The Mohawk Prayer of Thanks

Here is a thanksgiving prayer to savor during this season of gratitude. My OD colleague Matt Minnahan has shared it with the ODNet discussion list for the past several Thanksgiving holidays.

The prayer originates from the Native people of the Iroquois Confederacy. The Confederacy is comprised of six Native tribes: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora, all located in New York State and Canada.

The prayer is based on the belief that the world we live in should not be taken for granted, and that we must thank all created things in order to align our minds with the natural and the spiritual world.

This prayer is essential to the Iroquois culture. A faith keeper is selected to share the words of thanksgiving at the opening and closing of social, government, and ceremonial events.

Here then is the prayer.

The Thanksgiving Prayer from the Mohawks:

~*~ The People ~*~
Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People. Now our minds are one.

~*~ The Earth Mother ~*~
We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our Mother, we send greetings and thanks. Now our minds are one ***

~*~ The Waters ~*~
We give thanks to all the Waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms-- waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit Water. Now our minds are one. *****

~*~ The Fish ~*~
We turn our minds to all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the fish and send our greetings and thanks. Now our minds are one.

~*~ The Plants ~*~
Now we turn towards the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come. Now our minds are one. *****

~*~ The Food Plants ~*~
With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting and thanks. Now our minds are one. *****

~*~ The Medicine Herbs ~*~
Now we turn to all the Medicine Herbs of the world. From the beginning, they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines. Now our minds are one. ~*~

~*~ The Animals ~*~
We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so. Now our minds are one.

~*~ The Trees ~*~
We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, other with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many peoples of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength.With one mind, we greet and thank the tree of life. Now our minds are one

~*~ The Birds ~*~
We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds-- from the smallest to the largest--we send our joyful greetings and thanks. Now our minds are one *****

~*~ The Four Winds ~*~
We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messengers and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds. Now our minds are one *****

~*~ The Thunders ~*~
Now we turn to the west where our Grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightening and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunders. Now our minds are one. *****

~*~ The Sun ~*~
We now send the greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun. Now our minds are one.

~*~ Grandmother Moon ~*~
We put our minds together and give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the nighttime sky. She is the leader of women all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon. Now our minds are one. *****

~*~ The Stars ~*~
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to all the Stars. Now our minds are one. *****

~*~ The Enlightened Teachers ~*~
We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring Teachers. Now our minds are one. *****

~*~ The Creator ~*~
We turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator. Now our minds are one. *****

~*~ Closing Words ~*~
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intent to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way. Now our minds are one.

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

CREDITS English version: John Stokes and Kanawahienton (David Benedict,
Turtle Clan/Mohawk) Mohawk Version: Rokwaho (Dan Thompson, Wolf Clan/Mohawk)

Original Inspiration: Tekaronianekon (Jake Swamp, Wolf Clan/Mohawk)
Copyright ? 1993 Six Nations Indian Museum and The Tracking Project.

*Mohawk Prayer of Thanksgiving* http://aihc1998.tripod.com/mohawkpr.html

Posted by Terrence Seamon on Sunday November 25, 2012

The Four Stages of Life

Yesterday, at a spirituality conference featuring Fr. Richard Rohr, he described a time he visited a church in India. Noticing that the images in the church windows were not the usual stained glass saints he knew from back home, he asked his guide about them.

The guide explained that the images in the windows of the church reflect Hindu thought, each representing one of the four stages in life.

The first stage is The Student where the person's duty is to study. At a Hindu website, the writer says that the task of this stage is learning, devotion to one's teachers, and discipline.

The second is The Householder where the person enters a vocation, gets married, and raises a family.

The third is The Forest Dweller. The forest symbolizes the unknown and provides the metaphor of this stage: forsaking one's regular life and "going into the woods" where he or she will discover the meaning of life.

The fourth is The Sage where, having attained insight and wisdom while dwelling in the forest, the individual now knows who he or she is and finds contentment and peace. There is now no longer any need to accomplish anything, no need to own anything material, no need to acquire anything.

I was impressed that Fr. Rohr shared this since his talk yesterday was about his model of the two stages of life.

For Rohr, the first stage encompasses the Student and the Householder. It's the major portion of most people's lives, involving growing up, going to school, getting a job, becoming an adult, and becoming a fully contributing member of society.

