We Belong to Each Other

For many of us who have lived in community, we can remember the struggles and realities that come along with the invitation to walk together. Nobody is perfect, and no one person can solve community issues on his or her own. This has been my biggest struggle this week, and in some ways I think will be a life long struggle; to be fully and eternally intentional to the all the communities that I am a part of. Many of you on this journey are examples of that. I lost touch, and don’t share myself enough, but if I were to, I would spread myself too thin. If any of you have thoughts on how to sustain the relationships and communities you have been a part of in your past after you leave them, I would love to hear your insights.

I have been praying with the words of Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ a lot this week. That “we must stand against forgetting that we belong to each other.” As I have been reflecting on this thought, I find that I too fall into forgetting those on the margins. What I have realized is that in every community, there is someone that stands on the margins. It can be easy to miss them, and that is where my forgetting slips in.

Fr. Greg invites us to “stand against forgetting…to stand in the right place, With those on the margins, those whose dignity has been denied. To choose to stand with the poor and the powerless and the voiceless. To choose to stand with the easily despised and the readily left out. To choose to stand with those whose burdens are more than they can bear. To stand with the demonized so that the demonizing will stop. And so you stand against forgetting as you leave this place, that we belong to each other."

How can I be more committed to the community that surrounds me? To the communities that I may not be so physically close with?

In what ways have you forgotten that you belong to someone else?

Who sits on the margins of your community, and how can you reach out to them?

I ask you to pray for me, that during this Lenten time, I may grow stronger in not forgetting that I belong to those around me, especially those who I may at times forget to see, and I will do the same for you.

Peace as we continue this Lenten journey.

Marcos

I have included a link to the LMU commencement address where Fr. Greg’s quotes come from, a song from “Playing for Change” that relates with this reflection, as well as a picture on ways to help build community, thank you for being a part of my community.

Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ 2005 LMU Commencement Address

Playing For Change | Peace Through Music

How to Build Community

high, low

one of the best reflection tools i took away from my time as a volunteer was "high, low" around the dinner table with my fellow volunteers. in short, a simple way to express what went well and not so well about your day. so with that, my high/low:

Wednesday High: I went to a local cyber (that's pronounced theeber for all of your Spaniards out there) to print off a few things before classes today and as I walked in there was a little girl, no older than 3-4 years-old with head phones on and dancing to whatever was playing. I sat down next to her and she just danced and danced. As I waited for my stuff to print we exchanged high fives and fist pumps and when I left she screamed "CHAOOOOOO" out the door. Really funny.

Wednesday Low: I prepared for the wrong class today and I realized that as my students walked in with a different book (to clarify, these are my two-hour classes at the bank with adults). Luckily the first half of class was the same, so I was only left scrambling for the second half. But still that kinda sucked. I left class feeling like my students felt like I wasted their time or something. First real low in a while. The hardest part about my schedule is that while I'm only teaching 20 hours a week, its 12 different classes in 8 different locations. At times I feel like all I do is teach, prepare, go to the cyber to print worksheets, repeat. But I'm sure you can all relate in some fashion. Anyway, PTL for work.

peace and love.

Transfigured

Every week I meet with a group of 7 freshman women to pray, reflect, discuss, and ponder the movement of our lives as we collectively listen to the ways in which God uses each of us to lead one other. This week we uses the following as our opening prayer.

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson, co-leader of the USA Department of Peace movement 
(quote often wrongly attributed to Nelson Mandela)

Without realizing it I believe that this poem ties in with this Sunday's Gospel on the  transfiguration of the Lord. Lent is a time of transfiguration. During this time of lent we are invited to turn from darkness and walk in the light. We are reminded that "we were born to make manifest the glory of God within us," and our lenten promises strengthen us to live out this truth. This morning as I read the intercessions below I prayed to be transformed. I prayed to have the strength to let my light shine. I prayed for God to work through me, to use me to do God's work here on earth. I pray that we are all strengthen in our relationships with God and one another during this time of lent.

 Many blessings, Heidi 

INTERCESSIONS

To the transfigured Lord, we pray:  

R//: Lord, renew us in your image.

Transform us by our lenten observance - that we may become visible signs of your kingdom. R//

Deepen us in prayer by our lenten observance - that we may dwell with you in faith and love. R//

Strengthen us in charity by our lenten observance - that we may burn with your love before all the world. R//

Mariam

I spent a bit of time thinking about Mary tonight, a figure that I admittedly don't typically find myself focusing much on during the Lenten season. But tonight at the dance (Matt and I have taken up a new wednesday night obsession, Dances of Universal Peace - not easily explained in words, but basically a time of song/mantra and simple circular dance inspired by various religious practices www.peaceworksdancesna.org) we did a dance in the Islamic tradition honoring Mariam (Mary), apparantly the equivalent of a saint in the Muslim world (which I did not know, but found quite enjoyable). Basically it just got me thinking of her, and how this type of preparation was one for her as well. Of her undying faith and acceptance, and of her humility.

She's a pretty rad lady. Maybe there should be another 40 days dedicated solely to her....