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Thursday of the Second week of Lent
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
2nd Sunday of Lent - Transfiguration
What a busy week it has been! We spent Friday with my parents and drove up to Mille Lac, which is north of the Twin Cities about 100 miles. We went in search of the albino deer that live in Father Hennepin State Park. We didn't see them while driving through the park but then went in search of a geocache and Bill and I actually saw 5-6 of them with the rest of the herd. It was pretty spectacular. The deer are very unusual and to see them was a thrill! We also saw sand hill cranes on the way up and a coyote running across Mille Lac on the way home. It was a lovely day to be out and to spend the day with Bill and my parents.
My Lenten goal was to spend thirty minutes a day in quiet time. I am glad perfection isn’t required because there are days it has worked and others where it has remained only a goal! I have read my daily books and maintained the Liturgy of Hours reading of the Office and morning prayer, as well as the daily Mass readings but it can be very challenging for me to set the time aside for the silence, especially when my husband is home. I will keep trying…
I love the readings for Mass today, especially the gospel reading of the transfiguration of Jesus. I read the Magnificat (a monthly publication with morning and evening prayer, the daily Mass readings and a short meditation reading) and I like the meditation today written by Pope Benedict XVI. It comes from his book, “Jesus of Nazareth”.
The meditation is called “Graces of the Transfiguration” and reads, “Once again, the mountain serves—as it did in the Sermon on the Mount and in the nights spent by Jesus in prayer—as the focus of God’s particular closeness…The mountain is the place of ascent—not only outward, but also inward ascent; it is a liberation from the burden of everyday life, a breathing in of the pure air of creation; it offers a view of the broad expanse of creation and its beauty; it gives one an inner peak to stand on an intuitive sense of the Creator...” There are several more paragraphs but I really like the metaphor of the mountain as the place of ascent.
Yesterday, Bill and I were geocaching in River Ralls, Wisconsin, climbing up this never-ending path, to try to reach our 800th geocache. While we were making the ascent—our boots and pant legs completely soaked from a day of trekking through snow and puddles, I happened to slip (not surprising because the path was super slick) and while I was pulling myself up, I noticed a moving shadow on the ground. I looked up to see a beautiful red-tailed hawk soaring above. I yelled to Bill to look up and we watched in silence for a few minutes as this hawk gracefully rode the thermals and soared over this “mountain”. I don’t know if I would have seen his shadow if I had not slipped and slowed down enough to notice the movement. We were focused on reaching this last cache so we could finish the day and in our haste, almost missed the beautiful hawk.
How often do I miss the things happening around me because I am so intent on “climbing the mountain” or reaching the milestone of the moment? A simple slip caused me to slow down and look up. I love red-tailed hawks and actually have one tattooed on my right shoulder (much to my husbands dismay!) J. I often spot them on the road or see them soaring.
About five years ago, after a particularly difficult night on call at the hospital as a chaplain intern, I was pacing in my Minneapolis city backyard at 8 am, talking to a friend and sobbing. I had spent the night with a young woman who had just died of ovarian cancer. I was really have a tough time dealing with all the emotions, both my own and watching her family—parents, husband and also the medical staff, suffer through this grueling death. I was telling my friend that I just didn’t understand why this stuff happens—when all of the sudden, a huge red-tailed hawk flew into my backyard and landed on the fence post, turned and just looked at me. I said to my friend, “Oh my God, there is a hawk in my city backyard—just looking at me.” I watched this hawk and felt it was a sign—some kind of comforting sign to me that all would be okay. We just don’t see too many hawks landing in the heart of a city yard, hanging out on a fence post with a sobbing semi-hysterical person pacing back and forth.
It was another reminder to stop, and like yesterday, just take a breath. As Pope Benedict XVI writes, “it is a liberation from the burden of everyday life, a breathing in of the pure air of creation; it offers a view of the broad expanse of creation and its beauty; it gives one an inner peak to stand on an intuitive sense of the Creator...”.
May this week provide opportunities for us all to stop and pay attention to our own inner ascent and breath in the pure air of creation.
