Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Time to Pitch It

I have an overdue library book that I checked out as a high school student in 1991

I accidentally took it to college with me in the Fall of 1993

It's made every single move with me since then...

every time I see it again I think (Oh, I've got to get that book returned to the library the next time I get home)

I always forget about it...

until the next move.

Sometime as a newlywed I was determined to MAIL it home with a long note of contrition. That never happened.

So now I'm determined to throw the book away and just mail a check to the library with a note asking to pay a fine and clear up my account. Can I throw it away now? Or do I need the library's permission?

Oh title of the book I picked up at age 15 "When All You Ever Wanted Isn't Enough" by the same Jewish rabbi who wrote "Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People."

I think (mostly because I have this funny book problem) Jon and I joke about the title "Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?" all the time. A little inside humor from two Carmelites in love.

We'll say the title in our most serious NPR voice: "Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

I'll make a funny grimace and say "Who is saying that their Good?"

Jon will make a funny face and say "Who is saying that things are Bad?"


*******
(Get it? Why are you calling yourself good, because God alone is Holy. Only the Virgin Mary was made with a special pure and sinless heart. Also, St. John of the Cross explains that so called "bad things" like having a baby in the NICU or having a father die 12 weeks after his first cancer diagnosis are mostly great, great blessings in disguise).