In my life, there has been nothing that I fervently prayed for that was not given to me; nothing that I sought that I did not find. I have knocked on many doors and I have been surprised and deeply grateful at how many of these have been opened to me in love, warm welcome and genuine hospitality.
I have prayed for a happy family and I have been truly blessed and gifted with my loving wife and children, and now with kind and lovely in-law-daughters and adorable grandchildren. I have sought a life of the spirit and of the intellect and I have been blessed with friends with similar aspiration; as well as with books, music and other resources to sustain and nurture that aspiration. I have come upon many doors which have been opened to me. Some of these I thought did not even exist and have brought me to events and experiences that I thought possible only in my wildest dreams.
My life has not entirely been a bed of roses for even roses have their thorns. There were mornings I woke up finding myself in tears, weeping and overwhelmed by the troubles that beset me. There were periods of time I spent in miserable depression not able to overcome the disappointments that came my way. But sooner than later, help comes often from the usual sources of my loved ones and sometimes from the most unexpected persons and places. To paraphrase a Sinatra favorite: Still in all, I’m happy and the reason now I see. For almost at every step along the way, the Lord has been good to me.
Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.
Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 7:7-12