Future Is An Attitude

Those of you who follow our CSJ blog posts may be familiar with how I draw inspiration from TV commercials while enjoying my morning coffee.

Let me make a disclaimer before I continue - I have no stock in Audi! This morning, I heard the current Audi slogan, “Future is an attitude.” What I found while googling this reiterated phrase of Audi provided me with greater detail concerning the car company’s self-professed vision and how it sees itself.

-Abraham Lincoln

Audi advertises that its vision is not only embodied in how it designs cars but also in how it sees the future. This company shares its belief that what we create today will lead, (as in their case) not only to better cars but to a better future. They assert that their 100-year constant progress relies on, “Seeing possibilities where others perceive impossibilities. And inspiration, where there are obstacles.”

Attitude, seeing possibilities, and inspiration got me thinking. On a personal level, I was made more aware of how my attitudinal stance in the present, has the ability, to some degree, to shape my future circumstances and experience of the now. My current attitude does, in fact, create what’s in my control going forward. For instance, if I feel hopeful that I will be able to meet the changing nature of COVID circumstances, there is a much better chance that I will be able to do so.

“Our congregation’s intention is to respond daily to the inspiration of God’s Spirit.”

On a communal level, attitude, seeing possibilities, and inspiration connect me to the spirit of our current congregation’s Direction Statement, Moving with Love. In part, it states:

Immersed in Life and Love

We embrace this moment of possibility

as a graced path to Transformation.

In essence, the above words express much the same spirit that is contained in the Audi tagline, “Future is an Attitude.” Our congregation’s intention is to respond daily to the inspiration of God’s Spirit. We trust that our communal attitude can influence the whole-making energies released in ourselves and in the planet for the healing of the world.

-Sister Nancy Wales, csj

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Image: Unsplash/Rianne Zuur

January Blues

Keeping in Touch

Image: Scott Ymker| Unsplash

Although the countryside might be covered in a blanket of fluffy white snow which can do a lot to lift our spirits, often mid-January days can feel long and gloomy.  On the horizon lies February, sometimes referred to as tunnel month because we think that we are under-ground and spring will never arrive.  We can feel alone and lonely, longing for friendship and support.  This is the moment to remember the importance of keeping in touch with our broader community.

We humans are social beings who thrive best in loving, nurturing families and support systems.  In fact, many animals live in community.  Horses and cattle live in herds, birds in flocks, whales in pods and fish in schools etc. They depend on each other for safety and survival.

On the human level, keeping in touch with each other is vital, especially during Canada’s long winters and recently imposed pandemic restrictions.  Think for a moment about the solace you receive from connecting with friends, family, and coworkers.  Ask any student what they miss about school and the reply is always the same, “I miss my friends”.

Image: Unsplash/Sixteen Miles Out

Keeping in touch doesn’t need to be arduous, it just means taking time to reach out to someone.  Sending a friend a short email, sometimes accompanied by a thoughtful or hilarious attachment. Have a brief phone chat with a neighbor. This can be more uplifting than a long, drawn-out conversation.  Try your hand at writing a note to a shut-in. Although it’s a disappearing art, we still know the thrill of finding a friendly letter in the mailbox.  A friend and I have sustained our friendship through 25 years of pen-and-paper communication.

Going for a walk with a loved one is uplifting; sharing lunch or afternoon tea, can keep the blues at bay. Today, renew your good intentions to keep in touch with others and watch the clouds disappear!

-Sister Jean Moylan, csj

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Title Image: Unsplash: benjamin lehman

Isolation Blessings

Another Christmas spent in isolation for us Sisters here in London.  All of us have been twice vaccinated and have received the booster shot.  However, several staff members tested positive for the nefarious virus so it was necessary for our vulnerable population to take extra precautions.  Only a few hours before our beautiful annual Christmas Eve carol service, and we were sequestered in our rooms.  Knowing that our special celebrations would be affected, we managed to smile and accept the sad consequences which would turn out to include copious blessings.

