The Grapes of Reflection 2014

One activity I like to take up at the changing of the year is the Hispanic custom of consuming 12 grapes for the occasion of New Year's, equal to one for each month.  My Grandma put her own spin on it by having each grape signify something.  In the spirit of taking stock of the calendar year 2014 that is drawing to a close, I here offer some reflections on experiences in my life during this year 2014, with 12 grapes to serve as a guide:

Grape #1, my trip to Atlanta:  This was another great opportunity to meet with professionals in the field of meteorology gathered at the AMS Annual Meeting, not to mention colleagues of mine at ValpU.  It was also great seeing the sights, like the Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum, the birthplace of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Georgia State Capitol.  It was all a grand way to mark my first time in Georgia.

Grape #2, my job: It was good to spend the months since February getting some valuable work experience under my belt, not to mention enjoying the chance to spend more time in the heart of downtown Oak Park.

Grape #3, the Sochi Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony:  I always look forward to seeing what kind of show the host country puts on, and this show offered a great expression of Russia, in all its mystical glory.

Grape #4, movies and musicals: I enjoyed the presentation of profound insights about life and humanity, with the 40 film and the movie Million Dollar Arm, as well as The Sound of Music at the Lyric, and then there was an incredible story about faith and the power of redemption in the face of evil in the musical Amazing Grace at the Bank of America Theater.

Grape #5, The Land and the Book live event:  Almost four years after the debut of this weekly Moody program, I was delighted to have the chance to participate in a live recording of this wonderful program at an Elmhurst church, being a frequent listener.  I saw the personalities come alive, and had some fun in the other activities held in between recordings.

Grape #6, Open House Chicago: What a fantastic weekend I had going out and about seeing a different set of sights in Chicago, open specially to the public on this weekend, including splendid houses of worship, and fabulous views of the city from up above.  (This also makes me think back to the excellent time I had touring worship spaces in Oak Park back in June.)

Grape #7, the CC Alumni Reading Group:  I enjoyed passing those few evenings from January to May in the company of Valparaiso University Christ College alumni, sharing thoughts on the contents of our syllabus, and swapping stories from the Plains of Valparaiso (campus, that is), as well as other happenings in our lives.

Grape #8, visits to Valparaiso, and with ValpU friends elsewhere: I delighted going back to Valparaiso to visit with friends and acquaintances on campus and elsewhere in the community on four different occasions.  And I had the chance to visit with ValpU friends outside of Valparaiso:  I went to Madison one weekend to visit two friends, which also gave me my first opportunity to ride on the Megabus, my second bus journey this year after having traveled for the first time on Greyhound, which I used to travel to Atlanta.  Two other very good friends came to visit me in Oak Park.

Grape #9, Father Kevin's 25th Anniversary Celebration: One very special visit I made to Valparaiso was to mark 25 years since Father Kevin's ordination to the priesthood.  His ministry has had an awesome impact on many lives, especially at St. Teresa's, including mine, and it was a distinct honor to be present for this celebration of his milestone.

Grape #10, Archbishop Cupich's Installation in Chicago:  I counted this transition in Archbishops as the first time in my life I witnessed this change in leadership of the Archdiocese of Chicago, because I was too young to follow the proceedings when Cardinal George came to town.  I was very excited when I first heard the news of Blase Cupich's appointment.  And I reveled in the opportunity to view the Installation Mass, where I saw the ceremonial procedures of Archbishop Cupich taking his place at the helm of the Archdiocese, as well as hearing him express his worldview in his homily on the task at hand that all of us in the church share.

Grape #11, giving blood:  For much time, I have feared being poked by needles.  But I've been gradually overcoming this fear, and, wanting to do a measure of good, I finally decided to give of my healthy self and donate blood.  It was a personally empowering experience, as I took another step against my fear.  The experience was enriched by its timing during Lent, when I was pierced, as was Christ, which has resulted in good for someone in need.

Grape #12, participating in Religious Education: One the greatest delights I've had this year is being present in the faith formation of the next generation of the Church, guiding them along in their own individual journeys of faith.  I've done this week after week in RE class, and also monthly preparation meetings for those young people preparing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation.  Within this calendar year, I've had two different groups for each.  It's been great working with a new curriculum for the 2014-15 RE year that has a lot of great content, and I've had a great co-teacher along for the ride.  Not only was I able to empower these young people, but in my role as RE teacher and Confirmation mentor, I've been empowered by putting to good use the faith I've built up over many years in the midst of many circumstances.  And it was a privilege to share about my experiences in a witness talk at the Living Your Strengths reconnection session in June.

So it's time to conclude 2014, a year like all others with its highlights, "low"-lights, and everything in between.  For all these and more, which I'm sure to be pondering for years to come, I render thanks unto God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, holding all times and all our lives in His hands.

News In Review 2014

I keep a close eye on the news stations at this time of year to join them as they look back upon the big stories that happened in the calendar year drawing to a close.  It's interesting how many of these stories I forgot happened earlier within the calendar year as I view their compilations of the stories.

There were a lot of major stories that I feel were almost overdone by the media: the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines flight, the escalating situation in Ukraine (which was tied in with the crash of a Malaysia Airlines flight), the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson and the ensuing unrest, and the Ebola virus.  As for the last headline, I was almost amused to see coverage of the growing Ebola threat diminish in mid to late October as the midterm elections neared.

The elections were a more noteworthy matter for me, despite the media over-hyping them as usual, because of my personal experiences with meeting candidates closer to Election Day.  It was quite something to see the Republican Party win control of the US Senate, and to see Bruce Rauner elected.  It looked like it would be a close election in the Illinois gubernatorial race for a while, but given the state of affairs in Illinois and the tactics of the Rauner campaign, his comfortable victory margin doesn't surprise me too much.  I still retain my sense of cautious optimism, knowing that even with these victories, these officials elect have important, tough work ahead come January 2015 when the new terms start.

In the wake of reeling--if you will--from these Republican victories, President Obama took major actions later in the year, when he issued an executive order on immigration reform, and then, nearly a month later, announced normalizing relations with Cuba.  (He told the story of an Oak Park resident during his State of the Union Address in late January.)

Also on the government scene was the Supreme Court's decision on the case of Hobby Lobby's fight against the HHS mandate.  It was so good that the company owner's constitutional rights to exercise their religious views were protected, and that they won't be forced to cover abortion-inducing drugs.  Yet my elation is tempered by the reality that this decision was made on the basis of a technicality, and much work must be done to more fully secure the conscience rights of the American people, especially in business activities.

On the matter of standing up for rights, Malala Yousafzai, who became an international advocate for female education after having been attacked by the Taliban, won the Nobel Peace Prize.  Unfortunately, it seems the Taliban massacred students at a Pakistan school in retaliation.  Other extremists kidnapped school students in Nigeria, and the ISIS group rose up threateningly in the Middle East, driven by Islam extremism.

