Wisdom from the Pope......

Today was a pretty hard day, probably one of the hardest that I have had in a long time. I lost a coworker this weekend and the sorrow that it has caused in our community is overwhelming. For the homeless, those that provide services to them in many ways become their family so the sorrow that those I serve was intense. I also felt my own greif over the loss of a great man, coworker, and friend. When I came home today, an article in the criterian jumped out at me. It was an article about suffering written by Pope Benedict XVI. "We are called to participate with our whole being in the entire event of the death and resurrection of Christ. We have as the Apostle says died with Christ, and we believe we will live with him. The affirmation that those who have been baptized into Christ's death will rise with him implies that there will be suffering, but that suffering and death will not have the last word. To live with faith in Jesus Christ, means having to renounce things each day. It implies suffering. Christianity is not the path of ease, but is more like a challenging climb. Only by plumbing the depths of suffering, do we find the deepest meaning of life, its beauty, its great hope, and promise."

These words brought me great comfort and helped me to realize that I experienced this in it fullness today. It was in the sorrow that saw and expereinced today that I was reminded of the sanctity of life and the impact that loving and serving those in need has on the world. I was reminded again today of the importance of living a life dedicated to loving God and loving service to our neighbors. I also experienced in a deep way the comfort of knowing that I am loved and supported not only by God, but by many others. I felt the prayer support of many giving me the strength to comfort those mourning around me. I received many phone calls and a special surprise coffee drop off be the best vocation director ever. I am truly blessed to have the support of my family and the Sisters of St. Benedict. They encourage me to continue to use my gifts in the service of the Lord each day. Most importantly these words reminded me that Christ's death and resurrection gives us the hope for our own resurrection at the end of our days and that Greg's death is not the end, but a new beginning.

Things I love about Our Lady of Grace Monestary

I have been cleaning and simplifying the past few days since I got home from Our Lady of Grace monastery vocations retreat. While cleaning out my closet I found my journal from last year and in it I found an entry that listed all the things that I loved about the monastery. Although I could probably add a hundred more to it now, I thought it was interesting to reread what I love about the monastery than and think about all the things I love now.

A year ago I broke my list down into three categories; prayer, hospitality, and community life.

Prayer
- singing the songs/psalms and they way that the songs continue to resound in my heart once prayer has ended.
- that life is centered around prayer and seeking God in all things.
- the silence after each reading that brings peace to the soul.
- praying for the world and local communities.
- that all of life is lived as a prayer to God by each sister

Hospitality
-guests are always greeted with a kind hello and smile
-that each sister lives out hospitality on a day to day basis in their ministry
- that guests are invited to help....I always enjoy doing dishes there
- the openness of the sisters to get to know guests

Community Life
- common mission to be people of constant conversion, seeking God together, and encouraging one another to use their gifts and talents to serve God and God's people.

I created this list around Thanksgiving last year and later I will post my list from this year. One thing is for sure I still do love this community of benedictine women and I truly blessed to be an affiliate working towards entering. I am sure that as the years go by my list will continue to grow.....

Italy Trip

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Italy. It was one of the greatest experiences that I have ever had. I was able to experience the christian faith in such a powerful way. I thought I would share a few of my trip pictures on my blog.

The Kingdom of God.....

Throughout the past few weeks at mass the theme of building the kingdom of God here on earth has come up on more than one again. One of my favorite songs from the Taize community proclaims this call on our lives so beautifully. The words proclaimed in the song are "The kingdom of God is justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Come Lord and open in us the gates of your kingdom." Every time I hear or sing this song the words penetrate my soul and I am reminded that building the kingdom of God begins within me. I must allow God to change me. I must allow God to open within me His kingdom, a kingdom where justice and peace rule, where love rises above all other things. As I allow God to change me, than I am given the grace to love, serve, and build his kingdom here and now. I was reminded again this week of how God uses so many aspects of our lives to change us within. I am changed daily through the ministries that God has blessed me with. As I work with the homeless and the elderly, God teaches me how to love a little bit more deeply with each passing day. He calls me out of myself and into a world that is other focused. I also am transformed through the holy friendships in my life. I have been blessed to have people on my journey who are above all else completely honest with me. They encourage my growth and help me to realize when my pride or stubbornness is getting in the way of me participation in the building of the kingdom of God. All to often I can get wrapped up in doing things perfect or succeeding at everything that I loose focus on the big picture. My local parish priest, Father Paul reminded me the other day that Mother Teresa said that "we are called upon not to be perfect, but faithful." This has become my new mantra as I try and untangle myself from this need to do everything and allow myself to be who I am. I am a child of God far from perfect, but working towards becoming the person God is calling me to be. It is my prayer and hope that I would continue to be faithful to God and who he is calling me to be so that I may help to build his kingdom here and now on earth. Finally, I am changed through regularly receiving the sacraments of the church. It is through these sacraments that I receive the graces needed to truly change. I am so thankful for God and for the ways in which he is molding and shaping me to become more like him.

