Saturday, April 25, 2020

THE NIGHTMARE DRAGS ON















In my boredom, I have had some sudden realizations! 





In my boredom, I have been wondering about people's obsession with running out of toilet paper! I can understand people worrying about the electricity being turned off or the water plant being closed down or even Kroger running out of milk, but a community-wide panic over a shortage of toilet paper? I just don't get it! It is a mystery to me more complicated than the Holy Trinity, the Immaculate Conception or even Transubstantiation!  







A SHARED LIST OF PANDEMIC HUMOR

Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks. The other half will come out with a drinking problem.

I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune.   Now I turn it like I'm cracking a safe.

I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.

Still haven't decided where to go for Easter ----- The Living Room or The Bedroom

PSA: every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit.  Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.

Homeschooling is going well.  2 students suspended for fighting and 1 teacher fired for drinking on the job.

I don't think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks we'd go from Standard Time to the Twilight Zone

This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her cat.  It was obvious she thought her cat understood her.  I came into my house, told my dog..... we laughed a lot.

So, after this quarantine.....will the producers of My 600 Pound Life just find me or do I find them?

Quarantine Day 5:  Went to this restaurant called THE KITCHEN.   You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal.  I have no clue how this place is still in business.

My body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant lately that when I pee it cleans the toilet.

Day 5 of Homeschooling:  One of these little monsters called in a bomb threat.
I'm so excited --- it's time to take out the garbage. What should I wear?

I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to Puerto Backyarda.  I'm getting tired of Los Livingroom.

Classified Ad:  Single man with toilet paper seeks woman with hand sanitizer for good clean fun.

Day 6 of Homeschooling:   My child just said "I hope I don't have the same teacher next year".... I'm offended.

Better 6 feet apart than 6 feet under




Hmmm! 
I must be running dangerously low on blog post ideas!

Thursday, April 23, 2020

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF IN THE LAST WEEKS?

I HAVE LEARNED THAT I AM....

...Feeling Uncomfortably Unproductive

I learned that I have tended to define myself by what I do, what I produce, what I can accomplish and how hard I work! Yes, I was enjoying retirement, especially not having a job I had to show up at every day whether I felt like it or not. I was enjoying it mostly because I had a lot on my plate, things I had freely chosen to do. I was traveling around the world giving priest retreats and convocations. I was volunteering in the Caribbean Missions. I was helping out at the Cathedral and Little Sisters of the Poor. I was still turning out a book or two a year. I was posting on this blog regularly. Now on some days, I can't figure out who I am! 

...Feeling Like My Time Is Running Out 

I will turn 76 on April 28th. While I am in reasonably good health, especially for my age, I realize that I am only 4 years from 80 and 14 years from 90. I have things I want to do and places I want to go. I have 500,000 frequent flyer miles on American Airlines!!!! It depresses me severely to know that I cannot expect to fly anywhere for some time now. I so wanted to go back down to the island missions on March 14 of this year. I was scheduled to present a workshop that I had worked on for more than 6 months. It had to be cancelled and I don't know when, or if, it can be rescheduled. I would hate to see that much time wasted! 

...Feeling Like I Am Living Through An Old Cowboy Movie Or An Active Tornado Warning 

Remember those old cowboy movies when people were hiding in their houses, looking out of closed saloon doors and locked store windows when the "dreaded out-of-town gang" ravaged the town "shooting it up" and causing the populace to  cringe in fear as they waited for the danger to pass?  Have you ever been terrified by a tornado warning when you had to "shelter in place" in a basement or a secure room in the center of the house as the storm approached outside restricting your movements for hours on end, fearing that it could kill you? I hate the feeling of being pinned down! 

...Feeling Like I Am Losing Contact With My Friends

A lot of people have contacted me by phone and e-mail, but seeing them in person, going places with them, sitting around talking and interacting with them regularly is different. The electronic contact is nice, but points of contact keep getting further and further apart as time goes by. I keep feeling that if this pandemic goes on for months, it will be like those promises we made at graduation to each other to "stay in contact." Maybe one or two contacts survived, but the rest faded into history - many permanently.  Thank God for electronic media! It's better than nothing! 

