Gazing toward the brightly lit horizon the other day, I noticed an expansiveness, an opening. Beyond what I could see was a mystery. Bigger than the dances of shadows and light, the frozen November snow and the clouds hanging out their hues of pink and gray, was the power of possibility, the rise of potential.Continue reading “Openness to the mystery of other people”
Tag Archives: people
Do you know who you’re talking to?
As I walked down the hall and into our parish’s Spanish language youth group meeting after a very trying and somewhat disappointing middle school lesson on the Ten Commandments, I was fully immersed in beleaguered-teacher mode. I entered and quickly began an Advent lesson on Mary. We began reviewing the stories of the Annunciation, theContinue reading “Do you know who you’re talking to?”
Into the darkness: awkward yet unafraid
I am gripping ski poles through fleece-lined mittens, my feet secured to cross-country skis. My arms and legs slide back and forth, propelling me forward along the trail. I have only been in these woods on this bright Saturday morning for about 10 minutes, but my warm breath is already fogging up my thick glasses.Continue reading “Into the darkness: awkward yet unafraid”
Moving for God: The dilemma of diversity
There’s the classic clip-art picture of children representative of every race, nation and language joined together and singing songs of world peace. And then, many of us are familiar with rainbow buttons proclaiming cheery slogans like “Celebrate Diversity” and “Better Together.” More importantly, there’s the vision that God’s reign of peace and justice will beContinue reading “Moving for God: The dilemma of diversity”
Ordinary lights
During a recent volunteer stint at the local drop-in center for people who are homeless, I overheard a conversation between two of the guests. A man gestured toward me and said, “Don’t talk like that here, especially with her around — she’s a nun.” I don’t know what they were talking about or what wordsContinue reading “Ordinary lights”
Seeking corners of quiet but learning lessons on love instead
Recently I had a conversation with another sister. During the chat, we realized we had a common experience on our different retreats earlier this summer. We had each gone to opposite corners of the country and were looking forward to some sacred one-on-one time with God. He found a way to sneak in–to surprise and enlightenContinue reading “Seeking corners of quiet but learning lessons on love instead”
How to be Hot for God
Being Christian is not for sissies, I have heard some say. We must be bold, courageous and purposely enter into experiences of encounter that might make the average person squirm. For starters, this is a life of serious love. And for us Christians, love is a verb, not a feeling. We have to love our enemies,Continue reading “How to be Hot for God”
consciousness, change and Joseph Kony
A lot of interesting things are happening in the movements for change in our society. Videos are going viral, the Occupy movement continues, we’ve experienced an Arab Spring, and our nation is divided so much about issues (like wealth, poverty, war, abortion, contraception and sexuality) that I’m beginning to wonder if the two-party political systemContinue reading “consciousness, change and Joseph Kony”
Sorry, I Didn’t Recognize You (part two)
Guest blogger, Amy Nee, part two of two (here’s part one) I caught that train and took it to Cermak-Chinatown. The Congress on Urban Ministry had converged on the Hyatt at McCormick Place (a hotel and convention center the size of a neighborhood) and was hosting free “Words and Worship” services in the evenings. ThatContinue reading “Sorry, I Didn’t Recognize You (part two)”
Sorry, I Didn’t Recognize You
Guest blogger, Amy Nee, part one of two Wearing gloves severely inhibits fine motor skills. As I fumbled to extricate my Chicago Transit Authority card from my wallet and insert it into the vending machine at the Granville El Station I heard: “A Red Line Train—heading toward the Loop—will be arriving shortly.” The mechanized announcementContinue reading “Sorry, I Didn’t Recognize You”