Blissfully, Susan
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Season of Lent begins
Today is Ash Wednesday, the day when many in the Christian tradition remember that you are dust and from dust you will return. I love the season of Lent...of waiting, fasting, prayer, almsgiving - dying to some of my desires and waiting for God to be with me in the wilderness.
My desk is covered with a number of books related to Lent: "Biblical Meditations for Lent" by Carroll Stuhlmueller, "Woman, Why are you Weeping? Daily Meditations for Lent" by John Timmerman, "Life Conquers Death: Meditations of the Garden, the Cross and the Tree of Life" by John Arnold, "Lent and Easter with Mary" by Thomas J. Craughwell, "Days of Deepening Friendship for the Woman Who Wants Authentic Life with God" by Vinita Hampton Wright, and "Lent and Holy Week - Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton" edited by Montaldo and Toth. I am a book junkie and LOVE reading about how other people walk their spiritual path. These are just the books sitting on my desk! I have often joked that I would spend every hour reading and studying if I could but alas, this is not the life I have chosen--or have been given--so I will do what I do, see where the Spirit moves me and walk daily with what seems to draw me.
As much as I love to read and study, I also know that listening is where I yearn to rest as well. For my Lenten practice, I will try to spend a half an hour in silence every day, listening and seeing where God is calling me --or as the Benedictines say, Listening with the ear of my heart.
Richard Rohr has a book called, "Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent" which has not yet come out in hard copy but I have uploaded it to my ipad. I receive a daily email from the Center for Action and Contemplation that contains daily meditations from Richard Rohr. Rohr is a Franciscan with the New Mexico Province, a retreat master, speaker and writer. He has written a number of books and I find that his writings inspire me to think outside of the box.
Today, in the readings for Ash Wednesday in "Wondrous Encounters" he reflects about desire, suggesting that "Today, you must pray for the desire to desire! Even if you do not feel it yet, ask for new and even unknown desires. For you will eventually get what you really desire! I promise you. It is the Holy Spirit doing the desiring at your deepest level. Therefore, you will get nothing less than what you really desire, and almost surely much more."
I believe this - Ignatius of Loyola tells us to seek our hearts desire but I often have trouble knowing what I desire. I can think of the cosmic desires for world peace, ending world hunger, etc., but on a personal level, I am not always sure. I am like a hummingbird zooming from thing to thing, resting a bit here and there! But to really stop and listen, listen with the ear of my heart to what I desire--this is tough.
So, for this Lenten season, I will sit and listen. Richard Rohr has a starter prayer which I think is perfect for me today: "God, give me the desire to desire what you want me to desire."
The journey begins...or continues...
Blissfully, Susan
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Marti Gras - Saint John of God
There are a number of things we celebrate today, the day before Lent begins. We have Marti Gras, which according to Wikipedia refers to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Marti Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins tomorrow on Ash Wednesday.
Today is also the feast of Saint John of God who is the patron saint of firefighters, booksellers, printers, heart patients, hospitals, nurses and the sick. He was a rather impulsive child who left his family when he was eight upon hearing a visiting priest speak of adventures waiting with the new worlds opening up in 1503. He ran away from home with this priest and never saw his parents again but led a very interesting life--seeking adventures and always returning to God in some form or another. He was far from perfect and at one point, was committed to the Royal Hospital where he was confined to the mental hospital, enduring the treatment of the day which included being tied down and a daily whipping.
John of Avila came to visit him and told him his penance had gone on long enough--forty days, and had John of God moved to a different part of the hospital. He then began to minister to the other sick people and the hospital was not happy to have him released--but he felt called to begin his own hospital. He was loving to all, welcomed anyone in need and was a rare model of unconditional love for the needy.