...Feeling Like My Old World Is Ending

When people talk about things "returning to normal," I tend to dismiss it as delusional. I don't think we can return to the way things used to be. It is like going back to the house I grew up in after the funeral of my last parent. The house was still intact, but it was no longer "home." It had become "just an empty house!" I could go back into it physically, but I couldn't go back and pretend nothing had changed. I think after this pandemic, we are in for a "new world" of some sort. I don't think we will look at anything the way we used to after this experience - especially if goes on for a few more months. 

...Feeling Very Blessed

The more I focus on others and the problems they have to deal with, the less I am inclined to feel sorry for myself.  I know, in my heart of hearts, that I merely have aggravations while so many others have real problems! As long as my health holds up, I have renewed my pledge to try not to complain about anything! 


...Feeling Like Some Wonderful Things Are About to Happen

Every time I have ended up in a place like this, some wonderful new things have presented themselves. It has always been a matter of time, patience and keeping my eyes open. As much as I grieved over the dying of the old worlds I have known, when the new world manifested itself, I never wanted that old world back! I have always believed the words of Alexander Graham Bell who said, "When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."  For those who survive this, maybe "the best is yet to come?" I certainly want to be around to see what happens! 

...Feeling That No Matter What, I Will Be OK With It

Who hasn't thought about the remote possibility of death during these days? I've done everything I can think of to be cautious and to stay safe. I want to hang around for a while longer, but if I were to become a "victim of this virus," it would really be OK because I know in my heart of hearts that my life has turned out much, much better than I could have ever imagined! For that I am "simply amazed and forever grateful." I want to hang around for a while longer, but I have made my plans for "the end" just in case. I have a "last will and testament." I have "end of life instructions." I have made my funeral mass plans. I have a casket coming from Saint Meinrad. My tombstone is already in place. If it were to happen during this pandemic,  I pray that it will be over quickly! I have never been very good with pain! Yes, live or die, at 76 I am "simply amazed and forever grateful! 



AND YOU?


I hope you are recording your insights somewhere to look at again in a year or two! Looking back on all this, I am convinced that we will all have learned something about ourselves that could be extremely helpful to us going forward. 



Tuesday, April 21, 2020

THE PAIN OF FELLOW CATHOLICS IN THE GRENADINES





WE WERE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS UNTIL THIS INTERNATIONAL CRISIS


I CANNOT AND WILL NOT GIVE UP TRYING TO HELP
A WORRIED AND SLEEPLESS BISHOP IN HIS TIME OF NEED

Bishop Gerard County seeing me off at the airport at the end of my last visit. 

Fergal Redmond, Martin Folan (from Ireland) and myself (United States)
Diocese of Kingstown, SVG, Volunteers

Knowing how critical things are in the Diocese of Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, I recently paid the salaries of the bishop and his eleven priests for one month. They are paid so little that all 12 salaries for a month amounted to only $2,550.00 total! Three other people joined me and they have added a couple more months together. This has allowed the Bishop to focus on the lay salaries. Down the road, I don't know what they will do to support the diocese even after having let four Pastoral Staff members go.  Below is an e-mail I got from the worried, but grateful, bishop.
Bishop Gerard County

Fr. Ron and Fergal,

Good day. Easter greetings from SVG. I just came into my office feeling very listless and I know that I am feeling that way because yesterday I realized that funds are running low. As a result I did not sleep well last night. I prayed about it this morning and asked the Lord to guide me as to how to proceed especially in helping me to see how we can bring about some form of financial sustainability to the Diocese. I took some action before Easter and I am awaiting a reply. I must say that this email is a sign that God continues to work his miracles and especially through us his disciples. Fr. Ron, words cannot express my thanks to you for this immediate assistance. I am moved and touched by your generosity. THANK YOU FR. RON. Fergal, my thanks to you also. It is a sign that the Lord is truly risen ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA.