On the matter of religion, in September came the announcement that Pope Francis had appointed Blase Cupich, Bishop of Spokane, to succeed Cardinal George as Archbishop of Chicago, with Archbishop Cupich's Installation Mass on November 18.  This was definitely one of the most exciting news event of the year for me, coming in the calendar year after Pope Francis's election.  This came months after a bleak new prognosis of Cardinal George's cancer situation, at which point he urged the Vatican to expedite the process of selecting his successor.  In the wake of this development, Cardinal George had to miss one of the biggest church events ever: the dual canonizations of Popes Saints John XXIII and John Paul II on April 27.  It was meaningful for me to take in the canonization of a Pope I had gotten to know in my own lifetime.

Also very noteworthy for me was the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.  What an opening ceremony they put on!  And how notable that Oak Parker Emery Lehman participated, although I didn't get the chance to view him in action, nor did I get to view the one winter sport that intrigues me the most, curling, because I lacked access to the airings on cable stations.  Despite not winning any medals, it seems he performed in more stellar fashion than many of the professional sports teams in Chicago, namely the two animalistically-related ones, the Cubs and the Bears.  On the other hand, Chicago reveled in the titles the Jackie Robinson West team won at the Little League World Series.

The world also remembered the 100th Anniversary of the start of World War I, aware from this vantage point in history of how much the order of societies and nations changed as a result.  Closer to home, the United States marked the Bicentennial of the "The Star-Spangled Banner", which Francis Scott Key wrote after the inspiring sight of the American flag flying to declare the US victory at the  Battle at Fort McHenry.  The state of Nevada marked 150 years of statehood, which came in the midst of raging war at that time.

Speaking of raging and fires, even closer to home were fires that caused some significant disruptions.  In September, an employee started a fire at an Aurora FAA facility that disrupted airline operations in the greater Chicago/Northeast Illinois area.  Then, on November 11, workers handling a tank with gas caused a fiery explosion at the Turano garage in southern Oak Park, disrupting traffic on Roosevelt Road and cutting off power to hundreds of nearby homes for a few hours, including mine.

Just months after a runaway train crashed at the other end of the line near Oak Park, in March, a CTA Blue Line train jumped the tracks at the terminus O'Hare Airport station and crashed into the escalators in the early morning hours after the train operator dozed off.  Also in transit news, the CTA completed its rollout of the Ventra transit system, which is generally overcoming most of the problems that initially plagued it.  I got my own Ventra card in February, just days before starting to use public transit regularly to commute to work, leaving behind the CTA Chicago Card.

We said goodbye to some important individuals in 2014, including Jane Byrne, Chicago's only female mayor who successfully took on the political machine in Chicago in a great political upset.  And how shocked I was when I heard the news that Judy Baar Topinka had passed away, after having won a second term as Illinois State Comptroller.  On the entertainment scene, actor Robin Williams and child star actress Shirley Temple Black both passed away.  And very recently, Al Piemonte departed from us, whose face was an institution in the business of car sales, familiar from all those ads for Al Piemonte Ford at 25th and North Avenue.

It was an intersection in Oak Park that made headlines when plans proceeded ahead for the development at Lake and Forest.  The parking garage was finally torn down, long after the building came down that once stood by it that housed the Original Pancake House and a grocery store, among other businesses, leaving a large empty lot.  While we await the completion of the building there, we in Oak Park have new businesses to patronize in the downtown Oak Park area, including Red Mango and Lou Malnati's.

The weather made big headlines, especially at the beginning of the year with the extreme cold that permeated much of the nation.  Normal activities, like schools and commerce, were majorly impacted by two bouts of subzero temperatures in the Chicagoland area.  The impacts reached far south, where the Atlanta Metro Area experienced a snow/ice event that shut everything down, stranding motorists on roads and students at school.

But it was a different story on the West Coast, where temperatures were well above normal, even all the way up into Alaska, which was part of the reason why the bitter Arctic cold permeated so far south.  Furthermore, much of the globe during those winter months experienced above average temperatures--even Sochi, Russia, experienced spring-like conditions during the Winter Olympics.  Later, in November, a major lake-effect snow event accumulated foot upon foot of snowfall in narrow bands in the area of Buffalo, NY.  In the Chicago area, a cold November was followed by a more temperate December, which is set to tie a record for the least snowy December in Chicago recorded weather history, having only a trace of snowfall, not to mention the lack of sunshine.

The wintry cold earlier in the year persisted, held at bay in a reservoir over Lake Michigan for weeks, keeping temperatures quite cool into April.  Then came a wet June, followed by a rather dry, and not so hot July and August.  And meanwhile, the Atlantic basin remained relatively quiet, with few tropical systems forming.

Keeping an eye on the weather, Al Roker went on a marathon effort and set a world record for the longest TV weather broadcast, 34 hours.  And Julia Collins, resident of Chicago suburb Kenilworth, IL, won 20 straight games on Jeopardy!, the most ever for a female contestant, and a string only exceeded by the famed Ken Jennings.

I guess we've been going on a marathon pace of sorts reviewing all that's happened this year, and I'm certain I've forgotten a few other events.  But now that 2014 is headed into the books, history shall take it from here as we look upon these events from its lens.

Planetary Motivations

Earlier this year, the IPCC released its Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) on the state of global climate change.  It is another contribution to the discussion of this hot-button issue, featuring the latest findings of scientific research into this phenomenon.

Many scientists are declaring that they have evidence that global climate change is definitely happening, and action is needed now to avert catastrophic consequences.  Others in the arena, including politicians, and other citizen/advocates, are calling for drastic action, too, all because a doomsday scenario on its way.  Some are going so far as to say "the debate is over", and viciously shutting down any one who would dare express skepticism or try to say global climate change is a sham.

I don't necessarily have expertise in climate change, even from my studies in meteorology as an undergraduate, because meteorology is focused more on hourly or daily conditions, whereas climate focuses more on weather that occurs over months, years, decades, and centuries.  Nevertheless, I garnered enough ideas from my studies to recognize that climate change is complex, affected by many factors.

One thing I've noticed in the past few years is a change in the verbiage used by climate change advocates.  They used to refer it by the phrase "global warming", saying temperatures across the planet are on the rise, with dire effects in store.  But I've noticed a shift toward the phrase "global climate change" recently, which I applaud, because it hints at the great complexity of the matter.

For example, it could be said that the extremely cold and snowy nature of the 2014 winter in the central US was caused by global warming, but such a statement doesn't sufficiently explain the whole picture.  Increasing planetary temperatures most affect the polar regions.  When the polar regions warm, the cold air that is normally based there gets dislodged and travels toward the Equator.  In the case of last winter, this brutally cold Arctic air headed far south into the United States.  So temperatures are not necessarily warming uniformly across the planet.  As such, it would be more accurate to say that global climate change caused last winter to be especially cold, rather than "global warming".

I also know from my scientific studies that we can hardly claim the debate is "over".  Science is never something that is firm and set in stone.  It's constantly changing, as new observations reveal new findings about our universe.  Global climate change is no exception.  So while findings suggest something is going on with the planet's climate, I'm not convinced we can make such firm conclusions yet.  (Notice also that the change in wording from "global warming" to "global climate change" also corroborates the idea of how science changes.)

