" A heart that's hopeful, a head that's full of dreams. But this becoming, is harder than it seems. Feels like I'm looking for a reason, roaming through the night to find my place in this world."
-- Michael W. Smith "Place In This World"
This past October, I was on retreat with my students and they posed a few questions to me that were repeated a number of times: "What am I supposed to do with my life?" "How do I know if I'm following the right path in life?" "How do I discover God's plan for me?" These college students don't mess around. When they have questions, they have BIG questions. In my experience, these are very common thoughts and concerns by young adults but also of people of every age. Finding our own authentic identity is a crucial task of our lives and something that should never be overlooked or oversimplified. I of course do not have all the answers for these questions, but this is my humble attempt at answering life's big questions concerning purpose and vocation.
The poet William Stafford has a great line that says: "Ask me whether what I have done is my life." At first glance it appears to be a silly proposition but if you let it sit with you for a little while it can become much more thought provoking. Of course what I have done is my life - What else would it be? The life that we live on a daily basis does not always mesh with the life that is calling out to us, a life that wants to live in us. Are we doing what we are supposed to be doing? Am I the person I am meant to be? How can I possibly know the answers? The short answer is to simply listen and be aware of what's happening around you on a day to day basis.
In our world of cell phones, iPods, text messages, and instant gratification at the push of a button, we don't have many moments of silence in our lives. Walk down any street some time and notice how many people are talking on their phones, have headphones on, or texting as they walk. My bet is that it will be a rather high number - especially on a college campus. I am not saying there is anything wrong with doing these things (I have a cell, iPod, and I text), but my point is that we do not ever sit back and listen to what is happening around us. Throughout our busy days, we easily miss the subtleties of life that could be the answers to the aforementioned questions. When discussing this idea, I use the metaphor of praying. I truly believe there are three answers to our prayers: yes, no, & not now. The "yes & no" answers are usually easy to see, but it is the "not now" that either gets misconstrued as a "no" or is not even recognized as such. I have never heard the voice of God literally answering my prayers, but I have noticed interactions with people and various events that occur in my life that serve to function as my answers. But if we do not listen carefully or pay attention to the minutiae, we will miss much. As odd as it may sound, there are actually some wonderful theological reflections in the movie "Evan Almighty." In the movie, Morgan Freeman plays the role of God and discusses prayer and answers to prayer. He says: "When we pray for mercy, are we given mercy or the chance to be merciful? When we pray for courage, are we given courage or the chance to be courageous? When we pray for love, are we given love or the opportunity to be loving?" I think that idea can be applicable in our lives, but if we do not pay attention, we will miss those opportunities.
Vocation follows a similar path - listening to our lives and figuring out what our lives are truly about. The word vocation is always assumed to mean something of a religious nature, but it goes far beyond that. We all have a vocation waiting to be uncovered. The word vocation itself is rooted in the Latin for "voice." It is not merely a goal to be pursued, but a calling that needs to be listened to and heard. We need to figure out who we are before we can attempt to realize what we are meant to do with the life we have been given. We cannot hope to find our own identity by trying to be someone else or forcing a standard of living on to ourselves. We must recognize our individual and unique personhood and respond to that (which can take the course of a lifetime). There is an old Hasidic story that illuminates the importance of becoming ourselves: Rabbi Zusya, when he was an old man, said, "In the coming world, they will not ask me: Why were you not Moses? They will ask me: Why were you not Zusya?" We all have special gifts and talents given to us at birth that are waiting to be found and used. So now the question of "What am I supposed to do with my life?" is replaced with "Who am I?"
"The test of a vocation is the love of the drudgery it involves" -- Logan Pearsall Smith
The 19th century Polish poet Cyprian Norwid spoke of purpose in life as well. "To be what is called happy, one should have (1) something to live on, (2) something to live for, (3) something to die for. The lack of one of these results in drama. The lack of two results in tragedy." By our nature, humans need to feel as if they belong to something, that they are needed, and that they are able to contribute to something greater than their own life. This is often addressed by believing in something with great passion and excitement that causes us to dedicate our whole heart to its pursuit. This idea is summed up the idea of Noble Purpose. William Damon describes this idea in his book by the same name and states that the word noble does not need to mean heroic as it often is, but it can be found in mundane familiar acts or our everyday pursuits - another example of listening to our lives! Damon goes on to say that the definition of purpose in systematic research is "a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something both meaningful to the self and of consequence to the world beyond the self." There are two important things to bear in mind at this juncture: (1) Purpose is a goal, but it is of a loftier ideal than simple desires or materialistic goods and (2) Purpose is integral to our personal search for meaning in life but should have an external quality that is the desire to make a difference in the world - to move beyond our own self-interest. Helen Keller said "Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."
So back to the original questions of "What am I supposed to do with my life?" and "How do I know if I'm following the right path in life?" Find something that brings you happiness, joy, and that you truly love to do and run with it. Every single pursuit and purpose in life can be a noble one and there is no telling how are lives and actions will positively affect others. What we may deem as meaningless can be completely meaningful for another. Finally, recognize that our life's purpose may not ever be fully achieved, and that's OK! As long as we are constantly striving for it, learning, growing, loving, and sharing ourselves and our gifts, we are definitely on the right path.
"Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve." - Martin Luther King Jr.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Lord, I Am Not Worthy To Receive You...
While recently spending a day at the Abbey of the Genesee, home of the Trappist Monks (www.geneseeabbey.org), I picked up a copy of "On Living Simply" by John Chrysostom. Chrysostom was an outspoken opponent of the new found power and wealth held by bishops and clergy in 312 AD after Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of his vast empire. Chrysostom urged the clergy to return to the practices of Christ's life and teachings, such as generosity and living simply. Literally meaning "golden-mouthed," Chrysostom delivered many sermons on the themes of economic and social justice. In my estimation, his sermons were an amazingly prophetic base for Catholic Social Teaching which arrived almost 1,500 years after him. The book contains upwards of 80 excerpts from some of his surviving sermons and they are just as relevant today as they were in his life. I would like to share a passage with you and then offer up some of my own thoughts on it.
"When we live according to the moral principles of our faith, those around us may respond in three possible ways. First, they may be so impressed by the example of our goodness, and so envious of the joy which it brings, that they want to join us and become like us. That is the response which we most earnestly desire. Second, they may be indifferent to us, because they are so bound up with their own selfish cares and concerns; although their eyes may perceive our way of life, their hearts are blind, so we are unable to stir them. Third, they may react against us, feeling threatened by our example and even angry with us; thus they will cling even more firmly to their material possessions and selfish ambitions, and slander us at every opportunity. Naturally, we dread this type of reaction, because we want to live in peace with our neighbors, regardless of their personal beliefs and values. But if no one reacts to us in this way, we must wonder whether we are truly fulfilling the commandments of Christ."
