Ten Month Tune In

So I realized this weekend that I've been back in the Pacific Northwest for ten months ... and it's been almost 9 months since my first profession of vows! Wow! Where does the time go? As a wise friend said to me the other day, it's a sign that I'm where I'm supposed to be if the time passes by so quickly - and enjoyably.

I don't really have any unbloggables, but I thought I'd return to my old "tuning in" exercise. To recap, I set my iPod to random and see what songs play ... and if a message emerges.

Song # 1 "The Book I'm not Reading" by Patty Larkin (watch/listen)

The book I'm not reading is riveting

The book I'm not reading keeps me up at night

The book I'm not reading i better than tv giving me insight.

The book I'm not reading is history

The book I'm not reading is by some paperback writer

The book I'm not reading is a mystery

Who dunnit don't matter

Well, the book I'm not reading at the moment is Harry Potter 6. I'm planning to see the movie when I'm on vacation later this month with my old roommate Kathy. We have a tradition of rereading the movie to catch up! But I'm also not really reading any deep spiritual reading right now either. It' summer. I'm busy. I'm not reading much.

Song #2 "So Many Ways" by Mates of State (watch/listen)

There are only so many ways to earn your own surprise

I think what surprises me most is how filled my days and life are. And I don't mean filled with busyness - although that is true most days as well - but just how filled with life they are. I recently had my evaluation at work and in reflecting back, I realized that I'm not stressed out. I go to work, I'm busy all day long doing things I love, and then come back the next day. I guess I'm learning a difference between ministry and just a "job." I'm busy, but not stressed. I'm doing what I think I am meant to do at this point - peace and justice education and advocacy. I guess I'm just surprised that I found a way to spend my time doing what makes me happy, what I'm meant to do!

Song # 3 "Lord You Have Come" (watch/listen)

O Lord with your eyes set upon me,

gently smiling, you have spoken my name

all I longed for I have found by the water,

at your side I will seek other shores

Well said. I know there is a lifetime ahead of me, but at this point I feel like I have found all I longed for. With Jesus at my side. Simple but true.

Song # 4 "Purple Prose" by the Mystery Jets (watch/listen)

I'm a tourist

World at my feet

Across hither and dither

and hither and dither

and hither and dither

won't fall off my seat.

A tourist. Well, I do have abit of travelling ahead this summer. Going to the Bay Area for vacation with my friend Kathy (the aforemention HP6 viewing will occur). Then on retreat - also in the Bay Area. Then a trip back to my old stomping grounds in NJ for a CSJP committee meeting. But more than actual travelling, I guess I do feel a bit like the world is at my feet. In the sense that I'm at a place where I feel I can both make a difference and have my heart changed at the same time. But hopefully won't fall off my seat!

Jesus said

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus says:

"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house."

How very, very true. And if it was true of Jesus, then how much truer is it of the prohpets of our own day? How true is it of us?

The problem seems to be two fold. A) we put people in our little boxes. Jesus was the carpenter's son. They knew Jesus. What could he have to tell them. and B) we hear what we want to hear, and we don't like to hear the truth sometimes.

Who are the "prophets" in our own lives that we ignore? Is there someone that you have short-changed, dismissed or put in a box?

They said, "Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?"
And they took offense at him.

4th thoughts

I've never really liked the fourth of July ... well, mostly I've never enjoyed the whole blowing up of things to celebrate our independence concept. When I was little, we'd go to Allens Pond to watch the fireworks ... and I'd end up hiding under the blanket till they were over. In college and my single girl years in Portland, I'd go to the Blues Festival on the Waterfront with people to be socialable ... and enjoy the fireworks, but NOT the crowds! In later years, I'd spend the night of the 4th at home. But that brought problems of it own, as my neighbors insisted on lighting off their own fireworks and almost burning down the neighborhood. Seriously, a tree once caught fire. Eventually, I came up with my own solitary 4th of July ritual. About 9:45 PM, I'd get in my car and drive to Safeway to go grocery shopping. I'd have the store almost entirely by myself, and by the time I got home the smoke would still be hanging around but the fireworks would be over.

Tonight I sat on a bench in our meditation garden here at St. Mary-on-the-lake and listened to the firework shows in Downtown Bellevue and in the distance in Renton and Seattle's Gas Works Park. I could see the Seattle ones poking through the trees, as well as assorted home-blown fireworks here and there. I found myself praying ....

... for all those people in the world for whom the sound of "rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air" mean, quite literally, those things. We celebrate our independence by fireworks. But I think we forget the reality of people in war. I know animals have a hard time on the 4th, but I've often wondered what the day is like for veterans and refugees of war. I'd imagine it brings thoughts and memories to heart and mind.

