Living outside the box

I liked this idea. (Thanks to this neat website: http://www.liturgy.co.nz/)

All redeemed in Christ calls us to think beyond boundaries.

What makes something "other" instead of one in the Body of Christ?

What I didn't plan on

I did not plan to spend my morning working on our web page. There were approximately four to five billion other to-do's on my list.

But there was a big earthquake in Chile.
And people are suffering.
And we have Sisters in Chile.

So I went to work doing the only thing I could do to (hopefully) make a difference...

Contact some others to let them know.
Pray.
Ask others to pray.

Because although it was not on my list for the day, it's what my life is meant to be about:
solidarity with the suffering.

So please pray for the people of Chile, especially those affected by the earthquake.

New Year, New Moment, New Hope

A new year is like a new pad of paper, a new notebook...that blank slate feeling that maybe there is the possibility of a fresh start...with good intentions, new hopes.

So I have hopes for our world: peace, love... It seems easy to be at the extremes of "can't we just all be friends" a bit Pollyanna....or totally cynical...it's useless. The harder posture to maintain is the step by step: at this moment, I will do what I can for peace...at this moment, I will do what I can for beauty...at this moment, I will do what I can to be a presence of love to our world.

I have hopes for all that I care about:

• the immediate circle of care of my family, my friends, my Sisters,
• a broader circle of people I have come to know and care about through my work in our Development Department: my fellow workers and our amazing donors who do so much to support us
• a world of "cosmic consciousness" that I am still growing into, that invites me to enter a bigger mystery...to learn to care way beyond my current awareness...to decrease my carbon footprint, my stuff footprint, my consumerism...and increase my mindfulness footprint.

And I have hopes for myself: a little more balance (again the extremes vs. the step by step approach), a little more focus, better planning, priorities...and growing in ability to relate with love and care in that bigger universe of God's amazing creation.

The work of mission is to keep expanding the embrace of God's love. So here goes, 2010!

What are your hopes and dreams for this new moment?

StarChild

Just got permission for use of this sound track--project I did on Christmas eve after being inspired when the song was used for our morning prayer.

Mission Sending

Am moved and excited today because it is Mission Sending today.

Ten wonderful people will be sent by the Maryknoll Family and other family and friends who love them...sent to countries around the world:

Bolivia, Cambodia, China, El Salvador, Kenya, Panama, Tanzania.

This afternoon we will gather in our Maryknoll Sisters Main Chapel. Maryknollers (Priests, Brothers, Sisters, Lay Missioners, Affiliates), some of whom have given more than 50 years of their lives to sharing a global mission of solidarity, healing, reconciliation...together with others...will send forth seven new Lay Missioners and three Sisters.

We will pray, sing, rejoice in this quintessential moment that celebrates the call to mission of these ten...and of all of us. And we will continue to hold them in our prayers, in our hearts.

May God bless them with courage, hope, fidelity, joy, and especially, love.

Celebrating Mercy

We had a beautiful celebration with Mercy today, seasoned with Tanzanian and Brazilian cultures and faith and love.

Religious vows--whether first, renewal, or final--are a time for all present to renew their commitment to following Christ.

As Mercy says, "Here I am Lord..." we also present ourselves once again to God and to our community.

Here is a quick overview:

God bless Mercy, all who love her (especially her parents), and the people she serves in Brazil.

Celebrating Commitment

I am unable to bilocate today. So while I will be present in our main chapel for the final vows of Sister Mercy Mtaita, my prayers are also with Dr. Susan Nagele who, just about one mile away, will be renewing her commitment as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner...and celebrating 25 years of service in Tanzania, Southern Sudan and Kenya.

I have many families, and most of them are big families. Sometimes my commitments and loyalties stretch me--and sometimes there's not enough to stretch as far as I would like.

Nonetheless, commitment to service to mission is a cause for celebration. And for affirming our commitment to service the mission of Jesus, to continue to seek and serve God's amazing reign of love.

Susan has been doing this for a long time. Mercy is younger, but in her service in Brazil, she also learns, grows, inspires.

Please join me and our Maryknoll communities and their families and friends in celebrating and praying for Susan and Mercy, and for all who strive to serve God and the people of God.

Encourage One Another

Thursday, I posted on my facebook status the little piece of Micah scripture:
Act justly, love tenderly, walk humbly with God.

Yesterday, I was with Maryknoll Lay Missioners celebrating 15 years as an Association of the Faithful. This same theme was celebrated in song and reflection.

It was a time to celebrate connection, to encourage each other, to commit to continuing to serve God in whatever way possible.

Fr. Bill Voss added to this (for his tombstone, hopefully not needed for many years to come):

Act justly, love tenderly, walk humbly with God. I tried.

I try.

May you also try. Today and always. To serve God and the people of God the best we can. And to help each other, encourage each other, remind each other of this great gift and purpose we have.

Esperanza's commitment

As I continue to try to learn many things, not all efforts are successful. This is not my best little movie, but gives a tiny glimpse of Sister Esperanza's first commitment as a Maryknoll Sister--continuing the long journey of faithful commitment to service she has already been living.

Too busy to seek?

I often find that I have to make a disclaimer about my spirituality--along the lines of, no one is every going to ask me to be a spiritual director...

the underlying substance of which goes to, when I get out of balance in the world of ministry-prayer, action-reflection, etc....it is always on the busy side of the equation.

I am lucky. Sometimes friends, things, flash moments..remind me to slow down, breathe, be.

I thank God for that, while still hoping for the grace/discipline/????? to move toward better balance.