Inspired by Scholastica

Complacency is not listed in the usual examination of conscience. But maybe it ought to be. Many of us tend to get in a rut and never stray from our comfort zone. We avoid things that might challenge or stretch us. Someone said, "Never get too comfortable, always challenge yourself. Comfort oftentimes creates conditions for complacency. Go harder, dig deeper, push." Explorers often discover new paths and adventures that make life more exciting; curious people learn better ways to solve problems. Creative people tend to be more energetic, more interesting, more alive. Every day is fresh with possibilities. They look upon challenges as opportunities to learn, not as obstacles to avoid. We need to inquire, to probe, to question the status quo. When people are complacent, they often accept unjust situations and unfair practices. They don't want to rock the boat or ruffle anyone's feathers. Sometimes they just do things because they've always done them that way. As...

“We are not broken, we are just unfinished.” We are not broken, needing repair or mending or a new part to be made whole and worthy. We are an unfinished painting, blending colors on a palette to create beauty on life’s canvas. We are an incomplete symphony in search of the right synthesis of wind, string and tympany. We are a fragmented poem looking for metaphors and symbols to capture the meaning of our life. Through fallow times and barren years, through inky darkness, we seek for wholeness in our being. We wait in trust and hope for the Divine Artist  to complete his masterpiece.

We usually think of missionaries as bringing the Gospel to far away countries that have not heard of Jesus. But Pope Francis emphasizes that all of us are missionaries. In "Joy of the Gospel" he writes: "I am a mission on this earth; that is the reason why I am here in this world. We have to regard ourselves as sealed, even branded, by this mission of bringing light, blessing, enlivening, raising up, healing, and freeing. " He says we have to be nurses, teachers, engineers, business people with soul. That means we don't just do our jobs, but we put our heart into the lives we touch. This is a full time job that makes us be people for others, aware of others' needs. It may be just a smile, a touch, a prayer, a word. Or it may be getting involved in an organization, a group, an action that promotes human rights and dignity. It is always an awareness that we have a mission, that each one of us is called to make life better in our neighborhood, our town, our pa...

Thomas Merton, the famous Trappist monk, would have been 100 years old this year. Merton followers are holding celebrations for him throughout the country even though he died in 1968. I have been an admirer of Merton since my early religious life and have read many of his books. His "Seven Storey Mountain" was an early favorite in my romantic period, although I heard its popularity was an embarrassment to him. I found his book "New Seeds of Contemplation" an inspiring introduction to contemplative prayer. He also opened the door to an interest in Eastern religions and social justice issues. Later I was enthralled by his poetry and letters. In all his writing he seems so very human, wise, and transparent. I often pray his prayer: " My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that...

I just read about a fascinating phenomenon in Melbourne, Australia. The city council was concerned about the fate of their trees as a result of drought. By 2009, they found that 40 percent of their 77,000 trees were struggling or dying. They decided to map all the trees in the city and give them an individual tree ID. Then they made it possible for the public to interact with the trees digitally so people could let the city know what trees needed attention. What happened was people began sending personal messages to the trees. About 3,000 emails have been sent to individual trees in the last two years. One person wrote, "As I was leaving St Mary's College today I was struck, not by a branch, but by your radiant beauty. You must get these messages all the time. You're such an attractive tree.” They began talking to the trees as if they were human. Some messages were funny, some nostalgic, many heartfelt. The council is now planting more trees to lower Melbourne’s extreme s...

Failure daunts most people. They try to avoid it, dread to face the prospect of sinking into the drowning abyss, struggling to keep above water. This feeling of defeat plagues perfectionists, who desire a flawless façade, who flee the shame of limitation, who strive to appear successful in every endeavor. Yet failure can be a teacher, instructing us to go in a different direction, to search for a new path, to develop a hidden talent, a burgeoning gift ready to be opened. To fail is to be human, to know ourselves as creatures learning through experience, to unearth the lessons meant  for us  to discover at the opportune time. 

We need more encouragers in this world. People who give others a boost or a lift are in short supply in the "Me" generation. Good teachers encourage their students to do their best. Good counselors build self esteem in their clients. Good coaches instill confidence in their team players. But what about the rest of us? Do we tell employees what a great job they're doing? Do we commend co-workers when they contribute creative ideas? Do we praise children when they do something nice for a playmate? Do we congratulate people who have received an honor? Do we rejoice with those who have struggled and made some progress? Sometimes we take people for granted or don't take the time to tell them how much they are appreciated. Other times we may be jealous of their achievement. Jesus was an encourager. He praised the rich young man who was a good person but could not leave his riches. He reached out to Thomas who doubted his resurrection. He told the parable of the father ...

When God gave out courage, I must have been lost in space. But I admire women with courage. One of the most courageous is Aung San Suu Kyi , a political leader in Burma who spent many years under house arrest and in prison for her efforts defeat a repressive regime. Although the government offered her freedom if she would leave the country, she refused to do so. Undaunted by her unjust treatment, she ran for a seat in Parliament in 2012 and won. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. Another woman with courage is Wangari Maathai , who founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya to reduce poverty and conserve the environment by planting trees. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her work to promote democracy, human rights, and conservation. One of the youngest women with an indomitable spirit is Malala Yousafzai , who was shot in the face by the Taliban for demanding education for women in Pakistan. Only 17 years old, she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her cour...

Many of us find it difficult to forgive those who have hurt us or done things to harm us. We know Jesus said we must forgive 70 times 7 times, but it is hard to do this given our human frailty. When I struggle with forgiveness, I think of the example of the Amish community when five young girls were killed at a school in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 2006. The community stunned the country by reaching out in forgiveness and reconciliation with no sign of revenge or retaliation. Another recent example of forgiveness was when nine African Americans were killed at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. The congregation forgave and prayed for the gunman who seemed to have white supremist tendencies. Everyone was impressed with the large-heartedness of these communities. If these groups can forgive such horrible tragedies, we should be able to forgive others' small hurts and offences. We also have the compassion and mercy of God to model as we pray each day "to forgive us ou...