It is amazing whom God puts in one's path on a daily basis, isn't it?
Last night on the shuttle to the hotel at 11:00 PM, I shared my ride with an elegant couple from Tampa who had had a tough travel day on their way to Seattle to see their daughter. I started talking with them (surprise?) and learned that he is originally from Cuba. He asked me where I was headed, and, when I told him, he wished me a "Bueno Camino" and shared his own experience on the pilgrimage, and he offered me much encouragement!
Getting to the airport EARLY (several hours), I was joined at the gate by a woman, Cheryl, who was on her way to Zurich to see her daughter and family. When I told her what I was going to do, she shared her own Camino story. She went at age 68 after retiring from 32 years of service with the VA as a therapist. She spoke still so lovingly of the men and women she helped. She talked about the rituals she and her 3 friends created as they walked - they were also therapists.
She spoke of the physical challenges of the early part of the journey, and the emotional ones of the last part of her 100 mile pilgrimage. A beautiful woman in every sense of the word, she encouraged me to "let go", and lighten my load - on all levels. Wishing me a Buen Camino, she left for her gate.
In today's reading from Acts we hear how Paul and his companions, after he was stoned and left for dead, moved on to Lystra where they "They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” My spirits have been uplifted and strengthened! It's all good!!
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Monday, May 19, 2014
The Journey Begins!
Journey is the constant theme of our lives as Christians - there is a reason our early foremothers and fathers were called "the People of the Way"! Jesus took to the road and shared the good news of his Father's love and our salvation. No coincidence that the disciples met Jesus on the way to Emmaus!
As a member of the Pilgrim People of God, this journey via the Camino is a reminder that the Impermanence of the things of this world cannot be compared to the reality of the next! I pray for patience and calm - two things I have in short supply! May this pilgrimage call me to the be present to each graced moment on the way!
Leaving a day early out of Phoenix in order to make my Madrid connection was the first challenge for me, as I had this day planned out so that I could be calm when I left tomorrow!
Had a TSA pre-check so it has begun well! I probably still look a little stressed because I don't have a seat assignment yet!!
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Readiness Calls For Simplicity
Each day brings me nearer to my departure for Spain and the Camino. Physically and materially, I'm pretty well set. I got my traditional WYD (World Youth Day) haircut yesterday - short, simple, utilitarian. No muss, no fuss!
Eric Storz wrote, "“Jesus puts to words the homelessness in a pilgrim’s heart." That, of course, leads me to Matthew 8:20: “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
As I am well into the last half of my life, my greatest desire is to simplify, simplify, simplify - I keep getting rid of things - so much more to rid myself of! Ridding myself of 'things" leads inevitably to trying to rid myself of my quickness-to-judge, my impatience, my intolerance of less-than-perfect.... Homelessness connotes more than "without a home": I think it also speaks to detachment, to supreme trust in Providence, and to dependence on others in humility.
I am trying to "lighten my " load for this journey - both by cutting down on the "things" I'm carrying with me and by putting aside those things that distract me from the journey in and to the Kingdom.
Below is pretty good map of the journey I am about to undertake. I will begin in Leon - my compadres have been walking the Camino since May 1st.
I have lots to finish up re work at the parish and lots of "little" things deal with about the trip. Sigue adelante!
Eric Storz wrote, "“Jesus puts to words the homelessness in a pilgrim’s heart." That, of course, leads me to Matthew 8:20: “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
As I am well into the last half of my life, my greatest desire is to simplify, simplify, simplify - I keep getting rid of things - so much more to rid myself of! Ridding myself of 'things" leads inevitably to trying to rid myself of my quickness-to-judge, my impatience, my intolerance of less-than-perfect.... Homelessness connotes more than "without a home": I think it also speaks to detachment, to supreme trust in Providence, and to dependence on others in humility.
I am trying to "lighten my " load for this journey - both by cutting down on the "things" I'm carrying with me and by putting aside those things that distract me from the journey in and to the Kingdom.
Below is pretty good map of the journey I am about to undertake. I will begin in Leon - my compadres have been walking the Camino since May 1st.
I have lots to finish up re work at the parish and lots of "little" things deal with about the trip. Sigue adelante!
