Old photo shows fragility of life

Light One Candle

By MSGR. JIM LISANTE

Photographs, in old albums or envelopes in a drawer or on the latest computer, are a special gift. They give us both slices of our past and a reality check. I still look at photos from my ordination to the priesthood and think of it as "just a few years ago." Twenty-two years ago, in fact. Where did they go?

Recently, I came upon pictures from a vacation I'd taken a dozen or so years ago. My favourite photo was taken at a restaurant in Palm Springs.

I'm in the shot, along with my oldest and dearest friend, Father Joe Lukaszewski. Next to him is the legendary film director Frank Capra, who often helped us with charity benefits; next to him was the cutting edge photographer Berry Berenson, and at her side was her husband, actor Anthony Perkins.

I remember that my friend Joe was particularly delighted to meet the star of the movie classic Psycho. He couldn't believe that such a sweet man could portray such a frightening character. He even told Perkins that. To which the actor responded: "It's called acting, Father Joe!"

The photo was striking for another reason. It suddenly hit me that all my companions at dinner that night are now with God. Father Joe and Anthony Perkins, lost to disease. Frank Capra, giving way to old age. The beautiful and kindly Berry Berenson was one of those who were tragically taken from us on Sept. 11, 2001. She'd been on a plane from Boston to Los Angeles, returning to see her son in a musical concert. She, and too many others, never reached their destinations.

None of us that night would ever have imagined that not much more than a decade later, all but one of those at that table would be leaving their earthly home.

Since no one knows the future, we probably should live as if every day was the last. And live the life we desire to instead of the one we sometimes settle for. The photo led me to a number of resolutions I'm trying to embrace more fully. Maybe they would be good for you too.

1. Live it today and don't delay. For too many of us, we mean to and intend to do the living someday soon. Just not today. There is, in fact, no time like the present to accomplish the good we intend to do.
2. I don't know anyone who doesn't aspire to be more generous. We fully intend to actually make that charitable donation or perform that kind deed. The good we know we should do is usually best accomplished when we think of it. In other words, right now!
3. The overwhelming majority of people believe in God, but many postpone building a spiritual relationship and practicing their faith. If we put off our Creator until we're ready, he may get to us before we find the time to get to him.
4. Most of us have loose endings in our lives; people with whom we have grudges or major disagreements. We may even intend to make it right someday, but why be arrogant enough to imagine that somedays are up to us? It's God's calendar that counts. Let's make the time to reconcile while we can.

(For a free copy of the Christopher News Note, Being a Good Neighbour, write: The Christophers, 12 East 48 St., New York, NY, 10017; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org.)

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