Bridging the Gap: Arnie!

By Bishop David Zubik

	Bishop David Zubik

Every so often events happen that bring people together almost instantaneously. The "9/11" tragedies of 2001, the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963 and the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 are all historic testimonies to our nation united around such events. Sometimes local events do the same. Last week was proof of such in the City of Green Bay and far beyond its borders.

For the first time in the history of Green Bay, a firefighter lost his life on the job doing what is the job of every firefighter - to protect the rest of us. Arnie Wolff courageously lost his life - and following his death we came to know him almost immediately. A man who shunned the spotlight in life was the lead story in news broadcasts both in print as well as in electronic communication. We quickly came to admire his wife, Mary, whose strength of faith is a living sermon. We came to feel for his two sons and daughter as we tried to imagine what it is like to be in their shoes.

The large majority of us had the chance to witness his funeral Mass either in person or via T.V. We heard his pastor, Fr. Dave Pleier of St. Bernard Parish, speak so eloquently on how much Arnie was like the Gospel's Good Samaritan. We watched as hundreds and hundreds of other firefighters from all over the country came to Green Bay in solid fraternal grief and at the same time with exemplary support.

As difficult as this tragedy was - the loss of Arnie - his death brought us together. It helped us realize how important it is for us not to take anyone for granted - wife, husband, mother, father, sibling, friend or co-worker. It also reminded us how special are those public servants who go to work every day with one purpose only - to protect us! We owe a great deal and an immense measure of thanks to our firefighters, our law enforcement officials, our paramedics and so many others who give us a security we may be tempted to take for granted far too often.

But why does it take a tragedy like the death of Arnie Wolff to raise our consciousness of the beauty of the person next to us at any given moment? I suspect all of us become part of a routine that dulls our sense of appreciation of each other and maybe even of ourselves and of God.

Jesus came to give us life and life to the full! Jesus, through His public days with us as a world community, showed us how never to take anyone for granted, most especially those whom society back then and today places outside the circle of interest, care and concern.

Yes, it is important for us to come together at the death of Arnie. But it is equally important for us to be "there" for each other in life every day of life.

Is there someone in your life right now who needs to know how grateful you are for them and all that they are and do? Let them know! That becomes the best tribute that each of us can pay to Arnie! And that becomes the response Jesus teaches us by His very life and hopes from us each day of our lives.