Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself. -St. Francis de Sales

This week I share a reflection and a poem that speak to our need to consider others, and context (always), in our decision-making and in our lives. I have enjoyed some recent time in deep reflection and emerge from these summer weeks with gratitude and appreciation for my community of support. The new school year has begun, at home and at work, and I love the freshness that the new beginnings of each academic year provides. Like this image from a recent plane ride, I find that summer expands and renews my perspective on many fronts. God is good!

Blessings on your week ahead.

Discipleship –Fr. Richard Gula

The challenge of discipleship is to be faithful and creative witnesses to the mission of Jesus to proclaim God’s inclusive love. We do so by living according to a set of values that enshrine self-sacrifice: meeting hatred with kindness, hurt with healing, bitterness with graciousness, jealousy with affirmation, conflict with nonviolence, suffering with compassion.

Discipleship requires bonds of support in solidarity with others- not grabbing for honor and glory, but offering selfless service marked by kindness and generosity so that violence is not inevitable.

Remember

by: Joy Harjo

Remember the sky that you were born under,

know each of the star’s stories.

Remember the moon, know who she is.

Remember the sun’s birth at dawn,

that is the strongest point of time

Remember sundown

and the giving away to night.

Remember your birth, how your mother struggled

to give you form and breath.  You are evidence of

her life, and her mother’s, and hers.

Remember your father.  He is your life, also.

Remember the earth whose skin you are:

red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth,

brown earth, we are earth.

Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their

tribes, their families, their histories too.  Talk to them,

listen to them.  They are alive poems.

Remember the wind.  Remember her voice.  She is the origin of this universe.

Remember you are all people and all people are you.

Remember you are this universe and this universe is you.

Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.

Remember language comes from this.

Remember the dance language is, that life is.

Remember.