Kevin's Khronicles

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As a boy who was bored to death with school, February was the best month, because not only was it the shortest month of the year, but with the weekends, the holidays such as Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays and a week off for Winter Break (aside from a 10-day furlough in December for Christmas vacation), we only really had about two weeks of actual school time.

AND... if you grew up in snow country as I did in New England, and a blizzard hit (I always prayed it would begin to snow furiously on Sunday night and continue on through), you may have had even more days off during February to the point that school was non-existent for that month.

Then there were the romantic and practical reasons I liked the month I’ve come to associate with the colors red and white... Valentine’s Day saw me spend more money at the florist than at any other time on creative arrangements for my mother and whomever was my latest love at the moment. And being a Pisces, February was my month; my birth month, even though I only saw a birthday every four years.

SAY...come to think of it, I actually get a birthday this year (my 11^th thus far).

This is what February meant to me as a boy, until I grew to be a man and put away (some of my) childish notions and saw being a Pisces was more than having the traits of a fish, but that, in a larger sense; in a Godly and symbolic sense, it was wise and even spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically rewarding and productive to become a fisher of men, so to speak, and to adapt a fishing philosophy.

I have known and seen much death, hunger, poverty, and homelessness in my lifetime that if the world’s ills were to end tomorrow, it would be a blessing to me. Yea, those which I have had much contact with, I have, very close at times, been just a step away from myself.

I was taught the act of charity early. Growing up in a church-going Roman Catholic, Italian household, I learned from my grandmother to cook more than the number of people in your family in case someone should drop by unannounced. And from my grandfather, to always remember that your word is your bond; your law, and a handshake seals the deal.

That’s why today, I don’t know how to cook for just one or two people, and I’m very careful what I say and promise with a firm grip of the hand.

And as I grew older and wiser in the years, the act of charity became an extension of not just throwing a few dollars in the offering plate during Sunday Mass, but that beyond the tithes (giving financially to support the church) and volunteer work within my community, there was also the acts of alms (giving financially to the needy) and offerings (special giving for special projects that both benefit the church and mankind).

The scope of giving had expanded and increased to where at many times throughout my life it became a full time job. Before complete burnout happened, a set, focused plan would have to be implemented.

When I was younger, my mother would complain that I could not take care of the world’s problems single-handedly, to which I always replied, Why?

It was only after really listening to the words of Jesus saying to all of us through His Word that the poor will always be with you, that I could finally understand. No one person; no one government can completely care for the poor.

Politicians make the same rhetoric to the masses year in and year out (never more so than during election years) that they, single handedly, will eliminate poverty; improve the economy; provide more jobs to it’s citizens...

And it never happens, because if Jesus Himself couldn’t eliminate the world’s poverty during His ministry here on earth, than how bold could we be to say that we can within a term of office?

And to be fair, the public is, in some ways, as bad as the politicians they vote for. To the majority of voters, they believe they’ve done their patriotic duty by getting out of bed and casting their ballot (some are so lazy, they just mail it in) and then sit back and do nothing to further the country’s growth or their communities, but expect whomever is elected to office (they hope their vote decided the winner so that they can feel important by being associated with the winning team) to fix all the problems that were promised during the campaign.

A good friend of mine who’s a political speech writer told me to never run for office, because I’m just too honest. I’d actually tell the public what the problems in this country are and what we need to do to fix them, and ask them to not just vote for me, but to help me solve what needs to be solved.

I know my friend was being sarcastic, but I absolutely agree with his assessment of my character.

This is why long ago, I adapted the fishing philosophy, and took the quote above as my mantra; my calling; my vision. To not just help feed, cloth, and shelter my community and hopefully extend that philosophy to the rest of the world, but rather to teach those who have had some bad breaks in their lives and who truly wish and desire to learn to better themselves and break the curse of pestilence that has plagued them, so that they are no longer dependent on others, most especially the government.

Just as I have always been thankful and appreciative of those (sometimes) nameless and faceless souls that have cared enough throughout my life to give me a chance to better myself, I know in turn, I,

too must do the same and extend the hand of charity.

Therefore, I ask, what can you do within your community; whether it be in a hamlet of 500 or a town of 5000 or a city of 5 million.

If each one of us takes a little piece of the pie; breaks off a bit of the fish for our own communities and passes what’s left to our surrounding neighbors, then we, in effect, would be the yeast that permeates society for the good and not only would it spread from town to city to county to state to country to nation, but throughout all the world.

This...to teach others how to be self-governed and not rely on an individual governments welfare system, so that in time, these same unfortunate souls can then move forward and teach others who are now as they were, the same fishing philosophy principles that allowed them to climb out of the hole and make a better life for themselves and their families.

I don’t for a moment believe we can totally eliminate the world’s poverty, but we can begin to change our way of thinking, so that we not only just give financially to a worthy cause that becomes a band aid and will only help for a moment, but rather to make a difference; make a lasting mark on this generation and future ones to come long after we’ve departed from this world.

Don’t just free the slaves of poverty, but teach them how to free themselves.

That’s the only way we can get the job done and truly make this world a better place for all.

 Until Next Month,

Kevin