After my initial reading of this passage, I had thoughts of humility, pride, and self-righteousness running through my mind. I was not sure of their connection to the passage at face value, but I let these words simmer for a little while. After a time of contemplative reflection, it all started to make sense to me. I started to review parts of my life and especially my work in campus/pastoral ministry and I wanted to see how I fit into the three categories listed by Chrysostom. While I have specific thoughts on each of the three responses, one part of my lifestyle and ministry is woven into all of them. I have never been one to push my faith, religion, theology, spirituality, or morality on anyone. I am of course always willing to share or offer advice when asked for it, but you will never see me holding signs or shaking Bibles at people outside of a Bills' game. You all know the people I'm talking about - The doomsdayers who offer up thoughts of "repent now! the end is near" or other scare-tactic theologies as I like to call them - the shock value approach that they hope will inspire people to stop and be saved. That just isn't my style at all. I like to keep it much more low-key and let my friends or even complete strangers seek me out. Encounters with strangers actually happen far more often than you might think as I am inundated with questions or concerns as soon as people find out what I do. I also never to profess to have all of the answers. I have firm beliefs and ideas on many things, but I feel it is out of my league to know 100% of what God thinks on certain subjects. I always wondered how televangelists like Benny Hinn could have the market cornered on God's innermost thoughts and proclamations. How can he be so sure that he has the accurate take on something? Does he have a direct line to God similar to that of the Bat Phone? That would be cool. But I don't have that luxury, that direct line to God. So I remain rather reserved and humble in my thoughts and statements toward others. That is why I titled this blog The Curbside Prophet. It is my way of letting people know that I will willingly meet them in any situation they are in. For better or worse, I will always be there for you, even if it means going into the gutter. Like all of humanity, many people have times of trouble or doubt and they need someone to be there to help guide them. I want to be that guy. I will simply live my life and go wherever God takes me. It reminds me of a time during my Junior year at Canisius College. One of my roommates girlfriends was asking me questions about religion and the Bible and she eventually got to this one: "Bill, doesn't your religion tell you to go out and preach the words in the Bible to people?" I answered affirmatively, but I told her that I do it by my actions and how I live my life. It is just like the old saying, "actions speak louder than words." I truly believe that if I lead a good life and set a good example for others, they will believe that far more than any spoken word coming from my mouth. How many times have you seen a super devout Christian quoting Scripture and preaching in the church but acting like a total jerk on Monday? People are always watching us, waiting for us to trip up so they can lob hypocrite grenades at us as if they get some perverse pleasure out of showing our flaws. I know I use it all the time, but it is more appropriate now than ever. My favorite quote is by Brennan Manning: "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
So back to the first response: people are impressed by our goodness and envious of our joy, so they want to join us. Sounds good and all but I personally struggle with a few of Chrysostom's words, goodness and envious. Goodness itself is a word that is hard to define. It is not always black and white, easy to distinguish between good and bad. Depending on where you are from or the culture you are raised in, you have different ideas of what is good or bad. But let's stick to goodness in terms of someone's life - my life. Do I like to think I lead a good life? Of course I do. But I try and avoid language of good or bad when speaking of my life in comparison to others. I never want someone to think I am judging them or even worse, have them get the impression that I think I am better than they are. That is not my call, not my decision. I also have trouble with his use of envious in this first response. I struggle with it because I don't want people to be envious or jealous of me (I'm not saying anyone is, I'm merely speaking in generalities) or my life. Chrysostom almost speaks of envy in a positive light and I don't see it that way. I want people to be happy in their own skin and in their own life.
The third response offered by Chrysostom is rather extreme and I'm not sure if I have ever encountered it before. It seems to me that those reactions and responses may be directed at a self-righteous person who is loud and obnoxious in their personal profession of faith; possibly someone who helps others just to be seen and lauded for their "charity." This makes me think of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14). "He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” I must admit, if I heard someone talking about how great and holy they were like the Pharisee was, I would be completely turned off. Now I can see how people would respond like Chrysostom was talking about. Think about how the Pharisee acted for a moment. His entire prayer is about himself. He thanks God – not for blessings – but that he isn’t a sinner like others. He also reminds God of how pious he is (fasting and tithing). The Pharisee thought that all he needed to do to gain God’s favor was to keep all the rules. He didn’t think about the possibility that God might want him to come with an attitude of unworthiness and need. I hope and pray I can continue with the spirit of the tax collector. Notice the tax collector’s posture. He is standing at a distance, feeling unworthy to draw close to God or the temple. He does not raise his eyes to heaven, but stands with his head bowed, as a sign of his sense of guilt. His prayer is remarkable and short. Instead of telling God all the good things about himself, he describes himself as a sinner. He makes no excuses for the behavior, and asks for mercy. The tax collector makes a great contrast in his attitude to himself and to God. He is well aware of his shortcomings and does not imagine that he could possibly be acceptable to God. But that does not stop him from asking for forgiveness. This showed a much better understanding than the Pharisee of what God is really like. The tax collector knows that no matter how bad we are and what we have done, God is still wanting us and willing to forgive us, if we are able to accept the forgiveness.
Being better than others is not what matters most to God. The prayer of the tax collector is very similar to the prayer of the Mass, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.”
"When we live according to the moral principles of our faith, those around us may respond in three possible ways. First, they may be so impressed by the example of our goodness, and so envious of the joy which it brings, that they want to join us and become like us. That is the response which we most earnestly desire. Second, they may be indifferent to us, because they are so bound up with their own selfish cares and concerns; although their eyes may perceive our way of life, their hearts are blind, so we are unable to stir them. Third, they may react against us, feeling threatened by our example and even angry with us; thus they will cling even more firmly to their material possessions and selfish ambitions, and slander us at every opportunity. Naturally, we dread this type of reaction, because we want to live in peace with our neighbors, regardless of their personal beliefs and values. But if no one reacts to us in this way, we must wonder whether we are truly fulfilling the commandments of Christ."
