The Amen Zone by The Most Reverend Joseph C. McKinney

Once when canoeing as a young man, we came across a log that crossed the whole stream. It was a five-mile current and we were not prepared. My partner in front came up with a panic move that indicated that we were to go into reverse, back up and size up the situation. I knew that was not possible so I tried to maneuver the canoe so we could ram the log and hopefully get hung up on top of the log. The current swept us sideways into the log and the inevitable happened; the canoe turned over and was swept under the log and we did the same. After a few exciting moments shock turned to laughter as we found that no one was hurt and hastened to retrieve the canoe, paddles and gear. The only loss was my glasses, which we never found.

As we were wringing out our clothes and getting our act together we heard another canoe coming so we hid in the woods to watch them deal with disaster. When they saw the log the man in the rear ordered, "take the low point just right of mid stream." They paddled forward, rammed the log at top speed. The front of the canoe hit the log, came out of the water and started going over the log. The man in the front jumped onto the log and in one motion pulled the canoe over to the half-way point, then jumped back into the canoe. It tipped forward as the man in the rear jumped on the log, pulled the canoe forward and then jumped back into the canoe and they moved on downstream. It was real quick and neat.

The log held them up less than 5 seconds. Those guys knew how to "go with the flow" and watching them proceed downstream was a picture of calm and contentment. How many situations in life are like that? We need to learn to go with the flow and that is part of being in the Amen Zone.

If Mary, the mother of Jesus, was only 15 years old, as my scripture professor claimed, when she got pregnant, what obstacle did she face? Things were not smooth. Her mother had to know; her grandmother had to know; her friends found out and eventually Joseph knew. It's hard to imagine anyone believing that it was by the power of the Holy Spirit. We know that Joseph had other plans when the Angel informed him. Mary did not have it easy; a 3 day donkey ride when she is 9 months pregnant, no decent place to stay, a cave where sheep went when the weather was bad, a husband who knew nothing about birth, peasant shepherds visit after birth, the announcement to flee to Egypt. God did not make it easy but she made it look easy with her "Amen" spirit. That zone where we trust God to take care of the things we can not handle is the "Amen" zone. Mary had it. Joseph had it. Jesus had it. We need it.

My brother, a priest, returned from a 30-day retreat and shared with me what he figured are the keys to the spiritual life--powerlessness, gift, gratitude and praise. They all have a place in the Amen Zone. Powerlessness is the reminder that without God and his merciful love we are absolutely powerless. Five months after his retreat he broke his neck and was a quadriplegic. The first four months of his rehabilitation finds him on the way to being a paraplegic. His arms now are at about half strength, his hands have feeling and movement. One is at about 10% capacity, the other at 20% capacity. Along the way he had to learn to breathe, to swallow, to talk.

Each day he seeks the grace to say Amen and then throws himself totally into the regimen of rehabilitation. Everyone who meets him is impressed. He has developed a unique sense of humor that adds lightness to heavy moments. He can't be grateful enough to the five therapists who see him each day. The man who interviewed him for an article in the paper confided that he is one of the two most impressive people he ever met. Everyone says that his very outlook is the best sermon he ever preached. He renews his Amen each day and several times during each day. That Amen embraces the totality of each day with a spirit of adventure.

There will be difficult moments and easy moments but it sure makes a difference when trust of God is at the basis of it all. He has big plans but they all are beyond us. It's more important to have a mini goal each day. That is all part of his therapy and how it fits into his Amen plan. What a special gift it is just to visit with him. Pity parties are gone. All is gift and the ability to accept it gratefully and praise God keeps him in the Amen Zone.

I suppose we all know that "thy will be done on earth as in heaven" is a key phrase in the Lord's prayer. When we say, "on earth" we should surrender the one part of earth we can give--our heart. When our heart is in God's will, then we are in the Amen Zone.

Barbara is a young mother of three children. When she was pregnant for the fourth child she was informed that she had cancer that would take her within six months and chances for a healthy birth were next to nil. Crestfallen she called me to share her cross. I asked "Barbara, how do you feel?" "I feel fine but the doctor says…" ‘Barbara", I interrupted. "Do me a favor and believe your feelings instead of the doctor’s. Let's find out what God has in mind."

She did so. The baby was born healthy and is now approaching his second birthday. The cancer has slowed down but is continuing to ravage her. I went to see her and explained that the sacrament for death is Viaticum. It's God’s food for the journey. "How do you feel about dying?" was my question. "It's all in God's hands, I'd like to raise my children but I trust God more. He let me see my son baptized and my daughter receive First Communion. God is good and I trust Him. If he wants to bring me back from death's door, that's fine. If he wants to call me home, that's fine. If I'm called home I'll do my best to find a good wife for Bob who is willing to be mother to the children."

She is in the Amen Zone. People are deeply impressed and Barbara makes the best of every moment God gives her on earth. She knows she is powerless; she knows God is generous with his gifts; she has an attitude of gratitude and remembers to praise God for every blessing. She's in the "Amen" zone.

Bishop Joseph C. McKinney, Diocese of Grand Rapids, was ordained a priest in 1953. He has served as a teacher, pastor, spiritual director, assistant chancellor and vicar general. A popular conference speaker, he is the former Chairman of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

.August 1998 edition of The San Francisco Charismatics Read other articles of spiritual enlightenment in the or return to the Main Menu by clicking on the blue.