For most of us, that describes the entirety of life, except for retirement and death.

Not so, says Rohr and ancient Hindu wisdom.

The second stage of life, for Rohr, combines the Forest Dweller and the Sage. It's the portion of life that Rohr says Jesus was all about, the Kingdom of God.

In Luke's Gospel, Jesus says, "...for behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

If the first stage of life is external, the second stage is internal. First we build up our worldly treasure. Then we seek our real lasting treasure:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12: 22-34)

Posted by Terrence Seamon on Sunday November 11, 2012

Meeting Prophets On the Way

On this 50th anniversary at St. Matthias, we have been blessed by a series of prophetic voices in the guest speakers that have come to visit our parish this Jubilee year.

We began our Jubilee journey in February with poet and artist Jan Richardson. Along with her folksinger husband Garrison Doles, Jan helped us to meditate on doorways and thresholds in a wonderful retreat called “Thresholds of Jubilee.” Using stories, songs, and works of art, Jan helped us to think deeply about where we have come from, what we are carrying, and where we are going spiritually as a faith community. The wonderful event culminated in a collage activity where over 100 parishioners created vibrant doorway images of St. Matthias parish.

For our parish Lenten mission, our guest speaker was spiritual writer Paula D’Arcy. Using her own terribly sad personal story of loss and spiritual recovery, Paula held us spell-bound as she guided us through the dark night of the abyss. She shared with us the lessons that spiritual guides taught her along the way as she struggled to come to terms with forgiveness. And she taught us the three aspects of the Pilgrims Way. The first is to Walk Humbly, trusting in the voice that leads us. The second is to Open the Heart to receive the gift being offered to us. The third is to Let Go of what we are carrying, especially anger. Her message was one of hope, that our journey of faith may sometimes seem dark, but if we keep going, we will find the healing light of God.

Then Archbishop Elias Chacour, the self-titled Man from Galilee, visited St. Matthias, bringing us a refreshing message of peace and reconciliation from the Holy Land itself. Known as ‘Abouna’ (an Arabic term of affection meaning Father) to all who love him, he told us of his work in Israel, building schools and “bridges of peace” and understanding between Jews, Muslims, and Christians. His message was about respect and dignity, saying that we are all God’s children. We must love and accept one another, support one another. There is no other way to peace.

We ended our Jubilee year this month with the Franciscan Fr. Michael Crosby, author of Repair My House and 17 other books. Hailing from Milwaukee, Fr. Mike travels the world, speaking to audiences about the love of God.

His mission to St. Matthias, on three evenings, focused on the Great Commandment:

~ "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and Love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10: 27)

Over the course of several talks, Fr. Mike addressed the reasons why we struggle and stumble with this command. Why we do not love God, or our neighbors, or even ourselves with our whole heart.

The trouble is, we have a hole in our hearts, put there by the wounds we receive as children from the "serpent voices" around us, when others told us that we were unworthy or that another group was "less than."

And this psychological process has global effects. Much of the suffering and conflict in our world today comes from the soul-damage that the serpent voices have done to our hearts.

What is the answer? What is the way to the peace that Jesus preached? We must attain a new way of thinking. Using scripture and personal stories to provoke us to open our minds, he helped us realize that we must find a way to love ourselves wholeheartedly.

Quoting Albert Einstein, Fr. Mike called us to expand our thinking:

“A human being is a part of the whole, called by us the ‘Universe,’ a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest―a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if humankind is to survive.”


To reach this new manner of thinking, Fr. Mike encouraged us to be innovators, to re-interpret the message of our scripture in the light of our times today. For example, Fr. Mike argued that Jesus did not come to die for our sins. Rather, Jesus came to reveal God's love for creation.

Instead of being born tainted with Original Sin, Fr. Mike argued that we were made in Original Goodness. Looking at the creation story in the Bible, we read that when God made the universe, it was all very good. We are part of that creation. So we too are very good. Therefore, as beloved children of God, we should actually be feeling very good.

Finally, Fr. Mike explored what Jesus meant when he commanded "Do this." What are we to do exactly?

Opening scripture again, Fr. Mike pointed out the four parts of the example Jesus gave in Matthew's account of the loaves and fishes story:

~ "Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people." (Matthew 15:36)

Here we have a clear roadmap in four movements:
- He took - He received the loaves and fish that were offered
- He gave thanks - He said a prayer of blessing
- He broke - He tore the food into pieces
- He gave - He shared the meal with all

This, Fr. Mike taught, is what we are to do. And in so doing, we become the Body of Christ in the world today.