One final story (which is sited on Catholic On-Line) - The Royal Hospital was on fire and upon hearing the fire bell, he ran to help, discovering people watching the hospital--and its patients--go up in flames! He rushed into the blazing building and brought out patients and when all were rescued, he began throwing blankets, sheets and mattresses from the windows. He fell through the burning roof and all thought they had lost their hero until John of God appeared miraculously out of smoke! For this reason, John of God is patron saint of the firefighters. He died on March 8, his fifty-fifth birthday, after catching pneumonia while trying to unsuccessfully save a drowning boy.
I really love the stories of the saints. I didn't know anything about Saint John of God before I checked the calendar today. I enjoy reading the stories of those who have gone before us and often find comfort learning about their various adventures and perils. Reading about the life of John of God makes me think of my work as a chaplain volunteer in the hospital.
Saint John of God began his own hospital so all would be able to access care and medical treatment. He did not about ones social status, means or character, which for this time in history, was very important. He reportedly said, when questioned about the character of one of his patients, that the only character worthy of being questioned was his own. He was clearly a very humble man as well. I wonder what he would do in our current insurance driven world?
Tomorrow Lent begins. As often as I wrestle with my faith and tradition--which happens on a regular basis--I am always comforted by the liturgical calendar. I LOVE Lent. I find comfort thinking about the time we spend in the desert, being drawn closer to God, regardless of our faith tradition. Today on Twitter there were a lot of people commenting on what they were giving up for Lent and I was intrigued to read the various tweets. Everything from soda (which for years has been on my list) to alcohol and sex! One of my favorites was the person who was giving up alcohol for Lent but giving up Lent on St Patrick's day--just for the day! Although there are years where I too have fasted from something, I feel like I am being called to a different understanding of Lent this year.
Rather than give up something, I am going to add something. When I think of Lent, I think of the time in the wilderness--time where we are drawn to the silence and a season of reflection. I remember writing a homily while at the seminary about being called to fast. I discovered that people were called to fast in anticipation that God would answer their prayer and needs. People fasted knowing God would be there and respond. With this in mind, I am going to fast in a different way and add time for silence to listen. My goal will be to spend a minimum of a half an hour listening--listening for the spirit and listening to where God is calling me in this season of my life.
I am such a "thinking" person, my strong ENTJ who loves to learn and process, so for me to spend time in silence just listening, really requires an intentional commitment. I am rather terrified at the thought of putting this in writing and am tempted to just resort to giving up diet soda, but frankly, I haven't been having soda on a regular basis and it would be much of a sacrifice!
So my lenten journey will be to listen, to anticipate that God will respond to my silence and be with me in my own wilderness experience. I will also follow a few Lenten medications and reflections--and now that my website appears to be up and running, I will try to blog on a regular basis, however often that turns out to be.
I am still discerning what Embracing Your Bliss will be and how it will evolve but in the mean time, Lent begins tomorrow! Blessings on your journey as we continue to explore the ABC's of Embracing Your Bliss: Awakening to the Spirit, Bringing Joy to Others and Creating from the Heart.
Blissfully, Susan
Today is also the feast of Saint John of God who is the patron saint of firefighters, booksellers, printers, heart patients, hospitals, nurses and the sick. He was a rather impulsive child who left his family when he was eight upon hearing a visiting priest speak of adventures waiting with the new worlds opening up in 1503. He ran away from home with this priest and never saw his parents again but led a very interesting life--seeking adventures and always returning to God in some form or another. He was far from perfect and at one point, was committed to the Royal Hospital where he was confined to the mental hospital, enduring the treatment of the day which included being tied down and a daily whipping.
John of Avila came to visit him and told him his penance had gone on long enough--forty days, and had John of God moved to a different part of the hospital. He then began to minister to the other sick people and the hospital was not happy to have him released--but he felt called to begin his own hospital. He was loving to all, welcomed anyone in need and was a rare model of unconditional love for the needy.
One final story (which is sited on Catholic On-Line) - The Royal Hospital was on fire and upon hearing the fire bell, he ran to help, discovering people watching the hospital--and its patients--go up in flames! He rushed into the blazing building and brought out patients and when all were rescued, he began throwing blankets, sheets and mattresses from the windows. He fell through the burning roof and all thought they had lost their hero until John of God appeared miraculously out of smoke! For this reason, John of God is patron saint of the firefighters. He died on March 8, his fifty-fifth birthday, after catching pneumonia while trying to unsuccessfully save a drowning boy.
