Freedom to wander

Thursday, November 11, 2010

 A friend called to check on my health. During the course of our conversation I realized that even if I recover completely from this cancer and surgery, as I age I will continue to deal with physical limits, diminished and letting go. Going through this illness, I believe that I’m going to be OK when those times come. I am surely learning to take each day as it comes. I tread lightly and temporarily on this earth and only God lasts forever. I’ve feel like I’ve come through this as a better person. God has definitely walked with me every slow and painful step along the way.

We have a reading group on campus, and our book this quarter was a short but interesting work, “The Richest Man in Town”. It tells the story of Marty, a Wal-Mart cashier, who made such a difference in people’s lives just by paying attention and being kind, listening and doing his job. Robin, one of our counselors went to school in Brookings where Marty lived. She told us that she and her husband would actually wait in line 45 minutes even when the other checkout lines were open, just to be waited on by Marty, and receive a warm greeting and even a hug.

After catching up on the office work, I had the freedom just to wander the classrooms for a while. I don’t make a big deal about going into the classrooms; I just drift in and see what’s going on, ask a question or two, help if I can, and move on. It gives me a little taste of what’s going on in the life of our teachers and students. This week is mid terms already, and hard to believe how quickly we’re moving towards the holiday seasons.

Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

At St. Joseph's Indian School, our privately-funded programs for Lakota (Sioux) children in need have evolved over 90 years of family partnership, experience and education. Because of generous friends who share tax-deductible donations, Native American youth receive a safe, stable home life; individual counseling and guidance; carefully planned curriculum based on Lakota culture and individual student needs and tools to help build confidence, boost self-esteem and improve cultural awareness. All of this helps children to live a bright, productive, possibility-filled future.

3 thoughts on “Freedom to wander”

  1. Father Steve,
    So glad to see that your improving each day. Just to let you know, Christ Lutheran Church in Scituate, MA has been praying for you since you took sick. May God continue to comfort you during these days and as the New Year comes may you be Blessed by the hand of God. Do hope you will be coming to Boston again in the near future.
    Diane

  2. God surely does walk with us..even when it is “slow and painfully”. I am glad to hear you are doing so well along the road to full recovery. It certainly is a challenge to walk this road some days.
    Be assured of our continued prayers…God bless, Joe

  3. Dear Father Steve, Glad to see you are recovering more and more each day! When you say God has walked with you, it reminds me of the poem “Footprints”. When we don’t see Our Lord’s footprints, it is then we know that He carries us! How many times God has carried us in life and never tires of it!
    I pray that God carries you to complete recovery and excellent health! He knows how much the children need you!
    God bless you always and I am prayerfully yours in Christ,
    Madelyn

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