Inspired by Scholastica

I just came across some great ways to deal with the burdens of life. First, Just accept that some days, you're the pigeon and, some days, you're the statue. That's realism, for sure. You can't always be on the top and sometimes you deserve the cr     . Second, Always keep your words soft and sweet - just in case you have to eat them. Good reminder that bitter and angry words are hard to swallow. Third, Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. If you're always trying to do it perfectly, you'll never have any fun. Just let go and enjoy the music. Fourth, Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live . Don't get depressed about growing older. Hopefully, you are growing wiser and more tolerant too. Fifth, A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour. Sure detours are a nuisance and might make you late, but there's nothing you do about it. So take in the diversion and be glad for n...

Most of us believe that it is good to be generous to a certain extent. But to be overly generous might mean we won't have enough for ourselves. Yet evidence shows that people who give without measure actually receive much more. It depends on if you have a "scarcity mentality" or an "abundance mentality."  Those who have a scarcity mentality believe everything is limited. They are afraid they will not have enough so they hold back from giving. Actually they end up getting the opposite of what they want in life. On the other hand, those who have an abundance mentality can't wait to give and make others happy. They thrive on being generous and in return, God blesses them with more so they can keep on giving. In the book of Proverbs, we read, " One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." What ...

  John the Baptist tells his hearers to "Prepare the way of the Lord," and do it quickly because you don't have much time. Certainly Jesus only spent three years in public ministry so he must have felt an urgency to spread his message of love and mercy. And in the early days of Christianity, people expected Jesus to return within their lifetime so they must have felt some pressure to be ready. Each Advent we remind ourselves that Jesus' coming is certain and his day is near. Yet most of us are very busy in these days before Christmas, shopping, decorating, sending cards, and making special holiday treats. That's not the preparation John is talking about. He called people to repentance, to a change of heart. We ought to be about preparing our hearts to receive him through silence, prayer, and awareness. Silence is hard to come by during Advent when we are bombarded by commercials and Christmas carols. Prayer is often squeezed in at the end of the day when w...

I just read an article about DACA (deferred action for childhood arrivals) recipients and how much they contribute to our economy, our democracy, and our society. Many of these young people, who were brought to America by their parents and know no other country, are college students, entrepreneurs, health care professionals, and skilled workers. They appreciate the chance they were given to live in the United States and want to use their talents and gifts to give back. According to Jack Reardon, president of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, DACA recipients are working in nearly every sector of our economy from hospitality to technology, and their economic power is indisputable." Research shows that Dreamers earn almost $19.9 billion in annual income, and contribute more than $3 billion to federal and state taxes.  As baby boomers age and families are smaller Dreamers are a vital part of our future. Instead of deporting them, we need to ensure that hard-working im...

During the last few months, we  have had terrible catastrophes, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and forest fires. Newspapers are filled with depressing news of mass shootings, corruption,  and sexual harrassment. We are bombarded with attacks on a free press and nasty political  battlegrounds. Yet during this Advent season we are supposed to rejoice and be glad for our Savior  has come. Where will we find the joy we want to experience during this holy season? Here are a few suggestions: !. Spend time with people who are optimistic and hopeful; avoid those who are pessimistic and negative. 2. Surprise neighbors with a homemade pie or cookies and enjoy their surprise and delight. 3. Start laughing in a group for no reason at all and others will join you. A good laugh relieves stress. 4. Watch children playing on a playground and let their spontaneous antics warm your heart. 5. Stop watching the news or reading the newspaper for one or two days a w...

Many families gather for a festive meal at Thanksgiving. Aunts and uncles and cousins come from near and far to celebrate this special day. We usually eat too much but who can resist turkey and gravy and cranberries and pumpkin pie? All usually goes well until the subject of politics comes up. It is better to avoid the topic, but someone always seems to bemoan the party in charge or disagree vehemently on  some current issue. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief when a brave soul deftly changes the subject. It is far better to focus on people  we are grateful for during this Thanksgiving season, especially those who we take for granted, like the newspaper carrier, the one who makes the morning coffee, the one who empties the trash, the one who takes care of the recycling. We often fail to thank the one who brings a fragile elderly aunt or an uncle who has dementia to enjoy the festivities, or perhaps we fail to notice the extra effort someone contributes to the gathering...

