Tell me... what does commitment look like to you?

The Lord’s call – let it be said at the outset – is not as clear-cut as any of those things 

we can hear, see or touch in our daily experience. God comes silently and discreetly, 

without imposing on our freedom. Thus it can happen that his voice 

is drowned out by the many worries and concerns 

that fill our minds and hearts.

We need, then, to learn how to listen carefully to his word 

and the story of his life, 

but also to be attentive to the details of our own daily lives, 

in order to learn how to view things 

with the eyes of faith, and to keep ourselves open to the surprises of the Spirit.

Pope Francis

Message for the 55th World Day of Vocations

2018

Recap of the week...

Last week - week 5 - was quite the week. The topic was consecrated life, which is rather broad. We looked at each of the vows. We looked at what makes religious life "radical" in our world today. We read parts of Vatican documents on consecrated life and our own Rules of Life. We spent time meditating on beautiful pieces of art each morning. We also had group presentations. Thank you to our facilitator for the week, our own Bro. Tim from New York. 

The real "meat" of the week, though, came from our group discussions about cultural context and the challenges we face in living committed lives. I heard from some of our SMs about being held at gunpoint - churches being bombed - fear of extremists - religious women being raped (not our FMIs, but women they know). Priests who have been jailed for nothing more than baptizing someone without government permission. We talked about challenges to the vow of poverty when the religious live better than the candidates' families. We shared about family and societal expectations of adult children. We talked about clericalism, the sins of the Church, and how religious are misunderstood around the world - regardless of context. 

No doubt, a heavy week. But so, so good. I have learned a great deal. And understand in a more complete way (although, not completely) what a commitment to Marianist life means for our Brothers and Sisters in different parts of the world. I will be unpacking those conversations for a while.

Weekend...

Saturday was a relaxing day. The afternoon was free, so I went to the mall across the street with two of our Brothers and had a lovely fruit smoothie. Then that evening we had a social with lots of dancing. 

On Sunday we had another excursion. This time to Lake Naivasha. What a fun day - after the heaviness of the week, it was good to be outside, laugh, walk alongside someone and chat for a bit. 

The Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha

The lake is about a 2.5-hour drive from our retreat center. We left Sunday after breakfast and returned about an hour before evening prayer. 

About midway through the drive, we stopped at a scenic overlook. From this point, you see a beautiful view of the Great Rift Valley. This rift extends from Jordan along eastern Africa to Mozambique. According to Brittanica.com, the "East African Rift System, also called Afro-Arabian Rift Valley, one of the most extensive rifts on Earth’s surface, extending from Jordan in southwestern Asia southward through eastern Africa to Mozambique. The system is some 4,000 miles (6,400 km) long and averages 30–40 miles (48–64 km) wide."

Because of the fossils found in the Great Rift Valley, it is believed that this area is the birthplace of humanity. Let that soak in for a minute...

If this video loads, you'll see the panorama.

With Joel, SM and Jinu, SM

With Sisters Terese and Prudence

Stunning views

With Terese

So, also there were these very aggressive vendors
at the overlook. Fr. Pablo and I resisted very well!

Crescent Island

When we arrived at Lake Naivasha we took boats out to Crescent Island. 

There are a lot of dead trees in and
near the water. We were told that it's 
because of too much rainfall -
roots were unable to get enough O2.

Cows on the shore before boarded 
the boats.

7 people per boat for the 10-minute ride

Another view of the trees

All aboard!

Another Marianist boat

 

My first time seeing pelicans in person (you'll see them, too, if this video ever loads)...

On Crescent Island...

Lots and lots of cactus

If you look closely, you can see a monkey in this tree... Super cute!

The ostriches are used to people and
not as mean as others

Antelope

Wildebeasts... Our guide called them one of the "ugly 5."
They're not what I would call cute...

More wildebeasts... We saw zebras
and impalas, too but no pics...

Return to the mainland... and hippos!

If you look closely, you can see 2 eagles.
They look a lot like the American bald eagle,
but they are African Fish Eagles

Of course, I don't know the name of this mountain

We saw many hippos... some from the island and more from the boats

I was pretty proud of the timing of this pic

Hippos, although vegetarians, can be aggressive if you get too close.
So... we were feeling just a little nervous.

