May's lengthening days bring flowers, from May Day and the garlands and floral May poles, to the decorated cemeteries on Memorial Day. It's the time for the Run of the Roses on Derby Day, Mother's Day bouquets, prom queens and fresh floral arrangements. May speaks of freshness and beauty, before summer's heat melts spring's tender green. It's beauty for its own sake, the color, shape and smell of garden vegetables and flowers all adding pleasure in the eyes of the beholder and those tending the land. Beauty renders this land a sacred place, a spot where people can come as craftspersons, artists, and agronomists. Fields and flowers blend together in May, when the surface is ablaze in color.

There's blooming comfrey and peas, radishes and Chinese cabbage, and green punctuated with purple hairy vetch cover crops. May reaffirms the beauty of the garden with its spinach, Swiss chard, lettuce, radishes, red-stemmed beet greens, spreading cabbages, broccoli, kohlrabi and blooming chives. It is the season of unique tastes -- uncontaminated, sun-ripened strawberries and rhubarb pie, sour cherries (if you beat the birds), ox-eyed daisies, iris, blackberry blossoms, peonies, poppies, rocket larkspur, of sweet-scented black locust flowers, and Kentucky coffee trees with snow white blooms.

May 2004 Reflections

May 1, 2004 Joseph the Worker

May Day has a long history, much of which we do not appreciate

if we did not grow up with Celtic May poles and special

celebrations. In the Soviet era, this was a day demonstrating the

military power of the USSR. But both the Celtic and the Soviet

traditions have faded, though this is still a "workers" day to some

degree. However, there is further remembrance on the first of May,

and that is of St. Joseph the worker. There I can find closer

identity, since Joseph is my middle name. I feel close to this

foster father of Jesus with all his serious struggles. The just

Joseph cannot fathom why the innocent betrothed Mary is with

child. What must he do? The Spirit tells him to take her, and he

follows, journeying with uncertainty to Bethlehem with the pregnant

Mary and then fleeing with his little family into Egypt as refugees

from Herod's reign.

Yes, Joseph is more than a carpenter -- and that is not said

with disrespect for that noble profession. Joseph is the just one

and the protector of the Church just as he has been of the Holy

Family. He is the patron of workers. His status is enhanced by

the silent and wholehearted response to that vocation. He does not

speak a recorded word, but he remains very much in the background

in the rearing of Jesus -- and then he drops from sight with only

the memory "was this not the son of Joseph and do we not know his

family?" Joseph's humble life is a target for those who disbelieve

Jesus, for how could a Messiah come from such a simple household?

Joseph is thrust into a pivotal position in the coming and

revelation of the Messiah, yet he is a tradesman from hill country

without degrees or wealth. He works in obscure Nazareth, even

though his roots were from the House of David. He secure s turtle

doves, the sacrificial gift of poor folks, when he and Mary present

Christ in the Temple. He takes the family faithfully each year to

the Temple for the festivals. He is the breadwinner and has to

make a living in a poorer part of the country. Wood is scarce, and

so carpentry involves making buildings, furniture, doors, and a

multitude of items by skillful use of materials. It has always

taken an effort to keep his business going and food on the table.

A Gardener's Ode to Joy

O God, fill our eyes and hearts with the beauty that flowers

give when intertwined with growing produce. Let the sheer delight

of edible and flowering plants uplift us high above the everyday

world, scarred by human-made ugliness and uniformity. While we

cannot repair all wounds, we still can beautify a small part of our

surroundings. Give us insight into what this scarred planet can

become. Let today's local delights be wordless praise to You and

inspire us to raise collective voices to You in an ever-swelling

chorus. Touch and cultivate the gardens of our hearts, filling

them with grandeur, and allowing them to grow in the love that is

within each. Let this gardening be the foreshadowing of eternal

delight. Joyfully, joyfully, we exult You.

May 2, 2004 Shepherds and Sheep

For the lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd

them. (Rev. 7:16)

Today is regarded as "Shepherd" Sunday and brings us back to

what it means to be a follower of Christ. However, we are not

called upon to be "sheep" so much as to see the qualities of a

shepherd, and follow Christ in that regard. All of God's creation

teach us, if we are observant and give them the respect of being

worthy teachers. We call sports teams by animal names --

gamecocks, tigers, lions, wildcats, though none are poodles,

butterflies, doves -- or even lambs. However, Jesus is a "lamb"--

meek, loving, tender, near at hand.

Animal Qualities: Every animal teaches us something, if we but

be receptive to their presentation. We learn by observing, by

treating them as friends, even by following their example. As a

child I learned something from spending about three hours a day

with cows (which multiplied by ten years amounted to 10,000 hours

of time or an average of one-sixth of a lifetime of work.) I

could lead better than I could drive animals. Some of you have

pets which require a close affinity. We learn from our pets, our

livestock and our wildlife.

Human and Animals: Not only do animals give to us, but it is

an exchange. We give something back to animals in a most gracious

manner. We find ourselves in loving care as Jesus cares for us;

Jesus bears the Father's power and authority -- but that is done

with mercy. Some people would question our authority over the

world around us, but that begs the question; it is not an

authoritarian power, but being a shepherd is really one of loving

and merciful influence.

The Father and I are One. In some way, this oneness of

community, of love, of mutual understanding, of work, and of power

is reflected in our attempt to be one in community, to be one with

all creation. We are individuals, but we strive for greater unity

so that we reflect the Trinity at work within us. We are called to

be more loving, to have better understanding, to cooperate in work,

and to acknowledge a kinship with the rest of creation.

