Reviewing Resolutions

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest

I am reviewing my 2011 resolutions. I have been home quietly enjoying being by myself, after being out every night for the past two weeks or more. I chuckled earlier this evening after mass when one of the young ‘uns asked, “Did you just say you hoped to be in bed by 10:00?” I had but obviously that deadline has come and gone.

With my journal entry from last year in front of me, I am reflecting on how I did with my dreams and goals. The first one had to do with writing. I wanted to start a new blog and try to write daily. Today ends the year with postings created 358 of the 365 days. Now, some of those were not for lack of trying. Blogspot and Shaw did not always cooperate with me. I had a goal to journal more but I think the blogging replaced that. I did not feel a need. So for those of you who were reading my blog, you could say that you were reading my journal too. I had hoped to start a novel. I kicked around a couple of ideas but I am still waiting for something to become clearer in this regard. This goes back on my list for 2012. I have been editing a friend’s homilies and have a good chunk of them selected for publication. I will have to get more serious about this in the coming year. I have been at it for almost a year and so I would like to complete this project by summer.

I had hoped to visit more with family and friends and this did happen but not as much as I would have hoped. As Guest suggests above, I would like to play the friend more in this life.

I had hoped to exercise more as well. I did manage to complete the Tai Chi class I was taking and continue on with Pilates. I still do Pilates and have been thinking I should review the Tai Chi dvd and practice some. I tried to walk once a week and succeeded for a good while but even though we have had a record mild winter, I did not keep it up. Curves did not seem to be my thing but the new gym I am at may be the ticket.

Prayer was also on my agenda. I start every day with the mass readings and try to do an Examen at the end of the day, though I do fall asleep on occasion. I had hoped to return to Taize but instead was blessed to be selected to attend the Jesuit Congress in Ontario this summer and that turned out to be a holy experience. My Chemin Neuf group is a wonderful part of my life. I enjoy the people and our sharing. It keeps me on a good path and for that I am grateful. I was able to make it out to St. Benedict’s for a retreat. Sadly, though, I find myself avoiding mass at my church during the week. I am so disturbed by what is going on there that I find it hard not to be filled with anger. My spiritual home that has been so important to me is being slowly destroyed. I hope something shifts soon.

I had hoped for some romance this year but the year is ending without a single date. I did meet a few interesting men but nothing came of it. I tried to push my comfort zone by attending events where I might meet someone new so this satisfies the attempt to be more open and available.

I see that I hoped to volunteer to do something fun. Hmmm….I am not sure if I did this. Celeste, if you are reading this, I realize this was your wish for me. I have volunteered for many things this year but were they really fun?? I wonder if volunteering to organize 50 smaller birthday parties ranks as fun. I know that these were a great joy to me. I am not sure if volunteering as a spiritual director can be classified as fun (I see Celeste shaking her head) but I must say, I am thoroughly enjoying being back in that position again. Ok, how about Taiko drumming? Would that count? One of the activities I discovered this year was making photobooks in a new way. I enjoy that a lot and am also just starting to look at making my photos into cards.

I had hoped to travel and had on my list a number of places, which I managed to make. Kelowna, Vancouver area, St. Catharines, and Mississauga were all achieved as well as Minneapolis. I also had Taize, Singapore, and California on my list. Singapore will be the big travel event of 2012. I also managed to hit Calgary this year to visit my brother and take an Alaskan cruise to as a 50th birthday gift to myself.

Under health, I hoped to lose weight and did for a while this summer but am now at an all time high. I am more conscious of what I eat, although I do not always make healthy choices. This was a baby step this year. I did find a new way to exercise with the gym program and so I look forward to seeing what 2012 brings in this regard.

For work, I had hoped to begin to prepare for retirement and to begin to look at options for other employment. Instead, I had a pretty good work year in places. I still have in my mind it would do no harm to meet with HR and begin to prepare for retirement and maybe explore other options within government that might be less stressful and allow me to do other activities I love to do.

