Embracing Newness of Life

Photo: Sister Nancy A. Sell, OSF

There are many expressions that say ” life has changed.”   “The new normal” is one of them.  The term originated with Hospice to give the sense that although life will never be the same as it was before someone passed to the next life, life proceeds in another way.  Further, “the new normal” relates that although we never  “get over” losing someone significant in our lives, it is possible with time to live on.

The Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 in the Christian scriptures demonstrates a sense of the “new normal.”  Jesus died and was no longer with his family, friends and followers in a physical sense.  Nevertheless, Jesus promised to be with them.  Jesus did not explain exactly how he would be with them.

Then the day of knowing came.   ”They were all in one place together.”    Confusion set in.  Initially they spoke in different languages.    From there the scriptures use images to explain an interior transformation and awakening.  Something profound took place that allowed them to seek understanding, compassion, empathy.  The Spirit of God came to them–like a strong, driving wind filling the house.   Life as they knew it changed.  They understood one another.   Their hearts opened to new realities all around them.    This is the event we know as Pentecost.

The scripture passage points to a new way of seeing:   differences in race, language, religion, way of life do not have to divide.   Rather differences become treasures in life.  With the help of the Divine and opening our hearts and spirits, we come to cherish diversity and differences.    Misunderstandings give way to common ground.

Regardless of race, creed or way of life may we be in one place together seeking newness of life, peace on earth and an end to envy, jealousy, division and hatred.

Our invitation is to embrace newness of life.

Blessings and peace,

Embracing Energy

Photo: Sister Nancy A. Sell, OSF

I attended a small Catholic parish high school in Celina, Ohio.  I loved growing up in Celina and loved our school.  Although we had a “boys” basketball team that played other schools, we did not have a formal  sports program for “girls”.  However, a number of us got together and formed intramural teams.  We played basketball and volleyball in the gym at night and in many ways yearned to be able to play other schools.

I don’t remember exactly how it came up, but a number of us students wanted to run track.  Not only did we not have a track at our school we did not have a coach.    One of the nuns, our teacher, agreed to be our track coach.  I still remember our early morning (5:30Am or 6:00AM) practices at the public school track, the only time the track was available.   We girls and Sister stood out in the early morning cool spring mornings to realize a dream.  We conditioned by running the streets of our town.  We ran sprints and relays on the track to get use to the surface and the timing.  Relays in particular were tricky, harder than you initially think.  Relays involve teamwork and camaraderie and timing.  Relays also involve in many ways, an exchange of energy as one person running hard not only passes on the baton but also the energy level they achieved by running their lap.   We needed to synchronize.  Dropping the baton resulted in being disqualified.    Yes, we practiced so we could ”run” with other schools.  We competed in one track meet.

I think of  running track and particularly relays when I read Luke 24:46-53 which tells the story of what we call the Ascension of Jesus.  “Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high”,  Jesus tells the disciples.  And after Jesus departed, they gave gratitude for his presence among them.  Joy, wonder and awe filled their hearts.   How different from other times when the disciples walked away in fear.  Jesus passed on his energy to them.  As in running relays in track yet in a most profound way the Ascension involved passing on, an exchange of energy and love, care, teamwork.  Jesus prepared his friends well for the exchange of energy and the invitation to love and be for others.  How do we know this?  The scriptures say joy filled their hearts.

Running relays in track is not as easy as it looks.  Similarly passing on energy to others that is life-giving, positive, encouraging, and compassionate takes focus, prayer, openness, love, care, time and team work.

What do I do to nourish the divine spirit within and receive the divine energy?     What do I do to pass on life-giving energy to others?  Sometimes in the midst of stressful situations we may need to pause, take moments of quiet and allow the life-giving divine energy to be passed on to us–and thus we pass it on with joy.

Our invitation is  to embrace energy.

Blessings and peace

Embracing the Turning

Photo: Sister Nancy A. Sell, OSF

Recently, someone told me about an informal study on a popular television program.  The survey asked people what they do the first thing in the morning.  The overwhelming majority of the people said that they “pray”.  She thought I would find this interesting.  I do.  Surprised?  Yes, in some ways given commercialism.  In other ways I am not surprised.   The key to why people are in tune with the divine source of their lives and are intentional about it is found in many sources, one being the gospel of John (John 14:23-29) from the Christian scriptures.

