Author Archives: Rev. Joe Jagodensky, SDS.

You wake up to a beautiful sunlit day and say to yourself, “It’s great to be alive.” You see no stars in the sky. Perhaps, a half-moon is seen in the distance, if you look enough. There is only her … Continue reading →

He and I have little in common. So how do the two of us get along? Full of concerning emotions, lots of laughter and life’s appreciations. Lunch happens now on a regular basis. He and I have little in common, … Continue reading →

Between Christmas and New Year’s, a gathering of ten people gathered to spend time with and to be with a good friend who’s dying. He’s lucid, alert, and, as always, ever engaging, but now all contained in a weakening body. … Continue reading →

The adage often used in retirement is, “When you worked you controlled time, now time controls you.” Kinda true, but not entirely. I know today is Friday, but I think it’s Saturday. I have errands to run this Friday, so … Continue reading →

We go to sleep at night filled with an abundance of worries and fears and then awake to a new day filled with hope and joy…. “Behold.” What a beautiful, colorful, strong word. It’s a sentence in itself. Just saying … Continue reading →

In describing your life, I can save you a lot of time. Life is summarized with two “S” words: surprises and setbacks. There you have it. Thank you for listening. Now for tonight’s sermon. For non-believers, it’s the light of … Continue reading →

Just think of all the fun, anticipation and excitement that accompanies gatherings of family and friends. Birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmases are those occasions for giving, receiving, and unwrapping beautifully wrapped gifts. Some have colorful bows gracefully attached on top and … Continue reading →

“Someone else is worse off than you,” Mother would tell me about my failing grade in science. (I didn’t want to be a scientist anyway!) Assembling my woe by amplifying it with the greater unknown or known sorrows of others … Continue reading →

Eight letters, two words with a space in-between. It’s the recognition of a good deed done, service performed, or expressing appreciation. “Thank you.” Eight letters, two words with a space in-between. The short-hand version is simply thrown and tossed out … Continue reading →

Are twelve hours and a nap enough sleep for a newly retired seventy-year-old? Did the clock slow down, or am I only now more aware of time? Piercing questions with no answers with more questions I won’t bore you with. … Continue reading →