Jackson Browne in Concert in Cleveland Tonight!

The great troubadour, singer, and songwriter Jackson Browne is in concert tonight at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, in the Cleveland Flats-and we get to see him!

Below is a sample of his artistry with his heartbreaking song "My Opening Farewell," sung with Bonnie Raitt. There are many great versions of this song; my favorite is by Alison Krauss. Jackson Browne wrote this song when he was a very young man--it appears on his first album, issued in January of 1972.

Poem for Colin on the First Day of School

First Day of School . . .

(for Colin Jude)

is always a bit tense

and at times terrifying

and often wonderful,

the opening up of new life.

How do you explain that to a five year old?

You say it in just a few words,

a kiss on the cheek, a hug,

a pat on the back,

then send them forth to face

the terror and the wonder,

this new world,

in the labor of being born.

[Bob Coughlin / September 8, 2015]



[I remember! I remember!]

A September Poem

Late Summer Songs

Sitting on this dock, reading

in this late-summer light,

crickets singing, birds quiet, 

vulnerable in their annual molting--

from time to time, cicada

saws out percussive tune--

late summer, early fall, 

near the end, far from the end? who knows,

but we enjoy the slant light,

the good company, the September songs.

Bob Coughlin

September 7, 2015

[This poem was written while reading and lazing at dock A-12 in Mentor Lagoons, where my brother Jim and Barry O'Donnell keep their old boat (which used to be my boat). I finished the poem this morning.]

New Bridge over Big Creek at Girdled Road Reservation

One of our favorite parks is the Girdled Road Reservation. The hike from Radcliffe Road to Girdled Road is about 2.6 miles, give or take (the last stretch involves a lot of steps!). The round trip is then about 5.2 miles. Lake MetroParks has just finished building a suspension foot bridge linking the Skok Meadow property, entered from Rt. 608, to the Girdled Road Reservation.

The Girdled Road Reservation has magnificent mature forests, ponds, Big Creek itself, some small cataracts, many smaller creeks, and lots of ups and downs. In the spring it has magnificent displays of wildflowers. We love it in all seasons.

This beautiful new suspension bridge links Skok Meadow to Girdled Road Reservation

Looking north up Big Creek

Linda crossing the bridge

Reminds Linda of the swinging bridges in Kentucky!

Kay Coughlin--A Productive and Very Generous Person

In a couple days I will receive a donation from my Aunt Kay Coughlin--thirty scarves she crocheted for the homeless of Painesville. I will give then to Kathy Philipps of the St. Mary's Karpos Ministry (Karpos is involved in feeding, clothing, and sheltering the homeless).

Aunt Kay has been making crocheted afghans, scarves, and other such thing for years. She may be the most productive and generous person I know. Her daughter Kelly sent me an email telling me the extent of her work:

I talked to my mom, and asked her about how many afghans she has crocheted.   She said she made a total of 500 until 2010 . . . . Since then she has made 35 a year = 175 -- so a grand total of 675 (of which she still has 30 in the other room of her house ready to sell and give the money to the church).   

• The 500 she made prior to 2010 were all made and given away as either gifts or donations.

• The 175 she has made since 2010 she has sold and donated all the proceeds to her church, St. Mary Magdalene, totalling over $2000.

Now this doesn't include baby blankets, baby outfits, mittens, hats, scarves, tablecloths, and many other items she has made throughout her lifetime.  She has also made lap blankets for nursing homes and tiny blankets for babies for Birthright over the years (the numbers above don't count those either). Now she is on to scarves, making many for my niece Candace's 2nd grade classes . . . .  She is making scarves for the church to distribute to the poor and has made 100 this year; she is making another 30 to donate to your charity. 

What can you say but "Wow!" and "Thanks!"

People Who Shine Their Light Into the Darkness ("Just Thoughts" Essay)

Just Thoughts: A Light Shines in the Darkness

"A light shines in the darkness . . . and the darkness has not overcome it." These words of St. John the Evangelist perfectly describe the works and actions of certain people in the world. Some of these people are known only to friends and family. Think of your mother or father, maybe. Or somebody like Kay Coughlin. of St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Willowick. At age 88, tethered to oxygen, she has recently crocheted 130 scarves for the Homeless, 30 of which will be given to the Homeless in Painesville (Our Church is very involved in ministering to these folks).

Many of the people shining a light into the darkness and chaos are not Catholic, and some aren't Christian. One great servant of peace and light is the Dalai Lama, who came to the attention of the great Trappist Monk Thomas Merton as early as 1968. The Dalai Lama is a Tibetan Buddhist, and spreads the words and ways of peace throughout the world. He is a Peace Hero.

Another great Peace Hero is Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. He has been a key figure in the transition of South Africa from a racist state, dominated by a small majority, into the nation it is today.

Another Peace Hero is only 18 years old. She is Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani Muslim who has bravely stood up for the rights of women and children. For her stance, she was targeted by those claiming to be Taliban. Luckily she survived the assassination attempt and has recovered. Malala was the 2014 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Finally, one of the key examples of light shining into the darkness is the witness of our beloved Pope Francis. Our Pope is a Jesuit, in that great tradition of scholarship, education, and service. He took on the name and style of Francis of Assisi, which is so apparent in his peacemaking efforts, his environmentalism, and his welcoming style.

We have these great models before us. Let us try to imitate them and bring our own light and grace to bear upon the World.

[Written for St. Mary's Painesville Bulletin--for September 6, 2015]

Just Thoughts: "I was a Stranger in a Strange Land . . . ."

Just Thoughts: "I Was a Stranger in a Strange Land . . ." 

Unless you are of Native American heritage, your family has an immigration story. This puts you in good company, because both the Old and New Testaments are full of immigration and exile stories. We hear of the Hebrews in exile in Egypt or in Babylon, where they are "strangers in a strange land." The hymn sung years ago by Linda Ronstadt captures it: "By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down, and there he wept, when we remembered Zion . . . Carry us away captivity, require from us a song, but how can we sing . . . in a strange land?" Immigration and exile are full of tears and loneliness. That is why the Bible honors the tradition of hospitality and kindness toward strangers and immigrants.

Jesus, scripture tells us, was in exile in Egypt as a little baby. And growing up in Galilee, he was far away from the centers of power in Jerusalem or Rome. Even when he was acknowledged as a great preacher and prophet in Jerusalem, he was recognized by his accent and ways as an outsider (same was true for his disciples, as we see in the Passion and Death narratives). Many of the stories about Jesus depict him treating outsiders, Samaritans, fallen women, sinners, tax collectors, lepers, with the greatest respect, kindness, and love.

So the kind treatment of immigrants and outsiders and minorities is a central them of Judaeo-Christian scripture and tradition. It is not optional. All our families have immigration stories. That's why the phrase "the stone that the builder rejected has become the cornerstone" is repeated so often in our readings at mass. We were (or maybe are) that rejected stone--and we will be the cornerstone of the New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God that we are trying to build. 

Be kind to immigrants. Like them, we were once strangers in a strange land.

[This essay was written for St. Mary's Painesville--for the August 30, 2015 bulletin.]

Linda Ronstadt singing "Rivers of Babylon"