God in all things

The Trinity is a Mystery to most people. However, I think it is a lovely image of understanding how someone you love can take on different roles in your life and still be one person. God, as a loving Parent, as a deeply bonded Brother, and as a soul-stirring Spirit is Someone we can depend on whatever we face. This God we hear in the First Reading is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. This is a God we can trust. This is a God who sent His only begotten Son into the world and left the Spirit to remain with us and guide us.

Today on Father’s Day, it is a good  idea to reflect on what this type of unconditional and boundless Love feels like. My father is a man who has spent his whole life giving. I got him talking tonight in a rare walk down memory lane. I often think my father is a Mystery as complex as the Trinity. I asked him to share a memory for us of growing up. Here is what he had to say:

His day started with one of his parents yelling up the stairs at 5:00 am to go and milk the cows. He was seven years old. Some days he would bang his shoe on the floor, to behave as if he had heard and was getting up to do the chore and then he rolled over and went back to sleep. He had to get the chicken eggs too some days. Supper might be a chance to go and fetch one of those chickens to eat.

He talked about the many acres–hundreds of acres–of farm land that he worked without tractors. He did it by foot, hauling the equipment around. Sometimes he had horses. He started working for his neighbour and then the neighbour’s brother. He enjoyed them both, saying they treated him right and feed him well. They were hard workers and that family eventually got a tractor.

He worked hard and then one year, his parents moved to town and left him in charge of the farm. That was all well and good until he had an appendix attack and the doctor had to operate. Then his brother had to go out to the farm and work it while he recuperated.

Eventually, a cousin-friend, who our family grew up with, convinced him to move to the city in which we now call home, and that was that. Listening to him, I had a strong sense that my dad actually loved his childhood, even though it has physically demanding. I was also struck by the respect he had for the other two farmers he worked for. He did work for one other that did not treat him so well, but these two brothers seemed like solid men who instilled in him a work ethic that has always amazed me.

There is still an air of mystery to both my father’s past and the Trinity but I know that sometimes we do not need to know everything in order to feel Love.

Peace,

Suzanne

Often when I go to the prison, I wonder what it is like for the guys to sit and have a normal conversation and maybe forget what their reality is for just a brief while. Tonight’s conversation with one of the guys who has been inside for 14 years revolved around his schooling how well he was doing. He had not been successful in the public school system and when he ended up in the juvenile offender system he did not get credit for courses that he finished. The system lost track of them.

Sometimes the odds of doing a 180-turnaround for these guys is a challenge. They have a lot of circumstances that do not allow them to keep walking on a good path. This man seems keen to do the right thing and to work with people to help them turn their own lives around. He would love to be a social worker but doubted that was possible given his record. He admitted he was in for a violent crime.

Society keeps the unkeepable away from second chances. They put them far away, behind bars. This photo of an elk ranch made me think of inmates. People are somewhat curious and often slow down on the highway for a better look but they would rather continue on their journey than stop and really pay attention to the scene before them. Some visits I walk away with the inmate still on my heart. I know that God is niggling me to pray.

Life inside is far from “fun” and much courage is needed to try to change. Would you pray for the incarcerated now for a moment? It would mean a lot. Thank you.

Peace,

Suzanne

Today I was tired. I woke up to my alarm, something I have not done for a long time. I felt groggy and ended up driving to small-town Manitoba in a bit of a fog-headed mood. After meetings and a bit of a celebratory lunch, I was a little less grumpy but still deep in slumber in my mind.

I returned to the office and worked solid until I realized I was going to be late for a meeting downtown. I shut down the computer and headed out, trying not to feel guilty for not getting to everything today. I feel as if I am a little goosling, chasing after its parents, not able to keep up, anxious on the one hand, and excited on the other. June is definitely busy.

How are you waddling through life today?

Peace,

Suzanne

Tonight I was driving home from out of town, when an RCMP car parked on the side of the highway did a u-turn and followed me. I glanced down at my speed. I was going 105 km/hour, five clicks over. I wondered if something else was wrong that he had observed as I passed him. I was relieved when no siren or lights went off. He stayed behind me for a bit, prior to passing me.

I had heard a snippet of the funeral for the slain mounties out east over the lunch hour on CBC radio. My mind wandered to the emotion and the huge gathering that had taken place earlier today and I could not help but think that it could be this man or another mountie, simply doing their job when someone decides to pull a gun. 

Our world is an odd place these days. Random shootings show how we are unraveling a strong web of interconnectedness. The number of people on social media who were wearing red today in honour of these murdered mounties struck me as I flipped through posts. This senseless act by a young man will unfold I suppose in days ahead. What I want to focus on is how the web is woven between people who plant seeds of peace, who long to instill hope, and who know that Love wins.

May we weave the threads of kinship strong so that less and less we hear about killings like these. There have been too many in the past few weeks.