The last area I looked at was to find a place to live where I could be warm, safe, and happy. I wanted to entertain more and to live more simply. I did not really make much headway in this regard, though, I am toying with the idea of buying more seriously than ever before. My eye is on Craiglist often for the rentals. I looked at a few places this year and am perhaps a little sad that I did not jump on one of them. My little space heater is on as I type this. My landlord still drives me crazy for the most part. I have not had many people visit. I would say this area gets the lowest of all marks but not because I did not try.

So those were my resolutions from last year. In retrospect though, the year was awesome. I can look back and say that I have lived and loved and laboured well to create a happy year. I was able to travel extensively, see many of the people who have positively influenced my life and life choices, tried many new adventures, created successful moments at work, made a difference in people’s lives all over the world (especially in DRC with some fundraising), and at the end of the year, can look back proudly over the blessings that God has showered upon me for 2011. It has been a stellar jubilee year for me and I am so incredibly grateful for all of it.

May you take a moment to review your year and find the blessings that were yours.

Peace,

Suzanne

12 Days of Eating

"Eat little, sleep sound." ~Iranian Proverb

I think I have this proverb backwards right now. I have been feasting for days and sleeping mere hours. Tonight was another evening of snacking on treats, although the photo is from last night’s potluck.

There are many calories that are placed in front of me these days and so it is no small wonder that my weight increases. However, this evening I did work out again at the body sculpting place and liked it again. There was a whole new routine. I feel much more energetic afterwards. I was happy to have a hot tub to sit in tonight to assist my weary muscles.

Tonight I watched the 12 Days of Christmas on YouTube with by Boy Mongoose, an Indian version of the song. Then we clicked on the Farting Elves and 12 Days out of curiosity. The free I-Tunes 12 Days keeps coming with good stuff. Zellers did a crazy thing by posting a coupon for 50% off on Facebook and people scored all kinds of great deals until they pulled the coupon. If you were lucky enough to get one, use it. I got a great deal today!

I see that I will have failed this proverb once again but am soon heading to bed and able to sleep in tomorrow so here is hoping that while the old year fades away in a non-Iranian way, the New Year might have to start off differently.

Peace,

Suzanne

Potluck, Piñata and Prayer

“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” ~ Mitch Albom

Tonight I had a delightful evening with members of the Chemin Neuf Community, some of whom had traveled from Boston and Little Rock to break bread with us. We had a gathering time initially over an amazing guacamole and cream cheese log with nacho chips and then made our way to pray in the chapel with the children before our potluck supper.

What an amazing meal it was!! Prepared by many hands, the ham and fixings were delicious. We then took a break while the children heard the story of the piñata and how it represents sin—it looks so pretty but God breaks open the glossy exterior and the good stuff gets to come out. I had not heard that explanation before. A sea of tasty desserts followed and then the children settled into games and a video while the adults had a time of prayer and sharing in the chapel.

I enjoyed all parts of the evening. I especially loved getting to know these people who are committed to following God in their lives and raising families who are part of a community. As I drove home, I sensed that deep longing once again to live in community. Albom may have it right. Community and service gives life meaning and purpose.

I am not sure where the Chemin Neuf Community is going here in Winnipeg but I do see it as a much needed element here. I enjoy meeting the people who are drawn to the community. Tonight I caught sight of Christ as He moved amongst us. Community creates that environment for me. What does community do for you?

Peace,

Suzanne

Stuffed for Days

"The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you're hungry again." ~ George Miller

The same could be said for Indian food in the form of the never-ending buffet. Oh my! I am stuffed and will be for days. Wait! I have yet another meal tomorrow night with friends, not to mention a luncheon. Oy! I feel the pounds settling in.

I went to Curves for my final visit in my free month. I asked to be “weighed out” even though I knew I had gained weight. Apparently, the good news is that I lost two pounds in body fat.

One of my goals for the New Year is to lose weight so hopefully this year will start off better than it is ending.

