Let It Be

 Let is be is a common mantra I say to myself when I am here in Fresno.  Often my brother has one way to do something and I might do it completely different, let it be.  I ask the boys a simple question and they choose to roll their eyes or seem irritated and I say to myself let it be.  This morning as I was making the bed and seeing all kinds of candy wrappers on the floor and wondering of the eating choices,  my mantra popped into my mind, let it be. Shirley, my beloved mother, must have thought that so often with 9 children.  So many things, personalities and ways of being that may be different than our own, let it be.  The Beatles' song, Let it be was more true than I ever realized, there will be an answer sometimes it is to just let it be.

Let It Be, Let It Be and in the letting it be there is peace. #letitbe, #peace, #acceptance

We are healed

Together, Daniel and I went on his first St. Vincent De Paul home visit. This was years ago as Daniel has now been our conference president for several years and before that a new member. Maybe it was 10 years ago when we had the occasion to go to see two men who had just left a group rehabilitation or halfway home to live together in an apartment that was provided by their program. They called our St Vincent De Paul's local office requesting some pots and pans. Our protocol for a home visit is to go in pairs, to be with those in need and to help them. I don't recall their names, I do recall their love. I often recall their love as a reminder of my own vocation in St. Vincent De Paul "SVDP" as I am sharing this morning.

Daniel had just joined us, signing up during our St. Catherine's ministry drive. Daniel was maybe 30 years old at the time and he along with several other young new members was refreshing and life giving to our aging conference. (Conference is how we refer to our local parish community that participates in our SVDP.)  I wanted our home visit to these men to be exemplary and follow the training I had received/learned during the SVDP Ozanam Orientation. So before we went to meet with these two men that had been assigned as roommates and whom had requested pots and pans, Daniel and I met at the church, obtained the voucher for household goods and then drove over to the apartment. Before leaving our vehicle, we prayed together. In our prayer we asked to be compassionate to be present, generous and to be open to their needs.

We prayed the beautiful Vincentian prayer

Prayer before a Visit

Father, we ask you to provide
all that we need
as we do the work you have given us to do. 

Fill our hearts with your love;
help us to listen with compassion
and to speak with kindness and confidence. 

Jesus, we pray for the grace
to go without our preconceived judgments
so that we can be true peacemakers. 

Stir in us the fire of your love
and guide us with discernment. 

Fill our hearts with wisdom, generosity
and kindness.

Holy Spirit, inspire us
with joy and patience.

Be at work in us
so that we will
bring good news to the downcast,
healing to the brokenhearted,
hope to the destitute,
love and compassion to all who are suffering.

Amen.

 We walked up the stairs, and knocked on their door. They both came to the door and we all introduced ourselves. They invited us into their humble and empty apartment. These men had nothing and they had only requested pots/pans.  We saw that they needed furniture, beds, dishes, sheets, towels, household goods....they only asked for pots and pans. These men we not young, they had years of suffering, addiction and experience beyond knowing. With nowhere to sit, I suggested we just sit on the floor and discuss their situation and also maybe pray.   The older man, with white hair and beard had piercing blue eyes looked at all of us and said, gently and quietly, "I know the Confiteor." He then immediately led us in this prayer that is from Catholic doctrine, meaning to Confess, or acknowledge.

Here is the prayer he said:

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers [and sisters],
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers [and sisters],
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

I know that in that moment, I was healed, I was forgiven and I was in the presence of God. It is this home visit that continues to fortify my commitment to the service and love we provide as Vincentians, a name used for members of SVDP. I have come to know that in my personal struggles, God heals through one another ...open your eyes and hearts to the other and be healed. #stvincentdepaul, #love, #service, #healing

Daily Inspirations

 St. Benedict's life has been an inspiration to how I want to live. Not too many years ago, Matthew, one of my nephews went to boarding school at Subiaco, Arkansas. While Matthew was attending this beautiful school in the Ozarks of Arkansas I became intrigued by the Benedictine Order. "The Rule," is  essentially a guide to holiness and happiness.  Much of what I took from reading a book by Sr. Joan Chittister OSB,  "Wisdom, Distilled from the Daily, Living The Rule of St. Benedict Today." In her book she describes the way of life practiced by the Benedictine Order which includes a balance of:

Listening

Prayer

Community

Humility

Monastic Mindfulness

Work

Holy Leisure

Giftedness

Hospitality

Obedience

Stability

Monastic Practices

Peace

Monastic Vision

While I continue strive to be a better person, the above lists helps me see areas in my life that need improvement "practice" and balance.  I also find in the writing of this blog post, that just reflecting upon each of the above helps me to recall what is most important, experience this moment of peace and mindfulness on this list.  This moment  I have peace, stability, prayer and am listening to God.#joanchittister #subiaco #benedictineorder

https://stellamaris.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/benedictine-way-of-life.pdf

Day 3 Whole Food Diet Let It Shine

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!"  A song my sister and coach Catherine sang as a voicemail message. I am inspired by her love, coaching and cheerleading.  The day begins with grace, good intention and hope.  Today, day 3 all is well. I did well yesterday on my whole foods diet. Yesterday I ate watermelon, peach and banana. I had salad and salmon and for dinner a yummy Italian sausage and salad and well, some leftover corn casserole that Jeri Techman had made on Monday.  I had two sips of Joe's ice cold beer and water.  I am feeling so good, my skin is looking good and I feel light as a feather.  This whole foods diet that I am doing for 13 days is teaching so much about what I am capable of accomplishing just by committing, trying and practicing self control.  So today, Day 3, 7:40am so far so good: water with lemon, coffee with a small amount of cream and we begin today and a song in my heart "Let it Shine."

Review, Refresh and Restart Goals

 As a lifelong goal setter, someone me who has practiced setting and achieving goals, I am reviewing how I am doing and I need to refresh and restart.  In review, not so good. I first see that my goals are less specific than usual. I am not sure if the not achieving my goals is due to lack of specificity or my own motivation or perhaps distractions from Covid 19 or other responsibilities that have crept into my life.  However, these are only excuses for not achieving what is possible.  Today, a new day, to begin again.  The goals I sent for 2020 are listed on this photo and built on a theme of "The Year of Optimal Health for soul, mind and body. I do have a spiritual life, especially this year. I cling to Jesus in every moment and my conversation is usually "help me!" I have my yoga practice which grounds me, connects me to my students even if only virtually and enables me, through the combination of movement and breathing to feed my body and soul with moments of connection, love and presence. I have really tried to drink more water, however, that seems to fall by the wayside. I have recently completed reading a wonderful book, The Book of Longings, by Sue Monk Kidd, an amazing story that I recommend to all.  Joe cooks healthy meals and I have been able to practice moderation...mostly.  Today, October 5, 2020, now that I have reviewed my goals, I shall refresh my goals and restart for every day is a new beginning.  Take time today to restart, this is our day.