Be as One

Visio Divina– where a picture is indeed worth a thousand words

Published on January 21, 2015March 19, 2016 by susanwbailey2 Comments

Recently I had the pleasure of attending a workshop teaching the practice of Visio Divina—praying with art, sponsored by Women of Faith out of Marlborough, Massachusetts (The Sisters of Saint Anne).

The presenters

Sr. Yvette Dargy and Sr. Pauline Laurence, Sisters of Saint Anne, presenting on Visio Divina.

The workshop was led by Sr. Pauline Laurence and Sr. Yvette Dargy who are both educators, community leaders, and pastoral ministers. They have served in local dioceses and in home missions in West Virginia. These innovative sisters are the founders of Vacations That Give, a ministry of the Sisters of Saint Anne, which offers a faith-based experience for adults integrating travel, work, prayer, and play.

Why pray with art?

A core part of Vacations That Give takes place in the evening when participants, after a day of service, talk about the gospels and how they connect to real life. As they saw participants struggling with understanding the Word of God, Sisters Pauline and Yvette formulated a practice of Visio Divina as a means of helping people connect the gospel with their lives.

Visio Divina is a contemplative practice meant to develop ways of seeing holiness in our everyday lives. By meditating on photographs, scenes in real life and icons, you can learn to penetrate the surface meaning and unearth what God means for you to hear and learn.

What grabs you?

Sr. Pauline teaches on praying with images.

The sisters taught that the first step is to find an image that grabs you, that makes you stop and look again. Using a series of questions as a guide, we were led to discover just what spoke to us through the images. The practice is simple: once you enter into the presence of God, you discern what the image is telling you. What is holy is what speaks to you and captures your heart.

Unraveling the mystery of contemplation

Contemplation is not as mysterious as it sounds but you do have to develop a practice of it. Once that door is open, you will find God speaking to you through the mundane, the joyful, the sad and the horrific.

Being over doing

The sisters presented sources to further explain what contemplation entails. Abbey of the Arts, a ministry of author Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, describes contemplation as countercultural, “a deeper way of life where less becomes more and the goals are slowness rather than speed, and savoring rather than productivity.” (from The path to contemplation). In essence, it is being more than doing, resisting the temptation of busyness which our world fosters.

Simple things

Illuminated Life--Monastic Wisdom for Seekers of Light by Joan Chissister — from Amazon

In Illuminated Life: Monastic Wisdom for Seekers of Light, Joan Chittister writes that the contemplative way of living is about about basic things: seeing God in everyone, finding God everywhere and responding to all of life as a message from God. Contemplation is not a road show of visions, not an exalted state of being but rather a simple consciousness of the Ultimate in the immediate.

An ancient art

In a series of books known as Imaging the Word, contemplation is described as an ancient art which encourages the participant to slow down, read the Bible and other books and take time to be with others. We learn to be open to our own particular way of contemplation as provided by God.

Its use in ancient days

Visio Divina is indeed an ancient practice which benefitted the masses that for centuries were either illiterate or had no means to acquire a Bible. The use of icons and stained glass windows imparted the faith along with preaching and the oral tradition.

Biblical examples

Are there examples in the Word of Visio Divina? The sisters examined The Call of Moses in Exodus 3: how Moses saw the burning bush and how the colors, actions and sounds from the bush focused Moses on the Lord. Realizing something holy was occurring he removed his shoes. He heard God within himself and was able to reflect and respond to God’s grace.

Using the concrete to explain the spiritual

Jesus also made use of the visual in his parables, describing things people were familiar with: lilies of the field, sheep and shepherds, wine and bread. St. Francis did this with the creation of the manger, to bring home the story of the incarnation of Christ.

Too many images?

We however face a problem that previous generations did not: that of being bombarded with images! Sisters Yvette and Pauline counseled discernment, learning to choose which images we keep and which we discard from our memories since images can enter into our unconscious and disturb us without our even knowing it.

The results of Visio Divina

They further taught that images are direct and brief. Visuals speak to us first by grabbing our attention on an emotional level. As you spend time gazing at the image, your prayer goes deeper, uncovering unconscious thoughts and feelings that you need to address with God.

