Dear Folks,

I spent 48 hours after Christmas with my parents. Just hanging out with them and taking a ‘staycation’ at their home. My folks are now retired, Dad from the government (NIH) and Mom from being a full time mom. (Ok, so you never retire from that). It was great to relax with them do nothing with them for two days.

It really helps to put all of life and the holiday’s stresses in perspective, being able to get away and be with people you love. Dad and I watched ‘stupid guy movies’ like Skyscraper. Dad, Mom, a sister and I even watched a Hallmark Christmas movie called ‘A Boyfriend for Christmas.’ A movie that never ever showed up on my movie ‘gotta watch’ list. As I put my stuff back in my car to return to the parish, I thought “so this is what a weekend is like! I had forgotten!”

I pray that in the holidays you got some time to do nothing. And by “do nothing” I mean spend time with loved ones without some great master plan of all the things you will accomplish. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do for someone is to just be with them. Then maybe you will hear what they want to do, or better yet that they will just want to be with you. In the words of as 8th century monk: “He who neglects contemplation is deprived of the vision of the light of God; he who is carried away with worry and allows his thoughts to be crushed by the tumult of the things of the world is condemned to the absolute impossibility of penetrating the secrets of the invisible God.”

Maybe that is my new year’s resolution…. more quality time with my parents.

A Blessed feast of the Epiphany to you!

pax et bonum,

Fr. John Mosimann