The Leap of 2024

Here we are again, perhaps jumping for joy on this Leap Day.

As we reach this once-every-4-year occasion, I reflect back on the past 4 years.  And I realize there have been many instances when I reflected on what's most valuable in life.

There's great power in our relationships, with family and friends.  So much of my family life is in terms of what happened at 1036 Clarence Avenue, which continues to provide me opportunities for reflection and even celebration.  In so doing, I've reinforced my sense of appreciation for living in Oak Park for so many years, as a unique spot in the larger patchwork of Chicagoland in the Great Lakes region of the United States, and for what my hometown has to contribute to the whole of the USA.

I've built my appreciation for what the USA is and its values through regular visits to Washington, D.C.  And I've enjoyed seeing other areas of the USA, like when I got some good laughs in Jamestown, NY, and had a varied weather experience in southern California from Huntington Beach's ocean-laden mild air to the extreme summer heart of Death Valley.  I still feel a sense of awe in the uncertainty of what words to use in describing the Grand Canyon, but totally convinced it is the quintessential natural wonder and a true national treasure.

I'm glad for the friendships I have, including with college friends that continue to span the miles and the years.  We've supported each other through challenges in our own lives and celebrated memorable occasions, like weddings.  I had so much to reflect on when I crafted my best man speech for Zach and Heather's wedding.  I certainly experienced a microcosm of life when I went to Las Vegas for the wedding of my cousin Jessica and her husband Kevin.

Furthermore, I think of relationships in terms of institutions, like the Church, where we connect with God through the people we know at Church.  Our times find meaning because God sanctifies time.  In each day, I see reason for purpose and even rejoicing.  I continue to derive purpose from handing on the great gift of faith to my Religious Education students, so that faith is something dynamic, constantly on the move.

Indeed, in my life, I see that there is so much of great value that it never fades into the background, but remains in my heart, giving me purpose.