DAILY CATHOLIC    WEDNESDAY     December 2, 1998     vol. 9, no. 238

DECEMBER DECORATIONS THAT ENHANCE FOOD FOR THOUGHT APPETEASERS

To print out entire text of Today's issue, go to SECTION ONE & SECTION TWO
      Today's food for thought are two poignant vignettes, the first a reminder of what those "The Praying Hands" really signify submitted by J&NB and EJB via e-mail. The second bit is truly food for thought even in these cold, wintry days of December ice cream is always a treat for man and God as we see in a thoughtful story submitted by PRC via e-mail which we have titled "Thawing out cold hearts!"

The Praying Hands

          Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood.

          Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elder's children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the academy. After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines.

          They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works.

          When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition.His closing words were, "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you."

          All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, "No...no ..no ...no."

          Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, "No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look ... look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother ... for me it is too late."

          More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer's works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office.

          One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love "The Praying Hands."

          The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one - no one ever makes it alone!



Thawing out cold hearts!

          Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all. Amen."

          Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream Why, I never"

          Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

          As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.

          He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."

          "Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart."

          Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream.

          A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

          Naturally, I bought my kid's ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman.

          With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes and my soul is good already."

December 9, 1998       volume 9, no. 238
DECEMBER DECORATIONS THAT ENHANCE FOOD FOR THOUGHT APPETEASERS

DAILY CATHOLIC

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