Source: http://www.becomingwomenofpeace.com/2011/02/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 22:11:28+00:00

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In my post last week "Facing Fears" I mentioned my beloved uncle, Fr. James, a monk at the Abbey of Gethsemani. When I was a young girl visiting him, I met Father Thomas Merton who was also a monk there and a famous author.
I think we can all probably relate to some aspect of Thomas Merton's statement on peace entitled "Frantic Pace."
frenzy destroys our capacity for peace.
That phrase "succumbing to violence" was convicting for me. Perhaps it was truth that lifted a veil from my eyes. It changed the way I saw patterns in my own life, and made me desire to resist the "frenzy" that could easily overtake me.
I found that it wasn't just too many commitments and concerns that made me feel frantic, but also the practical need to be organized--like getting my socks or earrings matched and keeping my belongings from being scattered. So that when I am trying to get somewhere on time, for instance, I don't have to go searching for something.
Recalling that moderation is a virtue, as women of peace, we can prayerfully examine our motives, set our priorities, and stay aware of the fruit being produced in our daily lives. Is it the fruit of the Spirit as described in Gal 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Or is it the opposite?
Somewhere in our day we need to make time for tending the inner garden of our souls-- even if for 15 minutes--to read scriptures, sit in silence, pray,...so that we have greater mindfulness of the Lord's presence in all the little simple things we do.
Over the thirty-one years of our married life, Punky Doodle (my husband) and I have chosen themes for the new year that usually rhyme, like this year, "On earth as it is in heaven in 2011." And last year, "Breakthroughs again in 2010." And my favorite from 1984, "Trust and believe in the Lord as never before in '84."
At that time, we were living in a smaller city and while driving back home after spending the Christmas holidays with family in Tulsa, we were excitedly talking about how we were going to trust and believe...and we were immediately put to the test.
Upon entering our little house we found that a pipe had burst while we were away and flooded every room. Needless to say, I was quite upset and overwhelmed with the task before us.
Jesus is in our hearts.
Jesus is in our home.
Jesus will take the water away."
I sat speechless, dried my tears, then got to work.
The sweet little story traveled the world since my in-laws shared it at a story contest on a cruise...and won!
Twenty-seven years have passed since then and that story is gilded in gold because God's faithfulness has proven true all through the years.
May our mouths be filled with hymns of praise.
In the middle of the night these words came to me, "when I was a child...".
St. Therese of Lisieux, or St. Therese of the Child Jesus who was also known as the "The Little Flower of Jesus."
She continually inspires me by her teachings on the "Little Way." She found sanctity hidden in the stability of ordinary life within the convent walls--in the garden, in the chapel, in her little cell.
And the delightful book I've been reading called St. Benedict & St. Therese.
The author, D. Longenecker says, "Desert Fathers lived in cave cells...The cave is his prodigal's pigpen where he goes down to the underworld of his own soul. He goes there to find a hidden treasure, and the treasure he goes to find is the little child who was buried by the grown up he has become."
Can you relate to that? I certainly can...at least the part about finding the child--a treasure being buried by the grown up.
We are given a summons to become a little child--to go in search of our true self--to find the child within who trusts, obeys, forgives easily and rejoices.
even though they were hard.
I played "swing the statue"
and laughed in my face.
and fudged one, if I only found three.
regardless of bandaged skinned knees.
There is a song "Take Lord, receive all I have and possess, my memory, understanding, my entire will." The refrain says, "Give me only your love and your grace, that's enough for me." That's what has happened to her--her memory, understanding, her entire will have been taken and received by the Lord. But she has His love and His grace and it is ENOUGH!
Kathryn's prose exemplifies her life; she is anointed by the Holy Spirit, moving in that river of life flowing from within her; she slaked the thirst of others by sharing the life-giving water (Jn 4:13-14), washed others' feet with a servant's heart, and birthed love and life into this world.
