Feast with Benedict

Here we are celebrating the Feast of St. Benedict. July 11th is a big deal in monasteries of men and women. What does Benedict do for our world after all he lived more than 1500 years ago. Well believe it or not, he was a very graced person who wrote a Rule of life that is applicable to todays' living and will be so for many years to come. What was his secret? or his grace? Flexibility. Basically our Holy Father Benedict wrote his Rule in such a way that it applies to the spiritual life which is human life. If we need any tweaking it is said in the Rule that this should be done by the abbot which in our case as women is prioress.

One aspect of the Rule that is on our minds this week is to treat all things as "sacred vessels of the altar." It just so happened that we had a long visit with folks from Homegrown Prosperity: Renewable Energy Bus Tour. Their emphasis was to remind each of us to care for the earth God has given us so that human will be able to live quality lives for centuries to come. We were challenged to think about biofuels, solar, and wind energy. Of course we are a little ahead of the game regarding wind energy since we have now completed 11 years of using wind power generated by our own turbines. This does not stop us from being alert to better treatment of the environment as we consider building renovation options.

What are your thoughts about a Rule that is as good as gold after 1500 years? Any attraction to learning more about it? Our Pope Benedict was so impressed that he chose our Holy Father's name. Where do you stand?

An Abundant Half Hour

On June 24th of this week we had a severe thunderstorm and tornado alert. Would you believe it, we had 3.2 inches of rain in a half hour. After everyone took shelter and we reappeared after the storm had moved through we found that we also had hail. With the wind it was razor sharp and shredded our garden and flower beds on the north and west side of monastery. Also 14 screens were damaged and a skylight. Did the moisture have time to sink into the dry ground? That is a good question. We know the dams and streamed benefited. The good news is no one was hurt. We still consider the rain an abundant half hour. We ask God to protect us and all people from violent storms and to bless our farmers with abundant crops so that they can make a living as well as provide food the world.

Gentle Blessings

God's blessings are always a mystery that unfolds. Can you believe it, in the last week we have celebrated the 60 years of monastic life for Sr. Kathleen and Sr. Mary William, held our very first auction, and received much needed rain. Two of these happened at the same time: the rain and the auction. All were a blessing in there own way.

This week is quite the opposite but also a week of blessings. All of the Sisters are on retreat except for very few who are attending to the needs of the house such as phones and guests. It is good for all of us to take time away from our hectic lives to come to the well. In fact, the retreat director is having the sisters use the imagery of going to a well and seeing what God has in store for them. A retreat for me is a time to enhance my relationship with God, to savor and immerse myself in sacred scripture and prayer, and to open myself to graces that God wants to give so generously.

What would a retreat do for you? What has a retreat done for you?

Moving on

Well, friends, I am moving on to new responsibilities and exploring new horizons. I will not be blogging here anymore. Let me introduce you to Sr. Paula, a much loved member of the Sacred Heart Community, an accomplished llama mistress, dog handler, former prioress, and owner of one of the heartiest and sincerest laughs I've ever heard. So long for now. Until we meet again, take care.

And now. . .herrrreee's SR. PAULA!

I have ascended to the highest in me . . .

I have ascended to the highest in me, and look!
The Lord is towering above that. In my curiosity I have descended to explore my lowest depths,
yet I found God even deeper.
If I looked outside myself, I saw God
stretching beyond the furthest I could see; and if
I looked within, God was yet further within.
Then I knew the truth of what I had read:
In God we live and move and have our being.

--Bernard of Clairvaux

In the infinite reaches of the sky above, and in the bottomless depths of our souls, in the ever-expanding interior space we sometimes occupy in such loneliness, and in the inexhaustible wonder of the Other, in the eternal conflation of the sacred and the profane, in the mystery of our lives and loves, God is present for us to discover and to love. As Julian of Norwich wrote six centuries ago, we exist because God loves us. God therefore loves us in the beginning and now and forever. Let’s not trample God’s preciousness under a cloud of forgetting but enter the cloud of remembrance in the sight of God.

Miracle on Highway 10

Just two weeks after Molly, a terrified and timid puppy adopted our community, she is behaving just like any dog her age would: sniffing, chewing, and playing her way through each new day. I find it absolutely amazing to think this is the same dog that arrived so recently in our lives. She responds to her name; has learned what “no” means; wags her tail when she hears (so frequently) “good dog”; walks with us without a leash; explores the property independently; and, is a self-feeder. She is happy, relaxed, and social, while maintaining her independence and dogness. Molly has grown a bit, too. She is a joy to have and to hold!

A Wild Pup

As you can see, our new puppy, Molly, is adorable. Everything a puppy should be. This five-month old darling was found wandering around Dickinson and taken to the pound there. She seems to have been abused, or traumatized in some way. When Sisters Ruth and Paula went dog searching (our beloved Lucky died last fall), Molly cowered in the corner of the pound pen, and shrank from any human touch. But when Molly and Sister Paula’s eyes met, it was love at first eye-lock. Molly was destined to be lovingly added to the community roster.After just a few days, Molly is letting us pet, groom, feed, and even play with her a bit. One of these days, she might even catch that tail she chases around and around . . .