Before the Swamp Run
It’s 10:30pm and I’m about to hit the hay. Just thinking back over today, I get this feeling that my life is enchanted or something…
Maybe it was running across the soccer field for the umpteenth time, sun shining, wind blowing. Maybe it was leading a group of 20 summer camp boys on our annual “Swamp Run”, a half mile race through mud and muck and swampgrass. Maybe it was sliding down the gigantic slip ‘n slide afterwards and watching the boys enjoy themselves.
After the Swamp Run
Maybe it was accompanying one of the boys, who has cerebral palsy, as he discovered the bad guys’ ammunition dump(complete with sleeping soldiers!) during a scavenger hunt. Maybe it was helping defuse a (make believe) hostage situation during that same hunt. Maybe it was celebrating mass together this morning with five of my brother priests in honor of a special day in the life of my religious congregation. Maybe it was telling the boys a nighttime story about one of my favorite heroes, Blessed José, as they drifted off to sleep. Maybe it was just watching the wonder of boys as they spent hours shooting each other with dollar-store water guns.
I’ve got a lot to be thankful for. It’s not the life of your average priest, I suppose, but sometimes, I wonder if I’ll wake up and realize it’s all been a dream. But it’s not. Thank you God!
Happy Father’s Day Fr. Kevin !