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When I was a little boy my Godfather
lived on a hill above my home. "Little Frankie" as everyone
called him, was a small, 80 year old, first generation,
Italian immigrant. He had worked for the railroads his
entire life and had saved a lot of money. Still, he lived a
19th century life in a 20th century world. He lived in 3
rooms of a slowly crumbling, 100 year old house. He didn’t
have electricity or running water. He cooked his meals and
heated his rooms with an ancient, cast iron, coal stove. His
clothes were old, patched, and worn. A lot of people saw all
of this and looked down on him. I never did, however. When I
went up the hill to visit him I always felt at home. Little
Frankie had a simple joy and peace about him that touched my
heart. We could sit and talk for hours. He was a loving soul
and even though he died when I was still very young, he has
had an influence on my life that lasts to this day.
Little Frankie taught me that
enlightenment isn’t being free of work, problems, and pains.
It comes rather from facing them all with a peaceful spirit
and a loving heart. He taught me that having more things
doesn’t bring you more happiness. He took more pleasure out
of a meal of fried potatoes than a billionaire could get
dining on champagne and caviar. He taught me most of all
that the greatest joy comes from the quiet time you spend
with God. I have had few moments as joyful as the ones I
spent with Little Frankie, just silently sitting on a rock
and listening to the stream that ran by his home. He was one
of the greatest men I have ever known.
The 21st century may be full of things
that help us to connect with each other, but to have real
love, joy, and oneness with God we need to connect with the
quiet in our own hearts and souls. In honor of Little
Frankie, then, I am going to turn off my television, cell
phone, and computer for a while today. I am going to go sit
by a stream, remember him, and spend some time with God.
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