On A Solitary

I took an unexpected trip home this morning. I had not planned to travel nor had I packed.

I intended to enjoy a solitary Christmas breakfast complete with a Common Good croissant and open the festive gifts that had arrived earlier this week from my favorite daughter in CT.

Jerry and Will are arriving in late afternoon and I decided to indulge in a second cup of my favorite brew. Jim will visit from CA via FaceTime sometime later in the day.

After both the croissant and coffee had disappeared, and my thoughtful and luxurious gifts had been opened, I ventured tentatively into the always enticing world of the internet,

On this beautiful Christmas morning, my mailbox was empty and the news of the world not inviting, so I moved on to a site I rarely open, YouTube.

And without warning, the magic carpet of today’s complicated technology returned me to the Church of my youth, St. Paul the Apostle in NYC.

The Christmas service had begun, but the music was familiar, and suddenly, I found myself attending Mass in the Parish of my youth.

I was in awe of the unforeseen and totally unexpected Christmas gift.

A ride on the magic carpet of technology provided a rare opportunity to give thanks in the Church of St. Paul, the Apostle where I prayed for the 19 years I lived in “The Neighborhood” of Hells Kitchen.

I prayed for all those who are gone, I prayed for all those who are still here and still share my journey.

And I also gave thanks for the incredible and exciting decades of life that I have known and never expected.

And yes, I did give thanks for the magic of the Internet that provided a vehicle for such a totally unexpected trip home on a solitary Christmas morning.