You need to form a response to the image that calls you. In the process you will be addressed, surprised and transformed by God just as Moses was with the burning bush.

Speaking, calling, directing … this is the move of God. The adage of a picture being worth a thousand words certainly fits with Visio Divina, telling us about God and about who we are with God.

Sister Pauline and Sister Yvette prepared a series of questions meant to guide you through your prayer with images. You can download them here. There are many wonderful sources for images from the aforementioned Imaging the Word to your own collection of pictures in your home including family albums. Going out for a walk and being mindful of what you see has unlimited possibilities (as does kayaking or canoeing). Searching on Google can also be quite productive.

Try for yourself

Following these suggestions for praying with images by Sr. Pauline Laurence and Sr. Yvette Dargy, I invite you to try with these three photographs I took on a kayaking trip last summer. Choose the one that captures your imagination and go with it:

What did you learn from your time of prayer?

Women of Faith have a Lenten day of prayer coming up in March. To find out more visit Women of Faith and ask to be put on the mailing list.

Art/Photography: All photos by Susan W. Bailey except where noted.

Join Susan Bailey’s Email List (special surprises just for you!)
to subscribe to this blog.
Follow Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Listen to Susan’s music Read Susan’s blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

Sacred Journeys, Near and Far (beginning with Wild starring Reese Witherspoon)–Guest post by Lori Erikson, aka The Holy Rover

Published on January 13, 2015March 19, 2016 by susanwbaileyLeave a comment

This wonderful post by one of my favorite bloggers begins with a review of the Reese Witherspoon film, Wild, leading into a longing that has been planted within all of us from the day of our birth. No matter how much the observance of organized religion may be declining, the hunger for true spiritual connection continues to grow. In the end that hunger can be satisfied, yes, even within organized religion for within that structure, one finds accountability, community and the comfort that ritual provides (and that we all seek).

“Wild” starring Reese Witherspoon; from Spiritual Travels

Now that the holiday season is past, I’m back to Rovering again here at the Holy Rover. But even during my break away from writing, the theme of pilgrimage kept coming up. Today, near the beginning of this new year, I want to share some of those gleanings.

The first is the Reese Witherspoon movie Wild. I’ve been a bad girl, I’m afraid, and didn’t read the book first, but I loved the movie. It’s based on a memoir by Cheryl Strayed, in which she recounts her 1,100-mile walk on the Pacific Crest Trail. She is perhaps the most woefully underprepared hiker ever to complete this challenging route (the scenes with her ridiculously heavy backpack are worth the price of the movie). But as the film went on, it became increasingly obvious to me that she was on a pilgrimage. I don’t think the word was ever used specifically, but her journey had all the hallmarks: the seeking after meaning, the desperate need to recover from trauma and heartache, and the healing that slowly happened because of the journey. It’s a splendid film, one I highly recommend …

… I especially like what [Bruce] Feiler has to say about the need to be active in one’s spiritual life: “So much of religion as it’s been practiced for centuries has been largely passive. People receive a faith from their parents; they are herded into institutions they have no role in choosing; they spend much of their spiritual lives sitting inactively in buildings being lectured at from on high….

Read the rest of this post on Spiritual Travels.

Learning to forget through your prayerful imagination

Published on January 9, 2015March 19, 2016 by susanwbailey3 Comments

My monthly column on The Catholic Free Press and Catholicmom.com

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Learn to forget? Seems to me I have to first learn how to remember! Those of us past a certain age know that feeling well. So do young mothers, workaholics and anyone else who is overly busy. We all know that sinking feeling when we’ve forgotten an appointment. How many of us search for a word in the middle of a sentence, only to have it pop into our heads hours later?

Then again, there are things I would like to forget. That scary movie I saw just before bedtime. The dirty house that I have no energy to clean. The accident I had last summer that now makes taking any left turn into traffic an ordeal.

And then there are regrets, some from many years ago, that periodically remind me of pain I would like to leave behind. Saying no when I should have said yes. Talking behind a colleague’s back. Not having spent enough time with my children. Deciding not to visit my mother one last time because it was too hard, only to find out later that she had died.

It doesn’t make much sense to confess to the priest and receive reconciliation if I have no intention of letting go of the sin. Since God has already chosen to forgive me, who am I to disagree?

