Dinner Is in the Oven

It’s that time of year when the “root” vegetables are in abundance. In the box of goodies I share with my friend where baby turnips, squash of various manifestations, potatoes, carrots and a pumpkin. This is the product of our CSA (Consumer Supported Agriculture). We pay ahead and receive a box of vegetables every week. We don’t choose. We receive what is freshest and best. It’s a great program. In the oven are some potatoes, some carrots, some turnips and a squash. All of it will be delicious, roasted in olive oil and seasoning with that certain taste that only roasting can bring. The week has been good. Mostly I’ve been at home. A couple of Benedictines had visions of going to Omaha on Wednesday. That vision was clouded by a snow storm on Tuesday. We will try again this coming Monday and hope for better weather. It is supposed to be 60º in Omaha come Monday. These quick trips are always fun. We have no Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods in Sioux Falls as yet. Hopefully, one of these days. Those are two stops on our route usually. There is generally something to be purchased at the church goods store. We have a couple of shops in Sioux Falls but not of the caliber of the one there. There’s always an interesting place to stop for lunch. Generally we spend six hours on the road and four hours or less shopping. There’s lots of visiting going to and fro. We also had plans to stream our Tuesday services from our Oratory but by noon the weather seemed untoward enough that I made the executive decision to do Evening Prayer by Zoom. We’ve not had a lot of sunshine this week which affects my SADS. But every now and then the sun will peak out and I instantly feel uplifted. It’s truly amazing how that bright light affects me. The continued tension of the election has not calmed my soul. The rising infection rates in South Dakota do not bring one peace of mind. The governor who refuses to do anything to stop the rate of infection is beyond belief. She claims we all know what to do and will do what is best. If we all know what to do why do we have one of the highest rates of infection in nation? It is pretty obvious that there are a whole lot of people who do not know what to do and they are getting sick. This state is not heavily populated except for the SE and SW corners. We have a lot more people (roughly ⅓ of the state’s population) so we have more infections. We have excellent health care facilities but they are being taxed to the max. The staff caring for patients is exhausted. The mayor recently broke a tie vote on the city council at the second reading of an ordinance to require masks. He voted no. It’s too hard to enforce says he. Costco doesn’t feel a mask mandate is too difficult to enforce. The sign at the door simply says that if you are entering you must wear a mask. If your health prevents wearing a mask you must wear a face shield. Everyone does wear protection. Seems simple to me. We have choices every day. We can choose how we react. I must admit that there are many times I react with anger or dismay. This quote from Henri Nouwen this week spoke to me. Perhaps it will speak to you. “I am convinced we can choose joy. Every moment we decide to respond to an event or a person with joy instead of sadness. When we truly believe that God is life and only life, then nothing need have the power to draw us into the sad realm of death. To choose joy does not mean to choose happy feelings or an artificial atmosphere of hilarity. But it does mean the determination to let whatever takes place bring us one step closer to the God of life. Maybe this is what is so important about quiet moments of meditation and prayer. They allow me to take a critical look at my moods and to move from victimization to free choice.” Thank you for all your prayers and support. I hope you are all staying well.