My twenty minute drive to work turned into a nearly one hour commute this morning. The pounding rains and thunderstorms overnight abruptly changed to snow this morning causing significant travel delays. I had almost made it to the office when I approached a steep overpass going over the rail yards here in Cheyenne. Cars tried to make the climb, but the bridge simply became a parking lot. A city snowplow sat at the bottom of the overpass with no place to go. Until the cars were able to back down the hill there would be no plowing.
The thunder and lightning put on quite a display of activity all through the night hours. This gave my mind plenty of time to wander from one thought to another as I laid there wide awake. I covered a lot of topics through the night. A sense of exhaustion filled my being upon waking after a brief segment of sleep in between thunder booms. It looked to be another long day.
The storms and dark clouds are sometimes present during the day in our waking hours as well, both literally and figuratively. I have certainly felt that darkness in a prevalent way over the last week. It is with deep sadness that I am going through the process of assisting a parish and its leadership close a Catholic school. I was hoping to never have that experience. St. Laurence O’Toole Catholic School in Laramie, Wyoming will close at the end of this academic year. It is difficult to see an institution close after 61 years of service to the local community. My thoughts and prayers are with all who are impacted by this turn of events.
On a more joyful note, I congratulate Bishop Edward Rice, an auxiliary bishop of St. Louis, upon today’s announcement that he has been named bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. He will be installed on June 1, 2016. I was extremely impressed with the diaconate community of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau last September when I led their annual retreat. I am happy for them as they move into this chapter of ministry under their new bishop’s leadership.
We continue to move through the joys and sorrows of life. Through it all we remain blessed. Give thanks to the Lord–for His mercy endures forever!