Nutrition
Our Formation this week was given by the woman who develops our menus (which is hard to follow, as our food comes, mainly, from the food bank, so we have the ability to substitute). We learned which foods provide Vitamin A, C, Calcium and Iron. Tony left lots of veggies, legumes, etc., which were scooped up by the other houses. Greatfull House was left with tons of collard greens. In a moment of inspiration, I cooked them with some pigs stomachs, we had in the freezer, and mixed with black beans and rice. It was pretty good, but next time, I'll go out and buy bacon for more flavor.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
This and That
March has been difficult. We were already down one assistant, when Jil came down with a bad back and Mariusz dreadful allergies due to the high pollen count. At the end of the day, I am so physically exhausted, I haven't the energy to turn on the computer. "Better to burn out, than rust out.", somebody said.
One bright spot was the visit my brother, Dave and sister-in-law, Ginny paid during their road trip from Colorado. They stayed overnight, sharing the evening meal and Morning Prayer. Their observation, upon leaving, was that L'Arche Harbor House is a very happy community.
More bon mots from Kathy
After dinner each evening, we read something either from Scripture or the writings of Jean Vanier or others, then discuss. Last night's subject was on forgiveness. When I said Christ tells us, when hurt, to 'turn the other cheek', and what does that mean?, Kathy replied, "You slap the other cheek!".
March has been difficult. We were already down one assistant, when Jil came down with a bad back and Mariusz dreadful allergies due to the high pollen count. At the end of the day, I am so physically exhausted, I haven't the energy to turn on the computer. "Better to burn out, than rust out.", somebody said.
One bright spot was the visit my brother, Dave and sister-in-law, Ginny paid during their road trip from Colorado. They stayed overnight, sharing the evening meal and Morning Prayer. Their observation, upon leaving, was that L'Arche Harbor House is a very happy community.
More bon mots from Kathy
After dinner each evening, we read something either from Scripture or the writings of Jean Vanier or others, then discuss. Last night's subject was on forgiveness. When I said Christ tells us, when hurt, to 'turn the other cheek', and what does that mean?, Kathy replied, "You slap the other cheek!".
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Poetry and Music
I've neglected this blog for the entire month of February. Just very busy, I guess, so permit me to recap:
One afternoon late in January, I performed for The Rainbow Workshop a presentation of poetry and song, accompanying myself and the audience on the guitar. The verse is a selection of 'nonsense' poetry by Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll, followed by some serious poets, Edna St. Vincent Millay and John Masefield with subjects of trains and boats and travel (music corresponding). Wrapping up, everybody's favorite, "Casey at the Bat". The program was repeated, for those who don't attend the Workshop, preceding the Super Bowl broadcast, when our house hosted Peace House for the usual SB fare. All were in bed by the second half, which turned out to be the best ever played.
Two assistants have left, so we are struggling with scheduling until new ones are found. We will miss Amy Liz, her laughter, tremendous energy and creativity. Saying goodbye at the Community Center, our core members and assistants formed a chorus line and sang "Once in Love With Amy". We wish her all the best as she discerns her future.
Snuck a few days in South Florida the last week of February, visiting my son, Robert and cousin, Pat. That Saturday, the Carmelite Lay Order held a one-day retreat at St. Jude's in Boca Raton. Got in a little kayaking and museum time. Home in time to help make 700 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the homeless, which L'Arche does several times a year.
I've neglected this blog for the entire month of February. Just very busy, I guess, so permit me to recap:
One afternoon late in January, I performed for The Rainbow Workshop a presentation of poetry and song, accompanying myself and the audience on the guitar. The verse is a selection of 'nonsense' poetry by Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll, followed by some serious poets, Edna St. Vincent Millay and John Masefield with subjects of trains and boats and travel (music corresponding). Wrapping up, everybody's favorite, "Casey at the Bat". The program was repeated, for those who don't attend the Workshop, preceding the Super Bowl broadcast, when our house hosted Peace House for the usual SB fare. All were in bed by the second half, which turned out to be the best ever played.
Two assistants have left, so we are struggling with scheduling until new ones are found. We will miss Amy Liz, her laughter, tremendous energy and creativity. Saying goodbye at the Community Center, our core members and assistants formed a chorus line and sang "Once in Love With Amy". We wish her all the best as she discerns her future.
Snuck a few days in South Florida the last week of February, visiting my son, Robert and cousin, Pat. That Saturday, the Carmelite Lay Order held a one-day retreat at St. Jude's in Boca Raton. Got in a little kayaking and museum time. Home in time to help make 700 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the homeless, which L'Arche does several times a year.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Catholic Volunteers Winter Retreat in St. Augustine
We were
together once again at Villa Flora, run by the Sisters of St Joseph. The Mother
House is across the street from the guest house/retreat center.
