A Sure Sign

It was surreal. There I was last Sunday morning, sitting in the sun at a small table on a glorious Spring day with a familiar stranger, who has moved in and out of my life since we were boys. It was my brother Tom. Sitting in a park, overlooking the Connecticut River where the Holyoke Dam roars with magnificent power, we enjoyed a picnic lunch on the edge of the neighborhood where we grew up together. On such a fine day, you would never guess we were sitting near "The Flats", a drug-infested ghetto in our home town with one of the highest crime rates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Our connection as brothers ended prematurely almost 5 decades ago, when I ran away from home at age 13. It was a desperate act at a desperate time in my life. I never thought I would ever see this place again, especially with this brother of mine, taken from my life when he was 10. We never lived together again and had little or no contact for many years.

Tom is a lifelong alcoholic and addict, and has been homeless for most of his life. He has been in and out of prisons, county jails, and hospitals all his life. Once in a while, Tom found someone he could live with, obtain a job, and almost have a normal life, but it never lasted. He had two children with different women. He has been at death's door many times, and I never expected to see him alive at the ripe age of 57. Since being hit by a car last October, the Mass Health Care system has spent over $500,000 to patch him up, rebuild his pelvis, restore 30 broken bones, and even provide beautiful new dentures. My brother appeared incredibly well and in his right mind as we sat in the sunshine. I found the entire scene completely unbelievable. I kept asking myself : "Is this really happening?"

For many decades, I have pursued Tommy, trying to support and encourage him, praying for his recovery, and looking for him when he went missing. I have given him up for dead so many times, I can't keep track of the count. So there we were, enjoying pasta salad and fruit together in the warm sun, joking and laughing like normal brothers do, and I just could not get my mind around the fact that this was real. Gary & Tom were sitting together, very near where our family disintegrated, and we were happy, even giddy to be together - an incredible time for both of us. As we smiled and talked about our dangerous exploits as two unsupervised boys, playing in the dangerous river and canals of Holyoke in the 1960s, I recalled that last Sunday was "Divine Mercy Sunday". It was a divine mercy for Tommy and I to share these moments together, something beyond either his expectations or mine. My brother honored me for pursuing him all these years. "You never gave up on me" he said. "That's not true", I thought. I fell into despair over him a dozen times. Somehow, hope returns unnoticed.

Whatever may happen, whatever the future may bring to our relationship, we had that time together, a connection we had missed for so long and I am grateful, profoundly grateful. If you had told me this was going to happen, I wouldn't have believed it. But God wanted both of us to be encouraged and not give into despair. Today's gospel records Peter's miraculous catch of fish when the apostles were beginning to doubt the mission Jesus had given them. John was the first to suspect that Jesus was at work with his outburst : "It is the Lord!" Then Jesus fed his disciples breakfast, just as he was feeding Tom & I at this picnic near the water last week. When time gives way to eternity, my family will be reconciled, restored, and forgiven. Prayers are never wasted. Mercy triumphs in the end. Gary

the Catholic "problem"

I cannot vouch for the veracity of the following article I received from a friend [nothing on snopes or truthorfiction], but I have read similar stats over the years. Even one priest involved in pedophilia is tragic, but we must understand the whole picture. Pedophilia reportedly affects 3% of all people. It is not limited to one race, culture, or religion. A failure of a Catholic leader makes news precisely because the Catholic Church is known to have the highest moral standards in the world. Some enemies of the Church pounce on such tragedies to use as a weapon against the Church. In today's climate, The Catholic Church is one of the safest places for a child to be in. In fact, other churches and entities are modeling their programs to combat pedophilia in their own institutions.

======= Sam Miller on Catholics =======

Excerpts of an article written by non-Catholic Sam Miller, a prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman: "Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States , namely the Catholic Church? Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars.

The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%. The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students. The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics - in the United States today.

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage. Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church , 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed. Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving. The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now. Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States . Then remember what Jeremiah said: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls'. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions. Be proud that you're a Catholic."

