oreos

Here's today's reading from St. Paul to the Philippians (a lector this summer pronounced it "philippines" so forever after now it will be the Philippines...arrgh.

"Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus,

though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Just this morning while I drove to the pool I listened to John Rutter's CD Gloria and one song, very English sounding, referred to the "Lord".. and I was repelled. "Lord" conjures images of landowners, royalty, who merely due to their title receive homage from their servants and neighbors. Being kinda egalitarian, I don't like that. and I certainly can't relate to a deity who is called "Lord". That puts me in a bind, cuz that's what he's called in a lot of places. So, what would I call the one who points the way to the Truth... ? Truthteller... that sounds kinda incomplete ... how about Beloved. just heard a story on NPR about an Iraqi Suni whose 21 yr old son was killed by the whomevers. Thinking about fathers who lose their sons. I can't imagine the pain of that.... and how the love between Jesus of Nazareth and His father led him to the cross (whose feast it is today, btw) and what greater outpouring of love I can not imagine. For the sake of all of his children... us. No greater love hath any man than to lay down his life for his friends. (I never use the word hath in real life, but it sounds good in that sentence.) Lift high the cross!

monday, sept. 13, 2010

so many faces and places and stages. I'm thinking of peole today, getting up and going to work or ending their honeymoons or getting ready to die, or working in the hospital, or the office bldg, or ? Today I will go the Hospice of the East Bay offices to finish the required orientation days. I will sit at a table with other employees and volunteers and have explained to me what legally I am obliged to do if I choose to volunteer for this organization. This process has taken me atleast four months. All I wanted to do was volunteer! I read a prayer this morning that asks God take what ordinary skills I have and put them to extraordinary use. God help me to persist in the good that I want to do, to tell what good it is that you are calling me to, and to stay true to the inspiration that is holy.

August 30, 2010

Today is the feast day of a fairly new saint, St. Jeanne Jugan, foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Her order of nuns continues to tend to the needs of the elderly poor. My sister in law and her mother work to help the nuns raise funds and keep on doing the work in San Francisco. Interestingly, in the story of Sr. Jeanne, (Mother Marie of the Cross, she was called) was reproved by the abbot and was fired as superior of the community. Eventually, he was fired and she resumed her duties. I noted that because I'm reminded that so many of the world's saints suffered greatly to serve God's people. I imagine that Mother Marie was being punished by a limited priest, and that because he had the power, she had no recourse but to carry on ... this is my own little bugaboo. People who THINK they know better and who assert their power. The happy ending of course is that she returned to her role as leader and the work continues worldwide. Saints be praised! and God help us to love our elders.

sunday, august 22, 2010

Fall is in the air... reminding me of my own school days, when we'd overdress for the day and then swelter and sweat long about lunchtime out on the playground. The moisture in the air, the angle of the sun, this sense of expectation build not solely on the return to school and all the newness there, but in the cooler breezes and the gentler sunlight and the shortening days. Something's comin' I don't know what it is but it is gonna be grand.... from West Side Story.. maybe there is a sense of leaving behind and being pushed out into the cold and needing to anticipate meeting new friends and eventually leaving your folks. Ouch. Maybe that's the sense.. like a bird in a nest moving toward that final launch sailing out into open air in order to grow and become independent... that's what fall and the beginning of school requires. There is some excitement and some dread. Anticipation and fear. Get ready... maybe too there's something built into our human being/earth connection that says.. get ready! winter's coming. Get some new clothes, new shoes, bring things in out of the rain, secure those fences, get ready to harvest and to preserve. The days are getting shorter and you've got a finite amount of time to pull in the crop. (btw: our crop got eaten by the gopher and her entire family.) I am reminded of the beginnings of school years with the boys. One piece of advice I'd offer them: be patient with people and with yourself. Everyone is excited and nervous about the beginning of school. They will demonstrate those feelings in different ways and some of them will be off putting. Cut them slack! and be kind. So, as a mother in that nest and as a fledgling in the nest... I'm challenged to continue softening the nest, and to get ready to launch myself. Ready, set, stay, I mean, no, GO!!!

ireland August 4-8, 2010

Pete, the boys and I visited Ireland for a few days last week. We felt at home. John said "he blended". People were friendly, offering help to us when we looked lost, chatting us up in pubs and cafes, interested in our stories, and all with a smile, a twinkle in their eyes and a ready sense of humor. It was delightful. The country is suffering from the recession, but as our hotel host said, "they are in their comfort zone"... that a few years ago, everyone acted like J.R. Ewing. Now they're back to their old selves. Another resident said that the Irish look after one another. He lived in England for twenty years and said it wasn't so there. Another offered that the Irish suffer from a shame that took root over years of poverty and oppression and abuse. That will require a long healing process. It is true what they say about the many shades of green in the landscape. I kept taking pictures to capture them as many as I could. It did rain on us, but it wasn't a debilitating rain... often it was a mist or a light drizzle and then it would stop as soon as it started. A nice wash. When the clouds parted and a shaft of sunlight shone through, it reminded me of heaven. Another delightful aspect? The Irish gift for gab. it isn't just that they talk a lot, which they do, but that when they talk, it is poetry. Turns of phrase, the flow, the gentleness of expression, the angle of insight reflected the geography... easy on the eyes? easy on the ears. Rolling along and then swept up by a sudden emergent mountain that leads to a lovelier, grander vista. and let's face it: they are a funny people. I will treasure our visit to Ireland. In fact, when we flew into Dublin and as we first caught sight of the island itself, I found myself very moved. My reaction caught me by surprise. Maybe because my mother is Irish and because I love my mother and the fact that she possesses so many of the great Irish qualities: humor, kindness, honesty, and generosity... like Pete's mother too. Anyway, I'm taken in.... and it just goes to show.. .travel is full of surprises. Didn't see it comin'.

july 22, 2010 happy birthday Pete!!

Today at my house we're celebrating Pete's birthday. He told me this morning when I drove him to BART that he was thinking about his parents and the scene of his arrival in their lives. He was blown away thinking about how little he was and how big they were. He was thinking about their encounter and the fact that he was ever SO little once. I've seen pictures of Pete when he was little ... big head, little bitty self. But, it's him alright. His little hands resting on his knees as he sits.. his fingers firmly lined up.. just the way they still do. His BIG blue eyes... as benign and beautiful as always. and big smile... a happy soul. I thank God for his gift of Pete to me... today and always. Let the festivus continue!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Peter Manning Hayes. July 22, 1958 was a day that changed my life immeasurably and without whom there would be no Tommy, Billy, Robbie or John. HIP HIP HOORAY!! for PETE!!

monday, july 19, 2010

There is a very happy bird singing outside my living room window. A breeze is blowing, the sun is shining if I listen very carefully, I can hear the leaves rustling on the trees, the bird, a neighbor's dog, a motorcycle motoring down St. Mary's Road. If I quiet my mind, and just listen I can hear insects , the clock ticking on the kitchen wall, a car leaving its driveway. Just as I was thinking we hadn't seen any squirrels lately, I heard some ruckus and looked out the window and guess who was climbing the neighbor's fence not 12 feet away? Squirrel. Now there's a funny word. My friend asked if my name could be a noun, what would it be. Squirrel did not spring to mind. Actually, Pashmina did. Does Pashmina sound like a fat girl? If your name was a noun what would it be? Protuberance? How about Kaleidoscope? or Quilt? Kinda funny ... if you think about it. I mean Quilt is not too different from Quinn or Chet.... John said yesterday he was thinking that if a police man stopped him... he would say, "Is there an officer, problem?" Can you tell it's summer vacation? the things we have time to think about.