Peace Cranes

 “I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world.” – Sadako Sasaki

 The origami crane became a global symbol of peace because of a little Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki. Sadako was two years old when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and later developed leukemia, also known as “the atom bomb disease,” in the 6th grade.
While in the hospital, she was told the Japanese legend of origami cranes, which said that anyone who folds 1,000 cranes would be granted a wish. Hoping to get well, Sadako folded more than 1,000 before she died at the age 12.


Check out the The Peace Crane Project  from the Sisters of Loretto website...

Church is good for you!

A recent article talks about the insights gathered from an anthropological study of people who attend church. I'm glad to say, I'm not surprised by what she found...

ONE of the most striking scientific discoveries about religion in recent years is that going to church weekly is good for you. Religious attendance — at least, religiosity — boosts the immune system and decreases blood pressure. It may add as much as two to three years to your life. The reason for this is not entirely clear. 

...Healthy behavior is no doubt another part. Certainly many churchgoers struggle with behaviors they would like to change, but on average, regular church attendees drink less, smoke less, use fewer recreational drugs and are less sexually promiscuous than others. 

Read the entire article here... 

When we are no longer dominated by fear, and have experienced the first love of God, we no longer need to know moment to moment what is going to happen. We can trust that good things will happen if we remain rooted in that love. All true education, formation and healing are ways to let the fruits of love grow and develop to full maturity. All ministry is caring attentiveness to vulnerable lives, and a grateful receiving of the variety of fruits by which they manifest their beauty.   Henri Nouwen

Where are you?

for Sunday...

Lent...

The purpose of Lent is not only expiation (the act of atonement), to satisfy the Divine justice, but above all a preparation to rejoice in His love. And this preparation consists of receiving the gift of His mercy--a gift which we receive insofar as we open our hearts to it, casting out what cannot remain in the same room with mercy.

First of all, one of the things we must cast out is fear. Fear narrows the little entrance to our heart. It shrinks up our capacity to love. It freezes up our power to give ourselves. If we were terrified of God as an inexorable (unyielding) judge, we would not confidently await His mercy or approach Him trustfully in prayer. Our peace and our joy in Lent are a guarantee of grace.
                                                                        Thomas Merton

Vanity

Society has a name for mothers who have recently given birth and quickly resumed their former shape...they're called "Yummy Mummys"...in an effort to make us all want to be one. I mean really, who doesn't want to have an infant in arms while wearing a size 2...or less?

This is not a testament against women who have worked hard to get into shape and work even harder to stay that way. Of course it is a healthier way of life! But, unless one is doing it strictly for their own health and well being, it can be a double edged sword. There is a healthy weight (which can be different for each person) and what I'll call Celebrity weight (which might be even worse for you than being a little heavy).

I, for one, have a terrible time trying to loose weight unless I am able to focus most of my time and energy into it. At this point in my life, all my time and energy are already spoken for. I'm heavier than I'd like to be and have been berating myself about it for quite some time. That is, until I sat down and looked at the reasons why I wanted to be slimmer.

Sure, I would like to be healthier...but secretly, down deep inside, I think I have come to believe it will make my future brighter...everything will be easier and better if I loose weight...my clothes will fit better, people will admire me when I enter a room, I will be liked by everyone. "My how good she looks, she can't be a grandmother!" My, how ridiculous! Yes, even those of us on the downward slide from middle age can have fantasies.

If I did drop the extra pounds, my life won't change just because of that...actually, for me, there may even be a down side. I have been married to one man for 34 years and cannot imagine life with another. Even though it's just in my head...why would I want other men to follow after me? I have two grown children who are on their own and have the blessing of an 8 year old grandson in my home...what would he think if Nana lost her lap? Or the soft cushiony area where he likes to lay his head when I hold him. At what price am I willing to loose the peace I have in my home, with my family? God gives us peace ("peace on earth to those on whom His favor rests") and our bodies are His temple. And while, like I said earlier, being healthy is an admirable goal, loosing weight for the sake of my vanity will never be worth the peace in my heart.

I guess all those stars in Hollywood can quit worrying now... ; )

Sargent Shriver...

was many things...a man of faith, the first leader of the Peace Corps, a peace builder, a political leader and an activist. His story can be found here.

A memorable and telling quote from his Class Day address at Yale in 1994:

“Break your mirrors! Yes, indeed — shatter the glass. In our society that is so self-absorbed, begin to look less at yourself and more at each other. Learn more about the face of your neighbor, and less about your own.

I suggest this: when you get to be 30, 40, 50, or even 70 years old, you’ll get more happiness and contentment out of counting your friends than counting your dollars. You’ll get more satisfaction from having improved your neighborhood, your town, your state, your country and your fellow human beings than you’ll ever get from your muscles, your figure, your automobile, your house, or your credit ratings.

You’ll get more from being a peacemaker than a warrior. I’ve been both, so I speak from experience. Break the mirrors!

Be peacemakers of the community, and you and your family will be happy.”

He passed away on Tuesday this week. Please read the "Statement from his family" attachd.

The Peacemaker

Jesus, the Blessed Child of the Father, is a peacemaker. His peace doesn't mean only absence of war. It is not simply harmony or equilibrium. His peace is the fullness of well-being, gratuitously given by God. Jesus says, "Peace I leave to you, my own peace I give you, a peace which the world cannot give, this is my gift to you" (John 14:27).

Peace is Shalom --- well-being of mind, heart, and body, individually and communally. It can exist in the midst of a war-torn world, even in the midst of unresolved problems and increasing human conflicts. Jesus made that peace by giving his life for his brothers and sisters. This is no easy peace, but it is everlasting and it comes from God. Are we willing to give our lives in the service of peace?
Henri Nouwen