Tuesday, March 31, 2020

My desert

Reflecting on the mystics, many literally go to the desert to be alone or better said, to be in silence in order to hear God's voice.  My mind has a way of turning darkness into light, difficulty in good and this time of shelter into relishing time in my "desert" to hear God's voice.  I am not  really in the desert as I  have my computer, my news, and my ability to connect with others using technology.  I am using this "shelter in place" as my opportunity to step back, be quiet and create my desert. I have often wanted to live like the monks I read about in books. I long for periods of time to pray, walk in silence, write thoughtfully, and to be. I am taking time each morning to write this blog which enables my to write my thoughts to share the Voice within.  Despite still working full time from home, I am enjoying the periods of quiet. Even as I enter information into CRM systems, refine marketing/sales messaging for my clients to keep the pipeline full,  and take care of daily home making tasks, the silence is gift. My desert time has enabled me to reflect on what matters most listening to God's voice. I am reminded in this silence, this desert, that there are people in need of our generosity, prayer and our service. My desert time is a gift to hear God's voice and  be both in the desert and go out from the desert, with  precaution, to serve those in need. #Stvincentdepaul, #love


Sunday, March 29, 2020

Lazarus, Jn 11: 1-14

Today's gospel reading was about Lazarus. For those unfamiliar with the story of Lazarus, it is the a key miracle where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. He had been dead for 4 days. It is a beautiful story of Jesus's experiencing even our deepest grief as he wept with Mary and friends of Lazarus. In the end of the story Jesus reminds us He is the resurrection and the life and he raises Lazarus from the dead.  Joe and I now watch our Sunday mass on uTube as we stay sheltered in our cottage here in Burlingame. Today's uTube mass, from Word on Fire, with Bishop Robert Barron inspired my own reflection on renaming the person of Lazarus to Gretchen.  For myself, the question is how does Jesus call me to rise from the dead. I try to live fully, however, I do recognize that more frequently than not I turn on the TV and watch a reruns of decorating shows, surf the web looking at ideas in lieu of doing something, contemplate how to serve instead of getting up to do the work that needs to be done and ultimately die in complacency. For today I shall LIVE in the service of those most in need. Our St. Vincent de Paul Society, here in Burlingame, has needs beyond our usually volume. Many more people now, without work, need food, rental assistance and other material support. I shall go today to be for others.

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Uninvited Silence

"This period of uninvited silence and darkness may seem deafening and unproductive to us. But it is always within silence… within the dark…that things have a way of germinating; of growing and coming to full maturity."
Sr. Margaret Mayce, OP
Dominican Sisters International Confederation

My sister, Sr. Anastasia Lott, shared a recent letter from Sr. Margaret Mayce a fellow Dominican Sister. I found a particular line in her letter, the quote above, inspiring. In this time of "uninvited silence" there is something good happening. My husband Joe and are experiencing more time to be together and connect and as a result deepening our love. Even with my colleagues at PwC, I am finding a closer bond in our working together. Using virtual methods, and seeing each others' home offices, offers a personal glimpse into their homes and lives outside of work. Reducing consumption of goods and services, gives earth a chance to rest. I continue to pray for those diagnosed, those dying along to have peace. I pray our scientists find a cure and complete eradication of this Corona virus. I also pray that all the good we learn in this time of "uninvited silence" will remain forever a part of our new world.#margaretmayce, #maryknollsisters

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Birds singing, nature springing.



It is 6:30am and the birds are singing and plants and trees are blooming. Spring is here. While we continue to shelter in place, nature continues to thrive. As the birds break the quiet of morning, and a gentle rain falls, nature brings warmth to my heart.  We are emerging from winter’s cold and now with COVID-19 pandemic, winter’s chill lingers.  World news reminds us of the suffering, loss, worry and uncertainty of this time. However, nature is calling us to wake up. Nature is shouting, loudly through birds singing, rain falling, and life blooming. Can you hear, see, taste, smell and feel springtime in your heart. Today, turn off the news, open your eyes, ears, minds and allow winter’s cold to thaw our suffering so we can heal the world.#spring2020



Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Pausing to shelter in place

Seeing the good with all of the sad and uncertain news being reported can be difficult.  During this time of sheltering in place, there is time for pausing to self reflect, pray, connect and work and live in new ways.  The real opportunity for us as the human race is to use this pause in the life we knew to absorb the benefits of sheltering, reducing consumption, being with family, cooking more home meals, walking our neighbors to the degree safe, being in solitude, catching up on movies, learning new skills, reducing car accidents from multi-tasking while driving, reading books,  playing board games, cleaning the closet, gardening, and finding new ways to live simply. The blessings abound in this new way of living. In the end when we start the big engine of productivity, I pray, hope and desire  that we retain the good that we have discovered, and sustain our planet by living in ways that recall this pause in the life we knew to shelter in place. #livingsimply

Monday, March 23, 2020

Connecting, Praying, Penance

During these past few days as sheltering in place sets in to a daily way of life, praying for a cure and connecting with family and friends is what I am called to do.  The world news is creating a sorrow inside me that only praying and connecting with family and friends can soothe. While I know this too shall pass and that some countries and peoples have suffered way beyond this current crisis, this is where I am today.  I try to sit in the sorrow so that I build compassion. By nature, I usually spin everything into something positive, however, for today, I will hold the sorrow in my heart so that when things do get better I will not forget that every day, in every year, someone somewhere is suffering. I will not forget.  Yesterday, we watched a movie, "The Two Popes." In the movie Pope Francis' early life as a priest reflected the huge suffering and torture that occurred in Argentina during the 70's. The rest his life, Fr. Bergoglio, now Pope Francis committed his life to service, simplicity, and compassion as depicted in the movie, almost as a penance, for what had occurred in the 70's to his fellow Jesuits/people.  Perhaps this time is for some of us to wake to a penance required to change the world and recognize what we can do to eliminate the suffering that has gone on in the world's poorest countries and neighborhoods and bring the compassion, service and love the world needs now and always. #popefrancis

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Be Here Now


“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” -Martin Luther  

As we shelter in place, I am inspired to commit to a daily reflection.  It is quiet here on Sunday morning, Joe tucked in bed and me up and reflecting while sipping coffee with cream. This past week has unfolded with questioning if this is real, to feeling more frightened, to learning to use zoom to teach my three yoga classes to recognizing this is the moment to be here now.  Be here now began as my 2020 mantra for the year, to be present, to practice presence and to not worry.  I did not realize on January 1, 2020 that being here now would be such an important reminder for all of us. The universe speaks to each of us, during this time of sheltering in place with no where to go, it is time to be here now. #beherenow