My Safe Place

Recently, one of our homeless neighbors at work shared with us a poem that he had written about our day shelter. It was shared at our fundraiser earlier this month and now I will share it with those of you who read my blog. It made me reflect once more on the importance of hospitality and the need that we all have for a safe place to be ourselves. A place where we are not judged, but loved for who we are and for the person we are trying to become. May this poem be a reminder to each of us to continue to live lives of hospitality, reaching out to those that God has place in our path.

My Safe Place

Just when I thought all was lost

I heard about this place

I was hungry, tired, and scared

until behind the counter I saw this smiling face.

That one smile assured me, that it was going to be o.k.

and that I wasn't alone.

For I wasn't the only one that was without a home,

Over the weeks of me walking through those big glass doors

I know I have found security

I need nothing more

Although there are hundreds of faces the staff see a day,

when I approach the desk they call me by name and help me right away

No matter my problem big or small they seem to work through them all.

I thank the Lord for for keeping me safe and for giving me this place.

Pumpkin Spice Latte = Fall is coming soon!!!!

This morning I was absolutely delighted that it is once again pumpkin spice latte season. This is my favorite drink and it only becomes available during my favorite time of year, fall. I love fall and I thought that I would share with all who read this post some of the reasons that I love fall past and present. Now I do realize that fall does not officially begin until closer to the end of this month, but the latte does symbolize its eminent arrival.

I think my love for fall came almost from birth because fall is harvest time at the Foltz Family Farm. Growing up we spent every Fall weekend that I can remember up at my Grandparents farm in Michigan helping harvest the winter berry. Winter berry can be found in almost every floral arrangement from thanksgiving through the new year and our grandparents grew and sold it every year until both of them had passed. I was a part of the production process from the time I was old enough to pick leaves and my whole family participated in the process. It was so much fun. We also use to take breaks to rake up huge piles of leaves and jump into them. I was quite the little dare devil when I was younger ( I don't know what happened). I use to love climbing on top of the fence and jumping into the huge pile of leaves that Holly and I made. We also use to go on walks with my grandma on breaks and she would teach us life lessons on those walks. My grandmother was truly a gift from God. She loved God so much and her family with all that she was especially her grandchildren. She always encouraged us to be who God was calling us to be. When I graduated from high school she gave me a bible and in it she write "No matter what the trails of life may be the lessons in this book will get you through. Know that God loves you with an everlasting love and He will guide you all the days of your life." The fall lessons my grandmother taught us and the time we spent together as a family having fun are why I have such a deep love for fall. We spent hours working together, cooking together, watching movies together, and playing cards. Those fall memories and those life experience have helped to form me into the person I am today. It was in those moments of family togetherness that I knew I was truly loved not only by God but by my family.

Although, I am no longer a part of the fall harvest I look back upon it with loving memories and realize that I am still a part of the fall harvest just in a different way. Now I am investing in and working on harvesting souls. In the fields, we nurtured the plants and the fields so that they would produce the berries need to have a good harvest. This fall I continue to work towards teaching our homeless neighbors the skills needed to find meaningful employment and I know that as I tend to the needs of the neighbors here eventually they will be ready for the harvest and move on to the next chapter of their lives.

This fall, I am also looking forward to having two service learning students from U of I, a trip to Rome, a vocations retreat, and hopefully a new roommate. I think you can see now part of the reason why I love fall so much. God has truly blessed me with a plentiful harvest in life through relationships both in the past and currently. I love that I do not journey alone, but have wonderful people with me in all seasons of life.

The Adventures of L and H (part 1)

This weekend one of my closest friends, Laura Ann Steed, returned to town. We met in college at U of I and we spent this past year until May living together. In May, she moved to NC to begin Grad School at Duke. She is a first year Divinity student. Our friendship has been a blessing since day one. I am continually amazed at how we can go months without seeing each other, but when we are together it seems as if no time has passed at all. We are two peas in a pod and I treasured this time that we had together. I thought I would share some of our adventures with you! The picture above is from our meeting place halfway between Laura's parents House and Indy at this huge candle shop.
The weekend was filled with meeting up with people that we both love dearly. It began with Coffee and holy conversation with Sr. Jennifer. Three things that I love dearly!!! We had a great time. Upon our departure, we went to the monastery and met up with Sr. Nicolette. We had dinner and than played rummy with Sr. Catherine and Sr. Eugenia. We had a lot of fun, but it did get a little competitive. I was threatened at one point that if I went out one more time that I would no longer be prayed for. haha. Laura won both games, which Sr. Eugenia said that they always let guest win. I love that I am no longer considered a guest and I can not wait to enter. I desire that so much...if only I could figure out a quicker way to pay off my student loans. It is really nice to have friends that are open to going and hanging out at the monastery. It is a reminder to me of how blessed I am to have supportive friends and family on my journey. After that we met up with my sister and some friends at b-dubs. We hung out for quite some time and than went back to the burg (aka our house). I will share more about our adventures later this week..........