And I feel that's why I take issue with those who say global climate change is a reality, because they're so vicious in their rhetoric, insisting they're right, and anyone who disagrees is outright wrong, which I sense hints at some kind of ulterior motive that doesn't respect science.

I also detest the fear-mongering employed by people who promote climate change.  When I was younger, I used to hear reports on the news about scientists announcing that global climate change was happening and it would lead to drastic consequences, like polar ice diminishing, sea levels rising, and more intense natural disasters.  And I would sit there, filling up with fear that the Earth was headed toward a doomsday.

At a certain point, I wanted to stop being afraid, and so I began denying climate change was a reality, embracing the rhetoric of climate change skeptics.

But now, I feel the real issue holding me back from joining with climate change advocates is their tactics.  They spend so much time publishing reports and talking about the terrible effects of climate change, both in the present and future, but they don't spend nearly as much time talking about what kinds of practical solutions we should act on.  If they really think the Earth is headed toward doomsday, why don't they talk up practical solutions like there's no tomorrow?  They should also spend much more time in civil dialogue with climate change skeptics.  The reality is that the solutions to global climate change are as complex as the phenomenon itself.  We should spend much more time in conversation about the solutions instead of endlessly discussing the problem itself, especially what actions I can personally take in my own daily life, as much as what governments and corporations can do.

And ultimately, I feel we'll be better served by these kind of motives, because it will spur us on to take the right kind of reasonable actions.  Let's be motivated by a healthy desire to care for this beautiful planet God has created, and an awareness of our responsibility to be good stewards of it.  Let's do our part in the little things of our lives to take care of the environment.  Let's take reasonable steps to stop unreasonable pollution of the environment, without taking impulsive actions motivated by fear-mongering or other extremist rhetoric that disrupt people's lives.  This, I feel, will be better for us, and for the planet.

United States and Cuba: Relationship and Reconciliation

I was very intrigued when I heard President Obama's announcement that the United States and Cuba are normalizing relations for the first time since a Communist regime came to power in Cuba in 1959.

The actions the United States took at that time to cut all diplomatic ties and impose an embargo were probably not all that unreasonable back then.  But the world is different now that the Cold War is over and Communist governments no longer pose the same kind of threat they did.  And given that the embargo hasn't had its intended effect, I suppose it's worth trying a different strategy in responding to the troubles that Cuba poses.

Certainly in more recent years, there has been plenty of exchanging between Americans and Cubans.  I think back to 2005, when I was in 8th grade, and one of my fellow classmates went on a trip to Cuba with her team to play softball with a team there.  From what I heard from her and from news coverage of their trip, they had some positive interactions with their Cuban counterparts.

Of course, critics of this action are right to point out that Cuba has to address its abuses of human rights.  Keeping that in mind is important to building a relationship with Cuba from here on out, the United States doing its part as a member of the international community to effect the right kind of domestic change within a foreign country, even while allowing the flow of trade and commerce.

One thing that struck me from these proceedings was the role Pope Francis and Vatican played in helping mediate.  It's notable how the Church is taking on a diplomatic role among the world powers in our present day, centuries after playing on the world stage as its own political power.  Pope Francis--himself from a Hispanic country--is leading the way in taking an active role to help bring about healthy encounters among all the peoples of the world.  It speaks to the mission of the Church to bring about reconciliation, in the spirit that Christ reconciled us to God, and this diplomatic action is a very real example of such reconciliation playing out on the world stage.  We're sure to find a measure of success with that kind of worldview prevailing.

Immigration: Who's Job is it?

President Obama's announcement of his executive order taking action on immigration reform last month has rekindled in a whole new way the discussion on the problem of the broken immigration system in the United States.

President Obama's speech on November 20 made me think back to a speech President George W. Bush gave in May 2006.  As I looked over the major points of each, I couldn't help but notice the similar intentions of each President: secure and strengthen the borders, provide easier means for those who want to work in the United States to do so, deporting immigrants who are criminals, and deal with the many law-abiding immigrants here already without proper documents, by making them pay penalties and then go through a strict process to obtain citizenship, in line behind those who followed the rules, all the while respecting the rich heritage of our country as a nation of immigrants.

The big difference this time around is that President Obama is taking matters into his own hand by issuing an executive order.  Certainly, the concept of the executive order is only implied in the US Constitution as one of the powers of the President, and it should be carefully used.  The problem I see with President Obama's executive order, besides the fact that he's using it when there's no immediate pressing need, is that it's only a band-aid for a large, complex issue.  It doesn't really do all that much, because the President by himself, can only do so much to remedy the problem.  (In fact, looking over the executive order, I can't really even tell what it's exactly doing.)

The real solution needs to come from Congress's passing a bill for comprehensive immigration reform.  Because that hasn't happened, people like President Obama are being pushed to take these kinds of actions, similar to how Arizona passed a controversial immigration law a few years ago, because the federal government hasn't been effectively doing its job.  It's time for Congress members to come together, with other experts on the various particulars of immigration system, to craft legislation that will thoroughly resolve the issues and provide for a better process for immigrants to the United States.

The Matter of War

As we look over world history, it's hard to ignore the reality that wars drive the sequence of events.  This year 2014 marks significant events in wars of history:

It's been 100 years since the outbreak of World War I in the summer of 1914.

December 24 marks 200 years since the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, which concluded the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain.

There are two things I, in a sense, resign myself to, which I feel I should be outraged by, and one of them is the idea of war.  How awful that human beings come to a point where, to settle a conflict, they take up weapons and inflict harm, and even death, in the worst way upon each other.  We condemn such violence in our own sphere, such as when someone shoots someone else fatally in our communities, yet the tendency exists to more or less approve it when it happens on a large scale in war.

Of course, usually the breaking point that leads to the outbreak of war comes as a result of various factors building upon one another, as many and varied factors lead triggered World War I.  For example, I once remember a high school reading assignment about a conference in Berlin in the late 19th Century in which the European powers divided up Africa into colonies, and a friend, seeing my reading, remarked that the conference drew the battle lines for World War I--decades ahead of time, when these powers probably weren't thinking of fighting each other.

It was from this complex, tangled mess of factors that a regional conflict commenced that soon engulfed much of Europe, and beyond.  Its outcome, which placed much of the punishment on Germany, eventually triggered the rise of the Nazis and then World War II, which then triggered the Cold War.  In the midst of the Cold War's closing years, the seeds for the War on Terrorism were planted, which were also influenced by the aftermath of World War I.

Indeed, armed conflicts have steered the course of world history.

But if we go to the heart of the matter, we realize that these warring desires are ultimately embedded within our own hearts, because we as a human race, are fallen, and so our hearts incline to do evil to one another.  From there arise the complicated matters of when to use force as a just means to stop evil.

Truly this is something that can only be resolved when Jesus Christ comes to reign in fullness over the Earth at the End of Time, something which we anticipate during the Advent Season as much as we await the yearly celebration of Christ's Nativity.

