January 8, 2010
The Second Half
Join the party
BY DEACON JIM AND ANN CAVERA
We have a long-standing tradition of staying home, going to bed early and waking up rested to begin the New Year. We like our tradition because 40 years ago we went to a rowdy New Year’s Eve party with too many people who had too much to drink. About 11 p.m. that night we looked at each other and asked, “Do we really want to be here?” The answer was that we did not and we left early in spite of people telling us we would be missing the best part of the party. We got home just in time to wish each other a Happy New Year.
The next day we learned that anyone who had stayed at that party past midnight came out to find their tires slashed. Our guess was that a neighbor had gotten fed up with the noise and had chosen an unacceptable outlet for his or her anger. We were doubly glad we had left early and took it as a sign that the best place to welcome the New Year is from the peace and safety of our own home. For 40 years our image of a New Year’s Eve party has been a smoky room with drunken people followed by cars with slashed tires.
This past New Year’s Eve was different. Friends just a few blocks from our house invited us to their house for a potluck party. We figured it wouldn’t get rowdy because we would be the youngest couple attending. The food turned out to be an interesting combination of dishes because people just brought whatever they wanted. Sauerkraut and sausage, barbeque chicken, baked beans and stewed apples in addition to a bunch of finger foods and leftover Christmas cookies rounded out the menu. Beverages were assorted bottles of wine along with some beer and soft drinks left over from the Christmas holiday.
By the time we had eaten the finger foods, sampled the entrees and played cards, it was time to turn on the TV and watch the ball drop in Times Square. If we could have gone to a party like this one 40 years ago, we might have spent every New Year’s Eve since then with friends. Is it ever too late to see something differently and make changes?
In this Sunday’s second reading, everyone involved had to let go of old images. Peter had to give up his images of clean and unclean to see people from God’s perspective. Few people would have thought of Cornelius, the Roman centurion as a man of God, and yet he was. Giving up old images is difficult because we have to be willing to admit what we thought about someone or something may no longer be relevant.
We get images printed in our mind and think that’s just the way things are. Time passes and we don’t realize situations and people have changed. In addition to all the resolutions we might make about giving up bad habits or losing weights, we might also resolve to let go of any negative images we hold about others. This New Year can be a time to change ideas, explore new opportunities or give someone a second chance. Letting go of outdated ideas about people and places can be liberating and that’s a cause for celebration.
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.