Being Hoped-Filled

It is a challenge to be hopeful these days! We seem to be surrounded by stories of tragedy, violence, ecological devastation, poverty and pessimism, to name just a few. At the same time, there is love and birth and joy around us as well.

Once again, as it was for Charles Dickens in nineteenth century England, “It is the best of times, and it is the worst of times.” The main thing about our time is simply that it is OUR time, our moment of grace, our now, right where we are; and so it is our time to be hope-filled.

Hope is a gift of the Holy Spirit of God, and it lies deep within us, waiting to be activated. In spite of popular misconceptions, hope has little to do with happy outcomes, the absence of problems, the coming of better times, even the achievement of peace and justice in the world. Christian hope is about knowing that we are one with the Holy One, and therefore with all others of creation too.

As I say this, I’m reminded of a little poem by Wendell Berry:

The incarnate Word is with us,

Is still speaking, is present

Always, yet leaves no sign

But everything that is.

Reprinted with permission courtesy of Dolores Hall
Spiritual Director at Providence Spirituality Centre www.spiritualitycentre.ca

The Gratitude Factor. Do you have an Attitude of Gratitude?

During recent studies I (Sr. Sabina Muange) was co-leading a group therapy when my co-leader asked the group members to name one thing they were grateful for. Not surprisingly, this proved to be a challenge for them. To come up with just one thing they were grateful for, stumped them. However, when she reversed the question and asked the group about the challenges with which they struggle in life, within seconds, everyone could name several challenges.

My curiosity was piqued. It prompted me to do a bit of research about the impact of gratitude. I wanted to know how incorporating gratitude intervention can increase positive thinking, as well as improve the lives of clients who suffer from depression. I familiarized myself with a variety of studies all of which show how practicing gratitude can improve the wellness of clients. One of the researchers describes gratitude as an experience that includes a sense of thankfulness, wonder, and appreciation. When clients who suffered from depression were encouraged not only to acknowledge three good things each day for a week, but also were asked to identify its source, they began to feel happier. It did not come as a surprise to read that researchers have concluded that gratitude increases positive emotions, enhances optimism, and serves as a protective factor against stress and depression.

As we well know, stress has been slated as the number one killer, with depression close on its heels. As prevention is better than cure, all of us would do well to live our daily lives not only with a greater awareness of the many blessings we daily enjoy, but to actually name them with gratitude. Our annual celebration of Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to express gratitude for the many blessings of the past year.  However, can you imagine how your optimism would be enhanced by a daily gratitude ritual? The Gratitude Journal, for instance, is a widely used tool for practicing gratitude. Then there is the Blessing Jar. All the many big and little things you are grateful for can be jotted on small pieces of paper and popped into the jar. It could be a lovely Thanksgiving ritual to reflect on those blessings of the past year you tucked into your gratitude jar or jotted in your journal.   

 Guest Bloggers: Sister Magdalena Vogt, CPS
  and Sr. Sabina Muange, CPS

Nix on Thoughts of Letting Remembrance Day Slip Away

Searching Google for an image for Remembrance Day I discovered the accompanying image. It caught my eye, no pun intended. Reflecting on the image I found myself considering the various individuals: veterans, armed forces personnel, politicians, and everyday Canadians, young and old, who will pause to celebrate November 11^th not as November’s holiday but as Remembrance Day.

With no remaining Canadian WWI veterans and dwindling numbers of frail WWII vets alive, the question has arisen repeatedly whether youth, as fewer and fewer have any personal linkage to the World Wars, can find much meaning in a communal day of remembrance. Even though younger generations may find themselves quite removed from the events in Europe and Asia of WWI and WWII, they are nevertheless daily witnesses to the mayhem of the present day theatres of war fought 24-7 on screen before their very own eyes. Perhaps they find themselves closer to the battles, losses of life and ruins created by warfare than former generations.