In that light, perhaps we can take a cue from something that happened on the Nativity Day occasion 100 years ago.  In the midst of fighting in the trenches during the early months of World War I, both sides declared the Christmas Truce.  They ceased their fire and lay down their weapons and exchanged gestures of good will for a few hours.

Let us look beyond our warring world to the God of Peace.  Let us welcome Him into our hearts so that He may reign, and so be bearers of His peace, as we await the day when the fullness of His reign comes to our world, and all violence shall cease.

Come Lord Jesus.

Peace be with you all as we come upon the annual commemoration of the birth of the One who is the Prince of Peace.

The Changing of the Cathedra and the Crozier

It's a momentous time in the Archdiocese of Chicago, as Cardinal George is retired, and Archbishop Blase Cupich is now at the helm.  I can still remember the excitement back in September, my heart jumping when I heard the news of his appointment.  (I was half-wishing that Wilton Gregory would be appointed Archbishop of Chicago, given that's he from Chicago and is a minority, both of which would suit him well here.  But the great thing about the Roman Catholic Church is how our leaders are appointed for us by individuals in a hierarchy under the Pope, who is chosen and who leads by the power of the Holy Spirit.  So ultimately, I see God is the one who's making the appointments, and I trust myself to what He decides.)

I sensed the immensity of the occasion while watching Archbishop Cupich's Installation Mass, which I taped because I was at work while it was happening live.  While I was around when Cardinal George was installed back in 1997, I was too young to really follow what was happening.  So this was the first time in my life I witnessed the change in leadership for the Archdiocese of Chicago.  It was quite a scene to watch the many bishops process into Holy Name Cathedral--and then to see them remove and don their miters in unison at the various points during the Mass.

It was amazing to see the workings of the Church as Cardinal Vigano, the Apostolic Nuncio, read the mandate from Pope Francis, and then the consent being given by the assembly, and then to see Blase Cupich walk up to and then take his place at the Cathedra, the symbol of his authority as Archbishop, and then receive the crozier, which apparently was used by Cardinal Mundelein.

One of the things mentioned by the commentators was how Blase Cupich has such a sense of history, exemplified in the design of his coat of arms, and his choice to have the Installation Mass on November 18, the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul in Rome, the name of the parish of his grandparents in Omaha.

And he spoke well of our mission as the Church in his homily.  In a time when the Roman Catholic Church faces troublesome issues, the departure of many of its members, and the daunting task of reaching out to the young people, Archbishop Cupich reminded us to look to Christ, who beckoned Peter to come out of the boat to Him on the water, with the oft repeated, Do Not be Afraid.

For me, I see that I must not be afraid, and turn toward Christ who first beckoned me into this life of faith in Him, and continues to beckon me to walk out on the water.  By so doing, my faith will come alive.  One part of his homily especially spoke to me, that we should not be afraid to share with young people how God has worked in our lives.  As a Religious Educaiton teacher, that gives me fresh encouragement as I seek to minister to the young people in my class, guiding them on in their journey to embrace faith for themselves.

I look forward to seeing what Blase Cupich makes of his time in the Archdiocese of Chicago.  I feel he has a lot to offer, even from just his homily at the Installation Mass, with words of wisdom, encouragement, and humor. His background in an immigrant family, and then his time interacting with aboriginal Americans in the Diocese of Rapid City, SD, make him ready to interact with the diverse groups of people here in the Archdiocese of Chicago.  I can also see his conciliatory tone, and hope it will open up dialogue.  (This puts my mind at ease, because I was a bit concerned about how he instructed priests in the Diocese of Spokane not to participate in Planned Parenthood protests, and wouldn't say anything against the HHS mandate in the ACA.  I hope these were done in a spirit to get people to dialogue about these issues, and prohibit confrontation.  If more dialogue comes about as a result, I hope it results in meaningful resolutions that address all facets of these troublesome issues.)

So we're off in the boat with Archbishop Cupich.  And it was good having Cardinal George along for the ride for 17 years.  He was a strong voice for the Truth, the church, and the faith.  I especially appreciated this when he spoke up about the validity of one's values in the wake of the controversy when Chick fil A sought to open another restaurant in Chicago, and got backlash because of the company owners' stance on marriage as it should be.  He is also a very scholarly individual, which even showed in the way he spoke about these important moral issues in society.  And he showed a good deal of personableness when interacting with individuals, which I had the privilege of experiencing for myself on the few occasions I met him.  So yes, I look forward to seeing what roles he takes on in retirement.  (This link takes you to a broadcast of the Relevant Radio program A Closer Look, on November 14, which devoted an hour-long panel discussion to Cardinal George upon his retirement.)

Godspeed and God Bless to Archbishop Cupich and Archbishop Emeritus George.  I'm sure with Jesus Christ along, it will be quite a ride.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

I'm a real foodie, and with turkey as my number one favorite food, I've always regarded Thanksgiving Day as my favorite holiday.  (I like turkey so much, in fact, that I'm convinced I could eat it constantly without tiring of it.  I even remember when I turned 14 and I requested an oven baked turkey for dinner on my birthday, which is in March, and my parents kindly obliged.)  But recently, something else has surfaced as an even greater reason for this occasion being a favorite holiday of mine.

I noticed it while I getting a head start on this year's celebration watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, a true classic, which aired Wednesday evening on ABC, rather than on Thursday.  After things turn a bit disastrous with the dinner prepared for the unintended guests, Marcie makes an important statement, that Thanksgiving is more than eating.  She goes on to remind Charlie that the Pilgrims, whose experience was the origin for this holiday, were grateful that they had made it through so much, as should we, concluding we should be thankful for just being together.

No where do I sense this idea of being thankful for being together more than at Mass.  I couldn't think of a more appropriate way to celebrate Thanksgiving than being at Mass, at whose very heart is the Eucharist, which comes from the Greek for "thanksgiving".

It's a special time for the people of Ascension Parish to gather.  This year, someone came up with the touching idea to have several parishioners share their thanksgivings during the homily time at Mass.  Those who spoke reached deep down to share about emotional experiences, even of heartache and distress, in their lives that brought them in tune with God's graces, as well as the little joys of life.  I felt that this sharing of stories speaks to how every time we gather as a Church, we bring these troubles and cares with us to the altar, where God, who knows our sufferings intimately, brings us healing through His sacramental presence, and transforms us to be His presence in our world of suffering.

I think about how I have gone forth to make much of the faith I have received as a gift, especially in my involvement with Religious Education, spending Tuesday evenings week after week in class, and evenings month after month with the Confirmation students.  Even in the midst of the challenges that have arisen over the past year, I have still known joy as I let God work through my offering of myself in service in this ministry.

I think back to April on the Sunday of the Catechist Appreciation Brunch, when we catechists were all recognized for our services.  It was a special time to be thanked for my involvement in something that gives me such great joy, ministering to young people in their faith formation as I guide them on their own journey of faith, which has impacted my own faith.

