“All the world’s is a stage.” Shakespeare’s famous line reveals the inner longing of each and every human being: to be noticed, to be loved.
from blog.preservationnation.org
Even those of us who swear we are shy, who claim we long to be invisible, who hole up in our rooms, still want to be seen. It’s a validation of our existence. Nobody truly wants to be invisible.
Some of us perform by parading our good deeds. Some of us can sing, dance or act so we perform on plays and if we’re lucky, hit the big time and star in movies or TV.
Some of us command the stage when we are ill by becoming self-absorbed, and demanding of others.
And in our religious life we like to perform too. The season of Lent gives us that perfect opportunity to show the world how pious we are with our fasting, our sacrifices and our charity.
Who are we performing for? For the approval of God? For the approval of those around us?
We may not even be aware that we are performing. But God is aware.
Jesus, having been human himself, knew that inner need of validation we all have to be seen and heard. We know he struggled with it himself as shown in his forty days in the desert being tempted by the devil.
This is why today he gives us a better way to live: to live for the Father’s approval, not our neighbor’s. We do our work for the Kingdom quietly, sometimes in secret, sometimes in our inner rooms.
And by doing so, we are set free from needing to be liked.
Who needs to be liked when we are already so loved?
Ponder
Am I mindful of the fact that I am performing for others? Am I a slave to the desire to be liked by others? What can I do to change that mindset?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you know all our inner struggles because you lived them. You knew the temptation of wanting to be the star. Grant me the grace to desire only to please you. Set me free from the slavery of needing approval from my neighbor. Amen.
I am really digging photography. These days if all you have is a cheap camera, patience and a mindfulness for opportunity, you can come up with some pretty cool pictures.
I am a total amateur when it comes to taking pictures. I have no idea how I get some of the results I get. Taking pictures while kayaking does afford some amazing opportunities to get up close and personal, and patience can really pay off.
My technique is so random I’m almost embarrassed to share it but I figure if it works for me, it could work for you too. Here’s what I do:
When I go out kayaking, I mount my camera on a small tripod; it makes it easier to have a steady hold on the camera. It also gives you added height (aka, you can’t stand up in a kayak, so you hold the tripod over your head to get the picture).
My technique? Snap as many pictures as you can and sort through them later. Oftentimes I can’t even see what I am photographing because of the glare on the viewfinder so taking lots of pictures is a must. Digital photography makes that quite affordable.
My late cousin Donna loved to take pictures in the wilderness; she did it because she was an artist at heart but could not paint. I feel the same way. I see images and wish I could paint them. I love searching for opportunities and setting up shots. Sometimes you hit the jackpot like I did on my last trip.
The location is South Grafton, MA in the spot known as “Fisherville.” This is a truly beautiful site as you can see:
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
It being June, the mountain laurel was in full bloom. I wish I could say what the other flowers were (and if you know, please leave a comment!) but they were lovely just the same:
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
In my attempt to both zoom and focus I sometimes got the opposite of what I wanted! Yet the pictures look kind of cool anyway:
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
I was excited to get this spider web (considering how much the boat was drifting!):
The jackpot was my close encounter with a chipmunk. I found him on a boulder in the middle of the stream. He froze long enough for several quick shots and then he jumped off (cheeks full of course) and quickly swam away. I had no idea chipmunks could swim. Super cute!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
While I would love to have an upgrade in my camera equipment (and I’m considering putting it on my Christmas wish list), you can get a lot done with your average digital camera.
If you’re an artist at heart and wish you could paint, try a camera and a great setting. Very satisfying. 🙂
Today’s Gospel is profound and beautiful but we may miss the meaning because we have heard it so many times in the past. That old adage, “Familiarity breeds contempt” certainly plays out here. You may have even let your mind drift as I read it to you, just as my mind drifted when I read it this past week in preparation for this service.