How can we hope to forget what we can’t forgive? How can we learn to let go of those words and actions that weigh us down and block that life-giving joy that God so wants us to receive?

Sometimes our own imaginations can provide the way when used as a form of prayer. In his famous Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius encouraged the use of one’s imagination in meditating on the life of Jesus and the saints. He encouraged people to place themselves into Gospel stories – in essence becoming the characters – and experiencing their feelings and reactions as they interacted with the Lord.

In the spirit of this kind of prayer, I imagine the following:

It was the end of the day and the sky was orange, reflecting the setting sun. The air was warm and thick, the trees laden with leaves. I am sitting on a dock by a river, swinging my feet back and forth as I listen to the water rippling by underneath. I watch a leaf drop slowly to the water only to be carried out of sight.

I turn to see a barge by the dock, filled to overflowing with rubble—pieces of wood, open crates, blocks of concrete, broken bottles, stacks of newspapers. I notice an odor rising from the barge that suggests garbage lying beneath the rubble. It is an ugly sight, marring the otherwise peaceful scene. I want to get rid of that barge. I try pushing the rim with my feet but it will not budge.

In my prayer Jesus sits down next to me on the dock. Instinctively I lean upon his shoulder and point to the barge beside us. He places his feet upon its edge and motions me to do the same. “Push,” he says and we both push hard, stretching our legs out as far as they would go. Slowly the barge moves away from the dock into the river and, caught up by the current, proceeds downstream, meandering out of sight.

As I continue to lean on the shoulder of my Lord I can feel a burden lift from my heart, placing itself on that barge as it drifts away. I look up into his face as he says to me, smiling, “It’s okay, you can let go, I have forgiven you.” Tears coming to my eyes, I thank him and kiss him on the cheek.

I repeat this exercise periodically as regrets come to mind. It reminds me that I am forgiven and I need to claim it.

Perhaps you too can sit with Jesus and push away your barge full of rubble as your way of learning to forgive and forget.

For a brief overview of Ignatian spirituality, visit http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/pray-with-your-imagination/

Art/Photography: Sunset Over the Rupununi, Name – David Stanley, PD/CC/SA, Flickr Creative Commons;
0522 Rust Barge, Name – Mark Morgan, PD/CC/SA, Flickr Creative Commons

A wonderful way to start off the new year, and each morning: As Morning Breaks by Lisa Hendey and the Catholicmom staff

Published on January 7, 2015March 19, 2016 by susanwbaileyLeave a comment

I found a wonderful resource that I want to share with you.

It is available as a Kindle book which you can access not only through your Kindle Fire, but on your phone, tablet or computer.

This book is the work of Lisa Hendey and the staff at Catholicmom.com and is called As Morning Breaks: Daily Gospel Reflections. It only costs $2.99. You will find not only the book, but ways to get Kindle on your device so you can read it right away.

I love the convenience of having this book on my phone, tablet and computer. I read from the book each day to complement my reflection on the daily readings. I can just whip out my phone and call it up and it’s there.

That convenience was especially nice the other day when I was visiting my dear friend Jackie. I bring her communion each Tuesday and when we pray, we reflect on the daily readings.

Yesterday’s reflection was perfect for my friend, using the example of baking bread to illustrate a point about Jesus feeding the 5000.

Jackie is a wonderful cook and has baked bread in the past as I have (those frozen loaves you can get in the store). She and I enjoyed thinking about warm, freshly baked bread coming from the oven and how much our family members enjoyed it.

At the same time we thought about the love that Jesus showed to a large group of strangers who came to hear his teachings. He not only fed them socially, emotionally and spiritually, he fed them physically with bread.

And after that reflection, Jackie was able to receive communion, the bread that is the physical manifestation of Christ.

All that from a little Kindle book!

Order your copy of As Morning Breaks: Daily Gospel Reflections and have this wonderful resource with you wherever you go.

Abigayil, The Story of the Cat at the Manger by Rouben Mamoulian

The Christmas Story as seen through the eyes of a cat at the manger

Published on December 23, 2014March 19, 2016 by susanwbailey2 Comments

from Abigayil, The Story of the Cat at the Manger by Rouben Mamoulian,
given to me when I was a child by my favorite aunt (who loved cats as I do)

Abigayil lived in the barn where Jesus was born. She was the mother of 5 kittens and in the course of hunting for their daily food, had her front paw broken when a child threw a stone at her.

