Times of Change

Last week, I was at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware, for student workshops on making discerned choices about the future. It was, as always, delightful to be there, but by then we knew that enormous changes were looming for all schools, due to the coronavirus. As our nation and world face the unique challenges of this time, here’s a meditative Prayer for a Pandemic written by Cameron Bellm, a Seattle mom of 2 young boys:

May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home, remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.

May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market
remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country, let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.
Amen.

Summer’s Not Over

While many might think summer is close to ending, as we see teachers and kids gear up for school, it actually is just the middle of the season, which officially lasts this year from June 21 to September 22.  With this in mind, and 6 more summer weeks ahead,  a poem of Wendell Berry gave me pause:

Looking back at past weeks of summer, we surely can see blessings.  Still enjoying the bounty and beauty of this season, we must keep going toward a blessed light as yet unseen. The June issue of Heartbeats sent by our charism team offered wonderful suggestions for living in a Sabbath spirit. It’s not too late! In fact, it could be a practice for always.

Celebrate What’s Right

As an alumna of Ursuline Academy of St. Louis, it’s my joy to assist with the Alumnae Board retreat each year.  The theme for the school’s 2018-19 year was the focus of our gathering this week: “Celebrate What’s Right In Our World.” 

Our model, St. Angela, and her attitude toward the world of her day launched our reflection.  Early 16th century Italy was a difficult time, one of war, corruption, chaos and confusion—enough to make anyone despair.  But Angela was bigger than that.  She listened to the Holy Spirit speaking to her in her heart, and decided to do what she could.  Known in her town as a woman of kindness, prayer and peace-making, she gathered 2 dozen young women together and began a new life of consecration to God called Ursuline.  She remained positive and faith-filled: “Persevere faithfully and joyfully”;  “Without doubt, you will see marvelous things”; “I will always be in your midst”.

Taking a fast-forward to TODAY, it was not hard for the group to name what is right in OUR world as women blessed by an Ursuline education.  The flow of ideas and enthusiasm built from one to another. Gratitude was evident, even without saying the word.

I was, as always, in awe at these graduates who are now professional women, wives, mothers, generous, active and committed to a school they love. They want to celebrate what’s right in our world and keep it growing.  Right on!

Searching for Truth

In this week between Ascension and Pentecost, the promise of Jesus that “the Holy Spirit will teach you all things” rings clear.  There’s a whole lot I need to be taught these days—-like what to believe about North Korea, Israel, the US/ Mexican border and China, as well as what can be done about hunger, disease and terrorism.  I’d love to have a window into the truth of how to really live together in peace, starting with my own city, and extending into our country, church and world.

The Holy Spirit will teach you . . . . I believe this. But we must work hard at helping one another arrive at truth.  If the truth will make us free, which Jesus also said, then we need to get better at searching together for it.  Why does so much  communication have the effect of shutting people down instead of opening a path to shared wisdom?

As we celebrate the Holy Spirit among us, the Wisdom and Truth of God, we might take up this prayer from World Communications Day. Praying and living what it says could lead us to find what we all desire.

Recognize Resurrection

I heard a great homily recently. The question was asked: why do we tend to remember our “Good Friday” experiences more than the Easter ones? People can usually report the wounds and hurts they’ve been dealt in life.  It’s easy to recall every detail of insults or failures or even simple disappointments.  But what about all the Easter moments?

There’s the friend who speaks just the right words of support. And the sun made visible  after days and days of rain! Easter moments are those when our hearts suddenly feel lighter and we know this comes from God within us. They’re the everyday miracles that occur unexpected and in ways we had never imagined.  The awe-inspiring beauty of nature, encounters with people who are deep-down good, and confidence that life can break forth from the tomb of pain and death—-these are flashes of Easter joy that are real.  May we recognize them!