A man came into the Catholic Charities food pantry recently and asked about joining a church. He said he was a sinner and wanted to “get right with God.” His big motivation seemed to be that his mother had recently died and he wanted to see her again in heaven. I thought of the many ways God draws people to repentance. St. Paul was knocked off a horse and many responded to John the Baptist's call to epent and be baptized. People often ask for a priest or minister on their death bed and some who receive a diagnosis of a terminal illness decide to make peace with God. Joining a church might provide the support and inspiration a person needs to turn his/her life around. But it’s not a sure thing. The person may need to be reconciled with a family member, or they may require help to learn self-control or to heal past traumas,  or they may have to sever a relationship that is leading them astray. Humans are very complicated individuals and making changes is one of the bigge...

Another mass shooting occurred last Sunday at a church in Texas. Twenty-six people were killed.  Last month a shooter killed 58 people at a music festival  in Las Vegas. According to an  FBI study in 2014 there has been an increase in mass shootings in recent years. Three hundred seven mass shootings have occurred so far in 2017. How many more people have to die before laws will be enacted that will ban automatic assault weapons?  In 2012, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn., 26 people were killed, 20 of them were young children. Everyone thought that this would be the horror story that would get gun laws changed. But after a few days of outrage, nothing happened. The National Rifle Association has too much money and too much control over lawmakers that nothing was done. Mental illness plays a role in these tragic events. Certainly we need more mental health facilities to help angry people  before they lose control and resort to violence. If the...

Lee Forge, a good friend, was killed in a car accident last week. At his wake there were many testimonials about his spirituality, dedication, care for others, enjoyment of life, and many other virtues. The one that struck me most was his preparedness. Whether it was skiing, or cooking, counnseling, or hospice volunteering, he always prepared with great discipline. To be a skillful skier, he would practice all year in his garage with a machine that helped develop his muscles and strength to conquer the slopes. To be an excellent cook, he perfected his recipes by frequent practice. To be an effective counselor, he studied, listened and used every skill he had to encourage his clients. To accompany people who are dying, he comforted and prayed with them through all their pain and questioning. He never did anything half-heartedly. It was all or nothing with Lee. He was genuine and generous in all his relationships. I'm sure he was prepared to meet his God on that fatal day, sinc...

    I had not heard about the Rohingya people until reading about them in a recent Commonweal . The Rohingya are a Muslim minority in Myanmar (Burma) estimated at about one million people. The Myanmar government regards them as illegal immigrants even though they have only known life in Myanmar. According to Human Rights Watch, laws discriminate against them, denying their freedom of movement, education, property rights, and employment. Thousands are currently fleeing to Bangladesh because of persecution by the government. In fact, many believe that this is comparable to the Rwanda genocide in 1994. This is most troubling since the current de facto leader in Myanmar is Aung San Suu Kyi, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. She has long fought for human rights and a democratic government, but seems to have no control over the military who are carrying out what the United Nations human rights chief has called a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” Rohingya who've f...

Lamont McIntyre, an African-American, relishes his freedom after spending 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. His mother supported and believed in his innocence, and worked untiringly to have him exonerated. Only 17 when he was convicted, he survived by educating himself and holding onto his relationship with God. "My Christianity, my spirituality keeps me grounded," McIntyre said. "Every day is a new one. . . And happiness is something you have to choose. And I had to choose that for myself." He also learned that "fear is something that cripples you. I can't be crippled. I would rather just live.. .I just want to enjoy and celebrate my freedom." Those were valuable lessons to learn when months piled into years and years piled into over two decades. Now that he is free he wants to help others. "I want to be able to impact someone's life in a way that will help them grow as individuals, help them get through difficult ti...