Peace,

Suzanne

Body Sculpting

"Living a healthy lifestyle will only deprive you of poor health, lethargy and fat." ~ Jill Johnson

Today I started a new regiment of exercise at a Body Sculpting Studio. The process is a circuit where you do five different routines three times with stretching in between. I sort of liked it but it is definitely way more challenging than Curves, which also uses a circuit.

This is fast-paced and you absolutely sweat. As I was leaving, I had to walk down three steps and my legs felt a little like jello. I am going to try it out for 10 sessions and see what happens. I need to adapt a few of the routines for my shoulder but otherwise it may be ok. By the third round of the exercise, I start to fade. It will be interesting to see if by the end of ten sessions there is a difference in my ability to do them without breathing so heavy.

My goal for 2012 is to live a healthier lifestyle for all of the reasons above. Deprivation sometimes is a good thing. The photo is a year old and I have gained about 10 pounds since then. I am at an all-time high as far as my weight goes and so I need to drop about 20 pounds in the coming year. With Type II Diabetes, high cholestrol, high blood pressure, and heart issues in the family, I need to take better care of myself. Wish me luck!!

Peace,

Suzanne

Born in a Stable....?

"God does some of his best work in caves." ~ John Ortberg

I have been thinking a lot about this quote since reading it this fall. At this time of year, I cannot help but reflect that the baby Jesus, according to some scholars, was born in a cave. Half a life ago, when I was in rural Greece, I realized that a stable did not necessarily translate into the traditional North American image because I discovered animals were kept in a cave in the hillside. As Jesus’ earthly life began in a cave so His resurrection occurred there too. God does do some of his best work in caves.

Oftentimes we think of Christmas as only the birth of the baby without considering the life of Jesus. Jesus came so that we would have Life. He became human and walked among us. He taught us how to love one another. He healed people. He worked hard and often took quiet moments to recuperate and reflect. He held out hope. He made people ponder what they were doing with their lives. He inspired people. He challenged folks. Christ turned everything upside down in an irreversible way. In 33 short years, his life made a difference. My former pastor used to say Christmas was messy. The passage to Bethlehem was long, arduous, and unwelcoming. The birth itself, he insisted, should never be thought of as sterile—most labours and deliveries are not. Christ is not born in a palace but he is a king. Oxen and sheep share his birthing room yet angels announce his arrival—to shepherds, of all people. Christmas is one of the greatest love stories ever told: God gives us a Son as a human infant so that we may learn to love as God loves—and to know we are deeply loved. My pastor was also a real fan of the Incarnation—of the Word becoming flesh and living among us. If we just look at the birth as the reason for celebration, we miss the point.

I wrote the above as part of my annual Christmas letter. Christmas carols have stopped playing on the radio and the magic of the season is shifting as people trudge through the malls looking for Boxing Day sales. I took a time out this afternoon and watched "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo" with a friend. Hollywood did a wonderful rendition of the Swedish book. I want to not miss the point of these 12 days of Christmas. I went to mass today on the Feast of St. Stephen just to remind myself that the caves are linked. Christmas and Easter cannot be separated.

Peace,

Suzanne

Not So White Christmas

"Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white'." ~ Bing Crosby

This photo is of Christmas 2008 when the snow was piled high at home. This year I do not have a comparison shot but there is literally just a dusting. As I strolled the neighbourhood after returning from the family gathering tonight, I was dressed in my fall coat, my thin gloves, and a head warmer. I was walking off the mashed potatoes and gravy and taking in the sights of the season (the twinkling lights) and smells (lots of people had fires going in their homes.

I am grateful for the family times when they are not dysfunctional. Today was a great day. Now I am ready for an early bedtime. I may just surprise my uncle and aunt out west and give them a call first.

Have a blessed Christmas season, folks. The twelve days start now.

