If now isn’t a good time for the truth, I don’t see when we’ll get to it. -Nikki Giovanni

This week I was in DC for a conference and I took advantage of some down time yesterday to visit some of the museums. My high school history teacher had the following quote on his bulletin board (which I recall nearly thirty years later!): “How can we know where we’re going if we don’t know where we’ve been?” I consider myself a bit of a history buff, and so it was a blessing to spend a few hours visiting some powerful exhibits at the US Holocaust Museum, the Smithsonian and the National Museum of African American Culture and History. What a privilege that these museums are free and accessible!

On a Zoom meeting yesterday, a colleague shared the below reflections based upon one of my favorite biblical quotes, Micah 6:8. They remind me of our invitation to reflective practice and intentionality in our leadership and in our lives. May God bless you in the week ahead.

Act Justly, Love Tenderly, Walk Humbly

Act Justly – Brother Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría, FSC. In a Christmas Letter to his Brothers as Superior General on December 25th, 2010

Our vows of association for the service of the poor and of poverty are a prophetic word in favor of the small and the excluded. Our vow of poverty has to do with the coming of the Kingdom. Service of the poor does not come from a kind of generosity added to the object of the vow of poverty, it is an integral part of it. To live in poverty means, in a positive way, to feel grasped and possessed by the God’s will and to spend oneself totally so that “the Kingdom come,” especially about those who hope for it the most and who are its principal targets: the abandoned and the marginalized. We could also identify our vow of poverty with the call
made to us by the prophet Micah: act justly (Micah 6: 8).

Love Tenderly – St. Maria Faustina Kowalska –  Diary #140

Pure love is one that flows directly from the Heart of Christ to and through your life.  This holy love has beautiful characteristics.  First, it is plentiful.  When we love with the Heart of Christ we love in abundance.  There is no limit to how much love we can share.  It’s like the brightness of the sun at noon casting rays on all below.  Second, it’s ingenious, doing what is pleasing to God.  It is not cautious or calculated.  It does not hesitate or evaluate.  Rather, the wisdom of love is immediate and knows in each moment how to radiate God’s love.  And third, it is happy.  Even when love calls one to heroic sacrifice there is great delight in this total self-giving.

Walk Humbly – Excerpt from “What the Bible Says to the Business Leader.” LMW Press

The Hebrew word for humbly suggests modesty. As one of God’s followers, you are to walk modestly or meekly with Him, not proudly or arrogantly; you are not to exalt yourself over others, treating them as though they are of less worth than you. If you are walking humbly with God, you will not be proud or self-reliant, depending only on your own strength. Rather, you will continually seek strength from God, calling on Him to help you, guide you, and deliver you from temptation. Walking humbly with God means you will not seek honor for your own name but for God’s Name. All of this is because you know that it is God who has gifted and enabled you to achieve and succeed. Therefore, you want the honor and glory to be His. This is what it means to walk humbly with God.

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. -Harriet Tubman

“Daddy, I’m a big girl and can cross the street by myself,” my daughter said to me last night when I dropped her off at volleyball practice. When I returned home, one of my son’s stated, “Dad, look at my teeth? Aren’t they straighter now thanks to my braces? And I’m even brushing them, too!” I’m enjoying a nice week at home, sandwiched in between other weeks of travel for work. So I am soaking up all these parenting memories and quotable quotes from my kids.

This morning I read, How to Embrace Doing Nothing, and I thought this article provided a nice representation of the need to prioritize rest and rejuvenation. This concept is something I speak of often, yet I must admit I am not too great at practicing myself. Recently, I’ve begun journaling “Daily Intentions” each morning to assist my efforts at remaining grounded during what feels to be the busiest I have been in years. Family, friendships, work, life – all seem back to a familiar, and quite frankly a welcome, pace…but I also do my best to integrate some of the best lessons learned in recent years around connectedness, centering, and reflection. Some days are better than others!

I leave you with this song, selected by one of my children as I dropped them at school this morning. Although their point of reference is from the movie, Sing, I do think this rendition from Sir Elton rings true today. May we celebrate perseverance and persistence across our relationships and lives.

The best teachers show you where to look but don’t tell you what to see. -Alexandra Trenfor

Today marks “World Teacher’s Day,” celebrated across India. I am thinking of so many educators in my life who have impacted my journey over the years. Just last week I recalled a story of Mr. Conwell, my eight grade teacher, in a webinar on leadership development in schools. My mother was a classroom teacher, my sister is a classroom teacher, my brother teaches CCD at his parish, and my other sister – a nurse – works for her local school district, in service to schools…one could say that it’s a “family business” for me.

On this occasion, I am pleased to share this prayer on leadership, for I look at all educators as leaders in our societies. I am also happy to share an inspirational rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from one of my favorite musicians. May God bless all educators and those who inspire us!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow- Yo-Yo Ma

“Prayer For A Leader” by John O’Donohue

May you have the grace and wisdom
To act kindly, learning
To distinguish between what is
Personal and what is not.

