Becoming a Topsy-Turvy Survivor

stock photo from Unsplash

Picture in your mind, the damaged Delta plane at the Toronto Pearson Airport, endlessly shown by news providers with its roof unnaturally resting on the tarmac. It offers a striking metaphor for our world today. Just like the plane in this unimaginable position, the global situation often feels unbalanced and unraveling.

Personally, I experience myself living in a time of profound disruption, where what I once perceived as quite familiar and secure seems to be shifting under me. Whether it be climate crisis, social upheaval, or geopolitical tensions, it is as if my world is being upturned. Too often I feel “groundless” and disorientated, forcing my inner self to constantly attempt to right itself amid uncertainty and chaos.

The inverted plane symbolizes for me my experience of a shift where everything I once held to be so, has been turned upside down. The certainty I once relied on now feels upended, leaving me in a world where old norms no longer seem to apply. Longtime friendships are threatened, lies are spoken as truth, and the unthinkable happens every day.

Through the prompt emergency responses and skillfully handled evacuation of the Delta Connection Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, all passengers and crew, survived.  

I found myself seeing moments of hope in witnessing these survivors and as I looked beyond the wreckage to the plane’s flight code. At its core, the word of endeavor connotes the pursuit of something meaningful or challenging. Is that in itself not emblematic of the human spirit needed by folks of goodwill at this moment in history when faced with the tensions of competing interests. Furthermore, the name connector, in the flight’s identifier, highlights for me the need to focus our individual and communal strivings on actions which facilitate connection rather than words and actions which serve to disconnect us.

The necessity and value of fostering connection with one another at the personal, local, national, and global levels is not to be underestimated. It is vital if we, as global wayfarers, hope to be survivors of our global upturning.

-Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ

Stock Images: Jack Millard / Kendrick Fernandez/Unsplash

““What we must do,
I suppose,
is to hope the world
keeps its balance;
what we are to do, however,
with our hearts
waiting and watching—truly
I do not know.”
”

— Mary Oliver

The Lost Doll and the Tooth Fairy

As somewhat of a reluctant “Facebooker,” a friend, aware of this, emailed me the link to a story she thought I might enjoy. Curious, I clicked on the link and found myself reading a moving account about a sympathetic middle-aged man and a crying girl who had lost her doll. I won’t spoil the ending, but it’s a brief (266 words) post that’s worth experiencing for yourself. Read it here.

The girl’s unexpected encounter with Franz Kafka reminded me of an experience of my own.

““Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way.””

As a primary school teacher, I too, had a memorable encounter with a sobbing child. I had just entered my Grade 1 classroom when I was immediately met with the sound of crying. I soon discovered one of my students, in tears. When I asked her what was wrong, she explained through sobs that she had lost her baby tooth and wouldn’t be able to place it under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy. I knew the day would be ruined for her, and maybe even for all of us, if I didn’t find a way to solve her dilemma. Then, inspiration struck.

I suggested that the Tooth Fairy would probably accept a letter from her teacher, explaining the situation and requesting the fairy accept the note in place of the missing tooth. The sobs stopped, the tears dried, and a smile returned to the girl’s face. I quickly wrote the letter and asked her to carefully tuck it into her book bag.

The next day, she came into class bubbling with excitement and handed me a thank-you note from the Tooth Fairy. It turned out her mother had played along, showing her gratitude for my creative solution.

Did this article spark any memories for you?

-Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ

Franz Kafka was a German-speaking Bohemian writer born in Prague in 1883, and he is widely considered one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.

Don’t Pull Down the Shades

If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shades.

-Tom Peters

Charitable organizations have received a welcome late Christmas gift, thanks to a recent decision by the Canadian government. Many seniors and others, motivated by goodwill, traditionally make contributions to their favorite charities before the end of December. However, this year, the mail strike severely hindered their ability to respond to year-end donation appeals. In an unexpected move, the federal government, perhaps heeding the warnings of the ‘Ghost of Yet to Come,’ has granted a timely extension to help offset the disruption caused by the postal delays. After requests from premiers, the government agreed to amend the Income Tax Act, allowing Canadians to claim charitable donation deductions on their tax returns through the end of February.

Image: Michelle Spollen/Unsplash

This extension gives taxpayers more time to support the local nonprofits that rely heavily on community contributions to fund vital social services. It's a reminder that the window of opportunity is still open to contribute and make a meaningful difference. Local organizations that support vulnerable populations are counting on continued generosity to meet their operational costs in 2025. So, in the spirit of the season, consider extending that goodwill beyond the holiday season—help your neighbors, keep the lights on for vital services, and ensure that your tax benefits work in your favor.

Let’s not let this chance slip away—the "Ghost of Yet to Come" may just be nudging you to act while this window of opportunity is still open.

Please note: In spite of parliament being prorogue the CRA will honour the draft legislation extending the deadline for making donations that are eligible for tax relief in the 2024 tax year for donations made before February 28, 2025.

“To help provide certainty as we head into tax season, the CRA is confirming that it will proceed with administering the 2024 deadline extension for charitable donations.”

-Sister Nancy Wales, csj

Image: Steve Johnson @steve_j / Unsplash

Reaching for Hope

A reluctant Facebook user, I received an email from a friend prompting me to view a new group of photos she had posted on Facebook. Below was one of them, an image taken of street art.

My experience viewing it can best be described by the timeless maxim, "A picture is worth a thousand words." In researching this adage, I found that it is frequently attributed to Fred R. Barnard, an advertising expert who first coined it in a 1921 article in the trade magazine, Printer’s Ink. Barnard’s insight suggests that a single image can convey more information than a lengthy description ever could, a point that has only gained relevance over time.

The piece of street art I encountered on my friend’s Facebook is a creation by a mysterious figure, known by the pseudonym Banksy. This English-based street artist and political activist has managed to keep his identity a mystery. His works often demand that the viewer take time to pause, think, and interpret.

The photo above links well with a fellow street artist, Shepard Fairey’s assertion, “Art is an important form of communication.”

Banksy’s work epitomizes this concept, by using visual language to deliver a compelling message. For me his imagery on the wall conveys themes of focus, perseverance, and gradual progress, an invitation for viewers to reflect on hope’s journey of striving and achieving new vistas step by step.

Why Banksy’s graffiti, caught my eye and engaged my reflection, was stimulated, perhaps in part, by “Pope Francis’ designation of the 2025 Holy Year of Jubilee as a time for renewal as "Pilgrims of Hope." which has been on my mind in recent reflections.

I invite you to allow Banksy’s art to evoke in you, your own words and thoughts on hope, proof that, indeed, a picture often says more than words can convey.

-Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ

Crafting the Ultimate Divine Tagline

In a thoughtful, yet not-too-serious moment, I found myself pondering an unconventional question: If God were to hire a marketing agent to design His sacred tagline, what might it look like? Sure, God’s brand is timeless, after all, He's been around forever. Yet, even the Creator wishes to make sure His message resonates with today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving world.

Surely, the astute Creator would understand the core principles of effective taglines: memorable, customer-centric, emotionally engaging, and evoking a positive feeling. So, what tagline would Almighty’s innovative marketing agent, ChatGPT, create? Here are suggestions for Divine consideration:

• "God: The Original Influencer"

• "Join the Divine Club – Everyone’s Welcome"

• "Faith: The Ultimate Power-Up"

• "God: Turning Chaos into Creation Since the Beginning"

• "God: Where Miracles Happen"

And then, of course, there is the simple elegance of Sacred One's existing tagline: "I AM." Concise, meaningful, and timeless, there is really nothing more memorable than that!

 -Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ

Image: Wojtek Witkowski @wojtek/Unsplash