Whatever.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.


I wrote this verse on a card and carried it with me for a couple of days, reciting it over and over. Why? I came upon it by chance while reading and felt as if it spoke to me. Too many times, I lapse into memories of wrongs done during the consolidation. More fact than fiction, nonetheless, they are burdens that have been carried for too long. I have accepted that those people who would not listen then, will not listen now. Those people who need to listen now, will not. "When one door closes, another opens." came to mind, as did, "Do not spend to long looking at the closed door, or you will not see or walk through the open one." I needed to think of the things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and gracious. So, each time a thought of past parish antics came to mind, I thought about all the positive paths that were open to me. I smiled a lot those next few days.

Then, I received a call from a parishioner about our parish Rosary Altar Society. What had happened to the group? I started to ask questions and found out that it was now "defunct". The organization that had been in existence for 60 + years (my grandmother's mother was a member) had been closed by its officers. The money in its coffers was put into the general fund and Toledo was notified. I found it strange that the only people who were not notified were the people. I asked a couple of dues paying members and they were not told that the organization would be closed. No parishioner that I talked to could remember anything in the bulletin or any announcement about closure from the pulpit. I was told that the officers could find noone to become new officers so it had to close. I was informed that if I wanted to know more that I was to talk to the former officers. I was also told that our priest would be happy to talk to me about it.

The verse that I had been reciting for three days kept running roughshod over the new information that I was trying to absorb. There was nothing true or honorable, or just in what had happened to that organization. Rosary Altar was pure, lovely and gracious. The organization was excellent and worthy of praise. 'Think of these things' was indeed an understatement. A charitable service organization was allowed to sink, and noone sounded the alarm to the people who could have, and would have, saved it.


Did I call the officers and demand to know what happened? Did I email the treasurer to find out how much money was absorbed into the general fund? Did I check the chapter's constitution to see if proper procedures were followed? Did I call our priest to set up a meeting to talk about the closure? I must admit, that a few years ago, I would have hurried to investigate all those avenues. But, right now I am in no hurry to knock on any doors. There are so many other things for me to pursue right now. Things that involve building, not closing. Multitudes of true, just,worthy things to think about, dream about, and help to make happen.

Verse 9 in Phil 4, urges: "Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you." Those are the things I want to think about. I actually remember smiling and shaking my head as I walked out of the rectory office after being told that the Rosary Altar Society was defunct. Let them 'think ' that the Society is dead. I know better.

Whatever.