on t he way
L E SSONS
from the
PLAYGROUND
AS A CHILD, I looked forward to recess at my Catholic school. There, on the playground, I was introduced to new games by teachers and other children. When a new game was introduced, the first step for all who wanted to play was to learn the rules of the game. In other words, the “givens.” Without a common recognition of the basic laws and rules which defined the game, it was impossible to play. Everyone had to accept the givens or there was no play.
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Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org
The same is true for all of life. There must be some givens — accepted truths — or there is chaos, disintegration and even war, within countries and within families. Much concern is expressed in the Church and society today about how divided, polarized and inhospitable things have become. Often, the proposed solution for this distressing situation is that we try to be more civil toward others, especially those with differing viewpoints. This civility must include patient listening. This is certainly good advice in any community and is one fruit of the recent exercise in “synodality” which many of us just experienced in the diocese. But something else is required for true communion and peace: acceptance of the givens — that there are real truths that exist