After my initial reading of this passage, I had thoughts of humility, pride, and self-righteousness running through my mind. I was not sure of their connection to the passage at face value, but I let these words simmer for a little while. After a time of contemplative reflection, it all started to make sense to me. I started to review parts of my life and especially my work in campus/pastoral ministry and I wanted to see how I fit into the three categories listed by Chrysostom. While I have specific thoughts on each of the three responses, one part of my lifestyle and ministry is woven into all of them. I have never been one to push my faith, religion, theology, spirituality, or morality on anyone. I am of course always willing to share or offer advice when asked for it, but you will never see me holding signs or shaking Bibles at people outside of a Bills' game. You all know the people I'm talking about - The doomsdayers who offer up thoughts of "repent now! the end is near" or other scare-tactic theologies as I like to call them - the shock value approach that they hope will inspire people to stop and be saved. That just isn't my style at all. I like to keep it much more low-key and let my friends or even complete strangers seek me out. Encounters with strangers actually happen far more often than you might think as I am inundated with questions or concerns as soon as people find out what I do. I also never to profess to have all of the answers. I have firm beliefs and ideas on many things, but I feel it is out of my league to know 100% of what God thinks on certain subjects. I always wondered how televangelists like Benny Hinn could have the market cornered on God's innermost thoughts and proclamations. How can he be so sure that he has the accurate take on something? Does he have a direct line to God similar to that of the Bat Phone? That would be cool. But I don't have that luxury, that direct line to God. So I remain rather reserved and humble in my thoughts and statements toward others. That is why I titled this blog The Curbside Prophet. It is my way of letting people know that I will willingly meet them in any situation they are in. For better or worse, I will always be there for you, even if it means going into the gutter. Like all of humanity, many people have times of trouble or doubt and they need someone to be there to help guide them. I want to be that guy. I will simply live my life and go wherever God takes me. It reminds me of a time during my Junior year at Canisius College. One of my roommates girlfriends was asking me questions about religion and the Bible and she eventually got to this one: "Bill, doesn't your religion tell you to go out and preach the words in the Bible to people?" I answered affirmatively, but I told her that I do it by my actions and how I live my life. It is just like the old saying, "actions speak louder than words." I truly believe that if I lead a good life and set a good example for others, they will believe that far more than any spoken word coming from my mouth. How many times have you seen a super devout Christian quoting Scripture and preaching in the church but acting like a total jerk on Monday? People are always watching us, waiting for us to trip up so they can lob hypocrite grenades at us as if they get some perverse pleasure out of showing our flaws. I know I use it all the time, but it is more appropriate now than ever. My favorite quote is by Brennan Manning: "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
So back to the first response: people are impressed by our goodness and envious of our joy, so they want to join us. Sounds good and all but I personally struggle with a few of Chrysostom's words, goodness and envious. Goodness itself is a word that is hard to define. It is not always black and white, easy to distinguish between good and bad. Depending on where you are from or the culture you are raised in, you have different ideas of what is good or bad. But let's stick to goodness in terms of someone's life - my life. Do I like to think I lead a good life? Of course I do. But I try and avoid language of good or bad when speaking of my life in comparison to others. I never want someone to think I am judging them or even worse, have them get the impression that I think I am better than they are. That is not my call, not my decision. I also have trouble with his use of envious in this first response. I struggle with it because I don't want people to be envious or jealous of me (I'm not saying anyone is, I'm merely speaking in generalities) or my life. Chrysostom almost speaks of envy in a positive light and I don't see it that way. I want people to be happy in their own skin and in their own life.
The third response offered by Chrysostom is rather extreme and I'm not sure if I have ever encountered it before. It seems to me that those reactions and responses may be directed at a self-righteous person who is loud and obnoxious in their personal profession of faith; possibly someone who helps others just to be seen and lauded for their "charity." This makes me think of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14). "He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” I must admit, if I heard someone talking about how great and holy they were like the Pharisee was, I would be completely turned off. Now I can see how people would respond like Chrysostom was talking about. Think about how the Pharisee acted for a moment. His entire prayer is about himself. He thanks God – not for blessings – but that he isn’t a sinner like others. He also reminds God of how pious he is (fasting and tithing). The Pharisee thought that all he needed to do to gain God’s favor was to keep all the rules. He didn’t think about the possibility that God might want him to come with an attitude of unworthiness and need. I hope and pray I can continue with the spirit of the tax collector. Notice the tax collector’s posture. He is standing at a distance, feeling unworthy to draw close to God or the temple. He does not raise his eyes to heaven, but stands with his head bowed, as a sign of his sense of guilt. His prayer is remarkable and short. Instead of telling God all the good things about himself, he describes himself as a sinner. He makes no excuses for the behavior, and asks for mercy. The tax collector makes a great contrast in his attitude to himself and to God. He is well aware of his shortcomings and does not imagine that he could possibly be acceptable to God. But that does not stop him from asking for forgiveness. This showed a much better understanding than the Pharisee of what God is really like. The tax collector knows that no matter how bad we are and what we have done, God is still wanting us and willing to forgive us, if we are able to accept the forgiveness.
Being better than others is not what matters most to God. The prayer of the tax collector is very similar to the prayer of the Mass, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.”
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Theology of Golf
(Reprinted with permission. Copyright 2007 - Bill Vaughan)
During one of my countless rounds of golf this past summer, I found myself standing on the first tee waiting for the sun to warm the new day. The way the sunrays kissed the dew of the fairway and illuminated the beautiful landscape really got me thinking. For me, this was as real of a spiritual experience as one can have. My brain was immediately flooded with words, thoughts, phrases, and images to describe the experience; to describe any spiritual experience. I was amazed at how many of these easily crossed over to describe a high quality golf game. During that round I could not shake the thoughts and they have been nagging at me like a puppy with A.D.D. ever since. This blog is something I have flirted with writing for the longest time now. Finally, I am happy to offer my first attempt at putting those thoughts, feelings, and emotions into written form.
I truly believe that the sport of golf has a deep theological/spiritual connection to it. There are a number of tools required to be a successful golfer and many of them can be found in spirituality/religiosity. A few of these being: commitment, patience, unconditional confidence, focus, determination, an ability to take the good with the bad, honesty, integrity, respect for self and others, care for the course/creation, and a calm in the face of distraction, just to name a few. In no particular order at all I will aim to dissect these qualities (and others) as they relate to both spirituality and golf.
Golf is the truest of gentlemen’s games and separates itself from the rest of sports for a number of reasons. No matter if you are a 27 year-old hacker or a seasoned tour pro, you are responsible for counting your strokes and keeping your own score. This quality of the game just cries out for honesty and integrity. Will you count every stroke on the hole, or will you give yourself par when in reality you lipped-out for bogey? Unless you are playing in a highly competitive environment, nobody is watching you and keeping track of your shots. How easy it would be to fudge the score a little! But what good does that do? You are only fooling and lying to yourself. You will know if you truly are as good as your scorecard says you are. My father used to give me great lessons on character when I was growing up. He used to say that true character is “what you do when nobody else is watching.” He would also tell me, “if you can look in the mirror every morning and be happy with what you see, then you are an honest man building good character.” I think it is quite obvious how these qualities cross over into the spiritual realm. I of course am in no position to judge a person or their character, but I think we can all agree that someone with a lot of integrity and honesty has good character. We do not often associate criminals or mean-spirited people as high character individuals. After eight years of Jesuit education, it is easy for me to tell you that a truly religious or spiritual person has integrity and is honest. I’m clearly not saying that religious or spiritual people are the only ones able to obtain these characteristics, but I am saying that you will indeed find them in each religious/spiritual person.
