My Blue Fedora

One of the first questions that was asked of me when I arrived in Jordan was "Where is the blue hat?" I would have liked to have brought it but it is more a three-season hat and the hat material does not stand up well in hot climates. I put it away for the summer and I will resume wearing it in September. For now, people will have to enjoy pictures of my hat in Freeport, Maine. 

I said mass at St. Mary's in Sweifieh yesterday in Abdoun, which is close to the U.S. Embassy and is the wealthy section of town. The street vendors are all the same. It was terrific to see so many recognizable faces - Arab, Filipino, African, Asian, and European/US. I had three altar servers who were quite adept in getting me acclimated to the way Mass has been said in that Church. We didn't have singing so we did our best a capella and it worked out fine. It is quite an international collection of church-goers. Attendance is down because it is vacation time, especially with the Eid.

I live on Jebel (Hill) Hussein, an old section of town, named after the former King, and it is the garment district. You can buy whatever robes, hijabs, kimars, niqabs, kaftans, and abayas you would like. In Maxim Mall, you can get any American food you would like, but the local food is fresher, healthier, tastier, and less expensive. Jebel Hussein has a number of religious communities as well: the Jesuits, JRS, Franciscans, Comboni Sisters, De La Salle brothers, and a host of smaller women religious orders. The Jesuit Centre is the locus for masses and spiritual direction.

Jebel Al-Webdeih is the nearest neighboring village, which was settled by the French so there are the french pastries houses and cafes and it is a charming tourist area. Many tourists will stay there because it is historic and neighborly feeling. The French Institute used to run a library and cafe and they carried baked goods from Crumz. It is a great hangout place and it is smoke-free. Nearby is one of my favorite gardens called Darat-al-Funum, an avante-garde museum and gardens that looks out at the Roman Citadel, the place where Uriah the Hittite was killed. Also, the Jordan Museum has its national collection of art contained in its museums and there are Catholic schools in the area and places for artists to gather for coffee and conversation. I always bypass the shi-sha. I will get up the hill on Monday or Tuesday.

Between these two hills is basically Al Balad, the downtown district, with the primary mosque in the city. It is a big shopping and dining area, Islamic-style, with lots of banks and jewelry stores. Some of the best street drinks, arabic sweets with honey and pistachio, and falafel are in the area. There's lots of good eating in this district, but that shopping is more like yard sales and flea markets. There is a grand Souk in the area to get lots of Western goods that did not make it to retail. In this downtown area, you will find the Roman baths, ancient amphitheaters, and other Roman relics. 

Well, that's enough for the day. I'm going to make some eggs to go with the ka-ak, some round bread covered with sesame, and some hummus. 

Saturday, July 9th

The big news for the day so far is that a fire combusted in the plot next to the Jesuit Centre because of the extreme heat and they dry plants. It had moved across the vacant parcel to our property and was stopped by the stone wall. With fire extinguisher in hand, I sought to put out the blaze, and fortunately the fire department was already there. The big damage would have been done to our bees that harvest honey, but they seem active and unaffected. The bees also help to pollinate the fruit trees and flowers in the Jesuit Garden.

Today is part of the Eid (party) that commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac but spares his son's life when a ram is caught in a thicket. On this day, lambs are slaughtered are are used for the three-day feasts. I want to do a little more research into the Islamic customs around the tradition.

I'm emerging from an awful jet lag. I'm on Day 4 so this will probably be the last day of the great tiredness. It is as if every cell in the body is begging for sleep and cannot get it. I had just lay down for a nap when I had to get the fire extinguisher to put out the blaze.

Morning mass had 18-20 church-goers so it was quite full. There are a number of women religious orders and some faithful Catholics who live fairly nearby. It was good to see mass so full. The readings struck me in a way that I had not heard them before because I read it in the context of being a minority faith. 

I had a light breakfast. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to pouring milk for my cereal out of a box that has been sitting in a pantry closet for a week or so. The bread and vegetables are excellent and the chicken is prepared free of hormones. 