In this particular scripture passage Jesus says to the disciples:  “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”  And with these words Jesus promises to remain always.  God’s presence remains with us always.  However we name or picture God or higher power, the divine source of our lives remains with us through difficult times and in joyful times.  We find peace in turning to the divine source of our lives.  We may be less troubled or afraid as we turn to the divine source of our lives.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”  In a similar way, we often ask the world to give us peace, love and security, yet only the divine source of our lives can give us peace  in all circumstances of our lives.  People turn their hearts to God each day knowing that  peace is found in the divine.  If we look for it in other places, we find it “not lastingly”.

Our invitation is to embrace the turning.

Blessings and peace.

Embracing Love

Photo: Sister Nancy A. Sell, OSF

On April 28th our community, the School Sisters of St. Francis, celebrates Foundresses Day.   Our three foundresses sailed from Schwarzach, Germany to the United States and eventually  settled in New Cassel, Wisconsin which is now Campbellsport on April 28, 1873.    They were young women when they came to the United States.   They established schools and places for the care of the sick and for healing.     They weathered church politics, disappointments,  fire, and financial questions.  Even in the midst of difficulties they kept their faith, values and convictions.   They relied on God’s faithfulness and wisdom.   Nothing was impossible for them.  Mother Alexia, Mother Alfons and Sister Clara were women with strong convictions grounded in love of God, love for one another and  love of others.

Religious community life like other walks of life is a journey.   There are joys and good times peppered with disappointments, sorrow, misunderstandings, etc.  Yet the basis of relationship in any walk of life that endures the test of time is love.

There are many definitions of love.  I suggest two:  “Strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties” and “unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another.”     Literature, music, movies, etc.  depict love in various ways.   Yet,  the most vivid picture of love is someone “running towards” another to help not running away.  The first responders running toward those who are hurt not running away.  Or “being with” another who is ill or grieving, rather than leaving.  It is this kind of love that Jesus talks about in the Christian scriptures (John 13:31-33a, 34-35).

Jesus says, “I give you a new commandment:  love one another.  As I have loved you, so you should love one another.”  In many ways Jesus is saying, support one another, believe in one another, rejoice in the gifts of one another.  Put aside jealousy, envy and control.  Love one another, build up the world, don’t tear it down.  Support one another rather than ignoring one another.  And from Corinthians (13:4-8) from the Christian scriptures: Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things…love never ends.”  Why is this passage from Corinthians  often chosen for weddings?   We know what we believe and hope.  Often it is the day-to-day that often gets in the way.

Shortly before she died, Mother Alexia asked to say good-bye to the Sisters living in the house, she told them, “I will think of you in heaven and you will feel it.”  Perhaps in many ways she was saying something like Jesus said, love one another, move towards one another not away from one away.  Don’t let the day-to-day get in the way of loving.

Our invitation is to embrace love.

Blessings and peace.

Embracing Moments of Beauty

Photo: Sister Nancy A. Sell, OSF

They are street names I recognize.  An area I enjoyed many years ago.  A friend and I, both in graduate school in the Boston area and great walkers, often walked through the Boston Commons and Boston Gardens and along the streets of downtown Boston.  Riding the subway was a common occurrence.  I knew Boston well.  When the tragedy at the Boston Marathon took place this week, I felt stunned, like most of us.    How could a fun event, turn into a tragedy?   How could people who attended to support family and friends or who worked in the area end up dead or seriously injured?     What is going on in our country and our world that too often now we weep with grieving families as they tell their stories on the news.  And the sorrows in our country are part of a large tidal wave of grief as killing, maiming and injuring innocent people takes place in worn torn countries.  When will it stop?  What is my involvement?

We focus on people who are responsible for the tragedies that take place and rightly so.  Is there more, however?   Increasingly we talk about the interconnectedness of all.  How do I create moments of beauty right where I am?  How do I create moments of beauty with those I see or are often in contact?   Am I honest and forthright, caring and thoughtful, compassionate and forgiving?  How do I create moments of beauty in the midst of the pain and suffering of the world?

Christianity and other major religious traditions teach compassion, mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, enlightenment.  This is our vision and our hope:   a world woven together by compassion, mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and enlightenment, not torn apart by insecurity, jealousy, envy, bombs and weapons.  How does the change come about?  Perhaps by one moment of beauty at a time.  One word spoken in love at a time, one act of kindness at a time, one honest conversation shared at a time.  Perhaps change comes about by frequently recognizing the divine in one another.

