Recalculating

In a previous ministry setting I used to travel occasionally giving workshops for catechists. A colleague and I would fly to our destination, rent a car, and then plug-in “Galadriel”—my colleague’s GPS system. Maybe you remember Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings. She’s an Elf who can peer into the mind of others. That’s a very useful skill when you’re on the road in an unfamiliar place! After awhile, though, I found her voice annoying, especially when she’d say, “Recalculating.” What she meant was that I hadn’t followed her directions, missed a turn, or did something wrong.

For me, Lent is a time for recalculating. How far off-course have I gone in my life as a Christian? Do I need to make a U-turn? What are the coordinates that will get me back on track? We all need a Lenten GPS system to help us on our journey. Scripture works like that. Reading the daily scriptures or reflecting on the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday can point out the landmarks that I need as I seek to draw closer to Jesus. Sometimes I need to stop and re-fuel on the journey. My Lenten GPS helps me find vital resources that nourish my soul and keep me going. And it’s always important to remember that we aren’t alone. We travel through Lent with a global community and can count on them for prayer and support as well as offer the same to others.

It’s time to plug-in your destination and start your journey through the forty days of Lent. Count on plenty of detours and U-turns. But know that you can always count on the loving mercy of God, who waits for us, walks with us, each step of the way.

New Orleans Pioneers

Mardi Gras being tomorrow makes me think of New Orleans, of course!  I was there once at this time of year, and some of us from the Ursuline Academy went to the Pete Fountain parade.  Is was such fun to be among the crowds, collecting the beads and trinkets thrown to us from people on the floats.  I was thrilled when Pete Fountain himself, recognizing the Ursuline logo, came over to talk to us. Everyone in New Orleans seems to know about the Ursulines.

We were the first, after all!  Our sisters arrived in New Orleans in 1727, the first Religious women to come to what is now the USA.  I always love hearing the stories of their travels, by ship from France and then by pirogue (or canoe) up the Mississippi, in those long habits and swarmed by countless mosquitoes, to the French settlement established there.  These courageous women began a convent and school, served in healthcare, and established an orphanage.  One of them was the first woman pharmacist in the New World.

Today, Ursuline Academy of New Orleans thrives.  In addition, our sisters oversee the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor there, serve at St. Jude Community Center, and welcome Ursuline students from around the world who come to serve in rebuilding homes after hurricane Katrina.

Such daring courage!  Such committed service! I wonder, how are we called to continue that in the future?  And who will join us?

Preparing for Lent

As a child, if I heard this saying once I heard it a thousand times: Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Mostly it was in regard to homework or music lessons. These words—and my mother’s voice—still live inside my head. They came to life recently as I began thinking about Lent. I’ve found over the years that if I take some time to prepare, I can enter more mindfully into this sacred season and not get caught off-guard when Ash Wednesday comes. I ask myself questions, like: What will make me a more loving person? What does God want me to discover about him this Lenten season? How will I incorporate prayer, fasting, and almsgiving into my life in meaningful ways this Lent? Then, I just take some time to listen and let God speak—usually over several days. Eventually I make some plans. This year I’m going to read a book by one of my favorite spiritual writers, Paula Huston, called Simplifying the Soul, Lenten Practices to Renew Your Spirit. I’m also using the Lenten resources from Creighton Online Ministries. Something else I’ve learned over the years is not to bite off more than I can chew. If I try to do too much, invariably I end up midway through Lent feeling overwhelmed and needing to jettison my good intentions. 

Over the next few days, I invite you to start thinking about Lent and how God is inviting you to live it this year. Check out some of the many print and online Lenten resources that exist and find something that speaks to you. If you have a practice, a resource, or anything else that you think could be useful to other readers, please put it in the comment box. I’ll be including more Lenten ideas, resources, and reflections in my weekly posts.

Striking the Heart

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Today is a day when everything from roses to chocolates to elegant jewelry is used to say “I love you”.  Some people secretly hope that Cupid will strike the heart of one whose affection they desire, creating a new relationship of love.

It makes me think about what has the potential to “strike our hearts” everyday.  What about the very young and the very elderly folks in our families?  Does not the light in their eyes have a way of striking the heart?  And the silhouettes of the trees in winter, the beauty of symphonic music, the refreshment of cold water after exercising?  What about sitting down to a simple meal and sharing the happenings of the day with family or religious community?

I don’t think we need Cupid to strike our hearts; we just need open eyes and readiness to receive the gifts that are all around us.

Busy Persons

Being busy is the name of the game these days.  The internet is full of guides for busy people: the busy person’s guide to cooking, to romance, to getting work done, to elegant dining, etc., etc.

I  will be with a number of busy persons next week at Texas A&M University’s Catholic Center.  In fact, they are very busy students.  As part of a large team for the Busy Person Retreat, I and others will accompany students who commit to pray for 30 minutes each day, meet daily with their spiritual directors (us), and try to be more attentive to and discerning of God’s presence in their lives.

Having participated in these retreats numerous times before, I know what a powerful experience they provide for students and directors alike.  They are opportunities of grace and renewed purpose, and help us integrate our faith with daily life.  After the retreat, we will still be quite busy, but we can also be more aware of the God who gives meaning to it all and who centers us in the midst of the chaos.

For those who do not have the opportunity of a week’s retreat, try a 3 minute retreat.  Every little bit helps!