Admittedly, I’m a dinosaur when it comes to technology.
Give me a keyboard and Microsoft Word and I can function, but “technologically savvy” I am definitely not.
I am also not good with directions, which is why my husband gave me a Global Positioning System (GPS) many years ago, to help me get to where I needed to be.
When technology lets us down
So, when you combine my lack of technological savvy and my lack of sense of direction with a malfunctioning GPS, I will succumb to the grip of anxiety and melt down, which is precisely what happened a few weeks ago.
Trying to get to an unfamiliar address, I typed in my destination, but the GPS was not working, and the mechanical GPS voice said, “GPS signal lost.” Amid my tears of frustration, what I literally heard was: “You seem lost.”
This of course heightened my tearful state — for even the GPS was mocking me! — but, although late, I did indeed eventually find my way.
Feeling lost
Feeling utterly lost is not a pleasant feeling. It causes a sense of uneasiness, of being unsettled, and it can fodder despair.
That same sense of feeling utterly lost has snaked its way into my soul ever since hearing the sad news of the death of our beloved bishop.
Throughout his 15 years as bishop of the Diocese of Madison, Bishop Morlino has always been the voice of Truth, of reason, of clarity in Church teaching.
He has been our great shepherd, our dear spiritual father, helping us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, especially amid difficult challenges in the culture around us.
Now, that feeling of being lost whispers to me: like orphans without our spiritual father, we have lost our solid foundation, our stalwart protection. Especially during this time of crisis in the Church, we are now on our own. Like me without a GPS, we are sheep without a shepherd, wise men without a star.
Hope lies in Christ
And yet, despair cannot hold us forever because as Bishop Morlino always reminded us, our hope always lies in Jesus Christ risen from the dead. Even though we may feel lost for a while, if we continually focus on Him, He will always lead us home.
Look at the legacy Bishop Morlino leaves behind, having ordained 40 men to the priesthood, with 24 more in formation.
He leaves behind strong priests who still lead the faithful, who still follow Jesus Christ risen from the dead. He leaves behind a very kind and capable administrator who can steer us during these uncertain times. He leaves behind solid Catholic families who strive to pass on Church teaching to their children.
We thank you so much, Bishop Morlino, for your years of service to Our Lord, for your years of service to our diocese. You will be sorely missed here on earth. But we look with hope to the day we will see you again in heaven.
With hope, we pray for you and turn to you for intercession as we teach our children the Truth, strive to preserve Christ’s Church, and seek to always follow Our Lord amid difficulties.
From this day forward, and especially during this season of Advent, with our eyes fixed always on Jesus Christ as we try to navigate our way home, let us each make our beloved bishop proud.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Julianne Nornberg, mother of four young children, is a member of St. John the Baptist Parish, Waunakee.