Fraternally in the Holy Spirit,
Bishop Gerard



The financial outlook in this mission diocese is becoming more dire, especially during this pandemic - with the probability of things getting much worse in the weeks and months ahead. 

I was able to pay an outstanding past-due bill of $600.00 for the flour, sugar and rice used last year at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Home for Girls, which burned in a fire a few weeks ago. These items cost $50.00 a month. I am hoping someone will step forward to pay a month or two going forward to help them out during this critical time of trying to survive in their temporary home after such a tragic loss! 

I was also able to find the funds to pay for one month ($1,000.00) of round-the-clock nursing care for an elderly island priest who is living in one of the basement rooms of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre. $1,000.00 sounds like a lot of money, but compared to what nursing care costs in the United States, it is a pittance. I don't know where the next month or two of support is coming from, but I am hoping some generous souls will step forward and help take care of a poor priest in his old age. 

Then there are the orphans! I have a box ready to go down next week with a supply of powdered milk, sugar, canned tuna and cookies. I am praying that the virus does not invade the Children's Home! If it does, God help them and those who care for them!


Some of the smaller islands do not have medical clinics, much less, hospitals. I am also sending down a big box of First Aid items to a nurse on the island of Mayreau. Hopefully, she can share some of it with one of the other islands.  I worry especially about the people on these outer islands during this pandemic. The only thing that protects them is their isolation and that might not be enough! 

The needs of the islands, at times, seem endless. Poverty is a constant grinding reality. Because I actually know many of the people by name and by face, I can't just turn my head. I feel compelled to do what I can personally and ask anyone who can help out a bit to assist me. 
I realize there are needs here at home also. Yes, I have been helping some local people as well. However, I am still hoping a few good people will join me and help out a bit down there as well! Regardless, I am going to keep doing what I can to help even if it's just a little bit. 



IF YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP ME OUT
make your tax deductible check payable to

Saint Bartholomew Church - SVG Mission Fund 

and send it to me for immediate deposit in their account.  



Rev. Ronald Knott

1271 Parkway Gardens Court

#106

Louisville, KY 40217

Sunday, April 19, 2020

THERE IS FAITH IN HONEST DOUBT

Thomas was not with them when Jesus stood in their midst
the first time. When the others told him about it, Thomas said,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put
my fingers in the holes, I will not believe.” A week later,
Thomas was with them when Jesus came and stood in their midst..
John  20:19-31

One of the things that happens when you read the Bible on a regular basis, like I do in preparation for preaching is that even familiar passages are always speaking to you in new ways. It happened again this week when I read today’s gospel, a text I have read and preached on many times. This is the first time I noticed the words, “When the gathered disciples saw Jesus after his resurrection and told Thomas who was not there with them, it says that Thomas refused to believe them. What I noticed this time was that Thomas kept meeting with them anyway! He didn’t say, “Jesus was here? Ridiculous! He’s dead! Your delusional! I’m outta here!” No, it says he was with them the next time!    

What Thomas did was pretty much the opposite of what we do when he have doubts. When we doubt, we quit joining the community. We assume that joining the faith community is only for those who believe, for those without doubt. People, in our experience, who doubt quit joining the worshiping community! Not Thomas! He kept joining them, even when he doubted.

The first thing many people assume about faith is that doubt is the opposite of faith. Not true! Honest doubt is not the opposite of faith. There is faith even in honest doubt.  Honest doubt is actually an integral part of faith. Thomas was not the only one who had doubts back then. When Matthew tells us, at the end of his gospel, that the disciples “worshiped even when they doubted,” he wants us to know this basic principle: honest doubt was part of the faith, even the faith of those who were closest to Jesus.

