Something to be Said for Stability

Greetings,

I have been meeting all sorts of new folk while going to University here in the big city. Milwaukee hosts all sorts of volunteers through religious communities. One of whom, I've been getting to know better through my own volunteer work and here is what I simply don't get...the volunteers' mobility. These past two years he has been here working with the Franciscan Friars, before that he was finishing college, before that it was seminary, and next year it might be something else. Other volunteers I've met have followed a similar pattern of mobility--moving from one need to the next.

I like our Stability. The more I listened to the stories of outreach and subsequent movement, the more I thought about why we "stay put". We take the time to establish long relationships not only within the Monastery but also among the cities and towns of which we become a part. So that unlike the mobile volunteers, we get to know more than the needs or wants within an area; we discover the blessings and gifts of the people as well. The commitment of time to the place allows me time to discover more clearly the relationship of service between me, my community, and the people to whom and with whom we minister.

The time it takes to put down roots is more than a few years here or there. Our commitment of stability has kept me in place at times when my uncertainties where telling me to pull up the stakes and move...but by waiting the uncertainties through, there was a lot to be learned. I know this is quite reflective, but I've been meeting more transitional volunteers, mobile Franciscans, and just people in general trying to get from here to there without much time on the ground in between. So when Fr. Jesuit started talking about the feast of the Dedication of Lateran Basilica today and the permanence of the building as a reflection of the permanence of commitment, it kicked my deep thoughts into high gear.

Blessings,

Feast of St. Charles Borromeo

Greetings,

It's my Feast Day today! When I entered our community, I hadn't heard of feast days or name days and didn't even know I had one to celebrate. Sr. Pierre and I looked for a Carol--none to be found, there were already many folk celebrating versions of Jean, and she offered the monastic suggestion (ahem, that means gave) of St. Charles Borromeo.

It was only later that I started to look into the patron of my feast day. Charles was born in Italy in 1538 and from what I've read, he was a hard working student that did well in Civil and Canon Law not because of great intelligence, but because of his determined work. His uncle Pope Pius IV made him the Cardinal of Milan and Papal Secretary by age 22. So there were benefits to his family situation, but St. Charles used them to benefit others. He reconvened the Council of Trent to clarify Church teachings, established seminaries to improve priest formation, and then his real work began after he left Rome. His attention turned to the poor and their spiritual as well as physical needs. He rebuilt their churches as well as ministered to those dying from the Black Plague.

"If we wish to make any progress in the service of God we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness. We must keep ourselves in the presence of God as much as possible and have no other view or end in all our actions but the divine honor". - Saint Charles Borromeo

While his patronage list doesn't include students, I like to think my feast day patron is on my side while here at school. I might not be the brightest in the class, but I do believe I too am determined in my studies and working hard to get there. I don't think anyone in my family has the political pull his uncle had, but I like the quote I found attributed to him and think it too can apply to my life at school while away from home.

There needs to be a joyful eagerness in the start of each new day or I might forget that each day is a gift from God. If I forget the gift of the day, then it could become just another day to "make it through"... and I've had enough of those. The gift aspect can bring a new perspective and new point of view to each day. So, I'm setting on my Feast Day! To enjoy the new challenges that are out there...including Dr. Lowe's history of education tonight : )

Blessings,

Oh! Here is the list St. Charles Borromeo is patron of....against abdominal pain, against colic, against intestinal disorders, against stomach ulcers, apple orchards, bishops, catechists, catechumens, Lombardy-Italy, seminarians, spiritual directors, spiritual leaders, and starch makers.

Anyone else wonder how things get on these lists? However, there are a few I wish I had known in my past...he really was well chosen for my patron!

The Feast of All Souls

Greetings,

Today, we remember, celebrate, and pray for all our Beloved who have died.

"The souls of the just are in the hand of God...they are in peace...their hope full of immortality...they shall be greatly blessed...In the time of their visitation they shall shine,and shall dart about as sparks through stubble...and the Lord shall be their King forever.Those who trust in him shall understand truth,and the faithful shall abide with him in love:because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,and his care is with his elect."


As I sat waiting for traffic to move this morning, I started to wonder about that
reading from Wisdom (3:1-9) and wonder if it was a beautiful day at home too. This is a beautiful time of year to reflect in our Monastic Cemetery. It feels so absolutely quiet and still, the leaves are falling, the cool air smells of autumn...and you might think for a moment that the white crosses that surround you are reminders of the dead. But if you sit quietly long enough, you begin to hear the birds singing in the pine and cedar trees, see sisters walking the sorrowful way, and remember that like yesterday, today is also in the 'now and not yet'. Except, you are surround by those who now fully alive in that 'not yet'.