Both buildings were built in the early eighteen hundreds. St.
Augustine is layer upon layer of history; first settled by the French, then the
Spanish, who were conquered by the English, whereas the colony was won back by
the Spanish before being ceded to America.
The theme
of the retreat was social justice. Friday evening the Catholic Chaplin
for Death Row prisoners in Florida's state prisons gave a very spirited talk on
the conditions of most prisons (no air conditioning in summer, overcrowding,
you've heard it all). Florida has the greatest number of men on Death
Row. Only Texas has actually executed more. More and more states
are overturning their death penalty law; ironically, only those in the Bible
Belt continue to hang on.
Think of
this, there is no constitutional right to not
be executed if you are
innocent. Statistically, we all know that black on black murder might get you the electric chair, as well as
white on white. However, white on black murder rarely sends one to death
row, but black on white murder will definitely get you there.
The
following day, we drove out to Our Lady of Hope/Communita Cenacolo, a movement
started in Italy. The young men, who live in community, have an abundance
of fruit trees, grow their own vegetables and raise pigs for slaughter. They
have recently begun wood working, making beautiful bowls and refinishing old
furniture. They also have an outdoor oven for making pizza. We were
served lunch of pasta and garlic, home made bread and fresh squeezed orange
juice. While eating one fellow reads from his journal to the rest.
I thought it took great courage to open up his most intimate feelings
before strangers.
After
detoxing, these young men come to Hope and pick up their lives without any
medicines or professional support. They rely on one another and the Holy
Spirit. Mass is said every morning by a visiting priest and rosary four
times a day. They are some of the sweetest souls you'll ever meet.
One
evening we had dinner with the Sisters, another time the women went out to
Stogies (a beer and a cigar for $4.99), later the younger among us found live
music to dance to.
A couple
of us skipped the March for Life and visited the lighthouse, and crazy Chelsea
went swimming in the 52 degree ocean water. Another great retreat!
Monday, January 12, 2015
Epiphany
L'Arche celebrates the Christmas Season right through to Epiphany, when the entire community exchanges gifts in remembrance of the three wise men. After prayer, dinner and singing, each person sat in the 'stable' to receive his/her gift from their 'secret Santa'. We are big here, in affirmation, so the giver tells the receiver how he/she sees Jesus in them. I had drawn Larry's name. He lives in Sunflower House, and for a very large man, he is so very gentle (certainly God-like). I admire Larry for his curiosity. He is very tech savy on computer, and has an extensive selection of CD's and vinyl records, which he is always eager to share.
L'Arche celebrates the Christmas Season right through to Epiphany, when the entire community exchanges gifts in remembrance of the three wise men. After prayer, dinner and singing, each person sat in the 'stable' to receive his/her gift from their 'secret Santa'. We are big here, in affirmation, so the giver tells the receiver how he/she sees Jesus in them. I had drawn Larry's name. He lives in Sunflower House, and for a very large man, he is so very gentle (certainly God-like). I admire Larry for his curiosity. He is very tech savy on computer, and has an extensive selection of CD's and vinyl records, which he is always eager to share.
Profile Sketches
Thought I might introduce the lovely people I live with:
Everyone's favorite is Dino, always accommodating and willing to join in whatever is suggested. He loves to dance, even though he is stiff kneed and loses balance easily, and at the bowling alley, he is a superstar. Dino is very good at puzzles and his paintings are big sellers at Rainbow House, where Dino goes every workday for fun and creativity. His answer to every situation is, "Be happy!"
Kathy will be celebrating her 70th birthday this month. The dinner table is always hilarious with her quick whit and pithy sayings. She is a very picky eater, but she relishes her glass of wine. Kathy loves to sing, and sing LOUD, mostly off-key, but you have never heard anything so heartfelt.
Chris is our newest core member. A gentle giant of a man, he brightens the room when he enters and is always full of compliments. Chris is pretty independent, and has worked at McDonald's for many years. He is very sports savey, and keeps us up to date on what's happening in the playoffs.
Pam is non-verbal and wheelchair bound, but we make sure she is included in all our activities. As a child, she lived in Belgium and understands French. She also loves good music. If she is displeased, she pinches like hell.
Stacy is our most independent core member. She works at Publix Supermarket several days a week. As she grew up in the area, she has many friends, with whom she socializes. Even people she doesn't know soon become acquaintances, as Stacy is very outgoing and often initiates conversations with total strangers. Because Stacy is so independent, she is also most problematic.
