in the universe are evident to the ears listening to and feeling natural vibrations. When we hear both concordant and discordant sounds, we soon crave the silent pause in between. We thank God for nature's sounds, for the sounds of anguish and for the silence that refreshes us -- all make us more human and all three punctuate Earth's symphony around us. When we do not make distinctions or when we strive to avoid silence, we are caught in confusion, like captives in a vibrating steel drum unable to exit.
It is increasingly true that there are no technical, financial or economic reasons why the nations of the world cannot enjoy the benefits of a high level of energy services and a better environment. It is simply a question of making the right choices. 2001 UN Environmental Programme Report The United Nations report just quoted projected that nine to fifteen trillion dollars will be invested by 2020 on new power projects -- and hopefully on using greener renewable energy sources (biomass, solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and tidal energy). At the time the report was written it was projected that energy needs would rise at 2% per year -- and some rises have occurred as predicted. These rises have not proved inevitable in many countries that have grown in economy and yet done so using less that predicted energy. The world has become conscious that health deteriorates with expanded non-renewable energy sources (coal, oil and natural gas) along with acidification of ecosystems, soil and water contamination, reduced biodiversity, and more global warming. Every effort is being made by the concerned to replace the fossil fuel sources by renewable ones Why are there delays in implementing renewable energy applications? The oil, gas, coal and nuclear conglomerates have influence and make billions of dollars in profits; as long as these companies supply much of the energy of the world, profit-motivated forces will work for continuation of current practices and in denying that human induced climate change is occurring -- and that includes the current American Administration. How can we successfully confront climate change deniers? An atmosphere of denial likewise affects the attitudes of other world national leaders who may be reluctant to launch solar or wind programs. Goals of reaching a 25% renewable energy goal by 2025 are still in the cards for a number of American states with heavy investment in wind and solar power. Wind energy, the world's fastest growing energy source, has far exceeded optimistic 1990 projections, and prices have dropped sevenfold. With the fossil fuel hidden subsidies and tax breaks removed, wind would be more highly competitive today both in the interior Plains states but also in coastal (off-shore) areas near large metropolitan centers. The public is unaware just how fast wind and solar is growing -- and the lack of the public's awareness holds these two renewable sources by to some degree. Solar advocates must press for tax incentives on almost a year-by-year basis. Even when actualized these incentives favor centralized solar thermal electric plants in contrast to current solar photovoltaic panels. Also hydro and geothermal electricity generation have high growth potential in the coming years.
The last shall be first and the first shall be last. (Matthew 20:16) This story was always one that I had difficulties with when young, for it seemed that the workers who worked the entire day certainly deserved more pay than those who came at mid-day or only an hour or so before quitting time. Commentators will hasten to tell us that this is not a lesson in labor relations but one in God's gift of life (shown here by a job of harvesting grapes). This divine gift is not something that we deserve, but is given to us by the generosity of the divine creator. We cannot make demands; we realize that the gift of faith is so precious that if it comes early or late we should feel equally privileged in having received it. It is a blessing to live a long life for the Lord, but some allow that precious gift to go unused or be misused. The parable reminds me of the heart-broken minister who lost several close family members in a terrible auto accident; people kept coming to him at the funeral and saying that this loving family did not deserve such a tragedy. After working through his grief, the survivor finally came to the spiritual insight that he did not deserve the loved ones, for they were God's gifts and were now taken from him -- a return of the gift to the Giver. Having said all of this about God's gifts, I have come to recognize the insight of an Appalachian activist, Rev. Jim Wyker, who offered an insight with a labor relations aspect, namely, the laborers were all family people and eagerly awaiting some form of daily work and pay to help with their livelihood. For the unemployed to stand idle all day hoping for work was stressful; it was a source of concern that actually grew as the day progressed. For them, daily work in the heat of day was far more preferable over unemployment and all the stress attached. In this second view, who is responsible for furnishing jobs? One can argue that the onus is not on the hit and miss policies of a capitalistic system, but ultimately on our nation state (see Labor Day reflections on September first). If one has the duty to vote, support or defend our nation, so we as citizens must bear the responsibility to see that employment is available to all willing workers who need a livelihood for self and family. Not all people are self-employable. Still, workers need not be a pool accessible to the whims of corporations. There is plenty of work to be done in this world -- and creative socially conscious people can easily list needed activities. There are plenty of resources if fair taxes were obtained from ten million millionaires and over a thousand billionaires. Connecting needs and resources is our spiritual mission; so is confronting unjust systems that have so much power of the purse these days.
September 29, 2025 Learning to Eat Lower on the Food Chain Even in my mid-eighties I find that one never stops learning -- and good eating habits are the most difficult things to learn. Most of us vary our diet at different times on our journey of life. The current local and global food shortages cause all of us to rethink our practices. We need to be lower feeders on the food resource chain and add this to such meal characteristics as low-cost, nutrition, local sources and convenience. Can we apply Pope Paul VI's dictum to eat (live) more simply so others may simply eat (live)? Recent culinary insights include: 2. Buy lower-priced foods -- Omitting purchased baked goods has allowed me to stretch my annual food budget. This also applies to many snacks and drinks that prove expensive. A sensitivity to what we purchase allows us to radically share with people in less fortunate lands. Homemakers can make their own soups, use homegrown veggies for salads, buy bulk dried beans, peas and lentils instead of canned goods and vary mixtures and flavorings to compensate for purchases of exotic materials. Herbs give variety.
September 30, 2025 Traveling on U.S. Route 68 On this day in 2017, I turned eighty four and needed to give a review of my road practices, because my age should not indicate my average driving speed. Actually roads should be treated with respect. U.S. Route 68 stretches across Kentucky and beyond like a string tying Ohio to our state through a crossing at the old ford in the Ohio River where buffalo (bison) made their twisted journey to the salt water springs at Bluelicks -- an annual trip to satisfy salt needs. Local folks say that the crooks and turns in U.S. 68 were made when bison dodged a cow pie. Still it is a historic span passing such places as Findlay in northern Ohio and going through Paris, Lexington, Shakertown and Jeff Davis' Birthplace. It passes one mile from my birthplace in Mason County.
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