I find I read the newspaper at night as I lay in bed. I find my four days off are giving me the flexibility to sleep in. I was always so tense while still sleeping at the condo. I decided to move out when the settlement negotiations began. Didn't want to have any words with Dow over the terms of divorce settlement without my lawyer present. Dow always dominated and manipulated me emotionally in any and all discussions and decisions in our marriage and family life and "that dog don't hunt any more!"
I have joined Bally in Rogers Park and found out they offer a yoga class on Monday and one on Tuesday. Yes! I love yoga and haven't had a class in years. Now if they would only have a Tai Chi class. I don't pay more for the class and because I am a "senior" I paid only $199 for a year membership, really doable, at least for my budget this time.
Didn't do much packing or unpacking today as I had a Pax Christi meeting this morning to begin to plan a fall day event focusing on the "Costs of the Iraq War." We want to look at the loss of life, injuries, resources(such as war over health care, housing, education, the environmental needs) and the effects of munitions such as depleted uranium on persons and the earth. I have also been invited to a patient's birthday party so off I go. I also have another patient near death and may be called to make a death visit as I offered the family one if this beloved mother dies on the weekend. It is a sacred trust to be able to accompany a family as they say "Good bye to their loved one."
I have been asked to preside by my faith community next Sunday and include the readings for Mother's Day for your possible reflection. I belong to a "radically progressive--back to early Christianity faith community." Roman Catholic in our roots we have married men and women preside. We focus on the peace and justice understanding of the Christian writings. Each presider can decide on readings and ritual. I love it and know Godde in Her goodness provided for me by leading me to the faith community. When I attended the first time, I said, "This is the community of Jesus" Why? Because we have "homeless/halfway house" men and women attend. Jesus was always "hanging out with the marginalized." I wouldn't want to worship anywhere else! I always include those present in the role of presider/reader for the liturgy. Just like "What would Jesus do?" Come on in and be nourished by the Word and Bread of Life.
Reflections from Julian of
When God was knitted to our body in the Virgin’s womb,
God took our Sensuality and oned it to our Substance.
Thus our Lady is our Mother
In whom we are all enclosed
And in Christ we are born of her.
And Jesus is our true Mother in whom
We are endlessly carried and out of whom
We will never come. (pg. 99)
In Jesus we have the skillful and wise
Keeping of our Sensuality as well as
our restoring and liberation;
For He is our Mother, Brother and Liberator. (pg. 101)
So also is God truly our Mother. (pg 103)
This I am--the wisdom of the Motherhood
This I am--the light and the grace that is all love
This I am --the Trinity
This I am--the Unity
I am the sovereign goodness of all things.
I am what makes you love.
I am what makes you long and desire.
This I am—the endless fulfilling of all desires.”
A mother’s service is nearest, readiest and surest.
This office no one person has the ability
Or knows how to or ever will do fully
But God alone. (Pg 104-105)
Bear and Company,
Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."
From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.
| | Happy Mother's Day to those whose children |
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