Passions

It seems that the days preceding and following Valentine's Day all have been pointing me toward passions and passionate people.

A talk by Sr. Laurie Brink, OP, on "Paul and the Politics of Love" started my thoughts rolling. She spoke passionately about Paul's concern for the Corinthians and helped us see the parallel challenges from their times to our own. Paul urges the community to look beyond the divisions and what separates, to see with and through love unity in the Body of Christ.

The backstage tour of the Lyric was sponsored as a fundraiser by the Lyric's Opera Guild Board. These are people passionate about the opera. Volunteers told us about the history of the Lyric, the dedication of the founders. They spoke with great enthusiasm about the props, wigs, wardrobe and armory. A chorister, percussionist and lighting tech shared about make-up, music and effects that come together to create a lavish feast for the senses.

Charis Ministries gatherered a group of people passionate about those in their 20s and 30s from around the country. Everyone had been part of a grant that I had been working on with Fr. Michael prior to leaving Charis. From New York to San Francisco, Boston to Plainfield, Atlanta, Athens, St. Petersburg, Baton Rouge, Cincinnati, Versailles, Detroit, Joliet and Chicago. They represented national ministries, campus ministries, dioceses and parishes. Such great work is going on and such great need (cf. Mike's Googling God comments). This project was part of what was hard for me leaving Charis. I was grateful to participate and to realize that by recruiting other passionate people to take on parts of the project, the grant partners, their ministries and Charis were better served than if had I continued to juggle with other Charis responsibilities.

Charis also invited Mike to speak at their "Living Ignatian" series (see link in the sidebar). During his talk entitled "Finding God in the Crossroads" he shared a little of his journey to turn his passion for retreats into a great career and the Ignatian process of discernment. Where does "your deep gladness meet the worlds deep need?" he asked. And "if responsbilities take care of themselves and the choice was wide open, what would you do tomorrow?" "How to you want to BE, not what do you want to DO?" Timely questions as I continue to listen for my passion and desire to reemerge from hibernation. In the meantime, cooking for family and friends, a little light housekeeping and projects, walking, napping and being attentive to people and the world I encounter, each embodying God's love and grace are enough for me.

Congo/Women

Terrible beauty, terrible tragedy. This is how I'd describe the photos at the exhibit yesterday, some starkly black and white, others larger than life in full color. Paired with essays and statistics, the exhibit told stories of the effects of decades of violence on the women and children of the DRC. The co-directors of the exhibit at Columbia College hoped to inspire me and others to action. Unfortunately, as with other humanitarian tragedy, it was hard to look, to take it all in. I left feeling overwhelmed. I sent up a prayer for the courageous and suffering people. But it seemed so inadequate. What seemed missing was hope. Today I went to the website today to learn more and added my photo to the visual petition on the website, standing with the women and girls of the congo.

Perhaps I noticed this reaction more have recently finished a book by Gary Smith, SJ called "They Come Back Singing" about his experiences working with Sudanese refugees in Uganda. Smith paints a honest picture of his life as a priest and pastoral minister in the refugee camps. He didn't sugar coat the disease, poverty and death. He isn't sentimental or romantic about the suffering. I appreciated his ability to share his first hand experience and let it speak for itself. Through his story I felt the humanity and essential dignity of the refugees even in the midst of the horrific camp conditions. Because of his courage and honesty and theirs, I could stand with Smith and the family as he buried a child, or annointed a dying mother or grandmother. I could join my prayer to theirs as they celebrated the liturgy. I felt myself drawn in to share their plight instead of wanting to turn away. I'm grateful to Smith for allowing me to feel a part of the mission of the Jesuit Refugee Service: to accompany, to serve, to advocate.

DESSERT FOR DINNER? Fun times

DESSERT FOR DINNER? Fun times catching up with Mary & Jodie tonight at Ghirardelli across from the Water Tower over a Banana Hot Fudge Sundae-YUM

Meeting Birdman

He said 'they call me Birdman beacause my last name is Bird.'  Mr. Bird kept me company during my Indianapolis layover.  He was seeing off a friend headed for New Orleans. Mr. Bird shared that he was homeless so I asked him about the services to the homeless in Indianapolis. There is a shelter & drop-in center he could use, but he is pretty independent & prefers his tent under the higway. Apparently there is a couple who comes by his underpass on Wednesdays & takes he and his friends to there house for a shower and to do laundry.  They also came and got them on Sunday for the Superbowl but my bus was being called so I didn't get to find out who he was rooting for, but I'd like to think it was the Cardinals.