It's been a while...

This is my first blog since last January. It's as good a time to make an entry as any...

I am sitting at my computer taking stock of things as the unofficial end of summer is on us. The Red Sox are fighting to make it to the playoffs, the Patriots seem to look good, and the Brewers are, well, the Brewers. It's been a very interesting summer for me, highlighted by my trip to the Episcopal Church General Convention in Anaheim, CA as a legislative member of the House of Deputies representing the Diocese of Milwaukee. I had to make some very difficult votes, some of which were some of the toughest decisions I have made in my life, but I am comfortable with them, knowing that I am a Christian who has sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. I am thankful to God for His grace and love.

I also had the chance to head back to New England for the first time in years to visit the people and places I hold most dear to me. Seeing my in-laws, mom, sister, nieces, brothers, and friends, as well as visiting Boston and Cape Cod, were very cathartic for me. I miss my family a lot, but my wife and I want to try to make a trip out there every year.

Life is still a struggle, but by God's grace, we are doing all right. Next week, the roof on our condo will be replaced. We had to drain everything we had in order to play for it, but in the long run, it should help the resale value of the condo.

God's peace.

Steve

A historic day for America

What a day...January 20, 2009. Barack Obama is now the President of the United States. 'Nuf ced.

I was thrilled to hear three people at the inauguration who I either have interviewed on the radio or introduced at concerts: violinist Itzhak Perlman, pianist Gabriela Montero, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, as they played an arrangement of Simple Gifts before Obama took the oath of office. Their playing moved me to tears...it was so beautiful.

(LATE FLASH on 1/23...it was a recording made 2 days earlier that we heard. The cold weather would've wreaked havoc on the instruments.) See this link:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/22/famed-quartet-played-recordings-tunes-inauguration/

Let us hope that this new administration will help get the country's economic engine going again, and as Obama said, it takes all of us to make it happen.

Pacem.

Namasté

Today I saw an old friend, Fr. John Groff. He came to my church as a supply priest and celebrated Mass. Fr. Groff is a good man and is one of the most spiritual people I've ever come across in my Christian walk. I met him for the first time in 2002 as I was discerning a call to the diaconate, a calling in which I ultimately deferred to a later time. He spoke with me in depth about spirituality and made me think about where I was in my own spiritual walk with Jesus. Later, as we were between priests at my church in 2007, he came and celebrated Mass several times. One of his homilies at that time centered around the concept of Namasté (नमस्ते), a Sanskrit word meaning, "The Light of God in Me recognizes and honors The Light of God in You and in that recognition is our Oneness." This concept is similar to a prayer that my former priest, Fr. Jay Lambert, would recite when he did monthly birthday/anniversary blessings: "May you see the Christ in all the people you meet." Fr. Groff opened my eyes to a deeply moving spiritual epiphany. I'm sad to admit that in many facets of my life, I failed to see The Light of God in others and myself. I was self-centered and was in many ways like a bull in a china shop, wanting to do things my way, without spiritual direction. As I dwelled on the words of Fr. Groff, and later studied what Namasté was about, my eyes opened, and opened widely. In the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (20:32-34), there is this passage that spoke to me:

And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

To see The Light of God in myself and in others is a most wonderful thing, and I'm still learning how to do this. Thanks be to God for this great gift.

Lord, may I be worthy to be your humble servant, and to experience the joy of Namasté in my life and the lives of others. Amen.

Pacem.

Th..th..th..th..the c-c-c-cold...

I remember when I told people I was moving to Milwaukee back in 1997, they told me that I wouldn't like the cold winters here. To be honest, I don't mind the winters here, as long as I don't have to be out in it for too long! I like experiencing all the seasons (except a hot, humid summer day).

Tonight's low is expected to be -9° with a wind chill of -30°. Tomorrow night will be even colder. Time to turn on the gas fireplace.

School has been canceled for most of the Milwaukee area tomorrow...smart move. I wonder if Friday will be canceled as well.

Wherever you are, stay warm!

ABC's 20/20 broadcast - Vanished: Missing in Milwaukee

Tonight's 20/20 broadcast on ABC told a sad story of a young Milwaukee-area woman named Becky Marie (Kraemer) Marzo who went missing in December 2003 and is presumed dead (possibly murdered by her boyfriend, who himself committed suicide). A clip of the piece (reported by Elizabeth Vargas) is at:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6597021

There is a website about Becky:

http://findbeckykraemer.com/

The story doesn't exactly paint Milwaukee in a nice light, but it is a compelling story, of which there may never be closure for Becky's family.