Peace,

Suzanne

Christmas Eve Blessings

“Christmas is a season for celebrating the miracles that change our lives and bring more joy than we ever dreamed possible.” ~ words on a Christmas card that was opened tonight

Ah, just home from mass. We have three masses, packed full to the choir rafters on Christmas Eve but I go to the middle one to hear the folk group. Tonight was the first mass in a long time that I felt a deep peace and great joy as my spiritual home felt warm and welcoming. The church was decorated beautifully with trees lit up, sparkling in the darkened church during the final Silent Night. One of the visiting musicians was greeted with thundering applause after he sang O Holy Night. Go Tell It On the Mountain had people rocking out as they processed out. Alleluia!! Such a joy! Christ is born. My heart was ready.

Christmas Eve has several routines to it. I go to my high school friend’s home in the afternoon. Today her sister and parents stopped by at the end of our visit. It was lovely to see them all. Prior to heading to mass I go to another friend’s home for supper and then we all head to mass together. Tonight we went a little earlier so that we could set up for mass.

When I finally get home, I always open my Christmas gifts in front of my little Nativity scene in front of the Christmas tree. I am so deeply grateful for all I received this year, both material and spiritual. I am praying for a bit of miracle this Christmas for myself that will bring more joy than I dream possible. My heart is ready, dear Saviour. Please hear my prayer.

To all of you this Holy Eve, may you know the joy of a miracle that changes your life in ways you never dreamed possible.

Peace,

Suzanne

Share the Joy

“When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.” ~ Luke 1:57 & 58

Today’s reading caught me as I prepared to write my blog. My cousin Kathy had called from BC and I had actually been planning on calling her. It was nice of her to beat me to the punch. I often think of her when I read about Elizabeth and Mary and the amazing relationship they had. I had read the gospel earlier in the day but tonight the final words of the quote were read anew. People shared Elizabeth’s joy. Wow!! We do that, don’t we? I am sure that Mary shared Elizabeth’s joy but I had not thought about her relatives, neighbours and friends. Of course, they would have rejoiced with her at the birth of her long-awaited son.

Kathy and I often share joys. That is us at the top of one of my favourite places in BC. As we chatted tonight, she mentioned that she noticed I had 350 blogs postings written. I am not sure how that happened as I did miss a few days and I started January 1. I am not sure how blogger tracks these things. It is a joy to have written almost a complete year almost every day as it has helped me reflect on my life.

Elizabeth’s son prepared the way for Christ. God showed Elizabeth great mercy. People who knew her shared her joy. These are all good things to reflect on the night before Christmas Eve.

Peace,

Suzanne

Christmas Cards

"Rats. Nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish there weren't a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?" ~ A Charlie Brown Christmas

I did get Christmas cards today but I also spent the evening writing cards and sending Christmas emails. I ran out of letters though so I have had to wait to finish that project since my printer cartridge is now thirsty. I also seem totally disorganized after a good start. I know I bought stamps for the USA but darned if I can find them. They won’t arrive before Christmas Day but the 12 days of Christmas start then so I will still be in the Christmas season.

I know that some people wait for Christmas cards, just like Charlie Brown, so I hate to disappoint them, or make them feel like nobody likes them.

Do you know that people like you?

Peace,

Suzanne

Tick Tock...God is Coming Nearer

"The Christian faith can never be separated from the soil of sacred events, from the choice made by God, who wanted to speak to us, to become man, to die and rise again, in a particular place and at a particular time." ~ Joseph Ratzinger

God is coming nearer. In just a few days, God will arrive anew. Am I ready? On all kinds of levels, the response is no. Will God come anyway? Yes. Will I stop long enough to welcome the Christ Child in? Yes. Whatever happens, Christmas in the truest sense will arrive as a blessing in my life. Praise God!!

Thanks for coming to us as a human, living among us, dying and rising to new life.

Peace,

Suzanne

Bitten by the Grinch

“Blast this Christmas music. It's joyful and triumphant.” ~ The Grinch, Dr. Seuss

Today I succumbed to a Grinch-like attitude. I had not been in the office most of this month but today the politics got to me. I was extremely grumpy half-way through my office day.