Posted by Terrence Seamon on Saturday October 20, 2012

The Carpenter's Way of Leading

My Jewish friend and OD colleague Robin Cook shared with me an article by Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks where the rabbi delineates a Jewish approach to leadership. Take a look at it. His seven principles are worth pondering. It's really an excellent piece.

With Rabbi Sacks as my inspiration, here is another Jewish perspective, one based on the life of the Carpenter's Son from Nazareth in Galilee, as described in the four gospels.

Principle 1 - A leader takes the risk of responsible caring for others in need. We see this so clearly in the story of the Good Samaritan.

Principle 2 - A leader does not go it alone. He builds a team and a following. The calling of the 12 apostles is perhaps the shining example of this principle. And even after one of the twelve falls away from the path, a replacement is chosen.

Principle 3 - A leader speaks to the people, sharing his vision of the good society. In the Sermon on the Mount, as well as in other stories of His preaching, we see Jesus conveying the guidelines that if followed will help create a just world.

Principle 4 - A leader preaches through his living, his suffering, and his dying. Jesus lived his own 'good news,' teaching others by the way he lived.

Principle 5 - A leader creates other leaders and sends them on their mission. He inspires and empowers his disciples to go forth.

Principle 6 - A leader leaves a legacy. After His death and rising, Jesus sent the Spirit. The coming of the Holy Spirit made sure that the followers were filled with inspiration, and were well supported to carry on, on their own.

Principle 7 - A leader is a paradox. While clearly an authority, He is also a servant. This becomes so clear in the washing of the disciples feet. As leader, He recognized that, though he was teacher, prophet and king, He was the servant of all.

This is perhaps the greatest leadership principle that we have been gifted with.

What are we doing with these principles? Are we agents of transformation in this world?


Posted by Terrence Seamon on Monday June 25, 2012

Spiritual Stress Management

This morning, I was a guest speaker at a women's conference in Perth Amboy. Sponsored by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the aim of the day was to celebrate the empowerment of women in today's world. One of the church members had taken a stress management class of mine some months ago at her place of work, and thought my message would be a good one for their program.

I started by introducing some of the basic coping skills of stress management including getting a good night's sleep; engaging in some form of exercise, even walking; finding ways to relax and de-stress; making time to have fun, to laugh and enjoy yourself; spending quality time with friends; eating right; and maintaining your serenity.

Then I took it to a higher level. We also need spiritual coping skills for the stress management of our souls. I asked, what if Jesus were giving this stress management talk? What practices would He suggest in order to help you to care for your soul and the souls of others?

Here then are four ideas for taking care of your spiritual stress management:

Shalom - It's an ancient word for “Peace” used as a greeting. And it is often uttered by Jesus himself. He said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Many centuries later, St. Francis prayed “Make me an instrument of your peace.” Do we bring peace into our lives and the lives of those we encounter? There is much discord in the world today. How can we be more effective channels of peace in today's world?

Example - As a teacher, Jesus showed us The Way and gave us many examples of how to live our lives. How to serve. How to lead. How to suffer. How to carry one's cross. At the Last Supper, He himself was bread broken and shared for others. And he told us, Do this as I have done for you. Do we follow His example as He said we should? Our lives are so busy that it's easy to forget Him altogether until Sunday rolls around. How do we remember to live the example that Jesus taught in our daily lives?

Love - In the entire Bible, there is only one time that a definition of God is given: God is love. Jesus teaches us, "As the Father has loved me so I have loved you. Live on in my love." How do we do that? Do we understand what Jesus was saying when he taught us that God is love. There was a hit song in the 1960's that said "What the world needs now is love, sweet love." That lyric is as true today as ever! There is so much greed and hate in our time. How do we "live on in God's love" in our daily lives?

Faith - Faith is trusting in someone or something you do not see. As we learn in the Gospel story of Doubting Thomas, the risen Jesus says, Blessed are those who have not seen, but have believed. Do you trust in the real presence of God within you?

I invited the assembly to join me in singing the hymn “Amazing Grace” where the poet says:

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures."


In closing, I shared these words of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew: “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find much rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”

Now that is spiritual stress management you can rely upon.