America's mistake

America made a huge mistake in electing Barack Obama and now we see the fruit of it. A great evil has come upon us in the guise of "Health Care Reform". Abortions will be funded with taxpayer money and more Americans will die in the womb (the executive order is a ruse and can be easily changed - it has no law behind it). We have allowed this evil for 37 years and now, we who find it morally wrong, have to pay for it. This is like sending money to Al Queda and other enemies of our country. 3000 Americans died on 9/11. What about the 4500 a day who die by abortion? A big, inefficient and bureaucratic system (6 times that of the failing British one) violates the Catholic principle of sudsidiarity - health care decisions should be made by patients, their families in the local communities, not by some government bureaucrat who does not know you and does not care. Delays and mistakes will take many lives.

What about the cost of this? America is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy already. I know some of you I love and care about do not agree with me about this. You believe Obama is ok and this Health Care thing will be just fine. We all are about to find out! Just wait until we see the real cost. Just wait until you see what happens to your take home pay after it is taxed. The moral issues confuse many folks, but we all care about our money. I'd rather be wrong about much of this, but I fear I may be all too right. Cold comfort as I see America in decline. I will suffer, my kids and grandkids will suffer - we all lose. America's friends will suffer too. If America is the world's "last, best hope" (and I believe it is), what has just happened here will hurt everyone unless we can reverse it quickly. This transcends political parties. We all will see what we have done - it will not be long.

We can hope for some good out of this. Perhaps our eyes will be opened in time before we sink even lower. America makes mistakes just like any other country. But some mistakes are fatal. I hope we wake up in time.

more jewels from the book "He and I"

The book "He and I" by Gabrielle Bossis is a collection of journals she wrote over a 14-year period from 1936 to 1950. She hears a "Voice" speaking in her mind, and after a time of doubts, she concludes "it is the Lord". I have read this book countless times in the last 2 years. Here are a few entries to ponder. Each one stands on its own and is worthy of some reflection.

"Sometimes I created frightening situations in order to test your confidence. Give it to Me often."

"Enjoy Me. Give yourself a rest from saying prayers so that you may enjoy My love."

"Give importance only to what is eternal."

"The same things are not asked of every person."

"If you knew how I wait for you... how I wait for souls . . . ".

"Receive every trial as though it came from My hand."

"Make use of the gifts you have received and you will please Me."

"I am beauty in all its forms."

"Don't wait for the big events of your life to have something to offer Me. Offer Me everything."

"Get out of yourself. Give Me your trust and then let yourself drift along wherever I take you."

"My delight is to be with the children of men."

"It will be clear to others that it's not because you deserve it that I speak to you, but because my compassionate heart needs to do so."

"Talk to Me. For Me there is no sweeter prayer."

"Above all. confidence! When you have an anxiety and you can do nothing about it, just think 'He will straighten that out for me' and go back into the peace within Me."

little gems from the book "He and I"

The book "He and I" by Gabrielle Bossis is a collection of journals she wrote over a 14-year period from 1936 to 1950. Gabrielle was a well-known stage actress/playwright in France, had several homes, and traveled extensively (not your "typical" mystic). She was unsure of the Voice she kept hearing - was she imagining this or was it really the Lord? Circumstances and events allowed her to conclude it was real. It changed her life. This remarkable book has changed my life too. There is a promise in the book that "every reader too will receive the same measure of grace . . and . . all will become members of one united family; the family of my intimate friends".

I'm tempted to transcribe the book in its entirety, but you would not read it, and I do not have that kind of time. So I have culled a few of the more outstanding little gems this book has to offer. 15 of these to these are plenty to ponder. I could make each one into a prayer time.

+++

"Each soul is my favorite" says the Voice. . . "I choose some to reach others."

"Don't get the idea that a saint is a saint at every moment."

"Wake up to your power over me."

"I answer every prayer."

"Look at Me more often."

"Don't ever be afraid to pronounce My Name."

"I am here with treasures. If you don't ask Me for them, how can I give them to you?"

