The Bridge of Stones
For years they had been living apart, just observing each other. Two tribes of people separated by a raging river, impossible to cross. They often wondered just who were the people living just beyond their reach. If only they could meet and share their stories, but alas the river defied all attempts.
Yet the river itself seemed to hold out a solution. While the speed of the water was too much for human crossing it moved countless large stones, all slightly rounded by its force, and it was not inconceivable to consider building a bridge.
So they tried; slowly the gap of separation narrowed. It was not plain sailing however, as their work often collapsed and had to be rebuilt. It was puzzling, in all places the stones seemed to be identical, and identical methods of construction, yet some areas seemed as strong as if they were set in concrete and others as frail as balancing marbles.
They pulled apart a strong area and examined the stones, then they did the same to a weak area of the bridge. The stones weighed the same, they looked the same and were made of the same material.. ..... then one of the builders noted that carefully written on each stone was a solitary word.
On the ones from the collapsed section were some of the following words ... Pride, greed, envy, lust, gluttony, sloth, fear, uncertainty, mistrust, and so the list went on. But on the strong section were the following words ... Co-operation, caring, love, peace, sharing, courage, support and trust.
It makes a lot of sense that bridges of any kind can only be built on positive attitudes. One must always choose the constructive way if any form of gap is to be closed. This applies not only to the bridge-builders of that remote place, and not only in the closeness of our own lives but in every community we participate in.
- …Br Jeff Daly CP
- (From his booklet "Parables for Parishes)
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Passionist Brother Jeff Daly CP
passed into Eternal Life early in 2009 after a short illness although he struggled with other health problems for many years. He was a South Australian and as a Passionist was familiar to many people from various parishes who visit the Monastery from time to time. This web-minister knew Jeff very well and along with many others, regarded him as a friend. I last saw him in October of last year when he picked me up from the Marrickville Railway Station and took me to The Passionist Monastery and Church of St. Brigid at Marrickville, where he has been stationed for the past 4 or 5 years. We spent a few happy hours together and he showed me the Passionist Province Archives for which he was responsible and introduced me to some people I hadn't previously met. He showed me the beautiful St. Brigid's church in great detail and also the Marrickville Monastery. We lunched together with the other Passionists before my return with him to the Railway station.Brother Jeff was a very talented man. He served God well and he served his vocation with distinction. In doing so he performed many functions. He was a missionary in Papua New Guinea, a pastoral associate - he was a worker and a diligent archivist. He performed as Klutzo the Magician to the delight of children and the elderly. As a hobby he ran a ham radio station from the back of the Monastery at Glen Osmond. He also had an interest in spinning and weaving, using wool from his friends' alpaca farm. Jeff loved birds and animals and seemed to know the names of everyone's dog. He also dabbled in caring for bonsai plants. He was an artist - a painter, sculptor a cook and in fact a practical man who could turn his hand to many things. Brother Jeff produced two booklets of verse during his time at The Monastery at Glen Osmond and much of his verse was reproduced on The Monastery website during my time as webmaster.
Possibly Brother Jeff's cheeky sense of humour was one of his most well used and greatest talents. At a memorial mass at The Monastery at Glen Osmond on Tuesday 9th June, Jeff's brother, Bob Daly, recollected some humour about his viewing the Passionist Archives where Jeff meticulously maintained all sorts of curios from the past. Bob had asked the significance of an old clothes iron (the type heated on top of a wood stove). Jeff instantly said "Oh that's very important. - It was a wedding gift to the young couple at Cana from the Holy Family." Likewise there was an odd-shaped key hanging in a frame - and when Bob asked about it, Jeff quipped " Oh, that's for the old Toyota out the back that Jesus used to drive the traders out of the Temple."
The great sense of humour was retained right up to the time of Brother Jeff's death to which he was courageously resigned and ready to go to God. As Jeff remembered and memorialised all his late Passionist brothers with great care as archivist, may we also remember him with love and affection.
May he enjoy eternal happiness with the Lord; the angels and saints, his loved ones and all God's good creations.
- Stan O'Loughlin
- Web-minister
- 13th June 2009