Patience is absolutely key to a good golf game. You simply cannot pick up the clubs for the first time and expect to shoot par. Similarly, if you only play a few rounds a year, you should not expect to see much improvement in your game. I have been playing golf for twelve years now and I am finally confident in saying that I am a “moderately decent-kind of good-not terrible-ok golfer.” This game requires practice, practice, and more practice. You cannot expect to be good unless you play a lot. Practicing the same shot two hundred times in a row is not something many people would be able to do on a daily basis. I myself may not have the patience for such a feat, but the really good golfers, the ones who make any sacrifice to improve, are able to be this patient. Patience in regard to prayer is also essential. I can’t tell you how many times in my six-plus years of working in pastoral ministry I have heard “God doesn’t answer my prayers.” I like to respond to that by informing the person that God does always answer our prayers, sometimes just not to our liking. I believe that there are three simple answers to our prayers: yes, no, and not now. The “not now” answers are always the hardest to deal with. In a world where we expect everything as quick as possible, we are not accustomed to having to wait for an answer. If we do not get our answer on our timetable, we dismiss it as God not answering another prayer. But did we take the time to shut-up, slow down and listen? We are constantly bombarded with iPods, cell phones, radio, and television. When do you take the time to be still and listen? Maybe if you had the patience to do just that, you would hear your answers more often.
Another hugely important element to a good golf game is unconditional confidence. You have to absolutely believe in yourself and know that you will make the shot you want. If you are standing over a five-foot putt and wondering how you will mess it up (which I have done countless times), chances are you aren’t making that putt. But if you approach that very same putt knowing you will make it, chances are very good that putt is going in. Beyond his physical abilities, it is no surprise that Tiger Woods is far and away the best golfer in the world. He is so mentally strong when he is on the golf course that nothing will knock him off track. Sure, he may be upset with himself for a moment, but he is able to shake it off and move on to the next shot, fully confident he will do exactly what he wants. Of course, this unconditional confidence can be extremely liberating in your day-to-day life as well. Once you reach a point in your life where you know are able to handle anything that comes your way, regardless of the circumstances, you have attained that confidence. I personally believe that this confidence and this ability comes directly from God. Even when I think the obstacle is far too large to ever overcome, it is comforting to me to know I have the Big Guy on my side and will always have my back. I have faith and trust in God to lead me through anything in life. Which sets up nicely for……
An ability to take the good with the bad. The cool thing about golf is that you get 18 chances to do something great. Sure, some holes you will do well on and others you will drop an 8 on your card. But if you don’t let that snowman get you down you have an immediate opportunity to do well again. This goes back to the mental aspect of the game. If you don’t let a bad shot or hole get you down, you can have good things in your future. Each hole, like every day in our lives, is a new challenge and has its own unique obstacles to overcome. If you are able to shake off a bad day at work and go into the next day with a positive attitude, you are more likely to see the good in the day. Another common thing I hear from college students is “It’s easy to see and recognize God’s presence in the good times, but not so much in the bad.” This is very understandable, and I don’t have all of the answers for them, but I do encourage them to “find the beauty in ugly.” No matter how bleak you think something may look, take another glance and find the positive. I am touching on the idea of patience again. Take your time, analyze what is really happening and find the positive. This may seem like wishful thinking to some, but to quote Nurse Roberts from Scrubs, “If I didn’t believe there was a higher purpose to all of this, I wouldn’t be able to come to this hospital every day.” There is so much negativity in this world that if I didn’t always look for the good, I would go insane. Maybe that’s just the eternal optimist in me.
You can never play enough. You can never pray enough.
Nothing drives me crazier on a golf course than missing a putt because some inconsiderate #$%! has messed up the green. Since I am a poor man, I am not able to enjoy the benefits of a country club golf course. On the public courses I play, the greens are not taken care of very well. People scuff up the greens with their spikes, do not repair marks from their ball on the green (which quickly causes that part of the green to die), do not replace divots (which quickly causes that part of the fairway to die), and they don’t rake sand traps. All of these factors cause terrible headaches and hazards for the people playing behind them, let alone the grounds crew who is on the course before the sun comes up. If people would be respectful and considerate of the course and other people, it would save a lot of time in the long run. The connection here is a care for our world in general, and I think that is pretty obvious. Obvious enough to allow me to move on to my next point.
Human beings are inherently communal creatures. While it can be quite peaceful to play a round of golf alone, it is always more fun to play with your friends (especially if you golf with some of the characters that I do). Again, I think the connection is quite obvious here. Why do you think we worship as a large community at Mass on Sundays? St. Irenaeus said “The glory of God is man fully alive.” In my mind, people are more fully alive when they are with family, friends, or even complete strangers. We are social beings, we are not meant to be alone!
Finally, a good golf game requires commitment and dedication. There were a few mornings when Joe and I teed off with sub-freezing temperatures and most normal people were still warm in their beds. But we love to play so much that we would do anything and brave any conditions to get on the course. On Saturday nights when my friends are going out and having fun, there is always a huge urge to go and party with them. But I know that if I do that, the chances of me being to work (read: church) at 8:30 the next morning are not very good. That is just a sacrifice I gladly make in my life. Just like Joe and I being so cold that we could not feel our hands. Some sacrifices need to be made to get the most out of it.
So there you have it. The Theology of Golf Part I. You don’t have to agree with all that I said, this is just my take on it. Much peace to you all.
During one of my countless rounds of golf this past summer, I found myself standing on the first tee waiting for the sun to warm the new day. The way the sunrays kissed the dew of the fairway and illuminated the beautiful landscape really got me thinking. For me, this was as real of a spiritual experience as one can have. My brain was immediately flooded with words, thoughts, phrases, and images to describe the experience; to describe any spiritual experience. I was amazed at how many of these easily crossed over to describe a high quality golf game. During that round I could not shake the thoughts and they have been nagging at me like a puppy with A.D.D. ever since. This blog is something I have flirted with writing for the longest time now. Finally, I am happy to offer my first attempt at putting those thoughts, feelings, and emotions into written form.
I truly believe that the sport of golf has a deep theological/spiritual connection to it. There are a number of tools required to be a successful golfer and many of them can be found in spirituality/religiosity. A few of these being: commitment, patience, unconditional confidence, focus, determination, an ability to take the good with the bad, honesty, integrity, respect for self and others, care for the course/creation, and a calm in the face of distraction, just to name a few. In no particular order at all I will aim to dissect these qualities (and others) as they relate to both spirituality and golf.