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Musings in the Early Morning
Realizing that I wrote this more than 7 years ago or so and never published it! So, thought I'd do it now!
It's Saturday morning - early - and I've been up for a couple of hours - an exhausted body that sleep will not come to!
I've been back almost a week from vacation up home in northern Minnesota. In the summer, when driving with my family on a Sunday afternoon "to the lakes", Mom often commented on the color green as we would drive over the gently rolling hills and share her amazement with us that there were literally dozens of variations on the color. She was right - I noted the same thing in my drives to the lakes this summer. There was this great variety of green that stood out against a clear blue sky, DESPITE the fact that the days were dry, and that parts of the state were suffering drought. (The southern half of the state found a drought remedy in floods that did untold damaged just as I was leaving to return here.) It takes some refining of one's powers of observation to see the nuances of "green". Contrast in color, shadow, and light shows off the scenery with much more beauty than would just one flat color. The contrast adds depth, suggests something more behind the color, and invites the imagination to dream of what might be.
It's Saturday morning - early - and I've been up for a couple of hours - an exhausted body that sleep will not come to!
I've been back almost a week from vacation up home in northern Minnesota. In the summer, when driving with my family on a Sunday afternoon "to the lakes", Mom often commented on the color green as we would drive over the gently rolling hills and share her amazement with us that there were literally dozens of variations on the color. She was right - I noted the same thing in my drives to the lakes this summer. There was this great variety of green that stood out against a clear blue sky, DESPITE the fact that the days were dry, and that parts of the state were suffering drought. (The southern half of the state found a drought remedy in floods that did untold damaged just as I was leaving to return here.) It takes some refining of one's powers of observation to see the nuances of "green". Contrast in color, shadow, and light shows off the scenery with much more beauty than would just one flat color. The contrast adds depth, suggests something more behind the color, and invites the imagination to dream of what might be.
In Pilgrim Mode - Contemplating the Camino de Santiago de Campostela
And I begin....
Hard to believe that I am leaving in one week to walk "The Way of St. James"! The journey of a life-time, long dreamt about!
Traveling with youth for WYD from the Archdiocese of San Antonio, my constant mantra for them was, "I am a pilgrim, not a tourist". Tourists come to see, pilgrims come to be. Tourists relax, pilgrims are reformed – or ask to become more conformed to God.
If you are not familiar with the Camino, this is a beautiful and unique look at the journey!
Traveling with youth for WYD from the Archdiocese of San Antonio, my constant mantra for them was, "I am a pilgrim, not a tourist". Tourists come to see, pilgrims come to be. Tourists relax, pilgrims are reformed – or ask to become more conformed to God.
If you are not familiar with the Camino, this is a beautiful and unique look at the journey!
As Archdiocesan WYD pilgrims, this is the prayer, we
prayed OFTEN from
Denver to Paris to Rome to Toronto to Cologne....
If I should get tired and inclined to become short-tempered, Lord,
may I remember that I am a pilgrim, not a tourist!
may I remember that I am a pilgrim, not a tourist!
If my meal may not be to my particular liking, Lord, may I remember that I am a pilgrim, not a tourist!
If any delays occur and I should become anxious, Lord, may I remember that I am a pilgrim, not a tourist!
If any other pilgrim is making noise so that I cannot sleep or hear, Lord, may I remember that I am a pilgrim, not a tourist!
Lord, may I remember that I am a pilgrim, not a tourist,
when I ask that person to be a bit more quiet.
If someone takes a better place or a more choice seat, Lord, may I remember that I am a pilgrim, not a tourist!
If I find myself last in line waiting, Lord, may I remember that I am a pilgrim, not a tourist!
If I should get the chance to help another person who always seems to be annoying me,
Lord, may I remember that I am a pilgrim, not a tourist!
But, Lord, especially let me remember that what I find objectionable in another
is really what you oftentimes find objectionable in me,
is really what you oftentimes find objectionable in me,
and let me remember this and forgive the other,
as you are continually forgiving me!
as you are continually forgiving me!
