The man who lived by the seaFebruary 24, 2025

So, there was an elderly man who lived by the sea. He made a little hut and had a rowboat. His life was simple. In wisdom, he sat and looked out over the sea. He was close to the earth and all of movements of life the earth shared with him.

One day, he noticed that someone was out on the water and needed help.

He rowed out and rescued the poor man, brought him to the little hut, offered him some fish and lentil soup, let him clean up and stay as long as needed. Several weeks later he rescued another poor soul in distress out on the sea. Again, he rowed him in, offered food, shelter and cleanliness. Time passed and the more people were rescued over time.

Those rescued decided to add more showers on the little hut. Gradually,

They asked those coming in dirty to clean up before they received any food.

Then, the rescued were asked to pay a little money for the accommodations. The Little Hut grew larger, with more extensions, showers, and finally, with more of the rescued paying wine was even added to the food.

Actually, the rescued decided they really didn’t want those dirty people coming in and messing up the cleanliness of the castle they finally built, right on the edge of the seashore. There were great parties and much drinking, sometimes the noise was really loud and the sounds of the sea were silenced.

The old man who loved the sea took his rowboat and moved several miles down the length of the beach, built a little hut, and sat close to the sand, looking out over the sea. If someone needed rescuing, he rowed out, brought the person in, offered a little lentil soup and a little room in his hut.

Who is the old man? Who are the rescued? Who are you in the story?

Is this how structures, institutions are built?

Just pondering…..

Sister Mary Joan Grisez