MAKING ALL THINGS NEW

On Saturday night, there was  knock on my front door.  I had already gone to bed, and just as I was dozing off, my dog Smokey started barking with great gusto.  Going downstairs and turning on the outside light, I saw it was a dear priest friend.  When I opened the door to let him in, he told me that he had been calling me but I must have not heard the phone.  Well, he wanted me to know that another wonderful priest friend had just passed away.

Monsignor Art Valenzano had been sick with leukemia for nearly ten years.  A mentor and friend to both of us, we knew his time on earth was coming to an end, but when death comes, it always seems to arrive with a jolt.  Both of us had the chance to visit him in the last few weeks.  When I was driving down to see him on the 14th of August, I was a bit nervous and didn’t know what to expect.  When I entered his study at the Archbishop’s residence, he was sitting in a wing chair reading the paper.  Although he was certainly sick, he looked good.  The next forty-five minutes flew by, and we laughed about many shared memories of working together for nearly twenty years.  I could tell he was tired when I was getting up to go.  On impulse, I asked for his blessing, which he kindly gave. I am grateful for the time we spent together that day. 

As fate would have it, I arrived in Baltimore twenty six years earlier to the day (8/14/89), to attend Johns Hopkins.  The day after I arrived,  and knowing that the 15th is the Feast of the Assumption, I went downstairs to the front desk of the hotel where I was staying, and asked if there was a Catholic Church nearby.  The man pointed to the front doors and said, “there’s a big one just across the street.”  Little did I know that I the church he spoke of was the Basilica of the Assumption, the oldest Catholic Cathedral in the United States.  During my time at Johns Hopkins, I tried to make it to the early evening Mass most days.  That church holds wonderful memories for me, more so when Msgr. Art became the 24th rector of this historic church. Over the last few years of his life, I went down to see him when I could, which, now, in hindsight, was not nearly enough. 

Words cannot adequately express the gift he was to me, as a pastor, a mentor, a friend, a coworker in the vineyard of the Lord. He taught me how to be more Christ-like in every circumstance.  He embodied holiness and modeled it day in and day out.  Those that worked with him will fondly remember his “It’s a praise Jesus kind of day” shout down the hall.  Now, he’s praising Jesus for all eternity.  Well done, good and faithful servant. May he rest in peace.

I hate to say it, but I had to work yesterday and missed visiting my Farmer’s Market.  Had I been there, I know that there would have been plenty of zucchini for sale, and that’s pretty much true at markets everywhere.  I asked a friend of mine, who also happens to be a Personal Chef, to share a zucchini recipe this week, and here it is.  I hope you’ll have a chance to try it! 

Paleo Zucchini Fritters Recipe 

Prep time: 30 mins Cook time: 15 mins Total time: 45 mins

Serves: Serves 4

Ingredients

 

2 medium zucchini, shredded (about 5 cups)

2 tsp sea salt

1⁄4 cup coconut flour

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp black pepper

1⁄4 tsp cayenne pepper, optional

Coconut oil or ghee for cooking

Instructions

1. Shred the zucchini using a box grater or a food processor fitted
with a shredding blade. Put the shredded zucchini in a large bowl. Sprinkle
with the salt and toss well. Walk away for 10 minutes.

2. Now it’s time to squeeze all the moisture out of the zucchini
because nobody likes soggy fritters. Note: If you’re really salt sensitive, you
may want to rinse the zucchini with water, then squeeze it out. Scoop up a
generous handful of the zucchini and squeeze the living daylights out of them
into a sink or bowl. You want them dry. Place in a different bowl.

3. Add the coconut flour, egg and pepper. Stir to combine.

4. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Melt a large spoonful of
ghee or coconut oil in the pan. Pack a 1⁄4 cup measuring cup with the zucchini
mixture, pressing it down inside the cup. Turn the cup out onto the pan and
flatten the zucchini until you get a patty. You can also use a dish or just
eyeball it. I fit about 4 or 5 in a large skillet at one time.

5.  Cook each side for 3 to 5
minutes or until nicely browned. Repeat until you‘ve used up all the zucchini
mixture. Be sure to add more ghee or coconut oil to the pan each time you start
a new batch.

6. Cool on a cooling rack so they don’t get soggy.

Notes:

Add garlic powder or onion powder to the mix.

Sprinkle with freshly chopped chives or parsley.

Serve with a homemade dipping sauce like Lemony Chive Paleo Mayo.