Posted by Terrence Seamon on Saturday May 26, 2012

Spirited Disobedience, the Good Shepherd's Way

At our church, we had a guest speaker last week, three time Nobel peace prize nominee Archbishop Elias Chacour from Galilee. Known to his friends as "Abouna" (an Arabic term of affection meaning Father), this Man from Galilee (as he referred to both himself as well as to Jesus) came to tell us about his work in Israel, building schools and building "bridges of peace" between Jews, Muslims, and Christians.

During a very interesting talk, this Palestinian raconteur told us many stories of life under occupation. Stories that made us laugh, and a few that moved us to tears. Throughout it all, the impression I got of the man was one of spirited discipleship and disobedience. Not unlike Jesus himself.

Didn't Jesus himself stir up trouble? Didn't Jesus challenge the thinking of his day? Didn't Jesus overturn the tables of the money changers in order to startle the people awake?

Upon his ordination in 1965, the young priest was sent by his bishop to a remote little place in Galilee called Ibillin where, for the next 40 years, Abouna did his best with the meager resources he had to build schools for the poor. 37 times he was charged by the Israeli authorities with the crime of building without proper permits. And each time, Abouna continued to build and to disobey. He was answering to a much Higher Authority than the government of Israel.

One time, frustrated that he could not get a permit from multiple government officials in Israel, he appealed to Washington D.C. He flew there and knocked at the door of the home of then Secretary of State James Baker. By good fortune, he met Baker's wife and by sheer chance he happened to arrive on the day that her women's Bible study group was meeting to discuss the Sermon on the Mount. Abouna announced that he was The Man from Galilee and would be happy to explain what Jesus meant.

As a result of this chutzpah, Abouna made a lasting friendship with the Bakers. And he got his permit.

In one other story, Abouna had been invited to speak in Rome to an audience of Vatican officials, on the topic of shrines in the Holy Land. After speaking for awhile on the topic, Abouna then shifted his focus to the people, the "living stones," of the Holy Land. A high-ranking cardinal interrupted Abouna and demanded to know "Are you in union with Rome?" Abouna replied that he is in union with Jesus and asked in return "Are you in union with the Man from Galilee?"

In addition to schools and libraries, Abouna has labored to build understanding and to work for peace. "Don't tell us that we need to learn to live with one another" he exclaimed toward the end of his talk. The people know that. The Arabs, the Jews, and the Christians. They were doing that for centuries! What is needed, Abouna said, is to come together and remember that all of us are babies who were made in the image of God. Each person has dignity and was born to live a life of joy and peace.

As my friend from church Joe Percoco puts it so well in his excellent daily email on Jesus' message, "Archbishop Chacour's message is all about brotherhood and solidarity and how, as God's beloved children - all endowed with the same dignity, all equal members of the one flock - we are called to accept and respect each other, to support each other, to be reconciled with each other, to live peaceably with each other, and to love each other."

A good shepherd from Galilee, Archbishop Chacour was a breath of much needed fresh air in our church and in our world!

Posted by Terrence Seamon on Monday April 30, 2012

Changing for the Better

We are changing all the time. I look at pictures of myself from years ago and I can see how much I have changed. I look at my sons, now in their twenties, and I can see how much they have changed. Change is life. We live through it every day of our lives.

This daily incremental change is barely noticed until we stop and take a look back. The challenge of change, therefore is change of another type. It's the sudden, massive, and disruptive forms of change that people and organizations need help with quite often.

For example, a car crash. We had a speaker at our church a weekend ago, Paula D'Arcy, who lost her husband and daughter in a car crash in 1975 when a drunk driver hit them head-on in a town in Connecticut.

This was a devastating change for her. Pregnant at the time, she later delivered her second daughter and raised her as a single parent.

As the speaker for our Lenten retreat, she spoke quite movingly about the spiritual journey that this incident triggered. She says that, for several years, she felt as though she was "swimming in darkness," a gloomy time of sadness and anger, a time of deep depression when she couldn't move on with her life.

Last night I watched the movie The Company Men (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172991/) about the aftermath of a corporate downsizing, focusing on how several of the executives (played by Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Craig T. Nelson, Maria Bello, and Tommy Lee Jones) handle the transition that this calamity sets in motion.

