By DONALD DeMARCO
Theologian Romano Guardini begins his introduction to The Conversion of Augustine by stating: “Books do not come into existence as their authors want them to, but rather as they want to.” Books, especially good ones, such as the one that Guardini introduces, seem to have a mind of their own. They take shape within the unconscious until they are ready to be born. The eminent theologian speaks of “the interior process which The Confessions describes pushed its way to the fore and took over.”
Two factors should be added: 1) the assistance of friends; 2) the work of divine Providence.
I would like to confirm and enlarge upon Guardini’s statement. After writing extensively about a rather dreary subject, reproductive technology and its assault on parenthood, I had no thoughts about writing another book. A friend from upstate New York, however, had other ideas for me.
She sent me a letter urging me to write one about virtue and illustrate each virtue with personal and inspirational stories. For whatever reason, I sensed something of special importance in her message and took it with me on an itinerary that included a series of flights from the Bradley International Airport to Toronto to Calgary and finally to Kamloops, British Columbia.
Rain was falling hard at the Bradley Airport that is shared by Hartford and Springfield, making it a fitting way to celebrate April 16, also known as National Stress Awareness Day.
“Do you know the code for the Kamloops Airport?” The attendant at the ticket counter had reason for her question. Her airline had recently changed the code for finding airport codes on the computer, and she did not know the new code. She was not familiar with Kamloops, either, and may have thought it was a sugary cereal for kids. Further delays, such as this, compounded by the storm, caused me to wonder if my plane would reach Toronto in time for my connecting flight to Calgary.
My concern was fully justified. My plane, flight #1473, took an alternate route over Albany to avoid the rain as much as it could. Once we reached Toronto, airline officials were most helpful in speeding up my entrance into Canada. I was wearing sneakers, which assisted me in running down the concourse at full speed. I arrived at the departure gate one minute before my flight to Calgary was scheduled to leave. But when I reached the gate, I was informed that I could not get on board since the “bridge” that allowed passengers to board the plane had been removed.
I was in luck, however. A plane from Paris was two hours late. I could board that plane, which was headed for Vancouver. The airlines, being fully sympathetic to my situation, would put me up in a hotel and fly me to Kamloops the next morning. After filling out several forms, I found my way to a new departure lounge and allayed my anxieties by meditating on what better plans the Great Schedule Maker had for me. Faith in Providence is a wonderful aid in the management of stress.
While seated in the departure lounge, awaiting my flight to Vancouver, I recognized an acquaintance of mine who lives in Vancouver. I recalled speaking with him two or three times after talks I had given in that city. He recognized me and said, somewhat startled, as if he was looking at a ghost, “You know, I don’t think of you often.” I was more curious than offended by his unexpected comment. “But I did think of you just yesterday while in Miami. I had an inspiration that you should write a book about moral virtues, and illustrate it with memorable stories from life and from literature.” I told him about the letter from my friend in New York who had the same thought.
“Synchronicity,” someone once said, “is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” I asked my friend a question, the answer to which I already seemed to know. It was about his seating assignment. We had been assigned, rather providentially, adjacent seats. During the five-hour flight we spent the time planning the book, discussing what virtues it should include, and how they should be exemplified.
After we disembarked, he drove me to his home and introduced me to his family. We had a most cordial time. Afterward, he took me to my hotel. I was able to get to Kamloops in time for my talk, which was the first of several in British Columbia. My final presentation was in Vancouver.
The good priest who drove me to the Vancouver Airport, as if I need a final reminder that God wanted this book to be written and published, was none other than the godfather of a daughter of my Vancouver friend.
I recall having 40 talks lined up in 20 different cities. Providence was very much with me. Stories of people displaying heroic virtue fell into my lap like leaves falling from a tree. I had supreme confidence that the book would see the light of day, a mindset that was a great help in setting down stories that illustrated 28 different virtues.
Following my period of activity on the road came an extended period of peace and quiet at home, which allowed me to put pen to paper and produce The Heart of Virtue: Lessons From Life and Literature Illustrating the Beauty and Value of Moral Character. The book, published by Ignatius Press, has enjoyed success, has been reprinted, and has been translated into Korean.
I dedicated the book to my two friends “for their clear insight, kind inspiration, and gentle assistance.” At the same time, I knew that I was more indebted to the Divine Author who oversees all things.
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(Dr. Donald DeMarco is a senior fellow of Human Life International. He is professor emeritus at St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo, Ontario, an adjunct professor at Holy Apostles College in Cromwell, Conn., and a regular columnist for St. Austin Review. His latest works, How to Remain Sane in a World That is Going Mad; Poetry That Enters the Mind and Warms the Heart; and How to Flourish in a Fallen World are available through Amazon.com. Some of his recent writings may be found at Human Life International’s Truth and Charity Forum.
(He is the 2015 Catholic Civil Rights League recipient of the prestigious Exner Award.)
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