Sammy Squirrel and Benjamin Bunny

During my time at the lake house, I had a lot of opportunity to observe Sammy and Benjamin. They both were out and about most mornings and early evenings. They did not bother with each other even though they occupied the same grassy area. (Well maybe the occasional glance.) Sammy rushed about stopping and working furiously to stuff his cheeks with seeds from the maple keys. Benjamin on the other hand casually savoured a blade of grass. Both had their ears perked for the sound of an approaching enemy. Obviously they had no fear of one another.

This peaceful scene made me think about our world situation today. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if countries could so peacefully exist, occupying common ground (earth), but respecting one another’s values? Some of us are squirrels and others bunnies (as in rabbits). This observation applies personally, as well as worldwide. It takes all kinds to make the world go round.

We can’t help but be aware of the many catastrophes taking place on an hourly bases. We shutter at the brutality. 

Now back to our own small worlds. How do we exert brutality on ourselves and on others? Do I put myself down? Do I do it to others? Usually in a small way – not really meaning to.

Let’s learn from Sammy and Benjamin – enjoy your space but be willing to share. “It’s a small world after all.”

Barbara Vaughan, CSJ

… in the Midst of Upheaval

This year, Thanksgiving occurs in the midst of many challenges. The world is saturated in war. Ebola threatens to invade not only Africa but the USA and Canada. Work is scarce and poverty continues to increase the disparity between the rich and poor. Heavy rain pelting the window confirms my fear that the late growing crops will not be harvested this fall.

What is one to do in the face of all this bad news? One might be tempted to play Job and curse one’s fate. However, my morning walks confirm that the sun’s healing rays still shine on us. Beauty surrounds us on every side. Crisp fall mornings lighten my spirit. Bright autumn flowers and the magnificent neon reds and oranges of trees are a feast for the eyes. Happy children wait for the school bus watched by attentive parents.

In the wider world, the United Nations is hammering out a new global agreement on reducing carbon emissions. We teeter on the cusp of a global transition to a new safe energy economy. New attempts are being made to redirect locating new fossil fuel deposits to exploring new safe energy initiatives. Young Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame recently addressed the UN to endorse the “Heforshe” initiative for gender equality.

Year after year, Thanksgiving reminds us of the good gifts God brings in spite of massive turmoil. In the haunting words of “Desiderata”, the poet Max Ehrmann reminds us: “With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.” Happy Thanksgiving.

Jean Moylan, CSJ

The Canadian Goose Saga

“April is the cruelest month.” (T. S. Eliot) It was April and as I looked out my window from the Crow’s Nest, I spotted Mr. & Mrs. Canada Goose inspecting the property.

They seemed to aspire to an upscale place to raise their family. After much wandering about with Mrs. Goose in the lead; she appeared to choose a spot out front very close to the entrance of the residence under shrubbery. However, cars were whizzing about and Mr. Gander with his flat feet firmly planted, stood in the middle of the drive and cars had to circumvent him.

After a while they wandered off and to our surprise they had chosen a spot at the south of the building, directly over the chapel. A remote area with no access to human kind. Mrs. Goose settled comfortably into this new abode, scratching together a few grasses and feathers for a nest.

And there she sat for twenty-eight days incubating the eggs. She faced south with her long neck reaching over the concrete edge.

Did she have an audience? Yes, you bet! We, the Sisters, were congregating in other Sisters’ suites following this phenomenon – of a Canada Goose and her trials. She rarely left the nest – squatting and shifting her weight. We discovered that she had three eggs and later four.

April was indeed cruel to her. The weather was rainy and nasty. One evening, I peered out to see her weathering a ‘south-wester’ which reminded one of ‘A Storm at Sea.’

But Mrs. Goose persevered by lifting her body more and propping her feet to protect the incubating eggs. Behold one day three goslings, balls of yellow fluff appeared. Immediately Mother Goose took them on a tour of their surroundings. No food! No water!

She was very positive the little goslings would toddle along behind her. She seemed to give a signal with her tail if one fellow was faltering, but he flipped his little wings and marched on.

