Learning to live with less and less

Monday, March 16, 2020

Brother Richard DeMaria

BLOGGER PROFILE

Editor’s note: After leaving the Archdiocese of Miami, Brother Richard De Maria spent six years as a missionary in Africa. In 2016, he was diagnosed with ALS — Lou Gehrig’s disease. He has chronicled his journey of faith in accepting this disease in a monthly blog, “Journey to Death,” from which this blog is excerpted.

This is my March blog.

I am learning to live with less and less. My body continues to fail and sometimes feels like a ragdoll.

I use the computer less every day. Computers were not meant to be used by people with only one hand and that one which badly shakes. Nonetheless, I continue with both physical therapy and occupational therapy four times a week.

That may be the most I can do this month, which tells you all you need to know about me. I want to share a favorite poem by St. John Henry Newman which captures my spirit:

Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom,
lead thou me on;
the night is dark, and I am far from home;
lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
the distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
lead thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still
will lead me on,
o'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
the night is gone,
and with the morn those angel faces smile,
which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

Meantime, along the narrow rugged path,
Thyself hath trod,
Lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith,
Home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.