Teach me, O Tree...

"...guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, and for you I wait all the day."
Psalm 25:5

Even though I now gaze at my tree from the warmth of a comfy rocking chair instead of from the balcony, the tree continues to teach me. There are many leaves still clinging to the branches, pale green and reluctant to fall to the earth. No wonder they're reluctant to fall, who knows what awaits them down below? I wonder if I'm like the clingy leaves, reluctant to let go and embrace the season of winter. I am more of a fair-weather fan and winter has always sort of scared me. Some of my fear may be realistic, but most is just silly. I look at the lingering, clinging leaves and they seem to say to me, "This is nuts, we should just let go and fall already!" As should I. I should let go and embrace the mystery of creation as it enters into the beauty of winter. Love, heidi

To the root of the problem...

"(The angel) cried out in a loud voice, 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great...'"
Revelation 18:1

I can't begin to figure out all the symbolism of the Book of Revelation, but this first part of today's reading reminds me of Jesus saying in Luke, "“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!" (Luke 10:13) Jesus is calling out whole cities and communities for the wrong being done within their boundaries. It speaks to me of how we are not just responsible for our own individual deeds, but as a system and as groups, we can be in terrible error. And it sure feels that way in our world now, doesn't it? We, as communities,  states, countries need to be more aware of how our systems are unjust. We can try to put band-aids on the problems, but the problems will still be there if we don't address the issues underneath the problems. Today is the anniversary of the death of Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement. She was a rascal and an agitator, several times being jailed for her beliefs that the system needs to be changed, all the while providing for the poor at her houses of hospitality.  I feel privileged to be able to volunteer at such a place here in Boise. But it is just scratching the surface of the systemic problem. These dismal readings at the end of our liturgical year are a call to action for all of us. How can our faith lead us into action? Let's think and pray about it as we inch toward Advent...Love, heidi

Beginner's Mind...

 "You have to learn how imperfect you are. Eastern religions call this 'beginner's mind.' The more mature you grow, the more you discover that you are still a beginner; you still don’t know anything."
Richard Rohr, Daily Meditation, July 25, 2016

One of the things I've learned in the last five months since I changed my whole life is this: I don't know much at all. The new work I'm doing at the school is sometimes baffling. I have to ask the first grader how he got the answer to the math problem because I sure can't figure it out! I am new, new, new and it is ever apparent to me. Especially in my volunteer work at the day shelter I am so often over my head I essentially "lose it." I did yesterday and it haunted me all evening until I rested with it in prayer and realized something important. I am learning. I need to ask more questions than making statements. I need the "beginner's mind" that Fr. Rohr talks about and be in a learning mode instead of in a "fix it" mode I used to be in. I was at least able to feign competence in my old career, but here I can't cover up what I don't know as easily! It's right out there. So, even as we grow older and think we may know stuff, we don't know it all and it is easier just to admit that. So here goes...I don't know stuff! I am eager to learn and would like to know more! Please be patient with me while I learn!  Love, heidi

We can all give...

"Jesus said, 'I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest...'"
Luke 21:3

Pray-As-You-Go had a beautiful reflection on this reading today, inviting listeners to imagine one person they have seen giving selflessly through this last month. We were to pray with the image of that person and even imagine Jesus speaking of that person as he did of the poor widow in today's Gospel. It was a lovely time of imaging for me, but what I took away from it is that Jesus sees all of our efforts to live selflessly and with compassion for others. Jesus sees all of the "widows" out there, doing the smallest of giving things--allowing someone ahead of us in line, holding the door open for a stranger, rolling up our sleeves at a soup kitchen. Jesus sees our tiniest act of giving and is so appreciative! Today, as we go about our pre-Advent Monday, let's be especially aware of watching for the selfless acts of charity others are doing all around us. And let that inspire us to give lovingly of ourselves, too. Love, heidi

Just as they are...

"So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus..."
Luke 19:4

Today's Gospel about Zacchaeus climbing a tree to get a better look at Jesus is so similar to yesterday's story of the blind man who shouts out to Jesus. I noticed in both cases there seemed to be no concern for embarrassment or how the guys came across to others. In the case of the blind guy, others tried to shut him up and he didn't care, he shouted on. In Zacchaeus' case, the people were tsk-tsking him, grumbling about his dirty dealing and ill gotten gains. Jesus would have none of it. When Jesus encounters someone, no matter who they are or what they've done, they are changed. What about us? Is it only first century folks changed by Jesus? Certainly not! We are changed and transformed by Jesus just as vividly if our eyes are open and our hearts are beating with God. Sometimes, we look back on our encounters and wish we had responded differently. But, if we are reading this, we  are alive and have a whole new opportunity today to see Jesus in the people and situations around us. While reading both of these stories, let's also take notice that Jesus beckons the fellows to him even before they apologize for any wrongdoing or announce they will change their ways. Jesus accepts them just as they are--needy, seeking and broken. Just as we are. Love, heidi

Shout out?

"He shouted, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'"
Luke 18:38

So often when I hear this reading, I zero in on the healing of the blind man from Jericho.  But, today I was caught up in the asking, the shouting for Jesus. Pray-As-You-Go invites us to think about anything that may be keeping us from reaching out to Jesus, shouting by the roadside, as this fellow did. He had nothing to lose, really, but do we? Are we concerned what others will think if we rely on Jesus? Is there anything that is keeping us from shouting out? In my own life, I am less and less concerned what others think (I hope), but I am so easily distracted by things of this world that I spend too much time "there." Yesterday afternoon, I'd finally had enough of documentaries on TV and just shut the whole world out. I sat and gazed at my tree, listened to some wonderful music daughter Jeni Rose sent me from Israel, ate a small dinner in silence and then had a fire in my fireplace (first one!) I found it enchanting to be tuned into God and not the TV. So, if I had to answer what is keeping me from reaching out to Jesus? I would have to say my own distracted-ness. I get mesmerized by the computer, TV and the connections of the world. Once I decide to unplug from those, I can rest and relax, reaching out to Jesus. What about you? Love, heidi