 Recipe by Stupid Easy Paleo at http://stupideasypaleo.com/2015/03/28/paleo-zucchini-fritters/

I hope it was a beautiful day for you, wherever you are!  It was gorgeous here in Maryland, and, on looking at my tomato plants, I realized it was time for a big harvest.  I have been eating ripe tomatoes just about every day for three or four weeks, and my neighbors have enjoyed my ongoing deliveries.  Today, though, I realized I had a lot to pick, so I made a pot of Ragu.  My recipe comes from a friend’s grandfather who for many years was a chef at a seaside restaurant in Tuscany.  On one of my visits to Italy, I brought a group of folks there, and for about four hours, we feasted on some of the best food I’ve ever eaten.  After months of begging, I finally got a copy of his recipe for Ragu, and have been making it ever since.  Today’s batch, was special, since the only tomatoes I used were my own.  I’ll be serving it up tomorrow, and can’t wait.

Well, that first part of this post isn’t really related to what I wanted to share with you, but I just had to tell you about those tomatoes!

Last Sunday, I heard a terrific homily/sermon, and the focus was on not giving up.  The Scripture passage the priest focused on was about the Prophet Elijah (1Kings 19:1-8).  Elijah had just won a big confrontation with the Prophets of Baal, and because of this, Jezebel was out to kill him.  He had been following the Lord, and now, he had to run for his life.  Elijah was exhausted, and finally collapsed under a tree.  He sat there and prayed that he would die, then he fell asleep.  Even though he had won a great victory, fatigue left Elijah wiped out and feeling like a failure.  But God sent an angel and told him to get up, have something to eat, and get moving.  Elijah wanted to die, and God encouraged him to choose life.

It seems like every day I encounter someone going through some difficulty, and they just want to give up and stop trying.  I sometimes feel that way too, and I know it’s not easy get up and keep moving, but I think that’s what God is always calling us to do.  No matter what our circumstances, if we stay close to the Lord, he’ll give us what we need.  That’s why he sent the Angel to Elijah, to give him food and drink so he would be nourished for the journey ahead.  Let’s pray for one another, that we recognize God does not want us stuck where we are, but instead is calling us to boldly follow the path he’s laid out for us, and he’ll give us everything we need to make it to our destination.

That’s right, August 2-8 is National Farmer’s Market Week.  Just yesterday, I made my weekly visit to my local market held each Saturday Morning here in downtown Westminster.  For some reason, it doesn’t show up on the list of other Farmer’s Markets in Maryland, but there are five other markets to choose from just in my own county.  Anyway, over the last five years, I’ve gotten to know the farmers and other vendors well, and it’s fun to guess when this or that crop will be coming in.  I look forward to the brief appearance of tiny lavender eggplants (Fairy Tale) that one farmer puts out each summer.  They are delicious, and I prepare them by cutting them in half (they are 3-4 inches long), brushing with olive oil, and sprinkling with garlic salt, then grilling quickly.  They make a great summer appetizer.

I think there’s something special about knowing who is growing the food we eat, and also where it’s coming from.  The Farmer’s Market Coalition agrees, and I would encourage you to take some time to check out the info on the link and all the additional info they have on their website.  One statistic I got from their attached report is that 50% of farmers who sell at Farmer’s Markets are getting at least half their income from these venues.  What an incentive to help out the little guy/gal and support them!

I know it might be hard to make it to your local market if it’s during the week, but try and visit one on the weekend.  I have no doubt, no matter where you live, there’s a Farmer’s Market not too far away.  Get to know the people who are growing/raising the food you prepare and put on your table for yourself and those you love.  Better yet, supplement your home grown veggies and fruits with those from people you trust.  Healthy farms make for  healthy communities.

If you make it to a Farmer’s Market this week, please let us know how it went by sending a reply message. 

Today, July 31st, is the Feast Day of St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1566).  You can go to other places on this website to learn more about him, but I think his greatest legacy is his Spiritual Exercises.  Growing out of his own conversion experience, the Exercises can be done in a number of different ways.  Now, Ignatius’ exercises don’t require any physical labor or gym membership.  Instead, they are a series of spiritual prayers, meditations, reflections and activities which can lead a person into a deeper relationship with God.  It just so happened that when I did a multi-month version of the Spiritual Exercises, I threw in a daily walking regime and healthier eating habits into the mix, and the end result was a better me. 