Nadia Murad Most women in the U.S. take their freedom for granted. Not so the Yazidi women in northern Iraq. They live in fear of being captured by ISIS or other extremist groups, raped, beaten and kept enslaved. Nadia Murad was a young girl when she was first captured from her village by ISIS fighters and saw her family murdered. She managed to escape and reach safety with the help of a kind family. Now, three years later, she has become an advocate for her people. After finding refuge in Germany and telling her story, she is making the world aware of the atrocities her people are enduring and demanding that ISIS be held accountable for its crimes against the Yazidis. She is tired of telling of her experience and does not seek publicity. But her story has helped awaken the UN, the United States and others to the suffering of her people. This year Iraq is allowing independent investigators to gather evidence of ISIS crimes, the first step in holding the group accountable. for ...

Can schools teach empathy? Denmark thinks so and has added social and emotional learning to their curriculum. Denmark is serious about teaching social skills, which is one reason it's often ranked as the world's 'happiest' country, according to the  Christian Science Monitor Weekly   (Sept. 18, 2017). It also ranks high in "caring, freedom, health, and income." Danish teachers pay attention to children's emotional needs and acceptance of others. They teach about well-being, respect, and how to be social. This was partly an outcome of the influx of immigrants into the country in recent years and partly a way to deal with the prevalence of social media. There is a greater emphasis on empathy and caring for others. Not all parents support this addition to the curriculum. Some feel that it is the parents' duty to teach these skills. Others feel it conflicts with academic excellence. But teachers feel it is essential in combatting bullying and booing ...

The beatification of Father Stanley Rother, a priest from Oklahoma who was killed by death aquads in Guatemala in 1981, drew over 17,000 people to the Convention Center in Oklahoma City on September 23, 2017. It was an elaborate ceremony with a cardinal, bishops, priests, and people from around the country in attendance. It seemed ironic that this man who was rejected by his first seminary for failing his studies, yet persisted in his desire to be a priest, would become the first American-born saint. He volunteered to be a missionary to Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, and translated the New Testament into  Tz’utujil ,  the native language of the people. He also built a church, a hospital and worked as a farmer among his parishioners. After receiving death threats from government officials, he briefly returned to Oklahoma, but soon went back because he felt a shepherd should not desert his flock. He returned to Guatemala not to die, but to live because his ministry there ...

   Sometimes we have our eyes wide open but do not really see around us. If we have our minds elsewhere we can miss the first signs of autumn, the person coming down the hall, the new flower in the garden, or the loneliness in another's face. We are not really present to our surroundings at least half the time. This is one of my inadequacies. I am often unaware and appreciate others calling my attention to things I miss. It's worse when I miss seeing people. Sometimes I'm thinking about an idea to write about or a task I need to do, but that's not a good excuse. I remember a sister in my community who always had a smile and greeting for anyone she passed, making them feel acknowledged and important. It really doesn't take much time to notice and greet someone. We might not remember their name, but we know their face. If we really believe Christ is present in each person, how can we pass them by? Whether we work in an office, a store, a hospital, or a school,...

I watch squirrels scurry frenetically up trees, through leaves, searching for nuts, or seeds or berries, never idle, never still. I too am a scurrier, constantly moving, anxiously seeking people to talk to, letters to finish, books to read, tasks to accomplish. Like squirrels, I never seem just to sit quietly, to rest, to dream, to watch the clouds drift, to observe the phases of the moon. How am I different from a squirrel running hither and yon, always foraging, if I miss the beauty of a sunset, the song of a goldfinch, a honey bee feeding on a flower? Are you a scurrier too?

Relationships are important in helping people grow. They are particularly important in a marriage and in a monastery. Humans are not meant to be alone. We need other people to love us, to challenge us, to recognize our gifts, and to support us. In order for people to love us they need to know us in more than a superficial way. They need to know our idiosyncracies, our warts, our foibles, our weaknesses, and love us anyway and help us laugh at ourselves. We also need to be challenged when we are doing harm to ourselves or others. If we have addictions or fail to fulfill our duties, a good friend can make us aware and guide us to seek help. Friends also can recognize our giftedness and encourage us to use our gifts to help others or to bring joy and hope to the community. Some people are shy or hesitant to use their gifts and need to be drawn out. All of us need support at times of sorrow or loss. Sometimes we need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen to our difficulties. A g...

