September 4, 2009
Taking the Time to Make a Difference
From action to thought, thought to action
BY PAUL R. LEINGANG
Sometimes thoughts lead to actions. Sometimes actions lead to thoughts. At least that is my experience.
A recent news release came to me from the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, announcing a symposium to be held in Des Moines. The event is to be held on the thirtieth anniversary of the visit of Pope John Paul II to Iowa in October 1979.
The announcement brought back to me a rush of memories — to that October day when I was reporting on the Pope’s visit, “live” on radio from several locations.
Des Moines is about 175 miles away from Rock Island, Ill., where my station was located. As a reporter, I was somewhat hampered by the fact that I had only a vague knowledge of the Des Moines area, and that I had never been to Living History Farms where the pope celebrated Mass. As a Catholic reporter, I was trying to be objective while at the same time fully realizing that I had never seen the pope before and I was in awe of his presence.
In the days before cell phones, providing live coverage from a distant location took some resourcefulness. I managed to “borrow” an idle telephone line in a press tent at one location to call in a report on the pope’s arrival to Des Moines in a helicopter.
I remember having a slight twinge of conscience about what I was doing. A headline came to mind, “Catholic reporter steals telephone line to report on pope’s arrival,” but I was able to ignore it just long enough.
After describing the helicopter arrival for my radio audience, I had to give up the phone connection to the rightful owner — and it was time to move ahead to the area where Mass was to be celebrated.
A cab driver was very willing to do what I asked for the promise of an extra tip. He got me as close to the Mass site as possible, staying on paved roads for most of the trip.
In the days before intense security measures were instituted, I was able to walk through a press corridor to within a respectably short distance from the altar, a far better viewing area than many people enjoyed.
I was at Mass with the pope on a grassy field in Iowa. It was quite unreal. I must have been unprofessionally in awe. But I had work to do, and very soon, the day was over.
I can’t say that I did very well at my job that day. It was all action, not much thinking.
* * *
Over time, I have thought about the importance of the pope’s visit to the Heartland, emphasizing the importance of agriculture and care for the earth.
The title of the upcoming symposium captures my thought perfectly well. It is, “What God has given and human hands have made,” and it brings to mind the intimate connection there should be between all the good things of the earth and the bread and wine that are what God has given and human hands have made.
I say, “the intimate connection there should be” because I fear most people have become unaware of this reality.
Actions 30 years ago have led to this thinking, and it is time now for these thoughts to lead to actions.
* * *
Take the time to renew your acquaintance with the good things of the earth, from garden or farm. Take the time to become more familiar with papal teaching about the need to care for the earth.
In recent years, I have become acquainted with the writings of Michael Pollen (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) and Barbara Kingsolver (Animal, Vegetable, Miracle). But these secular authors and others have only helped to provide context for probing more deeply into the eternal words of the divine author: that what God has made is good.
The Vatican has added its voice to a rising chorus of warnings around the world that climate change and abuse of the environment are against God’s will.
At a Vatican conference on climate change in 2007, Pope Benedict urged bishops, scientists and politicians to “respect creation” while “focusing on the needs of sustainable development.”
The thought comes back again and again, that there can be no split, no separation, no pulling away from the unity of what God has given and human hands have made.
Comments are welcome at office@cfm.org or the Christian Family Movement, P.O. Box 925, Evansvsille, IN 47706-0925