Somehow I had to pull it together as I was the MC for the holiday/retirement party, which actually turned out pretty darn good, despite me having a major headache, still feeling yucky and trying desperately to stuff the Grinch into a bag. The retiree had a hoot and so did those gathered. Mission accomplished, I would say.

I arrived home to find that my landlord had entered my apartment without my permission (again!) and created more chaos than was already there. Tonight was not the night for that. He had also left several lights on for hours it seems and broke my garbage can. He tends to break things and not tell me about them when he is in my suite. So my Grinch finally did get the better of me, I must shamefully confess. I called him and left a message for him to please stop entering my apartment when I am not home. I appreciate the work that he did but who needs to come home after a 11-hour day and start cleaning a mess that you did not make? I stopped short of telling him to replace my garbage can but I will ask him to do so when I calm down. I had hoped finally to put up my tree but I lost the mood sadly.

Bah Humbug….oops! Now I am mixing my references.

Peace,

Suzanne

Circle of Light

O come Emmanuel,
Ransom us, held captive by our grief,
Mourning in lonely exile
During this festive season.
Scarred by death,
Scared of this holiday.

~Verse in a Litany in Circle of Light Service written by me

Tonight we gathered for the 16th year for the annual Christmas Remembrance Service in my parish. The ministry started with a handful of us, some of whom are still involved today. The evening of song, story, and prayer is interspersed with meaningful rituals meant to draw out the grief of Christmas before having to experience it in a larger crowd.

About 70 people came out tonight to remember. The service felt wonderful tonight. I still am grateful that I can give back to the community that helped me survive my winter of grief. With the recent news that one of the past participants is dying, I found myself a little teary for a moment. Even as people gathered though, I realized that I knew many of stories and at one point when I looked up, I could see tears in those who are newly grieving.

I pray that those who are mourning this Christmas will find peace in the One who came to banish Death.

Peace,

Suzanne

The Angel Gabriel

“The Angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.” ~ Gospel of Luke 1:26

Do you ever wonder about the Angel Gabriel? What must he have thought as he stood silently and gently in front of Mary and watched her eyes widen in wonder? Gabriel is the bearer of good news. Now that is a dream job. Of course, Mary did not have to say yes, but it sure made his task easier.

I was at a Steve Bell Advent concert last night. He has a song entitled, The Angel Gabriel, in which the singer has not seen or heard Gabriel, but knows that a promise is held out for all of us if we but believe. Great concert! It was a wonderful way to end the Advent season. With less than a week to go, may my heart be ready.

Peace,

Suzanne

Sick....

“If a doctor treats your cold, it will go away in fourteen days. If you leave it alone, it will go away in two weeks." ~ Gloria Silverstein

Either way, I guess I am stuck. Ugh! It’s not the best time to catch a cold and feel like a walking germ. I sneeze five or six times at once--loudly. You cannot miss the fact that I am sick. I was supposed to join friends tonight but when I called to say I did not think I should come, everyone said to stay away.

This week is a busy one with something going on every night. Two nights I am hosting an event. Hopefully I will have a voice. I sure hope this passes quickly. I am off to bed after a hot bath.

Peace,

Suzanne

I Think I Saw....

"Seeing is not always believing." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Driving around Manitoba, I see all kinds of wonderful or odd things. Today, I managed to see a helicopter hovering in a field. I have no idea what it was doing there or why it was just "hanging out". How many of you are wondering....was she driving when she took that photo?

Or this one for that matter, of a very cool sunset in my rearview mirror?

That is a little bit of creative photography so I don't drive off the highway. I think our distracted driving laws might be in play here. What do you think? There are so many wonders to behold while I drive.

Do you know that today more Russians read my blog than Canadians?

peace,

Suzanne

Surprise Personalities

“Computers are incredibly fast, accurate, and stupid; humans are incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant; together they are powerful beyond imagination.” ~ Albert Einstein

I went to a retirement party for our IT guy this afternoon. I have known Norbert for at least a decade. He seemed to be a quiet, socially shy kind of guy—the stereotypical computer geek personality. Once though when a group of us were up North, he flew up for a day and I saw a glimpse of another side of him. I got him talking about music because I knew he was a musician.

