Listen to the song of a magpie
Our first session on September 2/3 did not start off without a hitch. But we were able to adapt, and the adaptation made it even more wonderful.
Read our blog below about what happened, and follow along as the series continues. And do join us next Thursday/Friday!
Blog #1, written by Mary Fishman
Our 2 Hemisphere Season of Creation Prayer kicked off beautifully yesterday, September 2. It was the first in a series of five Thursday afternoon sessions if you are in the northern hemisphere, or five Friday mornings if you live down under.
Shortly before the prayer ritual began, however, there were signs of trouble. “The option for putting people into breakout rooms isn’t showing up,” remarked Kari Hamende, one of our staff, helping with tech. Calm investigating occurred in the background for the next few minutes, until Margie Abbott, RSM informed us that she had been on Zoom earlier in the day and it appeared that there was a worldwide issue with Zoom malfunctioning. She said we are a flexible species and these times have taught us that we need to be ready to adapt, and so maybe we will have to forego the breakouts today.
And just like that, the course was changed and it was still marvelous.
Bridget Sperduto began, with a reflection. Here are her words:
This week’s theme is a just home for all. Please light your candle of justice now.
As I did my planning for this week, I looked at the season of creation website and found that the focus is on environmental justice and the fair treatment of all people.
Fair treatment means no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations and policies.
I am confident that we all align with this statement, YET, I am suggesting that we broaden our perspective.
To quote David Attenborough, “I think sometimes we need to take a step back and just remember… we have no greater right to be here than any other animal.”
Perhaps fair treatment needs to include all humans and more than human beings… Perhaps no river, forest, land or livestock should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations and policies.
At this point Kathy Sherman, CSJ sang (and we sang along, on mute) Remember Who You Are: “Earth are you with a human face, Earth are you with a human heart. Remember who you are.”
Bridget continued: Perhaps we need to consider ourselves as more than stewards of creation. We are co-inhabitants. We are born of earth and all the beings that preceded our arrival on this planet.
As stated in the book of Genesis, after the creation of earth, sky, water, plants and animals, God said, “let us make humankind in our image to be like us.” Let US- God and all the beings that came before us- birthing us into being… in their image.
The Scripture (from the Inclusive Bible) goes on to say “And the humans came and God blessed them and said bear fruit, increase your numbers and fill the earth – and be responsible for it!” Midwife it!
Our very existence depends on the trees and the water, the plants and the bumble bees. We are indeed co-inhabitants.
As Chief Seattle said, “Earth does not belong to the human, the human belongs to earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all…. All things are bound together.”
Likewise, Aboriginal Leader, Uncle Bob Randall says, “We do not own the land, the land owns us.”
Thomas Berry famously said “The earth is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects. IF WE DON’T LEARN THIS NOTHING IS GOING TO WORK.” If we don’t learn that Earth is a communion of subjects NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE!
We are changing the chemistry of the planet, the biosystems, the geosystems. We are terminating the last 65 million years of life’s development. The human has such a large presence on the planet that every other being has to negotiate its existence in relationship to the human!
· Is it JUST that water’s right to be clean and pure is dependent on human action?
· Is it JUST that a forests’ deep network and strong community can be destroyed in a heartbeat by a bulldozer?
· Is it JUST that magnificent sea creatures are being strangled in large commercial fishing nets?
What would a mutually enhancing relationship with earth look like?
May we ask for the grace to be in communion with all our neighbors- human and more than human.
May we awaken to the Christ light within all beings as we listen to the pain and to the wisdom of each.
May we have the courage to give voice to the injustices and act in mutually enhancing ways that preserve beauty, integrity and the right to life for all. Amen.
Upon finishing her powerful reflection, Bridget then turned it over to Margie, who led us in a simply beautiful meditation.
As Margie spoke from her home in Australia, we were treated to the various sounds of birds in the background. Some of us were a little puzzled about those sounds. What kind of birds sing like that? At the end, Margie revealed that they were magpies. Imagine- magpies came and sang to us during our meditation, where we poured out love to all who were gathered and to all of creation.
This is the point where, had Zoom cooperated that day, we would have gone into breakout rooms of four people to share what we were feeling. Instead, we remained together as one large group of about 70. People wrote words or phrases on a piece of paper and held it up to the screen, or wrote to all in the chat. After a short pause for reflection on what we had seen and heard, again, people were asked to write the state of their heart in the chat. The responses were amazing. We share a selection of them below:
Love Care The pain is leading us to new possibilities Hands joining across the waters Universe is growing in love We can make a difference Hope in what seemed impossible We are a communion of subjects confirmed by the Australian birds Help me be love Relish life A new song!
If you weren’t with us for the first session, we invite you to join us next week, or any week during this month. We would love to see you. By joining together, we are helping creation sing.
To register/find out more: csjthewell.org/programs/2-hemisphere-prayer/
Download a PDF of blog #1. Please share with your friends.