On the night of Jesus’ birth, Abigayil saw that Jesus, lying in the manger, was stirring in his sleep due to a cold breeze. Out of love for Him and despite her pain, she went to Him, stretched across His body and purred Him to sleep. In course of this loving act, her broken paw was healed.

She reverently purred this prayer of thanksgiving to the baby Jesus:

“Little Jesus, I thank you for making me whole again!

Would that I were a king, so I could put treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh at your feet.

But I am only a cat, and I have no possessions.

The only thing I can offer you is my heart. But how can I offer that which is already yours?

I now know that I gave you my love the very first time I saw you, without any reason.
And now that you have given me a reason, I have no more love to give, because it is all yours already!

I thank you for teaching me that love is its own reason and needs no other, ever!”

Like Abigayil, may we unabashedly and without reason, give our hearts to the Baby Jesus.

Merry Christmas to you!

Give a gift of kittens to your friends while supporting a no-kill cat shelter – 20% Off on The Critter Room Memory Book!

Published on December 4, 2014March 19, 2016 by susanwbaileyLeave a comment

Wondering what to give your cat-loving friend?

How about giving twice with just one purchase?

For a limited time during this holiday season, The Critter Room Memory Book Volume One is being offered at a 20% discount – now just $15.95 for this 68 page book chock full of:

tons of color photos from Foster Dad John, “Mr Ripley” (James Petts) and Tam Woods including closeups of your favorite kittens and mama cats. Lots of Facebook screen shots.
an interview with Foster Dad John by Connie of “Tails of Foster Kittens”
fan art by Cazul R, “Thorn” and Sandra Andreasen
kitten collages by Nicoya Grobman
fan fiction by Jill Pickford and Annie Staats
remembrances of Peter and Honey

Purrfect Pals, the fabulous no-kill cat shelter that sponsors The Critter Room receives $7.15 for each book sold.

Check out these sample pages:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Ruth Ludlam recently reviewed The Critter Room Memory Book Volume One on Amazon:

I have been watching the Foster Kitten Cam and share the experience of the community described in this book. It seems to me that different people understand the kitten cam in different ways. Some just enjoy seeing cute kittens. Others learn about cats and fostering. Susan Hoyle Bailey shares my perception of the kitten cam as a force for the good in the lives of all involved. The experience brings out empathy, altruism, and generosity in the viewers, and we learn these qualities from Foster Dad John and from each other. I watch for more than just loving the kittens and cats; I watch because I know this is a community with a positive impact on the world. I would like to think that the goodness shared in the community ripples out and touches the lives of others, even those who really don’t get why we watch and care so much.

Thank you for expressing the goodness of the kitten cam community so clearly, and sharing your thoughts with the world.

Introduce your friends to the wonderful work done by Purrfect Pals including their Foster-Prison program which is now socializing two of Foster Dad John’s kittens, Ellen and Luna.

Get The Critter Room Memory Book Volume One for the cat-lover in your life or treat yourself to a copy.

Another way to give to Purrfect Pals is to buy copies for them to sell in their store–they receive the donation from your purchase plus the sale of the book in their store. You can send your books to:

Purrfect Pals
230 McRae Rd NE
Arlington, WA 98223

Thank you for your support of Purrfect Pals.

It’s all about the “Yes!” A review of “The Grace of Yes” by Lisa M. Hendey

Published on November 18, 2014March 19, 2016 by susanwbailey2 Comments

I have known Lisa Hendey for many years. Her site, Catholicmom.com, hosts over 150 contributors and has won accolades and awards from grateful Catholics around the world. The site is all about the reader, a rarity on the internet today. A vibrant community thrives there as a result. I am honored to be one of Catholicmom’s contributors.

I am pleased today to review her latest book, The Grace of Yes: Eight Virtues for Generous Living, published by Ave Maria Press.

Quick read; buried treasure

Lisa Hendey is the neighbor next door, the friend you confide in over a lingering cup of coffee. The Grace of Yes reads in this friendly voice but don’t be deceived–although this book is a quick read, there is much treasure to be found between the lines.

