Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Sobering up
The priest, Eli, watched Hannah’s mouth. She was praying silently;
though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard.
Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her,
“Sober up from your wine!”
“It isn’t that, my lord,” Hannah answered.
“I am an unhappy woman.
I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD.”
I notice when I have a whole weekday free, I go a little crazy. Occasionally I might relax and rest, but more often I think of something to do and then something else to do and then something else, and then Margaret has something we can do or talk about or play or watch together, and in just a little while I am whirly-gigging around our 1100 foot apartment. I think my friend Don S might call that putzing, but I think his putzing is a little more laid back than mine.
I’m thinking I need to sober up.
Once at Valpo on a quiet Friday night my friend Larry watched me drink a pint of 151 proof rum in about 30 minutes. I don’t remember anything after that until the next morning. Larry told me I tore down some curtains, among other misadventures. I think my subconscious mind stored it all, but so far in 55 years those particular secrets have not shown their dirty faces.
But today, to slow down a bit, I read a few Japanese poems from an ancient (1969) book printed on newsprint graced with subtle watercolors – Don’t Tell the Scarecrow, by Issa, Yayu and Kakaku, among others. In case you, too, would like to quiet your mind, here are seven of those poems.
Far above an old hut
A beautiful new kite is flying.
Rolling down the hill
I found a bed of violets.
Don’t tell the scarecrow
But someone is stealing the beans!
How soft the sound
Of butterflies eating!
Everyone is asleep.
There is only the moon
And me
The first rain of winter.
Is there a small raincoat
For this monkey?
No sky. No earth.
Only snowflakes falling, falling.
Beautiful. Quiet. Prayers whisper between the words and down the lines.
And … oh, yeah, I just remembered I promised to share the winner of the Tomita-Sandel International Dinner trophy. The winner was, for the second year in a row … Miles and Jasper! Congratulations, guys!
They were very proud. One day I’d like to share Hannah’s words with them, words she sang as she left her child Samuel with Eli in the temple at Shiloh, given into the service of the Lord.
My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory.
The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
They will be seated with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.
(1 Samuel 1, 1 Samuel 2, 1 Thessalonians 2, Mark 1)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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