Post Turkey Day Bowl

No this blog is not going to be a how-to on what to do with Thanksgiving left-overs.
The formation community ventured to Eagle Rock Bowling Alley in West Orange, NJ for a post Turkey-Day outing on November 27.  Given our boisterous approach to the game, many of the onlookers must have wondered how we could squeeze so much fun out of bowling.  There was one moment where I noticed the entire bowling hall stopped their games to observe the gregarious nature of our group. A bunch of consecrated men having rip, roaring fun?!?! Who would have thought?

For some of us, it was the first experience of bowling; for one who was a veteran bowler, he showed his stuff by getting four strikes in a row; for one who was in his 80’s, he showed the younger guys a thing or two; and for one athlete type among us, he showed us how to be a “switch bowler”.

During the second game someone added a shrieking call to sound off right at the moment a bowler released the ball.  Needless to say, many gutter balls ensued during the remainder of the game.

In the game of bowling, three consecutive strikes denotes a “turkey”.   In our Salesian outing, although we did not accumulate too many high scores, if fun was rated with a point system, we would have a “300” perfect game. The greatest take away from the experience was our ability to share in the joys of community life. With many schedules to attend to and the general busyness of all that we do as a community, taking the time to have a laugh and have some fun is a great reminder that we are not on this journey alone. St. John Bosco founded our Salesian community for the mission of bringing Christ to young and the poor through faith and fun; he encouraged playing and praying as avenues to grow closer to Christ. As he put it best, “My children- jump, run, and play, and make all the noise you want. But avoid sin like the plague and you will surely gain heaven.”