Baptism and RCIA interviews this morning remind me that I have commitments here before I can enter into Pilgrim Mode completely. But we are all the Pilgrim People of God, as St. John XXIII helped us realize, and our pilgrimage here on earth is a journey of faith, communion, and justice. Buen Camino, everyone!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Thinking out loud in my head
There are so many thoughts running through my head right now that I can't sort them out.
So much for "I" - what about the "Thou"? God is good and he closes doors and opens windows - or other doors. I believe that, but living it out is most difficult. This is certainly a time to get my head and heart straight. I'll certainly have more time for prayer - will I use it?
I have been besieged with a procrastination issue for almost all of my adult life. I do think that it is part of the "one-ness" of my Enneagram status- I hesitate to start something that I can't do perfectly.
But God sanctifies my imperfection and graces me with blessings galore. This loving God takes me as I am and loves me anyway. I guess I should attempt no less. Sigue adelante! Full steam ahead with God and friends beside and in front of me and behind me.
- I am thrilled not to have to go to work in what was a death-dealing environment..
- I am depressed at not having a job and not knowing what to do next - and how I'm going to manage.
- I am so sad at not being able to work with some extraordinarily wonderful people. I am missing the "network"of like minds that supported each other in that aforementioned environment.
So much for "I" - what about the "Thou"? God is good and he closes doors and opens windows - or other doors. I believe that, but living it out is most difficult. This is certainly a time to get my head and heart straight. I'll certainly have more time for prayer - will I use it?
I have been besieged with a procrastination issue for almost all of my adult life. I do think that it is part of the "one-ness" of my Enneagram status- I hesitate to start something that I can't do perfectly.
But God sanctifies my imperfection and graces me with blessings galore. This loving God takes me as I am and loves me anyway. I guess I should attempt no less. Sigue adelante! Full steam ahead with God and friends beside and in front of me and behind me.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
A New Dawn or the End of My World
I seem to keep getting "stuck" in my life.
I have been struggling with my job, my ministry, for more than a year. Just the week before last, after a particularly trying exchange, I went into the chapel, sat quietly in front of the Tabernacle and then just screamed out, in my mind, but it was a SCREAM, "GET ME OUT OF HERE!"
As luck (?) would have it, the good and gracious God heard my prayer, and I was let go from my job along with 18 others.
It truly was like getting hit by a truck, and my stomach has yet to come around to doing what it should do in normal situations.
So, what does this mean for me? I have been in a work situation since February of 2006 that has caused me to doubt myself, my gifts, my vocation, my mission. At my advanced age, this has been destructive, and it feels like returning to adolescence where my identity was not yet fully created. Now, the identity I've cultivated over the years of adulthood and the fringe years of seniorhood, is being challenged.
Good friends are praying for me and supporting me - yet, they have their own lives, and I know that that is where they must place their energies. Yet, I am so grateful for those friendships and networks; for people who are willing to go out of their way and change their lives, if need be, to accommodate me for a brief period of time if homelessness becomes a reality.
So, before I head out for a walking prayer, I pause to consider the gift of friendship, that agape that mirrors the unconditional love God has for all of us.
I have been struggling with my job, my ministry, for more than a year. Just the week before last, after a particularly trying exchange, I went into the chapel, sat quietly in front of the Tabernacle and then just screamed out, in my mind, but it was a SCREAM, "GET ME OUT OF HERE!"
As luck (?) would have it, the good and gracious God heard my prayer, and I was let go from my job along with 18 others.
It truly was like getting hit by a truck, and my stomach has yet to come around to doing what it should do in normal situations.
So, what does this mean for me? I have been in a work situation since February of 2006 that has caused me to doubt myself, my gifts, my vocation, my mission. At my advanced age, this has been destructive, and it feels like returning to adolescence where my identity was not yet fully created. Now, the identity I've cultivated over the years of adulthood and the fringe years of seniorhood, is being challenged.
Good friends are praying for me and supporting me - yet, they have their own lives, and I know that that is where they must place their energies. Yet, I am so grateful for those friendships and networks; for people who are willing to go out of their way and change their lives, if need be, to accommodate me for a brief period of time if homelessness becomes a reality.
So, before I head out for a walking prayer, I pause to consider the gift of friendship, that agape that mirrors the unconditional love God has for all of us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)