Come closer, friend

At mass the other day, I was sitting on the end of a pew in a spot with obstructed view. My often buddy in said spot gestured and whispered, "Come closer, friend."

As we seek to create a transformed world by living differently, finding the way to respect differences while belonging to each other in one creation, one body, one mission...can be difficult.

Come closer, friend...

Such a simple, practical, elegant way to live into oneness.

Thank you, Sister Blanche.

Mission seeking

Seeking mission
Mission seeking
Mission: seeking

It's Lent and I am trying, though words are often elusive.

I'm rereading Entering the Castle, in which Carolyn Myss explores Teresa of Avila and invites the reader to a life as a mystic without a monastery.

As a contemporary mystic, you are measured by the quality of attitude you bring to all your tasks, by your capacity to be a model of generosity, and by challenging the fear that there is not enough to go around in this world--whether that is money, love, food, fame, power, attention, success, or social position. Mystical service means modeling calm in chaos, kindness amid anger, forgiveness at all times, personal integrity--to live, in other words, mindful that every second offers a choice either to channel grace or to withhold it. (p. 29)

I find this inviting, challenging, overwhelming.

In seeking mission, I am seeking that integrity that in every way, in every moment is mindful of the greater good, the cosmic communion in which we are all one and therefore there is no we-they, no above-below, nothing beneath me, nothing beyond me, all in all in love.

Here is my purpose and call: to keep this in mind as I try to plan my day, my week, my months and year ahead in a job that is a lot about being open to hope, opportunity, encounter, communion.