Morgan Freeman is how I picture God - just a little bit of Hollywood influencing my spirituality ...
I stumbled upon this vision of my Creator while journaling along with Vinita Hampton Wright's Days of Deepening Friendship. Yes, I did see Mr. Freeman in Evan Almighty, but I also vividly recall his performance in Shawshank Redemption ... I digress.
Vinita's book and her online retreat are giving me some structure around my desire to create some Godspace and intention around investing time in all those relationships that are valuable to me.
Thank you, Michelle Halm, for providing the roadmap for this year's journey!
La pace sia con voi! mbp
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
On Mardi Gras
Lent's Eve is upon us.
The liturgical calendar isn't serving me well this year. For me, the period of introspection, self-sacrifice, almsgiving, and good works kicked in much earlier - before we were even into the ever-so-brief Ordinary Time. I'm sure I'm not unique in this, being a Boomer. This year has already brought to our family hospitalizations, serious illnesses, and a few funerals ... part of life, for sure. The letting go is tough, nonetheless.
My Ash Wednesday rituals will be a bit different this year for more than a couple of reasons. One that I look forward to eagerly is the online retreat I mentioned in an earlier post (and there are links down there to get you to the right place). A second is a recommitment to my ten-year plan ... been off-track with that one since last fall, and it's desperately needed to help on my journey back to balance.
Finally, as the day closes, some of us will be gathering at the Consolatas for a Mass remembering our Jossie. We'll follow the solemnity with a simple meal afterwards, honoring her memory.
Peace be with you! mbp
The liturgical calendar isn't serving me well this year. For me, the period of introspection, self-sacrifice, almsgiving, and good works kicked in much earlier - before we were even into the ever-so-brief Ordinary Time. I'm sure I'm not unique in this, being a Boomer. This year has already brought to our family hospitalizations, serious illnesses, and a few funerals ... part of life, for sure. The letting go is tough, nonetheless.
My Ash Wednesday rituals will be a bit different this year for more than a couple of reasons. One that I look forward to eagerly is the online retreat I mentioned in an earlier post (and there are links down there to get you to the right place). A second is a recommitment to my ten-year plan ... been off-track with that one since last fall, and it's desperately needed to help on my journey back to balance.
Finally, as the day closes, some of us will be gathering at the Consolatas for a Mass remembering our Jossie. We'll follow the solemnity with a simple meal afterwards, honoring her memory.
Peace be with you! mbp
Thursday, February 19, 2009
On journaling
I've kept journals on and off since my first Girl Scout diary in the mid-1960s. It's probably why I find blogging so natural - I've had a propensity to record my thoughts and feelings for all but the first few years of my life. That first GS Diary - with its vinyl cover and cute little lock which my sister Karen picked with regularity - is still something I reach to from time to time, kind of like my own personal reference material.
I digress.
There's journaling, and then there's journaling. Most of the time I let the words just pour forth, following a trail illuminated by something heralding me from some unknown location. There's also directed journaling, the type that's encouraged on occasions like retreats.
It's the latter I'm called to now, by connection to a book I'm reading. Vinita Hampton Wright, in her Days of Deepening Friendship, encourages self-reflection and journaling at the end of each chapter. Clearly, it's the type of book to be nibbled in small bites, not devoured in a couple of sittings like Joe Torre's The Yankee Years.
I'm digressing again. Lots going on here (losing my balance!), which is further confirmation that I need to be working through Vinita's book.
Back to journaling - given how many years I've been pounding on a computer keyboard (did some COBOL / DB2 programming back in the 80s and 90s), my handwriting is worse than it was when it used to keep me off the honor roll back in grammar school (OK, it didn't really keep me off honor roll, but you get the picture). These days, all my journaling is done electronically. I've been known to lug my laptop to retreats for this very reason.
Suggestion to my friends at Loyola Press and all you other publishers out there - include a CD-ROM or web link with the journaling questions electronically translated for people like me so I don't have to spend extra time typing a summary of the reflection point before I begin. I'll love you for it, and I'm sure others will, as well.
Pax vobiscum! mbp
PS - Loyola Press, publisher of Deepening Friendship, will be sponsoring a FREE online women's Lenten Retreat (for my guys - I'm not sure they'll turn you away at the retreat portal. It's worth asking if you can join us). For more info, click here.
I digress.
There's journaling, and then there's journaling. Most of the time I let the words just pour forth, following a trail illuminated by something heralding me from some unknown location. There's also directed journaling, the type that's encouraged on occasions like retreats.
It's the latter I'm called to now, by connection to a book I'm reading. Vinita Hampton Wright, in her Days of Deepening Friendship, encourages self-reflection and journaling at the end of each chapter. Clearly, it's the type of book to be nibbled in small bites, not devoured in a couple of sittings like Joe Torre's The Yankee Years.
I'm digressing again. Lots going on here (losing my balance!), which is further confirmation that I need to be working through Vinita's book.
Back to journaling - given how many years I've been pounding on a computer keyboard (did some COBOL / DB2 programming back in the 80s and 90s), my handwriting is worse than it was when it used to keep me off the honor roll back in grammar school (OK, it didn't really keep me off honor roll, but you get the picture). These days, all my journaling is done electronically. I've been known to lug my laptop to retreats for this very reason.
Suggestion to my friends at Loyola Press and all you other publishers out there - include a CD-ROM or web link with the journaling questions electronically translated for people like me so I don't have to spend extra time typing a summary of the reflection point before I begin. I'll love you for it, and I'm sure others will, as well.
Pax vobiscum! mbp
PS - Loyola Press, publisher of Deepening Friendship, will be sponsoring a FREE online women's Lenten Retreat (for my guys - I'm not sure they'll turn you away at the retreat portal. It's worth asking if you can join us). For more info, click here.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
On baseball and the liturgical calendar
The Yankees pitchers and catchers report by this Friday. Spring is sprung!
Silly as it sounds, I started making connections between baseball and the Catholic liturgical calendar over the weekend.
Silly as it sounds, I started making connections between baseball and the Catholic liturgical calendar over the weekend.
- Spring training - when baseball elite try to shake out the cobwebs and get ready for the season (can be physically painful)
Lent - when the faithful try to shake out the cobwebs and get ready for eternity (can be spiritually painful) - Opening Day - lots of celebrating about what's to come
Easter - lots of celebrating about what's to come - Regular season - the day to day focus on what it's like to play baseball
Ordinary Time - the day to day focus on what it's like to be a follower of Christ - Post season - the excitement of the journey to the World Series
Advent - the excitement of the journey to Christmas
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)