Stir it up!

"For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands."

2 Timothy 1:6

This is an exciting and worthwhile challenge from Paul to Timothy (and us), but the question may be how to we do this "stirring?" Think back on the times we have felt the stirring of the Holy Spirit...at a retreat, Cursillo, daily or weekly mass, silent prayer, all-of-the-above? We need to put ourselves in places and situations that we can feel enveloped by God. So much of what I've read this morning has called me to silence--prolonged silence, like the retreat I made last summer. But, I also know that I've felt the power of the Holy Spirit in foot-stomping, hand-raising praise and worship with others, too. We need to carve out time and come with openness to God. It is all gift to us, there for the taking. We just need to make ourselves available and grasp it! Love, heidi

Meeting our heroes...

"Prayer is not only about entering into relationship with God; it is also about being changed."

Sr. Joyce Rupp, "Prayer"

 

I admit it. I had rehearsed what I was going to say to Sr. Joyce Rupp if I got the chance to meet her at the conference I attended. I wanted to thank her for her many books that have nourished my spirituality for almost fifteen years! I stepped up to the table where she was signing books and opened my mouth to begin my little speech. "Oh!" she said to me, "What a lovely scarf!" "Look!" she said to the gal sitting next to her, "It would go with pink or blue or anything!" She turned back to me, admiringly. I mumbled something about just getting it at the Fair Trade table, four booths down from hers. She smiled and took the book I offered for her to sign and asked my name. "Heidi? Oh that's a wonderful name...is that with an "i" or an "e" at the end?" I had intended to express my gratitude to her, but she was up two compliments on me before I knew it. She is such a gracious and kind person! It is good that we have heroes and heroines in our lives so they can compliment us and make us feel wonderful, isn't it? Somehow, I knew Sr. Joyce knew I appreciated her writing without me actually getting the words out. Love, heidi

Directions for growth...

"If you want the biscuits to rise, they must touch each other."

~Mary B's frozen biscuit directions

Sister Judy Gomila told a wonderful story at the North American Conference of Associates and Religious I attended this past weekend in Chicago. She told us that her community of seven sisters have a weekly ritual of preparing and sharing biscuits together every Thursday morning. Other mornings they fend for themselves, but they bake biscuits and enjoy them together every Thursday morning before heading off in different directions. For four or five years, they made the biscuits the same way...by placing them on a cookie sheet and popping them in the oven. By the time they are finished praying the Office, the biscuits are ready. One day, just a year ago, someone actually read the directions on the package! They read, "If you want the biscuits to rise, they must touch each other." In other words, bake them in a cake pan and, if they touch, they will rise twice as large! Isn't that just the way with our spiritual growth? If you want human beings to rise to their best selves, they must touch and care for each other. Can I hear an Amen? Love, heidi

Courage to risk and grow!

"Faithfulness requires the courage to risk everything on Jesus, the willingness to keep growing, and the readiness to risk failure throughout our lives..."

Brennan Manning, "Reflections for Ragamuffins"

And there is no better example of this than our two ladies we celebrate today in the Feast of the Visitation! (Luke 1:39-56) Think about it! Both Mary and her cousin, Elizabeth risked themselves for the sake of Jesus. Both listened to the call within and responded, "Yes!" And both had no idea what they were getting into, did they? They both accepted, even welcomed, God coming into their lives and changing everything--and that certainly inspires growth. And, especially in Mary's case, it could all just end...as it appeared on Calvary. How does this affect our lives as we spin around on this planet? Our faith in Jesus keeps us going when things seem to fall apart. We live, and hopefully, grow on our journey, with the companionship of others on a similar journey, but each one is unique. And, we risk rejection because of our beliefs, and sometimes it just may not be what we thought it would be. And, when that happens, we keep the faith and chock it up to a possible growth experience. Love, heidi

A servant to all...

"Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Mark 10:43-45

It saddens me that I do not see much of this in our world today. I see rich and powerful leaders lauding over others with their wealth and power. I see humble people, serving others daily with love and care, barely compensated. They are truly the great among us, and yet, they struggle to feed their families. In God's Kingdom there are no CEO's making billions on the backs of others. There are true leaders who lead with love and compassion. I don't see that here in this world and it troubles me. I am comforted, however, by the fact that, in the end, God's Kingdom will reign and this sad and sorry system of ours will not. Jesus tied a towel around his waist and washed the feet of his friends...even the friends who betrayed and denied him. Jesus loved and served others. If we could only follow his example! Love, heidi

Silence and prayer...

"Whoever tries to find interior stillness and cohesion will, little by little, obtain a different relationship to things and circumstances. Silence, prayer, and the affirmation of your interior life make you see things differently."

Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen, "This is the Day the Lord Has Made"

This was so true for me when I made the three-day silent retreat last summer! As a result of spending time in nature in Kansas, I discovered a pine tree towering over my yard in Idaho. As a result of spending time praying in the cemetery, I made many new friends. But the main lesson I learned when I spend time alone, is that I am never alone. It was a fascinating journey--one that I hope to make again and again. I need to carve out time in my "normal" life for silence and prayer, too, and that may be increasingly in the busy fun of summer. I will try, though, because Fr. Stinissen is so right-on here! Spending time, alone, in silence, is spending time with God. And that is crucial to our spiritual journey! Love, heidi