Man up - your twenties are a terrible thing to waste....

Just reading an interview with author Kay Hymowitz about her new book  Manning Up: How the Rise of Women Has Turned Men into Boys. She is talking about the emergence of a new developmental stage in our society, the stage of the pre-adult.  I've heard others simply assert that adolescence now extends to somewhere around 25-27.  Whatever you call it, life in one's twenties for the middle class "young adult" is much different in 2011 than it was in 1980.  The children are still playing and the adults are still paying much longer than ever before.  With unfortunate consequences for the individuals and for the society.  The interview concludes with the comment
"You.... have the time and freedom to figure out how to live a meaningful life. Get busy. Your twenties are a terrible thing to waste".

Amen.

Death

Our long awaited parish mission (a Family Faith Festival for all ages!) opened last night with Fr. Stan Fortuna.  After loads of promotion and a weekend of Masses with Fr. Stan, our church was packed.  Just as I was about to introduce Fr. Stan there was a ruckus in the corner near our adoration chapel and voices hollering for a doctor.  One of our most stalwart parishioners had collapsed.  For about 20 minutes, until the EMTs arrived, chest compressions were administered and a few gasping breaths could be heard from our dear brother.  Fr. Stan led the assembly in the rosary and we prayed, prayed, prayed.  Finally the EMTs arrived, executed their processes and seemed to have reestablished a pulse before they took him to the hospital.  Our pastor was away but the deacon followed the family to the hospital.  40 minutes later Deacon texted me that our brother had passed on and to please have the assembly pray for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his family.  In the aftermath, many remarked that church was a fitting departure scene for this pillar of our parish.  He had been in adoration chapel that morning before Mass, his regular routine and had been taking care of some parish business in the afternoon.  It was a quite typical day for him  and reflected the steady and faithful practice of his life which was so rooted in his faith and at the parish.


This event and the loss of a school parent last week have brought the reality of death to our door.  This morning at Mass, with our 6th,7th and 8th graders present, Fr. Stan preached about a verse from Isaiah which promises the God's word will be fruitful - and the reality of a  love that is stronger than death - a reality which we can encounter through the Love which is revealed in Jesus.  He was powerful and passionate in his preaching and I can only hope that he was heard.  This of course, is the final point of what we are about.  My son remarked this morning that as he prayed last night he shifted his focus from prayer for the victim to prayer for the family - prayer that each of them has an understanding of Christ's presence in this moment in REALITY!