Peace,

Suzanne

Pentecost Sunday is a favourite feast. I like the images of peace, wind, forgiveness, and gifts. Mostly I like that Christ has promised us this great gift of the Holy Spirit that is given today in rich readings that heal all of us.  Jesus appears once more to his followers, still locked inside the room, filled with fears and doubts. There is no chastisement. Instead he greets them with peace be with you, not once but twice. He could have said so many other words, but chooses to bring the tenderness of grace to their spirits with assuring them that all is forgiven. No anxiety is needed, only deep peace. He points no fingers, assigns no blame, and reaches out with a healing balm to those locked in fear and grief.

In the Second Reading, the gifts that are given through the Spirit allow us to do the work of the Kingdom. By greeting His followers with peace, Jesus allows them to shake off the shame that must have also bond them to not continuing the ministries they had. This Body of Christ–of which we are part of–is blessed with a variety of gifts and of vocations. This Feast allows us to remember that God has given us all we need for the ministries we choose. A violent wind, flames like fire, and the ability to do something that seemed impossible all point to the power of the Holy Spirit. We must humbly accept the gifts bestowed upon us and trust that God will do the unlikely through us.

What gifts are you grateful for today?

Peace,

Suzanne

Some days are just overflowing with joy. Today was a shining example of one of those types of days. I woke up feeling rested and ready for a long day that had been rearranged to fit everything into it. First stop after leaving the house was an excellent work out routine at my local Pilates studio. I never thought I would accelerate my heartbeat as much as I do in this TRX class but it is a great feeling when I am done and have made it through.

After that I was off to the Interlake where the artists were having a studio hopping party. I managed to buy three items–two for others and one for me. I was doing this event with a dear friend and we never have a dull moment–and often an adventure. This time we were so engrossed in conversation that we drove miles past where we needed to be so we took a back road and found a sheep farm. It was great fun.

After that I drove back to the city and straight to my goddaughter’s dance recital where she impressed us all with her spectacular show. She has grown into a confident and talented young woman. I am so proud of her.

What makes a day delightful to you?

Peace,

Suzanne

I was at an event tonight that showcased war, women and the resilience of the human spirit. Rama Mani was sharing her poetry of vignettes of women caught in conflict around the world, portraying their ability to hang on to hope. Interspersed with this were songs and drumming by various performers. This was all followed by a discussion.

I met a woman I had been in South Africa with and she said that she felt like there were so many good things happening in our city around important issues. I agreed. I am definitely busy but it all seems good.

What brings you hope in the midst of despair?

Peace,

Suzanne

I have been aware that I do not always turn to God in my time of need, nor do I remember to give thanks quick enough when that need is answered. The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, a stronghold in the midst of turmoil. I want so much to be more closely united with the Beloved so that my every breathe is filled with gratitude and praise.  If I can trust God at all times, then I can truly relax knowing God has it–all the piddly little details and the big sweeping issues.

The Light of Christ will brighten the dark spaces and illuminate the Truth. The darkness will not win. Being aware of my need to depend solely on the Creator is a deep desire lately. To stand in the midst of the insanity and games, the pain of a world gone somewhat mad, and know God is in control does not come easy to most of us. I think of the heart-broken families and friends of the fallen officers out East this night and know that these past 24 hours have seemed like a nightmare.

May God heal the broken-heartened around the world at this moment and bring comfort to them. May the brokenness allow the Light in.

Peace,

Suzanne

The answer is blowing in the wind some days. Fast on the heels of yesterday’s post, I get to practice my ability to be accountable. Some days my job can be a bit out of control due to personalities involved. I get to test my theory that if one is accountable for one’s actions then the best outcome should unfold.

I am frustrated some days with people who say they want to be better and have the best interests of those they serve at heart and then behave in a different manner when the situation is challenging. Tomorrow I get to see if I am accountable. I am asking myself hard questions such as can I be accountable with grace and mercy? Can I suspend judgment and still be accountable? Can I own my own errors and know that not everyone else will?

It is interesting to me that I want to find a way to the high road without seeming high and mighty about it. This is an improvement for me, born perhaps out of the shame work that I have been doing and reading about. Can I be accountable without the need to shame the other person?  I ask for the grace to do this tomorrow.

Peace,

Suzanne

Today I was thinking about an encounter with a police officer after a car accident with which I had been involved several years ago now. I had gone down to report the incident as the damage required it. He started taking my statement and early on, I said this: It was 100% my fault. His pen came to a screeching halt on the page. He stared at it for a second and then looked up at me with an odd expression.

“OK,” he slowly said, as he tossed the report in a pile of papers, “We’re done here.”

I raised my eyebrows. What had I said wrong? “Ummm….are you sure?”

“Nobody is EVER that honest,” he replied. “Go!”

“Really….?” I stumbled over the word in disbelief. I had been expecting a fine or something.

As I walked out, I wondered if life could be more like that. If people just admitted more freely that they had messed up, then maybe forgiveness would come more easily. If we followed our North Stars that point us in the right direction, we might be surprised. The more I thought about it today I realized that is how Jesus is–He forgives us when we confess our sins. Even more importantly, whether we do or not, He steps up to the plate and is accountable for OUR errors.

When was the last time you admitted you made an error?

Peace,

Suzanne