Articles by: Darrell Fusaro

Halloween offers kids a unique opportunity that leaves a lasting impression.  I never felt comfortable in a Halloween costume.  Even as a young boy I knew it was just a disguise.  But, if that was what I had to do to amass several pillowcases full of candy, then I reasoned it was worth it. 

Motivated solely by this desire, I walked around the blocks of my neighborhood, going door to door in disguise.  When my neighbors would come to the door I’d say the obligatory “Trick or Treat” and hold my pillowcase wide open with my little hands.  As soon as I received their offerings, I’d say “Thank you” do an about-face and return to my quest.   

Then it hit me, while walking down from the porch of a neighbor’s home I realized that my disguise gave me a powerful ability.  With my identity concealed I was able to get an objective view of them.  This glimpse of each individual neighbor’s enthusiasm and generosity towards us anonymous kids was incredible.   

The person who left the most profound impression upon me was at the house I’d previously skipped on Halloween.  That night I left the house with my empty pillowcase disguised as a hobo.  It was after one of my routine trips home to empty my pillowcase full of candy and before returning to trick or treating that I decided to change costumes. 

I didn’t want anyone, especially my mother, to know.  I snuck into my bedroom to find an old sheet.  I was determined to conceal my identity completely and knew with limited supplies a ghost costume would be the simple solution.  Using scissors I cut a sheet in half, cut two holes for my eyes, threw it over my head and slipped out the back door with my pillowcase unnoticed.

Now convinced that I was unrecognizable I joined a group of kids at the sidewalk who were making their way to the front door of my house.  My intention was to play a trick on my mother by surprising her, but while waiting my turn with the other kids on our porch I was astonished.  My Halloween costume gave me the same objective peek at my mother that I had enjoyed with all my other neighbors.   I watched anonymously witnessing her perform magnificently.  She responded to each child’s costume with an appropriate amount of fear, surprise, and good humor.  She let each one pick their treats and then sent them off with encouragement. 

I thought I would immediately surprise her when it was my turn, but I didn’t.  Even though I was only nine years old I knew that this was an opportunity to experience true love in disguise.  I allowed her to be her real wonderful self with an anonymous me.  I walked away thinking to myself, "My mommy's a really nice lady."

Ironically, it was shortly after this Halloween that my parents divorced and my mother became estranged from us.  Happily, in my adult years we've been in touch and recently I shared this story with her for the first time.  It was a touching surprise for her.

Halloween is an extraordinary holiday: in our deception we have the opportunity to see each other through innocent eyes.

–Darrell Fusaro

Cartoonist Darrell Fusaro is the co-host of the Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed podcast and author of What If Godzilla Just Wanted a Hug?

Recently my wife, Lori, asked if I would explain to her good friend photographer Lisa Prince Fishler how to use a God box, so I thought why not share the details with you as well?  The God box, although effective at solving any problem you may have, may seem silly or at best too simple to be for real.  But for those of us who have tried it we are unanimous: it works!


The idea is to have a container with a slot or opening on top.  You write your present problem, worry, desire, or hard-to-make decision on a small piece of paper.  I like to end all my requests with the statement, "This or something better." I believe that's the real meaning of "If it be Thy will."  You may even date your request if you like.  Then fold it up and put it in your God box.  In essence, "turning it over to God." 


Don't stress out about what you should use as your God box, any container will do.  Some examples of what my friends and I have used as God boxes are, a favorite cereal box, coffee can, oatmeal container, jewelry box, cigar box, a hamper, shoe box, and even a garbage can.  Whatever you choose to use as your God box it will work, since the activating power is in releasing whatever it is to God.


I believe that writing down my request and putting it in my God box enables me to feel like I've done my part in turning it over.  This physical activity gives me a concrete sense that I've actually turned it over to a Higher Power.  Now I have a reference for when I catch myself worrying.  I can easily remind and reassure myself that I put it in my God box and everything will transpire in divine order, with perfect timing, effortlessness and ease. 


Feeling reassured I become relaxed and confident, I am free to follow hunches, and I find myself hyper-aware of coincidences conspiring in my favor.  What was at first a dilemma is now an adventure in faith – looking forward to an even better-than-expected outcome. 


When you clean out your God box you get the added pleasure of seeing how even forgotten requests were resolved in wonderful ways.  So whatever it is, big or small, don't delay, put it in your God box today!  Let go of thought, "How will I resolve this?" and cast the burden on God.  Don't worry about how God will work it out, just know that he will. 



The following is from the daily mediation book, Around the Year With Emmet Fox,  January 3rd.


LET GOD HAVE YOUR BURDEN


Once you have contacted the Power within, and have allowed it to take over your responsibilities for you, it will direct and govern all your affairs from the greatest to the least without mistakes.  The government shall be upon his shoulder.  You are tired, and driven, and worried, and weak, and ill, and depressed because you have been trying to carry the government upon your own shoulder; the burden is too much for you, and you have broken down under it.  Now, immediately you hand over your self-government, that is, the burden of making a living, or of healing your body, or erasing your mistakes, to the Child.  He, the Tireless One, and All-Powerful, the All-Wise, the All-Resourceful, assumes it with joy; and your difficulties have seen the beginning of the end.

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee...  –Psalm 55:22

"Do not try to think out in advance what the solution of your difficulty will probably turn out to be.  This is technically called "outlining," and will only delay the demonstration.  Leave the question of ways and means strictly to God.  You want to get out of your difficulty – that is sufficient.  You do your half, and God will never fail to do His."  – Emmet Fox

 In a recent e-mail I received this photo from artist Leebs Goya of her "God Jar" along with this note; "Thought you'd want to see what you inspired!  I made my God Jar today!!!" 

This post hit close to home.  My wife, Lori Fusaro, was excited to show me her new God Box.  What I found inspiring was how she added word "YES!" on the inside.

I can't believe, up until now I've never glamorized my God Box.  Always a plain old oat meal container, cigar box, or shoe box.  Inspired by Lori and Leebs I've kicked things up a notch and I like it!

–Darrell Fusaro

Cartoonist Darrell Fusaro is the co-host of the Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed podcast and author of What If Godzilla Just Wanted a Hug?

Whether you have never prayed before or want to become a better pray-er, the Crabby Mystic can help!  Sister Mary Lea Hill, of the Daughters of St. Paul since 1964, has the gift of enlightening saints and the not so saintly on the practical benefits of prayer with her dry wit and offbeat wisdom.  When I saw her book Prayer and You on a bookstore shelf it was its subtitle, Wit and Wisdom from a Crabby Mystic, that compelled me to take it down and open it up.  I can enthusiastically say that it lives up to the hype.

 

Sr. Mary Lea’s lighthearted examples of prayer makes jumping into a personal relationship with God easy to do.  Every short and fun-to-read chapter kicks off with a witty and provocative heading.  And there are eighty (80) of them to enjoy.  Each one is a comforting quick pick-me-up.  Some of my favorites are, “Are We There Yet?”, “Ho-Hum Prayer”, “Spitefully Yours”, and “Thanks for Nothing!”.

 

Most refreshing is that the Crabby Mystic makes it clear: nuns are human too.  By sharing her everyday reaction to life in ways that we can all identify with is enlightening.  Her knack of combining compassion with a sense of humor gives readers permission to enjoy simple methods of connecting with God.  This is likely the friendliest book on prayer you will ever have the pleasure of reading.   Applying any of her suggestions will convince anyone, devout or not, that prayer is an effective and practical solution to everyday problems.  

 
Click on this link to get your copy of Prayer and You: Wit and Wisdom from a Crabby Mystic today.  The book makes a great gift as well.