Mayflower and People Power, 400 Years Later

The origins of our present system of government in the United States stretch back long before those momentous days of the 18th Century, to when Europeans first settled on these shores.

One such impactful event happened 400 years ago today, the signing of the Mayflower Compact.

It's not that long of a document, but had incredible power.  Those who sailed onboard the Mayflower, both Pilgrim separatists and other English travelers, landed far from their intended destination in the northern reaches of the Virginia company's lands.

Having reached a different spot, the Pilgrim Separatists decided to form their own system of governance to maintain order in their new settlement.

This document provided a framework that bound the settlers together in a relationship in which they would form laws and govern themselves for the benefit of each other.  It was furthermore done with a bold vision, as they had taken this journey for the glory of God, and set that principle as their aim so that they would glorify God by forming a new government in a new land in which they would mutually hold to a structure for the benefit of the common good.

This occasion brings to mind the words of the 2nd verse of "America, the Beautiful", for it was those pilgrims who made a new way for freedom in North America, and I pray that God mends our flaws and confirms liberty in our laws, hearkening back to the structure established 400 years ago today.

I still remember when I learned in school that the term democracy comes from Greek: "demo" meaning people and "kratos" meaning power or rule.  I see that manifested in the structure established by the Mayflower Compact.

That framework echoes across the ages to the founding of the United States, when people came together to form a new system of government where they would govern themselves, rather than hand that authority over to a single ruler or small group of rulers.  This principle was then embodied in the US Constitution, whose creation was an act of a large group of people getting together to form their own government, something nearly unheard of in the word at that time.

And it continues to this day, especially as I got to see it earlier this month when I served once again as an election judge for the 16th precinct of Oak Park.

Despite the record numbers of people voting ahead of Election Day through various means, which caused a somewhat lower turnout on Election Day itself, we still had a fairly large number of people come to vote.

While it goes beyond saying that it's a long, exhausting day, it's also exhilarating and exciting to see the democratic process of the Republic of the USA in action when people come to vote.  It's exciting to be part of facilitating the process whereby people come to participate in this process of government by casting their votes, as their way of speaking their minds about who should be part of the government and how it should act.  Furthermore, it's meaningful for me personally to see so many people I know in the community come to vote, including people from Church, and especially parents of former and current RE students.  And it was a generally great weather day as I stood outside directing people.  (I also enjoyed being back inside the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Public Library for the first time since March, which is a place of great meaning to my growth as a person.)  I was also pleased to see that one of my former students served as an election judge for the other precinct located at Maze Library.  The 16th precinct also had a high school student election judge, along with a college student working a polling place for the first team.

While it's true that our form of government in the USA, like all systems created and maintained by flawed people, is not perfect, I still marvel at how amazing this system is.  Even when problems arise when certain powerful individuals skew the system toward their interests, there's still hope that people can rise up and steer it back to benefit all people.  Because this system is of the people, it can still be shaped by those who participate and contribute their input.  Indeed, we all have the chance to make something of it, and that's the beauty of a system created by people joining together to govern themselves.  We share the experience of being free together, as we all contribute to upholding the common good.

With such a great heritage of liberty that hearkens back to the Mayflower Compact, and which I feel today, especially serving as an election judge, I continue to declare that I am proud to be a citizen of the United States, and take my part in directing the proceedings of this country.

Early in the morning of November 3, 2020, I drew the blue line in the photo above in blue chalk on the sidewalk marking 100 feet from the entrance to the polling place for the 16th precinct at the Maze Branch Library, where people participated in our shared government.

15 Years since the Inestimable 15th

October 15 is forever marked for me as an important day in my life.

On Saturday, October 15, 2005, at approximately 6 PM, I stood before Bishop Francis Kane, with my Uncle Bernie at my side, to receive the sacrament of Confirmation underneath the great dome at Ascension Parish.

So much preparation led to this moment, and rather quickly, it was over, but not over, because something new had begun, which I couldn't yet fully conceive.

Just like happened on the first Christian Pentecost nearly 2000 years ago, so I experienced a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit that day 15 years ago, so that I would live life anew, and do so constantly anew in all the years since.  In that light, my Confirmation is a truly living experience because when I put faith into action, I live out what happened that day.  I've had many amazing experiences since that day, and one amazing experience keeps topping another.  It's enough to leave me in a state of wonder about what could happen next.

It's amazing how God aligned the circumstances that I would be confirmed on the Feast Day of St. Teresa of Avila, and would sit almost directly underneath her window at Ascension Parish during my Confirmation Mass, and then, during my college years, attend a church named St. Teresa of Avila.