Golf is the truest of gentlemen’s games and separates itself from the rest of sports for a number of reasons. No matter if you are a 27 year-old hacker or a seasoned tour pro, you are responsible for counting your strokes and keeping your own score. This quality of the game just cries out for honesty and integrity. Will you count every stroke on the hole, or will you give yourself par when in reality you lipped-out for bogey? Unless you are playing in a highly competitive environment, nobody is watching you and keeping track of your shots. How easy it would be to fudge the score a little! But what good does that do? You are only fooling and lying to yourself. You will know if you truly are as good as your scorecard says you are. My father used to give me great lessons on character when I was growing up. He used to say that true character is “what you do when nobody else is watching.” He would also tell me, “if you can look in the mirror every morning and be happy with what you see, then you are an honest man building good character.” I think it is quite obvious how these qualities cross over into the spiritual realm. I of course am in no position to judge a person or their character, but I think we can all agree that someone with a lot of integrity and honesty has good character. We do not often associate criminals or mean-spirited people as high character individuals. After eight years of Jesuit education, it is easy for me to tell you that a truly religious or spiritual person has integrity and is honest. I’m clearly not saying that religious or spiritual people are the only ones able to obtain these characteristics, but I am saying that you will indeed find them in each religious/spiritual person.
Patience is absolutely key to a good golf game. You simply cannot pick up the clubs for the first time and expect to shoot par. Similarly, if you only play a few rounds a year, you should not expect to see much improvement in your game. I have been playing golf for twelve years now and I am finally confident in saying that I am a “moderately decent-kind of good-not terrible-ok golfer.” This game requires practice, practice, and more practice. You cannot expect to be good unless you play a lot. Practicing the same shot two hundred times in a row is not something many people would be able to do on a daily basis. I myself may not have the patience for such a feat, but the really good golfers, the ones who make any sacrifice to improve, are able to be this patient. Patience in regard to prayer is also essential. I can’t tell you how many times in my six-plus years of working in pastoral ministry I have heard “God doesn’t answer my prayers.” I like to respond to that by informing the person that God does always answer our prayers, sometimes just not to our liking. I believe that there are three simple answers to our prayers: yes, no, and not now. The “not now” answers are always the hardest to deal with. In a world where we expect everything as quick as possible, we are not accustomed to having to wait for an answer. If we do not get our answer on our timetable, we dismiss it as God not answering another prayer. But did we take the time to shut-up, slow down and listen? We are constantly bombarded with iPods, cell phones, radio, and television. When do you take the time to be still and listen? Maybe if you had the patience to do just that, you would hear your answers more often.
Another hugely important element to a good golf game is unconditional confidence. You have to absolutely believe in yourself and know that you will make the shot you want. If you are standing over a five-foot putt and wondering how you will mess it up (which I have done countless times), chances are you aren’t making that putt. But if you approach that very same putt knowing you will make it, chances are very good that putt is going in. Beyond his physical abilities, it is no surprise that Tiger Woods is far and away the best golfer in the world. He is so mentally strong when he is on the golf course that nothing will knock him off track. Sure, he may be upset with himself for a moment, but he is able to shake it off and move on to the next shot, fully confident he will do exactly what he wants. Of course, this unconditional confidence can be extremely liberating in your day-to-day life as well. Once you reach a point in your life where you know are able to handle anything that comes your way, regardless of the circumstances, you have attained that confidence. I personally believe that this confidence and this ability comes directly from God. Even when I think the obstacle is far too large to ever overcome, it is comforting to me to know I have the Big Guy on my side and will always have my back. I have faith and trust in God to lead me through anything in life. Which sets up nicely for……
An ability to take the good with the bad. The cool thing about golf is that you get 18 chances to do something great. Sure, some holes you will do well on and others you will drop an 8 on your card. But if you don’t let that snowman get you down you have an immediate opportunity to do well again. This goes back to the mental aspect of the game. If you don’t let a bad shot or hole get you down, you can have good things in your future. Each hole, like every day in our lives, is a new challenge and has its own unique obstacles to overcome. If you are able to shake off a bad day at work and go into the next day with a positive attitude, you are more likely to see the good in the day. Another common thing I hear from college students is “It’s easy to see and recognize God’s presence in the good times, but not so much in the bad.” This is very understandable, and I don’t have all of the answers for them, but I do encourage them to “find the beauty in ugly.” No matter how bleak you think something may look, take another glance and find the positive. I am touching on the idea of patience again. Take your time, analyze what is really happening and find the positive. This may seem like wishful thinking to some, but to quote Nurse Roberts from Scrubs, “If I didn’t believe there was a higher purpose to all of this, I wouldn’t be able to come to this hospital every day.” There is so much negativity in this world that if I didn’t always look for the good, I would go insane. Maybe that’s just the eternal optimist in me.
You can never play enough. You can never pray enough.
Nothing drives me crazier on a golf course than missing a putt because some inconsiderate #$%! has messed up the green. Since I am a poor man, I am not able to enjoy the benefits of a country club golf course. On the public courses I play, the greens are not taken care of very well. People scuff up the greens with their spikes, do not repair marks from their ball on the green (which quickly causes that part of the green to die), do not replace divots (which quickly causes that part of the fairway to die), and they don’t rake sand traps. All of these factors cause terrible headaches and hazards for the people playing behind them, let alone the grounds crew who is on the course before the sun comes up. If people would be respectful and considerate of the course and other people, it would save a lot of time in the long run. The connection here is a care for our world in general, and I think that is pretty obvious. Obvious enough to allow me to move on to my next point.
Human beings are inherently communal creatures. While it can be quite peaceful to play a round of golf alone, it is always more fun to play with your friends (especially if you golf with some of the characters that I do). Again, I think the connection is quite obvious here. Why do you think we worship as a large community at Mass on Sundays? St. Irenaeus said “The glory of God is man fully alive.” In my mind, people are more fully alive when they are with family, friends, or even complete strangers. We are social beings, we are not meant to be alone!
Finally, a good golf game requires commitment and dedication. There were a few mornings when Joe and I teed off with sub-freezing temperatures and most normal people were still warm in their beds. But we love to play so much that we would do anything and brave any conditions to get on the course. On Saturday nights when my friends are going out and having fun, there is always a huge urge to go and party with them. But I know that if I do that, the chances of me being to work (read: church) at 8:30 the next morning are not very good. That is just a sacrifice I gladly make in my life. Just like Joe and I being so cold that we could not feel our hands. Some sacrifices need to be made to get the most out of it.
