Clearly Blue Waters

Yesterday, on Memorial Day I had the privilege of spending time with some sisters who are dear friends. We relaxed and covered many topics as we enjoyed the view of Lake Michigan from the beach. One thing that struck me was the strange beauty of the water. Looking far out over the lake one could see ribbons and stratas and shades of blue ranging from turquoise to sapphire to royal blue. Yet, when the water washed in on the sand it was so very clear. I wonder if that isn't a bit the way it is with God. We know him within, but can only see him now from afar and we know of his varied and wonderful beauty. When we will see him close and face to face, all will be divinely clear to us. I returned here to the motherhouse after our holiday time and had the privilege of sitting with one of our sisters who is dying. My reflection continued as I prayed asking God to let her rest in the beauty of his presence and to take her soon to the moment when all will be as clear as the water washing in on the beach. May her road rise up to meet her!

Spring Cleaning

I'm spring cleaning in the family attic! It's like a visit to a genealogical museum. There are letters by the packs and photo albums and I've even discovered that my tiny farm community had their own women's basketball team back in the early 1900's--progressive! It's also an inspiration to read the letters and newspaper clippings that reveal just how determined and faith-filled those of the old times were. The family has certainly had a long and colorful faith journey and it makes me wonder what folks 75 or more years from now will think about my leg of the family journey. How will they look upon my choice to follow vocation as a consecrated religious woman? What will I leave behind for them to ponder? It's a good thing to wonder about!

What Women Want

I just read an article in our home town newspaper about the uptick in young women choosing religious life. It spoke of a couple of communities of religious women in the United States who are adding considerably to their numbers. One of these communities has a sister who does a blog about her daily life. The article spoke of the popularity of the blog saying that she shares the details of day to day living of a sister including going to bars to enjoy a beer.
Is this what women are really looking for today? There was a time in the not so very distant past that I think young women wanted to see religious life as a more "normal" existence. I'm not sure that is true today. In any case I read such reports and sigh. This is not my life as a sister. I'm not really sure what young women of today are looking for. What I do know is that I found what I was looking for when I came to religious life some 30 years ago. My circumstances were not those of today exactly, but some constants remain. I was looking for a relationship with God that was more than piety. I was looking for a life of faith and dedication I could share. I was looking for a life of meaningful service. I was looking for challenge and peace. I've found it all. If that is what young women of today want, then maybe they should inquire within communities like our Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. I can't presume to know what others out there want. I do know what we have and what we treasure!

Cocoons Can Be Comfortable

The Lord's rising takes many forms doesn't it? I have been taking care of my 94 year old aunt and she fell and broke her hip so I spent Easter beside her bed in the hospital. Times like this allow for lots of reflection and as I listened to the sounds of the hospital on this day of rejoicing I couldn't help but think about the change in life that Jesus experienced and how changes come to us in the most unexpected ways too at times. Jesus' new life was a wonder-full one and it surely is a challenge to see much wonder in the changes we experience in some phases of life, but there is resurrection happening around us. As I leave behind some known qualities and quantities of my life I enter in the newness of another phase of life. Allowing God to lead me into those new phases requires much faith and I watch my aunt knowing that there will be many changes for her that she may not like. I don't always like the changes I face either, but how can I come to know newness without letting go of the old. With her, in hope I say He is risen, alleluia!

Holy Week=Busy Week?

Here we are at Holy Week once again. I love the liturgies of this week--their symbolism and their quality of remembrance. However, I also find myself making this a busy week what with preparations large and small for Easter. There's food to prepare and of course house cleaning. Then there are all the liturgies of the week and preparations for each of them. I'm trying to keep in mind a sentence I heard in a radio interview this past week. A doctor was discussing the time limitations our health care system puts on doctors and he recalled what one of his mentors had said in an emergency room setting. "Don't just do something, stand there!" That is such a good thought for me. I often find myself frantically DOING and not really thinking about what is, or should be behind the doing. I hope that during these holy days I can have the presence of mind to just stand there and ponder what Jesus has done, what Jesus continues to do and what Jesus dreams of doing in our time, in our world, in me!