We have exported our wars. They are no longer on our own soil so we don't know what it sounds like. But I imagine it might sound a little bit like what I heard on the bench this evening ... but without all the fanfare and with much more devestation.

Please join me in taking a moment to pray for peace. To pray for the safety of those called to serve their countries in the military. To pray for courage and wisdom for world leaders to follow the nonviolent path. To pray for the safety and security of civilians caught in the crossfires of war. To pray for the day when we all may realize the reality that we are one family and live together, in peace.

Margaret Anna Fridays

Every Friday, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. This week’s installment …

The purest patriotism is that which desires the well-being of all.

-The Present Case of Ireland Plainly Stated, 1881

national press

For some reason, the Vatican visitation/investigation of American Catholic Sisters just made the secular press ... and the New York Times.

On the Visitation

A coworker pointed out this editorial in U.S. Catholic on Women Religious and the Apostolic Visitation. I haven't written much about the Visitation. A) I haven't wanted to get into the fray. B) I figure the religious life I love, with women committed to the Gospel and a life of love and service for the Church and God's people, speaks for itself. This editorial seems to lend some credence to point B. Figured I'd share ...

The good name of religious women in this country is indeed what is at stake here. A blanket investigation of both the "quality of life" of religious women and of the doctrinal fidelity of their leadership is hardly a just response to the breadth of their contributions.

To be sure, religious women in this country have frequently been on the ministerial and theological edge when it comes to interreligious dialogue, ministry to gay and lesbian people, and issues surrounding the role of women in the church-the stated reasons for the investigation. But that does not mean their loyalty or orthodoxy on the whole should be impugned.

I, for one, am the Catholic-and human being-I am today largely because of religious women, and not just the Sisters of Mercy who were at my grammar school.

Among them is Joyce, a Precious Blood Sister who taught me in college to love and pray the liturgy. Most of what I know about the Bible is thanks to two Sister Barbaras, a Dominican and a Religious of the Sacred Heart. Another Dominican has over many years helped me deepen my relationship with God in spiritual direction. Then there's Sister Thérèse, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, who opened my eyes to the realities of homelessness.

These are just the ones I know personally. If I had to add the women whose example and writing have inspired and changed me I would quickly run out of room.

Religious women are not perfect, of course, but if I had to pick the group that most challenged me to think more broadly, love more completely, and serve more generously as a Christian, it would be those "bossy nuns." It is precisely because they have been such creative risk-takers-more daring on the whole than their male counterparts or our ordained leadership-that they have inspired me. Where would we Catholics be without such women?

The sisters' response to the "assessment" has been sanguine. "LCWR faces this process with confidence, believing that the conference has remained faithful to its mission of service to leaders of congregations of women religious as they seek to further the mission of Christ in today's world" was LCWR's measured reply to news of the investigation.

Fair enough, but for my part let me be clear: Sisters, you don't deserve an investigation. You deserve a medal.

Read more ...

On Eagles Wings

I went for a short hike this afternoon in the gorge on my way home. It was super windy - hence the short duration of the hike. But the wind also invited a group of eagles to join in their own form of wind surfing. (The Columbia River Gorge is well known for wind surfing of the human kind on the water.) I managed to film a bit of one of the eagles.

One more reason

In case we needed one more reason to finally close down the School of the Americas/Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, here's a very serious one ...

The general who overthrew the democratically elected president of Honduras on Sunday is a two-time graduate of the U.S. Army School of the Americas, an institution that has trained hundreds of coup leaders and human rights abusers in Latin America.

Gen. Romeo Orlando Vásquez Velásquez toppled President Manuel Zelaya in a dawn coup, surrounding the presidential palace with more than 200 soldiers and tanks and tear-gassing a crowd outside. The president was then taken to an Air Force base and flown to San Jose, Costa Rica. (Read more in NCR)

He's the latest of a long list of Latin American military personnel trained at the SOA/WHINSEC who have later been involved in dedidedly undemocratic routes to power in their countries.

• Argentine Gen. Leopoldo Galtieri who overthrew in a bloody coup another grad, Gen. Roberto Viola who’d come to power in 1981 during the Dirty War.
• Guatemalan dictator Gen. Efrain Rios Montt who seized power in a coup in 1982.
• Panamanian dictator Gen. Omar Torrijos who overthrew a civilian government in a 1968 coup.
• Panamanian dictator Gen. Manuel Noriega, who ran the country while on the CIA payroll.
• Ecuadoran dictator Gen. Guillermo Rodriguez who came to power in 1972 by overthrowing the elected civilian government.
• Bolivian military dictator Gen. Hugo Banzer Suarez who came to power in a violent coup in 1971.
• Bolivian dictator Gen. Guido Vildoso Calderon who took power in 1982.
• Peruvian dictator Gen. Juan Velasco Alvarado who toppled the elected civilian government in 1968.