Authentic struggle

The Grace of Yes is a departure from Hendey’s other books, employing a memoir style. It is a story her legion of fans have longed to hear. She is authentic and honest in sharing her struggle to live a deeper life of faith, stemming from the goal to live generously for others, and for herself.

It is a life of the bolder “Yes, I will!” as opposed to the safer “No, I won’t.” It’s a life lived in full partnership with her Creator; it’s a life that any of us can live if we desire it.

She lives this grace of yes through eight different virtues:

belief
generativity
creativity
integrity
humility
vulnerability
discerning the right time to say “no,” and
rebirth.

Digging out the deeper meaning

The Grace of Yes is a book that calls you back for a second, more thorough reading. Having a sense that God was trying to tell me something, I journaled through the book on my second go-around. The result was 16 pages of notes constituting an extensive examination of conscience. Hardly the outcome I would have expected from such a seemingly simple book! It was a rich, exhilarating and thought-provoking experience.

Those dreaded words!

In exploring the eight virtues, Hendey is advocating several things which Catholics especially have seen as rather onerous:

fidelity
obedience
discipline
confession

And a new way of looking at them

I no longer view these words as oppressive negatives, forbidding a life of excitement, adventure and yes, even fun. I now look upon these words as the necessary tools to achieve all of that and more: a fulfilling, meaningful existence where I can make a difference in the lives of others around me.

Through Hendey’s stories of her own life and others who have inspired her, I have developed new definitions for these words:

Fidelity simply means being faithful, giving our best effort to everything we do.
Obedience is another word for “yes,” agreeing to go along with whatever God has in mind for us while trusting that he always has our best interests in mind.
Discipline is a tool, a means of creating healthy new habits which lead us closer to our real selves and to God.
Confession is the unloading of our failures, dumped into the lap of God who will wipe them away while granting us his kiss of peace and forgiveness.

Yeses that stretch

Hendey explores the various “yeses” in her life that have propelled her in a most unexpected direction. From claiming her Catholic faith as her own, to marrying, having children and sacrificing a career she loved, to finding a new path in her life that led her to become a noted blogger, best-selling author and journalist traveling to Rwanda for Catholic Relief Services, Hendey is at times painfully honest about her motivations, ambitions and failures. She also acknowledges her triumphs in a spirit of gratitude, attributing them to the lifelong working partnership she has with God. With every experience she is stretched, sometimes to the breaking point, as she experiences the rich growth that comes when you give yourself away unabashedly.

The little things that get in the way

The sense I got from reading this book was that the details of life really do matter. Hendey seeks to live a life of fidelity, keenly aware of how those little details can either help her to lead more generous life or grind that life to a halt.

There are those little sins, the ones committed without a thought, the ones that fall through the cracks, straight out of our memory, brushing by the conscience on the way out. We don’t like to talk about sin today; it’s another one of those “onerous” words; strictly out of vogue. Yet an authentic life where yes means “Yes!” and no means “No!” hinges on those details. Hendey’s stories of self-discovery gave me the means by which I could examine my own life with honesty and humility.

An honest examination

In journaling The Grace of Yes, I came up with an extensive list of questions that I intend to compile into an examination of conscience. It is a honest examination but one that promises growth and renewed life rather than an oppressive burden of guilt. I have maintained privately for a long time that a new examination of conscience is badly needed, one that invites repentance (which simply means turning back to our loving God). One that helps us catch those sins that fall through the cracks. One that will motivate me to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation more often. One that inspires hope.

A new spiritual discipline

I have since added a new spiritual discipline of examining myself twice daily; already I am becoming aware of those pesky little sins. I am beginning to catch them and confess them; I expect one day soon I will even stop committing them. And that will be a day of celebration!

The Grace of Yes is a simple book with simple truths. Do yourself a favor: read it once for fun and then sit down and read it again prayerfully with pen in hand.

It’s time to dig for buried treasure.

Breaking News: Pope Francis to come to America, and he will speak in English!

Published on November 17, 2014March 19, 2016 by susanwbaileyLeave a comment

And – he will be speaking in English! Here are details, courtesy of Father James Martin, SJ on Facebook: Pope Francis coming to Philadelphia.

