Grief and gratitude are two strong currents in our lives, and when they flow together it creates a river of healing. Right after Mother’s Day, I received shocking news. My sister, Ginny, my only sibling, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Only 71 years old; this seemed unbelievable. Grief seeped through me. At first …
An image has haunted me since I first read it in an article about the atrocities taking place in South Sudan. It is very disturbing, and I’d rather move past it quickly, acknowledging this happens but not dwelling on it. However, as I read it, the image of Jesus on the cross appeared in my …
Anticipating my annual retreat has become an essential part of the experience. Having encountered an excellent spiritual director a number of years ago, I have been returning to her and the same retreat center in Houston for a week each year during the winter months. I anticipate the climate — warmer than here in Detroit …
The Welcoming Prayer: a Powerful, Transformative Practice Read More »
Early last month I was giving a day presentation to religious congregations in San Rafael, California. The day focused on the power of contemplation as a transformative process, the transformation of consciousness and communal contemplation. The day ended with a section on exercising contemplative power. During the final discussion the question arose as to whether …
Becoming a Civil and Respectful Democracy Once Again Read More »
There are rare moments when one experiences a fullness of time. A time and place where the previous years’ hopes and desires emerge as an intensified whole deeper and more grounded than one could have hoped. That was my experience of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious’ (LCWR) Assembly this year. This year’s assembly was …
A Special Moment in Time, a fullness Leading to Newness Read More »
Many years ago I toured St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. I can recall climbing up to the top of the cupola and going outside on the balcony from which there is a marvelous view. Of course, I could see the wall that surrounds Vatican City. As I stood there, I reflected on how impenetrable …
The Tenacity of Hope: Shining examples of Detroit’s Students Read More »
I have to admit I am dismayed by what has been happening on the campaign trail. Primarily spurred by Mr. Trump, I witness the anger of my brothers and sisters who, over these past decades, feel that they have been left behind. They say that their jobs are being taken by newly arrived immigrants and …
A new year. Ending the old year and welcoming in the new is surrounded by quite a ritual. We watch the bright silver ball drop in Times Square and we make New Year resolutions in hope of changing some of our behavior. We have a sense that the new year brings us another opportunity to …
The word “authentic” is defined in the American Heritage Dictionary as “worthy of trust, reliance, or belief. Having an undisputed origin; genuine.” Thoughts of the apostolic visitation came to me, and I sense that some of what prompted it was a concern that some of us were not living an “authentic” religious life. There were assumptions and …
Taking a Long Loving Look at Authentic Religious Life Read More »
I was so excited to read an interview in the spring issue of YES! magazine between Ralph Nader and Daniel McCarthy by Sarah van Gelder. When I finished I felt this is an example of exercising contemplative power. Many of you know Ralph Nader from his dedicated work over the years on numerous issues, including: consumer protection, responsible government, anti-nuclear …
Exercising Contemplative Power with Some Interesting Partners Read More »
Too many atrocities bombard us when we pick up a newspaper, watch the news or read the many blogs and websites that come to us on a daily basis. The challenge for people of faith and those of us practicing contemplation is: How do we respond? Where do we begin to address these injustices? Two …
When I began the Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue (ICCD) I consciously chose to focus on contemplation as a communal experience. Having been influenced by Constance Fitzgerald’s article, “Impasse and the Dark Night,” I instinctively knew that our time in the evolutionary journey required of us ways to share our experience of contemplation and the wisdom …