So there you have it. The Theology of Golf Part I. You don’t have to agree with all that I said, this is just my take on it. Much peace to you all.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Long Way Home
11 July 2008
So here I sit in 31 E, flying home on Delta Airlines to JFK Airport. I am finally on my way home to the states after an absolute nightmare of a travel day. My original flight was to leave London Heathrow at 1:05 and I left the flat with plenty of time to spare. Navigating the bus and Tube to the airport was no problem. Check the suitcase, get scanned at security, show the passport repeatedly. No worries. Almost home. I can taste the chicken wings. Board the plane, find 10 B and settle in. Why have people stopped boarding?? Captain on the speaker, apparently we have a major hydraulic fuel leak in the nose of the plane. This can't be good. Wait, wait, wait. De-board the plane. Oh crap. Flight canceled. Absolute chaos and not a U.S. Air person to be found in all of Heathrow. Double oh crap. What do I do? Where do I go? Where is my suitcase? WHERE IS MY SUITCASE?! Nobody can help me. Nobody knows where I should go. I talk to Big Bill and Joanne again. I'm losing my mind. I'm completely stressed. I'm at my breaking point. The Big Guy gets me on a flight at 5:00. Thank God. Under two hours until boarding, no suitcase, wrong terminal. Call mom, agree to ditch the luggage search and tear across Heathrow to Terminal 4, while keeping my fingers crossed that I make it. I make it with about an hour to spare. Self check in for boarding passes, scan the passport. Oh crap, won't scan, can't print. The Airport guys are giving me grief since the ticket was booked so late. Not their fault, doing their job. Ten minutes later I get the green light and sprint to my gate. I'm now on the plane with only two hours left until I get to NYC.
Such conflicting emotions right now. It stinks that my suitcase, clothes, and Jameson for Big Bill may be lost and gone forever, but I so cannot wait to see my parents. Forget the material junk, give me my parents, friends, and home. Man, if that isn't what life is really all about, I don't know what is. What a crazy day to remind me of that. Never forget that!
Almost home. I can taste the chicken wings....
So here I sit in 31 E, flying home on Delta Airlines to JFK Airport. I am finally on my way home to the states after an absolute nightmare of a travel day. My original flight was to leave London Heathrow at 1:05 and I left the flat with plenty of time to spare. Navigating the bus and Tube to the airport was no problem. Check the suitcase, get scanned at security, show the passport repeatedly. No worries. Almost home. I can taste the chicken wings. Board the plane, find 10 B and settle in. Why have people stopped boarding?? Captain on the speaker, apparently we have a major hydraulic fuel leak in the nose of the plane. This can't be good. Wait, wait, wait. De-board the plane. Oh crap. Flight canceled. Absolute chaos and not a U.S. Air person to be found in all of Heathrow. Double oh crap. What do I do? Where do I go? Where is my suitcase? WHERE IS MY SUITCASE?! Nobody can help me. Nobody knows where I should go. I talk to Big Bill and Joanne again. I'm losing my mind. I'm completely stressed. I'm at my breaking point. The Big Guy gets me on a flight at 5:00. Thank God. Under two hours until boarding, no suitcase, wrong terminal. Call mom, agree to ditch the luggage search and tear across Heathrow to Terminal 4, while keeping my fingers crossed that I make it. I make it with about an hour to spare. Self check in for boarding passes, scan the passport. Oh crap, won't scan, can't print. The Airport guys are giving me grief since the ticket was booked so late. Not their fault, doing their job. Ten minutes later I get the green light and sprint to my gate. I'm now on the plane with only two hours left until I get to NYC.
Such conflicting emotions right now. It stinks that my suitcase, clothes, and Jameson for Big Bill may be lost and gone forever, but I so cannot wait to see my parents. Forget the material junk, give me my parents, friends, and home. Man, if that isn't what life is really all about, I don't know what is. What a crazy day to remind me of that. Never forget that!
Almost home. I can taste the chicken wings....
Monday, July 14, 2008
"A Life Worth Living, Is A Life Worth Seeing"
9 July 2008
For those of you that already know my philosophy on travel, this should come as no big surprise to you. It is a "typical" rainy day in London and I am not at Big Ben, The London Eye, or Buckingham Palace. I am sitting at a table at the Barley Mow Pub in Chiswick and taking in the local ites and people. I find something quite serindipitous about the fact that I am sitting at the only dry table on their front patio. Though they have huge umbrellas covering the entirety of the patio, the rain drops have managed to sneak their way through, crashing onto the tables....except mine. This is quite nice for me as I am now able to watch the cars drive by and observe the people walking about the street. there is a great vibe to this place and an atmosphere I am quite comfortable in. I am thousands of miles away from home, yet this bench feels strangely familiar and welcoming as if I am meant to be sitting right here at this exact moment in time. It's a brilliant thing, really.
This was exactly what I wanted to do before I set out for this latest European journey (first time in Dublin, second in London). I wanted one day to break free of the chains and constraints that typically hold travelers down and do my own thing. I wanted at all costs to avoid tourist spots and soak in the moments of an "every-day" experience here. Of course, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with doing that, it is perfect for most, but I wanted something different. I wanted to meet the local bartenders, eat the local food, and chuckle at the fact that there are close to twenty five people here at 1:26 on a Wednesday afternoon. This is the way I enjoy traveling and experiencing new places - to do as the locals do. To go to the same pubs and restaurants they will forever solicit. Put another way, I would never be caught at the London Hard Rock or the T.G.I. Fridays in Piccadilly Circus. There is so much more out there and I want to see it all!
I should add one caveat to these opening thoughts. I am fortunate enough to have been to Europe a number of times before so I can avoid some of your typical tourist haunts. But if it is your first time, there is definite worth and value in some of the popular spots and I have enjoyed and appreciated a few of them thus far. You will not be surprised to find out that the majority of these places were churches. I would like to take a few moments now to recap my travels thus far on this trip and then add a few thoughts on how my philosophy on travel and on life intersect more frequently than you may think.
Friday, July 4 was our first day in Ireland. S & L found an amazing golf/hotel package for us at a resort called Druids Glen (www.druidsglen.ie). This particular course has hosted the Irish Open four times and is beyond amazing. We played its second course, Druids Heath, that day. It is a commonly found links course set-up found in the United Kingdom. There are not many trees, but if you miss the fairway, you are in grass and rough that is crazy thick and sometimes waist high that is practically impossible to hit out of. There are also a ridiculous amount of bunkers on each hole - hit into them at your peril. The course record is a 70 shot by professional golfer Darren Clarke. Most times you will see course records of around ten to twelve under par, but this one is only two under. The course is no joke. I cannot begin to describe how beautiful the landscape is on the course. Standing on the first tee, you are looking directly at the Irish Sea and a fishing troller slowly motoring by while the fog is creeping over the mountains behind you. I didn't play particularly well that day but I couldn't shake the thought that was continually running through my mind....I'm playing golf in Ireland!! After the round was complete, we went to the hotel bar and had a "few" Jameson and Guinness whilst watching Wimbledon. An exceptional dinner of fish and chips (fries, for those of you not in the know) closed out the first magical day in Ireland.
