November 6, 2009
The Second Half
Winds of change
BY DEACON JIM AND ANN CAVERA
This past weekend cold winds quickly turned the landscape from a joyful array of multicolored leaves to somber skeletons of barren trees. Change brought on a flurry of activity in our neighborhood. Men in sturdy jackets scaled ladders to clear gutters of wet leaves. Sounds from leaf blowers and lawn mowers echoed through the yards. Porch furniture was put away while a few remaining plants were moved inside in hopes they might survive the winter.
Change has been happening all around us. As is our custom, the names of those who have died over the last twelve months were read from the pulpit at all the weekend Masses. They ranged in age from six weeks to 91years. With each death, a small, handmade wooden cross was placed on the wall behind the sanctuary. This week 40 crosses, one for each of the people who left us this year, will be taken down and presented to the families of the deceased. This space between the changing seasons is a good time to remember those who have died while we continue to comfort those who remain.
Al and Ann are both in their eighties. Most mornings they can be found at daily Mass. Ann takes care of the flowers in the sanctuary and Al, a retired engineer, helps with the “electrical stuff” at the church. Two or three times a year they visit family in other parts of the country or take a bus tour to Branson, Mo., or to see the fall leaves in New England. They are two of the happiest people we know, yet, they have faced great sorrow in their lives. Of their seven children, the oldest son lost his life in a car accident while he was still in his teens. Two other children died of illness before they were teenagers. Occasionally, we’ve heard them speak about how difficult it was to bear such great loss.
In St. John’s Gospel Jesus tells Peter “….but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (Ch. 21:18) By now we are so familiar with death among our family members and friends we know how easy it is to be taken where we’d rather not go. The secret seems to be in being able to find joy regardless of where life takes us.
Our two-year-old grandsons Jamie and David continue to be with us several days each week. Their company gives us great pleasure and we are learning much from them. On days that are neither too cold nor rainy, we play outdoors and every season is full of possibilities. These days we pick up leaves, or jump into piles of them before they blow away. When snow flies, we’ll bundle up and make snowmen. Spring will bring worms crossing the sidewalk and flowers popping up in unexpected places. Summer is for going to the park to swing or slide down the slide.
We are trying to be more like our grandsons in the way we face our own changing seasons. We want to be able to embrace whatever is waiting just outside the back door.
Deacon Jim and Ann Cavera are former residents of Evansville; their award-winning column is a regular feature of the Message. Contact them at www.catholicseniorspirit.com.