I really love the stories of the saints. I didn't know anything about Saint John of God before I checked the calendar today. I enjoy reading the stories of those who have gone before us and often find comfort learning about their various adventures and perils. Reading about the life of John of God makes me think of my work as a chaplain volunteer in the hospital.
Saint John of God began his own hospital so all would be able to access care and medical treatment. He did not about ones social status, means or character, which for this time in history, was very important. He reportedly said, when questioned about the character of one of his patients, that the only character worthy of being questioned was his own. He was clearly a very humble man as well. I wonder what he would do in our current insurance driven world?
Tomorrow Lent begins. As often as I wrestle with my faith and tradition--which happens on a regular basis--I am always comforted by the liturgical calendar. I LOVE Lent. I find comfort thinking about the time we spend in the desert, being drawn closer to God, regardless of our faith tradition. Today on Twitter there were a lot of people commenting on what they were giving up for Lent and I was intrigued to read the various tweets. Everything from soda (which for years has been on my list) to alcohol and sex! One of my favorites was the person who was giving up alcohol for Lent but giving up Lent on St Patrick's day--just for the day! Although there are years where I too have fasted from something, I feel like I am being called to a different understanding of Lent this year.
Rather than give up something, I am going to add something. When I think of Lent, I think of the time in the wilderness--time where we are drawn to the silence and a season of reflection. I remember writing a homily while at the seminary about being called to fast. I discovered that people were called to fast in anticipation that God would answer their prayer and needs. People fasted knowing God would be there and respond. With this in mind, I am going to fast in a different way and add time for silence to listen. My goal will be to spend a minimum of a half an hour listening--listening for the spirit and listening to where God is calling me in this season of my life.
I am such a "thinking" person, my strong ENTJ who loves to learn and process, so for me to spend time in silence just listening, really requires an intentional commitment. I am rather terrified at the thought of putting this in writing and am tempted to just resort to giving up diet soda, but frankly, I haven't been having soda on a regular basis and it would be much of a sacrifice!
So my lenten journey will be to listen, to anticipate that God will respond to my silence and be with me in my own wilderness experience. I will also follow a few Lenten medications and reflections--and now that my website appears to be up and running, I will try to blog on a regular basis, however often that turns out to be.
I am still discerning what Embracing Your Bliss will be and how it will evolve but in the mean time, Lent begins tomorrow! Blessings on your journey as we continue to explore the ABC's of Embracing Your Bliss: Awakening to the Spirit, Bringing Joy to Others and Creating from the Heart.
Blissfully, Susan
Sunday, March 6, 2011
March!!
The month of March is finally here and I realize I have not been doing much on my blog! I posted a lengthy blog a few weeks ago about a woman and two babies I worked with at the hospital but then had to delete it because it may have been possible to identify her...and since that posting, I have been trying to ponder what I want this blog to represent. I find it really challenging to NOT post my work as a chaplain but also respect the HIPPA laws surrounding privacy...but what to do with the amazing stories and miracles I experience on a regular basis. I am not sure...
So, with that in mind, I am going to keep things short and wait to see what my website looks like in the coming weeks because the blog will be integrated right on the website--if that is how I even explain it!
I am excited to begin Lent this coming Wednesday and hope to have some regular postings once the website is complete.
In the mean time, enjoy the loving changes in the weather as we move toward spring and remember the ABC's--awaken the spirit, bring joy to others and create beautiful things!
So, with that in mind, I am going to keep things short and wait to see what my website looks like in the coming weeks because the blog will be integrated right on the website--if that is how I even explain it!
I am excited to begin Lent this coming Wednesday and hope to have some regular postings once the website is complete.
In the mean time, enjoy the loving changes in the weather as we move toward spring and remember the ABC's--awaken the spirit, bring joy to others and create beautiful things!
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