Sometimes You Just Need to Take a Break!

I need a break from thinking about the controversy over the SSPX consecrations and the crisis in the Church. Even members of the Church Militant need R&R occasionally which is what retreats and days of reflection are all about as well. But hobbies and interests also offer opportunities to put down the stress occasionally and give our minds and hearts a rest.

Recently, I've been engaging with two young granddaughters who are interested in writing poetry. Our conversations reminded me of my own forays into the literary genre.

For almost twenty years I attended a five day silent Ignation retreat every summer with a wonderful FSSP priest, Fr. James Buckley. Father died in December 2023. My last and most life-changing of all the retreats was the last in 2022. How I miss him! Please join me in praying for the happy repose of his soul. I often ask his intercession. What a good priest. I'm sure he is praying for all of us as we continue to deal with the crisis in the Church. I wonder what he would say about the SSPX situation.

Retreat silence is never a problem for me. I love it! But nearing the end of the  retreats I always seemed to be writing poetry. I won't claim it was good poetry, but all that quiet seemed to generate it. Some of it was silly like the Ode to Chicken Nuggets I wrote for a darling grandson who, when he was little, would have liked nothing better than to live on chicken nuggets from McDonald's. 

And now I find myself writing poetry again stirred by my granddaughters' interest. I sent them both a collection of 100 best loved poems because the best way to be a good poet is to read good poetry. Most of my poems are simple, many geared toward children. I love birds and wrote this one about all my feathered friends who come to our bird feeder:

Birds at the Feeder.   

The chickadee is certainly
The sweetest little bird
With cheerful call of “dee-dee-dee”
It is her favorite word.

She isn’t bossy like the crow
Or greedy like the jay,
But like a black-capped little nun
Awaits her turn at tray.

She snatches up a tiny seed. 

Then flies away and hides
To eat her meal in privacy
She has a modest side.

Not so the tufted titmouse
Who stays to eat his meal
With a bang-bang-bang and a chip-chip-chip
He breaks the shelly shield.

The flicker lands and joins the crowd;
He’s polite as he can be
And eats with all the little birds
In peaceful harmony.

The bright red cardinal with his mate  

Comes frequently to eat.

They often squabble as they dine
Then make a quick retreat.

The sparrow comes, a nasty bird  

Who chases off the rest,
Then jumps and scatters seeds galore
He makes a terrible mess.

The finches too are out en masse
The gold and purple too,
Adding color to the mix
With lovely rainbow hue.

The plump brown wren comes visiting
And sings with voice so grand
It’s easy to imagine she
Could be a one bird band.

So fill the feeder up again;
The squirrel says thank-you too.
The restaurant for both bird and beast
Provides a stunning view.

Yes, restaurant feeders are a joy
For those who love the birds
Making for hours of watching fun,
A pleasure beyond words.

When you need a break what do you do? Bake? Knit? Journal? Take a walk? I don't consider prayer a break, but a daily time as necessary as breathing. But we also need delightful interludes enjoying things we like to do. I hope you have the time today to enjoy something special.