I'm in an international community of Jesuits: an Indian superior, the pastor is German, the treasurer is Lebanese, the Scholastic is Egyptian, and yet we are all Jesuits. 

I'll try to get a nap and then I'll celebrate Mass at St. Mary's Sweifieh in Abdoun later this evening. If God blesses me with a nap, I'll then do a little bit of painting. 

Reflections upon Marathon Day

 Days after completing the Boston Marathon, I continue to be in awe of the this iconic Boston sports event. First, I am astonished by the generosity and goodwill of so many people who supported the homeless through this initiative. Together, we raised nearly $40,000 through individual donations for Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program https://www.bhchp.org, a top fundraising effort acknowledged by the official sponsor, John Hancock. The prayers and moral support of many friends carried me through each mile of the course.

I was struck by the community support each step of the way. The 32,000 runners were not competitors but partners, and the crowds lined the streets from Hopkinton to Boston as if it were a 26.2 mile block party. Many runners would have dropped out if not for their support. The whole community came together in unity as I've not experienced before, with volunteers, medics, the police, town officials, and many others who showed up to support the runners. My biggest takeaway is that the region came together for a common purpose and enjoyed being present for one another.

There were notable moments along the ways: Seeing the first mile marker and realizing that this was real and achievable, seeing the second mile marker and realizing I had a long way to go, petting Spencer the official mascot of the marathon, blessing the crowds with the sign of the cross and wishing them Happy Easter, getting to the half marathon mark and noting that reaching this point was a milestone, meeting friends and supporters along the way, being lifted up in spirit by the Wellesley College Wall of Women, discovering that the best snacks on the route are on the way up Heartbreak Hill, waiting for the famous Citgo sign to get a little larger, and the running down Commonwealth Avenue to turn the corner onto Hereford Street and then take a left onto Boylston Street where the crowds at my late hour of finishing were not diminished. 

Marathon Day

The morning is bright, sunny, chilly without yesterday's strong wind.

Follow my bib#: 26232

https://www.baa.org/

If my bib# isn't moving fast, pray hard.

If my bib# is moving too fast and away from the course, pray harder.

Pray for my each step of the way.

https://www.givengain.com/activist/542170/projects/45874/#donations

Easter Day

 Happy Easter, friends. He is Risen, Indeed. I feel hopeful, joyful as Easter Day unfolds. It is quite within the Jesuit Residence. No movements. No sounds. A cup of decaffeinated coffee to wake me up. Lots of fluid intake as I rise to start the day. 

Yesterday was still, and the early part of today has that same stillness, but there is a different quality to it today. Yesterday I was a bit anxious to make sure I had all my preparations in place; today is a rest knowing that all that I have done has been the hard part. Today's stillness is one of contentment and comfort. 

It is eery how the days mirror the Triduum (Three days of Holy Week.) Yesterday was a day of impatience and restlessness; today is one of surrender. The day of anticipation is here and this is the time of Christ's consoling ministry to take place. 

Ignatius said that in the wee hours of the morning when Jesus's mom could not get any sleep, Jesus visited her first before any of the disciples to reassure her that he was okay and he wanted to wipe away her tears and replace them with joy. It is one of the most tender moments in human history.

I expect Jesus will do the same for me. Yesterday, I was fretting that I did not have the training or stamina to do this great feat on Patriots Day - Marathon Monday. Today, I simply want to enjoy what I can of the day. As a realist, I understand I will continue to have pain in my knees as I traverse the 26.2 miles. As a person of faith, I can't wait to see the faces of all the people who stand on the sides of the route to urge on each runner-participant.

I want not to focus upon the pain and hardships I may face, but the encouragement from the crowds - lots of people of goodwill - who are there to urge us forward. They will carry us when we don't think we can put one foot in front of the other.

I want to focus on the scores of people who donated to the homeless and on my behalf in a gesture of affection and care that their priest and friend is taking on a Herculean task for the greater good. As a society, it is time to move past our individual concerns to focus upon the greater good, the common good, as a way to find meaning and fulfillment in life. When we live for others, lives takes on greater meaning. 

