This started out as a letter and then took on a life of its own. I would be more than pleased, however, if it were printed as a letter to the editor.

I have thought long and hard before putting pen to paper for the simple reason that I am not sure whether I can strike the right balance in writing a piece about the Synod. Life is a balancing act and getting the balance right depends on our choices.

We struggle today with the question of balance. A healthy balance is not one of the strengths of our age. I have decided to go ahead and share my thoughts because I was brought up on the principle that he who hesitates is lost! My hope is that what I write may provoke discussion on a subject that is important to our lives.

The diagram of the Archdiocesan organisational chart of in the Catholic News on February 5 bothers me. It looks good on paper. It makes a lot of sense. I am troubled, however, by the corporate nature of the chart (maybe I shouldn't be). I said to myself: This is how bureaucracy functions.

Each branch of the tree has to produce, prove itself, make a name for itself, and get results. Results count. I saw a similar chart produced by HDC Management Structure, in the Daily News on February 10. It was more detailed, but basically the message was the same: This is how we get the job done. This is how we function.

The business world is task-oriented. It is judged on results. The business world is not person-oriented. The thrust of business is to please the boss, even God, and show that I am indeed unselfish, efficient, and willing to give all, and hopefully, my efforts, will be worthy of praise and deserving of promotion.

The Synod is a significant event in the life of the Archdiocese. It has a lot of history. A huge effort has gone into it. It has done well, but it is still in process. I wonder has it become too complicated? Does it need to be simplified? Small is beautiful too!

How can I say this without sounding wrong: Are we in danger of becoming overwhelmed by too much bureaucracy? Are parishes beginning to groan under the constant demands? There is a lot paper coming through our mailboxes, each one laudable, and each one with the best interests of people at heart, but each, in one way or another, adding to the workload.

Of course we need administration. We cannot function without structures. Good structures help make our dreams come true. But are we in danger of drowning in a sea of administration? There are so many meetings to attend, sometimes meetings about meetings, so many goals to focus on, so many programmes to be organised, so many events to prepare for, so many deadlines to be met.

Some of us, doing our best, are barely winging it! Dare I ask the question, (how can I say this without causing upset): Has a certain Synod fatigue set in? Are we trying to do too much? Is it possible that the train (Synod) will leave the station with only a handful of people on board? Is there even a grain of truth in what I am saying?

If we had to choose between a good administrator or a good pastor, which would it be? Maybe I shouldn't be asking such an indelicate question. But my intentions are good.

Modern life is so pressurised. The generous and committed people who offer their services when we need volunteers, the ones we look to, and depend upon, in running our parishes, are living and working in a world that is over-stressed. Many of them are already over-stretched and over-stressed when they come to us with their time and talents. Are we stretching the over-stretched?

I am well within the mark when I say that doing in today's world is more highly regarded than being. I see it all around me. Our culture emphasises doing, not being. We must never underestimate the power of our culture.

What we achieve, how much we accomplish, how successful we are in terms of producing counts big in our modern world. It catches the eye. It wins praise. I wonder has this emphasis percolated into our Church thinking and strategy? Henri Nouwen once observed, “Being busy has become a status symbol in contemporary society”.

When we ask someone to help we usually preface the request with the words: I know you are busy. We find it jolting when someone responds: “No, I'm not busy. In fact, I have absolutely nothing to do at the moment.”

People who have nothing to do, people who are not producing, are often considered failures? But the work of Church is basically spiritual. How do we quantify spiritual results?

In the Church, we sometimes measure spiritual maturity by how involved a person is in Church activities. We sometimes act as if the only question God will ask at the end of our time is: What did you do for my kingdom?

At the end of the day, being (that is, who I am), my relationship with God and my neighbour is what really matters. I do not mean that doing is unimportant. Neither do I mean that that we are simply to lay back in our hammocks in some trancelike state, focussing on who we are. The point is, what I do always comes out of who I am.

