Wisdom Under the Apple Tree

Dear Diary,

This morning after Holy Mass, our Reading Club met in the apple orchard for another discussion of Our Lady of Lourdes. The sun was shining through the branches, and little patches of light danced across the grass while we gathered beneath the trees. Mini settled down beside me, ready for the meeting as usual.

Father LeRoy opened with a prayer and then smiled in my direction.

"Kathy," he said, "would you read your summary for us?"

I stood up with my paper and read what I had prepared.

"Today we learned about Bishop Laurence and how carefully he handled the events at Lourdes. Government officials wanted him to condemn the Apparitions without a proper investigation, while others wanted him to declare a miracle immediately. But the Bishop chose neither extreme. He patiently gathered facts, resisted pressure from powerful officials, and refused to make a judgment until he knew the truth. He showed prudence, courage, and fairness."

When I finished, Father LeRoy thanked me, and a lively discussion followed.

Robert said he admired how the Bishop would not allow himself to be pushed around by either side.

Sister Mary Claire agreed and said that wisdom often means waiting patiently for the truth rather than rushing to conclusions.

Father LeRoy nodded. "The Bishop understood that both faith and reason come from God," he said. "He wanted to know the facts before making a judgment."

Everyone seemed to have something to add, and before long the conversation was moving back and forth all around our little circle.

Then Robert reached for a tin he had brought along and opened the lid. Inside were beautiful chocolate chip cookies.

Sister Mary Claire looked at them and smiled.

"Robert, those may be the best-looking chocolate chip cookies I have ever seen. How did you make them?"

Robert laughed.

"I cannot claim any special secret. I just followed the directions on the Nestlé package."

Everyone chuckled.

"Although," he added, "I have learned one thing. Do not overbake them. Nine minutes makes a perfect cookie."

That started another discussion, this time about baking instead of Lourdes.

Then Robert set a half gallon of milk on the picnic table.

"Father," he said, "be sure to shake that before you pour it. It is about half cream on the top."

Father LeRoy picked up the jar and laughed.

"Now that sounds like real milk."

The milk came from the Jersey cows at the dairy down the road, and after Father gave the jar a good shake, he poured glasses for everyone. The cold milk and warm cookies were a wonderful combination.

Mini sat nearby watching very closely, hoping a cookie crumb might find its way into the grass. 

Before we left, Father LeRoy asked me to read our closing prayer.

So I stood and prayed:

"Dear Jesus, thank You for this beautiful morning, for Holy Mass, for good friends, and for the lessons we learn together. Help us to be patient and wise like Bishop Laurence. Give us the courage to seek the truth and the humility to wait for it when we must. Bless Father LeRoy, Sister Mary Claire, Robert, everyone in our Reading Club, and our faithful little dog Mini. May Our Lady of Lourdes pray for us and keep us close to Your Sacred Heart. Amen."

Everyone answered, "Amen."

Soon afterward we gathered our books and started for home.

As I walked away through the orchard, I thought about how Bishop Laurence stayed calm while everyone around him seemed to be pulling in different directions. It must have taken great wisdom to wait patiently for the truth.

I also thought that Robert might be right about the cookies.

Nine minutes really does seem to make a perfect one.

Love,

Kathy