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More than ever before in our history, we need a new kind of personal and social fuel. Not fear, but love. Not prejudice, but openness. Not supremacy, but service. Not inferiority, but equality. Not resentment, but reconciliation. Not isolation, but connection. Not the spirit of hostility, but the holy Spirit of hospitality.
Brian McLaren.
““If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.” ”
This quote by Thich Nhat Hahn, reminds me of the story of evolution, especially on a birthday! I like reflecting on the Big Bang, and enclosing it into a birthday card, a handwritten note, with some of the following content: “13.7 billion years ago our Universe Story began. Next came the creation of stars, galaxies, and supernovas, our sun, to 4.45 billion years ago with the creation of Earth, planets and the Solar System, etc. right to the creation of modern humans, and the development of language some 40,000 years ago. These are a few facts that are cited before the creation of “our human ancestors” some 2.5 million years ago. Imagine the magnitude of this. We humans are not long on this planet, and not very old when looking at the big picture of things.
Take a moment yourself, to do as Nhat Hanh suggests, “Look deeply into the palm of your hand, see your parents and generations of your ancestors. All of them alive in you at this moment. Each is present in your body, alive in this moment” as you write your birthday card, as you walk and breath, moment by moment, “You are the continuation of each of these people,” generation after generation of ancestors. More than that, it has been determined that we are evolved from stardust. Put that on your next job application!
““Our ancestry stretches back through the life forms and into the stars, back into the beginnings of the primeval fireball. This universe is a single multiform energetic unfolding of matter, mind, intelligence, and life.” ”
Yes, a birthday greeting can convey thoughts that open the viewer to an expansive perspective of BIRTH and the story of the Universe, our home. Judy Cannato author of Radical Amazement writes, “our work is to integrate the new universe story, to take it in and live it out”, to “intertwine it with our own, and nurturing the most significant relationship we have, relationship with life itself.”
Taking all that into consideration, I think the occasion of sending a birthday card creates an ideal opportunity to connect with a deeper meaning - of life.
by Sister Patricia St. Louis, csj
Does the evening news lately leave you in a state of toomuchery? Someone I know, occasionally expresses her state of mind as neither overwhelmed nor underwhelmed but just plainly whelmed. We no doubt all have had our own moments of being whelmed during these seemingly endless days of COVID. Here we are in the summer and finally our state of being whelmed is lessening. With fewer new COVID cases being reported, we are cautiously beginning to feel that the pandemic is backing off. Still, it’s not over ‘til it is over.
Just as we are beginning to catch our breath, sensing we are finally coming out of the tunnel, the wind is knocked out of us again. Dawning upon us is the unnerving realization that we are entering yet another tunnel. It is all toomuchery! While offering words of gratitude for the blessing of vaccines, we hear medical experts warning us of more contagious variants. While mask mandates are gradually being lifted, there are recommendations for their reinstatement. Media sources inundate us with daily reminders that the pandemic is ongoing. It is overwhelming to hear that this newer Delta variant is now rapidly spreading! On top of that, we hear of multiple other variants raising their ugly heads in some parts of our ailing world.
As if all of this pandemic drama were not enough to keep us off balance, there are the recent wildfires, the heatwaves and droughts endangering people’s lives and their property in parts of Canada and the USA. Unheard of flooding has caused havoc in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and India. Deeply disturbing turmoil in Cuba, Haiti and South Africa bombarded our hearts, no matter their distance from us. How much more can we absorb?
““Toomuchery” – When everything starts to feel like too much”
We struggle. A way to cope is to follow the wise adage, “Where your focus goes, your energy flows.” When overwhelmed, we seek ways to calm ourselves so the energy can flow. Recently, we found a helpful tool to cope during these challenging days. On Google, you can find “The Brief Guide for Navigating Toomuchery” by Brad Montague, a writer, and the creator of the popular Kid President web series. During these depressing times, Montague wrote a poem about how to handle things when it all becomes too much. With the help of his children, he hopes to bring some much-needed joy and relief to people around the world. (goodthingsguy.com/fun/toomuchery-guide)
In his guide, Montague, recommends the following beneficial antidotes to counter feeling overwhelmed.
Pause and take a deep, deep breath. Listen to how it sounds.
Reach out to your friends.
Absurd times call for absurd amounts of love. So, give lots of it.
When you experience a case of toomuchery, why not try these antidotes which can be self-administered as often as needed.
-Sr. Nancy Wales, csj and Sr. Magdalena Vogt, cps
