Dear Readers,
I usually try to write amusing letters of a light-hearted nature, but, unfortunately, I cannot do that today.
When I was a pastor, I was invited by the parish’s women’s group to a parish lunch. After lunch, the group gave me a Christmas present.
To the editor:
The December 6 issue of the Catholic Herald had tough competition from tree trimming, gift wrapping, and Christmas cards.
But I welcomed a “sit-down” to read the special “In Memoriam” section about Bishop Robert C. Morlino in the Herald. It speaks beautifully to a life well-lived.
A small business manager asked employees, who wished, to write out their New Year’s resolutions. He promised to post them by lunchtime on the bulletin board. It sounded like fun.
When the resolutions were posted, the employees gathered eagerly around the bulletin board. Suddenly one employee began to complain angrily to everyone there that her resolution wasn’t posted. She griped that she felt left out again.
One New Year’s resolution often heard is: “I will cultivate a sense of humor.” Maybe we say this because we feel we’re too serious much of the time.
Throughout my life I have many times been reminded of Sister Gregory, my favorite teacher’s comment that God has a sense of humor.
I learned about God’s humor from Sister Gregory, a delightful Franciscan nun who was staff advisor for my high school newspaper.
As editor, I had to “put the paper to bed,” meaning write the last headlines, cross all the t’s, and dot the i’s before going to press.
One night we had to work right through dinner time and both confessed we were hungry.
Sister excused herself and returned after a moment with a heaping, fragrant bowl of popcorn.