Today is the 30th anniversary of Fr. Richard Davis’, T.O.R. ordination.  Tom and I drove out to St. Francis College in Loretto on the evening of May 9th, slept overnight in the seminary, and the next morning attended the ordination Mass and ceremony for our BEHS teacher and friend.  When I look back on various life decisions I’ve made, attending Fr. Richard’s ordination is one of the better ones, and each year on this date I pause to remember him and that very special day.

A few weeks later, Fr. Richard gave me a small present to celebrate my own special day, my graduation from BEHS.  It is a Paula’s Impressions photograph, upon which is written the following:

I shall pass through this world but once

Any good therefore that I can do

Or any kindness that I can show

To any human being, let me do it now.

Let me not defer or neglect it.

For I shall not pass this way again.

I’ve managed to hold onto this gift for now nearly 30 years, still displayed on a shelf near my desk; I admit I often overlook this photograph in my daily activity, but every now and then it draws my attention, and I pause to think about those words and whether or not I have been true to them.  It never fails to inspire me to be more aware of my actions, and the want to try harder.