Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Lost in Contemplation?

No, I have not been lost in contemplation. It was the internet that got lost last Monday, April 16, when we were without electricity for twelve hours. I got on very briefly on Thursday. Dropped computer off at dealers on my way out of town.
I am on my way to Hawaii to visit my sister. Usually travelling alone as I often do offers lots of occasions to be still and contemplate. But not this trip so far. I changed planes in Huston and we were an hour and a half late leaving there, waiting on the runway. I didn't get into this motel until 2 AM. This morning has been quiet.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Melt My Heart Like April Snow

I haven't been able to get on line since we lost electricity Monday night. From Sunday night to Tuesday morning we had 40 mile an hour wind and constant snow. By Tuesday morning we had had five and a half inches of snow. As I drove through the woods the north facing side of every tree trunk was plastered with snow from the ground up. Spectacular sight. I was thrilled with the beauty of it and felt a sort of ache because I couldn't take it all in. Just so with God.
When we had some snow for Easter the phrase "April snow" kept coming into my head from some old song and I couldn't think what it was. I asked after Mass if anyone knew where it was from. Some man asked, "Would you be thinking of "The Twelfth of Never?" That was it, so I memorized the song and have been singing it a lot since then. This m0rning as I was walking and noticing that in just two days five and half inches of snow had almost entirely disappeared, I started singing it and it occurred to me that the line "hold me close, melt my heart like April snow" made a good prayer.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Peace

"Peace to you," Jesus says three times in chapter 20 of the Gospel According to John. This is his Easter gift to us. Earlier in chapter 14 he had said, "Peace is my parting gift to you, my own peace, such as the world cannot give. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."
The peace Jesus gives is not the absence of war. It is an inner peace that comes from the Spirit that the Risen Jesus breathes into me. The Spirit enables me to be still and, like breath, expands throughout my body and soul, my mind and will, bringing every part of me into harmony with every other part of me, making me feel together, at one with myself, at peace.
This same Spirit fills all other people and all other creatures in our world and brings us into harmony with one another. A deep spiritual tranquility comes from the growing awareness that the Spirit is breathing me into harmony with the Divine and with myself and with all creation.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Being not doing

When I told people I was retiring they immediately asked, "What are you going to do?"
I said, "Nothing."
They said, "Well, don't you have some hobby or something you could take up?"
They looked confused or sorry for me when I replied, "I just want to try not doing anything."
In our culture it is hard to value being above doing. Going from 60 or 70 hours work a week to none is a difficult adjustment. I catch myself doing busy stuff.
I realize that even deciding to start this blog is moving from being to doing. I hope it will help me reflect for myself, but I also want to share with others what God is doing in my life. Being here has been a blessing.

Monday, April 9, 2007

Joy

Three times in the last two weeks I've come across this quote from Teilhard de Chardin:
Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.
I've come to live alone here by the lake to let God get at me. I believe that God is always present, but I am not fully aware of God's presence. The beauty of the lake and the woods and even the April snow help me to grow in awareness and fill me with an ever deepening joy.