April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
PERSPECTIVE
Our Bern moments
My name is Bernadette and in our family, this is called "a Bern moment." Whenever a Bern moment occurs, my husband, Mike, gets a charitable look of disbelief; after 30 years of marriage, these moments continue to baffle him.
Unfortunately, another "moment" happened yesterday in Saratoga. Mike and I went up to the race track with my in-laws. Many of the patrons were sitting at tables, reading, and I said, "Oh! How nice! Everyone came up early and brought their books to read."
Seeing that all-too-familiar look in Mike's eyes, I surveyed the picnic area - only to see that the people were not reading novels; they were reading the horse betting tips, picks and stats.
Mike and I have always enjoyed spending time with folks who are older than us. We listen and learn from them. This summer, we started doing communion services at a senior apartment complex in our town. Dressed nicely, the people arrive early with their walkers, wheelchairs and canes. As they sit down, they compliment and assist each other. There is a palpable peace in the room and it is a joy and honor to be with them.
This week, as we were driving to the communion service, we realized that we didn't have a copy of the responsorial psalm. I fumbled through an old missalette to find one to read and came across Psalm 139: "I praise You, for I am wonderfully made."
I am not sure why, but there is a common feeling of inadequacy in our culture today. We aren't good enough, smart enough, talented enough or good-looking enough. Although I know this feeling well, I have found that the older I get, and the closer I stay to God, the less often I feel this way.
Don't get me wrong; I'd like to be smarter, more talented and prettier. But there is a beautiful truth repeated throughout Scripture that says we are loved the way we are and that we all have a gift to share with the world.
When it came time for the responsorial psalm, in unison, the seniors responded, "I praise you, for I am wonderfully made." Each time, they repeated it confidently. I was encouraged by their assuredness that they were "wonderfully made" and couldn't help but smile and feel good inside.
I'd like to think most people have Bern moments, although not as many as I do. Despite our inadequacies and imperfections, I think it would be marvelous if every morning, before putting our feet on the floor, we said out loud, "I praise You, for I am wonderfully made."
(Bernadette Bonanno lives in Colonie and attends St. Mary's parish in Albany.)[[In-content Ad]]
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