Be sure and catch his visit to the Philippines, scheduled for January where he will be speaking English in public for the first time: Pope Francis in the Philippines.

Personally I am psyched about being able to watch Pope Francis preach and speak in English. Now I can put together his wonderful hand and facial gestures with the words. Wonderful!

Stay tuned and let me know what you think on my Facebook page. Let’s talk! 🙂

Dreading the holidays? Finding your secret quiet space in the midst of the noise and chaos

Published on November 14, 2014March 19, 2016 by susanwbailey2 Comments

from http://macooshoes.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/christmas-madness/

Here we go again! Daylight savings time is over, the decorations are up in the stores: the march towards Christmas begins.

And there’s so much to do!

from decorating our homes …
to cooking, entertaining and party-hopping …
to buying and wrapping gifts … and mailing them …
to making out cards … and mailing them …
to volunteering our time and giving to our favorite charities …
to spending time with family …

All good but …

Don’t get me wrong; all of these things are worthwhile, so long as we do them freely and we have the means to do so.

But …

What about people who are hurting financially and feel the pressure to buy gifts?
What about those dealing with complex family relationships who are obligated to spend time with that troublesome parent, sibling, aunt or cousin?
What about people (like me) who have no talent in cooking, decorating and entertaining but are expected to do them anyway?
And what of the poor souls who work in retail and are bombarded with the holidays 24/7?

Do the demands and the frantic pace of Christmas make you want to withdraw
to a quiet and peaceful space? How do you find that space?

There is a best-kept secret in our churches, that of the Advent season. Beginning after Thanksgiving, Advent presents a quieter and simpler approach. It’s a spiritual safe haven where we can retreat, be quiet and prepare for true purpose of Christmas, that of welcoming God come down as a human child to live among us.

In a series of blog posts, I will be presenting some of that treasure through songs, videos and readings in the hopes that this will lead you into that quiet space within yourself, the “inner room” where Jesus encourages us to go when we wish to pray.

Carry it with you

Advent introduces you to a gift, a sacred space which you can carry around inside of you long after Christmas is over. It’s a place to go to when you need to recharge your battery. It’s where you will find the endless welcome and acceptance from a God who longs to lavish love and mercy upon you.

Jesus retreated regularly to his inner room to be with the One he loved most. We can do the same.

Click here to listen to the Advent music I will be spotlighting.

An image of peace for your Monday

Published on November 3, 2014March 19, 2016 by susanwbaileyLeave a comment

From today’s daily readings; Psalm 131: “In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.”

I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap,
so is my soul within me. (verse 2)

from awalkwithyou.blogspot.com

If your world is swirling around you in chaos and busyness; if you’re feeling oppressed by life; if you’re just fed up: place yourself in this image and the words of the Psalmist and let the Spirit of God comfort you.

The presenters

Why pray with art?

What grabs you?

Unraveling the mystery of contemplation

Being over doing

Simple things

An ancient art

Its use in ancient days

Biblical examples

Using the concrete to explain the spiritual

Too many images?

The results of Visio Divina

Share this:

Share this:

In the spirit of this kind of prayer, I imagine the following:

Share this:

I found a wonderful resource that I want to share with you.

All that from a little Kindle book!

Share this:

Merry Christmas to you!

Share this:

How about giving twice with just one purchase?

For a limited time during this holiday season, The Critter Room Memory Book Volume One is being offered at a 20% discount – now just $15.95 for this 68 page book chock full of:

Purrfect Pals 230 McRae Rd NE Arlington, WA 98223

Share this:

Quick read; buried treasure

Authentic struggle

Digging out the deeper meaning

Those dreaded words!

And a new way of looking at them

Yeses that stretch

The little things that get in the way

An honest examination

A new spiritual discipline

Share this:

Share this:

And there’s so much to do!

All good but …

But …

Do the demands and the frantic pace of Christmas make you want to withdraw to a quiet and peaceful space? How do you find that space?

Carry it with you

Share this:

Share this:

Purrfect Pals
230 McRae Rd NE
Arlington, WA 98223

Do the demands and the frantic pace of Christmas make you want to withdraw
to a quiet and peaceful space? How do you find that space?