A Sanctuary of Soulful Space

I heard a four-word phrase the other day that stirred something deep within me: “an oasis of sanity.” The phrase was so simple, yet I think it captures a rather common longing many of us share. We find ourselves surrounded by chaos, crisis and confusion and we desire a haven. Where we might find shelter, a soulful space to escape the daily craziness? Today’s fast paced world often feels like it is spinning out of control. We often experience ourselves disheartened, disconnected and discombobulated, unmoored amidst all the noise. Much like a desert, we can encounter a profound sense of emptiness and isolation. Where might we come upon an oasis to regain a modicum of sanity at least temporally?

“ “The oasis of your soul can never be found in the outer world, but only within.””

Declan Fitzpatrick, the author of the book "Rules for Regaining Sanity” offers seven strategies for helping individuals gain a measure of peace and help them stay sane in our chaotic world. I hope you’ll check out Declan Fitzpatrick’s advice. “Staying Sane in a Crazy World”

May you repeatedly discover “oasis of sanity” to be a survivor of today’s daily craziness.

 -Sister Nancy Wales, csj

Image: David Emrich/Unsplash

A Day of Reconcili-action and Friendship

On March 14, the Truth and Reconciliation Committee of the Roman Catholic Diocese of London provided a superb program to foster understanding and friendship with the three indigenous nations close to London.  Those fortunate to obtain a place met at the office of the London Roman Catholic School Board Office at 8:00 a.m.  After a short introduction, we formed a large circle on the adjacent lawn. Elder and Knowledge keeper Ray John from the Oneida Nation provided a teaching before leading us in the smudge which officially opened the day’s program. This ceremony comprised a prayer to the Creator, a means for cleansing our minds, and for uniting us in carrying out the activities of this Day of Reconciliation.

We returned to the building for breakfast before boarding the bus which took us to the three reserves near London: Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Munsee-Delaware First Nation, and Oneida First Nation.  Tyler Wadilove from Munsee Delaware First Nation became our guide during our tour of the three reserves. At our first stop, the Mount Elgin Residential School Monument.  Mr. Wadilove described the life of students at this industrial school, e.g., working twelve-hour days.  The monument was comprised of seven pillars arranged in a circle. The external surface of each pillar depicted one of the seven characteristics of a wise person.  The internal face of the pillars listed the names of people who had attended the residential school.  Here, we listened to some history of residential schools and stories of the suffering of both students and their families.

The three reserves, larger than I had anticipated, provide a welcome experience of land free from the noise and density of roads, buildings and traffic.  The Oneida Reserve, largest of the three First Nation reserves, has a population of more than thirty thousand people.  Throughout the three areas, schools, health centres, band offices, and recreational facilities were impressive. We visited the Elk River elementary school, which contained a double gymnasium and several attractive classrooms. Throughout the school amazing art enclosed us in indigenous culture.

Our guide, Tyler Wadilove, spoke of the delayed construction of pipes to bring potable water to the three reservations and the consequences of this situation.

In responding to a question about what we might do to help the three first Nations, Mr. Wadilove suggested that we could advocate to demand that it be corrected. This can be done by writing a letter to your member of Parliament.  Your letter could express appreciation for the work already done to provide potable water to First Nations across Canada. The letter should also urgently request funding to support infrastructure and training for sustainable water treatment facilities to Chippewas of Thames First nation, Munsee-Delaware First Nation, and Oneida Nation of the Thames. Bottled water provided as a short-term solution has become unsustainable.

Our bus transported us back to the school board office where we enjoyed a lunch that included a traditional soup and Bannock. The afternoon program provided excellent presentations by Anishinaabe and Mi’kmaq knowledge keepers. The program concluded with teaching about the history and nature of round dances.  Following some instructions, we engaged in a round dance, our last activity of the day. 

The “Day of Reconciliaction and Friendship” was an experience well worth attending, and I hope that the Truth and Reconciliation Committee will offer it again.

-Sister Pat McKeon, csj

LENTEN SKIN-SHEDDING

As we reach the halfway stage of our Lenten journey, it is good to pause to check in how ‘we’ are doing. Did you notice what I just said? Checking to see how ‘we’ are doing. This Lent I have once again noticed how much I like to be in control of my life, to be “in charge.” Probably most of us think we know what is best for us and tend to forget that we need help and guidance from God.

As the word Lent “stems from the old English word lencten springtime, spring” on Ash Wednesday I decided to do some internal spring cleaning during this Lent. Since I have always liked the prayer, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” Psalm 51:10, this was what I prayed for. In hindsight, I remember thinking, “Be careful what you wish [or pray] for.”  Though “my” plans focused on getting ready for some almighty spring-cleaning of my heart, that became secondary to what transpired. An allergic reaction to a new medication caused my skin to peel and shed. 

Then, just before Lent, I stumbled upon the reflection, A Time for Skin-shedding by Joyce Rupp.  As if that were not enough of a ‘God-incidence’, a friend also forwarded her reflection to me. Though the title instantly resonated with me, it was her closing sentence which really got my attention, “May this Lent be a time of skin-shedding for you, my readers, a time when you discern what are your strengths and what are your weaknesses.” As I pondered these words, I thought to myself, “Okay God, I am shedding my skin - what is the message here?”

In the first reading on this Third Sunday of Lent, we hear about Moses at the burning bush, where he hears God tell him, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” I doubt that God was asking me to remove my skin. However, prompted by Joyce Rupp’s reflection, I wondered whether God was wanting me to see how spiritual skin-shedding could help me discover what my strengths are and what weaknesses are keeping me from growing.  Was I encouraged to shed my spiritual skin so I could grow spiritually?” How could I shed my spiritual skin this Lent?  In Ephesians 4:22 we read, “Strip yourself of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] … And put on the new nature, [the regenerate self] created in God’s image.” I, who like to be in control of my life, certainly would need God’s help to shed my spiritual skin not just once but again and again.

Lent is the time to remove obstacles to grace. Our gracious God is like the gardener in the Gospel who said to the owner of a fig tree not bearing fruit, let me “dig around it and put manure on it.” God patiently works on the soil of our lives and often in unexpected ways, like using skin-shedding to teach me. The ‘manure’ in our lives tends to be full of surprises. Thankfully, it also contains the graces we need to help us shed spiritually and learn to embrace our weaknesses and bring out the best in us, who are wonderfully made. With God’s grace we can change and grow throughout this Lent so by Easter we will not be the ‘con-version’ of ourselves but the true women and men created in God’s image and likeness and comfortable in our own skin.

Sr. Magdalena Vogt, cps

IMAGES: Josh Applegate/Grant Whitty| Unsplash