Today he admitted that he was not someone that stirred people’s imaginations or interest unless of course, he was rescuing their lost data on computers. Only then did people hang on his every word (though truthfully not many of us understood them).

Bert has no immediate plans, having retired a week ago. In a couple of months, he may go skiing in Alberta but is just unwinding. He seemed super happy today. A roomful of people turned out to wish him well so even though he thought that he was not someone who attracted people’s attention he was appreciated today.

Now, as if to say, he was really a cool guy if you’d bother to get to know him, he chose to sing his speech. I knew he was a drummer but I did not know that he also played guitar, sang and wrote songs. Today he wrote two hilarious songs about his workdays and retiring. He shone brightly and everyone stood around smiling and hanging on his every word. Not too shabby, Mr. IT Guy. You went out with a bang! Let it be a lesson for all of us who do not look beyond the obvious. Sometimes there is a gem worth scratching the surface for.

Peace,

Suzanne

December Rains

"How do I know what I think, until I see what I say." ~ WH Auden

I drove home in rain today. The weather specialist said it was freezing rain, but I don’t think it froze until it hit the ground. Rain…in December….how utterly amazing to me! I had been out of town and despite this bizarre phenomenon, the highways were decent. I am tired tonight. I have been on the road most days and need to get to bed early. I did get a good 8 hours sleep last night which is great.

I tried to write the first draft of my Christmas letter tonight but it is turning out rather oddly so I had to stop. It sounded good in my head but on paper it is taking on a life of its own and I don’t quite know what to think of it. I feel as if I am preparing a homily instead of an annual letter.

Off to bed….

Peace,

Suzanne

I am Late

"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone." ~ Charles Schulz

My first Christmas cards arrived yesterday. I however am very late this year. No cards sent yet. Not many presents bought or prepared. My Christmas letter is still rumbling around inside my head. Baking seems unlikely. With a week and a few days left I hope to turn it all around. I usually do something extra for someone on a regular basis so even if I am a few days late. I can still celebrate the season.

Peace,

Suzanne

Our Lady

"I am the eternal Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God, Author of Life, Creator of all and Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth…" ~ words of Mary to Saint Juan Diego when she appeared to him

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I arose early and was driving towards small town Manitoba as the sun rose. I was not able to make it to mass today but I swung by the retreat house I was at on the weekend to pick up something I forgot and was blessed to have Mexican friends there having lunch. Nice reminder that the Mother of the true God and the Author of Life was being celebrated well today.

How many titles do you hold? Of which are you proudest?

Peace,

Suzanne

Rejoice in the Lord Always!

"My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour." ~ Luke 1

Today is Gaudette Sunday—the third Sunday of Advent called the Sunday of Joy. The readings are filled with joy: Rejoice in the Lord always! is the Entrance Antiphon. Isaiah says I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God. The psalm is the Magnificat. The letter to the Thessalonians encourages readers to rejoice always.

Then there is the gospel. John the Baptist does not seem like a happy guy at first glance but today’s reading makes me realize that John had to be content in at least one thing: he knew who he was—and who he was not—and knew the purpose for which he had been called. How many of us have that luxury?

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord!” This may not seem like a dream job but John never begrudged having to do it. He is pictured as one in the desert, eating honey and locusts and wearing itchy sackcloth. He knew he was not worthy to untie the thong of Christ’s sandal and yet here he was proclaiming to anyone who would listen that the long-awaited Messiah was at hand. Sometimes, our lot in life is a dream job if we look with God’s eyes. What are you preparing the way for in life?

Peace,

Suzanne

Come, Go With Me!

“Come, stay, go!” ~ retreat leader today

I went on an Advent retreat today and the speaker summarized something that Vanier says are the invitations from Jesus: Come! Stay. Go!

