|
Inside
NCR Welcome mat ready for your rap on fave book
Dont read this if you have
already sent us an account of your favorite book of the past year as suggested
here last week. In case you missed it: We would be delighted if you told us
about the book that most infuriated, sanctified or amused you, preferably a
recent book. Minimum one word will do, but not more than 300.
Tell us the title and author, and if possible the publisher and
price. Alas, we cant possibly pay you the handsome remuneration you will
so richly deserve, but it will be a grand service to your fellow readers, to
the books author, the publisher, the book. In short, the world will be a
better place if you do it right now. Deadline is Oct. 1, but you know how time
flies. Send to Best Book at the usual NCR address (115 East
Armour Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64111) or by E-mail to
opinion@natcath.org.
Joan Gauker has been carrying
on a lonely battle for years, writes a friend. No surprise, since she is
managing editor of Graterfriends, a monthly newsletter for prisoners,
their families and others associated with them. Prisoners have never been
popular, and, at least in these United States, never less popular than now. So
any kind of ministry to them is going out on a limb.
Joan writes some beautiful material and is an expert when it
comes to knowing the prison system, writes the friend, Augustinian Fr.
Richard Appicci, who has been doing volunteer work in prisons for five
years.
Although a thorn in the side of the prison system, Gauker is
highly respected by prison authorities. She pulls no punches: When we
arent fighting and killing another nations people, we fight and
kill our own. Theres something in our blood -- we must draw blood to feel
strong.
But she is a gifted writer and never better than when coaxing
people to be their better selves:
A recent movie, The Horse Whisperer, is about a horse
trainers unique approach to breaking wild horses. He strokes,
is kind, gentles them, whispers to them. ... We Americans arent very good
at gentling, seeing, listening, hearing, forgiving. We see but dont
perceive. We hear but dont listen. We no longer see, hear or care about
the violence all around us, constantly attacking our senses. So, we cannot
possibly see, hear or care about violence done beyond our voice or ears or
senses to those in prison. ... We find our churches have battle fatigue from
constantly being enveloped in noise, distracted. Were at the point we no
longer process and respond to what is happening around us, because no one
whispers just to us, no one gentles us -- everyone is too distracted or busy.
...
Evelyn Underhill was told by her spiritual guide to spend two
afternoons a week in the ghetto. If properly entered into and persevered
with, it will discipline, mortify, deepen and quiet you. It will, as it were,
distribute your blood -- some of your blood -- away from your brain, where too
much is lodged at present. Away from the brain -- away from brilliance,
logic, genius -- to our feelings, to touch our potential for sadness.
Of course, we cannot be in endless exposure to pain and suffering.
That, too, can desensitize and harden us to others hurt. So, we also need
solitude. Solitude permits us to retreat from the press and struggle in order
to let our fragmented selves become collected and compassionate again. The
human spirit is a natural caregiver. But when madness is all around, it becomes
brave to do what is normal -- care for each other. We need quiet time to
remember our human spirits callings to care; to remember God created
mercy for those who need it, and peace for those who have none. And we need the
voice of the church to challenge and excite our spirit.
Oscar Romero wrote in The Violence of Love: A church
that doesnt provoke any crises, a gospel that doesnt unsettle, a
word of God that doesnt get under ones skin, a word of God that
doesnt touch the real sin of society in which it is being proclaimed --
what gospel is that?
Now heres the rub. Gauker and the newspapers board
need money to keep going. To get a copy of Graterfriends, fax (610)
272-4707 or phone (610) 272-4773. Youll be glad you did.
If you are one of those who noticed
that our Sept. 4 issue was dated 1997 on the front page, take a bow.
We have tried to think of good excuses as to why this happened.
Most creative was the suggestion that it was an April Fools joke that
wasnt ready for publication until now.
We wont do it again.
-- Michael Farrell
National Catholic Reporter, September 18,
1998
|
|