Moving Out/Moving In II

Monday and it is time to pack at the condo again.
I packed up the glass memories: A Radko 2000 Millennium ornament, hobnail glass from my Grandmother, depression era glass from my mother. All to be given away; all now gone on the "Sands of time."

I have gone through the home over and over and I think I got it "all" except for my office and its books and papers of the last ten years in Chicago:

Papers from CPE at Loyola and McNeil Hospitals, preparing to be a hospice chaplain.
Papers from my six years on the Women's Ordination Conference Board(Roman Catholic Church).
Copies of emails from Jason's service in Iraq.

About 1 PM I headed to the bank to change my address, checked out Radio Shack for a radio-living most of my life in the 20th century- a radio is a necessity. I know "No Ipod?" The radio I looked at didn't have dials, computer chip with LED telling me what it was doing. I could "push a button" for control. The sound was wonderful but left me feeling so nostalgic for the plastic dial radios of my youth in the 50's. I remember my first boyfriend bought me one.
How is it that life is captured through papers left?
I just read they found a letter by George Washington in a little girl's scrapbook.
What do these papers say about my life? About who I am? Which will I choose to keep to share with the next generation?

I was feeling alone in the sunshine and bright blue sky above as I walked down Sheridan. I decided to get a Subway salad in the Granada building owned by Loyola University. The building was named after a beautiful ornate theater that Loyola purchased. It had been permitted to deteriorate until it was too costly to renovate. All the "folks who grew up" in Rogers Park" speak of its once eloquent decor and grandeur. A loss for Chicago architecture.

As I stood in line, a man I knew I knew asked, "How are you? I have been thinking about how you were doing." I reintroduced myself and he replied, "I am Fr. Denny" Denny (a poet) attended my sharing at the Loyola Conference in March, "Peacemaking: In a Time of Terrorism." Fr. Denny is an amazing man and I got to hear more of his life story over our lunch(sandwich and water for him)!

Fr. Denny is a Columban Missionary and has spent his life overseas! He is 70 and after a year sabbatical here at Loyola University is heading down to Juarez Mexico to fill in for a priest who was deported by the Mexican Government. The priest was attempting to achieve rights for the workers. Denny doesn't know how long he will stay/last but goes where the Spirit leads him.

Denny was active in Chile at the time of Pinochet and told me about the protests they would hold against the torture by that regime. Denny said Pinochet's wife would threaten, "If you hear of anyone speaking against my husband, tell me, and I will take care of them." (have them "disappeared.") The protests were brilliant in their simplicity. Denny and others would go to a detention center/jail, unfurl banners and read from a list of those who were tortured or died there. These actions got Denny arrested(see Jonah house.org for a present day repeat). Living the non-violent life of Jesus, he said, "After a couple of days, the guards responded kindly to us." Eventually Denny was "too much" for the Chilean government and was deported back to the US. (We got onto the subject because I was wearing my "Shut Down Guantanamo/Stop Torture (on the back))" orange tee, from the good folks when I visited Jonah House.)

Fr. Denny attended Vatican II. He is a scripture scholar by profession and wrote Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict) on the use of exclusive language. He got a reply from the Papal Nuncio in DC which stated in part "Your letter has received the attention it warranted." I laughed, Denny replied, "Whenever I tell the story, people laugh!" I said, "You know the attention it got was "straight to the wastebasket!" He was very sad that along life's journey he had lost that response to his letter. (We joked that he could have sold it on EBay)

He has consistently spoken out for married men and women's ordination and was interested to hear of my time on the WOC board. I told him how RC women are being ordained and the work of Dorothy Irvin, PHD an archaeologist who has travelled the Mediterranean looking for proof of women's priestly roles in the early church. She has had no trouble in documenting such roles as deacon and priest. I told Denny about her calendars and now I have to find one to give him as he was intrigued. I invited him to our inclusive liturgies and I will not be surprised if he shows up.

I have not spent time with any livelier 70 year old! Denny's mind is so sharp, I felt so cotton-headed and humbled as he related his life experiences and knowledge. Godde is good and does provide for this newly single woman in need of "soul food." Fr. Denny was given to me. What a blessing, how good life is. I know the life God is calling me to-work for peace and justice and healing of soldiers and families of soldiers, and healing for the people of Iraq. At our Tuesday Peace vigil at the Federal building one of regulars was 89 years old, she "retired" last year due to health concerns. Here is Fr Denny at 70 going off to Mexico to help laborers. I think God considers me "young" and I have ministry to do. Spirit Sophia is going to have to be more direct with me, to show me the Way.

Blessings to you this day. May spring bring joy and new life.