Some of you know her and have remarked how she has made a difference in your life. She is, indeed, a spiritual mother to many as well as the mother of eight--my seven siblings and I--all born within a ten year span of time.
"A wife of noble character" v. 10--married to my father for sixty years this coming June and whose romance began on Valentine's Day 1936 when he gave her a lace valentine.
"She works with eager hands" v. 13--writing, painting, playing the piano, sewing, cooking, homemaking--all done excellently.
"She gets up while it was still dark" v. 15--to accomplish all she did. "When did she have time to write all those stories and letters?" each of us asks the other. It's a mystery...no one knows.
"She considers a field and buys it" v. 15 finding the land upon which the family home was built forty-five years ago."
She grasps the spindle with her fingers" v. 19--sewing beautiful clothes for herself and her children when we were little.
"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy" v. 20--participating in the social justice committee at her church and assisting the needy in the city.
"She is clothed with strength and dignity" v.25--Kathryn, ever the upright elegant lady, with a vocabulary that sent some to the dictionary.
"She can laugh at the days to come" v. 25 having a wit that amazed all who know her. She's still batting her eyes at us from time to time.
"Her children arise and call her blessed" v. 28--all eight of us bestowing to her on Mother's Day 2007 a honorary Doctorate Degree in Motherhood from Grant University.
"A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." v. 30 And this is why I praise her most today. She fears the Lord and has been so open to receive the Holy Spirit into her life, her heart, her home.
Kathryn, my dearest mother, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you are, and all you have been and all you will be forever.
How many times have we said, "I could of, I should of, I would of..." whether it be about something that happened years ago or yesterday, and get stuck in the mud of the past?
Night before last about 3 AM, I was roused from my sleep and heard a poem, and you know when inspiration comes ya' gotta' write it down so you remember. Hope it makes you smile today!
in a heart full of strife.
and get rid of the frown.
Best to you, my friends!
Having a sense of humor is so important. Hope you enjoy my blooper in this facebook correspondence with a friend today.
It was so good to see you at the prayer breakfast this morning.
Did you enjoy that? I thought she delivered a wonderful message from the heart of Mary.
I did love the speaker! I've already sent an email to a friend...unable to attend, and I am so sorry she missed it. Thank you for the blog site, I'll check it out...I look forward to keeping in touch.
I look forward to keeping in touch with you, Susan.
One more thing...I left the "o" off the first hello.
Gee, for a woman of peace I've gotta correct that. :-) Sheila"
I wasn't going to say anything, but since you brought it up - I laughed so hard when I saw that, I was in tears. I knew, of course, what you meant to say, but it was so funny seeing "hell" and right after that, seeing "prayer breakfast" and "women of peace." Joe will tell you, I was cracking up. :-) I haven't laughed that hard in some time, so thank you again! Susan"
"Susan, So glad you were blessed with laughter....Now laughing so hard I'm crying. Sheila"
especially if you're becoming a woman of peace!
Good morning on this bitterly cold day in Oklahoma. The news is reporting that another 100 year record was broken with temperatures at -28 in one of the cities and -11 right here in Tulsa overnight. No wonder many of us slept in our stocking caps. As a "blogger" I am literally and figuratively warming up since this is only the beginning of the second week of this blog site.
I'd like to share with you some excerpts from the book, The Genius of Women, because it is a foundational teaching of Becoming Women of Peace.
This whole concept of "Genius of Women" grabbed my attention in the year 2000 when I attended a Women's Conference at Franciscan University in Steubeville, Ohio. Patricia Donohue, professor at the university, shared about it.
written in 1995 which was the Year of the Woman.
Mary Ann Glendon, Professor of Law at Harvard University, at that time stated on the back of the book, "This pope has reflected more deeply than any of his predecessors on the role of women and men as 'partners in the mystery of redemption.'"