"What are you but a heap of good intentions?"

"You don't ask Me for enough."

"You have everything you need to perfect the Gabrielle I dreamed of in creating you." (insert your own name here)

"Always speak well of others."

"Don't be afraid; be daring. We're together, you and I."

"By yourself you are chaos. Do you fully realize this?"

"It's in the evening of your life that you'll begin to live, just when you think you are going to die."

"There is more of Me in you than you."

How to Win Souls for God

Six months before she died, Gabrielle Bossis was concerned about her effectiveness in evangelizing others, particularly about her failings and faults getting in the way. In the following passage from her journal, Jesus tells her 3 indispensable things that we humans are looking for : people who truly love us, are joyful, and committed to something bigger than themselves. These three things are irresistible. Don't focus on how you might blow the opportunity, but rather forget about yourself altogether. Get the name of Jesus into the conversation. - From the book "He and I", journal entry Dec 22, 1949 (six months before Gabrielle died):

Gabrielle to Jesus: "Lord, may nothing in me hinder your voice from reaching others". Jesus responds: "Echo it back with all your loving warmth and you will give them joy. And this very joy will make them much more sensitive to My voice, these poor people, so often troubled with regard to Me or consumed by earthly worries. How much more freely they will breathe if you talk with them about Me! I'll be there, though unseen, and you will feel the warmth of My Presence. In heaven it is I who am the center and circumference for everyone, and the blessed ones exult. Isn't it from the fullness of the heart that the mouth speaks? This is why I rejoice when you mention My Name. It's like a cherished secret that you disclose because you can no longer keep it. It's as though you said 'Let us talk about God, the One who is my entire life, the One who alone is worthy of my every heart-beat. This glorifies Me, and to glorify Me is to love Me . . .

Haven't I explained to you that you will be judged according to the measure of your love - on that alone? . . . It is as though I said 'Don't think of yourself any more. Think of Me.' The saints thought only of Me all their lives. Accept the help of My mother for this, and think of Me with all the tenderness of which you are able. Tenderness honors me more than reverence. It consoles Me."

- Gary

The 3 Gibson Brothers

It was a mistake to put the 3 of us boys in one room together. But what could my parents do with 3 boys and 2 girls in a 3-bedroom apartment ? It was a cold water flat, ( no hot water ) and the only source of heat in our home was our kitchen stove, which had a gas side heater to warm the entire apartment. Mom and Dad had the front bedroom off the living room, Laurie and Marianne were off the kitchen (near the stove), and Gary, Tom, and Scott were in the back bedroom (farthest from the stove). Many a cold night the 3 of us boys would crawl out from our frigid room with our blankets to sleep on the warm linoleum near the stove. One winter Dad decided to conserve the heat by shutting off our room completely and we slept on a pull out sofa in the living room. The problem was if one of us wet the bed, we were all wet!

Sometimes Dad would come home drunk at night and fall asleep in the bathroom. What does a boy do when he has a full bladder in the middle of the night? We were lucky - we had 2 windows in our room, so that solved our problem. Mrs. Lane (who lived below us on the first floor) had some flowerbeds that got extra watering now and then. Pretty soon, we did not need the excuse of Dad sleeping on the toilet; it was easier to just open the window in any case! Three boys close in age can get into a lot of mischief, if left unattended, as was often the case. We were awake early one summer morning and the sun was already up. So we tossed our mattresses out the window to make a landing pad and rehearsed how we would escape a fire - by jumping from the second floor window on to the mattresses. It was so much fun, we did this often, but had to hide our activities due to some internal sense that our parents would not like that. Mr Lane squealed on us. It did not go so well for us when they found out.

All 10 families in our tenement block lived just like we did and there were hundreds of apartment buildings all around us. This mini ghetto was called "The Flats" because all the cheap housing was built to house the factory workers and their families. We were poor back then but did not know it. We 3 boys were always fighting, mostly in fun, like 3 puppies in the same litter. These are some of the happy memories of my childhood.

Gary