Fr. Frank Majka, SJ – The Bridge

One Wish

If you could have one wish, what would it be?

St. Ignatius Loyola

This statue stands outside the student center at Creighton Prep in Omaha, Nebraska.

Nail Biting Time in America

There’s no question that we Americans are jittery. The economy seems to be in really big trouble and the political campaigns don’t help much because they appear to be involved more in mud-slinging than light-bringing. Commentators are talking about this state of affairs being a wake up call but don’t agree what that call is saying.

Whatever they may mean, I think the call to people of faith is to take a deep breath and, as St. Paul says, learn “to value the things that really matter” (Philippians, chapter 1) and to ponder how seriously we take what we print on the dollar bill — In God We Trust.

Night Speaks to Night

A September evening sings its song.

The Man on the Lawn

There’s a major city street that runs through the middle of the university at which I work, and yesterday evening I was out walking when I saw two of the university’s Public Safety vehicles parked at the curb and several officers talking to a man who I guessed was in his 50’s. He was sitting on the ground near a tree, looking disheveled and downcast.

A few minutes before, he had told several passersby that he was going to throw himself in front of a city bus, and someone called Public Safety, who had in their turn called the city police, who were on their way. I was certain that the police would take him for psychological observation and evaluation.

My first reaction was to contrast this man with the students who were out walking or jogging or throwing frisbees and seemingly enjoying life.

But I know from experience that some of those seemingly carefree students had likely had their own struggles with depression and had thought about ending their lives (maybe still were) but had never told anyone about it and might never do so.

So, maybe the man on the lawn was better off. At least some people knew and would try to help. At least his despair was no secret.