Blog Archives

Praying beyond words~

3/29/2015

I’ve been working on the book about my mom, and so when I get ready to write a prayer post, my writing gene is pretty exhausted. But I want to share some thoughts about Jesus’ message that has been percolating in me lately. Please accept my ramble, my very rough draft!

     To begin, I am very sure that Jesus’ bottom line message is about love, loving God and our neighbor. But how do we do that? Did Jesus give us a clue? I get so confused: he directs those he cures to tell everyone what God has done for them, but not to mention Jesus himself; he reprimands the Pharisees for wanting a sign; he becomes exasperated when his disciples do not understand; but then in the very next breath he intimates that it’s all a mystery anyway. Maybe Jesus doesn’t want us to understand with our mind. Maybe the message is beyond reason.

    When I look carefully, I notice that Jesus points away from himself and toward God. The human Jesus leads us to God through parables and healings, and by going off by himself to pray. It is in this solitary prayer that his words and actions stop; he tells and shows us very little. It’s just Jesus and God, with the Holy Spirit playing some mysterious part. And this is where love is.

       Maybe his message is that in order to truly love, no words are possible or necessary. Just be with God and God will be there with you. God is love and when you are one with God, you will truly love.

Staying in a convent in Florence~

3/23/2015

While in Florence last month I stay three nights at the convent guest house of the Suore Oblate. Located on Borgo Pinto, it was walking distance of everything. Ring the bell and enter an atmosphere, so peaceful. My en suite room was rather small but adequate for a three nights stay; the wifi was excellent; breakfast consisted of coffee, juice, fruit and a roll. Just fine to get me started. I could imagine spending more time in the public rooms. Gardens and chapel, but then they are in competition with the public streets, gardens and churches of Florence.

http://www.sanctuarybbfirenze.com/

Gratitude without guilt~

3/20/2015

My grandson is participating in a service project in Nicaragua next week as part of his high school program. Admittedly he doesn’t know all the feelings and responses he will experience, but he aware of his fortunate lot in life, and that he will probably feel a great deal of sadness at what he sees.

Can we feel gratitude without guilt? I have to say yes, but it is a challenge. God wants us to be surrounded with light, but God also wants us to feel compassion for those who experience sadness. Living in poverty is unarguably a sadness but I’m thinking that one way to feel light is to help remove sadness. Gratitude is a prayer backed by action.

Projects with closure~

3/16/2015

“What is your favorite project?” was today’s question posed by Br. Curtis Almquist from the Society of St. John the Evangelist’s Lenten on-line series. Fine, I think, I have projects, in fact I’m a project person. But Br. Curtis went on to express the value of projects with closure, such as bread making, versus on-going projects such as relationships. This idea of projects with closure startled me because one of the things I like to do, one of my projects shall I say, is to visit the elderly and the dying. I find deep satisfaction when I sit with someone during their last days of life. Our relationship has unique, immediate closure.

Praying for our soldiers~

3/12/2015

It’s been two years since I first wrote Nicholas’ name in my prayer book. I don’t know Nicholas, but his father asked for prayers for him as ‘payment’ for fixing my windshield wiper one rainy day. “He’s just come back from Afghanistan and he’s having difficulties.”

It is rare for strangers to stay on my prayer book for that long a time. But Nicholas just stays; each month I rewrite his name on the new page. I seem to want to keep him as an individual in my heart. He also represents a large cadre of men and women who have served our country and are now struggling to be create meaningful, positive lives after experience devastation and negativity.

Prayer blessings~

3/7/2015

I’m on the plane, finally* on my way home, thinking about the many prayer blessings of this trip. Immediately the benefit of time comes to mind since I had no obligations, nor anyone to be with except God. There were the sacred places for prayer, namely churches, ancient streets and gardens; there was the all the art for contemplation; there were the cafes and libraries for writing. Dare I mention the food that fed my mind, body spirit?
Each time I return from one of my solitary trips, I wonder if it will be the last. I want to keep traveling, but at age 75 I am beginning to accept that issues of stamina and health will eventually slow me down. Regardless, in response to the question the Brothers of Saint John the Evangelist asked in their Lenten series, I can say, “Yes, I am content; I have enough.”
Another area that I’ve come to terms with is a fantasy to live abroad, particularly in Florence or on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Again, “I am content. I have enough.” I can do God’s work NOW, wherever I find myself, not where I think I’d like to be.

* If you want to know why I say finally, check out my cottagebythesea blog.

P.S. I’m posting this the day after I got home.

Stop, Pray, Work, Play & Love~

3/4/2015

I am very grateful for the Lenten series offered by the Brothers of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist: It’s time to Stop, Pray, Work, Play and Love. Right now the topic is Pray.

Each day one of the brothers offers a short video presentation, followed by a relevant question to which participants are invited to respond. As I read what people share, I am humbled. I am also grateful to be part of this community of Christians who are trying their best to live a life of faith.

I’m sure you can join. www.ssje.com

Tomorrow I fly home after my ten day pilgrimage to Florence. It's been heartfelt. I'll share more about it in the following days.

Praying the Jesus Prayer in Florence~

3/2/2015

One of the magnificent benefits of the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me) is that I can practice it wherever I am—on the streets of Florence, on the walkways near my home, and certainly at an airport; and the prayer is with me whether I am alone or with others. I say practice because that what it always is, never perfect, no goal to be reached, just a simple prayer to be prayed. I began practicing the prayer over five years ago when I first started going to the cottage. My challenge continues to be to remember it. I can be with me wherever I go, whether alone or in the company of others.

It is raining today but I am cozy and content at the RED Café in La Felltrini Book. RED as in Read, Eat, Dream. I am writing, not reading, as well as eating and dreaming, but this place is also a book store, and besides there is a red motif. I have already wandered the streets to Santa Trinita, one of my favorite churches for prayer.