Overwhelmed

Friday, May. 22, 2015

This is a column that almost didn’t get written.

Ever since the word came that Bishop Wester – that is, ARCHBISHOP Wester – has been appointed to head the Santa Fe See, I’ve been busier than a one-armed paper hanger.

I’ve always found that expression humorous because just what business does a person with one arm have hanging paper? In my current situation, however, the saying is particularly apt because at the moment I feel particularly not up to the challenge of being editor. There’s just too much to do and not enough time to do it in. I not only have to get the weekly issue out, but next week is what will in all likelihood be a 44-page special goodbye issue for Archbishop Wester, and much of that will be put out without the help of the graphic artist, who is out of the office. 

I also took last weekend to go to my oldest nephew’s college commencement, and my youngest niece graduates from high school on Saturday. Then there’s the book I have to finish reading so I can return it to Fr. Carl before he departs for sunny California. 

Typically I would have had this written on Friday, but that was the day I left for Minnesota. I didn’t have time to write it before, because of getting last week’s paper out, working on the special section, and various office chores. I also covered the plenary at the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. convening. (See the story on p. 2 – and by the way, I had planned to write this column about that, but it will take more time to process my thoughts, which run mostly along the lines of “After hearing the stories of what immigrants go through, how can anyone not support comprehensive immigration reform?” But that’s a topic for another column.)

On Thursday I wrote the story that appears on the front page of this paper, then I returned to the CLINIC convening to sit on a panel. 

So you can see that I didn’t have time last week to write this column.

When I got back on Sunday, I wrote the story about Mauricio Mixco, who will receive the 2015 Madeleine Festival Award. (See the story on p. 7 – and although he is a successful immigrant, it’s sheer coincidence that I talked to him and then went to the CLINIC convening. Nevertheless, it gives ammunition to my argument for immigration reform, but again, I need time to form a coherent case.)    

Coming in to the office on Monday, I spent 12 hours editing and laying out the paper.

You may have noticed that nowhere in there do I mention writing this column. That’s because I didn’t. Realizing that I was so far past deadline for this that I should just throw in the towel, I texted my older sister and asked if she thought readers would think it was funny if I put in a note saying my column wouldn’t appear because I’m overwhelmed with work. 

Her response: “That could be your column. Very human. Not sure of what spirituality there is in that.”

Her last sentence hit me hard. Since Advent, I’ve been striving to include God in my daily life, and in the midst of the struggle to get everything done my only thought of Him was when I heard the cathedral bells tolling time for Mass (which I didn’t attend.)

Is there spirituality in being overwhelmed? Yes. Christ says, “Come to me, all you who are burdened.” But I haven’t, and that’s probably why I don’t have rest.