Creating You - only BETTER!

“How does your best self feel?”

Image: Unsplash/Alysha Rosly

This question posed by Nature’s Bounty in its current supplement product’s commercial caught my attention. As the season of Lent begins on February 22nd, I am wondering if this question might provide a pathway for Lenten journeying.  The season of Lent traditionally calls upon the faithful to spend time in self-reflection in the pursuit of spiritual renewal. Thinking of one’s best self could engender a desire for creating concrete ways needed to experience your YOU - only BETTER!

-Sister Nancy Wales, csj

OVER THE AIRWAYS: THE IMPACT OF RADIO

Celebrating World Radio Day

In 2012, February 13th was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly as World Radio Day. The Assembly’s desire was to heighten our awareness of the importance of radio communication. I have been given permission by Farm Radio International’s Executive Director, Kevin Perkins, to cite information from its fall newsletter, Tuning In.

In the publication, I learned how modern technology is helping Farm Radio better target their programming to where their listeners live and ensure that their programs remain relevant. Thus, they efficiently determine who is listening by using information such as the location, height and power of a station’s transmitter to gauge a station’s broadcast area.

The information gained on the station’s geographic reach is overlaid on population maps to determine the number of listeners within the station’s broadcast zone. With this information, Farm Radio states that on average, 40-60 percent of potential listeners in a broadcast zone typically tune in to Farm Radio programs regularly. In addition, these statistics on location and numbers of listeners facilitates better marketing to potential sponsors as well as increased revenue for the station’s operation.

One specific example of Farm Radio’s success is highlighted by its impact during COVID. It was instrumental in changing minds and reaping positive results by ensuring that millions of people across Africa have access to information about life saving vaccines.

Achata Traore, a regular listener to Farm Radio broadcasts shares how radio programming changed her mind about being vaccinated against COVID. She explained, “When they came to vaccinate us, I was really worried. But I remembered the advice on the radio programs. I got vaccinated. I passed the information on to them in the fields when we were there for work, saying they wouldn’t lie to us.”

Let us applaud the 58-year success of Farm Radio International, the wonderful brainchild of Canadian broadcaster, George Atkins.

To learn more about the important work of Farm Radio International visit https://farmradio.org/

Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ

World Day of the Sick

The theme of this 31st World Day of the Sick, “Take care of him,” is taken from the parable of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). What thoughts arise in you as you reflect on this theme inviting you to Take care of him? Might your first thought be, who is this he and how would I take care of him, or her? 

We may never have occasion to take care of someone attacked and beaten by robbers, however, we are invited to be in solidarity with all who are hurt or sick in body, mind, or spirit and to pray for them. Recently a dear friend, seriously ill in hospital, described those who were praying for her as her backbone, as hers was crumbling. We are invited to be there for those who suffer. When we embrace be-attitudes, being there for others, praying and visiting the sick, we are their backbone. Through our prayer, we can make a difference in someone’s life.

In his message for this World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis invites “all of us to reflect on the fact that it is especially through the experience of vulnerability and illness that we can learn to walk together according to the style of God, which is closeness, compassion, and tenderness.” As important as it is to pray for our sick sisters and brothers, being good-hearted alone is not enough. It is a good start, but more is asked of us.  We also need to be present and attentive towards those who are ill. Visiting and compassionately supporting them, provides support and consolation in their suffering. 

Besides praying for the sick, offering gratitude to healthcare professionals, frontline staff, first responders, those who provide spiritual healing and volunteers. Holding them in prayer, is equally important. Just think of all those medical staff who spent the last years wearing PPE and battling to save people’s lives.

Many people live in environments that are not healthy, live lives that are not healthy. Let us pray daily for the sickness in our world as well as for our planet which itself is sick. Again and again, we hear that nearly half the planet is under threat. As a friend of mine tends to say, let’s change things by spilling good. Together, let us spill good and pray daily for all those who work for healing and wholeness for our ailing world and all who tend to our sick sisters and brothers.

We would do well to make our own the sentiment of the Quaker missionary Etienne de Grellet:

“I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/sick/documents/20230110-giornata-malato.html

Sr. Magdalena Vogt, cps

An Interview about Christian Meditation

My grandson and I have had a nice chat about Christian Meditation. He thought that writing the blog as an interview would be easier for him. 

Hi Sister Ann,

In my blog my Grammy calls me James, that’s my middle name. Thank you for starting Christian meditation, it really got me to believe in God,and I do it all the time, thanks to you. Peace be with you.

Q. What is the best part about Christian Meditation for you?

A. Peace and quiet with God and having a good relationship with God.

Q. How do you get the peace with God?

A. How I get peace with God is easy, I go to a special place in my school and I do Maranatha.

Q. Where is your special place at school?

A. My special place is at the big field and then there is a cabin and right behind the cabin I do Maranatha.

Q. Do you only do Christian Meditation at school?

A. No actually I do it all the time, if I get mad in my house I just go up to my room and I do Christian Meditation. It is very peaceful up in my room. And when I’m done I feel very calm and relaxed. And I’m not angry anymore.

Q. Do you only do Christian Meditation by yourself at school?

A. Actually I do, I used to do it with friends but now I don’t. They all got bored of it.

Written by James.

From James’ mother:

James has definitely benefited from meditation. When we have noticed him getting frustrated and angered he then takes a few minutes to himself and he feels so much better. James has even caught me when I was feeling frustrated and would ask if I needed “maranatha time”? -Cheri, James’mother