This all sounds very ideal, however, all these people have their demons, moods and problems. It is easy to touch their hearts at times, but almost impossible to get inside their heads and know where they are coming from and what they are truly feeling.
Thought I might introduce the lovely people I live with:
Everyone's favorite is Dino, always accommodating and willing to join in whatever is suggested. He loves to dance, even though he is stiff kneed and loses balance easily, and at the bowling alley, he is a superstar. Dino is very good at puzzles and his paintings are big sellers at Rainbow House, where Dino goes every workday for fun and creativity. His answer to every situation is, "Be happy!"
Kathy will be celebrating her 70th birthday this month. The dinner table is always hilarious with her quick whit and pithy sayings. She is a very picky eater, but she relishes her glass of wine. Kathy loves to sing, and sing LOUD, mostly off-key, but you have never heard anything so heartfelt.
Chris is our newest core member. A gentle giant of a man, he brightens the room when he enters and is always full of compliments. Chris is pretty independent, and has worked at McDonald's for many years. He is very sports savey, and keeps us up to date on what's happening in the playoffs.
Pam is non-verbal and wheelchair bound, but we make sure she is included in all our activities. As a child, she lived in Belgium and understands French. She also loves good music. If she is displeased, she pinches like hell.
Stacy is our most independent core member. She works at Publix Supermarket several days a week. As she grew up in the area, she has many friends, with whom she socializes. Even people she doesn't know soon become acquaintances, as Stacy is very outgoing and often initiates conversations with total strangers. Because Stacy is so independent, she is also most problematic.
This all sounds very ideal, however, all these people have their demons, moods and problems. It is easy to touch their hearts at times, but almost impossible to get inside their heads and know where they are coming from and what they are truly feeling.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Advent and Christmas
The holiday and days and nights leading up to the Birth of Christ have been almost as hectic as when I was living 'on the outside'. Some nights I am so tired, I cannot even turn on the computer, much less blog.
One of the remarkable things about L'Arche is the loyalty of former assistants, who come back from all over the United States, year after year, to visit the core members, especially this time of year. They are young men and women who have gone on to graduate school or begun careers, many, but not all by any means, in the field of social services. There is such a warmth of feeling all around. Hospitality is a hallmark of our community, and there is always a place at the table or a bed for the night.
The highlight of the season is the Living Nativity, L'Arche's annual gift to Jacksonville, held in a different venue each year, even outside at The Landing riverfront in previous times. This year's presentation was made at St. John the Baptist, Mayport, a newly renovated church in the style of a Benedictine Monastery. The Gospel of Luke was narrated by Sharon and Sister Rita, as the players entered the darkened nave by candle light to Pachelbel's "Canon". All those lovely, innocent, broken people moved me to tears. Frankly, I had anticipated a rather amateur performance, but the standing ovation by a packed house was evidence enough that I couldn't have been more wrong.
Beyond that, we have been to the Festival of Lights (lifeguard stands decorated in Christmas themes) at the beach; held an egg nog party; seen the Nutcracker, at which a good friend danced; provided dinner for all those in our community who remained here over the holidays, and taken excursions to Memorial Park and Little Talbot Island. In between, I managed a short trip to New Orleans to catch the music scene at night. Life is good!
The holiday and days and nights leading up to the Birth of Christ have been almost as hectic as when I was living 'on the outside'. Some nights I am so tired, I cannot even turn on the computer, much less blog.
One of the remarkable things about L'Arche is the loyalty of former assistants, who come back from all over the United States, year after year, to visit the core members, especially this time of year. They are young men and women who have gone on to graduate school or begun careers, many, but not all by any means, in the field of social services. There is such a warmth of feeling all around. Hospitality is a hallmark of our community, and there is always a place at the table or a bed for the night.
The highlight of the season is the Living Nativity, L'Arche's annual gift to Jacksonville, held in a different venue each year, even outside at The Landing riverfront in previous times. This year's presentation was made at St. John the Baptist, Mayport, a newly renovated church in the style of a Benedictine Monastery. The Gospel of Luke was narrated by Sharon and Sister Rita, as the players entered the darkened nave by candle light to Pachelbel's "Canon". All those lovely, innocent, broken people moved me to tears. Frankly, I had anticipated a rather amateur performance, but the standing ovation by a packed house was evidence enough that I couldn't have been more wrong.
Beyond that, we have been to the Festival of Lights (lifeguard stands decorated in Christmas themes) at the beach; held an egg nog party; seen the Nutcracker, at which a good friend danced; provided dinner for all those in our community who remained here over the holidays, and taken excursions to Memorial Park and Little Talbot Island. In between, I managed a short trip to New Orleans to catch the music scene at night. Life is good!
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