It was a nice way to spend my twenty minutes in traffic. Except for a few horns and some car from Illinois that cut me off, I could really put myself there on the bench in the midst of it all and enjoy Autumn at home. Mind you, it's none too shabby for beauty here in Wisconsin at this time of the year. But the wind has been wild and many of the leaves are now gone into the neighbors' yards. The sisters have trimmed down the flower beds for winter. I've even had to dig out my window scrapper from its hidding place in the trunk.

Have a Blessed Feast of All Souls, I'm sure your Beloved are praying for you.

Blessings,

Solemnity of All Saints

Greetings,

I'm not sure if the Solemnity of All Saints is celebrated if it lands on a Sunday, but here we are and I like the feastday. The scripture that held my attention came from John's first letter.

"Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed."

It struck me that like the Saints we celebrate today, we too live in the now and not yet simultaneously. I know that I am one of God's children, his beloved; however, I also know that I need to continue to learn, grow, and seek God in all I do. I know who I am, but I have no idea who I will be or to what I will be called next. So...I need to live fully in the now while I am here (I think Benedict would agree with that) while I prepare in hope for what might be tomorrow.

Today, I am a student. I need to live fully in the spirit of learning and study, to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to continue learning. However, I am also a solitary Benedictine in a Franciscan land : ) and the opportunity to share our monasticism shouldn't be ignored either. I do try to live in the now of this experience...remembering that the not yet isn't far away. Only God knows where I'll be serving the community next year. I hope to be teaching, but where, what, who, and how have no answers just yet.

Blessings from a philosophical morning,

Scary Time of Year

Greetings,

I love this time of year...crisp autumn air, the changing leaves falling, and even the frost on the trees and cars. The houses in around my area are all dressed up for halloween just around the corner. Soon, small groups of kiddos will been invading in their costumes for treats. I love doing my homework upstairs so I can watch them skipping, running, and pulling their parents along from house to house.

I also love the scary movies and shows during this time of the year. The 'movie' channel here has been playing old Vincient Price~Edgar Allen Poe shows at night. Unfortunately, I missed The Great Pumpkin since I was at class that night. I do have a copy of J.Depp in Sweeney Todd...that will work great for scary movie viewing on halloween for a study break.

Homework itself is scary enough during this time of the year. Between my three classes, I've the beginnings of one research study, one case study, two learning analyses, one policy analysis, and one group presentation. I'm doing okay and I'm trying to keep working ahead of myself. The scary part is that only doing parts or pieces or drafts at a time leaves alot of 'undone' material floating into my dreams at night and around my workspace during the day. It makes me feel quite insecure and a bit anxious at times. However, things have been going well in the exceptionality course, and I just discovered I did quite well on the history of edu bluebook! Now, if I can get all my research participants to return the survey for my study, I can get all those ducks in a row to evaluate my data I will rate things as smooth...but not quite yet.

Blessings,

The Family Monster Mash

Greetings,

I remember halloween being a great time growing up in small town South Dakota. Older kids dressed up in costume or if it was cold painted up faces and met friends to start walking through town in search of treats. Little ones dressed up too and walked with parents around a few blocks. If you were lucky, you caught a ride with a friend who lived out of town and rode around in the back of a pickup to stop in at a few farmhouses...they gave regular size candybars not just those 'fun' size things or wonderful homemade popcorn balls.

In high school toilet papering was the sport of the night. Even geeks like me joined in occassionaly, but it was an interactive sport and you needed to see well in the dark and move fast if the teacher or principal came out their door. However, I always found the pumpkin smashing that accompanied the toilet papering very sad. Not only do I love the color and festiveness of the pumpkins and the designs the kiddos would carve into their faces, but there is also a horrible mess when you smash them.

Still, I loved halloween as a kiddo. My family still celebrates halloween as a night to dress up and have some fun. Both my sisters help their kids either make or find costumes, go trick-or-treating, and maybe even to a school or town halloween party or two. Me? I have kept a few items that are not technically 'costumes' to wear to school on my favorite secular holiday :) tiara, star trek communicator pin, headband with cat ears, and a few clothing items such as orange/black stripped tights and an orange scarf...I loved to play dress up as a kid and I always will.

I've also embedded a Halloween video from my sister Joy and her family to all her family and friends. It was just too good to not share with my sisters, family, and friends too!

Mad Scientist=Shyla
Frankenstien Monster=Dad
Wife of Frankenstien=Mom
Wolfman=Cade (Twin 2)
Vampire=Tate (Twin 1)

Blessings,

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Halloween Approaches!

Greetings,

As halloween approaches, my reading and viewing seeks out vampires, werewolves, and other monsters of the night. I do agree with this Foxtrot comic...I prefer my vampires scary and dangerous; not dark, brooding, and wickedly handsome but heartbroken (psst...they don't have hearts).