Fourth Annual Fundraiser a Success

Portland, Nov. 4 -- Last night was the fourth annual fundraising event to support the John Hovenkotter Memorial Scholarship Fund under the St. Ignatius School Foundation. I started the fund shortly after John died in October, 2003, and decided to hold a fundraising event every fall, partly to increase the amount of the endowment but partly also to just bring all John’s friends together for good company. John always loved a party and community spirit. This year “the guys” -- the men of the parish who are all good friends and were all John’s friends -- decided they were going to take it on. They held a wonderful party. I don’t know how much they made but they made enough to increase the fund some and everyone had a great time. It was a sports themed party: primarily football and golf. If there were a Superbowl of friends, these guys would easily be the champions. I had a great time visiting with all the friends who attended.

The weather continues to be unseasonably beautiful. Sunshine and clear skies. It was quite cold at night in Seattle, several times well below freezing. So far in Portland it has been milder; only into the 40s. It occurs to me as I admire the beauty of this northwest part of our country that God has given me kind of a “do-over.” Since the fall leaves were later than usual in New England, and because of very dry conditions not quite up to their normal beauty while I was there, I didn’t get the show I had expected. However, with the heavy rains in early fall here, followed by sunny days but chilly nights in late October and early November, the trees here are outstanding. Every day as I drive by the maples and oaks and sweetgums and everything else I am awed by the radiant beauty of them. It is the most beautiful fall I can remember in a long, long time. All for me! And all for you if you’re paying attention.

One of my new books, “The Mist-filled Path; Celtic Wisdom for Exiles, Wanderers and Seekers” by Frank MacEowen is pretty fascinating. It includes pre-Christian Celtic beliefs along with ways they were incorporated into the Church in Ireland and Scotland, primarily. With my Celtic roots (at least half my roots are Celtic), I find this a comfortable place. I have always had a deep affinity and appreciation for nature. I have always found that nature speaks to me of God: whether an apple blossom, a crow, the fall leaves, sun sparkling on the river . . . the natural world is a place where I easily and often find God’s presence. Perhaps that is also why I am drawn to Mary Oliver’s poems; she finds so much of her inspiration in nature. So if I have to keep waiting, I am finding interesting and informative ways to spend my time.

I was thinking today, also, about how God is so good at surprises. We can make our lists, have our own ideas about everything we think we need and want. But chances are the career you love, the person you fall in love with, the place or way you end up living may have little or no resemblance to the list you so painstakingly put together. So while it’s fine to make lists -- and sometimes very helpful -- we also have to be open to those wonderful surprises God sends us. I think that is because love dwells in some other place besides our logical brain. Perhaps love dwells in that place we often talk about but really don’t know much about: our soul.
Maybe when we talk about “soulmates” it is a person who would never make the lists we have constructed. Maybe instead it is the one who helps you find your truest and best self because of what he or she calls forth in you, someone you feel so completely at ease with, so comfortable and peaceful and right with, regardless of having met all your requirements and qualifications. It isn’t a job, after all.

Maybe that perfect career, that calling, isn’t the one that will give us the best pay, or benefits, or hours, or status, or anything else we have on our list. Maybe it is the job that most closely fills the desires in our longing hearts, sometimes these are things we haven’t really ever taken the time to articulate, to explore, to put on our lists.

Charlie now has a new pair of Muttlucks, little booties for his little footies. They will help keep his paw clean and dry while it continues to heal, but will also protect it if I take him places where he might again step on something sharp. He didn’t like them at first, but once he got used to them he pranced around proudly and seems to like them. He is so cute and funny. Dogs are delightful. I tried to shop at the REI in Clackamas Town Center but there was not a parking space to be had on a Sunday afternoon less than two months from Christmas. So instead we went to PetSmart and he got to go in and try them on and sniff other dogs and explore all the wonderful smells. AND get lots of pets and a treat. He likes PetSmart even more than the vet’s.

I will most likely stay here for much of November, probably taking some time to go down to the So. Oregon Coast to see my daughter and son-in-law. With diesel prices so outrageously high, I don’t feel like I should be doing alot of driving in this big rig. But I have plenty to keep me busy. And still lots of waiting to do, apparently.

TravelinLady