Inspired by Scholastica

I never thought I would read or like a book about ice hockey. I don't know anything about the sport. But I picked up the book "Us against You" because I had read another book ("A Man Called Ove") by the same author, Fredrik Backman. Actually the book is more about human relationships than about hockey. There are two rival hockey teams in two small towns, Beartown and Hed, but the relationships of the team members and their families and friends is what held my attention. The book deals with rape, homosexuality, death, marital tensions, alcoholism, local politics, friendship and leadership. The author explores these situations with honesty and realism. There is never any sentimentality or condemnation. Backman shows the weaknesses as well as the strengths of the characters. He makes the reader care about what happens to them. One of my favorite characters is Ana, whose boyfriend is a member of the opposing team. She is strong and independent as she deals w...

I recently spent some time with another sister's brother and sister-on-law. Jack, her brother celebrated his 90th birthday while we were there. He is amazing for his age. He still drives, cooks, tends a garden, walks the dog, play cards and board games, enjoys watching baseball and keeping up with politics. He has some health issues, but he keeps plugging along as if he's 70.  As I grow older, I find traveling is not as much fun as it used to be. Airports are challenging, plane seats are uncomfortable, walking is tiring, and suitcases are heavy. At my age, I'd rather curl up with a good book, watch a movie on TV, or play a game of Scrabble. Now I understand why I could hardly get my mother to go anywhere with me in her later years. Going away makes me appreciate my familiar surroundings and people more. Even if I've heard the stories before, I usually forget some of the parts.The way my memory is going, they'll soon all seem new. And sleeping in one's ...

At a recent meeting of my religious community, we had a discussion on "critical junctures," in light of planning for our future. It brought to mind critical junctures in our personal lives where we have to make a decision that will impact our future. It might be a time of selecting a field of study in college, choosing a marriage partner, or taking a particular job. It could also be smaller junctures like having an argument with a neighbor or friend and making a decision to resolve it peacefully or carry a grudge. Or perhaps a choice of whether to say something uplifting to another person or ignoring her or him. Critical junctures can give us the opportunity to be kind and loving or mean and hateful. Our lives are full of choices and what we choose determines what kind of person we turn out to be. We are affected by the examples we see around us. If our parents were generous, loving people, hopefully we will be too. If they failed to model good behavior, we have o...

A careful look at the causes behind immigrants flooding our southern border reveals some astounding facts.The US has a long history of backing political leaders in Central America who oppress the poor, eradicate those who resist, and utilize corrupt justice systems. During the Salvadoran civil war in the 1980's, the US supported the military government which was using death squads to wipe out any resistance. Military and monetary aid to the Salvadoran government from the US continued until 1990, averaging 1.5 million dollars a day. Only when the United Nations exposed human rights violations did things begin to change. But corrup-tion and oppression continues, causing the indigenous people to seek a better life. Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua have similar histories with the US supporting right wing leaders who regard any resistance as a threat to their power. Drug cartels and gang wars have been creating havoc and the wealth continues to be in hands of the upper one percent...

   Life is made up mainly of ordinary days. The routine of rising, eating breakfast, going to work, making supper, washing dishes, doing laundry, sleeping goes on without too much change. Sometimes boredom creeps in and we wish for something different. That's when we need to sit back and be grateful for the "dailyness," the gift of being able to live our days without having to worry about having enough food, of having a job, of living without violence, of enjoying air conditioning, means of travel, clean air to breathe (for the most part), electricity, and many other modern conveniences. If we had been born in Africa, many parts of Asia, some parts of Latin America, we could not count on these things. When life seems humdrum, I think about the immigrants seeking asylum and a better life, and realize how blessed I am. When I think of children growing up in the midst of war and lack of food and health care, I am ashamed of my complaints. When I think of people livi...

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world                                                 William Butler Yeats Yeats sounds prophetic of our times when all that is true is called fake, when all that is evil is considered good. As we look out at our divided country, we see so little justice, compassion, or dignity. Our elected leaders lack courage and integrity, greed is rampant, and chaos is spread across the world. Our ideals of freedom and unity have been abandoned for bullying, lying and isolationalism. The rallying cry is “America first and to h--- with the rest of the world.”   Martin Niemoller This is not the kind of world most of us want to live in. Yet if those of us who desire peace...

Last Sunday we celebrated the 50th jubilee of one of our sisters. It was a joyous occasion with community, family and friends gathered to honor Sister Helen. Sister Helen is a farm girl from Seneca, Kan., and still enjoys working in the garden and mowing grass. For 50 years she has been faithful to her vows of stability, conversion of life, and obedience. Moreover, God has been faithful to her, gifting her with many graces and blessings. Sister Helen was part of Covenant Monastery in Harlan, Iowa, for a number of years, hoping to start a new foundation there. When it did not materialize, she returned to her community in Atchison, Kan. I'm sure it was disappointing, but she accepted it as God's will and adapted to the change of plans.  Looking back over a half century, there must have been many challenges and disappointments as well as many blessings and good times. They have all contributed to a full life of dedication to God and God's people. We are grateful fo...