On Saturday we checked out of Druids Glen and made our way to Dublin where we stayed at the Westin Hotel in the heart of downtown Dublin. Our first stop that day was at the Old Jameson Distillery. This was an awesome tour as they took us step by step in the distilling process of my favorite whiskey - Irish or otherwise. L, J, A, and I joined four others as the official tasters at the end of the tour. We tasted Jameson against Johnnie Walker Black Label and Jack Daniels. It was quite interesting to taste the differences of the three up against each other. The Jack Daniels was far too sweet for my liking and since Johnnie Walker is distilled with peat, it is too smokey and oaky for my liking. Jameson is triple distilled with anthracite so you get an amazingly clean taste....so good. I purchased a bottle of twelve year old Distillery Reserve for my father that can only be found at the distillery and I had his name put on the label. Much to my surprise and delight, S, L, A, and J bought me a bottle of Middleton Whiskey, the rarest Irish Whiskey produced by Jameson. In the box was an invitation to go back to the distillery and sign the book they keep for anyone who buys a bottle. This book is on display in the distillery. Next we went to the Guinness Storehouse and saw the brewing process of Guinness. It was such a cool experience to observe the process of how my favorite beer is made. After the tour, you go to the top of the building to the Gravity Bar for a 360 degree view of downtown Dublin. After Guinness, we went to the Purty Kitchen for dinner and I met a phenomenal new musician. His name is Andrew Mann (www.myspace.com/andrewmannmusic) and is an up and coming Irish singer/songwriter. You definitely need to check out his music. To close out the night we went to the Auld Dubliner for traditional Irish music and many pints of SmithWicks.
On Sunday, I started off with a traditional Irish breakfast at Beweley's (yes, the tea and coffee people). This breakfast consisted of toast, poached eggs, mushrooms, sausages, bacon, nd black & white puddings. Puddings are interesting and I would normally never eat them, but I had to try. White pudding is an interesting mix of meat and mystery bits and was not at all bad tasting but I think many Americans would have trouble overcoming the consistency and texture. Black pudding is basically blood sausage and not a favorite of mine at all. I did suck it up and have a few bites confirming my dislike of it. From there, we visited St. Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church before having a traditional dinner at the Boxty House. I had leek and potato soup and a corned beef and cabbage boxty. A boxty is basically a thin potato pancake wrapped around various fillings. So good. Sunday night brought our tired souls back to London for a little rest and relaxation.
On Monday, J, A, and I set out for the day to visit a few places. We first hit up Westminster Abbey and walked around for a while inside. It is quite the architectural gem and holds the resting places to many of the royalty throughout the years, Isaac Newton, Chaucer, and many other notables. I was pleasantly surprised to find a plaque in Poet's Corner with the familiar AMDG on it belonging to Gerard Manley Hopkins, Jesuit priest and poet. Being Affiliated with the Church of England, I was impressed the Abbey included him. I was struck by a few of the plaques throughout the Abbey and realized how I have such a divergent theology than that of Henry the VIII. One particular plaque said "Fear God and Worship the King." My thinking runs more along the lines of "Worship God." But hey, that's just me. J and A headed inside Parliament and I decided to take a walk and have lunch at a cafe next to the River Thames. We made a stop at the Churchill Museum and War Rooms exhibit before a dinner of bangers and mash back at the flat.
On Tuesday, we took a tour of Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal Football Club of the English Premiere League. it was an awesome tour of one of the most beautiful stadiums in the sport. From there we stopped in Covent Gardens for lunch at Gourmet Burger Kitchen and then hit up LillyWhites where I purchased Manchester United Football Club and Celtic Football Club scarves for my office. We stopped off at the Swan for a few pints before we ventured to Busabba Eathai, the best Thai restaurant I have ever eaten at. My dinner consisted of Pandan Chicken (cooked in banana leaves) over coconut rice with a sweet soy sauce drizzled on top. I also ordered the calamari which is without question the most delicious calamari in the world. A quick stop for gelato on the way home and Tuesday was in the books.
And now here I sit at the Barley Mow. I just finished my lunch of a braised lamb shank with a zinfandel & rosemary sauce with butternut squash puree. This is just another example of the completely un-boring English cooking I have eaten on this trip.
So how the heck do these ramblings translate into my philosophy on life? Quite simply, really. As the title of this post says, "A life worth living, is a life worth seeing." I love to travel and I love to experience new and exciting things. Some of the most rewarding times in my life have come when I push my limits and step outside of my comfort zone. There is an immensely huge and wonderful world out there that I feel obligated to see. If I am content in my day to day in Buffalo, I will miss out on so much. While I have written about experiences on the world scene, these things can be done in your hometown as well. Visit a place you have never been before, talk to a stranger, practice random acts of kindness, and help your fellow man/woman not because there is something to be gained by you, but simply because it is the right thing to do. When we get too comfortable in our lives, and never push ourselves, it can be a shocking occasion when something new comes around - sometimes good, sometimes bad. But if we are constantly evolving, loving, and living we are ready for the newness that life may bring us each new day. I truly believe that I need to constantly grow and question what I "know" to assure my continued growth on this planet. I will always want to see more. I will always want to do more.
The rain is still bucketing down and it is time for me to move on to the next pub. Who knows what it will bring.
I just saw a great quote at the bottom of the menu: "You will always be welcome." I should have known....
Cheers.
For those of you that already know my philosophy on travel, this should come as no big surprise to you. It is a "typical" rainy day in London and I am not at Big Ben, The London Eye, or Buckingham Palace. I am sitting at a table at the Barley Mow Pub in Chiswick and taking in the local ites and people. I find something quite serindipitous about the fact that I am sitting at the only dry table on their front patio. Though they have huge umbrellas covering the entirety of the patio, the rain drops have managed to sneak their way through, crashing onto the tables....except mine. This is quite nice for me as I am now able to watch the cars drive by and observe the people walking about the street. there is a great vibe to this place and an atmosphere I am quite comfortable in. I am thousands of miles away from home, yet this bench feels strangely familiar and welcoming as if I am meant to be sitting right here at this exact moment in time. It's a brilliant thing, really.
This was exactly what I wanted to do before I set out for this latest European journey (first time in Dublin, second in London). I wanted one day to break free of the chains and constraints that typically hold travelers down and do my own thing. I wanted at all costs to avoid tourist spots and soak in the moments of an "every-day" experience here. Of course, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with doing that, it is perfect for most, but I wanted something different. I wanted to meet the local bartenders, eat the local food, and chuckle at the fact that there are close to twenty five people here at 1:26 on a Wednesday afternoon. This is the way I enjoy traveling and experiencing new places - to do as the locals do. To go to the same pubs and restaurants they will forever solicit. Put another way, I would never be caught at the London Hard Rock or the T.G.I. Fridays in Piccadilly Circus. There is so much more out there and I want to see it all!