Over the last 450 + years, millions of people have taken part in the Spiritual Exercises and integrated some of the principles, prayers and activities into their daily lives.  I know I’ve done just that, and it’s made a huge difference in my life.  Maybe has been or could be the same for you.  You can learn more about Ignatian Spirituality by clicking here.  Below is one of my favorite prayers written by St. Ignatius, I hope you might consider praying it today.

Prayer for Generosity

Eternal Word, only begotten Son of God,

Teach me true generosity.

Teach me to serve you as you deserve.

To give without counting the cost,.

To fight heedless of wounds,

To labor without seeking rest,

To sacrifice without thought of any reward

Save the knowledge that I have done your will.

Amen.

I just got back from vacation in my home state of California.  Despite some unexpected but much needed rain the first two days, it was a near perfect trip.  A big family gathering, drives along the coast, the Bach Festival in Carmel, museum and California Mission visits, great food and surprise tickets to a performance of Phantom of the Opera in Hollywood, were just some of the highlights.  I’m from a family that likes to be on the go, and I was able to squeeze in a lot during a week.  More than anything, it was nice to be home.  California is a beautiful state, and it’s incredibly diverse, not just culturally, but also visually.  There’s so much to do and see, and I’m already in the planning stages for my next visit.  But for now, I have to be content with great memories of this past trip, and grateful for the chance to experience all that I did. 

Vacations are a wonderful gift, no matter how short they might be.  Just to have the chance to break free from the normal rhythm of our crazy lives is a blessing, one which we should be most grateful for.  In a conversation with my sister, we reminisced about the many trips we took with our mom when she was alive.  I have no doubt that the desire to travel, which I share with my siblings, was instilled upon us by our mother.  She loved seeing new places and things, and this wanderlust took her all over the world, almost always with one or more of her children as traveling companions.  We had some wonderful adventures, and even as I write these lines, several of my siblings and their families and friends are out traveling to places like Cripple Creek, Great Basin National Park, and Glacier National Park.  Everyone is on separate trips, but they’re all together in spirit, looking for that next memory to share with the rest of us when they return. 

How about you?  Have you had the chance to get away this summer?  Where did you go, who were you with, what did you see?  Most importantly, are you grateful for the experience? 

I know some people reading these lines might not be able to enjoy a vacation this year due to illness, finances, etc.  If this sounds like you, I hope you’ll be able to at least go to a park, a museum, the beach, or the mountains, even if it’s just for a few hours.  And if none of those are options, close your eyes and dream of a place you’ve always wanted to go.  Enjoy the visit, and I hope you can go back again soon! 

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to visit with a good friend.  Our conversation was not long, but it was rich in subjects.  He had just gotten back from a trip to France, and by chance our paths crossed at the place where he worked and where I was spending the day writing, so we sat down on a bench under the trees for a bit and talked about our summer.   He told me about the places he visited, how miserably hot it was, and what he liked about the trip.  Overall, it was great for him.  We then turned to books we were reading, how my doctoral writing was going, and how things were shaping up for the various ministries we do.  Our time together went by too quickly, but sadly we had other things to accomplish before our day was over.

One of my important tasks today was preparing the final posts for the retreat section of this website.  The group who made my June Making All Things New retreat are just getting ready to start the fifth week of our on-line sessions.  It’s amazing to me how quickly the weeks and months seem to roll by, but that they seem to do.  Remember when you were a kid and, in some way, you were ready to get back to school come the dog days of summer?  August in Southern California where I grew up can be miserable.  Did I mention we somehow survived without air conditioning?  It’s funny, isn’t it, that we managed to survive without so much of what we are dependent on today.  I wrote survived but maybe a better word would be thrived.  It could be we didn’t know any better, but we still managed to find ways to have fun, enjoy life, and make do with what we had.  What’s happened to us?

This morning, I finished a book written by a Jesuit priest named Walter Ciszek.  The book, He Leadeth Me, is his story of unwavering faith which allowed him to survive twenty-three years in Russian prisons and labor camps.  He was convicted of being a “Vatican spy,” and somehow he found the courage and strength to trust God through times of incredible evil and darkness.  Reading Fr. Ciszek’s unbelievable story was a source of great encouragement for me, and I trust it can be for you as well.  Buy the book and spend the rest of the summer reading and thinking about it.

Friends, many today see the storm clouds gathering all around us, and some are stuck in a perpetual gloom and doom attitude.  Just two days of the evening news and down we go into an ever increasing negativity.  Fr. Ciszek reminded me that God is still on the throne, and despite what circumstances may come to be present in our lives, He is still showing us The Way toward a future full of hope and joy.

Have a blessed week.