Upstairs, Downstairs Lesson and New Years Choices

 

I don't recall seeing any television during my 1970's seminary years when Upstairs Downstairs was all the rage. So during these covid stay-at-home days, I'm catching up with that hugely popular series. It is indeed excellent television. One scene in Episode 13 of the Fourth Series (Peace Out of Pain) seemed especially relevant for today. The lady of the house, Hazel Bellamy, is dying of the Spanish Flu. Here is a picture from the episode in which she, aware that death is near, reflects with her husband, James Bellamy. 

Dr. Foley has been called and paid a number of home visits. When hope is cleary waning, the anxious servants commiserate around their downstairs table. One maid reveals that after Dr. Foley's most recent visit he arranged for the road outside the Bellamy London residence (165 Eaton Place) to be covered with straw, to muffle the sound of passing automobiles. I thought, what an amazing presence of mind, and then to bother about having the road covered so the patient upstairs would have a quieter space. And during our own pandemic so many people in this country refuse even to wear a mask for the benefit of the others. The selfishness is profound. We do indeed live in a different time, of different value, a different world.

In the neighborhood here a young girl has painted rocks with bright colors and words to live by these days. I'm borrowing some of her words and adding my own for a New Years wish:

In the New Year may we choose kindness, courtesy, knowledge, respect.

In the New Year may we choose inclusion, listening, gratitude, sympathy.

In the New Year may we choose recovery, decency, generosity, joy.

In the New Year may we choose compassion, life, cooperation, thinking.

In the New Year may we choose belief, hope, awareness, spirit.

In the New Year may we choose interiority, justice, patience, simplicity.

In the New Year may we choose non-violence, presence, willingness, humility.

Ringing in a New Year

It's New Years Eve and we prepare to ring in not only a new year, but a new decade. When I was a boy, New Years Resolutions were the big deal, but I never met anyone who claimed to have been changed for the better for those resolutions. In other words, no one kept them. 

But here is a very beautiful quote from St. Isaac of Syria (c 613-c 700) that we might print and keep near until we have memorized at least the sense of it, if not the exact words. I would suggest these lines from St. Isaac's homily (81) summarize the essence of true religion.

Notice the saint composed these thoughts in the 7th century,  indicating that even then creation—the animals, the plants, the water, soil and air were being assaulted. We have not changed, indeed, some would say we are devolving with endless wars and the mind boggling expense of maintaining planet-destroying arsenals, the sex trafficking of even the littlest children, our love of guns and violence, with the rolling back of environmental protections, the huge numbers of plant and animal extinctions, the poisoning of the air and the water.

What is a heart of mercy?

It is a heart on fire

for the whole of creation,

for humanity,

for the birds,

for the animals,

for demons,

and for all that exists.

By the recollection of them

the eyes of a merciful person

pour forth tears in abundance

by the strong and vehement mercy
that grips such a person's heart,

and by such great compassion,

the heart is humbled

and one cannot bear to hear or to see

any injury or slight sorrow

of any in creation.

For this reason, such a person

offers up tearful prayer continually

even for irrational beasts,

and for those who harm him,

that they be protected and receive mercy...

because of the great compassion

that burns without measure

in a heart that is 

in the likeness of God.

Ending the Year and Beginning Again

This short but delightful video was passed on just before Christmas; I thought you might enjoy it too. I send it with good wishes that we might all learn light-heartedness and gentle compassion anew.

Some folks still make New Years Resolutions this time of year, but may I suggest a more spiritual approach to this time of ending and beginning again. Are we able to take a few minutes to consider:

• A time when God seemed to be particularly close this past year.
• An occasion that deserves a very focused gratitude.
• Some interaction where forgiveness might be in order - perhaps even forgiveness for myself.
• And is there some little prayer I want to make at the start of the New Year, asking for guidance, strength, courage or insight about this or that?

Prayer at the Start of the New Year

This painting, Joseph and Mary on the Road to Bethlehem (1475), is the work of the Flemish artist Hugo van der Goes. We see Joseph and pregnant Mary "coming around the mountain." How careful Joseph is of Mary who has gotten down off the donkey. Perhaps she is taking a stretch or fears the donkey might stumble on the sloping road. How tenderly Joseph takes her by the arm as he seems to be saying, "Just a few more steps, a little bit more. Are you doing alright?" The donkey follows, and look, the ox is coming around the bend too - setting the stage for the Christmas Nativity scene we know so well.

Notice that these little figures are placed within a much larger scenary: the imposing setting of rock and sky, plant life, light and shadow. All of creation seems to know! We might feel that we are down the road a bit, looking upwards, eager to lend a hand.

I am thinking of how patient all the figures are: Mary, expectant through her pregnancy, Joseph, faithful through the confusion and fatigue of the long trip. The burden-carrying donkey plods along, seemingly calm and sure in its service. The mountain is solid and grounded. 

Entering this scene, we might pray-in the New Year from a place of felt need, asking the Holy Couple for the gift of patience in its many forms.

Save me, O Lady, 
from
mumbling,
grumbling,
tysking and 
sighing,
eye-rolling,
complaining,
moaning and 
groaning.

Save me, Holy Joseph,
from
irritability,
curses,
procrastination and
blatant refusals,
negative tone,
attitude,
victimhood and
whining.

Save me, Holy Couple, 
from
resentments
my short fuse,
objections and
reluctance,
unwillingness,
false smiles and
a begrudging spirit.

Give me instead
new graciousness,
willingness,
no more parceling out of love.
Keep me from counting the cost,
that I might smile more,
laugh more
and swell with gratitude. 

And may I realize all of this

especially with my family, 
the ones nearest and dearest. 
We're harder on them, you know, 
than on the ones we've never met. 

Bless the New Year, 
as we journey to our own inner Bethlehem, 
where Jesus is to be born, and born, 
and born again.
Amen.

Father Stephen P. Morris

Praises at the Start of the New Year

Retreat House Winter Stream ~ Photo: Nicholas D.

Bless the Lord, cold and warmth,
praise and glorify him forever!
Bless the Lord, dew and snow-storm,
praise and glorify him forever!
Bless the Lord, frost and chill,
praise and glorify him forever!
Bless the Lord, ice and snow,
praise and glorify him forever!

Bless the Lord, faithful, humble-hearted people, 
praise and glorify him forever!

Daniel 3: 67-70, 87