Spiritual Advice for College Graduates (Rev. James Martin SJ @ Penn Graduation | 15 May)

[struggle4progress]

... In the 1940s, when John was still an archbishop and the Vatican ambassador to France, he was at an elegant dinner party in Paris, seated across from a woman wearing a low-cut dress that exposed a lot of cleavage. His secretary turned to him and whispered, "Quel scandal!" And John said, "What's the scandal?" And his secretary said, "That woman! Everyone is looking at her!" And John, "No one is looking at her. Everyone is looking at me to see if I am looking at her!" ...

... Humor speaks truth to power. A witty remark is a time-honored way to challenge the pompous and the powerful ...

The mother of a friend of mine .. was once in the hospital at the same time a local bishop, who was recovering from some minor surgery. The bishop took it on himself to go from room to room and visit all the patients. He came into my friend's mother's room and said to her, "Well, dear, I know just how you feel." And she said, "Really? When was your hysterectomy?" Later they became friends ...

So, if you're a religious person, or a spiritual-but-not-religious person, or if you're a seeker or a doubter or an agnostic or an atheist, here's some baccalaureal advice: Don't take yourself so damn seriously. Laugh at yourself. Use some humor to speak truth to power, especially on behalf of the poor ...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-james-martin-sj/lighten-up-spiritual-advi_b_862959.html