And I remember how God has worked in my life, even in the early years, such as 15 1/2 years ago on a Sunday in May in the St. Giles Parochial School gymnasium, when I first went to that table of Thanksgiving to partake of Christ offers His very Self.

The presidential proclamations for a national day of Thanksgiving, first by President George Washington in 1789, then by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, speak of how this occasion is to be a day to turn unto God, remembering His blessings, and continuously seeking Him so that this nation would prosper.  What I like so much about Thanksgiving Day is that it is a genuinely American Holy Day.  We pause to look unto God who is so good to us, and seek Him to be our guide as we go forth as a people of this country to live in true righteousness, which He imparts to us through the merits of His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Opening up Chicago

The city of Chicago is known for many famous sites, which represent a substantial cross section of American architecture.  And the general public was given a great opportunity to visit 150 of these places across the city, many of which are not normally open to the public, on Open House Chicago (OHC) weekend, October 18-19.  After having missed out on the event before, I was eager to dive in for this year's event and make the rounds seeing places.

(Before I go further, I have a couple of notes: The first link given for each site goes to a website for that place, while the second link goes to the information on the OHC website for that particular place.  Also, because of an issue that arose with my camera, I have no pictures of the Ukrainian Village churches I saw, but there are plenty of pictures for the other sites.)

So on Saturday morning, I made my way on the Blue Line and then the #50 Damen bus to Ukrainian Village to visit the four churches there open for tours.  I had an appointment in that area way back in January, and I took note of two spectacular churches there.  But they weren't open, leaving me only opportunity to see the exteriors, and looking forward to the chance to go inside, which came with OHC.

Additionally, I have a growing fascination with sacred spaces.  Whenever I enter into a church for the first time, I always take note of the physical features of the space, and how it fits in with the history and culture of the congregation, as well as to how it speaks to the religious/spiritual practices of the people who gather there.

The first church I saw was Saints Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church.  The church's interior seemed a bit smaller than I had expected from the sizable exterior.  But walking inside the sanctuary was a big "wow" moment:  It seemed every square inch of space was covered with religious artwork, depicting stories from the Bible, especially Jesus and the prophets, and the saints since the time of the Bible, all in the style of Eastern Christian iconography.  (And I'm pretty sure this was the first time I had set foot in an Eastern Catholic Church.)

Next up was St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, a short walk north on Oakley Boulevard.  The church's interior seemed a bit smaller in comparison to the grand exterior with its towers and domes, and while it didn't seem as if the inside was as fully decorated as at Sts. Volodymyr and Olha, it was still pretty amazing.  Unlike at the other Ukrainian Village churches I visited this day, I could get a clear view of the altar through the screen, which wasn't covered by a curtain, and was designed to provide a less obstructed view.  The people at the church were actively handing out literature about their church, especially materials discussing how the Ukrainian Catholic Church fits into the structure of the Catholic Church, and its relationship with the Roman Catholic Church, which got me into the start of some discussions about the practice of the Roman Catholic versus Eastern Catholic churches.

I then took a walk a few blocks north to St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, which, as far as I know, is the first time I've ever entered an Orthodox church.  Notably, the building once was used for a Lutheran congregation, as many of the features of its physical appearance show, like the Gothic arches, and dark wooden pews.  But it is now outfitted for the Orthodox congregation that currently uses it, including the screen in front of the altar, and the iconography.

The final church I saw was Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral on Leavitt.  This church was the smallest of the four.  Louis Sullivan designed it around 1900, modeling it after churches typically found in the Russian countryside.  The typical Eastern iconography was present throughout.  Notably, there are no fixed pews inside the sanctuary.  Instead, the congregation uses chairs that can be easily moved.

I also got into some more in-depth theological discussions with the people there, including .  A man there was explaining the screen, saying that in the Eastern churches, the screen is not intended to cut people off from God's presence, but to represent how the people strive from worshiping God in this life to fully entering His presence through the death and Resurrection of Christ.  I thought back to the Eastern churches' emphasis on the Resurrection that I learned about at St. Nicholas, and asked the man about that.  Not being entirely sure how to answer me, he took me to the the Dean, Archpriest John Adamcio, who explained to me that the emphasis on the Resurrection is because Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead.  Also, the church services, the Divine Liturgies, are intended to simulate Heaven.

With that, it was time to head downtown, which I did via the #70 Division bus to Milwaukee Avenue and then the Blue Line.  The first place I saw downtown was the Chicago Temple, First United Methodist Church.  The congregation dates back to before Chicago was officially incorporated as a city in 1837, and had several buildings before constructing its present building on Washington between Dearborn and Clark in the 1920s.  The prominent feature of this church was the Sky Chapel, but there was a line for it.  However, the woman checking people in, sensing my hesitancy to wait, told me it was worth it--and she was right!

After waiting about 15 minutes or so for my ticket number to be called--they had a very efficient system to get people moving through by giving out a set quantity of tickets with the same number to stagger the flow of visitors in groups--I got on an elevator to go up more than 20 floors, and then walked up more than 100 stairs to the Sky Chapel (see picture directly below).

It is a small, intimate space, plainly adorned.  The stained glass windows had images and were grouped according to different themes, from Old Testament stories to the Church in the United States.  I took a peak through two of the open windows for some amazing views of the city, over 400 feet above street level (see picture directly below).  (By the way, Monday through Saturday, at 2 PM, the church gives tours of the Sky Chapel to the public, as well as on Sunday after church services.)

On my way down, I stopped by the pastor's private patio, open specially for OHC, which had some great views.  (It was also nice at this point that the rain had stopped for the first time since I had first headed out in the morning.)

After a quick lunch, I went to the Tribune Tower, but decided to ditch a tour there since there was such a long line, and head over to Lake Point Tower by Navy Pier.  (On my walk there, I stepped inside a town house that was having an open house for prospective buyers, just for the "thrills" of seeing the inside.)

Lake Point Tower represented for me the essence of OHC is all about, an opportunity to see inside a building that is a familiar site, beyond what we can usually see, even a spectacle unto itself.  The first of two areas open for OHC I saw was the outdoor area, about three stories above street level.  This area had a large grassy lawn area on the east side, with playground equipment in one corner (see directly below).

On the west side, within full view of Lake Shore Drive, is a spectacularly landscaped garden area (see directly below), with a pond, waterfall, stone path, seating area for dining, and some kind of grill.  I kept going "wow" as I walked around and took pictures--to think something this incredible is right there.

As if that wasn't great enough, it only got better when I headed up to the Cite restaurant on floor 70, for amazing 360 degree views of the city, and Lake Michigan.  While this pricey restaurant is open to the public, I was so glad to have the chance to move around and take in the views, which I feel are the best in the city, because Lake Point Tower is right by the lakefront, and offers unobstructed views of the Lake and lakefront areas.

This picture looks east out into Lake Michigan, with Navy Pier appearing toward the right, and the Jardine Water Filtration Plant appearing toward the left.

Here's a view toward the southwest, with the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago, including the Sears Tower far back

Thanks to the woman who kindly obliged my request to get a photo of me.  The view out the windows is to the south, with Lake Michigan and the lakefront areas that include Grant Park.

