Lethality of Loneliness: We now know how it can ravage our body and brain

BY JUDITH SHULEVITZ                  

Sometime in the late ’50s, Frieda Fromm-Reichmann sat down to write an essay about a subject that had been mostly overlooked by other psychoanalysts up to that point. Even Freud had only touched on it in passing. She was not sure, she wrote, “what inner forces” made her struggle with the problem of loneliness, though she had a notion. It might have been the young female catatonic patient who began to communicate only when Fromm-Reichmann asked her how lonely she was. “She raised her hand with her thumb lifted, the other four fingers bent toward her palm,” Fromm-Reichmann wrote. The thumb stood alone, “isolated from the four hidden fingers.” Fromm-Reichmann responded gently, “That lonely?” And at that, the woman’s “facial expression loosened up as though in great relief and gratitude, and her fingers opened.”

Mother Teresa - Quote

"Never worry about numbers.
Help one person at a time,
and always start with
the person nearest you."
- Mother Teresa

22 Sunday C- Humility - Homilies and Stories

On a flight from Johannesburg, a middle-aged, well-off white South African Lady had found herself sitting next to an African man. She called the cabin crew attendant over to complain about her seating. “What seems to be the problem Madam?” asked the attendant.

“Can’t you see?” she said. “You’ve sat me next to a kaffir. I can’t possibly sit next to this disgusting human. Find me another seat!” “Please calm down Madam.” the stewardess replied. “The flight is very full today, but I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll go and check to see if we have any seats available in club or first class.” The woman cocks a snooty look at the outraged black man beside her (not to mention at many of the surrounding passengers also).

A few minutes later the stewardess returns with the good news, which she delivers to the lady, who cannot help but look at the people around her with a smug and self satisfied grin: “Madam, unfortunately, as I suspected, economy is full. I’ve spoken to the cabin services director, and club is also full. However, we do have one seat in first class”.

Before the lady had a chance to answer, the stewardess continued, “It is most extraordinary to make this kind of upgrade, however, and I had to get special permission from the captain. But, given the circumstances, the captain felt that it was outrageous that someone be forced to sit next to such an obnoxious person.” With which, she turned to the African man sitting next to her, and said: “So if you’d like to get your things, Sir, I have your seat ready for you in first class up at the front...” At which point, apparently the surrounding passengers stood and gave a standing ovation while the African guy walks up to first class in the front of the plane.
(Unfortunately I do not know the source of this story by Fr. Tommy Lane)

Humility is opposed to a pride that shows no respect for others, but tends to dominate, to exercise power for its own sake, to be unconcerned for the rights of others. It is a virtue which sees service of others as the meaning of authority.

 *****************

Thomas O’Loughlin,
Introduction to the Celebration

Today at our meal in this house we recall a Sabbath day meal when Jesus saw how people sought out places of honour at the table, and he reminded them that the values of the kingdom are the opposite of the earthly values of power and prestige: in the kingdom the humble shall be exalted. Now let us reflect on how we have gathered for this meal with Jesus: do we see each other as sisters and brothers; do we see ourselves as servants to each other; and do we see ourselves as the servants of all who are poor. 

If someone calls you a donkey----

If a person calls you a donkey, don't care a darn about it. If four people call you a donkey, go, get yourself a saddle.


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God doesn't make Mistakes: Dog and the Child

A female Golden Labrador with a little boy with Down’s Syndrome who has likely never seen a dog up close before. The dog is so gentle and keeps trying to engage the child. What a beautiful animal!Click on

WATCH

Black and White - Poem by an African Child

The Haircut - Humour

One day a florist 

went to a barber for a haircut.  After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week.'  The florist was pleased and left the shop.  When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Who said car names don't have meaning

FIAT: Failure in Italian Automotive Technology.

 

 FORD: For Only Rough Drivers.

 

 HYUNDAI: Hope You Understand Nothing's Drivable And Inexpensive.... 

Health and HealthyTips

Anagrams

	This has got to be one of the cleverest E-mails I've received in awhile.  Someone out there must be "deadly" at Scrabble. (Wait till you see the last one)!