We looked at the invitation that Christ extended to Peter both at the beginning of his mission and the end: Follow me. These are two simple words that most of us never are able to do whole-heartedly. I keep thinking about a scene in Have a Little Faith that I watched at my brother’s home where one of the main characters says if he gets through the night God can claim him as his own.

His mother had instilled his faith in him as a child, and even behind prison walls encouraged him to remember Jesus. The boy strays and get seduced by money and drugs until he ends up in a predicament that almost ends his life. At this moment, he turns back to God. His fear is palpable. Like Peter, he is a young man full of bravado. Like Peter, he forgets and denies Christ before returning to the One who called him. The invitation is there for all of us. Come. Stay awhile. Then go to the other ones in need.

The pattern does not end there. For all of life it is played out again and again. Do you see that pattern in your own life?

Peace,

Suzanne

Where's the Snow?

"Don't complain about the snow on your neighbor's roof when your own doorstep is unclean." ~ Confucius

Do not misunderstand me; I am NOT looking for more snow. Every day that I travel on the highways, and even in the city for that matter, I am grateful for snow-free journeys. The first week of December has melted away and so has the snow for the most part. The wind chill is bitterly cold but the snow is almost non-existent. Hard to believe!

As I drove to and from a Hutterite colony today, I was thinking about going to the sacrament of reconciliation. I realized that I was doing quite a bit of complaining about the snow on my neighbour’s roof while I could not even open my front door due to the mound of snow on my steps. Sigh. I decided not to go to the sacrament tonight as my moment of enlightenment came. I hope to find time to go next week in preparation for Christmas.

How about you? What does the snow look like on your doorstep lately?

Peace,

Suzanne

Scammers!

"A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool." ~ William Shakespeare

Tonight I was going to get to bed early when Microsoft called…or at least I thought that is what the woman said. She explained that computers were being infected by malware and spyware that regular virus scans were not catching and that I needed to run through some things with her to see if my computer was infected. She had me do a few things and the next thing I knew I was at a screen that showed I had warnings and errors by the dozens. She then asked me to type in IEXPLORE AMMYY.COM in the run section that brought me to a page that would allow her to have remote access to my computer. Ok, lady, that does not seem right. I asked for a phone number and said I would call her back in the morning. She gave me one. I hung up and called Microsoft support who were grateful that I had not given her any information. There is a big scam going on right now. Please note that Microsoft does NOT contact customers unless the customer contacts them first. They also do not monitor or detect malware remotely.

Don’t people have better things to do than ruin a perfectly good evening and annoy people? Be careful out there friends. Mean-spirited people are up to no good during the holiday season.

Peace,

Suzanne

Another Black Mark for Canada

“In their greatest hour of need, the world failed the people of Rwanda.” ~ Kofi Annan

Tonight ended the three weeks of looking at Rwanda by a visiting Jesuit Tanzanian priest. He gave a brief talk and then opened it to questions which were engaging and thought-provoking.

The truth is the memory of how the world failed Rwanda, and continues to fail so many countries, is shameful. I feel no hope still for that country. May God put to rest those souls who still wander between heaven and earth. May God have mercy on the survivors of the genocide. May hatred cease and love grow.

Peace,

Suzanne

Black Mark On Canadian History

"Early that morning, cup of coffee in her hand,
Kissed her mother on the cheek, said 'I'm more busy than I planned;
I'll be coming home a bit late--could you keep the supper warm?
Oh, it's just another busy day.'" This Memory by the Wyrd Sisters

After 22 years, I still cry thinking about what happened on this day. I cannot help it. I am a feminist and the thought that 14 women were murdered simply because they were women—perhaps not even feminists in the strictest sense—still makes my heart break.

