Hospitality and love are free

Nearly thirty years in the priesthood informs what I do as a counselor in my office under the altar, next to the Parents' Day Out (PDO) program.  Of course it does.  I offer what I can, when I can. As I grow in the combination of priest and counselor and spiritual director and writer, I find I can offer more and more, even as I can receive more and more from others and from the world.  My own therapist/supervisor/consultant/spiritual director reminded me of this recently.  I pay for the sessions with him, but the hospitality and love are free.

There is plenty

To do

In my office

Under the altar.

First sessions are consultations

And free.

I have raised my regular hourly rate.

Since the ATM machine delivers

Twenty dollar bills,

I continue to charge

In multiples

Of twenty.

The church rate has now gone

From three-quarters

To half-price.

I do not take insurance.

I will never take insurance.

Confessions are heard

Completely free.

I continue to charge nothing

To care.

I still care for those

Who have moved on.

They are tucked away

In the corners of my heart.

Hospitality and love

Remain

Completely free.

They will keep me occupied

With plenty to do

In my office

Under the altar.

And above.