Our Lives. As followers of Christ we best serve by obeying the

call to be leaders or shepherds. The Lord calls us to a more

perfect union, a union that is already budding within us. Jesus

asks us to follow him with all the qualities of a good shepherd:

Leadership -- Jesus acts as a true leader going ahead and

showing us the way. His is a willingness to do all needed; the

hired hands don't have this concern and the sense of defending

others from harm;

Calling by Name -- Jesus has a tender, loving care for all

including those that are not of this fold. That is why Jesus as

good shepherd goes out and finds the lost.

Freedom -- Jesus freely acts and even lays down his life for

his sheep. We are asked to follow his example.

May 3, 2004 Reflections on the Iraq War

I write this in the week we are burying the grandson of

members of this parish. This fallen Marine was quoted as saying

that he was fighting so that others would have the right to protest

the Iraq War.

I write this reflection with mixed feelings because much of

what was predicted about this conflict has come true: a quick

military victory; a failure at peace; growing dissatisfaction by

the civilian population; difficulty in getting major nations to

cooperate; a costly operation; mounting casualty figures and

extended tours of duty for the military in harms way; and growing

disillusionment by young and old alike. What was unexpected has

been the creation of a highly charged partisan issue.

First, was the war even justified, because the notion of first

strike is so abhorrent to Just War Theory? As it proved itself to

be, the cause (weapons of mass destruction) was simply not there

except perhaps in the minds of a very few.

Second, were a large number of legislators stampeded into

relegating war-making powers to the executive branch? What a

tragedy! The failure to convince those who should have known

better reveals our powerlessness and a lack of wisdom on the part

of so many in Congress. War-making power was simply given up to

the President, contrary to our Constitution.

Third, was it right to ignore the wishes of other nations in

the United Nations? Does might ever make right? Or is that

flexing of military muscle coming back to haunt us now?

So the Iraqi dictator has been captured, but there is dispute as to

whether the people are better off with continued uncertainties and

lack of the basics of life.

Fourth, is the widespread suspicion that oil (Iraq has the

second largest world reserves) was behind the war correct? This

suspicion has not abided either in this country and most certainly

not in the Middle East. Most likely the real motives are masked in

very clever ways. How much was a personal vendetta involved?

Fifth, once in Iraq what can be done? How do we get out of

this quagmire? Wasn't it better not to have entered Iraq? Does

not the fact there's no easy solution simply reenforce the

"justification" of remaining and continuing the fight?

Sixth, and perhaps most seriously, does the untimely entry into

Iraq only enhance the terrorist threats throughout the world as

some contend? Much more attention was removed from the global

terrorist fight and centered on a nation not directly involved.

Unanswered questions erode the general support for this war.

Our people have suffered. Iraqi have suffered much more. Can the

well-being of all be better preserved in other ways than war?

May 4, 2004 Weeds

This, the shortest title among this year's Reflections, tells

a whole story in itself. Weeds are unwanted plants which have a

way of getting in the face of the farmer, gardener and lawn tender.

Some "weeds" are actually classified as wildflowers (creeping or

tall buttercup, morning glory, sorrel, jimsonweed, wild geranium,

sow thistle, violets, trumpet creeper, yarrow) and some as wild

edibles (dandelion, lambs-quarters, wild garlic, poke, wild

mustard, mint, and chickweed). A third category includes edible

vegetables, that can become persistent with time (oyster plant or

salsify, purslane, Jerusalem artichokes).

The weeds just mentioned can be controlled to some degree

either by cutting back through utilization as flowers or as edible

plants. They can be reduced by chopping out and made into mulch, or

by adding them into our daily diet. A number of weeds spread

toxins from their roots which inhibit the growth of other desired

cultivars (e.g., shepherd's purse). Several of the edible weeds

were discussed as spring greens. The glory of these types of

edible plant-weeds is that they generally have deeper root systems

than do the introduced vegetable and herb cultivars, and thus need

less cultivation and no or little watering. They can activate

minerals from the subsoil. It is for that reason that I ordinarily

obtain over about one-tenth of my garden produce from the above

edible "weed" category and, it's good to realize that it is no

bother to grow such varieties.

Barbara Pleasant in The Gardener's Weed Book: Earth-Safe

Controls, Storey Publishing 1996 lists twelve practical tips for

managing your weeds, with some explanation for each suggestion:

* Make your garden the right size for you.

* Don't weed where you walk (instead grow clovers and

other beneficial plants).

* Mark your rows.

* Use transplants.

* Seed heavily.

* Delay planting until later in spring.

* Look for competitive varieties:

-- Large seeds that sprout quickly

-- Large leaves

-- Towering heights

-- Early maturing

-- High yielding varieties

* Control them (weeds) early on.

* Weed often (every two weeks in normal times).

* Pull when wet; cultivate when dry.

* Hit them when they're down (usually when food reserves are

low just before the plants flower).

* Off with their heads (mow or remove heads just before each

seeding).

May 5, 2004 Defend the Roadless Forest

Forest Conditions. According to the 1996 United Nations

Environmental Program survey, this planet's land surface has forty

million square kilometers of forest of which about 7.5% occurs in

the United States. While much of this US forested land is

privately owned, still the Federal U.S. Forest Service watches over

770,000 square kilometers, or about a quarter of the American

forest area. The founder of the U.S. Forest Service, Gifford

Pinchot, said at its creation in 1905 that federal forests are

intended to provide the "greatest good for the greatest number for

the longest time." His basic principle was well-founded, but at

times the logging practices have not matched the quest for

longevity. One cannot cut timber, mine, or graze cattle by a

privileged few or by the most influential timber company and call

it "for the greatest number." Unfortunately, the so-called wise-

users regard commercial resource extraction as "proper" land use.

