Butterflies and Cardinals

Since my mother died, yellow butterflies were "mom sightings"

With dad, we think cardinals....he used to wear a red jacket and there were a couple of unique cardinal appearances shortly after his death.

The other day I came across something I had written many years ago....has its own different meaning in this different context. (Warning: unpolished "poetry")

I thought I saw a cardinal

And even thinking made me smile

I peered about and scanned the tree

Hopeful–hadn’t seen one in a while

I thought I saw a cardinal

Perched away up in a tree

I stopped, stood still and waited

I did so much want to see

I thought I saw a cardinal

But how could it be true?

I thought I saw a cardinal

And it made me think of you.

I never got another glimpse

So I continued on my way

Thinking of a bright red bird

Carrying a wisp of you away

And a bit of you in my day.

Forgive them...

The song at morning prayer yesterday included a chanting of the line "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

Perhaps there is a cosmic wisdom in this message that I never appreciated before...

Maybe forgiveness is the only response to the wrongs, evils, stupidities, violences...that we commit in a state of limited consciousness/ignorance. Jesus with fuller knowing responds to immense suffering perpetrated by those who do not understand that the pain they are inflicting is causing suffering to the whole body of which they/we are a part. 

Can our global community barely beginning to know ourselves as part of a greater whole forgive our less conscious selves "for we know not what we do"?

For all the ways we have used/abused/exploited other parts of the whole, taken without consent or gratitude, are forgiveness and learning to pay forward what can never be paid back pathways to transformation?

Listen to glaciers and stardust

How do I learn to listen to glaciers and stardust?

The deep listening that our time calls for only barely begins with hugging a tree. It requires that we embrace the whole of creation and learn from it, engage it through inquiry, dialogue, and accountability. 

Starting to learn and practice these skills with my fellow humans is barely scratching the surface and at least a beginning. 

Then someday perhaps I can also learn to listen and understand glaciers, oceans, and stars. 

I Am

I am

I am layers of being and layers of consciousness. 

I am blood and stars. 

I am knowing and unknowing. 

I am and I am becoming. 

Peace Seeking Mission

If we are going to have a more peaceful world it will be because each of us does peace work...

What is one thing I will do today to change the energy I bring to my interactions with others and with creation?

Our social/political discourse is one place to start. Am I aware of tone and attitude? Does the way I express my opinion  open the door to dialogue and understanding?  Or does it incite--reinforcing aggression, fear, anger...?

Random acts of kindness, affirmation and beauty...

What ideas do you have for ways to help build our path to peace?

Inchworm

This reflection was inspired by my struggle with a particular pose in the Sun Salutation sequence in yoga.  I learned this name "Inchworm" for this posture and have been trying to focus on improving that step (not always successfully--it's still more frequently a flop than a posture).  However I think I am actually stretching, practicing, truly inching into it.

Inchworm 

     Slow, steady progress

     inch by inch

     know your direction intention

     Go slow but go

     Crawling is a humble path

     the way beautiful babies begin

     and humble creatures remain

     Slow, steady progress

     when learning perhaps not an inch

     maybe only half at a time

     learn how

     choose when and where

     go humbly,  faithfully

     inch by inch

     

Retreat Work: "Mindful"

Mindful, holy hope leads the 

way to simple, peaceful

what is unknown, hard, slow

declutter once, try, at least

then joy and purpose

be silent and listen to the

glaciers and the galaxies

and to your sisters

and violent world harder 

Farewell

Just had the wake for Sister Blanche Thiele, whose funeral will take place tomorrow.  Sister Blanche inspired this blog post in 2009.

Exercising Citizenship

Many Maryknollers are on their way to Washington, DC today to participate in one of our Centennial events, Maryknoll on the Hill. 

"For many years, the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns (MOGC) has brought the lived experience of Maryknoll missioners and the people with whom they live and work to the decision-making tables in our nation’s capital. The authentic understanding that Maryknoll brings to discussions of international policy is deeply respected by our colleagues and by lawmakers alike. We hope that a significant presence by the entire Maryknoll family will raise awareness of the critical issues of justice, peace and the integrity of creation, and also will illuminate the work of the MOGC and its efforts on behalf of the Maryknoll community."

I'm not going to Washington, but I am hoping to do my part from home.  During the next few days, I hope to spend some extra time reflecting on my values and legislation that is (or should be) on the table to help bring about justice, peace and the integrity of creation.

In the Maryknoll Sisters family, we treasure a phrase, no two alike. 
We don't do everything the same, or see everything the same. 

However, whatever our differences may be, exercising responsible citizenship is important.  We can all easily see the problems when only big business interests communicate effectively with our legislative decision makers.

Here's one area you could have an opinion on:  violence against women.  Learn more and consider taking action here:  http://www.maryknollogc.org/social/VAWA_2012.html

Maryknollers in Washington will focus on issues that have become important to us because of their signficant impact on the peoples around the world with whom we work. 

What are the issues that are important to you?  "Think global, act local" is a good adage.  Or I like to hope that I am learning to be like Mother Mary Joseph, the founder of the Maryknoll Sisters, a person with a world wide heart.

Where Were You When.....?

Different events in our lives mark us in different ways.

Some people never forget where they were...

...when the war started (which war....)
...when Kennedy was shot
...when Neil Armstrong took that small but giant step on the moon
...when the space shuttle exploded
...when planes were used as weapons of mass destruction on 9/11
...when Katrina struck
...when...
...when...
...when I heard about... and my world changed forever

Some things happen and change the way we remember, change the way we look at ourselves or others, change the way we mark time: before and after

What's your WHEN?

Changed Forever: Remembering the Martyrs of El Salvador

Thirty years ago, a terrible tragedy took place in El Salvador. When four church women were brutally assassinated, it touched our lives in unforgettable ways.

The missioners were killed in December 1980. I became a Maryknoll Lay Missioner in September 1981 (and later a Maryknoll Sister in 1986). Joining Maryknoll at that time was deeply linked with the events in El Salvador that had taken place the year before: the murder of Archbishop Romero, the tragic death in a flashflood of Sister Carla Piette, the abduction, violation and killing of Cleveland Lay Missioner Jean Donovan, Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel, and Maryknollers Maura Clarke and Ita Ford.

Danger and violence in Central America were the symbols of risk in commitment for younger generations of missioners, much the same way that suffering in China symbolized the call to mission for earlier Christians.

I invite you to join with us in remembering the martyrs in El Salvador and allowing their memory to stir your own commitment to service to the Gospel. We have a number of features on our website so that you can learn more about what happened and what it means for us today.

News

Bookmarks

Memorial
Fund

Hear Sisters Carla and Ita sing Lord
of the Road, a song composed by Carla

During the coming week, there will be other news and
features on our home page: www.maryknollsisters.org

Thank you for joining with us in remembering, praying, and pressing
on with the work of our beloved martyrs: making God’s love visible to the
poor, accompanying those who struggle for justice, responding to the urgent
needs of our world.

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.