Dietary staff workers who were already short-staffed, worked diligently to ensure all tasks were covered. Caring for 60 isolated Sisters required considerable innovation. Our workers carried out their duties cheerfully, causing us to catch their enthusiasm for the arduous task so quickly thrust upon them.

In other areas of the house, nursing staff, housekeeping and maintenance went above and beyond the call of duty to shore up their responsibilities.  Never did I see a downcast person as work proceeded as usual.

Sister Margo serving

Even our leadership team shared the duties. Sisters Margo and Loretta as well as Sister Susan on the local team donned the required PPE and faithfully brought carts of beverages to us. Added to their duties, every morning the trio conducted uplifting Liturgy of the Word services from chapel to our rooms via our closed-circuit system.

Looking back at those first hours when we began our isolation, I realize that I was fatigued from the weeks and events leading up to Christmas.  Aware that our confinement could be turned into a blessing, I spent my time, along with other Sisters in their rooms, resting, reflecting, praying, reading, etc.

Today, in gratitude, we sing the praises of everyone in our home for moving with love as we embrace this time of uncertainty and transformation.

With a grateful heart, Sister Jean Moylan, csj

Pictured from left, Sisters Dora, and Florian

Has Anyone Seen Jesus?

Five of us living here in the house were on a zoom birthday call on Dec. 28th for one of the Sisters. During that conversation, we learned that the baby Jesus was missing from our Christmas nativity scene. Well, we were thrown into lockdown here at the Residence so suddenly, that EVERYTHING was locked in the position it was at the time of our lockdown announcement - 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve!  Consequently, no one knew where the baby was, awaiting his appearance to happen later that evening.

On Christmas Eve., after supper, the baby Jesus is usually put in place in a lovely crib ceremony that takes place in the main foyer of the Residence(pictured above). As a last ditch effort to have a “body” in the crib, some creative Sister quickly borrowed a doll from our Care Wing, intending to plop it in the crib. It is quite a large item, way out of proportion to the crib! Your imagination can picture the scene…

On the birthday zoom call, we learned that the person who had put Jesus in a drawer, revealed his whereabouts!   He was carefully being stored until the appropriate time for his appearance.

To this moment, I have no idea whether the baby Jesus is in the crib or not, since we are still in our rooms in lockdown for a few more days.

The possible lesson from this crib snatching?

1.     The person of Jesus can come to us in all shapes and sizes, if only we have eyes to see.

2.    Jesus may seem to be missing, but in reality is present in new ways unimagined before, as is evident in a lockdown.  This pandemic has taught the Global family one key lesson: WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. Hopefully we can begin to live in this new awareness..

Baby Jesus, finally in the manger at our Residence, Christmas 2021

3.    How many alerts do we need to wake up to the fact that we are called to change in how we see, think and act as a GLOBAL FAMILY?

Sequel to this story?  Success! Jesus has been found. How have you found Him during this lockdown?

-Sister Kathleen Lichti

Beginning 2022

While enjoying my morning coffee, half listening to the television, my attention was caught by the tagline in an Audi commercial: Reflect on the past. Celebrate the future.

It is a tradition in my congregation to set aside the last day of the year as a retreat day. I found myself wondering, how might my end of the year thoughts be shaped by reflecting upon the slogan: “Reflect on the past. Celebrate the future.” Looking back upon 2021, what might I discover about myself? What insights or lessons of 2021, might I uncover and so personally or communally claim? Furthermore, looking forward to the year ahead, what might I wish to achieve so that I might celebrate? What personal hopes do I hold? What prayers do I wish to say for my friends, my congregation, and the earth community as we continue to encounter the challenges and uncertainties of this ever- changing pandemic.

As one year ends and another year begins, I offer to you the buzzwords of the Audi commercial as food for your own thoughts as we take leave of 2021 and step into 2022.

Sister Nancy Wales, csj

Image: Isabela Kronemberger/Unsplash