Roadless Areas. Environmentalists have consistently pointed

out over the past few decades that protected areas, which are free

from ecologically disruptive uses, are necessary ingredients in a

long-term biodiversity strategy. Some of our national forests

contain unique but fragile areas such as wild and scenic rivers,

cliffs and exquisite rock formations, habitats for migratory birds,

and whole sections of land which are still roadless. However one

of the most contentious struggles in recent years has been whether

these pristine areas (23 million hectares of forest lands) were to

be cut through with an extended forest road system for fire

protection and resource exploitation.

Federal Possibilities. A new conservation program implemented

a few years ago is now threatened. That program during its

preparation received 1.6 million comments, more than any other

Federal rule-making on forest issues. It required a ban on further

road construction in the national forests and greater restrictions

on timber harvest in the roadless forested areas. However, the

wise-users have taken exception, and thrown their weight around,

calling the new restrictions a "federal land lockup." On the other

hand, protective restrictions, if put into effect before the forest

is totally parcelled and broken apart, have the effect of saving

vast bio-reserves for the future. Such conditions are strictly

within the original philosophical purview of Pinchot. Forest

preservationists need to continue the effort to preserve our high

quality woodland areas, especially those in the West, but of equal

importance, smaller but vital areas in the East.

Attention Forest Preservers! Monitor the national forest

nearest to you. Devote time each year to visiting, looking at the

wildflowers in spring, camping in summer, viewing the autumn

colors, and making an extra hiking excursion in winter. Learn

about the old-growth areas. It is not necessary to physically

inspect them for the intrusion may prove disturbing. One alternate

suggestion is to view forests from airplanes or take a virtual tour

by means of a movie or travel book with photos.

May 6, 2004 Endangered Species

No one knows positively exactly when and if a species goes to

extinction, except in very rare cases such as the passenger pigeon

in the Cincinnati zoo in 1915. Even the estimates of extinction

rates vary wildly. But the expert opinions do converge on the fact

that we are in a time of steep decline of species, ironically at a

time when we know most how to preserve and save them. How do we

control the insatiable appetite for forest products in areas of

greatest plant diversity -- the tropical forest? How do we keep

threatening human intruders and pollution away from the planet's

spectacular coral reefs, which are virtually all in danger,

according to the learned opinion of marine biologists? How do we

preserve bird habitats and nesting areas of migratory birds which

are in steep decline, according to the counts of the bird watchers?

Through irresponsible actions, we endanger plants and animals and

thus we have an obligation to change our practices.

Conservation Measures. We are all aware of the movement to

curb the use of animal parts, e.g., eagle feathers, elephant ivory,

tiger parts, and furs from many threatened small mammals. We know

that global protective regulations do work, and that poaching of

elephants has been drastically reduced due to such measures. Also

activists, who scatter spray paint on fur-clad fashion models, have

made such stoles and coats go out of fashion quite quickly.

Whaling Regulations. Some species are threatened such as the

largest of Earth's creatures, the whales -- which are really warm-

blooded mammals. These vegetarian animals are generally gentle and

playful among themselves and with human beings; they travel in

pods (herds) along traditional migratory routes at speeds of about

six knots (or twice as fast as human beings normally walk) and can

go for bursts up to 15-20 knots. The largest, the blue whale,

weighs 200 ton and is larger than 30 mature elephants. But many

people have not been kind to these creatures. Modern hunting

techniques with sonar, long-range harpoons and factory ships have

changed the adventure of Moby Dick into first-class barbaric

slaughter for industrial oils, animal feed, fertilizer, perfume and

shampoo ingredients. Most of the ten species of great whales have

been reduced to the point of extinction, even with global whaling

bans and restrictions by the International Whaling Commission.

Ways of Participating. Most Americans do not have direct

contact with African or Asian wild animals or oceanic whales. But

each of us most likely live within a few miles of some endangered

species. Discover what species are threatened or endangered in

your state. Make this fact known, especially in the light of such

threatening practices as development in green space and forested

areas, and the use of recreational vehicles on forest floor and

other locations where endangered species reside or nest. Help in

a wildlife monitoring or bird counting project. Make the cause of

endangered species known through letter writing, talks, and

articles. And consider joining the Endangered Species Coalition.

For more information see <www.stop extinction.org>.

May 7, 2004 Floral Gardens

Isn't it possible to have a highly productive garden

interspersed and accentuated by the beauty of cosmos and begonias

and marigolds? Note that flowers selected for domestic gardens

need not be entirely of a native variety, but can also include

naturalized or traditional flowers which will not be invasive, if

allowed to grow and flourish. Some species, such as jonquils or

tiger lilies, will continue flowering in a homestead area long

after the buildings have disappeared. However, these are not

problematic invasive species. They bloom at a given season and

then die back, allowing pastureland to yield normal vegetation most

of the season.

Flowers as Useful. Adding flowers to vegetable-producing plots

may have more than on aesthetic purpose. Some beautiful flowers or

their leaves can be eaten in salad (nasturtium or certain lilies).

Others are natural pest retardant agents (marigold) and still

others are harmful insect attractants (evening primrose attracts

the Japanese beetle). Many colorful flowers attract hummingbirds

or butterflies, which also add beauty and a sense of restfulness

to the total garden plant/animal community. Some people use the

summer garden as a place for storing and invigorating indoor

houseplants, and then returning them indoor when frost arrives.

