I fasted in order to set my heart at rest.

"The Woodcarver" by Thomas Merton

Yesterday and this morning I had the great pleasure of being on retreat with my coworkers in UD Campus Ministry. We discussed and prayed about our true selves... the love of God... and creating safe space for students and others to be their true selves. To say that there was a lot to ponder is an understatement!

Today at the end of our prayer time together, we read a poem by Joyce Rupp called "Prayer for Openness." It struck a chord with me and I wanted to share it with you...

Spirit of freedom,
open my mind and my heart.
Lift the barriers,
unbind the strong grasp of my demands
when I want everything to go my way.

God of spaciousness,
reach into my inner space,
sweep out all the old clutter,
enlarge my capacity to receive.

Bringer of truth,
empty me of whatever impedes
the growth of our relationship.
Help me recognize and accept
your sources for my growth.

Creator of the seasons of life,
soften my resistance to emptying.
May I welcome each inner season
as a catalyst for my transformation.

Faithful Friend,
deepen my trust in you.
Ease my doubts, fears, and discouragements.
When I am feeling vulnerable,
remind me that you are my safe haven.

Divine Mystery,
may I be ever more rooted in you.
Draw me into solitude.
Entice me into endless encounters
where I experience oneness with you.

Holy Whisper,
open the ears of my heart.
May I hear your voice within the silence
as well as within the noise of my life.
Re-awaken me
so that I can listen to you wholeheartedly.

Bringer of Good and Giver of Growth,
we yearn to be open and receptive
to your generosity.
May we trust your presence amidst the cycle
of emptying and filling.

Many blessings to all who read this!
Sr. N

Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,

but becoming fully awake they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,

"Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents..."

Luke 9:32-33a

Happy Feast of the Transfiguration!

Ah, Peter. Do you sometimes think that when you read Scripture or hear a story about Peter proclaimed at Church... Oh, Peter... Today is one of those days for me. But, in the same breath I also see that Peter and I have A LOT in common!

This summer I had the great blessing of having many experiences like that Peter, James and John at the Transfiguration... having a sense of closeness with God, coming to know Jesus more deeply, and of waking up to seeing reality in a different light. And I too often said, "Oh, it would be great just to stay here..." wherever "here" happened to be...

That is not the call, though. Today's feast is a great reminder of that. It's a reminder, for me that life is full of "mountain top experiences"... and that's not a bad thing! But life is more than that... and God is part of all of it. It's all part of our process of growing into the image of God we are created to be.

So, as the summer draws to its close (for me anyway) I am reminded on this feast to be thankful for the transfiguration experiences of the past few months... and let those feed me when the valley moments come (because they will...). That's life. And what a graced life it is.

Many blessings to all who read this!
Sr. N