Revisiting at 3 A.M.

Last December 31, Fr. James B. Reuter, SJ quietly passed on. Just like the Little Match Girl who joined her grandmother on New Year’s Eve, I could imagine this Marian devotee being welcomed in heaven by the loving embrace of Our Lady. Today, his mortal remains will be laid to rest. Since his “At 3 A.M.” column was the previous occupant of this space, let me provide my four centavos of tribute by way of excerpts of what I thought were his most memorable reflections:

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The advantages of growing old — August 11, 2007

Everyone is acutely conscious of the disadvantages of growing old.

Especially the realization that you are getting nearer and nearer to the pre-departure area. The fear of that long, lonely journey into the unknown.

But there are great advantages to growing old. The first is this: you begin to realize the value of life. Shakespeare has Hamlet saying: “To be or not to be, that is the question.” But the answer is: it is better to be than not to be!

Every morning, when you wake, you thank God for this new day! You thank Him for each hour, each minute, each moment. Life is a beautiful gift from God.

Most of the old ones are grateful for the gift of life, and are content to wait until God calls them, in His own good time. They know that death is not an end. It is a beginning. It is not an exit. It is an entrance. They know that this life is only a testing ground — the introduction to the story, the prelude before the play, the verse before the song, the handle on the knife, the springboard from which we take off into Life.

They know that God chooses the time of our going, with great wisdom, and with great love. There really is a time for being born, a time to grow, a time to laugh, a time to play, a time to learn, a time to fall in love, a time to marry, a time to labor, a time to suffer, and a time for going home to God. And all of these times are beautiful. Death is a gift, as much as life.

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Life is like having a baby! — April 12, 2008

Our Lord said this at the Last Supper: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a woman in labor. When she is delivering, she is filled with agony. But afterwards she forgets the pain, for joy that a man has come into the world.”

It is true. All the beautiful gifts of God come wrapped in pain. A baby is the most beautiful gift that God can give to a woman. Yet the first time she knows that she has conceived is when she is sick in the morning. She delivers in pain. But when her baby is placed into her arms, every mother thinks: “It was worth it!”

Peace, as Our Lord gives it to us, does not mean the absence of hardship and suffering. It does mean peace of mind, heart and soul — accepting life as it is, with all its lights and shadows, its mountains and valleys, its laughter and tears.

It means facing reality. . . . accepting our life with gratitude. . . . realizing that every day, every hour, every moment is a beautiful gift from God. . . . . even when sometimes, his gifts come wrapped in pain.

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The pre-departure area — May 31, 2008

After my beautiful birthday on May 21, many good old friends asked me: “How does it feel to be 92?”. . . . . The only honest answer that I could give was: “Very good!” Like the good wine at Cana, the best days in the life of every man come at the very end.

You see the beauty of God’s world all around you, more clearly than you ever saw it before. . . .

What does it feel like to be 92? You feel that you are standing on the threshold of a great, beautiful adventure. . . . .Life will begin when God calls you home.

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What will matter—May 10, 2008

This was composed by Michael Josephson which I pass on to you with reverence!

“What will matter is not what you bought, but what

you built; not what you got, but what you gave!

What will matter is not your success, but how hard

you tried.

What will matter is not what you learned,

 but what  you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity,

compassion, courage or sacrifice that

enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence,

but your character.

What will matter is not how many people you

knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.

What will matter is not your memories,

but the memories that live in those

who loved you.

What will matter is how long you will be

remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by

accident.

It’s not a matter of chance, but of choice.

Choose to live a life that matters.”

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Hoping we will be one, forever — May 16, 2009

In this column I have always tried to be positive — presenting the goodness of people, and the wisdom of God’s Providence as I saw it.

I have tried to give. . . . . To give the only thing I have to give. . . . Myself.

. . . But whenever you give, you always get back more than you have given.

In this column written at 3:00 a.m. that was my only message. . . . give. . . . give yourself. . . . . love.

The song is ended. . . . but the melody lingers on. . . . and on. . . and on.

I love those who have read this column. . . .And I hope that they love me.

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Sleep in heavenly peace, Fr. Jim!

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“The true worth of a man is not to be found in man himself, but in the colours and textures that come alive in others.”      â€“ Albert Schweitzer

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