Many of us were in a panic wondering how Mrs. Goose would get her little offsprings off the roof, as there was a fall of thirty to forty feet. But she did and one early evening they were gone. Her motherly and patient instinct had conquered all obstacles.

One egg hatched after the family was gone. It seemed to be weak and perished very soon. The Canada Goose Saga has inspired us all. How nature overcomes all obstacles. Now that fall is here and the Canada Geese begin flying south overhead, they may give a salute to the residence on Windermere where life began.

Eileen Foran, CSJ 

We are who we stand with!

Some years ago, at a union convention, I was drawn to a particular T-shirt which was being presented for sale. It wasn’t the usual type of offering.  The graphic on it seemed to have a deeper meaning beyond what is frequently imprinted on union garb; no logo, no strident union message. What I saw was a depiction of ordinary people, of all ages and abilities relating with one another with the statement “WE ARE WHO WE STAND WITH”.  “Yes”, I thought, “this is the essential meaning behind the union movement. We have to represent the ‘ordinary folks’ who struggle”. I bought the shirt.

Fast forward to August 2014 and the recent Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) Assembly in Nashville, Tennessee   ...   

I have been following this conference with great interest given the ongoing investigation of the LCWR by the Vatican’s ‘Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith’. What I have been reading is a tremendous affirmation of the journey of American women religious communities since Vatican II. This, I would suggest, is mirrored in Canada. Women religious have been true to what was asked of them.  

Originally, in North America, women religious provided health care and education, founding many hospitals and education systems, and yes they looked after the orphans and the elderly.  Today, however, what they continue to do is to identify current collective needs and then work toward making change happen. You see, these religious women do great work and then step aside as society catches up with them!  They engage on the leading edges of emerging concerns, always looking for the “needs of the new margin dwellers.” (Nancy Scheck, OSF)

Who are the people /issues that women religious are standing with now?  As Nancy Scheck said at the Assembly, this has happened and is continuing to happen, “from racism to climate change, from trafficking to the nuclear threat, from the concerns of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community to global economics, women's equality and violence, ethics in health care, issues of abortion and the death penalty, drones, immigration and peacemaking.”

Has this ‘prophetic stance’ come at a cost? Yes!  As stated by Sr. Miriam Ambrosio CRB, in terms of women’s religious life, it is “the awareness of our "non-place" in society and in the church. Religious belong on the margins, with other marginated people”.  

Because sisters have gone to the ‘edges’ and supported the ‘marginalized’ they are ‘counter-cultural’, perhaps even in terms of the institutional church. They truly live the slogan,” WE ARE WHO WE STAND WITH”!  Would not Jesus not have agreed?

Please take the opportunity to access all of the wonderful addresses given at the LCWR 2014 Assembly, as well as a great video at https://lcwr.org/calendar/lcwr-assembly-2014 . 

Ann Steadman, CSJ Associate

Today is a . . .

“Do I live as a tourist or as a pilgrim?” I came upon this quote, but sorry to say, in a senior moment, I can’t remember who or where. I think of a tourist flitting here and there – seeing but not absorbing. A pilgrim, I see as one who plods deliberately along – journeying with purpose.

• Tourists use a map showing the highlights, guided by GPS. Pilgrims stop to smell the roses along the way, laying their beds down in any humble abode.Tourists often follow the voice of the tour guide. 
• Pilgrims tend to follow their hearts.
• Tourists plan ahead, booking flights, hotels etc. Pilgrims fly by the seat of their pants.
• Tourists are on vacation – pilgrims are on a journey.

There is an old saying, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” We can say all touring and no pilgrimage makes one a dull Christian.

One should feed the other!

Each day we should ask ourselves – today was I a tourist or a pilgrim? What do I want to be tomorrow? Your pilgrim day may be my tourist day or vice-versa.

As a pilgrim we hope to meet God – face to face. As tourists we treasure God’s gifts to us in the beauty of creation and its varieties of people.

Be this a tourist or pilgrim day?

Barbara Vaughan, CSJ