Probably never before have young minds and hearts been more consistently bombarded by the continuous chaotic havoc of destruction, devastation and desolation of war. The turmoil of news footage leaves little airspace for news of peace to find its expression amid our topsy-turvy world of erupting global turmoil. Do we not need to create a spaciousness for thoughts of peace?

Is this global pandemonium not compelling enough reason to set aside a nation-wide day where we focus on the futility of war, the cost of freedom and our deep longing for alternate ways, other than wars, to settle the disputes which arise among nations and ethnic factions? I’d like to wager that our moments of reflection on November 11^th collectively release from our hearts an energy which makes greater peacefulness possible.

  Sister Nancy Wales, csj

Silence is Golden

“Don’t ask me to be silent. I can’t. I need to talk. I can’t understand what value ‘silence’ has in my life.”

This is the response we hear from a few of the guests who come the first time to Stillpoint House of Prayer. Our House of Prayer has the trademark of being a place of silence. We do not encourage or allow persons who come to interact with one another because everyone who crosses our thresholds has come for the silence we all hold sacred.

Our world has become a noisy place, full of inner and outer distractions, clutter and chatter. Our affluence and technological atmosphere dulls our environment to the world of transcendence, the Divine. Yet people hunger and thirst for the sacred. Once a person has allowed themselves to enter the silence and even grow gradually to be at home with it, they usually are amazed how clear their thinking becomes, how relaxed they begin to feel and how the stresses they brought with them begin to fall away.

When we begin to quiet our inner chatter, and learn to listen to our better selves and to God who usually is knocking at the door of our heart, we experience being enfolded in peace and love. In this setting, a person has no distractions of television, phones (unless your own), no responsibilities, so that the ongoing silence has a way of gently seizing us so as to open us. What comes into our minds and hearts is often nourishing, feeding us and blessing us with peace and the sacred energy of a loving God.

One busy woman who set aside a weekend to come to Stillpoint to be silent told us on leaving that she came apprehensive and fearful. She thanked us for the opportunity of being with us. “I was amazed at how still I became and I liked it. One other benefit, she claims, “This atmosphere freed me the tyranny of technology. I go away so refreshed.”

If you have never given yourself a ‘silent break’ try it sometime soon in the space of your own home. You’ll realize how silence is golden.

Sr. Elizabeth Berrigan c.s.j.  http://www.stillpoint.ca/ and www.csjcanada.org/retreat-opportunities

Fun for All

Picture a rainy October morning, a lively grade 4/5 class from neighbouring St. Kateri Elementary School and a group of eager elderly Sisters of St. Joseph huddled around card tables.  Here was the perfect recipe for fun! The children came armed with a myriad of games tucked under their arms to share with the Sisters. The large recreation room became a sea of little dark heads mingled with gray-haired Sisters laughing and sharing fun over Parcheesi, Old Fish and Banana Bag to describe a few of the favorite games. Eager excitement permeated the room as the bright-eyed players squared off, each hoping to win a game or two.  At some tables there were two children and two Sisters. Three sharp boys and one keen Sister sat at other tables. Little girls laughed excitedly as a 99-year-old Sister engaged them in a lively exchange. A few Sisters were able just to watch but children drew them to the point where they were part of the activity. Their teacher quietly observed the action from her conversation space among the Sisters.

It was interesting to note how all the activities were learning opportunities for the students: reading game rules, keeping score, interacting with others, and taking turns helping each other and a host of social skills.  These young people excelled at all of them.

A poignant highlight occurred when thoughtful Evan brought a large photo of his great, great aunt, a Sister of St. Joseph who was pictured holding Evan’s father and sister in her arms when they were babies.  The photo was taken in 1972 just prior to Sister’s missioning to our convent in Yellowknife as school principal.  She died in 1993, long before Evan was born. The Sisters rejoiced in seeing a picture of their friend and colleague.

Time flew quickly.  Finally, snacks were served, hugs exchanged and promises made to return for another get-together.  What a lovely opportunity it was to be young and old united in joy.

Sister Jean Moylan, CSJ