Welcome to my little corner of the universe. Here is where I explore the crazy happenings of my life in motherhood and ministry, and all that is being revealed to me through it.
Jordan's birthday was actually a month ago, on December 28th. But since I didn't get a blog posting up then, and since Jordan always complains about his birthday being too close to Christmas anyways :) I decided to honor him today instead. Here's to my big bro & best friend!
Jordan loved playing with ears when he was little - and apparently not just his own.
Since high school we've both been very involved in the Central Minnesota TEC program. One of the biggest blessings for me is being able to work TEC weekends with him, and watch him grow in his leadership within the program!
Me with Jordan at his wedding several years ago (notice the hint of John Deere suspenders peaking out from under that tuxedo :D)
And us at my wedding last year - I don't remember what he did or said to make me shake my fist at him, but like most things Jordan says to me, I'm sure it was darn funny!
And the newest excitement in his (and our) life - Jordan's baby! S/he is due in March, and we can't wait - to meet them and to watch the WONDERFUL father that Jordan is going to be!
Happy (belated) Birthday Jordan!!Thanks for everything you mean to me and everything you bring into my life - I love you and am SO glad you were born!
This week is Catholic Schools Week. I've never had a big affinity for private schools for various justice reasons, but more recently have come to see some of the benefits as I've gotten more involved in great school activities you don't find elsewhere through my younger siblings and through my work at the Diocese. Regardless of your thoughts on private Christian education, you have to like this year's Catholic Schools theme: "Celebrate Service." I wrote a reflection on this theme for a recent Educator's Bulletin that I do for all our parishes and schools each month. It has a message that goes far beyond Catholic Schools, and far beyond this week, so I thought I'd share it here as well...
I love this year’s Catholic Schools theme: “Celebrate Service!” What a great celebration it will be when we all embrace our call to both serve our brothers and sisters, and allow ourselves to be served by others.
As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, I cannot help but recall one of my fondest memories of a Catholic School. It was during my trip to our partner diocese of Homa Bay, Kenya. I was riding with the priest of my host parish to visit an outlying school. As we drove along kids began running out to the road; but they not only waved to us as we passed, they continued to follow us, running as best they could to keep up. Shortly after we arrived at our destination school, a whole crowd of students, dressed in uniforms different than those of the children at the school we were at, came running along, finally catching up to us. They had followed us, past their own school, because they had seen Father’s vehicle and hoped if they followed that they may be able to take part in the Mass they assumed he would be saying at this neighboring school. It slowly began to sink in to me the blessing they saw in the Liturgy and the unique opportunity it is for them to be able to celebrate it. I realized, with their help, that I take that blessing for granted here, and began to look much deeper into what the Liturgy means and the unity world-wide that we celebrate in it.
In his Apostolic Letter for the Year of the Eucharist, the late Pope John Paul II told us, “The Eucharist is not merely an expression of communion in the Church’s life; it is also a project of solidarity for all of humanity. In the celebration of the Eucharist the Church constantly renews her awareness of being ‘a sign and instrument’ not only of intimate union with God, but also the unity of the whole human race...The Christian who takes part in the Eucharist learns to become a promoter of communion, peace and solidarity in every situation.”
So often when we hear about our call to mission, we assume that it means we are called to do “for” others, but today I encourage us to recognize the call to allow ourselves to be served, to receive and learn “from” others.I cannot celebrate Mass now without thinking of those Kenyan children, and can’t help but feeling their presence with me when I do!The next time you are at Liturgy, especially Liturgy with your school or faith formation students, I encourage you to think a bit deeper about what you are celebrating.As you receive, and watch others around you receive, the Eucharist, think of the children in Kenya, and in China, Ecuador, Sudan, India, Venezuela, Peru, Jamaica, etc…..Think of the children of God all over this world, just waiting to serve us with their culture, their beauty and their faith.Then think of how you can encourage the students you work with to both serve and be served.Let us truly have something to celebrate!
In memory of Christ's death and resurrection, we offer you, GOD, this life-giving bread, this saving cup. We thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. May all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit! (Eucharistic Prayer II)
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. In honor of his work and message and dedication to what he knew to be true and just, I would like to share part of his message. While he is most well-known for his "I have a dream" speech, I have another favorite: "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." This letter was written during his incarceration 1963, and directed to church leaders who were condemning King for coming into their area with his demonstrations and stance against segregation and inequality. Throughout the situation, I believe King really captures what it means to be in solidarity and a worker for Christ-like love and justice.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States [and world] can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.
And now this approach is being termed extremist. But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continue to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Was not Amos an extremist of justice: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." And Abraham Lincoln: "This nation cannot survive half slave and half free." And Thomas Jefferson: "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all [people] are created equal." So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremist we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime - the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment. Perhaps the South, the nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists."
The more I reflect on this message, the more I am convinced of the radical life Christ is calling me to live, and the "extreme" action which that calls forth from me in my communities, near and far. I can only hope that at some point in my lifetime I will be worthy of even a fraction of the honor we give to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But I sure as heck plan to try!!
Will you be a creative extremist? Of what?!
Today is also my big sister's birthday. Marakah is a role model of a creative extremist - fighting for justice and dignity of some of the most marginalized in our society. Just one of the many people in my family I have to look up to. Thank you and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARI!!
I'm home sick this afternoon, and I decided to mark Epiphany and the end of the Christmas season by watching an old favorite - A Charlie Brown Christmas. Thank you Charlie Brown for your wonderful message!
Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer, fun for all that children call their favorite time of year.
Snowflakes in the air, carols everywhere, olden times and ancient rhymes and love and dreams to share. Sleigh bells in the air; beauty every where; yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there. Christmas time is here; we'll be drawing near; oh that we could always see such spirit through the year, such spirit through the year.
Merry Christmas everyone, from our home to yours! And blessings through the new year!