Flower Requirements. Successful flower gardening requires some

care in selecting varieties, sowing and planting, weeding, and in

collecting seed or transplanting bulbs. A small additional space

may be required for such flowers, and these can easily be

intermingled among a wide variety of vegetables and herbs. The

flowering and scent of certain herbs, such as basil or the mints,

enhance the total beauty of the garden environment. In rare cases,

such as with daffodils, the toxic bulb may be mistaken for members

of the onion family. Do not grow these flowers where there could

be mistaken identity, and caution those working in unfamiliar

gardens to always check for the characteristic onion scent.

Floral Bouquets. If wildscape and floral/vegetable gardens

exist side by side, it is always difficult to answer requests for

cutting wildflowers. Such bouquet gatherings may be possible or

they may distract from the total beauty of the landscape. We are

generally less reluctant to cut cultivated flowers than wildflowers

for decorating homes, worship space and special events. A general

principle is only harvest wildflowers where they are invasive or

naturalized (ox-eyed daisies, Queen Anne's lace or wild chicory).

Aesthetics. Good ecology includes proclaiming, protecting and

incorporating the beautiful into our damaged environment through

landscaping, architecture, visual arts (painting, sculpture,

crafts) and performing (music, dance, theater). Flowers may help

heal us, brighten our lives, and stimulate our creativity. We need

decoration, color, and symbolic expression. Ref. Landscaping for

Wildlife, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources; Ecological Design,

Sim Van Der Ryn & Stuart Cowan.

May 8, 2004 Peace Poles

How good, how delightful it is for all to live together like

brothers ...and sisters. (Psalm 133:1)

I remember he bright sunny May eighth, 1945, clearly. It began

as a crisp clear morning and the school bus had stopped running.

Mr. Lurdy, the driver, was under the bus and the kids were milling

around on the country road a mile from home when we heard the

Maysville whistles blowing wildly -- V-E Day; Victory in Europe.

Since we knew classes would be cancelled, we persuaded the good-

natured driver to retrace the route with the hesitant but still

operating bus and take us back home. He did, for he too rejoiced,

with a son serving in the European Theater of the War. And so my

siblings and I raced into the distant field to tell Daddy and the

hired man, Ed Thompson, that half of that gruesome war was over.

Peace is a Public Act. Peace is always desired, especially

when we are immersed in conflict as is now the case in Iraq. Each

of the world's peaceable people -- those fond of or promoting peace

in some fashion -- need to develop ways of committing themselves to

bring about and ensuring peace. A public and evident symbol may

assist in confirming our commitment. In recent years, some

individuals and groups have installed or displayed peace signs or

medals or some identification in places where people can easily

observe them. Earlier tribes and groups had their peace flags and

marks, showing neighbors that they were not warring at this moment

and welcoming them into the territory.

Peace Pole. One such display that has recently become popular

is the peace pole which is usually a wooden shaft much in the shape

of the Washington Monument, with four sides each speaking of peace

in several languages. This pole, which can be installed with a

special occasion or ceremony, is a continuation of the public

commitment to peace with its long history. For the advocates of

peace, the pole becomes a special celebration for those who are

committed to peace and extend that peace to their immediate and

distant neighbors. Often a peace blessing is printed on the pole

that points upward to the Almighty and to the need for a unity of

scattered peoples with the One Creator of all peace.

Re-establishing Peace. We can establish our intentions to be

peaceable both now and into the future, but the maintaining of

brotherly and sisterly love is never perfect. It is all the more

important when we are engaged in a war that seems to have no

immediate end in sight; we must profess the peace that is within us

and we must declare our faith that this peace may radiate out to

the rest of the world. In such times of conflict it is all the

more imperative that we install and maintain the peace pole --

often wiped clean, polished, decorated with flowers, and looked

after. Peace is not automatic. It takes an effort, and thus the

public symbol should somehow manifest the extra energy required to

establish and preserve the peace that is always won at a great

price.

May 9, 2004 Mother's Day: Love from Love

"I will make all things new." (Revelation 21:5)

I once met a person who was asked to lead us around a woman's

monastery during our environmental resource assessment of their

property. He had been an orphan and had lived on the grounds since

the age of four. He was about 75 and yet he brought up three times

during the course of the eight hour work day that his mother had

abandoned him. Love spurned left a deep wound after all those

years. On Mother's Day, we can all be thankful for mothers who

nurture, feed, and care for their children with love -- and pray

that all do. For the world cannot long endure without a mother's

love.

Love is all we have that is permanent. We see the setting as

the Last Supper when Jesus speaks of glorification. We approach

our last moments of mortal life and our love is the only thing we

carry out with us, for we are naked on leaving as naked on coming.

We carry out to the throne of God our love for others. That love

is ever made new when we carry the love of God through the person

of Jesus with us when we travel when exiting our short life. We

strive to love God with our whole heart and soul and mind and

strength and speculate that this is possible with greater effort.

We forget that the God within us is loving, a dynamo of fire, and

that we share in that love the more we become aware of the God

within. Jesus loves within us and we share that immense love.

We reflect on that love which can shine through the dark clouds

of hatred. At Auschwitz almost six decades ago, Fr. Maximilian

Kolbe (to whom the Pope says he owes his own vocation) volunteered

to die in place of another. At 47, he gave all as a volunteer to

replace a married man with family. The Pope at Maximilian's

canonization in 1982, said "Greater love has no man than this that

he lay down his life for his friends." St. Maximilian took Jesus

at his word and lived and loved according to the prompting and the

situation calling for love to replace hate. The man he took the

place of in the concentration camp was present at the canonization.

The second great commandment is to love our neighbor as

ourselves (Leviticus 19:18). Well normally we do love ourselves

for the most part, even though some hate themselves. Rather than

using limited selves as gauges, we need to extend ourselves and

find loving models to imitate. Merely loving our limited selves is

not sufficient. We are to love as God has loved us in Christ.

