Thursday, September 23, 2010

Nature

I have to admit I am a real city girl-born and raised in the Bronx- lived in apartments till I entered the convent. I always traveled by bus, subway, cab and foot. During my adult years, I was always in my car. Now I'm living in Soho, Manhattan and traveling via subway to work, school and home.

During today's prayer time, I came across the following quote:

Glance at the sun. See the moon and the stars. Gaze at the beauty of earth's greenings. Now, think What delight God gives to humankind with all these things. All nature is at the disposal of humankind. We are to work with it. For without it, we can not survive.
- St. Hildegard of Bingen

I began to realize when I reflected how I take nature for granted and don't always take time to sit in the grass, smell the flowers and enjoy the cool breezes from the water. I need to start doing that more so I can survive my busy year of dissertation writing and teaching.

Sr. Jeannie

Friday, September 17, 2010

Jesus, Women, Travel and Resources

Today's Gospel- Luke 8: 1-3 says the following: "Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources."

Upon first reading it and hearing that the women had to be cured of evil spirits and infirmities angered me. What are women the only ones suffering? Who decided their spirits were evil? I'm sure some of the Twelve suffered too.

But then I reread the Gospel again and saw the line and many others who provided for them out of their resources and was touched by the generosity. How wonderful!!

Plus I was struck by the lines Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another. Today I'm off on various tasks for the weekend. I will travel toand from the following places: SoHo, Hartsdale, New Rochelle, Hastings on Hudson, Bronx, Croton-on Hudson, Yonkers and that's all I know of right now. However, I must remember that Jesus also traveled and when he did-he preached and proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God. I might not be a preacher but I can be kind and generous to all those I meet in my travels.

How can you be like Jesus in your travels?

Sr. Jeannie, osu

Friday, September 10, 2010

A 3 Minute Online Retreat

My Ursuline Sisters of the Eastern Province of the United States Roman Union Ursulines is in the process of reconfiguring with 3 other provinces to become a new single province in the United States. Each member is involved in Self-Organizing Groups on topics related to our life and how we want them to be in our new "life". Some sisters are also involved in Deep Dive Groups where we are being asked to look deeply and closely at certain topics.

I am involved in the New Membership Deep Dive with 3 other sisters. The other day, on an email, one of the sisters Mary Beth Read, osu was thanking Jean Hopman, osu for information on Loyola Press 3 Minute Retreats. Mary Beth is currently in parish work at St. John the Baptist in Yonkers, NY and Jean works as an editor for Loyola Press. Jean had been sharing with Mary Beth some information about how Loyola Press could help her with resources for her ministry. One resource she shared was the 3 Minute Online Retreats that Loyola Press offers daily. So I decided to look it up and now have that sent to my email each day. So I start my day off with this prayer, look at it throughout the day again and look again once before I go to bed. I love it.

Please check out www.loyolapress.com Go to Online Community and scroll down to 3 Minute Retreat.

This program has enriched my prayer life. I hope you will experience the same.

Sr. Jeannie, osu

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

A Great Quote

"If you want to be always in God's company, you must pray regularly and read the Scriptures regularly. When we pray, we talk to God; when we read, God talks to us."
St. Isidore of Seville

I found this quote when I opened up my missalette a few minutes ago for prayer. I always talk to God during prayer but don't honestly always read reflectively and look at it as God talking to us. To me prayer is always about conversation, but sometimes I forget it needs to be two way. I must read the Scriptures more so I hear God's voice more clearly.

Sr. Jeannie Humphries, osu

Friday, September 3, 2010

Being Present

Last night,as I was sitting in the air-conditioned community room, I flipped through September 2010 edition of Redbook magazine.

I came across the editor's notebook page on which the question What advice do you live by? was posed to many people. Tim Gunn happened to be one of responders. His advice began with "Give 100 percent of your attention to the person you're with."

So often I find myself multi-tasking in life, checking email while listening to music, eating while watching television, printing out a paper while making my bed etc.. At times I even find myself multi-tasking when someone is talking to me. Often it involves me listening to the person talk and I'm staring and working on my computer whether it's reading or writing email or a paper. I don't even sometimes look up at the person. That is not good.

This week during PD workshops, I saw so many people (myself included) looking through our phones and other keeping in touch tools instead of fully listening. A bad habit that I want to work on ending.

I think I'll take Tim Gunn's advice and start really paying attention to the person I'm with. I know I like it when people pay attention to me. So why shouldn't I do the same. After all as the Gospel message says "Treat others as you would like to me treated."