My understanding of faith expanded in whole new ways by participating in the community of St. Teresa's.  There's no doubt that Ascension laid an important foundation with my Confirmation, and then St. Teresa's built upon it further by giving me new insights about what it means to be Roman Catholic. 

In fact, October 15 this year is special for another reason:  It's the 10th anniversary of when I met Bishop Dale Melczek, then the Bishop of the Diocese of Gary.  I thought it fitting to celebrate the 5th anniversary of my Confirmation that year by attending the Confirmation Mass at St. Teresa's.  Being part of that community helped broaden my sense of the Roman Catholic Church.  When I went off to college, I had only minimally considered the existence of other dioceses outside the Archdiocese of Chicago.  I could recognize dioceses in major cities, like New York City, Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Philadelphia, but never dioceses outside major metro areas, like the Diocese of Gary, which covers multiple counties in Northwest Indiana.  Meeting Bishop Melczek was the first time I had ever met a US Bishop outside the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Bishop Melczek is a great homilist, as I became aware during that first time I attended Mass with him as celebrant.  From what I remember, he laid out the story of God's work of salvation throughout history, and then brought it down to the Confirmation candidates before him.  As I reflect on this special occasion, I recognize that part of the reason why that day was so special was that all of the work of salvation God had done throughout history became real in my life in a whole new way when I was sealed with the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit.

It's a great gift that is meant to empower us to do great things.  And that was on my mind 9 days ago when I was back in the same church sanctuary where I was confirmed, standing before the new group of 8th grade RE students, and their parents, as we started a new year together.  There's no doubt that my experience with the St. Teresa's community influenced my decision to start teaching RE and then continue with it, now for my 8th year, and that was on my mind as I shared a little bit about my faith experience, especially Father Kevin's Party Hard with Jesus Christ routine.  It's amazing to think of what I went on to from the day of my Confirmation, and how I've been able to bring it back to those who are now preparing for Confirmation as I come alongside them to offer my support and guidance, so they can embrace what it means to put faith into action.  All the while, I am in a position reminding myself of why faith is important to me, which I started to understand more deeply when I was in middle school.

Indeed, it brings me great joy, which I know is something my Uncle Bernie had noticed about me.  While sorting through papers in my bedroom, I encountered a copy he gave me of a letter he sent to Father Larry, the pastor of Ascension in 2005, recommending me for Confirmation.  I remember he invited me to spend time with him on Labor Day 2005.  After biking on a trail near his house, we sat down together and he talked with me to ascertain what faith means to me.  He was indeed very thoughtful in the way he prepare for writing that letter.  In it, he mentioned how joy is overlooked sometimes in the spiritual life, and how I exhibit great joy.  I've experienced so much joy putting faith into action, getting involved in the life of church community, especially with my students.  I have joy because I have discovered how I can live life with purpose.

We've cycled back this year to the readings that were proclaimed at my Confirmation Mass, which will be proclaimed at Mass this coming weekend for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time.  Jesus responds to a questions from his adversaries by saying, "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God" (Matthew 22:22).  As I reflect on that statement, I realize that I bear the image of God, and my Confirmation was part of the lifelong process by which I come to more fully reflect the image of the God Who saved me by the Paschal Mystery, so that I may render unto Him myself, in a life devoted to Him, as I put faith into action.  And He has chosen me specially, just as He did Cyrus, and even the Thessalonians

As I've worked with the students preparing for Confirmation in recent years, I notice one of the tasks they have to complete is to write a letter to the Bishop explaining their reasons for desiring Confirmation.  That letter was not something I had to do as I prepared for Confirmation, but it's an interesting thought exercise to consider what I would have written.  I probably would have written about how I had grown in appreciation of my faith since starting at Julian Middle School.  Encountering people from different backgrounds, especially Jewish people, who were so open about who they were, caused me to turn inwardly and think more about who I am, including my faith, and thus appreciate it more deeply.  With that new mindset, I was ready to do something bigger with my faith.

And that's why I have been celebrating so greatly today, because as special as that day was, it has found meaning it what I've done with it, and will continue to do as the Holy Spirit pours HImself out upon me, that I may be equipped for the work of God in the days and years ahead.

Thanks be to God.

As part of celebrating the 15th Anniversary of my Confirmation, I attended Mass at Ascension and sat in the same spot as I did during my Confirmation Mass, which you can see in the photo above that I took.

Going Down in Shawnee

Throughout the time I spent celebrating the Bicentennial of Illinois, I came to appreciate the vastness of what Illinois offers.  