So, let’s try reading it again. Slowly. Let’s squeeze the meaning out of it:
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
What did it mean for God to give his only Son? Mothers and fathers of soldiers would know, especially if their son ended up making the ultimate sacrifice, just as Jesus did. They would know the intense grief of the sacrifice but would also understand that their son wanted to serve his country. Their hearts might swell with pride even as they grieve and never forget.
You may be thinking, “Yes, but Jesus is God and therefore He cannot really die.” As a man however, Jesus did die. And He suffered greatly in body, mind and heart to make His ultimate sacrifice. Just as parents suffer when their children suffer, so did the Father also suffer.
How about this part:
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Are we so concerned with avoiding hell that we fail to recognize heaven right here on earth? As children, growing up in the pre-Vatican II church (which I grew up in too), teaching the faith centered a lot on following rules, guilt and fear of hell. I remember the “fire and brimstone” homilies of the young priest at the parish of my childhood and how women would leave the church weeping as a result. Yet somehow during communion, I understood that I was receiving a taste of heaven and would think of images of a floor swept clean, glistening with the shine of wax, or of a rose bush growing in my heart. The Eucharist represented purity and beauty to me; I was blessed with a sense of heaven in my midst.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
The last part of this reading is hard: again we are reminded of condemnation. But we are only condemned if we decide to walk away from Jesus, to turn our backs on him, to deny him. If however we love him and desire him in our lives, we will not be condemned. We will not live perfect lives for in our broken world this is not possible. Jesus’ mission centered so much on mercy precisely because he understood us. Again and again he offers opportunities for reconciliation and relationship as shown through his free association with the “sinners” of his day: the tax collectors and prostitutes. There is nothing he will not forgive so long as we choose to accept it. So long as we have breath in our bodies he will accept us. Just recall the thief on the cross who with his dying breath asked for Jesus to remember him. We know his reward: he was the first to taste paradise. The same awaits all of us who love the Lord and try each day to follow him.
So what can we do to stay close to Jesus so we can experience more of heaven on earth? Perhaps read the Bible? Listen to the beautiful music composed over the centuries that glorifies God? Just sit and think about Jesus? Reach out to someone who is hurting or lonely and be Jesus to them?
Let me begin by saying I do not have a green thumb. I gave up planting perennials and having them die on me. I gave up planting anything exotic; it was a death sentence for them too.
And to think my mother was a biologist at Wellesley College! That gene sure passed me over.
However, I do finally know what grows and how to put colors together. And I planted a perennial that will never die! What is it?
First, here’s the garden in total, can you see the new perennial?
Give up? Here’s a closer look …
Okay, okay, here it is …
Pretty cool, huh? It’s a solar powered frog fountain! The sun wasn’t out when I took the picture but when it is, the water comes as a stream out of the frog’s mouth. The birds will love this.
This is one perennial that will never die. I’ll just bring it in every winter. 🙂
Many of you around the country endured a harsh winter (especially you in the Midwest). Endless snow. Frigid temperatures. Dreary dark and shortened days. Our winter here in New England was long and hard and spring has been slow to come.
But finally, Spring is here!
Some of you nature lovers are lucky enough to live in the suburbs or the countryside and can just step outside your door to drink in the warmth and greenery. You can open a window and hear a chorus of birds beginning at 4:30 am just when the darkness is starting to lift.
Some of you nature lovers however live in the city where it is harder to enjoy these things. I dedicate this kayak trip to you and hope you can soon get outside and enjoy the springtime weather.
My husband Rich and I kayaked on Lake Wildwood in Upton, MA:
Rich hoped he could catch some fish:
I took my camera out and hoped to catch the Spring:
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Birds were everywhere.
They are a lot harder to photograph, especially when they, and my boat (due to current and the wind) keep moving! But I managed to catch a couple:
Baltimore OrioleCatbird
The catbird sat among a spread of pretty yellow flowers:
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
A painted turtle graciously posed for me:
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
This is the joy of kayaking.
It allows you to sneak up on wildlife and enjoy them without disturbing them.
I also love water.