The important question, at the risk of repeating myself, is not: “Tell me what you are doing, give me a list of your activities, and the more the merrier”, but rather, “Tell me about your relationship with God”. As long as “doing” (what I do) has primacy over “being” (who I am), we are bound to lose our way.

I will end with a parable ( The Road Home : Day 280). Jesus loved to tell stories. The stories of Jesus are not bedtime stories to make us feel good, and give us a good nights rest. They demand a response to a way of being in the world.

A little boy was brokenhearted to find his pet turtle lying on its back lifeless, at the edge of the pool. His Mom did her best to console him: “Don't cry,” she pleaded, “we'll arrange a lovely funeral for Mr Turtle.

We'll make him a little coffin and get the undertaker to make a headstone with Mr Turtle carved on it. We'll erect a little fence around it and we'll paint it white, and plant flowers on the grave.”

Her son dried his tears and become enthusiastic about the project. When all was ready, the funeral cortège formed and moved solemnly towards the pond with the little boy as chief mourner, but when they got to the pond, the body had vanished.

Suddenly they spied Mr Turtle emerging from the depths of the pond happily swimming around. The Turtle was alive and well. A miracle! The little boy stared at his pet turtle in bitter disappointment and said, “Let's kill him.” His project had become more important than Mr Turtle alive and well!

Fr Vincent Travers, OP, Scarborough , Tobago.

DEAR EDITOR: I have stopped attending Mass. Do not misunderstand me – I still “go to Mass”, but I am unable to “attend” Mass. I am unable to open myself up “to the great gift that God wishes to give” me.

The spirit and the flesh are willing, but have been progressively weakened, weakened by the irreverence of worship, by the irreverence of posture, by the irreverence of dress, by the irreverence to the sermon, to the Eucharistic, by the attention to the contemporary music (and so irreverent movement of body parts) and not to the words, by the irreverent talking in church, by the innocent irreverence shown by children and young people at Mass, engendered, I believe, by a frightening lack of knowledge of the Mass.

Believe me, I am no poteau l'église . But I was taught a great deal about Holy Mass as a child, and continue with God's grace to learn a little more from reading and from the Internet.

It is, therefore, with much humility, that I recommend to my fellow parishioners and, with great respect, to those clergy who may not have read it, Michael Dubriuel's The How-To Book of the Mass . It was introduced to me by a colleague whose devotion to his religion has been a subject lesson to me, and to whom I shall be forever grateful.

Words and titles can often be misleading and misinterpreted. The Mass is “a holy recalling of the sacrifice of Jesus that he offered His Father” at the last supper. Perhaps the emphasis on the “celebration” of the Eucharist has made us equate it with the “celebration” of carnival.

I am still seeking the spiritual strength to accept the great gift.

Trying hard (via email)

DEAR EDITOR: The qualification of the Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors for their first ever World Cup Final has caused nationals to be swept by tremendous pride not only on the islands but overseas as well.

Being an international student, I was unfortunately unable to engage in the widespread celebrations throughout the land of my birth, in recognition of the success of the team.

However, along with many others who found themselves in similar situations; we got together with fellow student Trinidadians as well as other Caribbean nationals to celebrate, fully aware of what this meant for our nation and for the Caribbean Region as a whole.

As we rejoiced in true “Trini” style, other university students approached us with congratulatory words, highlighting the fact that a small nation such as ours earning a spot on one of the world's biggest stages was indeed an immense achievement.

I cannot forget to recognise the integral role the media has played especially in providing online editions of the nation's news in a concise and methodical manner. As a result, I have been able to remain up to date with the preparation and progress of the Soca Warriors.

Finally, I would also like to commend those responsible for creating the www.socawarriorstt.com website for the excellent job done, not only in promoting the football team but also our beautiful twin island republic.

Germany prepare for not only the Soca Warriors but a “Trini culture” invasion as well.

God bless our nation.

Calvin Weekes , Ontario , Canada.