"Without the contribution of women," John Paul II said, "society is less alive, culture impoverished, and peace less stable."
accepting the human being in his concrete form."
first miracle. This is the "genius" of the woman!" he said.
So that's a concrete example of what he meant by "genius" of women" lived out in daily life.
Amen, I say to that. We are so blessed as women to have this intuitive kind of sensitivity. Let us give thanks for the way we have been created.
I hope whenever you live you are staying warm both in your home and heart.
Yesterday, I came upon some prose I wrote when our children were eleven and fifteen years old. I'm struck by the word become in the second to last verse--a word that was resonating then and still is. Interesting how a word can speak to the heart for so long.
Your grace descends 0 Lord, and I see You everywhere.
deciding which direction to go mid-season?
helped me stand firm in a trying time?
as I wiped out its interior?
isn't that You that fills me with fresh energy and joy?
encouraging me to stay faithful.
Oh, the creative idea I had for my classroom!
You gave that to me, right?
that You are not in it.
giving me knowledge and direction.
You are in all things and everywhere.
nothing survives without You sending rain from above.
Isn't that from You too?
like You. Calling, beckoning, bidding me come.
When I am so weary--waiting patiently, until I respond.
Isn't that I who is now here with You?
Later, I will share more on "becoming" from a book I am reading called Poverty of Spirit.
In the wee hours of the morning, oh dear, a river of attributes for women of peace came spilling into my interrupted slumber, but when the inspiration comes, pen must write before the gift is forgotten. This list, still incomplete, is in no order of priority.
They are in the "present continuous" tense to show actions or a state of being that can be happening now or in the near future, and signify the process of becoming.
These can be taken to prayer, asking the Lord which one(s) to focus on this week. See which one resonates most with you. That's probably the one the Spirit is bringing to your attention. For me, I will be pondering "seeing with faith" and "diving into mercy." You might try a colloquy like I shared in yesterday's post. If you think of something else I've forgotten that's important to you, please let me know. I will add it to the list.
p.s. and do visit again!
of going to the house of the Lord to worship?
of Christ calling his followers.
Please note in the colloquy the S=Sheila & J=Jesus.
S--My Lord, I hear you clearly saying,"follow me."
Where do you want me to follow you?
J--It is not where, it is whom. Follow ME.
I will lead you to life everlasting.
J--Indeed, this is the call, the true call.
S--Lord, what do you want me to "come and see?"
see for yourself, have your own stories to tell.
S--I have seen. I do have stories.
I am alive. I have sent my Spirit to lead and guide you.
It is not so much in the doing, or in the going, but in the becoming Him.
And we are the witnesses who have stories that tell of His faithfulness to us.
So dear friends, I invite you to visit this place again, to come and see with me, to put out in the deep together, and we will see what we catch.
to accept Your perfect will.
in your spirit of poverty.
it did not mar her glory.
not bowing to any weight.
she was speaking loudly in her silence.
and she only slightly fluttered.
This second day of posting beckons for a dedication.
she smiles although her eyes are closed.
and her words continue to give life.
before the water became wine.
that I saved and the Word saved me.
a going forth today and tomorrow.
As at the Wedding Feast at Cana, I will fill the water jars and hope that the posts on this site will be turned into choice wine for you.
My dear precious mother, Kathryn, who is so much a part of this ministry was inspired to write these beautiful words for me to share at the first Women of Peace workshop/retreat in September 2001.
"The lives of women move mysteriously in context with water--amniotic fluid--the watery world in which we spent the first months of life, and in turn, nurtured our own children during pregnancy. Our thirst was first quenched by colostrum, sweet watery milk, a veritable love potion, repeated with our own newborns. Throughout generations, the ritual of ablution--washing infant bodies, washing old bodies--equally are acts of tender love. Sacramental waters of Baptismal Initiation, and ultimately, of Resurrection, wash over generations of women as rhythmically as the tide. Our tears of joy, sorrow, and compassion water the earth, from which springs life giving fruit.

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