In both stories, the talk given by Paula D'Arcy and the film (by director John Wells), important lessons about change emerge. One of those lessons is that there is a third type of change: the change we make intentionally.

After several friends lovingly intervened to help her start to live again, one of Paula's friends introduced her to Norman Vincent Peale. That proved to be a turning point for her. She made the choice to start living again. From that point on, Paula became a spiritual writer and speaker. Today she travels the world as a catalyst for women's voices.

In the film, the main character, played by Ben Affleck, tries to reclaim his former role as a rising sales executive, but finds that the Great Recession is against him. After months of unemployment and many disappointments, including the loss of his house and car, he makes an important choice. He chooses to change. He responds to the invitation (which he had previously turned down) by his brother-in-law (played by Kevin Costner) to work for him, in his home construction business, as a helper.

Humbled by what has happened in his life, grateful for the opportunity to work, and seeking some light in the gloom, he makes a choice and starts his transition.

A word that often comes up in this context is adaptation. "Improvise, adapt and overcome" is the mantra of the US Marines. Leaders ought to know something about "how to do change right." The core competency of leaders should include a deep understanding of the nature of change, how to choose it, and how to lead it.

Warren Bennis once said that leadership is the ability to turn vision into reality. In other words, to lead intentional change.

Posted by Terrence Seamon on Saturday March 24, 2012

Slow Down. Pay Attention. Listen.

Yesterday, in my post called "Forget Yourself," the idea was to slow down at least once a day, to pay attention to ordinary things, to what is happening in your own back yard, where Nature is doing what she always does, but most of us tend to miss it as we rush through our lives.

There was a context to that post that I did not share, which I want to write about now. I was waiting for the appropriate time, as you will see.

Last night at church we ended our three night Lenten mission with guest Paula D'Arcy. It was a mini-retreat in 3 evenings. And it was a wonderful experience.

Lent is a time for contemplation of one's life, for considering what you are doing, and where you are going, and for conversion of heart, bringing oneself back into alignment with what God calls us to become.

Paula didn't speak much about Lent directly. Instead, her three talks opened up the three aspects of the Pilgrim's Way, the walk we Christians take throughout our lives. The first is to Walk Humbly, knowing that we don't know, but trusting in the voice that guides us. The second is to Open our Hearts, to receive what God is giving to us, even when we experience disappointments and setbacks, when it isn't what we prayed for. And the third is to Let Go of what we are carrying, so that we can continue to walk into the mystery that is the Further Journey.

She talked about all of the above through the use of her own personal stories, stories of devastating loss and stories of incredible hope and love.

When the mission ended last night, each person I turned to in the church seemed beautifully dazed by what they had just experienced with our speaker. One person said, "How does she remember all of those stories in such detail? I can barely remember what I did yesterday."

In that comment, I believe we have one of the keys to living the Pilgrim Way. We need to start paying closer attention to our own life stories.

Paula herself gave us the formula:

Listen - God is with us always, speaking to us, offering Life to us. Paula said that He often comes to us in ways that we do not recognize. God comes in disguise, she said. Even in the midst of life's disappointments and disasters. We must learn to trust and to begin to listen to the "small voice" that is trying to break through.

Pay attention - Our own unfolding lives are books full of stories for us to read, to learn from, and to tell to others.

Slow down - And the only way to really do the first two ingredients, listening and paying attention, is to stop rushing through life.

Paula said that the love of God is flowing like an immense river through our lives, but we miss it. How can we be so blind?

The problem is that we are asleep, spiritually speaking, most of the time. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus tells us to stay awake, to watch, and to pray.

But for most of us, this is exceedingly hard to do. Thus the famous passage: "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."

So my prayer this Lent, for myself and for you, is to grow in mindfulness of the Pilgrim Way that we walk throughout our lives. Practice the three-part discipline of Listen, Pay Attention, and Slow Down. Start to pay closer attention to the stories of our lives. Look for the God who comes in disguise, and listen to His voice.

Paula told one story about meeting a spiritual guide who shocked her with this question, "What are you becoming?"

Lent is a great time to ponder this question.

Posted by Terrence Seamon on Wednesday March 14, 2012

Forget Yourself

I recently came across a daily practice for increasing mindfulness and being more present in the moment. Here is the adapted version:

“Rise early and go outside in the morning. Just stand there for a few minutes. The ideal place to go to would be a garden, or your front or back yard.