I love the colors, the texture, the sounds. The ripples and pools reflecting the underwater plants created a swirl of colors that reminded me of impressionist paintings:
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
I hope you city dwellers enjoyed your virtual trip and may you get outdoors soon. And you country dwellers: I hope you can get away from yard work long enough to enjoy these fleeting Spring days before the heat of summer sets in.
Today I have the honor of conducting my first communion service with the lovely residents of The Highlands in Westboro, MA. I used to be afraid to be with the elderly. Perhaps it reminded me too much of my own mortality which I was not ready to think about. Since my mother died 4 years ago I’ve thought about it a lot. Getting older means the body is gradually (or quickly) breaking down and you have to keep bidding farewell to parts of yourself. But it also means you’re one step closer to a life of eternal bliss with God.
Getting there however can be quite a challenge, coping with pain, loneliness and a litany of goodbyes. I’ve come to appreciate what the elderly go through and no longer feel afraid. I am looking forward to my time today with my new friends at The Highlands.
I am thankful to my parish, St. Luke the Evangelist and to our parish nurse, Julie Basque, for affording me this opportunity.
The communion service includes a reflection on today’s gospel which I thought I’d share with you
John 14:1-12
The discourse in John 14-17 between Jesus and his disciples is one of the most poignant in the entire Bible. Jesus, fully mindful of the dreadful suffering he would be facing, pours out his heart to the men who have been his closest friends. It was an intimate moment where he told them not to let their hearts be troubled even as his heart was troubled. He assures them of a place in heaven reserved especially for each of them. The human Jesus and the Divine Christ, present in this fixed time yet also present for eternity transcended his own inner turmoil to care for his beloved.
The Father is in the Son. The Son is the physical manifestation of the Father. The disciples have been seeing the Father all along and yet they didn’t get it. The Father has been speaking to them, caring for them, assuring them a place in heaven and yet they still don’t understand. It will take seeing Jesus resurrected for them to finally comprehend just who has been in their midst
As the Father is shown through the Son, so the Father is shown through us as well. We are made in the image of God, we are icons: windows into the heavenly Father. Because Jesus died and rose from the dead we too have the Divine in our humanity through the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.
In the midst of the turmoil of his own soul, Jesus sought to reassure his disciples. In the darkest moment of his life he still steps outside of himself and cares for his beloved friends. He never forgets us. Even dying on the cross, he does not forget, forgiving his tormentors, welcoming the thief into heaven and arranging for the care of his mother with John. It is in this care for others in Jesus’ darkest hour that shows the Father to the disciples and to the world.
Ponder
How can we call upon the Divine within us to step outside of ourselves even in our darkest hour and care for those around us?
Pray
Jesus, may I never forget you in my darkest hour. May I never let the wall of my pain shut you out. Help me to show the Father to those around me at all times. Amen
Have you been reading this book and saying to yourself, “This is such a great book and I’m dying to talk about it with someone!” ? Well, we may have just the thing for you!
Catholicmom.com is forming a virtual book club to discuss, chapter by chapter. Fr. James Martin, SJ’s bestselling new book, Jesus: A Pilgrimage. A team of three writers, Lisa Hendey (Catholicmom founder), Sarah Reinhart (Catholicmom editor) and myself will be providing short summaries of each chapter with through-provoking questions to spark lively discussion.
Even if you haven’t read the book yet but are interested in learning more about the human and Divine Jesus, you are more than welcome to join us. Simply visit the Jesus Book Club page to sign up so you can receive an email reminder each week of the next chapter being discussed.
Father Martin has provided this introductory video explaining the nature of his book:
We hope that you will join us at our Jesus Book Club this Sunday, May 18 for the first installment. We promise a grand ole time!
For the past 26 years I have lived in central Massachusetts. A bird watcher, I have sought in vain to find that “sweet spot” where the spring migrants congregate. I need not search any longer: I live in that sweet spot!
