A great holiday deal

today is Christmas.  As a person who practices the Christian faith this is a special time to celebrate and reflect. 

One of the things I like most of days like Christmas is how they are a mix of ritual, expectation and unstructured time.  We went to church last night and will spend time with family today.  Right now however is that unstructured time that is open for interpretation.  Being the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ puts some significant pressure on how this free time is spent.  I am looking forward to spending some time in prayer, some time visiting with loved ones and some time reflecting on the many gifts I have in my life.

At the same time I realize Christmas doesn’t have the same clout it once did.  In part this is because the religious aspects of Christmas have diminished and been replaced by commercialism (although not so much this year).  We also are more open to acknowledging spiritual diversity of those around us.  As I take the time to celebrate and reflect today, I wonder how persons of other faith traditions will spend this holiday.  If the commitments of faith and family tradition were not present in my life, today would be a free day to pause and reflect and regroup.  I’m left to wonder how I could take advantage of this opportunity.  I could easily learn about the traditions of others and take some time out on their sacred days.  This would give me a chance to celebrate the gifts of my life without the hassle that sometimes comes with the holidays.  What a deal.

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Siddhartha and the kids at the funeral

I went to a memorial service for the mother of a friend of ours today.  As the service was going on a couple of kids were fussing near us.  Little people making little people sounds don’t really bother me but I have a low threshold for kids who’s parents believe they can pack enough stuff to keep their little ones entertained only to find they have failed.

As members of Mary Margaret’s family shared memories of her life and the lessons they had learned from her I found myself reflecting on Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha.  The story tells of Siddhartha’s journey from boyhood to a man of wisdom.  Siddhartha’s life was made of many phases and facets.  It was the combination of these  dissimilar pieces that made Siddhartha a wise man.  The rememberances of Mary Margaret’s life were varied and she clearly touched different people in different ways.  It was only through listening to these many stories I began to get a glimps of Mary Margaret and how she touched the generations that follow her.

As I listened I also wondered about the fussing kids.  I got the sense their parents hoped they wouldn’t notice this situation was different from others in their little lives.  There appeared to be an expectation  the kids could get by without knowing this was a time to be still and to listen.  The special person Mary Margaret was and Siddhartha’s wisdom were a convergance of listening, learning, joy, sadness, challenges and gifts.  I found myself wondering if the cocoons we get ourselves into through the entertainment bag at the funeral, personal entertainment systems, audio devices, cell phones, etc. will support or eliminate that convergance.

Web:  www.DanLococo.com

Email:  dlococo@AffinityByDesign.com

Harley 105th Anniversary

Every five years Harley-Davidson has a big anniversary celebration here in
Milwaukee. This weekend is the 105th year for the company. While I don't
get involved in the Harley activities around town, it's impossible to avoid
the presence of the thousands of motorcycles circulating around throughout
the city.

As I took my dog out at 10:30 last night I listened to the rumble of the
engines. It reminded me of a group of workers hammering on a roof. The
sounds of motorcycles going East and West along Blue mound Road blended with
those going North and South along Highway 45. As I listened the engines
seemed to synchronize into one low rumble. In the truest sense of the
phrase: this is a city-wide celebration.

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/Events/105th_Coverage/landi
ng.jsp?camp_id=16&source_cd=SEM_entertainment&locale=en_US&GCID=S18577x001&K
EYWORD=harley+105th+anniversary

Turning down a big project

One of the things I value most about my walks with Zoe every morning is the chance to reflect on the upcoming day. As this is Sunday, my thoughts went to some of my interactions with people I'll see at church today.

Last Sunday the parish Trustees let me know I would be approached to participate in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee's "Faith In Our Future" fundraising campaign. The campaign is seeking to generate $40M for the Archdiocese and $5M for the fundraising coordinators. The incentive to the potential donors is they will keep 60% of the campaign proceeds in their parish. While it sounds like a good scheme, it just doesn't smell right to me. This sense of a bad odor is shared by many I've spoken to.

On Monday of last week I was asked by the head of our Pastoral Council if I would act as one of the Administrators of the campaign. This would involve a great deal of coordinating, monitoring and facilitation. All things I'm good at. I was quite flattered to be asked to fill such a significant role in this project. I told Jerome I'd review the job description and let him know if I would participate. Review of the job description confirmed the Administrator role requires a committed individual Unfortunately, the Archdiocese' web page didn't disperse the bad odor I've associated with the campaign. I let Jerome know I was honored to be asked but didn't feel I would be committed enough to participate in the project.