The truth of the matter is that many of the Easter stories, we have been reading this past week, are a mixture of faith and doubt. The disciples are presented as very skeptical about Mary Magdalen’s story about seeing Jesus alive on that first Easter Sunday morning. Thomas, flat-out, refused to believe until he  was given the opportunity to touch Jesus. On the road to Emmaus, other disciples were astounded by the report of Jesus being seen alive. They even failed to recognize him walking right beside them. Even after many reports, even after having seen him themselves, we are told in Matthew’s gospel that some worshipped, even as they doubted. Yes, the message is simple: faith is never black and white, all or nothing, but always mixed with a good measure of healthy doubt.  Doubt does not necessarily mean you don’t have faith. Doubt probably means you do have faith!

“Unless I see his wounds and touch them, I will not believe!”  The bigger question than whether doubt is part of faith, is what to do about doubt. Many, when they doubt, say to themselves, “It is hypocritical for me to pretend to believe when I really don’t believe. When I start believing, when my faith is strong again, then it will make sense for me to start praying and worshiping again.” That may sound good, even reasonable, but that’s not how it works! As Thomas teaches us today, what really works is for us to gather with believers until we believe.  Like a single hot coal, pulled away from a heap of burning coals, soon loses its heat, a doubter separated from the community of believers loses even more of his faith. Faith begets faith and doubt begets doubt.

Thomas may teach us yet another version of the great truth: “fake it till you make it.” Even though Alcoholics Anonymous made that idea famous, it actually goes back to the ancient Roman poet, Ovid who said, “Pretend to what is not, and then you’ll become in truth, what you are pretending to be.”  The great philosopher William James put it this way, “Act as if and the mind will produce your desire.” The idea is, if you take something that feels impossible, or at least completely unnatural, and pretend that it is the easiest, most natural thing in the world for you to be doing, eventually, it will become as easy as you’re pretending it to be.

I practice this often in my own life. (1) As many of you know, I grew up pretty much crippled by bashfulness. Bashful people find it painful to be in public situations. To cope, they are driven to avoid public situations as much as possible. This is a sure way to keep bashfulness going. The solution is to get out in public as much as possible, faking confidence, until one day you wake up and find out that you are no longer bashful.  The only way out of the fear of public speaking is to “fake it till you make it,” to do public speaking until you are no longer afraid to speak in front of crowds.  You cannot think your way out of bashfulness, you have to act your way out of bashfulness. (2) When I was sent to southeastern Kentucky as a newly ordained priest, against my will, somehow I was able to open my mind to “fake it till I made it.” I decided, since I did not get what I wanted, I would pretend to want what I got until I was able to really want what I got. It worked. Those ten years were wonderful years in many, many ways. I “acted as if it were a great assignment until it became a great assignment.”         

My friends, all of us have a good measure of healthy doubt, even as we believe. The secret to making sure that the scales do not tip too far to the doubt side, is to act as if we believe until we believe, to pray even when we don’t feel like it, to worship until we feel like worshiping.

So when you are tempted to drop out because “I don’t get anything out of it” or “I’m not into it today,” that is when you really need to get into it, that is when you really need to act as if you are getting something out of it until you get something out of it.  Even believers sometimes have to “fake it till they make it.”    





A GOSPEL HYMN ABOUT FAITH IN TIMES OF DOUBT

click here

Joy Comes In The Morning
Joy Gardner

If you've knelt beside the rubble of an aching broken heart
When the things you gave your life to fell apart
You're not the first to be acquainted with sorrow, grief or pain
But the master promised sunshine after rain

Hold on my child joy comes in the morning
Weeping only last for the night
Hold on my child Joy comes in the morning
The darkest hour means dawn is just in sight

To invest your seeds of trust in God in mountains you can't move
You have risked your life on things you cannot prove
But to give the things you cannot keep for what you cannot lose
Now, that's the way to find the joy God has for you

Hold on my child joy comes in the morning
Weeping only last for the night
Hold on my child Joy comes in the morning
The darkest hour means dawn is just in sight.
Coda
The darkest hour means dawn is just in sight
Its just in sight


Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Gloria Gaither / William J. Gaither
Joy Comes In The Morning lyrics © Gaither Music Co., Hanna Street Music