With summertime at hand, I felt it was a good time for a vacation and soak in more of Illinois.  And with summertime a great time for going into the great outdoors, I decided to vacation in one of Illinois's great natural treasures: the Shawnee National Forest, in southern Illinois, which I drove through last summer during a weekend road trip that took me way down south in Illinois.

But rather than head straight down to Shawnee country, I went on a more circuitous route south, on one of Illinois's great cultural treasures: Historic US Route 66.

Typically, when I go to work, I drive on a short segment of US 66 along Odgen in southern Berwyn to Harlem and Joliet.  So when I headed out in Avila on the morning of Monday, August 10, 2020, it was very much like I was heading to work.

I meandered a little over to Lombard Avenue, the border between Berwyn and Cicero.  Around 10:34 AM CDT, I reached Ogden Avenue, and turned right, heading into a southwesterly direction to begin my Route 66 journey of the day.  (Just so you know, all times in this post are CDT.)  My aim was to see what it would be like to drive Route 66 through Illinois (except for the stretch in Chicago and Cicero) all the way to the Mississippi River.  I figured it would be a good test run for when I get the opportunity to drive the entire route from Chicago at Lake Michigan to Santa Monica at the Pacific Ocean.

A few years ago, I traveled on Route 66 to Pontiac with my parents on a day trip there, so I was familiar with about 100 miles, give or take, of the route.  Back then, I had turn-by-turn directions handy, yet it seemed that Dad effortlessly made the turns as we rode along.

I followed Route 66 from Odgen to Joliet Road, which eventually fed onto I-55 for a few miles, before getting off again.  Right after passing the White Fence Farm restaurant, I got on IL Route 53, and stayed on it for a while.

Here's signage in downtown Joliet on Ottawa Street, just north of the intersection with Jefferson Street, part of the alignment for the Lincoln Highway. The Will County Courthouse appears to the left in the photo.  All photos in the post are mine.

South of Joliet, I felt a stirring inside me to pull off and visit my Grandfather Martin at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, south of Elwood.

In the center of this photo appears my Grandfather's grave, right below the US flag I'm holding, the same US flag I took with me to World Youth Day 2019 in Panama.

It seemed especially fitting as we mark 75 years in 2020 since the conclusion of World War II in the Pacific Theater, where my Grandpa was in combat action while serving in the US Navy.

Continuing south, I stopped in Wilmington for photos at the Gemini Giant Launching Pad Drive-in.  The photo below shows the Gemini Giant.

Then, I came to Braidwood, and when I saw the Polk-a-Dot Drive-in--please see in the photo below--I figured it was a suitable spot for lunch in the 12:00 hour.  

I got a chicken sandwich there.  It was a fine, warm summer day sitting outside enjoying my lunch.

Heading south, I eventually came to the end of IL 53, and then started following frontage roads along I-55.  I drove on a Memory Lane section from the 1920's at Lexington, which is in the photo below.  

That town brought back memories of two years ago, when I stopped for lunch there at the Shake Shack.  

I also saw some Historic US 66 displays, including in Towanda, with signage at a section of the original pavement from the 1920's.

Above is the pavement at Towanda, and below is my feet standing on it.

Following Route 66 got more interesting when I arrived in the Bloomington-Normal area, but I was able to stay on course by following the brown signs as I navigated the city streets.

I stopped in Atlanta to get some photos, and go inside a gift shop.  

Above is a mural in Atlanta, marking it as the midpoint of Route 66 in Illinois.  Below is a mural showing all of Route 66, on the same block.

Since Atlanta is the midpoint of the Illinois section of Route 66, it seemed even more fitting to pause my journey there.  While inside, the hot summer day was interrupted by a significant derecho storm event.  As I saw the clouds cover the sky, the wind pick up, and then the rain fall, I got back in Avila and continued south.  Soon, a driving rain pelted down.  It lightened a bit by the time I reached Lincoln, and the rain was even lighter by the time I reached Springfield, around 5 PM.  I stopped for a photo by the Lincoln Presidential Museum, recalling a memorable visit there 15 years ago, a few months after it first opened.  Also in Springfield, I stopped at the Cozy Dog Drive-In on the south side and bought a couple of postcards.

The rain had totally stopped as I continued south of Springfield.  Out in the wide open farm fields astride the frontage road along I-55, I could see distinct storm clouds on the horizon toward the west, which you can see in the two photos below.

Here's one of the famed Meramec Caverns ads along Route 66. This one is along the I-55 frontage road, most likely north of Litchfield.

