Seeking focus

My office resembles a war zone more than usual after a couple of weeks of moving from mailing deadline to special event to mailing deadline to special event to...more deadlines.

I came across this reflection on service and it is one more reminder: We all have to be vigilant about making sure our actions are aligned with our core values.

The other day I used the image of the pinball machine (or rather, the pinball) to describe my reality.

So I am back to seeking focus, seeking alignment.

In Good to Great, Jim Collins makes an interesting response to an assumption that one can't lead an organization to greatness and have a life. No, balance is important. Loving what you do is important. Being with the right people on the bus is important. (I am enjoying and being challenged a lot by this book...)

So I am back to seeking focus, seeking alignment, seeking balance. And hoping to be less pinball bouncing off whatever bumper, lever or wall happens to come.

The next generation

I am preparing the materials for a mailing to solicit funds for our major renovations efforts. My focus for the renovations tends toward the idea of strengthening the foundation for the next 100 years of mission. I hope it will continue to be collaborative, in the Maryknoll spirit and beyond.
Here is a celebration of that next generation that will serve mission.

Yesterday was the ordination of Father Stephen Taluja. In the picture on the left, Father Stephen is blessing Archbishop Timothy Dolan.




















This morning was Father Stephen's first mass. Here is pictured with Sisters Janice McLaughlin, Jareen Aquino, Genie Natividad, Sue Rech, Laura Guledew, and Linda AB. Genie, Laura and Linda have nearly completed their formation as Maryknoll Sisters. Soon they will profess their vows and prepare for their first mission assignments as Maryknoll Sisters.






These committed people, far more than the buildings, are the foundation for the next generation of making God's love visible.

(Photos thanks to Maryknoll Fathers Joe Veneroso and Dennis Moorman)

Poverty and Simplicity

Some of us have been reading articles and sharing conversation around the vow of poverty during the last few months.

I am out of times that focused on simple living. "Live simply that others may simply live."

A lot of religious discussion on poverty addresses the common good.

In some many ways, simple lifestyle was easy in Bura-Tana, Kenya. There wasn't much to have so we didn't have to worry to much about choices. And the focus of our day to day ministries were integral human development--helping people with basic needs. So maybe I am spoiled. I didn't have much money and didn't have anything to spend it on except basics (rice, beans, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, kale and collard greens [locally, sukumu wiki--low cost greens to push the week until something else could be found].

Now, I try to learn and be informed by a bigger consciousness of common good--common good of the whole of everything--all of God's amazing, magnificent creation. The idea of footptrint (usually as in carbon footprint) can be expanded.

How much do I need?

How much do I use?

In addition to trying to reduce my carbon footprint,
what about reducing my attention footprint--listening, and paying attention more to a bigger world than demanding attention for my own.
How about expanding my mindfulness footprint?

Seeking peace

Inspirational Poems or really quotes. Takes a few minutes, but some nice things to reflect on.

Friday afternoon

Some days it is easier to be a seeker than other days. Perhaps it has something to do with remembering the purpose of the seeking.

It's Friday afternoon. And I am thinking: blessings and peace to all.

Music Sharing

The Power of Beauty in the Internet/Global Sharing:

Stand By Me International Street

International Orchestra

We can work together for beauty and good in our world.

Praying for Peace in Africa

Prayer for Peace in Africa

Easter dawn

Happy Easter

Cold in the Tomb

I took a walk yesterday morning. And it was colder than expected. While I love the path around our woods, part of the time I was just focused on being cold.

How petty, it seemed after a while. Good Friday. Surely Jesus cold in the tomb trumps my poor-judgment-caused discomfort.

In these past months, how many people have been left "out in the cold"--suffering the worst effects of the economy.

Cold in the tomb: way beyond physical cold. What about people who are freezing inside because they are lost, lonely, afraid...in some way or another alienated and therefore burdened by the absence of knowing they are loved in the ways that matter.

People so cold and confused and full of sorrow and despair that their only solution is opening fire on a world that has somehow failed them?

Is this not some part of the Easter promise in which we are called to participate?
the communion of love in which all find a home in God's reign of love? in which there are other solutions? in which we get through this precisely because we get through it together?

Holy Week Meandering

We had the reading of the Passion yesterday morning. A couple of things struck me differently than I remember from past years.

Peter: boldly proclaims his loyalty, promptly betrays, weeps in sorrow.
Jesus between two thieves.

And it's ok. Jesus' closest followers have been getting it "wrong" for millennia and the deal (aka covenant) is not broken. God still trusts us as partners in bringing about good news.