I should add one caveat to these opening thoughts. I am fortunate enough to have been to Europe a number of times before so I can avoid some of your typical tourist haunts. But if it is your first time, there is definite worth and value in some of the popular spots and I have enjoyed and appreciated a few of them thus far. You will not be surprised to find out that the majority of these places were churches. I would like to take a few moments now to recap my travels thus far on this trip and then add a few thoughts on how my philosophy on travel and on life intersect more frequently than you may think.
Friday, July 4 was our first day in Ireland. S & L found an amazing golf/hotel package for us at a resort called Druids Glen (www.druidsglen.ie). This particular course has hosted the Irish Open four times and is beyond amazing. We played its second course, Druids Heath, that day. It is a commonly found links course set-up found in the United Kingdom. There are not many trees, but if you miss the fairway, you are in grass and rough that is crazy thick and sometimes waist high that is practically impossible to hit out of. There are also a ridiculous amount of bunkers on each hole - hit into them at your peril. The course record is a 70 shot by professional golfer Darren Clarke. Most times you will see course records of around ten to twelve under par, but this one is only two under. The course is no joke. I cannot begin to describe how beautiful the landscape is on the course. Standing on the first tee, you are looking directly at the Irish Sea and a fishing troller slowly motoring by while the fog is creeping over the mountains behind you. I didn't play particularly well that day but I couldn't shake the thought that was continually running through my mind....I'm playing golf in Ireland!! After the round was complete, we went to the hotel bar and had a "few" Jameson and Guinness whilst watching Wimbledon. An exceptional dinner of fish and chips (fries, for those of you not in the know) closed out the first magical day in Ireland.
On Saturday we checked out of Druids Glen and made our way to Dublin where we stayed at the Westin Hotel in the heart of downtown Dublin. Our first stop that day was at the Old Jameson Distillery. This was an awesome tour as they took us step by step in the distilling process of my favorite whiskey - Irish or otherwise. L, J, A, and I joined four others as the official tasters at the end of the tour. We tasted Jameson against Johnnie Walker Black Label and Jack Daniels. It was quite interesting to taste the differences of the three up against each other. The Jack Daniels was far too sweet for my liking and since Johnnie Walker is distilled with peat, it is too smokey and oaky for my liking. Jameson is triple distilled with anthracite so you get an amazingly clean taste....so good. I purchased a bottle of twelve year old Distillery Reserve for my father that can only be found at the distillery and I had his name put on the label. Much to my surprise and delight, S, L, A, and J bought me a bottle of Middleton Whiskey, the rarest Irish Whiskey produced by Jameson. In the box was an invitation to go back to the distillery and sign the book they keep for anyone who buys a bottle. This book is on display in the distillery. Next we went to the Guinness Storehouse and saw the brewing process of Guinness. It was such a cool experience to observe the process of how my favorite beer is made. After the tour, you go to the top of the building to the Gravity Bar for a 360 degree view of downtown Dublin. After Guinness, we went to the Purty Kitchen for dinner and I met a phenomenal new musician. His name is Andrew Mann (www.myspace.com/andrewmannmusic) and is an up and coming Irish singer/songwriter. You definitely need to check out his music. To close out the night we went to the Auld Dubliner for traditional Irish music and many pints of SmithWicks.
On Sunday, I started off with a traditional Irish breakfast at Beweley's (yes, the tea and coffee people). This breakfast consisted of toast, poached eggs, mushrooms, sausages, bacon, nd black & white puddings. Puddings are interesting and I would normally never eat them, but I had to try. White pudding is an interesting mix of meat and mystery bits and was not at all bad tasting but I think many Americans would have trouble overcoming the consistency and texture. Black pudding is basically blood sausage and not a favorite of mine at all. I did suck it up and have a few bites confirming my dislike of it. From there, we visited St. Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church before having a traditional dinner at the Boxty House. I had leek and potato soup and a corned beef and cabbage boxty. A boxty is basically a thin potato pancake wrapped around various fillings. So good. Sunday night brought our tired souls back to London for a little rest and relaxation.
On Monday, J, A, and I set out for the day to visit a few places. We first hit up Westminster Abbey and walked around for a while inside. It is quite the architectural gem and holds the resting places to many of the royalty throughout the years, Isaac Newton, Chaucer, and many other notables. I was pleasantly surprised to find a plaque in Poet's Corner with the familiar AMDG on it belonging to Gerard Manley Hopkins, Jesuit priest and poet. Being Affiliated with the Church of England, I was impressed the Abbey included him. I was struck by a few of the plaques throughout the Abbey and realized how I have such a divergent theology than that of Henry the VIII. One particular plaque said "Fear God and Worship the King." My thinking runs more along the lines of "Worship God." But hey, that's just me. J and A headed inside Parliament and I decided to take a walk and have lunch at a cafe next to the River Thames. We made a stop at the Churchill Museum and War Rooms exhibit before a dinner of bangers and mash back at the flat.
On Tuesday, we took a tour of Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal Football Club of the English Premiere League. it was an awesome tour of one of the most beautiful stadiums in the sport. From there we stopped in Covent Gardens for lunch at Gourmet Burger Kitchen and then hit up LillyWhites where I purchased Manchester United Football Club and Celtic Football Club scarves for my office. We stopped off at the Swan for a few pints before we ventured to Busabba Eathai, the best Thai restaurant I have ever eaten at. My dinner consisted of Pandan Chicken (cooked in banana leaves) over coconut rice with a sweet soy sauce drizzled on top. I also ordered the calamari which is without question the most delicious calamari in the world. A quick stop for gelato on the way home and Tuesday was in the books.
And now here I sit at the Barley Mow. I just finished my lunch of a braised lamb shank with a zinfandel & rosemary sauce with butternut squash puree. This is just another example of the completely un-boring English cooking I have eaten on this trip.
So how the heck do these ramblings translate into my philosophy on life? Quite simply, really. As the title of this post says, "A life worth living, is a life worth seeing." I love to travel and I love to experience new and exciting things. Some of the most rewarding times in my life have come when I push my limits and step outside of my comfort zone. There is an immensely huge and wonderful world out there that I feel obligated to see. If I am content in my day to day in Buffalo, I will miss out on so much. While I have written about experiences on the world scene, these things can be done in your hometown as well. Visit a place you have never been before, talk to a stranger, practice random acts of kindness, and help your fellow man/woman not because there is something to be gained by you, but simply because it is the right thing to do. When we get too comfortable in our lives, and never push ourselves, it can be a shocking occasion when something new comes around - sometimes good, sometimes bad. But if we are constantly evolving, loving, and living we are ready for the newness that life may bring us each new day. I truly believe that I need to constantly grow and question what I "know" to assure my continued growth on this planet. I will always want to see more. I will always want to do more.
The rain is still bucketing down and it is time for me to move on to the next pub. Who knows what it will bring.
I just saw a great quote at the bottom of the menu: "You will always be welcome." I should have known....
Cheers.
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