By the time I reached Litchfield, it was raining heavily again, and it continued as I neared the St. Louis Metro East area.  I eventually deviated away from I-55, following IL Route 157 into Edwardsville.  Then I went on a short ride on I-270.  I got off track from Route 66 because of some confusion with the brown signs, but eventually, I got back to Route 66, and then reached the Illinois endpoint at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.  To get there, I had to cross over the Chain of Rocks Channel over a one-lane bridge onto Chouteau Island.  I had the satisfaction of achieving my goal for the day as I gazed at the bridge.  It had been quite a journey through big cities and small towns, through fields and a great dose of 20th Century US culture, on a "road less traveled", and yet still appreciated in a distinct way.

While Route 66 no longer officially exists, it is having quite an afterlife, and still provides so much to experience, as I opened myself to traveling off the Interstate roads and going at a leisurely pace taking the byway route, and uncovering so much about a significant part of US culture.

The Illinois side of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.

I then went back east to check into my hotel, the EconoLodge in Granite City.  By this point, the rain was over, and I could see sunset colors from my hotel room.  Then I got on I-270, and headed west over the New Chain of Rocks Bridge into Missouri.  To celebrate its statehood day, and its Bicentennial coming up on August 10, 2021, I went to get dinner at the Florissant location of the St. Louis Bread Company, which you can see in the photo below.  

(By the way, that's the name given to Panera locations in the St. Louis Metro Area, since the company is headquartered in a St. Louis suburb in Missouri).  Then I drove up north a little bit to cross over the Missouri River, and then, after much winding around, I got down south to see the nighttime St. Louis skyline.

The following morning, Tuesday, August 11, I had left the hotel by 10 AM.  I drove west to Chouteau Island.  I parked, and then walked across the Chain of Rocks Bridge to St. Louis, MO, and back, which was the first time I've ever walked across the Mississippi River, which seemed fitting to do on a historic landmark connected to the famed Route 66.  I'm pleased that the bridge still stands as an icon of the historic road at a geographical landmark, and can be used by pedestrians and bicyclists.  Below are some photos I took while on the bridge.

This photo is from near the Missouri edge of the bridge, looking east toward Illinois.  You can see the bend in the middle of the bridge.  That bend was constructed to make for safer boat navigation on this stretch of the Mississippi River.

Appearing faintly off in the distance to the south is the St. Louis skyline

Looking north, with the I-270 New Chain of Rocks Bridge off in the distance

At the bend in the bridge

I learned that the name "Chain of Rocks" is from a collection of rocks scattered in that part of the Mississippi River by glacial activity thousands of years ago.  They made it difficult for boats to navigate that stretch of the river, which was exacerbated by some water intake facilities built in the river, and eventually, a canal was built to bypass the spot, which created Chouteau Island.

I drove a little bit north to a spot near the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, located where they had temporary fortifications near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, where the famed expedition started and ended.  The spot I went to provided a view of the Missouri River's mouth.  It was great to reconnect with the same memorable trip from 15 years ago when I visited this place.

Beyond the boat, near the center of the photo, is the mouth of the Missouri River.

Next, I drove east, stopping on a whim at a farmer's stand to buy produce, before reaching Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where I walked around in their gardens, of which there are two photos below.

Japanese gardens

Here's a sort of circle gathering area.

My final stop in the Metro East Area was at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, where I spent time in prayer at Our Lady of Guadalupe Hill and the Annunciation Garden.  It was a quiet, prayerful place for some good spiritual refreshment.

The Annunciation Garden

At Our Lady of Guadalupe Hill

By 2:30, I was on I-64, headed east.  Then I headed south on I-57, and by the 4:00-5:00 hour, I had reached Marion, and checked in at the EconoLodge there.  After a little while, I headed west on IL State Route 13.  Passing through Carbondale, I thought about my cousin Greg and his family, who spent time here a few years ago as he pursued his doctoral degree.  I drove about an hour or so, attempting to reach a spot where I could get views of the Mississippi River.  I tried driving on a winding dirt road, and got some views from a bluff.  Then I wound my way to Grand Tower, IL, right along the banks of the river, where I caught some views of the sunset sky scene.

The Mississippi River from a bluff view

The Mississippi River from Grand Tower

The following day, Wednesday, August 12, I got some breakfast at Cracker Barrel.  Once finished, I headed west to visit the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, probably my first time visiting such a refuge.  I drove around and stopped a few times to admire the scenery.

Viewing area

View of the eastern area of Crab Orchard Lake

Then I drove north to Johnston City, IL, where I attended noon Mass at St. Paul's Church.  Following Mass, I got on I-57, and then on I-24, all the way to Paducah, where I had lunch at Bob Evan's, around 2 PM.  I had eaten at this same restaurant over 9 years ago when out on a field study trip in college.  It is across the street from a hotel where we stayed the first night of our 11-day trip.  I look forward to enjoying some tasty Bob Evan's food when on a road trip, and this time was no exception.