"Standing there, spend time listening and observing. Observe the trees, buds, leaves, and blades of grass. Observe the insects, the ants scurrying, the bees going from flower to flower.

"Notice the smell of the morning and the way the rising sun touches things.

"As you forget yourself in such a place, Nature has a way of making you feel present in the moment.

"If you are on a porch or terrace, watch the clouds, the blue skies, the birds streaking by. If you have a bird feeder, watch as birds come and go to feed.

"For the rest of the day, you will feel energetic and happy deep within. Then, at night, just before you close your eyes, think back to the events of your day, moving over everything that you did and felt slowly, like a gentle beam of light moving across a floor.

"Give thanks for all the joyous moments, and gifts that came your way."

Posted by Terrence Seamon on Tuesday March 13, 2012

On the Road

In Luke's Gospel, we hear: "That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred" including the death and reported resurrection of Jesus. As they walk, the risen Lord joins them, but they do not recognize him. Later on, after Jesus breaks bread with them, they exclaim: "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”

I love that line. What a realization!

It seems to me that we are all on the road to Emmaus, thinking about our goals, while worried about many things including the economy, terrorism, and the price of gas. Concerned by material things, we don't notice the presence of our Lord, always walking with us, present on every step of life's journey.

Is this God's way? Perhaps God likes to come to us in disguise. Maybe, throughout our lives, God comes to us through others. Like our mothers, for example.

My mother, Ramona, raised six children. She fed us, cleaned us, dressed us, and took care of us when we were sick. She loved us to the end. I can still remember her laughter, as well as her tears. When my mother cried, my heart burned within me.

Fr. Richard Rohr has written: "... the mother is the one who parts the veil for us. She gives us that experience of grounding, of intimacy, of tenderness, of safety that most of us associate with our image of God. Whoever God is, God is profoundly and essentially what it means to be male and female. We have to find and to trust the feminine face of God and the masculine face of God. Both are true and both are necessary for a full relationship with God."

Just as God gave birth to all of creation, mothers gave birth to us. Though God is referred to as the Father, a very strong case can be made that God is the Mother as well.

Be the Blessing

This year is our Jubilee anniversary at St. Matthias. We are renewing our commitment to stewardship as a parish right now. Each weekend, we have heard from diverse speakers who spoke about the many aspects of being a faithful steward and active disciple.

Recently, in a video from Rob Bell, the message touched on Tikkun Olam, a Jewish concept that refers to repairing (or restoring) the world. Essentially, it's up to us to restore the world. How? By doing good deeds (called 'mitzvot' in Jewish culture), deeds that feed the hungry, clothe the naked, put a roof over the homeless, and destroy injustice. This way, we perfect ourselves and we repair the world.

This concept is not far at all from what we learned in catechism about the Corporal Works of Mercy:

- To feed the hungry
- To give drink to the thirsty.
- To shelter the homeless.
- To clothe the naked.
- To visit and ransom the captive, and those in prison.
- To visit the sick.

In our faith sharing process called LIFT (Living In Faith Together), one of the reflection questions asked, In what ways are you Eucharist to others? One way that we can be Eucharist to others is to follow Tikkun Olam, or the Corporal Works of Mercy, or just to live your daily life more mindfully that you are a faithful follower of Jesus. Ask yourself, What would Jesus do? And: What would Jesus want me to do?

I was reminded of a saying that Canada-based consultant Jan Yuill often mentions:

~ "Take care of yourself. Take care of each other. Take care of this place."

That sums up the steward's role nicely.

As Christians, being good stewards means that it's up to us to Be the Blessing.

The 5 S Method for Lent

Did you get your ashes yesterday? Don't stop there. Lent is a great opportunity to work on "cleaning out your closet," spiritually speaking.

In the business world, there is a method for organizing spaces such as closets, drawers, storerooms, offices, and work benches. It's called The 5 S method.

Sort: Stuff has a way of accumulating in our spaces. See what's in there. Pull it all out. Make three piles: What you will Keep; What you will give to Good Will; and What you will Toss.

Set Back in Order: Put the Keepers back into the closet in an order that feels right to you.

Shine: Spruce up the area so that you can breathe freely when you stand up to look at your work.

Standardize: Take note of the changes you are making and make a vow to yourself to keep your closet in this new order.