That was a wrap for Saturday.  But I was back at it on Sunday.

I headed downtown, and then picked up the #6 Jackson Park Express bus, which takes a great drive along Lake Shore Drive, nonstop from Roosevelt Road to 47th Street.  I got off near Lake Park Avenue and Hyde Park Boulevard, and headed due west to the KAM Isaiah Israel Synagogue at Greenwood Avenue (see directly below).  As I neared the synagogue, there were lots of barricades present and signs noting the area is under the surveillance of the United States Secret Service because of the owners of the home across the street from the synagogue are none other than Barack and Michelle Obama.  (The security was tighter this day because the Obamas were coming home later that day to attend a fundraiser in town.  I was told about an hour before I showed up there were bomb-sniffing dogs all over.)

The synagogue has a Byzantine design, which is supposed to evoke the Eastern origins of Judaism.  The chimney is even designed like a minaret, which I thought was more typical for a mosque than a Jewish synagogue.

It was very meaningful for me to step inside the synagogue for a visit, because of the impact the Jewish people have had in my life.  When I first came into contact with large numbers of Jews upon starting middle school, their openness about their religion led me to a great appreciation of my own faith, especially recognizing that they practiced faith in the one true God for centuries before Christ came and started the Church.  I couldn't help but think about this especially as I was talking with a woman there while waiting to enter the sanctuary, and she pointed out the Cross I was wearing, or as she put it, "I see you're wearing a sign of your faith."  I hadn't even taken much thought to the idea of my walking into a synagogue wearing a Cross around my neck, but then again, that's the appreciation for faith I carry everywhere, which I owe in part to my interactions with Jewish people.

A woman from the synagogue took us a group of us inside the main sanctuary (see picture directly above), which is not often used by the congregation, and gave us a brief talk about the history of the congregation, and explained the space of the sanctuary, including the adornments and the doors of the ark, which appears in the bottom middle part of the picture, behind the podium on the stage.  I was particularly drawn to images of Isaiah and Moses, as well as Scripture verses in the stained glass windows, which very much speak to my own Christian tradition.  The congregation's name KAM, is an acronym for the Hebrew phrase "Kehilath Anshe Ma'arav", which means "Congregation of Men of the West", referring to its being in what was once the western part of the United States.  It started in downtown Chicago in the 19th Century as part of the reform Judaism movement, and eventually migrated to its present location as the members moved further from downtown, and merged with the Isaiah Israel congregation.

As I left, the woman pointed out the synagogue community's sukkot, still up from the recent celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, in the garden area by the synagogue's school.

The sukkot is the wooden structure that appears in this photo.

Given the security along Hyde Park Boulevard, I decided to head north on Greenwood, and then back east along 50th Street, passing by some very swanky Kenwood homes.

I boarded the #6 bus to get back downtown, and disembarked at Michigan and Balbo to see the two hotels there that had special suites open for public viewing.  I had not originally planned to see them, but decided to add them in because the circumstances fell into place.

The Chicago Hilton and Towers Hotel had its north Imperial Suite open for OHC, over 20 floors up.  The suite has two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, as well as a living room space, with incredible views of the lakefront areas, and a small kitchen.  I heard someone ask a hotel staffperson the price, which is $7000 per night.

Thanks kindly to the person who got this photo of me taking it easy at the large dining table in the Imperial Suite.

This photo shows the living room area.

A view to the northeast from the Imperial Suite.

Right across Balbo Drive to the north, the Blackstone Renaissance Hotel opened up its Presidential Suite for OHC.  Several US presidents stayed there, including John F. Kennedy.  The bedroom in the suite is actually modeled after the Kennedy Bedroom in the White House (see picture directly below).

Interestingly, there is also a room with red walls in the suite, just like the Red Room in the White House.  (Thanks kindly to the woman who took this picture of me lounging in the red room.)

 There's also another room with a couch and a dining table, and a bathroom.  (This suite is clearly smaller than the Imperial Suite, and costs a few hundred dollars a night.)

Oh, and there were great views from this suite, too:

This photo looks south-southeast from the President Suite toward the southern part of Grant Park, the Museum Campus,and Soldier Field.  To the right in the foreground is the Chicago Hilton and Towers Hotel.

I felt that the tours of these two hotel suites also spoke to the essence of what OHC is all about.  While only the wealthy may be able to use them as intended, this weekend was democratic in the sense that any person could come in and see them.

What a fantastic weekend it was going out and about in Chicago.  I got to venture into some areas I don't go into often, like Hyde Park/Kenwood and Ukrainian Village, and used the public transportation system in different ways in so doing.  I had the amazing opportunity to see sites that are away from public eye, and are quite a treasure.  I fostered my interest in sacred spaces, too, and came to know more about the traditions these spaces represent, adding news ideas to my own sense of religion, which was especially meaningful for me as I celebrated the 9th anniversary of my Confirmation, which came a few days before this weekend.

I am deeply appreciative of those who made it possible for these sites to be open, especially those normally off-limits to the general public, so that everyone could experience them.  I am grateful to the religious congregations for opening their doors in welcoming people in to experience the places where they worship and experience God--which itself was a great opportunity for people to mingle with those of different religious traditions.  In the end, it is these individual places, and the people who are part of them, that together make Chicago the great city it is.  And what an opportunity OHC provided on this weekend, all by opening up 150 different pieces of Chicago.

Some Reality in the 2014 Campaign Season

As usual, the 2014 campaign season was chock full of activity, as the candidates talked it up in trying to win over voters, and the commentators talked about the candidates all the time.

Fortunately, some of the candidates became real for me in a way beyond all the talk in the final two weeks before Election Day.  On Friday, October 24, I attended an event with Bruce Rauner at Good Earth Greenhouse in River Forest.  There was quite a throng of people present during the evening.  Mr. Rauner showed up well after the event started, though, but I was glad he did show up before I had to leave for another engagement.  I stood near the entrance of the place, and shook his hand before his handlers whisked him through a side entrance to the stage where he gave a few remarks.  There was abundant energy in the room as he made his case for being the person who could tackle the task of changing the state government and bringing Illinois back to a state of greatness again, and how lots of people, even Democrats, made a point to tell him he had their votes.

While awaiting Mr. Rauner, one of the people mingling among all the attendees was Tom Cross, Republican candidates for State Treasurer.  I had the opportunity to shake his hand and chat very briefly with him as he was making the rounds.

A few days later, on Tuesday, as I was biking to work, I stopped by the entrance of the Oak Park Avenue Green Line station, and there were two people there handing out campaign literature.  It turns out that one of the them was none other than Paul Schimpf, Republican candidate for Attorney General of Illinois.  He was handing out these cards with his biographical information and legal experience on one side, and a recipe on the others side.  He told me he got the idea for a recipe/campaign card while working with a Minnesota politician a few years ago.  The recipe he featured was a simple one he used to make while stationed in Guantanamo Bay.  I made a point to tarry for a couple of minutes to talk with him.  He seems like a pretty good person, and I was glad to have the chance to meet him.