Over and over again, tragedy after tragedy, we have seen people come together to help, support, encourage, grieve with, cry with one another.  Boston is an example, Newtown is another and so many others.

May these days of spring with new life blossoming forth give us renewed reason to hope for a world living in peace…one moment of beauty at a time.

Our invitation is to embrace moments of beauty.

Blessings and peace.

Embracing Freedon

Photo: Sister Nancy A. Sell, OSF

When I was growing up our parents often talked about “peer pressure”.   You may remember the famous saying in response to the fact that so and so was going to do something:  “And if they jumped off a bridge, would you too?”  The point was frustrating at the time, but certainly well taken.  And with that we learned to be ourselves, to look at a situation and to decide what was best and healthy and safe.  At times we stood alone.

“Peer pressure” is not just for children and adolescence.  We have become increasingly aware that adults sometimes, too, just go along with others to be accepted and well thought of.  At any age it is difficult to stand alone and to stand up for what is right and just.

In the Acts of the Apostles from the Christian scriptures (Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41) the authorities told the apostles not to talk about Jesus.  They spoke up, however, and said, we have been witnesses to these things, we know how God works in our lives and in the lives of others.    We need to speak!

How many times in our own lives have we been hesitant to speak the truth as we know it for fear of harm or retaliation or not being accepted?  The Spirit of God is with us.  In the stillness of our hearts we listen attentively for wisdom and openness.

Our world is in desperate need for the truth to be spoken.  What keeps me from speaking the truth as I know it?  What keeps you from speaking the truth as you know it?

Our invitation is to embrace freedom.

Blessings and peace,

Embracing the Path of Life

Photo: Sister Nancy A. Sell, OSF

The day was one of the warmest we had as winter tried to turn to spring.  It was Holy Saturday.  I was feeling more like Good Friday as I sorted through the various reflections taking place in my heart.

I decided to go for a walk.  I ended up on a path that I soon realized was still covered with melting ice.  My hiking boots would allow me to navigate it ok.  However, as I took in the sight of the ice-covered path,  I noticed from a distance someone, who I thought was a man, sitting on a cleared space on the path yet surrounded by ice.  He wore army fatigues.  What is going on I wondered?  Had he fallen?  As I approached I saw plastic bags around him.  Admittedly, I wondered if I should turn around and go another way.  Although there were some other people around, the area was fairly isolated. I felt torn.  Is he ok?  Is he hurt?  But another part of me wondered if he was going to hurt me or others.  So many stories, so much violence in the world.  I paused.  With all of this going through my heart and mind, I kept walking on the path.  I did not walk the other way.  I approached where he was sitting.

I passed him on the left.   As I passed him, I saw a can in front of him with a plastic protector, yet I could see it was alcohol.  His clothes smelled heavily of cigarette smoke as if he had been in a bar all day long.  I turned around.  I looked into his eyes and in those brief seconds I saw a man saturated in pain and alcohol.  Yet the situation was too much for me.  I was afraid.  Too many stories in the news, too isolated of a situation.  I did not stop.

I so wanted to say to him, are you ok?  Yet I already had my answer.  Of course he was not ok.  If a person is ok  they are not sitting on a cold, ice-covered path drinking alcohol trying desperately to ease pain and sorrow.  His eyes were full of pain and sorrow.  Because I didn’t stop and ask I will never know.  Was he newly back from serving our country and could not find his place in the world?   Had a girl friend or wife left him?  Was he alone on a holiday week-end when before family and friends surrounded him?  Had he lost his job?   I will never know and I will also never forget his eyes.  Sad, sad eyes. Yet, that situation raised a question:  How many times do I see someone, perhaps someone I see often, and miss the pain or am afraid to ask.  How many times do I miss the chance to wish someone peace in word or deed?

In the gospel of John (John 20:19-31) from the Christian scriptures we find the disciples gathered together in fear and disbelief.  They did not believe that Jesus’ death could bring about transformation and healing in Jesus or in themselves.  Then a profound experience.  Jesus came to them transformed.  Peace be with you, Jesus said to them.  Over and over again, Peace, be with you.  Do not be unbelieving but believe.

There is  pain in ourselves, in those around us, in our world.  Jesus’ message is clear:  believe that the power of the divine working within you can do more than you can ask for or imagine.  Believe, trust, be at peace, live for peace.  Embrace the path of life that leads to peace.

Blessings and peace,