by Jackie Schmitz CSJ
Just last week at our staff meeting, our discussion moved to whose turn it was to write the blog. I did recall a conversation many weeks prior when I had offered. So, I quietly responded, “It’s my turn.” When first discussed, I was all set with my topic and even had a few thoughts on how to proceed; but life happens. Over the weekend I sat down to generate some thoughts and sentences only to find myself in quite a funk. We had gone from a glorious week of sunshine and 70’s to damp and dark-chilling days that hinted of what is awaiting us in the not so distant future. This didn’t help. And the news, of late, has been devastating: bombings is Syria, shootings in Oregon, students practicing “lockdowns” on a regular basis, continued violence in our city neighborhoods, political deception and racism all over the country, the death penalty and gun control debate still a heated discussion. I know, STOP! Enough already! We have heard it, read and watched in grief and horror for days.
So…how do we uncover the blessings, the graces, the occasions for gratefulness in a world where they seem to have gone missing?
Here are a few of my personal practices and ideas:
- morning quiet in Centering Prayer (can’t leave home without it!)
- attendance at programs at The Well (too many to name…but LOTS to help touch into possibility and renew hope)
- I’ve taken up the Native American flute (peace-full and prayer-full)
- each night before crawling under the covers, I write a list of that for which I am grateful
- visit the website dailygood.org — “News That Inspires”
- walk in nature
- pull for the Cubbies! Anything to bring joy into our city! ( this is coming from a die-hard Sox fan!)
What blessings and goodness are waiting to be uncovered in your life? Let’s see how long a list we can create.