Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. With your rod and your staff that give me courage.
From time to time, I have shared stories about my experiences with Catholic Scouting. Some of you know that I often spend part of the summer serving as a chaplain at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Northern New Mexico. The program is a high adventure backpacking experience that brings approximately 18,000 participants to the ranch each summer. The program is staffed by college-aged men and women. The role of the chaplain is typical of any parish ministry in that we celebrate sacraments, we minister to the sick, we evangelize the faith, particularly with college staff. And like any other parochial ministry, tragedies occur and the chaplains are called upon to respond.
Several years ago, I was asked to go out to one of the backcountry camps. The staff there had been alerted to a medical episode occurring about two miles outside of their camp. An adult who was hiking with a group of scouts, including his son, had collapsed on the trail. Staff members hurriedly hiked to the site of the incident, and medical personnel rushed to the scene from base camp. By the time I was sent to the camp, it was almost two hours since the incident. The man was nonresponsive to rescue efforts and was pronounced as deceased.
My role was to receive the scouts and the other adults after they came off the trail and spend some time consoling them and praying with them before I was to assist in driving them back to base camp. I was also asked to spend time with the devastated staff and responders. None of us had experienced anything like this before, and it weighed heavily on all of us. After some time, two other vehicles joined me in driving the scouts and some staff back to base camp.
When we arrived at base camp almost an hour later, our vehicles were surrounded by chaplains of all faiths. We were tasked with sitting with each scout as they called their families. The scouts and the surviving adults were given food and assigned places to sleep. After all was said and done, I quietly sat and reflected on the experience, and I suddenly felt very alone. None of the other chaplains thought to ask how I was. I was upset that such a tragedy had happened to this man and these scouts (including his son.) I was also a bit angry because none of my peers thought to check on me after I had been immersed in this tragedy for several hours. In some ways, I felt ashamed for feeling this way; it was not my tragedy. Yet I could not help but feel abandoned by others and even God.
But slowly I began to realize I was not abandoned but accompanied by Christ. As I sat in front of the Blessed Sacrament, I prayed for my own consolation and that of these boys and their families. Even though I walk in the dark valley – you are at my side. Soon after, the priest I was serving with joined me on the porch outside our residence and asked, “How are you?” It was a relief to hear those words. They were not simply the words of my brother priest, but Jesus himself speaking through that priest.
Lent is a time for us to “see” Christ in the middle of the darkness of sin and evil. Lent teaches us that we need not fear the evil within or the evil that surrounds us. All of that is redeemed by Christ on the cross. As we move into the second half of Lent and as winter (hopefully) slips away, I invite you to reflect on the times you felt abandoned and lost in the darkness of life. Did you eventually come to know Christ’s presence? When you come upon dark days ahead, will you entrust yourself to Jesus who never abandons us?
LENT CONTINUES – Many of you have told me how much you appreciated our Lenten retreat with Fr. Roger. He truly helped us to begin these days of Lent well. The remaining weeks of Lent will provide us with opportunities for conversion and spiritual growth, allowing the Lord to fill his place in our souls. In addition to daily mass and the periods of adoration during the week, I remind you of the upcoming events that can be found at tinyurl.com/SROL-LENT26 or pick up an information card with a QR code that links to our Lenten activities page.
Peace!