Mercy May Be Unnatural

The gospel story today about the woman caught in adultery, the authorities with stones in hand and Jesus writing in the sand is always intriguing to me. Mercy is one of the "church words" that we so often hear and use, but infrequently consider and perhaps nearly never practice. We commonly use the phrase "forgive and forget" or maybe "Just get over it!" or "Give him/her a break!" To me most of those phrases and practices allow for me to get something in return. Maybe it's a rehearsed apology or a mumbled "Sorry!". Maybe it's just a sheepish look or a thankful smile or hug--but I get something for my trouble and I feel justified. Mercy doesn't hold that element. With mercy I don't get anything other than the knowledge that God's power is at work in me. Imagine a world where nations made mercy operative! Wouldn't that be something? It's not natural, at least for me, to be merciful and wait for no return token of justice. But maybe sometimes what is natural may be better for cholesterol than it is for the soul! Happy 5th Sunday of Lent, Merciful Ones!

What's On Your Breastplate?

There's a very common commercial for a credit card company that concludes with the question, "What's in your wallet?" I was praying the prayer supposedly found on St. Patrick's Breastplate and it occured to me that it would be interesting to ponder what words I might put on my breastplate. What inspiration, what power of words would I want closest to my heart in times of peace or trouble, in times of silence or contention, in times of prayer or partying. What would I hold there? St. Patrick chose to inscribe words about the omnipresence of Jesus--his "everywhere-ness". That works for me. I so often forget Jesus' closeness and tend to think of him out there or with some truly holy person, rather than right here with and in me. However, I truly love the last two lines, "Praise to the Lord of my salvation--Salvation is of Christ the Lord!" Salvation is not in my worrying, my craftiness, my tech-savvy, my connections, my political clout, etc. etc. etc. Salvation is of Christ the Lord! That's a good one! I think I might have to simplify the good Saint's words and inscribe, "Jesus in my heart--baptized! Jesus in my joy--forgiven! Jesus in my hands--nourished! Jesus in my soul--consecrated! Jesus in my hour of death--called! Amen!

Irish Melancholy or Reality?

Is it just me, or does it seem like the Church has takes more than its share of hits in the media? I read in Time magazine about priests embezzling large amounts of money from parishioner donations. I saw an episode of "Cold Case" in which a group of sisters running a home for unwed mothers back in the 60's were made to look like monsters and black marketeers. Granted there is probably an element of truth in both examples, but I wonder why the media so often finds ways to be critical of the Catholic Church in particular? I was listening to an evangelical minister preach the other day and it occured to me that he portrayed himself as having a clear roadmap, an exact recipe, a surefire plan for finding God and attaining heaven. I don't think our Church does that. We are always required to think, to ponder, to pray, to search. We are called upon to pray the Scriptures and to search our hearts for Truth. I hear so many today claiming an "easy way". This so appeals to us as Americans. I hear of "The Secret" and preachers proclaiming that God wants us to be monetarily rich and in possession of the finer things. I don't think that's a Catholic outlook at all. We are not called to take the wide and paved path, but rather,we are to enter through the narrow gate. Maybe that's part of why we become such a target. We don't offer a socially acceptable approach to salvation. It takes some effort, some dedication, some denial on our part. That's what Lent is all about!

Celtic Theology of the Yawn

My grandmother had the unfailing habit of making 3 small signs of the cross on her lips each time she yawned. Apparently an old Celtic belief holds that the yawn is the exhalation of one's evil spirit and definitely requires blessing! Grandma's habit brings me to the title of this blog--Celtic Crossing. Our lives hold so many crossings from joy to sadness and back, from life to death and back, from faith to denial and back. It will be a great adventure to see who will "cross" my life through this wee bit o' technology.