Sisters Mary Benet Obear and Kathleen Egan Two of our sisters went to heaven last week. Sister Kathleen Egan and Sister Mary Benet Obear were both women of deep faith and many gifts. Sister Kathleen was a teacher, librarian, writer, and friend of St. Teresa of Calcutta. Sister Mary Benet was a teacher, nursing home director, and librarian. They were wise and holy women, but most of all they were women for others, especially the needy and vulnerable. They stood up for women's rights, for non-violence, for abolishing the death penalty, and for fair treatment of immigrants. Both sisters had hearts expansive enough to embrace all with compassion and mercy. They were encouragers. women who brought out the talents in others and supported their efforts. Sister Kathleen had a radiant smile and loved to visit with people from all walks of life. No one was insignificant to her. She rejoiced in her students' achievements and worked indefatigably for peace and justice. She read t...

The solar eclipse in Atchison was a little disappointing because of rain and cloud cover, but we did see a sliver of the sun and experienced the darkness as the moon came between the sun and the earth. The people who came seemed to appreciate the presentation by Dr. Aileen O'Donoghue on"Eclipses, Einstein, and the Fabric of our Souls." She explained in understandable language the physics behind the phenomenon with an excellent Powerpoint and emphasized how God was there in every new discovery. People came from California, Texas, New York, Oklahoma and Nebraska to experience the once in a lifetime opportunity. A busload of people from St. Paul's Church in Olathe, Kansas, came with their pastor. I'm sure they will be telling their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that they witnessed the eclipse on August 21, 2017 in Atchison. Liliana Parra, who came with her husband and three young children, said that she had mixed emotions --feelings of aloneness ...

The synagogue leaders shunned me, deemed me demon-possessed. Stooped in body, crushed in spirit. I hobbled to the synagogue, hidden, eyes riveted to the dusty walkway.  Then Jesus called me;  hesitant, I shuffled toward him,  perplexed and fearful, unable to lift my head. Jesus touched me and I felt my body straighten, my eyes lifted to see his face, joy flooded my soul. I could stand up after eighteen years of being horizontal  to the ground, amazing the crowd. Jesus called me a daughter of Abraham, making me part of the family of Israel . Jesus defied Jewish law by speaking to me, a woman in public, touching me, curing me on the Sabbath. He stood up for me and for all those bent over by injustice, hatred, fear or sickness, for when one is crushed, all are laid low and diminished; when one is raised up, all have dignity and worth.

Last Sunday we celebrated the golden jubilee of four sisters at Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas. It was a beautiful celebration of four amazing women who in 1967, in the midst of Vietnam War protests, Beatlemania, race riots, and mini skirts, heard God's call and responded wholeheartedly. They were part of the generation of Baby Boomers who forged new trails and demanded new freedoms. They did not know what lay ahead, but they entrusted their lives to God, knowing he would not be outdone in generosity. There were three other women who made their profession of vows that day, but were called home before they could celebrate this day. They surely celebrated with them in heaven. In her homily, Sister Esther Fangman, our prioress, commented that we celebrate not so much their ministerial contributions which are many, but their 200 years of praying morning and evening for the People of God. Combined, that makes 146,000 times of public prayer over their 50 years, not countin...

On August 21, 2017, residents in a swath extending from Oregon to South Carolina will be able to see a total solar eclipse for approximately two minutes and 40 seconds. It is the first one to be visible across the country in 99 years. During a total eclipse, the moon comes between  the sun and the earth. Darkness will cover the earth and a cool wind will be felt. During the eclipse viewers should be able to see planets and even stars. One place that will be viewing this phenomenon is Atchison, Kansas. The Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica are sponsoring a  retreat and picnic in connection with the event. Dr. Aileen O'Donoghue, associate professor of physics at St. Lawrence University and former observer at the Vatican Observatory, will lead the retreat. She will incorporate the ideas of Teilhard de Chardin, Beatrice Bruteau, and others to explore the origin and evolution of the universe. It will be a time "for seeking the presence and creative action of God in the...