I gassed up in Paducah, and like in Missouri, prices there were much lower than in Illinois.  I then wound my way through Paducah on US Route 45, and then crossed a two-lane bridge back into Illinois, reaching the town of Brookport.

This is the view of the US 45 Bridge over the Ohio River from the side in Brookport, IL.

I then went to Metropolis, home of Superman, where I stopped for photos of scenic views along the Ohio River, which are in the two photos directly below.

Then I headed north up US 45, a route I drive during my commute to work, traveling through rural farm areas.  I then made my way back to I-57, and then to the Crab Orchard NWR.  I found a nice hiking trail by a fishing pond close to the visitors' center in the 6:00 hour.  The three photos directly below show views from my hike.

I had to cut my hike short since I was without a rain jacket as heavy rain started.  I decided it was a good time for dinner, so I went to Mackie's, a pizza place in Marion.  I ordered a cauliflower crust pizza, which had a distinct and delightful taste, as is shown in the photo below.

When I finished dinner, the rain had slowed.  I drove to take in the scenery at two viewing spots in the Crab Orchard NWR. At the second, I saw a spectacular sunset to the west, and a double rainbow in the opposite part of the sky, which are in the two photos directly below.

The subsequent day, Thursday, after breakfast, I headed west, and went to hike on a portion of the Little Grand Canyon Trail, to a place where I could take in scenic views.

The photos directly above and below show views from a scenic vantage point on the trail, looking in a westerly direction.

Directly above and below are photos of the Little Grand Canyon Trail.  Above shows a turn at the scenic viewing point: to the left is the arduous part of the trail leading to the river level below.

Then, around 1 PM, I went south to visit once again the Bald Knob Cross, which is in the photo below.  I delighted in returning to this place I had visited last summer to take in the amazing views and be in a prayerful, peaceful setting with stunning views of the surrounding area of southern Illinois.

Next, I went to the Inspiration Point Trail, which had views from atop bluffs, as is shown in the photo below.

I stopped in Alto Pass for a quick sandwich meal before continuing in an easterly direction.  After driving nearly an hour or so, I reached the Garden of the Gods, a spectacularly scenic area with distinct sandstone rock formations, including Camel Rock, which is shown in the photo directly below.  

Here are some rock formations as seen on the trail on the short walk from the sparkling lot to the spot where I saw the view in the other photo above. 

I didn't spend too long there because of wet conditions, but got some great views.  Then I drove a short distance east to High Point, up high on a hill, and got this great view of the sun heading toward its setting as it broke through rain clouds:

With that, I made my way back to Marion, arriving just after 7:30.  I stopped at Tequila's near my hotel to get dinner: carnitas.

View of the sunset looking west on Illinois State Route 13, between Marion and Harrisburg

After returning to the hotel and spending some time in the pool, at 9 PM, I joined my friend's Bible study gathering based in California via Zoom.

The next day, Friday, August 14, was my day of departure.  I stopped for some quick shopping at the nearby Kroger.  Then I drove north to Johnston City to get breakfast at Dairy Queen:  The pancakes and the biscuits with gravy were good.  I found a park to enjoy breakfast.  By 11 AM, I was on my way north on I-57.  I stopped in Effingham to visit the Cross at the Crossroads, which I had visited last summer.  Once again, I appreciated the opportunity to be in a prayerful place, with a soaring cross that is awe-inspiring.

The Cross is in the background, and in the foreground is the scene of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, with the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph.

I made some brief stops along the way while driving on I-57 and arrived back in Oak Park around 4 PM.

In the midst of these abnormal times, going out on a journey conjured up so much excitement.  And going into nature was so refreshing as I hiked aroudn and gazed at the splendor of the natural landscapes.  And once again, I had a great opportunity during this week to appreciate what Illinois has to offer with culture and nature, by going at a different pace to be present in it.  There is indeed so much to appreciate in the land.  A trip that took me into southern Illinois last summer gave me a good taste of the Shawnee National Forest area, and so I was glad for the chance to soak in more of it.  It's amazing to think that all these wonderful sites are so close to home, and I feel it is as much a part of my sense of Illinois as the places in Oak Park and Chicagoland.  I was also able to connect in so many ways with other people I know and experiences of the past, and add to them my own new experiences that I had during this weeklong trip.

Like all trips I've had, I got a new lease on life going out for a week, to put myself into new places in a new light to receive what they have to offer me, even a greater appreciation for a sort of simplicity in life.