Two years ago, across the street from my house, I experienced what experienced birders long for: a fall-out. A fall-out is when large quantities of warblers of many varieties descend on a particular area – they literally “fall out” of the sky. This happens when a cold front blocks the migrants and then a sudden warm front ushers them in. People that bird watch regularly may experienced this phenomenon a few time in their lives; those of us that do it “on the fly” may never experience it. During this fall-out, I saw over a dozen different varieties of beautiful warblers, all singing. It was paradise!
This morning I awoke to a small chorus outside my bedroom window so I ran outside to take a look. This is what I heard and/or saw:
Yellow Rumped Warbler (1st row, 1)
Yellow Warbler (1st row, 2)
White-eyed Vireo (1st row, 3)
Northern Parula Warbler (1st row, 4)
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (2nd row, 1)
Black Throated Green Warbler (2nd row, 2)
Chestnut Sided Warbler (2nd row, 3)
Black and White Warbler (2nd row, 4)
Considering that I live on the railroad tracks at the intersection of Route 140, this is a pretty good sighting! My mother always did say we lived in a fly zone (where birds tend to congregate).
Last night Fr. James Martin, SJ, author of the new bestseller Jesus A Pilgrimage, offered the following evening meditation:
“How curious are you about the world around us, about God’s magnificent creation? Are you as curious as you were whe you were a kid? The world is just as beautiful, mysterious and surprising as it was when you were little.
Think of something that captivated you today by its beauty or strangeness or mystery. Then thank God for the ability to be amazed.” (from his Facebook post of May 13, 201)
Yes, I am amazed. Amazed how You graced me with this fall-out of exotic songbirds into my humble backyard. Amazed at how You keep sending me gifts unsolicited, just because You love to shower Your children with love Amazed at how blind I can be to the constant stream of such gifts.
It occurs to me as I am writing this that this is also a gift of consolation. I have a series of disagreeable doctor visits coming up, starting today. Nothing dire, just things that need attention and that could be painful. And I am a chicken! Now I can remember the beautiful songbirds God graced me with this morning to cheer me during these visits.
Thank you. You are always with me.
Lord, keep my eyes and ears open today and everyday for the gifts You send me. Amen.
Do you enjoy bird watching? Have you ever experienced a fall-out? What did you see?
Mother’s Day has been problematic since my mother died. I am sure other daughters who have known a close with their mothers experience that special tinge of melancholy that greets this day.
We are no longer daughters. But we are still mothers even if we don’t have children of our own. There are “children” in our lives from our nieces and nephews to friends in the neighborhood or students at school if you are a teacher. Many of you likely mother pets as well.
Mother and daughter
I am blessed to have two grown children of my own. This year my daughter Meredith gave me a gift that will assure that this holiday will have sweet memories along with the bitter. For every pang of grief I feel at missing my mother I can reflect upon the beautiful memories Meredith gave to me this mother’s day simply by giving of herself.
She took me yesterday to Mount Auburn cemetery in Cambridge, MA, just a short drive from her home. Serious birders from around the world know the reputation of this cemetery as being a mecca for the observation of the spring migration. Dozens of species of beautiful songbirds, most of them warblers, spend a couple of weeks at this picturesque and historic cemetery before moving northward to build their nests. The cemetery has trees and flowering bushes from all around the world; a perfect haven in the middle of the city for these migrants.
Birders have flocked to this cemetery since its inception; our family did as well ever since I was a little girl. It was our way of celebrating Mother’s Day since it was my mother who passed along her love of birding to the rest of us.
Meredith had never expressed any interest in birds but she is the keeper of the flame when it comes to family tradition. Rooted deeply within her, it prompted this special invitation to enjoy the birds, flora and fauna together.
Although we arrived at mid-morning, there were still plenty of birds to spot (experienced birders usually come at the crack of dawn). We saw or heard several warblers including the Tennessee, Yellow Rumped, Black Throated Blue, American Redstart and the Ovenbird. We also heard or saw the Warbling Vireo (heard) and the Scarlet Tanager (saw, thankfully). We saw and heard a small flock of Baltimore Orioles.
