Wednesday, April 2, 2014

What I Learned Wednesday #30: I Thought Today Was Thursday Edition


 I
In case you missed it, the guest post I wrote for The Mirror Magazine is now up for y'all to read. If you've ever wondered why I decided to switch careers from freelance writer to speech-language pathologist, definitely read it. If you're wondering "well, what about your Masters in Theology from Franciscan?" It's still in the cards, down the road. As I've said before, my spiritual director made a joke that I don't look old enough to teach Theology (I still look like a teenager) so I'll just do SLP for now. lol.

Lesson learned: It's okay to change careers. It might not be my ideal career but God has better plans for me and I will just have to trust Him.

II
I was watching the documentary Jazz by Ken Burns (which I am not finished with yet) and learned that a (now) monsignor used to play with Duke Ellington, who was himself Catholic. Msgr. John Sanders has a very fascinating story about how his vocation and how he came to it. I haven't had a chance to do more research on his life story but I found an old L.A. Times article online that covers the basics. Read it; it's so good! Anyone have more info on him? Anyone know where he is now? As someone who is a big fan of jazz (and who almost majored in it; I even filled out an application to USC's program before my reversion), I love it when the world of jazz and Catholicism collide.

Lesson learned: Even in the grittiest of circumstances (and life of jazz musicians was (is?) incredibly hard with many temptations), God finds a way to reveal your vocation. Also, sometimes you don't get to begin your vocation until you're over 30. That gives me hope. lol.

III
I saw a link to a post Fr. Z wrote on his blog about how people (who are in need of prayers) are actually talking about how they're waiting for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to die. What?! I'm a big Papa Bene fangirl so... this does not compute. I dislike that they've nicknamed him "The Rat"... which is actually something my super liberal former professor (who's a nun) used to call him; "a big Rat with red shoes." I still have the dates on which she called him that; I kept a record of everything. Everything. Anyway, as Fr. Z suggested, please pray for these men and those who have similar trains of thought.

Lesson learned: I don't know if I learned a lesson here but I did learn I need to pray for two more people (who I don't know). I seriously cannot imagine disliking someone so much I want them to die. I can't even imagine disliking someone enough to wish them ill. That's just... yikes. Also, pray for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He may not be our active Pope but he still needs prayers. :)

And that's all for this week. I hope y'all are having a good week thus far... and aren't as scatterbrained as I am. I seriously thought today was Thursday for some reason so I had to rename this blog post. Oops. :D

As always, thanks for reading and God bless. :D

8 comments:

Lisa said...

I am an avid reader of The Mirror and just had to respond because I'm a speech pathologist. If it makes you feel ny better I changed my major at least four times before settling on being a speechie, While it takes a ling time to become one (3 years of grad school then I year of PAID training called a CFY), I found that it was ideal for me. I was recruited immediately after graduation and have never had difficulty finding a job. I only work one day a week now now because I am mostly a mom but the need for slps is so great that flexibility is a given. Please email me if I can tell you more about the field.

Manny said...

I don't stop by your blog often, but when i do I seem to always find something interesting. I find you switiching careers to help your mother extra-ordinarily noble. God bless you and I know it will turn out just right for you. You'll still be able to be a writer.

Lindsay @ Lindsay Loves said...

Praying for someone in pain to die (I'm imaging suffering from a terminal illness) can be acceptable. We can't euthanize them, but we can ask God to end their suffering sooner rather than later.

Melissa Cecilia said...

Lindsay - praying for the easing of suffering is acceptable. Hoping someone will die because they don't like them is NOT.

Fergus said...

Hi! I know this article is rather old... but how fortunate it is to stumble on this!

Actually John is my uncle. Uncle Johnny to be exact. :D I'm actually digging around trying to put together a family tree. But my uncle is the sweetest man you can imagine. I've yet to meet anyone like him who just exudes goodness. He was the eldest to his other five sisters. My mom has a lot of fond memories of him. Like him pulling her on the sled and telling them to be careful because of ice, and he ended up slipping on the hill. Little things. Right now I'm going through my house looking for some postcards he wrote to my grandmother while in the navy.

He's retired and living in connecticut. He's a good man. His family loves him dearly :3

Sorry for ranting!

Tom Hyde said...

Like Fergus, I also happened to stumble on this. I was lucky getting to know Fr. Sanders as an altar boy & student at Holy Family. It's been 40 years and I have yet to meet a more kind, gentle and understanding man. He taught these things the most effective way; by living them and, as a result, by example. Though I often fail, I try to live by his example. He may not remember me Fergus, but please tell Fr. Sanders I said Hi and when I do think of him, it's with fondness. -- Tom Hyde

Lindia Lentz said...

I worked at the Diocese of Bridgeport for several years and came in contact with Msgr. during that time I also have never met anyone so kind and humble. Like Ferguson said, he exudes goodness!! We are all blessed to know him!!
—Lindia Lentz

Lindia Lentz said...

Sorry Fergus - I didn’t realize auto correct changed your name. 😕 I feel honored to have met your uncle. God bless you!
Lindia