Most of us can use our own Mother's love as a measure of how we are

to love in return. Radiating our love outward takes grace, hope

and effort, for in expressing love in deed we show exactly how much

the love of God is growing in us. One way to express our special

love today is to remember our own mothers and the other mothers of

the world. If our mother has left us orphans, give something

special to another mother who is striving to create a home and

raise her children properly. Give her a special bit of attention -

- flowers, hugs and especially added love.

May 10, 2004 Ornamentals and Lawns

There's nothing wrong with having plants for beauty's sake.

That is why people promote edible landscapes, which include

ornamentals like holly that can be used for bird nesting and

feeding areas and that may include wildscape with its possible

hundred types of flowers. Much of the ornamental lawn that covers

suburban and urban America is not necessarily beautiful, consumes

resources to manicure, and requires immense amount of maintenance

time. Consider floral/vegetable gardens instead.

An Example. Besides their homestead flower plots, my peasant

Uncle Peter and Aunt Alberta always added a row of gladiolus to

their otherwise quite productive and practical vegetable garden.

They were simple mixed farmers in the Kentucky hills, who used

horses to operate farm machinery and lived very simple lives.

However, they deliberately added beauty down the middle of their

half-acre garden, giving a sense of color and life to what looked

otherwise like just another farm field. When a youngster, I

couldn't understand the reason for all of these flowers, and the

added attention these two farmer/gardeners gave to them. Now I do.

All I have to do is look about the countryside and see so much

attention to lawns and flowerbeds to understand the need to combine

garden and flowers. The tender care of a floral/vegetable garden

has now entered into my own gardening experience.

The Garden as Art Form. Art is found in galleries, museums and

places of distinction. Through imagination and work the paintings

and sculpture seem to come alive. Similarly, a garden with flowers

interspersed is a living art piece, demanding the skills of

designer, gardener and artist all in one. The landscape is a

canvas on which the aesthetically-minded paint by sowing seed or

planting, and anticipating when the work will become colorful. The

ever-changing garden becomes like a stained glass window with the

sun playing off it at different times of the day. The plant

selection, arrangement and vegetative growth are the medium of art,

becoming part of good composition through proper design and

anticipated time of blooming. Birds, butterflies and other human

beings are attracted to this garden art form. A vast variation in

expression is part of the power of that attraction which is

accentuated by color, fragrances and touch. The fruit, berries,

vegetables, and herbs are aromatic and tasteful and pleasant to

behold and hold.

Sacred Space. All of our senses are stimulated and the power

of the hallowed place enters into our whole being, stimulating the

garden visitors to turn the gardeners and visitors minds and hearts

to the Creator of all good things. We now are invited to create

this sacred space and to enjoy it in sights (flowers), sounds

(birds and bees), smells (fragrances), tastes (edibles present),

and touches (the many plants present).

May 11, 2004 Ten Ways to Save Energy

Today the U.S. accounts for about a quarter of the world's net

electricity consumption and use, more than China, Russia, France,

Germany, England and all of Latin America combined. We rely on

nuclear power to generate one-fifth of our electricity -- twice as

much as our use of renewable energy sources. Let's consider a

number of energy conservation measures:

* Drive smaller cars and more energy efficient vehicles.

* Reduce space use -- Next to the vehicle size, that of the

residence or work place is a major determinant of energy use. More

heating and cooling space requires more energy use. We can

actually get by on less and still live high quality lives. Close

off unused space from heating or cooling in winter or summer.

* Plant trees as windbreaks and shade trees.

* Comfort zones -- know what temperature is comfortable for

occupants, and then extend that five degrees lower in winter and

five higher in summer. Use a thermostat.

* Lights -- use compact fluorescent and other energy saving

bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs for lighting, especially in

areas where lights are left on, such as exit lighting or night

lighting areas. Merely turning them on and off may not pay if

fluorescents will be used frequently. Timer switches do pay.

* Wash & dry conservatively -- if you must use a dish washer,

rinse dishes with cold water before use, make sure the machine is

full and allow to air dry. Wash clothes with warm or cold water

and soak heavily soiled clothing before washing; wait for a full

load before washing; hang clothes up to dry when weather permits;

if using a clothes dryer, keep lint screen and outside vent clean

and dry clothes in consecutive batches to economize energy.

* Cook with less energy -- boiling potatoes in larger batches

saves energy; turn off the oven a little before completion and

allow residual energy to finish the job; consider a solar oven --

a real energy saver; and shift to cold dishes in summer.

* Vent air naturally -- employ fans in place of air

conditioning, especially for airing out in cooler summer morning.

* Turn down hot water temperature -- use a booster for dish

washing and keep the hot water source well insulated as well.

Think and act solar, especially with a hot water heater.

* Buy energy efficient electric appliances -- avoid unneeded

items which consume electricity, i.e., can openers; compare energy

efficiency information when buying new appliances; purchase gas

ranges with an automatic ignition system and avoid pilot lights;

and remember microwaves and pressure cookers save energy.

May 12. 2004 Green Cemeteries

Most cemeteries are green with lawn grass and trees, but some

have become so congested that they are now a forest of marble and

granite monuments. A few are neglected and in a sorry state. The

upcoming Memorial Day allows us to review our "own" cemetery

situation. It is a good and salutary act that we visit cemeteries

and bring the children as a sign of respect for those who pass on.

Leaving live or even plastic bouquets shows thoughtfulness and adds

color to the place. Some, especially on or near All Soul's Day in

November, have family reunions in cemeteries. However, with

increased mobility the cemetery can become a forgotten place.

