Well, as you know, I had my first taste of Spain and I did love it. On my first night in Madrid, I was there watching the Argentina-Spain game and then a movie with Domingo in the common room. When it all finished, it was midnight and I was ready for bed. So I think, off to bed but no way!
The invitation came from Domingo - Come a walk?
I think - It is midnight! Walk now?
So off the three of us go for a walk into the streets of Madrid. Guess what? It was now after midnight and the streets were packed with people all doing the same thing - walking after midnight.
My only question - When do they sleep in Spain?
I am John Murray, an Australian, Catholic priest of the Order of St Augustine. I live and work in Thailand and have been here since October 2005. I have many stories from my life journey and would simply like to share some of them. So hope you enjoy and go away sometime with a smile or a helpful little insight.
We gather
to give thanks for my 25 years.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A Lesson in Life
My three weeks in Europe included four days in Madrid. This was my first time in Spain and it proved to be an absolute highlight in my trip.
I will give some background to help an understanding. There are four Provinces of the Order in Spain - the Philippines, Madrid, Castille and Spain. This all speaks of the Order's history, strength and tradition in Spain. The Philippines Province is their missionary Province and was started under Phillip II when Spain went to the Philippines. The Order obviously has ties with the establishment of Spain and this is reflected in the Order's presence at the Escorial which was Phillip II's palace and to today serves as the resting place for the Kings and Queens of Spain.
I stayed at the Provincial house of the Spain Province. It is centrally located in Madrid. It is a community for 12 to 15 men of the Order. One of them is the Provincial and is named Domingo but then the community features three Domingos and I couldn't work out which one was which, especially with one being away.
So here I am a guest in this house in Madrid. I found the experience to be very positive as all were so friendly and hospitable. One of the three Domingos was just incredibly kind and attentive towards me. He responded to my every need. He saw to it that my appointments for my work were organised. He would take me on his nightly walks with the community. He would check that I saw what was inportant to see and took me on a day trip to the Escorial. If anything, he was just too kind and I just found it overpowering.
Then on my last day in Madrid, on our last walk, I asked Domingo,
"Who is the Provincial?"
He simply responded with
"I am"
I was just in internal shock. I was in internal 'O, my God' mode.
This man is the Provincial, responsible for a Province of 250 men, with parishes, schools and all other sorts of ministries here in Spain and elsewhere. This man has so much to do but yet he has given his past four days to me, he had just been so ever attentive of me and my needs. There was a huge lesson in this for me. It told me yet again, it reminded me about what really is important in life and that is simply making time for each other. No matter who we are keep the prespective on what matters in life - people, each other.
Without giving any class or sermon, this one of the three Domingos taught me so much and I am just so grateful. His way of teaching was just to be so kind and unassuming and just to be attentive to the other. In this case, the other was me. All I can say is "Thank you" and I have taken the lesson on board. Domingo, for you, I am most grateful. Muchas gracias!
I will give some background to help an understanding. There are four Provinces of the Order in Spain - the Philippines, Madrid, Castille and Spain. This all speaks of the Order's history, strength and tradition in Spain. The Philippines Province is their missionary Province and was started under Phillip II when Spain went to the Philippines. The Order obviously has ties with the establishment of Spain and this is reflected in the Order's presence at the Escorial which was Phillip II's palace and to today serves as the resting place for the Kings and Queens of Spain.
I stayed at the Provincial house of the Spain Province. It is centrally located in Madrid. It is a community for 12 to 15 men of the Order. One of them is the Provincial and is named Domingo but then the community features three Domingos and I couldn't work out which one was which, especially with one being away.
So here I am a guest in this house in Madrid. I found the experience to be very positive as all were so friendly and hospitable. One of the three Domingos was just incredibly kind and attentive towards me. He responded to my every need. He saw to it that my appointments for my work were organised. He would take me on his nightly walks with the community. He would check that I saw what was inportant to see and took me on a day trip to the Escorial. If anything, he was just too kind and I just found it overpowering.
Then on my last day in Madrid, on our last walk, I asked Domingo,
"Who is the Provincial?"
He simply responded with
"I am"
I was just in internal shock. I was in internal 'O, my God' mode.
This man is the Provincial, responsible for a Province of 250 men, with parishes, schools and all other sorts of ministries here in Spain and elsewhere. This man has so much to do but yet he has given his past four days to me, he had just been so ever attentive of me and my needs. There was a huge lesson in this for me. It told me yet again, it reminded me about what really is important in life and that is simply making time for each other. No matter who we are keep the prespective on what matters in life - people, each other.
Without giving any class or sermon, this one of the three Domingos taught me so much and I am just so grateful. His way of teaching was just to be so kind and unassuming and just to be attentive to the other. In this case, the other was me. All I can say is "Thank you" and I have taken the lesson on board. Domingo, for you, I am most grateful. Muchas gracias!
Incredible
I look at the date that I last posted something on this site and I am just ashamed or else I think how incredible it is that time goes so quickly. I wonder what I have done in this time and just where have I been?
Well I did go to Australia in October for a quick visit as I was summoned home by my boss, Tony, for a meeting. I felt like I was a businessman rather than a priest, racing home for a week. I only got to visit my family for two days as then I had to return home to Bangkok for a week before going to Europe for three weeks on a Thai Church sponsored trip.
The main purpose of this trip was to go to Rome to attend the VI World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees run by the Church. It was then onto Spain and Germany to visit Caritas Thailand funding partners there. I also planned to visit my Order inthese places and let them know about me and Thailand. This trip proved successful on all counts and was even most enjoyable.
Still it served to reinforce my feeling that here I am being a businessman as I think that this is the lifestyle of a businessmand and not a priest. Maybe my thinking is too narrow and limited as it was all for a purpose and it was all part of my journey in mission here in Thailand. I guess I just have to open my horizons and broaden my sense of opportunity.
Anyway, now I am home again and happy to be in one place again. Now is the time to re-enter my blogsite. I must let my greatest fan, Carmel, my niece, know as I don't want her to miss out on reading the latest.
I might be able to share all that has happened in the last three months but I do have some stories to share on my return and it may be time to do just that.
Well I did go to Australia in October for a quick visit as I was summoned home by my boss, Tony, for a meeting. I felt like I was a businessman rather than a priest, racing home for a week. I only got to visit my family for two days as then I had to return home to Bangkok for a week before going to Europe for three weeks on a Thai Church sponsored trip.
The main purpose of this trip was to go to Rome to attend the VI World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees run by the Church. It was then onto Spain and Germany to visit Caritas Thailand funding partners there. I also planned to visit my Order inthese places and let them know about me and Thailand. This trip proved successful on all counts and was even most enjoyable.
Still it served to reinforce my feeling that here I am being a businessman as I think that this is the lifestyle of a businessmand and not a priest. Maybe my thinking is too narrow and limited as it was all for a purpose and it was all part of my journey in mission here in Thailand. I guess I just have to open my horizons and broaden my sense of opportunity.
Anyway, now I am home again and happy to be in one place again. Now is the time to re-enter my blogsite. I must let my greatest fan, Carmel, my niece, know as I don't want her to miss out on reading the latest.
I might be able to share all that has happened in the last three months but I do have some stories to share on my return and it may be time to do just that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)