As I walked with Zoe, I initially felt a need to articulate my reasons for declining to participate. By the end of our walk, I realized I can simply keep my reasoning to myself. That, in part, is what qualifies me to administer large projects.

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19th Anniversary

Today was our 19th Wedding anniversary.  It was different from the wedding day in many ways and much the same in others.

Instead of being totally focused on the wedding ceremony we spent our day doing the things middle-aged people do.  Helen went to work.  I had some meetings and errands to run.  Instead of a big party we went to a presentation at Schwartz bookstore.  I made us a couple of sub sandwiches and we ate them at a picnic table in Lake Park.

The mechanics of the day were different but the important things remain the same.  Helen is still the love of my life.  The best part of any day is still the time we spend in each others arms.  Part of the reason for this is we start every day just like we started our marriage:

I Dan Take you Helen to be my wife
And in doing so, commit my life to you.

Encompassing all good times and bad, all joys and sorrows, all of the experiences of life.

A commitment made in love, kept in faith, lived in hope, and eternally made new.

Just waiting for a bus

While on the way to a meeting this afternoon I found there was a scheduling mix-up.  I ended up turning around to go home.  While waiting for the bus I had a great opportunity to reflect on what would have been discussed, if the meeting had actually taken place.

I was going to meet to talk about acting as a Coach for the Milwaukee Mosaic Partnership program.  Mosaic is a project to bring people together with the goal of fostering malty-racial interaction through individual and small group relationships.  I helped facilitate a group of twenty-four persons during the 2007-2008 program and am looking forward to doing it again this Fall.

While waiting for the bus, at 35th and Wisconsin Avenues, I had a chance to sit with three African-American people with very different backgrounds than my own.  From their discussion I learned at least one of them was a high-school drop-out.  Two of the individuals had experienced job loss from poor attendance.  All three peppered their dialogue with words I rarely speak within hearing of others. 

While I like to think of myself as a social person I was clueless as to how to engage in polite conversation with this group.  I realized my discomfort in this situation was over an inability to communicate.  Fact is this was a very nice group of people.  I know of many people who would be scared in this situation, I just don't know why.

I'm looking forward to some of the deep discussions that will be a part of the Mosaic Partnership Program in the coming year.  It is a great opportunity to face fears and prejudices in a safe setting.  I am sure I will learn a lot and hopefully start some long-term relationships.  I know however, the big challenge lies in chatting with people of different ethnic, educational, and economic backgrounds while sitting around waiting for the bus.

Being simple

Helen and I had a good walk last night.  While we walked we talked about where our life is and where we are going.  Helen asked how I was doing.  I gave her an assessment of my business and where I was with the plans I have made for myself.  We also talked about Helen's aspirations and how our lives might change as Jessica and Rachel grow and move out of the house.

I have to say things are going pretty well for me.  My business is on track and I am happy with the opportunities I have in my life.  I am blessed with a supportive wife and family.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to pursue the things I find important in life.  The fact I'm getting paid to do some of these things is a gift.

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As we walked we also reflected on the time we had spent, earlier in the week, participating in a Native American Sweat Lodge.  The gentleman who helped us through the experience was as wise as he is generous.  David lives in a simple house in a semi-rural area.  While the house is not elegantly adorned, it is rich in the treasures of his life.  The experience helped us recognize the need to focus on what we find important in our lives.  While the question "What is important?" is often a challenge to articulate, we know the answer is not "More stuff.".

When I awoke this morning I listened to the Reverend Daniel Meyer talking about simplifying our lives.  Rev. Meyer is doing a series called "Living Insanity" this summer.  Today's topic talked about "more" and "better".  The sermon was a great way to reinforce the talk we had the night before.

<http://lovechangeslife.org/programs.php>

Zoe and I took our customary walk through the neighborhood this morning.  We listened to birds, smelled the flowers and enjoyed the solitude.  Ironically, the biggest distraction was making sure I remembered where the sidewalks are obstructed.  A number of people in the neighborhood park their vehicles across the sidewalk.  They have  so much stuff they can't use their garages as a parking area.  Apparently the stuff in the garage is so sacred to them they are oblivious to the fact their vehicles don't fit on the short space between the garage and the sidewalk.

I am grateful we have a simple life and a roomy garage.