I am astounded by the goodness I have been experiencing. I recall being worried I could not raise funds to cover the initial $10,000 and here we are on the cusp of raising $30,000 all for our concern that the homeless need the dignity of professional healthcare. I am grateful.

Easter Day is real. Marathon Monday is tomorrow. I'm glad I get to celebrate each day in its fullness. Please know of my prayers for you tomorrow. As I take my first step or my 50,000th step, I know that I am not alone for you are there in my prayers and the Risen Lord will be there. This will be like the Emmaus journey when companions are traveling the road together in their despair and they will unexpectedly encounter Jesus in their midst. At the end of the day, we will praise God's fidelity to us, and we will share Christ's joy.

Happy Easter.

A Good Friday

 Today is Good Friday and though it retains its solemnity, I ushered it in with more celebration than I am accustomed. After a prayerful beginning, I signed into the Boston Athletic Association at Hynes Auditorium to pick up my bib. The line to enter was long but the pace of entry was quite quick. It was an international gathering with people from Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Columbia, and I was next to a woman from the South Shore. She is a doctor and we laughed about everything as we marveled at the smooth operations and the excitement of the gathering. It turns out that we are only a few numbers apart in our bib numbers.

People were telling their stories, some quite incredible, some quite noble. The marathon pulled together a community of goodwill, runners from across the country and world to enter one of the most prestigious races in the world. The volunteers were cheerful and ready to help with any question. The spirit was one of celebration.

As I entered the Expo, I noticed a wall that listed the names of each participant. It was like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial that listed the names on a lengthy wall. I found my name near the center bottom and took a few photos. The Expo booths offered massages, photo ops, shoes and shoe products, attire, and all sorts of exercise equipment. I didn't stay that long because I had to get down to Fenway Park to take in the Opening Day of the Red Sox.

I met Linda from Boston Healthcare for the Homeless and Jane formerly from Eastern Bank and we were escorted up the elevator through the VIP section to John Hancock Suite 3. We had seats overlooking first base and an indoor suite stocked with plentiful food, snacks, and drinks. I made sure not to have any meat products and I kept hydrated.

The suite was for people who raised a certain amount of money for charities. The runners were quite interesting people. One man worked at Massachusetts General Hospital for years, another was a social worker from Lahey Clinic, and one man was a bit nervous because this was the second time he was running, but his first time was twenty-six years ago. 

The game was in honor of Jackie Robinson who had his number retired across Major League Baseball. All the players wore #42 and no one will every wear 42 again. Mo Vaughn who last wore the number for the Red Sox threw out the first pitch. The game itself was without energy and the Red Sox lost 8-4. We left after the sixth inning because the Red Sox were not hitting and we wanted to see the some of the Expo. 

We walked down to the finish line, but I did not cross it. I walked around it so I can finish it fresh on Monday. I am going to be exhausted. The conversations with people were fascinating. I wore my clerics and religious people would wish me a Good Friday. I also wore a Washington Senators classic jacket so others were intrigued with Major League Baseball history. I wore my blue fedora, which received a lot of comments. All these conversations were full of joy. 

It was certainly a Good Friday, and I was home in time for services.

Now, online I have received $28,581 in contributions, and I sent a few checks to the charity last week, which should bring the total over $29,000. My goal is to reach $30,000.

Days Away

The Marathon is days away. Am I ready? Is anyone ever ready? I think of those dark nights back in January when I would run laps inside the gymnasium. I had a goal in mind, and those goals shifted as the laps increased, and then they shifted when running became difficult. 

Now, the spectre or 26.2 miles is on the horizon. I break it down in terms of numbers so my head can get a grip on the distance, but my body might have different thoughts. I want to do well. I want to do my best. I have excitement, nervousness, and a myriad of other feelings. However, now I am just focused on getting to the day and doing what I can.

It is a blessing to happen on Easter Monday when I will have a sense of being carried, but it might feel more like Good Friday than an Easter Day. The weather is cooperating. Much in life is cooperating. The temperatures will be around 55 degrees with mostly cloudy skies. My dermatologist will be happy. 

I'll take these next few days to focus my energy and get my head around what I am about to do.