Cemetery Use. Once I was ejected from Arlington Cemetery for

jogging early on a Saturday morning, my favorite cross-DC country

running time span. I argued a little with the guard and said that

I suspect that John Kennedy and most of those buried there would

smile and approve of joggers in this solemn area. So would the

kids of the Robert E. Lee clan who once romped around those very

acres. Why so somber about a place of rest? It is certainly

different from boozing or lovemaking in the graveyard or stripping

coal from around or under Appalachian cemeteries. Consider more

trees (even edible fruit and nut varieties), flowers, even

community gardening in less congested cemetery areas.

Greening Small Cemeteries. Community cleanup days just before

the Memorial Day weekend or on the weekend are perfect times for

respecting the dead and showing that love extends through the years

by the entire community. Urge cleaning crews to remove the

brambles and brush, straighten up the stones, add better fencing,

and install gates, especially for small cemeteries without guards

so they can be closed when not used for burial or visits.

Making Parks of Underused Cemeteries. We make a distinction

between those small burial plots which cannot be easily protected

and should be closed on most occasions, and larger cemeteries which

are generally open most of the year and have protective personnel.

Such cemeteries make good parks and should be even more open to the

public. Again, the greening process could involve responsible

community members who want to see jogging paths created along the

borders, trees planted at key locations, picnic areas in unused

space, even proper restroom areas and potable water sources. Of

course, much unused space is in smaller towns and rural areas.

Cemetery caretakers can tell you how much time it takes to mow and

weed-eat around raised gravestones. It is good to persuade

caretakers of such abandoned portions of cemeteries to turn them

into wildscape and to grow spurges and other perennials.

Quiet Space in Congested Areas. We have so few quiet spaces in

our world that it may be best in larger and rather filled burial

facilities to have quiet space in and around cemeteries. Privacy

barriers of shrubs and evergreens would delineate areas with

meditation benches, appropriate memorials and statues where custom

allows, and attractive feeders and nesting areas for birds.

May 13, 2004 Space Travel

Utmost tourism. When this essay was first considered a rich

American named Dennis Tito had given the Russian space agency

twenty million dollars for a ride to the new space laboratory being

built in outer space. He called himself the "first space tourist,"

but that has been contested. On December 2, 1990, Toyohiro

Akiyama, a reporter for the Japanese television station TBS

traveled on the same type of Soyuz rocket as Tito, and docked with

Mir -- at a cost of millions of dollars. In 1991, Helen Sharman

also traveled to Mir. However, it was not just the Russians who

commercialized the space program. In 1985, NASA launched Senator

Jake Garn about the space shuttle Discovery . And then there was

Senator John Glenn's second ride in his senior role.

Commerce? Space agencies are now thinking commercial and there

will only be time before the rich and famous have their pay to play

shuttle systems going -- most at taxpayer expense. It was just

such high-roller tourists in another type of vehicle who were on

riding an American submarine when it accidentally struck and sank

a small Japanese fishing expedition near Hawaii and killed nine

including some young students. Just last month Russia set out

additional plans to institute a program for more space tourists to

help pay its space program bills. Is this really a good idea?

What price! Space tourism is costly, with the taxpayer putting

up much of the expense. Furthermore it is like all travel in the

beginning; it is a "journey" (with difficulties associated) rather

than a trip. The "journey" in Columbus's Voyages and the Lewis and

Clark Expedition and other such discovery ventures involved the

risk to human safety and the possibility that disaster could occur

-- as did happen in travels which had no return, such as Amelia

Earhart's air flight around the world in the 1930s and the first

trans-Australian trek in 1861. Space is that last frontier, since

most of the areas of this planet have been trampled upon -- even

though far more routine trips on superhighways built for safety can

include possible severe accidents. All travelers play the odds.

Different. What is different in space travel is that all live

on artificial life support systems, all need multi-million dollar

send-offs at immense public expense, and all must have technical

backup from programs and agencies which cost the taxpayers

billions. Why should a few people be subsidized at the expense of

the taxpayer and why should the various international agencies

allow this commercial space practice? The libertarian philosophy

that allows space travelers to do whatever they want is quite

socially limited, especially since costly and technically involved

space exploration requires a concerted effort on an international

scale to make this work. Are we going to face up to the space

"eco-tourism" group which would like to tag along and see things

which they could never actually afford, but tempt the federal

administrations and pretend they are paying their fair share? The

simple fact is: they don't pay their way; they merely get in the

way. Let's put the money to more realistic pursuits.

May 14, 2004 All Tourism Needs to be Ecological

Tourism has become a major business in this world, amounting to

over a trillion dollars a year, though this is not evenly divided

in the world in which we live. While this is a form of service

industry where people who perform the services may have a one-to-

one relationship with others, still there can be negative impacts

from irresponsible tourism. For one thing, the volume of tourism

in certain places can put a stress on a park or trail or beach.

The sheer numbers trample down the flora and scare off the fauna.

With these dangers in mind all parties --promoters, commercial

operations, governmental agencies, travel companies, guides and

tourists -- have to be aware of these impacts. Lack of regulation

of tourist activities in host countries has already taken a toll on

the environment of the world, and this is bound to worsen unless

proper steps are taken.

Ecotourism. It is ironic that a growing component of tourism

which is supposed to be ecologically conscious does not necessarily

work against these ecological threats. While professing to promote

the environment, so-called ecotourism often involves going to

exotic places and fragile areas. When these places are

infrequently used, the impact is not great, but as they become more

popular, the same detrimental effects are observed as with normal

tourism. For this reason, we cannot champion ecotourism as such

except within very specific bounds; instead, we advocate that all

forms of legitimate tourism need to have an strong ecological

component in promotion, planning and actual execution.