Sustain: Remember this about our human nature: Even after we make a change, we often gradually slip back into old habits. If you aren't careful --and mindfull-- the stuff will start to accumulate again. Ask yourself: What will help to sustain me in my intention to do better?

Lent can be a fresh chance to come clean. A "cleaning out of the closets of our hearts," as someone once said.

This Lent, stop and take a look at your inner closet. This is a good time to find what's useful, get rid of the junk, and give away something to those in need.

"See, I am doing something new"

As we move into Lent, we are about to cross a spiritual threshold, a doorway of opportunity. What will you do? Most of us were taught to "give something up" for Lent. Are there other options?

In today’s reading from the prophet Isaiah, we heard: "Thus says the Lord: See, I am doing something new. Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the wilderness I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers." A bit further in this reading from Isaiah, the Lord says: “It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses; your sins I remember no more.”

God is taking care of creation, of the land and of His people. God is renewing the covenant, restoring the Earth, and repairing the relationship with His people.

In essence, God is putting things right. God is showing us the way that we are to live if we desire to be His people.

So, as you cross the threshold into this Lent, stay mindful of the fact this year is our jubilee year. Jubilee is the year of releasing captives, freeing of slaves, cancelling debts, returning land to its original owner, and "letting the land lie fallow."

In Luke's gospel, Jesus proclaimed jubilee when he said: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Ask yourself, Is there "something new" that you are called to do? What "good works" can you perform? What can you do, during the 40 days of Lent, that will help to "put things right" in your relationships with others, with the Earth, and with God?

Thanks For The Invitation!

Invitation is critical. It's a key component in building the kingdom.

For some years now, I've been active at St. Matthias in such ministries as pastoral council, lectoring, employment ministry and others. We have often had discussions about how to engage the members of the congregation. How to encourage them to respond to their baptismal call to be disciples and put their talents to good use in our community.

Often the response is, "Put an announcement in the weekly bulletin." The theory is, people will read the bulletin, see that there is a need, and they will sign up. The trouble is, that theory seldom matches the reality. Don't get me wrong about the bulletin. I read it! But it's not enough to really engage people.

What we have found --that really works!-- is to personally invite someone. To approach them one-to-one and ask if them if they would consider stepping up to a greater level of involvement in the life of the parish.

The Music Ministry uses this approach all the time. I remember how Eileen Casazza would hear someone singing in the congregation. She would approach them and say, "Have you ever thought of joining the choir?" Many choir members were found just like that! My wife Joan and her team still use this method.

I remember when I was "called" to join the Pastoral Council. Several council members asked me personally if I would consider it. I'm glad they did because it lit a flame in me that still burns to this day.

This is the invitation approach. We have seen it work time after time. It's the key to making genuine connections in faith.

When you invite someone to a deeper level of involvement in their Catholic faith, it can have wonderful results.

On The Way

Last year, my wife Joan and I saw the movie "The Way" starring Martin Sheen, directed and written by his son Emilio Estevez. Can a movie be both incredibly gorgeous and spiritual at the same time? Apparently it can. Director Estevez has proved it with this inspiring road movie.

El Camino de Santiago, the Way of St. James, is an ancient route from the Pyrenees in southern France, across northern Spain, through Galicia to the Atlantic Ocean. For over 1000 years, pilgrims have followed The Way, a route that passes through such places as Pamplona, Burgos, and Leon. The Way 'ends' at the tomb of the Apostle St. James the Greater located inside the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Field of Stars).

Martin Sheen plays a Dad whose son dies in the mountains while starting The Way. As Sheen's character decides to make the pilgrimage his son had begun, he meets others along the way. Each is searching for an answer to a dilemma. One wants to quit smoking. One wants to lose weight. One has writer's block. As we learn more about each person, we find that there are much deeper wounds and needs at work.

In Estevez' script, one of the characters says he is not much interested in religion. Another says in reply, "Religion has nothing to do with this. Nothing at all."

That was the 'moment of truth' for me in this wonderful movie. The Way is not religion. It's about waking up and finding out who we are. It's about living our lives mindfully, joyfully, and in the community of others.

St Francis of Assisi once said, "It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching."

Perhaps this is the real message of this film about love. It's not transformation. It's transcendence. It's realizing that we mean so much more than we realize.

I love that The Way brings you to The Field of Stars. What a destination.

Talk about poetry in motion.