Words to actions

My spirituality is strengthened and shaped by the words, witness, and women of the Mount Saint Benedict Monastery in Erie, PA. During my daily reflection time so many of their writings shape my reading and response.

In regard to the recent violence and the saber rattling of some and our too quick response to hit back, I offer these words from the World Peace Prayer may they be the signposts on our individual and corporate journies:

"Lead me from death to life,
from falsehood to truth,

Lead me from despair to hope,
from fear to trust,

Lead me from hate to love,
from war to peace,

Let peace fill my heart, my world, my universe"

Lead on;

sj;

Come together right now

You say the date, 9-11, and it pauses you. Eleven years after that day, if one stops long enough to remember, and I hope you did so today, you are brought silent and there is a somberness, a quiet introspection.

I spent the afternoon facilitating a discussion on the film SICKO and the US Healthcare system to a group of twenty Americorps students who are beginning their placement in a variety of health care settings that serve individuals and communities too often on the margins.

The spirited conversation focused on issues of community and caring for one another and who are we as Americans and what kind of nation it is in which we want to live. I found it appropriate that the students' responses led the conversation to this point especially on this day.

The energy, intelligence, and compassion of these young people gives me hope.

It is the hope that comes from the idealism of the young.
It is the hope that comes from re-membering what we can be as members of the human community.
It is the hope that we can come together and care for each other...for all "the others."
It is the hope that grounds the work we do as teachers, clergy, community organizers, social workers, members of our shared community....build from this.

sj;

Rally

To rally --- to gather together; to create momentum and go forward; to come back. Today in mainline Protestant churches was the celebration of Rally Day, the start of the Christian Education year. While in the local church, this was always a time of great anticipation for me as I looked forward to teaching and learning and the rush of watching people grow in their understanding and faith.

My mother taught Sunday School for over 65 years! On Saturday evenings, Mom would be up late putting the final touches on her lesson, which she had worked on all week. She provided the example of the importance of education and to take seriously the opportunity to teach and to put forth one's best effort.

What are you doing to spark your spirit and strengthen your faith? Where do you find spiritual nourishment?

For me, I am focusing on simplifying. My curriculum are the writings of Sister Joan Chittister, OSB and Robert Fulghum.

And you???

sj;