A few days after that, on Friday, an unsuitable biking day, I got off the Oak Park Avenue bus, and walked over to the same station entrance to see the Hoy front page.  There was a large group of people there handing out campaign stickers, and I could tell they were promoting the Democratic Party.  Soon enough, I realized that US Senator Dick Durbin was standing there, meeting and greeting with voters.  (Illinois State Senator Don Harmon and Oak Park Village Board President Anan Abu-Taleb were standing next to Senator Durbin.)  I definitely disagree with his politics overall, enough to decline Dick Durbin stickers from the people who offered them to me, saying I wasn't going to vote for him.  But in that moment, I felt like putting politics aside to relish the opportunity for the first time in my life to meet in person a US Senator, in my own neck of the woods of all places, and chat with him briefly.  That was certainly an interesting way to get the day revved up.

After spending a chunk of time on the following Sunday morning doing my voting research, Dad put the idea into my head of early voting, so I went over to Oak Park Village Hall to do just that.

And then came Election Day, which brought quite a change in atmosphere.  When this day comes around, there's a sense of "finally, it's here and and the campaigning is done", as the voters get to speak, and then the results.

I have mixed feelings about the results.  First and foremost, I was disappointed I didn't have the opportunity to vote yes for the redistricting reform amendment to the Illinois Constitution.  I am hopeful, though, that despite being blocked by Mike Madigan's cronies, a new effort will soon arise and finish the task.

As for the candidates, it's unfortunate that the only candidate with substantive pro-life views in the governor's race was Chad Grimm, the Libertarian candidate, which is unusual for a Libertarian.  Pat Quinn and Bruce Rauner are not very committed to the pro-life cause, and so that made my decision of which gubernatorial candidate to vote for difficult.

I also recognize that given the stances of Bruce Rauner and Mike Madigan/the heavily Democratic-controlled Illinois General Assembly, they are both in a position to lock horns, and it's going to take effort for them to work together.  It's certainly also going to take effort for President Obama and the Republican-controlled Congress to work together, especially considering the Republicans don't have veto-proof majorities in either House.

But overall, I can say I'm pleased with the results of the November 2014 elections.  It's good that Bruce Rauner will bring a fresh presence to the Illinois governor's office.  And furthermore, Mr. Rauner is a tough person, and won't allow himself to be turned into a pawn, like Pat Quinn was by Mike Madigan.  While it's hard to say how things will turn out once the real work begins, the beauty of the democratic process is that in a few years, we have opportunity to change things up again in another election.

So congratulations Bruce Rauner and Evelyn Sanguinetti.  Godspeed to you and all those elected as you head off into your new terms of office.

Bruce Rauner speaking at the Good Earth Greenhouse event on Friday, October 24, 2014

Way to go Bruce Rauner!

A Landmark Status and a Landmark Figure

It's official, and there's a plaque now to show it.

A piece of the legacy of one of the most prominent political figures from a notable family with strong ties to Illinois is now a National Historic Landmark.  The man was Adlai Stevenson II, and the landmark is his home in Mettawa, in Lake County, IL, which was designated a landmark last April, and the official plaque presentation ceremony was October 12.

I'm always on the look out for the kinds of sites that are not as well noted, but tell significant stories.  And that's what piqued my interest when I saw a story on Chicago Tonight that Mr. Stevenson's home attained landmark status.

Looking for an opportunity to go on an outing somewhere, and seeing this as something of note, it was back on August 24 last that my Dad and I headed up from Oak Park to see it.  It was a lovely drive up the Des Plaines River corridor, following Des Plaines River Road, into central Lake County, passing through suburbs such as Des Plaines, Wheeling, and Buffalo Grove.  Upon reaching Townline Road/IL Route 60, we headed east, and then south into country land, where we finally reached the road to the home.

It is a sizable estate--Mr. Stevenson had 70 acres there.  The Lake County Forest Preserve District now administers the property, which is 40 acres containing the house and the stables.  Upon parking, we were directed into the stables where the tour began with some words about the property, and a brief video about Mr. Stevenson.  (His maternal great-grandfather, Jesse Fell, was a friend of Abraham Lincoln.  His grandfather, Adlai Stevenson I, was Vice President of the United States.)

Then, we went to the house.

Despite being in such a sizable piece of land, the house is on the small side and with a plain exterior look.  As it turns out, while the Stevenson family was moving in, some rags spontaneously combusted in the basement because they came in contact with some chemicals, and set the house on fire.  The walls were made of a material that was supposed to protect it from fires that could break out in the nearby natural areas, but helped the house function as an oven in the case of the spontaneous combustion.  The present house on the site was built after that fire.

After a few words about the house outside by the front door, upon entering, we went straight to the study (see pictures below).  It was made to look like it did when Mr. Stevenson used it, with many of the objects in it having been there during his lifetime.

Some of the books on the shelves were in the house where he grew up in Bloomington, IL.  The items I found most notable are a key given to him during a trip to Alaska during the 1950's (just to the left of the white Illinois flag draped near the window), a silver cigarette box (given as a gift from his cabinet members when his term as Illinois governor ended, which is just to the left of the key), and a register, like a roll-a-dex (at the opposite end of the desk from the cigarette box).  (Katherine Hamilton-Smith, Director of Cultural Resources, says that the chair was the one he used when he served in the Presidential Cabinet as Ambassador to the United Nations.  And while I seem to remember the tour guide saying the key was that of the City of Anchorage, Ms. Hamilton-Smith can't seem to verify that, even upon having contacted Adlai Stevenson III.  The only thing known for sure is that the key was part of an effort to get Mr. Stevenson's endorsement of Alaska statehood.)

Many famous dignitaries came to visit Mr. Stevenson II at this house, including Richard J. Daley, Eleanor Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy, who sought Mr. Stevenson's enorsement for the Democratic nomination for president in 196.  Mr. Stevenson wasn't willing to endorse him, because, it seems, Mr. Kennedy was too young and unready.  The lack of an endorsement appears to be the reason why, upon entering office, President Kennedy appointed Mr. Stevenson to the role of Ambassador to the UN, rather than Secretary of State, for which he was more qualified.

We then looked around in the other rooms of the house, including the dining room, the servant areas, and the upstairs bedrooms, which were pretty much empty of any furnishings.  The windows in the house provided great views out on the huge field to the west.  Of note in the master bathroom upstairs were marks in the floor, which the tour guide pointed out were from Mrs. Stevenson's high heels.  There was a deck (see second picture below) right off the master bedroom (see directly below), with great views of the huge lawn stretching from the house to the nearby woods along the Des Plaines River.

We finished up the tour back in the stables (see directly below).