The Wyrd Sisters painted a picture in their song of what happened that day. The opening stanza a daughter leaving her home with such ordinary words; the next verse a lover leaving her partner excited that there was so much to live for; the final verse reveals the shocking news. The chorus though is what haunts us:

But it could have been me, just as easily.
Could have been my sister, left there to bleed.
Oh it could have been my father or brother done the deed--
Oh no! Don't let me lose this memory.

Every year I choose not to lose this memory. My friend Barb lived in Montreal at the time and I remember frantically calling her to make sure she was still alive. I think often of the survivors who live with the horror of the memory of what happened that day. I wonder how siblings, parents, grandparents, spouses, partners, friends and classmates survive this anniversary. I listen to the repeated calls for gun control and do not understand the arguments completely against it. I just know that what started as any other typical day in Montreal, in Canada, ended with an unthinkable act—an act that changed our history in the saddest way possible.

Strive for peace in this world. Think about equality. Think about violence against women. Teach the boys in your life that females are precious. Do your part to make your corner of the world safe.

Peace,

Suzanne

Updated Woeful Tale

" For never was a story of more woe/ Than this of Juliet and her Romeo." ~ William Shakespeare

I went to the theatre tonight to see an updated version of the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The premise was that Romeo was Jewish and Juliet Muslim in contemporary Jerusalem. I am not sure the play worked on several levels, and Juliet’s flat performance did not help matters. Campy Mercutio stole the show but I don’t remember that type of character in this tale of woe. It is better suited to Shakespeare’s comedies.

I have always struggled with this storyline—two star-crossed lovers who do not really have much on which to base their love kill themselves for love…the play may have “much to do with hate and more with love” but I for one have never understood what their love was about, other than an initial physical attraction. They probably would have divorced in a year or six weeks if it were really contemporary society. The tabloids would have had a heyday.

Bitterly cold night here in the ‘Peg but I got two warm hugs at intermission: one from a priest friend and the other from the Archbishop with the funniest line of the night as he called me Jacquie which he usually does and when I corrected him, he said, with a twinkle in his eye, “I know, now I am just teasing you.”

Peace,

Suzanne

Advent Waiting

"Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low." ~ Isaiah 40

Snowy day here in Calgary! I should have taken the stunning view from my brother's window yesterday morning when the mountains were visible. Now they are definitely made low.

It is the second Sunday of Advent. I love the Old Testament readings at this time. Today's first reading has the prophet Isaiah, crying out for God, "Comfort, O comfort my people!" The Lord God reigns and will feed his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms. God is gentle and loving in these readings. In the second reading, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness reigns.

Ah, if only we knew how to wait with grace, as the Lord moves in preparation in our lives. Prepare the way and then wait expectantly. God is coming to comfort and bring joy. I loved the entrance antiphon this morning: "...the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart." Listen for that joy!

Peace,

Suzanne

What's Your Glory?

"What's your glory?" ~ Rabbi in Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

I am in Calgary visiting my brother and his wife. We had a busy day, shopping (I have new purple hiking boots!) and attending the Diabetes Day at U of Calgary. My sister-in-law was working and when she was done we picked her up and headed home.

I bought Chinese food to celebrate their anniversary. You know, it is not true what they say. We finished eating hours ago and I am still full! My brother had prepared a DVD for my 50th birthday--there were photos in it that I had not seen. I loved it!! A couple of the photos brought back some fond memories--heaps of snow in the backyard made me smile for some crazy reason but now it makes me cringe as I watch it floating down tonight.

We settled into watching the Hallmark production of Have a Little Faith. I read the book about two years and the final line of the movie was one of the quotes I used in a Christmas letter about two years ago. I am in love with hope. Yes, that line still resonates with me.

I am not sure I know what my glory is. The Rabbi had written a book by that title and he and Mitch got into a bit of a discussion about it. The Rabbi said his was teaching. I have to give it some thought. What about you--do you know what your glory is?

Peace,

Suzanne

Heartfelt Prayer

"In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Praying is not always an easy task. Some days I do not know how to pray. Gandhi reminds me that words are not necessary—rather let the heart take the lead.

Peace,

Suzanne