Once we made it back to the mainland, we had a wonderful buffet lunch - I was so happy to have baked chicken and mashed potatoes! And then it was back to get ready for another week.

Thanks for reading this long (and delayed) blog.

Many blessings!

Sr. N

The world doesn't need another Mother Teresa.
The Church doesn't need another Francis of Assisi.

The world/the Church needs you.

Unknown.

From a poster at Mary's House - the Marianist Family Retreat Center 

Cape May Point, New Jersey

Reminders, reminders and more reminders. Every once in a while reminders are very good. Apparently, I need reminders more than most. My summer's been full of 'em!

Last night I returned from my 3rd (and last) retreat of the summer. I was part of the staff for the 3rd week of family retreat programs at the Marianist Retreat Center in Cape May Point, New Jersey. It was a wonderful week. There were a total of 7 families on retreat, plus there were 3 families working on the staff. It was there that I read the above quote.

There have been many times in my life that I've lamented not being Mother Teresa... or Dorothy Day... Mother Adele... Oscar Romero or Martin Luther King Jr.... I'm not Edith Stein or Therese of Liseaux... nor am I "Sr. So-and-so" who lives down the hall from me. Nope. I'm just plain me. And believe me... some days I embrace that easier than at other times. In my laments I've often said, "I can't because I'm not..." Perhaps that is true sometimes. But it isn't true all the time. And, of course, I "know" that. But every once in a while a person needs a reminder.

My summer has been full of little reminders... reminders of gifts from God and reminders of challenges to embrace. Here are just a few...

• I do not read enough. 
• I love to read, but for some reason, I don't read as many books as I used to. Nor do I read journal articles (unless someone recommends them on Facebook). Earlier in the summer I read a book a co-worker let me borrow. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Dunn. Not only did this book challenge me and inspire me, it opened my eyes to how much I miss reading books like this. It is books like this from which a person's world view can expand and clarify one's own mission. Thank you to Molly for letting me borrow the book!
• I also read a little bit of fluff also - Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe. Yes. I did. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. :) Thanks to Toni for this read.
• Never take for granted the gift of uninterrupted silence/prayer.
• Silence is a luxury. It is a gift. It is also necessary for the spirit. While on retreat I had the great gift of hours each day spent in prayer, meditation, spiritual reading, journal writing - and just being. There is a certain amount of clarity that comes from sitting perfectly still for an hour or two. If there is ever a time that can happen during the academic year, I will not take it for granted!
• Praying near water does wonders for the soul.
• On the first retreat the retreat center was on a creek. The second retreat center was on a large river. The last one was on the Atlantic Ocean. Each place had it's own particular beauty. And each gave my spirit a unique gift.
• Stewing over imperfections (mine or others') does nothing good.
• So, why not look at unique gifts instead (mine and others')? Perhaps that will do much more good - for me and for the people in my life.
• The sunscreen/bug spray combo in 80% humidity makes a quick run nearly unbearably hot.
• The Marianist vow of stability thwarts one's tendency towards instability.
• As you read that sentence, it might seem obvious. However, I had honestly never thought about it. Each of the vows seems to be opposed to a "value" of our society (i.e. poverty stands opposed to materialism and upward mobility, obedience stands opposed to individuality and selfishness, and chastity stands opposed to objectification and being ruled by one's desires). I honestly had never thought about what stability stands opposed to... commitment-phobia! Duh.
• Growth in holiness is not only (and maybe not primarily) for my benefit or for the work I do. But for the people with whom I live and with whom I interact.
• Another "Duh" moment. It's not about me. How many times am I going to need that particular reminder?

And so, there you have it. The lessons of summer 2012 (thus far).

If you don't mind... I have two prayer requests before I sign off...

One, currently, Marianist sisters from all over the world are meeting in Rome for our General Chapter. This is the meeting of leaders from each region that happens every 5 years. Two American sisters are there (Laura and Gretchen). It is at the General Chapter that the direction of our Congregation is set for the next 5 years, our general leadership is chosen and various issues discussed. Please pray for their openness to the Spirit of God in their deliberations and process.

Secondly, tomorrow I leave for Cleveland. One of sisters has been very ill while I've been galavanting across the US. I will be with her at the Cleveland Clinic and then as she enters a rehab facility. Please keep her and all of the Marianist US sisters in your prayers.

Many blessings to all who read this!

Sr. N