Beecham Farm – Winter 2010
“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.” – Mahatma Gandhi
In this special time of year, after the holidays and new year’s resolutions have faded, as the cold bite of deep Winter sinks in, and my senses are overwhelmed with the dark and depressive grey skies and dead foliage, I find myself in great need of some sort of renewal…preferably in the form of a warm beach and a mojito. In lieu of that, I usually spend more time sitting under blankets…on my heated mattress pad…with a heater blowing on me…sipping warm beverages…and surfing the inter-webs. In doing so, I noticed a wonderful article shared on “The Facebook” by one of my dear friends. It warmed my soul and so, I thought I’d share it, in hopes that you too will find it edifying and helpful for the daily grind.
I don’t make new year’s resolutions anymore, however, the words, deeds, and admonitions from Pope Francis below are enough resolution for anyone. Despite being some of the simplest things to attempt, they seem to be some of the most difficult to achieve. I’m fond of telling the youth at camps (and reminding myself) to “Be the change you want to see in the world.” If we constantly wait until conditions are perfect to change ourselves or the things around us, or with the excuse of waiting for someone else to start, nothing will ever change. As Gandhi says, “We need not wait”, or my favorite, from Tolstoy, “Everyone thinks of changing the world but no one thinks of changing himself.” So, in that vein…here is the article. Enjoy!
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These are quotes taken from homilies given by Pope Francis this past year, in the form of 10 simple New Year’s resolutions…
(Original source of article: http://www.rappler.com/move-
Pope Francis I Washing the Feet of Prison Inmates
1. Don’t gossip.
It’s one of our hobbies. For Francis, it’s also one of the most evil activities.
The Catholic leader denounces gossip as “murder.”
He feels so strongly about it that in less than a year as pontiff, Francis has preached against gossip in at least 6 different instances.
He says when we gossip, we “are doing what Judas did,” and “begin to tear the other person to pieces.”
“Every time we judge our brother in our hearts or worse when we speak badly of them with others, we are murdering Christians,” Francis says. “There is no such thing as innocent slander.”
I thought I would continue with the theme from the last post of learning to labor and to wait on things. One of the more disturbing things I see in the world around me, as well as in myself, is a difficulty with being still. We live in a world that is no longer content to simply let the day dawn and enjoy life as it comes. Smartphones, computers, tablets, and a constantly “connected” society has, in many ways, led to a dysfunctional and emotionally disconnected world, despite all the instant inter-connectivity that exists. I see it in some of the youth (and their parents) that come through our camp programs, and especially in the inner-city pre-apocalyptic kids. Despite overwhelming poverty and often the lack of even the most basic of necessities, most of them somehow have every electronic gadget imaginable in their book bags.