SAINTS AND "MAD MEN"

Whether you are Catholic or not, you probably heard about the canonization of Pope John XXIII, and Pope John Paul II…or you may have seen the full spectacle, officiated by Pope Francis…500,000 present in the square, 300,000 more watching televisions set up by the Vatican…not to mention all those who tuned in around the world, as I did.

When this early morning event was over, a rerun of “Mad Men” was about to begin. I had not seen this episode “The Fog”, so decided to tune in.

A particular scene drew my attention.

The sixties distanced men from their wives during childbirth sending them to a waiting room, unable to witness the birth of the life they had helped to create.  In this episode Don Draper, a 3^rd time father to be, meets Dennis, a 1^st time father to be. The newbie opened up conversation about his nervousness at being a father. He learns that his baby is breach, and worries about his wife, and whether he could love this baby if his wife died during childbirth. As a prison guard at “Sing Sing” prison, Dennis recounts that everyone was a baby once, and all prisoners blame their mom and dad for their problems. They both agree that is an excuse.

As Dennis learns that his wife and son are doing fine, he points above, tells Don that he doesn't know what’s up there, but that his son will make him a better man. Don, illicits no response. Dennis continues,“Tell me you heard me”. Don replies “I heard you”.

Pope Francis has received a lot of criticism for placing these two popes on a fast track to sainthood. Well deserved, or not, I believe he wants the world to see that saints are not buried so far in the past that the ordinary man cannot identify. His upcoming “Synod on the Family”, may be a call to discover the saint within.

 English dictionaries describe “mad” as “being carried away by enthusiasm or desire”. Hmm…saints and mad men walking along the same path.

Tell me you heard me.

"IF" HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION

                                                

The story was about a mongoose named Ricki-Ticki-Tavi and his adventures in the garden he inhabited as the select pet of a wealthy family. As a 7^th grader in English class, I read the story over and over again. I loved how the words traversed in such a flowing picturesque way. The drawing…and the author’s name…still present in my memory after all these years.

My interest in this author reawakened when a poem he wrote came to my attention. My granddaughter, introduced to it in 6^th grade Advisory class, was given the task of memorizing and presenting it to her peers.

A portion of the poem is inscribed above the entrance to Centre Court at Wimbledon where so many Worldwide Tennis Championships have taken place. I thought it was written especially for this venue…never thinking it was a small portion of this author’s work.

                                            “If you can meet with triumph and disaster

                                            And treat those two imposters just the same”

The author, as you have probably guessed is Rudyard Kipling. In his autobiography, “Something of Myself”, he stated that he wrote the poem in 1895 as a tribute to his friend, Leander Starr Jameson, someone whom he admired for his courage. After reading Kipling’s life story, I suspect that over the years he, himself had developed the courage he speaks about.

Which brings me to the point that all great people aspire to…Yourself included…Transformation by Detachment, Surrender, Contentment, Discipline…and…

Now allow me to make “IF” available to you. I hope you will continue to be inspired as well.

IF by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you 

   Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, 

   But make allowance for their doubting too;  

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, 

   Or, by being lied about, don't deal in lies, 

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, 

   And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;  

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master;

   If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

   And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken;

   Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

   And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;     

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

   And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings 

   And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

   To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

    Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on"; 

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

   Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch;

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;  

   If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run--

   Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it'

And--which is more-- you'll be a Man my son!