No wonder the General is quoted by the Washington Post as saying, ""Nobody scares us." We trained him that way. And apparently we trained some of the folks who helped him with the coup, including Gen. Luis Javier Prince Suazo, the head of the Honduran Air Force who also was trained at the SOA.

Please take two minutes to write to your member of Congress. Ask them to co-sponsor HR 2567 - the Latin American Military Training Review Act. What's happening in Honduras is just more proof that we need to close the SOA ... now.

Visits and Sunsets

My super-social weekend has come to a close ... or it's come to the part where my introvert side gets to take center stage anyway. Tomorrow is a vacation day, and tonight I'm staying in the Columbia River Gorge courtesy of some friends who are letting me stay in their condo (which has a view & wifi). If you've never seen the Columbia River Gorge, it is one of those places that I think our Creator God had a lot of fun creating.

This afternoon I went to a 50th Jubilee party for my friend Sr Pat, an IHM sister (same community as Sister Julie of A Nun's Life). The party was held at Sakura Ridge, a farm and lodge in the gorge owned by the brother of another friend. It was wonderful to be with Pat as she celebrated 50 years of religious life with her family and friends. The farm had the most amazing view of Mt. Hood - fitting really for a celebration of God's amazing gifts and Pat's faithful response.

Tonight I'm staying overnight in the Gorge. Tomorrow I'm going to take some me time with mother nature and make my way back to Seattle in a leisurely fashion. My friends' condo is right on the Columbia River.

And the same view at Sunset.

God is good. You know that, but it helps to have reminders sometimes ... good friends, the beauty of creation, life.

Connections

It's the little things in life that matter sometimes. I was reminded of this the other day, when my best friend from middle school left a note on my Facebook Page:

Do you remember staying up to watch Friday Night Videos at your house on the little tv in the study to catch Thriller? All this talk of Michael Jackson has reminded me of that night, and how much fun I had with you.

I don't remember the particular night, but I remember lots of little moments of having fun with her. Learning how to braid my hair. Staying overnight at her townhouse, which I thought was so cool because it was attached to other houses and not all by itself! Working on our colonial history project together, aging the paper with tea to make it look more authentic. Good times.

One of the realizations I brought home with me from my Giving Voice weekend is the importance of building and nurturing relationships, both within and outside community. I'm a thinker and an introvert by nature, but life isn't all inside my head. It's in being with others, talking, sharing, playing laughing, that we grow. The memories from growing up are just reminders of that.

Of course, I'm also a planner by nature. And somehow - perhaps inspired by this realization of building/nurturing relationships but also I think just the fact that everything happens in the summer - I've got a people packed weekend ahead! Last night I visited with a friend and her family (including my 5 year old goddaughter) who happened to be in town. This morning I had great fun going out to breakfast with a CSJP friend. This afternoon I'm going to sneak in a bit of our annual CSJP picnic before I drive down to Portland for another friend's going away party - she's headed to Chicago for grad school. Then tomorrow I'm headed to the Columbia River Gorge for another friend's Jubilee Celebration - she's a member of another community and is celebrating 50 years of religious life! We're friends from my old parish so I should be able to catch up with lots of old friends there. I'm also going to sneak in lunch with another couple of friends on Sunday too.

Lots of connections. My introvert self will most likely be exhausted, but it will be good to see folks. Planner that I am, I've also planned some alone time. I've taken Monday off work and I'm going to spend the night at a friend's Condo in the Gorge Sunday night and go for a hike Monday before I head back to Seattle and work on Tuesday.

I may not be blogging this weekend, although the two places I'm staying do have wifi so who knows. If not .... have a great weekend!

Margaret Anna Fridays

Every Friday, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. This week’s installment …

A holy man once earnestly prayed that he might know what virtue was most pleasing to our Lord in His spouse. He answered that it was "her generosity of heart."

-The Spirit of St. Gertrude; or The Love of the heart of Jesus to His Creatures, 1866

Be a Voice for the Poor

If you live in the United States, you have an opportunity to be a voice for the poor globally in terms of dealing with the effects of climate change.

The US House of Representatives is considering the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. In fact, they may vote on it as soon as Friday. This bill puts a real cap on the pollution that contributes to global warming and promotes a sound economic strategy for the future.

What it doesn't do - yet - is help the poor and vulnerable people in the developing nations adapt to the climate change caused by our activities in the developed world. People living in poverty contribute least to climate change, yet are more likely to suffer its negative effects. They also have fewer resources to adapt and respond.

Take two minutes to write to Congress today. Ask your represenative to include additional funding for international adaptation. Be a voice for the poor in developing nations!

Visit IPJC's Legislative Action Center to send your e-mail ... it's super easy!