We lucked upon a robin’s nest at eye’s view full of babies. There were several turtles at Willow Pond sunning themselves including a baby on top of its mother. There was a turkey nestled on top of a mausoleum tucked into the hillside of the Dell; we think she may have been sitting on a nest for she was very still.
A Tom Turkey, all fluffed and fanned out, strut his stuff in front of three females. He was fat and haughty-looking and the ladies paid him no mind at all.
We also took the time to look at the stones. As I suspected, Meredith found them fascinating. She does not find death to be morbid. She is blessed in that way (and in many ways). We read many of the fascinating stories on the stones and kidded around about how only the “rich and famous” (or as I said, the rich and historical) were buried here. She appreciated the scenery and took many pictures.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Meredith has inherited my mother’s thoughtfulness. Her gifts to me get better and better each time. This latest one took some effort and sacrifice but not as much as I would have thought; she enjoyed our excursion as much as I did and kept mentioning that she and her boyfriend should take walks there. She was interested in looking at birds, fed by her appreciation of the family tradition. It has become sacred to her as it has been to me. To share that appreciation together was the greatest gift of all.
Since she has been living on her own, our relationship has changed. We have more in common now that we are both keeping house. Now that there is some distance between us both in time and place, there is a renewed closeness. The card she gave me for Mother’s Day was most indicative of that. It was a serious card, not overly sweet but very meaningful. It stated in a factual way the way she felt about me and I will treasure it always. I half-expected a joke when I opened the inside because she loves a good laugh and when I mentioned that to her boyfriend, he chuckled with understanding.
There is no greater gift than the gift of oneself. The time and effort that Meredith put into this year’s gift will not be forgotten. She is merely carrying on the tradition of my own mother who also gave of herself in such wonderful ways.
p.s. I also have a wonderful son who just left me a touching and funny tribute on Facebook. Thanks Stephen, you’re the best!
I hope that all of you have a Happy Mother’s Day too!
Dispelling the notion that virtual friendships are not real, sixty fans of The Critter Room kitten cam are gathering this weekend at Purrfect Pals in Arlington, WA to meet for the first time. Many were local but some came from as far away as Boston and even Australia. They organized the first annual Kitten Cam Con.
Having been a part of close virtual communities in the past (associated with my music), I can tell you that meeting people you have been corresponding with online is akin to meeting someone famous. There’s that moment of awkwardness when the veil of technology is lifted and you can actually look at, speak with, and hug, that dear friend you have been confiding in for so long. The level of intimacy changes and you are now pressing the flesh. It’s an exhilarating feeling.
I imagine there was a lot of squealing with glee, tears, laughter and hugs as these sixty representatives of the over forty thousand that follow The Critter Room fulfilled their dream of meeting their friends.
Virtual friendships are not new. Before chat rooms and emails there was letter writing. How many of us had pen pals from far away as kids? I had a German pen pal, one from a neighboring state and another from Hawaii. I only got to see the Hawaiian friend and each time it was glorious moving from the written word to hugs and kisses.
I commend and envy all of you at the Kitten Cam Con and am with you in spirit. I hope someday I can meet some of you.
The Average Joe Cat Show (where you can vote for your favorite cat online for a small donation) is taking place at Purrfect Pals as well. These are certainly innovative folks! No wonder they haven’t had to buy any kitten food the last two years (as stated by the executive director of Purrfect Pals).
This is the power of community. Kudos!
PHOTO BY LINDSEY WASSON THE SEATTLE TIMES David Clem holds Tory, one of two cats he and wife, LuAnn Smith, adopted after John Bartlett, right, fostered the kitten and its mom and siblings. Clem and Smith saw Tory and her brother Grant on Bartlett’s Foster Kitten Cam, which has more than 40,000 followers.
The local press took notice of the event and posted two wonderful articles about the Kitten Cam Con and all the wonderful work done by Foster Dad John. If you can’t be there, these are the next best thing:
Join Susan Bailey’s Email List (special surprises just for you!)
Be as One 