Degradation. Without this awareness of keeping places more or

less pristine a region's tourism will fall off, and people will

move on to undiscovered areas and progressively trash them to a

condition where people will no longer want to go there either. In

due time, all scenic areas will be junked and people will tolerate

mess more than in the past, with levels of quality depending on

what can be afforded. In other words, travel will not cease, only

the tolerance level for what has been damaged will rise. As the

rest of the normal tourist havens become degraded, it is quite

possible that a trashed region will be rediscovered and sought

until it falls below the level of other less damaged regions.

Putting Eco- into all Tourism. To create a green atmosphere in

all forms of tourism the following steps should be implemented:

educational materials must be made available to the tourist in

simple language explaining the immense treasure of the region's

flora and fauna as well as cultural and geological highlights;

tourist guides need to be trained on ecological matters or at least

know where resources are available; certain tourist-prone areas

should be regarded as off-limits during certain times of the year

and this must be accompanied by proper regulatory enforcement;

efforts should be made to restore damaged areas by the use of trail

associations, voluntary organizations, or tourist industry agencies

and travel companies; and limit must be placed on the number of

persons undertaking certain high-impact recreational activities.

May 15, 2004 The Case for Alternative Justice Approaches

Restorative and transformative approaches to justice reduce

state intervention by building peaceful relationships through

community ownership of the process of governance. Although

incorporating restorative justice procedures within the current

legal-based judicial system might give the impression of involving

other parties in the process, since the government controls the

ultimate outcome, the possibility exists that communities play

virtually no role in facilitating respect or compassion among the

injured parties, or in helping to reintegrate offenders in any

meaningful way.

We need to change how we think about crime and offending

behavior. Crime and offending behavior involve more than breaking

rules, and we need to move away from simply punishing people who

break rules, because that does nothing to help them develop a sense

of accountability and responsibility. A retributive system of

justice basically shields offenders from having to deal with their

behavior.....it allows the community to distance itself from the

behavior through the stereotyping and ostracizing of offenders.

Restorative justice, like a truly democratic process of

governance, requires the full participation and consensus among all

shareholders in a dialogue which needs to be inclusive. A

restorative dialogue is among people ...based on experiences of an

incident and its effect. Justice can not exist without the

contribution of those who are touched by offending behavior. The

dialogue of justice needs to be future-oriented, and focused on how

to heal what has been broken in community and within the people

involved. "When imbalance and disharmony are a regular feature of

community life, it should be no surprise that crime is too." Susan

Sharpe, Restorative Justice: A Vision for Healing and Change

(Edmonton: Edmonton Victim Offender Mediation Society, 1998) p. 4.

Justice is reciprocal: in asking offenders to be more

accountable and responsible in the community, it asks the community

to be more responsible in how it treats offenders and obligates the

community to find ways to help them learn accountability and

responsibility. Since a system of justice that increases

understanding and empathy in a community also enhances people's

sense of responsibility to each other, it is almost certain to

counteract crime more effectively than one that brands people as

bad, handles them disrespectfully and increases their anger.

Restorative Justice is not a prescription to follow. It is

about compassionate listening that begins with the recognition that

it is people, not governments, who are hurt by criminal activities

and need a restored sense of safety. The formal justice system is

failing, in part, because it aspires to do too much. In doing so

it...robs communities of an invaluable community building block:

active involvement in constructively resolving conflict.

Ernest J.P. Muhly, Appropriate Approaches to Youthful Justice,

EcoResolve, League of Women Voters of Frederick Co., MD 2001.

May 16, 2004 Radical Peace

My own peace I give you... (John 14:27a)

Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker. What we sometimes fail to

realize is that part of our being Christian is to enter into this

atmosphere of peace -- a peace that extends from the Trinity to us

through our Baptism. And this peace grows and is enhanced in our

own sacrament life.

War and Peace. Being engaged in a bloody war that does not

seem to have an immediate outcome makes us all the more aware of

the need for external and global peace. That is our heart and our

wish with Iraq and the War on Terrorism so much on our minds at

this time. We crave a peace that the world cannot give and thus

turn our hearts and prayers to God. What we are beginning to

discover is that the peace within our hearts is the model of that

peace which can radiate out to all the world. If the heart of

Christ is the source of peace, and if we as loving members of the

body of Christ constitute that heart in the world around us, then

it is the call to allow the peace from within us to go out to all

the world. War excites us to become all the more peacemakers.

The Hope of the Believing Community. The Church stands out as

the new Jerusalem (Revelations 21). Just before Revelations was

written, the spiritual center of the world, Jerusalem, was captured

by the Romans and destroyed. A trauma occurred, and the energy of

the believers was drained. However, in such times, the future

promise of people in hope stand out. A new Jerusalem or place of

peace and love will appear and flourish. Those who criticize the

Church -- "why don't leaders do this or that?" -- show a narrow

paternalism which is best countered by not talking about "they" but

"we." Why don't we help in a hopeful manner to bring about change?

We as a believing community in prayer, have God-given power to act.

Love is Operative. Keeping God's commandments is the act, not

the words that show our love. God loves within the Trinity and

that shows that love is truly a completed act when requited by us.

And to requite, to give back or unloose divine love. It is the

commandment we find in the farewell address of Jesus (John 14).

The commandment is to love as he has loved us. Our love is an

identification with the love that the Persons of the Trinity show

among themselves. God is within us, and we are called to recognize

that love already here, to accept it, and to allow it to break

loose from within us in an outward direction. We need do no more

than allow that love to unloose itself from within our beings. For

that love is uncreated love, not a love that we strive to create.

