Thursday, November 18, 2021

Compassion and Responsibility

It takes great courage to live and especially in 2021.  Compassion and responsibility are the virtues that have come to mind as I explore ways to step into helping others.  Often, my first reaction is to say it will be ok, or you are good as you are, however, lately the inspiration to be more direct with others may in fact be what they/we need. Have I coddled others/myself too much at the expense of not enabling others to live up to their potential or my fear of losing friendships? As a 32 year veteran of the St. Vincent De Paul Society of San Mateo County, compassion for the poor is a basic tenant of my faith and our society. Equally as important as compassion is responsibility. Responsibility includes helping people take steps to improve their situation. It is easy to be compassionate but takes hard work to be responsible.  It takes real commitment to go from providing food to providing training, sharing access to a network of services and following up with those we serve to help them move forward with skills, education, job applications and consistent contact.  This effort is to ensure that they move in a direction emotionally and physically to create a better life for themselves.  Socialism, as I am beginning to more deeply understand, takes that responsibility away from people with the notion that someone else will take care of them. Until we step into what we can do for ourselves we are not aware of our human potential. Socialism robs people of the opportunity to become all that they are intended to become.  Even as good Christians we know that we are make in the image of God. God is all good and capable. My question for myself is "do I hold people up as able?" or "do I give a bag of food and run from my own responsibility to really help people?" Another way to say....do I give the poor a fish or do I teach them to fish.  We are all capable of more than we think, we must step into our potential and push all others to do the same or we will die!

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

All In One




Today, as I was praying before the noon mass started, I pondered a phrase "All In One."  All In One or AIO, as my nephew Conor calls it, is a term he was using to describe a computer that had everything, eg., monitor, keyboard, etc., essentially all in one.  I loved this term so much I quickly adopted it for a yoga pose we do called Downward Dog.  Downward Dog, also known as Adho Mukha Svanasana, is a foundational yoga posture.  Downward Dog Pose tones the arms and legs, opens and strengthens the shoulders in flexion, lengthens the hamstrings and stretches the calves, and prepares the body for heating. Because it’s a combination of stretching, flexibility, balance, and strength, practicing Down Dog can help to balance and stretch your whole body, hence why I like to call it the All In One pose.  

Back to praying today, I also considered my husband, Joe Romano, an All In One husband as he seems to love everyone, move with ease and grace to accomplish all my to do's and everyone else's to do's too and loves me and people so beautifully.  The more I thought about this term All In One, I realized that the One to whom I was praying may also be called All In One. I smiled, looked to heaven, essentially glancing upward, and realized All In One was smiling too.  Who is your All In One?



Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Night Time

 The evening is here. The time is 6:29pm Tuesday. I will be joining a 7pm Bible Study zoom call and so I have time.....before that starts. I sit here at my desk in my home office/guest room and think what shall I write about tonight. I connected with my friend Carol Bagley, I wrote an email and text to my nephew James Heath inviting him to join the bible study too. I have my book next to me I could read and the Holy Bible too. Alas, I just want to put my thoughts on paper, in this blog so that have my daily blog posted. A statue of Mother Mary and Jesus adorns this beautiful desk where I sit along with family photos, a small box, and my art supplies oh yes a pretty beer stein turned into a lamp by my father circa 1955. Night time for me tonight is very quiet as Joe is Fresno with the boys and I stayed here in Burlingame since my schedule did not permit my travel this week. As I look at the words I wrote, I am grateful for this quiet, my husband, these photos, the Mother Mary and Jesus statue from Grandma Van. In this quiet I am feeling  my breath breathing me and experiencing a sense of good health and the joy of knowing I will connect shortly to a bible study with friends from St. CAtherine's Catholic Church in Burlingame, CA. I am grateful for night time and the gift of quiet and prayer.

Monday, November 8, 2021

Vincentian Friends


 Yesterday we met, our local conference of St. Vincent De Paul. We call ourselves Vincentians.  We had not been in a meeting together, in a room, close and seeing each other eye to eye, heart to heart in a long time. It was wonderful and it brought joy to each of us. I could see and feel and experience the love we share for one another and for those we serve.  Susan D. wanted to do a turkey give away for the many families we visit throughout the year. Sue G. hosted us and there we met, discussed and interjected ideas and approaches on how we would make this all happen. The end result is we created a great plan. Everyone has a part in the plan.  I am discovering that our little Vincentian group really goes way beyond service to others and has become deep and loving friendships for us.  Our 5 virtues that we strive for in our SVDP society include: Simplicity, Humility, Gentleness, Selflessness and Zeal. Yesterday, during our meeting, I saw all of that in each member. What a blessing. I am thankful to have found this vocation and these wonderful friends.  #svdp, #stvincentdepaul, #service, #love, #friends

Friday, November 5, 2021

5-7-5 Haiku

 Sometimes when I write

I can't think of what to say

I write anyway

Thursday, November 4, 2021

The Children's Moon

 


The sunny moon was an expression that Conor said one day approximately 11 years ago at age 4. I recall he looked in the sky on a beautiful morning and saw the moon shining, pointing with his finger he exclaimed, "the sunny moon."  I have never forgotten this moment in time when Conor was so present in the moment delighting in God's creation....the "sunny moon."  Today as I listened to Kristen Tippet's podcast, she was in conversation with two amazing human beings: Contemplative and Story Telling Poet Marilyn Nelson and Poet and theologian, Pádraig Ó Tuama. At the end of the conversation with Kristen and Padraig, Marilyn read her poem The Children's Moon and it moved me to tears. It made me recall Conor's observation and exclamation of the sunny moon some 11 years ago when smiles came easier and life was pure joy. The way children see the world is beautiful, no wonder God calls us to become like the little children. #MarilynNelson, #PadraigO'Tuama, #onbeing, #kristentippett

The Children's Moon

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Elegance

 Welcoming an idea a new way for me....elegance. As a rough around the edges gal, recently I am desiring to have elegance. Elegance as defined in Google Dictionary search: the quality of being graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.   My youngest nephew always takes good care of his hair, clothes, and general appropriate behaviors. I realized he seems to be inspired to present his best self. I noticed it at dinner last night, he uses good manners and is never crude at the dinner table and does not like it when I or his brothers do crude things e.g. burping etc.  He inspires dignity.  His elegance even at age 12 inspires me to think about putting my best elegant foot forward in every way. Maybe this is where we have broken down as a society or at least for me I have allowed myself to be a little to rough around the edges in some of my habits around dressing and behaviors at dinner. In being rough around the edges I react instead of being thoughtful, I am crude instead of being appropriate, I am lazy instead of hardworking, I am negligent in my hygiene instead of maintaining my hair cut and colored, nails polished and clothing stylish.   Today I will practice a new way... elegance. I am hoping that in the process, I become my best self.

Monday, November 1, 2021

All Saints Day

Today we celebrate the 34th anniversary of my sister Anastasia Lott's final vows into the Maryknoll Sisters. She is fondly called Sr. Sister by me.    Happy Anniversary Sr. Sister!

Speaking of saints, on November 1 we recognize all of the saints of the church who are deemed to have risen to heaven. The day is celebrated by holding a festival to remember the holy saints - a tradition thought to date back to the 4th century. All of the saints are remembered - even those who have no formal holiday.

Feeling a bit tired at this moment, however, wanting to keep up with the blogging.  Why is my energy low...maybe the overcast day, maybe the global concerns, maybe my career that is more administrative than value add, maybe my attitude.  I shall recall the saints in heaven and here on earth and be inspired to love, serve and be happy. I smile and I already feel better....thank you saints.  #maryknollsisters, #anastasialott, #commitment #love