Upon ending, we looked around at the exhibits, with panels featuring some of his quotes, which I felt had spoke eloquent ideas:

From reading these quotes, I could tell that Adlai Stevenson II was a man of principles, and used his capacity as a public servant to make them known as part of his efforts to make the world a better place, where people conduct themselves honorably, decently, and respectfully.  I think that's why President Johnson said he would be remembered for his ideas rather than the positions he held (see the quote on the picture of this panel below):

Unlike the people in my grandparents' generation, I never experienced Adlai Stevenson II while he was in the prime of his public service career.  So I was glad to have this opportunity to visit his home and learn more about this important figure.  And it's good that this site has been preserved and now been given a significant recognition for its part in the narrative of United States history.

(And it was to my grandma right off I-94 whom we paid a very nice visit while on the way back home.)

P.S. If you weren't aware, this is the 100th post on this blog.

Fiery Idea

So the one story being talked about these past few days in Chicago is the bust of a show that was supposed to be a Spectacle of Fire on the Chicago River as part of the Great Chicago Fire Festival.

While it was disappointing for many of the 30000 spectators that the houses didn't go ablaze as intended, as one of those spectators, the more disappointing part for me was having so much trouble just finding a suitable spot to see what was going on.

I showed up at the Chicago River around 8:15, and it seemed it was just starting, perhaps running a bit behind schedule, as the announcer, who sounded to me like NBC 5 Chicago news anchor Rob Elgas, was speaking about the cauldrons being lit by the dignitaries.  (By the way, the sound system for the show worked well, and it was all set to wonderful music.)

The crowds lined every inch of space along the river, the stairs leading down to the river walk, and the Michigan Avenue bridge--which was so thickly lined with people even standing on a ledge at the edge of the sidewalk of the bridge that I couldn't cross to the other side.  (Areas where the crowds weren't present were blocked off, like the lower level of the Michigan Avenue bridge.)

Eventually, I went down a stairwell by the Hyatt Regency, and made my way across Lower Wacker to a spot where I could at least see more of the action on the river, which, by the time I got there, including the boats carrying flames of fire, including the steamship, which I thought was a train at first, with its "choo-choo" sound.

As time passed, people began leaving, including my next door neighbors who I encountered right before they went home to get their children to bed.  I made it down to the path right by the river level, and then eventually all the way up to the fence along the river as even more people left.

Indeed, I had been so focused on getting a good spot that it really didn't occur to me that the show was malfunctioning when the houses weren't burning up completely (see directly below).  (At first, I thought when the fire started, it was on the other side of the houses which I couldn't see and would make its way around to where I could see it.)

So, despite the letdown, I'm still glad I went.  I certainly like the idea behind the show and the festival.  From what I gathered, the festival celebrates the grit, resilience, and determination of a city that was once devastated by fire, and rose again to become the great, bustling city that it is today, where I am proud to have been born.  Furthermore, people from all parts of the city come together, contributing in their own unique ways, to make Chicago the great place that it is.  Indeed, there was quite a collaborative effort in putting the fire spectacle together.  The cauldrons were made by participants in the After School Matters program, and images of people involved in the making were displayed on screens mounted on boats that floated down the river at the show's conclusion.

I look forward to seeing how this great idea manifests itself in the show and festival in years to come.  For now, I can at least say that the fireworks part of the spectacle was pretty amazing, and somehow, not being highly skilled at photography, I managed to get this shot (see right below).  Even a woman standing behind me who saw me get it immediately told me it was a great shot.

And an encore picture for the finale...

I guess it's all a matter of bust and boom.

A Summary of Summer 2014

With the Autumnal Equinox having occurred last week, the summer season is over as the heavenly bodies dictate.

Looking back on the summer, I recall to mind periods with abundant moisture, storms, and temperatures on the cool side.

After some fits and starts throughout March, April, and May, it finally felt like summer come mid-June.  The upper-air patterns shifted from their positions they had been in for months, and opened the pathway for moisture to be transported from the Gulf of Mexico right into our area.  This made for a wet, stormy string of days.  I remember a notable line of storms that crossed the area of Saturday, June 21, and, for a time, rained out an outdoor graduation party I attended for some of my cousins.  The abundant moisture also created a string of days with dense fog.

Then there was Monday, June 30, which brought two different derecho events.  A derecho is basically a severe thunderstorm event that lasts for several hours, travels over several hundred miles, and causes damage mainly because of high winds.  One derecho came through in the evening hours, and another much later at night.

Following these storms, the weather cooled off heading into July.  And there were some noticeably cool days in July.  Pieces of the air pattern circulation stationed near the Arctic, the Polar Vortex, broke off and brought cooler air to the Great Lakes region.  The air was also quite dry, with long stretches of time with dewpoints in the 40s, which is more typical of the northern United States autumn weather.

After another warm-up at the end of July and start of August, there was another string of cooler days in the middle of the month.  At one point, cool temperatures combined with a significant amount of moisture created very low cloud ceilings, the level of the base of clouds covering 60% of the sky or more, which caused cancellations of the airplane acrobatics at the Chicago Air and Water Show.

Overall, this summer season wasn't overly warm, but wasn't too cool.  It was a run of the mill kind of summer regarding temperatures, with a good dose of precipitation here and there.

In a Show of Dignity

We are at the start of the annual observance of the 40 Days of Life.  This comes days after an annual occasion in which we remember why we stand up for the unborn.

September 13, 2014, marked the annual National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children.

To mark the occasion, I joined a prayer service at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL, at the gravesite of two thousand aborted children.  Over 20 years ago, pro-lifers rescued their remains from garbage containers.

The prayer service featured a number of speakers, including Joe and Ann Scheidler, the founders of the Pro-Life Action League; Cardinal George; John Morales, who created the film 40; and Mary Griffith, founder of Woman's Choice Services.

There was the sharing of personal experiences, including the process of rescuing the remains of aborted children from garbage containers to receive the dignity of burial, and both John and Meredith shared about overcoming a past scarred by being personally involved in having an abortion.  I sensed powerful emotions in me as I heard these stories of those who faced the evils of abortion.

It was touching to see Cardinal George there.  He remarked that he has been running with a heavy schedule, and dealing with heavy traffic, which was why he showed up late and left early, all this while not in the best state of health.  But it meant a lot for him to be at this prayer service, and just his presence was inspiring given his health and his frailty, evident in the manner he walked.  He offered some great words speaking to the injustice of abortion that has arisen because of the decline of moral values in government and society.  And he advocated for the continued work of caring for and protecting all life, starting from conception.  (And how notable to have seen him a week before his successor's appointment was announced.)

Indeed, all the words spoken at the prayer service were inspiring, uniting us together in mourning for the victims of abortion, both the unborn children and their parents, and urging us on to continue the work of caring for the vulnerable, precious lives of the unborn, until the day when abortion is regarded as a scar on the past.

As a moving gesture at the end of the prayer service, with flowers in hand that had been distributed at the beginning of the service, while the choir sang, we came to the grave marker of the aborted children and laid the flowers down.  It was a sign that we are moved by the agony of the circumstances in which they died, and firm in our commitment to make sure no more must die this way.

The Pro-Life Action League blog has a wonderful post about this prayer service, including pictures, and you can view it here: http://prolifeaction.org/hotline/2014/hillside2014/