Prepare our abodes for Peace. If our homes are to be loving

and peaceful, it is important that we have pictures of the Sacred

Heart (the personal love of God for us) enthroned. Consider

purchase of the Sacred Heart pictures and having these established

in the home. Jesus promised to St. Margaret Mary that whoever

honors this picture in their home will have peace there.

May 17, 2004 Apocalypse and the Oil Crash

We are in the midst of increasing gasoline prices, in part due

to China's rapidly growing appetite for oil. Some of us energy-

conscious folks vacillate about whether the world is holding steady

or is in a free fall, with us feeling a nice breeze on the way

down. When the mockingbird sings outside and the pleasant May

breezes blow, I think things are okay or can be made right, if my

eco-minded cohorts would only get down to gardening and working

with solar energy.

Bruce Thomson (Spring 2001 Auto-Free Times, "The Oil Crisis and

You" pp. 24-27) tells a story about the global decline in oil

discoveries, which peaked in 1962. The number of discoveries form

a sine curve now receding to 1920 levels and going down, down. He

goes on to say that evidence from the oil industry shows that oil

extraction from wells will be physically unable to meet global

demand by the year 2010. Curbs will then occur on transportation

and industrial machinery which are not geared to run on alternative

fuels. The difficulty is that the 11,000 airliners cannot run on

natural gas, nuclear or coal -- non-renewables in more plentiful

supply. Also there will be cuts in the 500,000 other uses of oil

from plastics and medicines to fertilizers and asphalt, from inks

and toners, to paints and solvents.

The popular press tells of plentiful but slightly harder to

extract oil sources. There is oil yet to be located globally but

much of the earth's geology and oil resources are generally known.

Some say there are 210 billion barrels left to be discovered, and

1,000 billion left to extract. There are a half million wells in

the world, but in the U.S. 80% of oil wells produce less than three

barrels a day. Pessimists say that alternative replacements for

oil's 40% of total energy current energy supply are grossly

inadequate and cannot be easily substituted. Natural gas's 20% of

the global energy supply is not suited for existing jet aircraft,

ships, vehicles and equipment. Hydropower's 2.3% of our supply is

not suitable for aircraft; nor is polluting coal which constitutes

24% of supply. Very promising solar, wind and hydrogen are not yet

major players, and the last is more an energy "carrier" than a

supplier, because it takes more fuel to transform the gas than it

provides. Alcohol is derived from oil-based agriculture and

industrial processing. Shale oil, tar sand, coalbed methane and

biomass derived from vegetation require huge investments to process

them properly. Add to this the fact that 4% of the energy budget

is used to grow food and 10-13% to put it on our plate. Worsening

fuel shortages will make production increasingly expensive.

The report says that the shortages will obstruct industry's

ability to convert to alternative fuels -- but here is weakness in

the apocalyptic argument. It is premised on the inability of

people to react, and the sluggishness of people to be creative with

alternatives. That is precisely why it is necessary to focus on

energy alternatives. We always need hope, lest we be paralyzed by

our fears of things to come. Energy alternatives are an answer.

May 18, 2004 Preferred Forms of Communication

Over time, each of us realizes that meetings can be very

taxing. To meet with someone at a distance involves setting up the

event, making travel arrangements, actually traveling, going to the

meeting, staying overnight on either end and then returning. A

six-hour conference could require sometimes three times that long

through travel, depending on the routes and the distance. Over

time, as we get older we strive to cut down travel time as much as

possible, and prefer to use other means of communication:

Reports and published literature sent and received;

Posted or faxed well-developed letters;

Web-site interactions;

Planned conference calls;

Phone conversations (recorded if need be, with permission

of the other party);

Videotaped workshops and events; and

Interactive events and workshops.

The following are some of my own communication policy points:

1. Refuse to co-sponsor non-participative conferences, that is,

those where a selected group of persons are expected to be speakers

and another set the listeners. Such gathering are somewhat

outmoded and elitist. In very rare cases, when true expertise is

clearly demonstrated in a specific area of vital importance, one

should pay the way of a person to be present at non-participative

activities. Even there, our preference is to videotape or

audiotape portions of the event for future reference or for non-

attendees.

2. Attend conferences where one is on the agenda in some

capacity. This policy differs from persons who regard attendance

at such activities as part of their work day schedule. I do not

find it to be productive work nor worth the cost to human energy

and other resources, Unfortunately, today a host of conference

possibilities exist which are quite numerous, of substantial

length, and at relatively great distances. In a few cases I have

persuaded sponsors to hold interactive events on the Web. In rare

cases, a workshop is deemed necessary for a projects even at

immense costs of travel, paid staff time, and workshop fees. This

then entails finding limited resources through scholarships or

outside funding. Just being sought out as warm body to people such

events is highly distasteful to this old and impatient potential

conference-goer.

3. Interact through a conference call or through the Internet.

The telephone and the Internet can and have modified interpersonal

dynamics. Certain forms of intercommunication are far less

demanding on the environment than is physical travel to

conferences. Interpersonal meetings are sometimes necessary, but

these should be spaced further apart and replaced by other forms of

appropriate communication. With rising plane fares such

replacements are all the more enticing.

May 19, 2004 Old-Growth Forests

Mary Davis, a colleague and co-author on several projects, has

devoted a considerable part of a very busy life of environmental

writing and advocacy to the Eastern Old-Growth Forest. She has

documented where it is located, the state of the quality of the

stands, changes occurring, and ways to preserve and make the value

of this threatened national treasure known to the rest of the

country and world. The old-growth forest was here already many

years before we were born, and its demise before we die tells more

about our lack of respect for the Earth than anything else.

Daily Reflections by Al Fritsch, S.J.

Daily Reflections
by Al Fritsch, S.J.