May you be hospitable to criticism.

May you never put yourself at the center of things.

May you act not from arrogance but out of service.

May you work on yourself,
Building up and refining the ways of your mind.

May those who work for you know
You see and respect them.

May you learn to cultivate the art of presence
In order to engage with those who meet you.

When someone fails or disappoints you,
May the graciousness with which you engage
Be their stairway to renewal and refinement.

May you treasure the gifts of the mind
Through reading and creative thinking
So that you continue as a servant of the frontier
Where the new will draw its enrichment from the
old,
And may you never become a functionary.

May you know the wisdom of deep listening,
The healing of wholesome words,
The encouragement of the appreciative gaze,
The decorum of held dignity,
The springtime edge of the bleak question.

May you have a mind that loves frontiers
So that you can evoke the bright fields
That lie beyond the view of the regular eye.

May you have good friends
To mirror your blind spots.

May leadership be for you
A true adventure of growth.

Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion. – Bell Hooks

On our Saturday morning family hike at Glen Park Canyon (depicted), my daughter skipped alongside our dog while we trekked through the beauty of God’s nature. One of my favorite aspects of living in San Francisco has always been the ease with which we urban dwellers can access the outdoors. I tried to take it all in- the sights, the smells and the views- while we walked together. It was a wonderful reminder of the importance of time together, exercise and unplugging.

This week I’ve been listening to acoustic blues guitarist Eric Bibb. He is a talented artist, lyricist and guitarist. I hope you enjoy listening to this song, “Along the Way.”

Today I pray for the safety of my family in Florida, and for all affected by climate disasters worldwide. May they be well and let us pray that they find the healing they deserve in the coming days.

Go well and stay well.

St. Francis’s Canticle of the Sun

O most High, almighty, good Lord God,
to you belong praise, glory, honor, and all blessing!

Praised be my Lord God with all creatures;
and especially our brother the sun,
which brings us the day, and the light;
fair is he, and shining with a very great splendor:
O Lord, he signifies you to us!

Praised be my Lord for our sister the moon,
and for the stars,
which God has set clear and lovely in heaven.

Praised be my Lord for our brother the wind,
and for air and cloud, calms and all weather,
by which you uphold in life all creatures.

Praised be my Lord for our sister water,
which is very serviceable to us,
and humble, and precious, and clean.

Praised be my Lord for brother fire,
through which you give us light in the darkness:
and he is bright, and pleasant, and very mighty,
and strong.

Praised be my Lord for our mother the Earth,
which sustains us and keeps us,
and yields divers fruits, and flowers of
many colors, and grass.

Praised be my Lord for all those who pardon
one another for God’s love’s sake,
and who endure weakness and tribulation;
blessed are they who peaceably shall endure,
for you, O most High, shall give them a crown!

Praised be my Lord for our sister,
the death of the body, from which no one escapes.
Woe to him who dies in mortal sin!
Blessed are they who are found walking by your
most holy will,
for the second death shall have no power to do
them harm.

Praise you, and bless you the Lord,
and give thanks to God, and serve God
with great humility.

(St. Francis, 1182-1226)

To “let go and let God” is to put yourself into the hands of God, even for just a little while, until the challenges of life are more bearable. —Diana L. Hayes

This week I was privileged to spend several days with our school leaders in Tucson, AZ. The beauty of the desert, and the commitment of these individuals, was an inspiration. Of course visiting our Lasallian school there, with its wonderful students and inspiring artwork (depicted here) ,was the highlight.

Enjoy the journey ahead!

Journey of Exploration                                                             Jean Gill

Let us set out together on a journey of exploration,
an adventure of discovery.

Let us trust our Self
to find our own unique ways
to walk with God on our journey.

Let us trust our Self
to learn to dance along the path …
our own special dance in rhythm with the Spirit
of God…

Let us trust our Self
to be able to follow the Spirit with confidence…
the Spirit of Life and love…
who longs to lead each of us to abundant life
and love and happiness.

Let us believe that we only need to let go…
and to be open to God
in whatever tiny ways we are able…
and that God will respond with eagerness…
illuminating our path…
and then running exuberantly to meet us
with arms flung wide
to embrace each of us
in divine and fervent love.

Amen.

A vocation is a dream personalized… In my vocation, I am being imagined by God; God’s dream for my life comes gradually to light. -Evelyn Whitehead

In a webinar today, I spoke of a the importance of promoting gratitude in leadership. I attested to the profound power of mindfulness upon communities being served by leaders who demonstrate reflective practice. In ways, this blog is one of my own attempts to “practice what I preach.”

This week I’ve been listening to Sheku Kanneh- Mason, BBC’s Young Musician of the Year in 2016- he was the first Black musician to win the award since 1978. A British cellist, I find his music to be enchanting, and relaxing. I recommend listening to “Same Boat” (below) at your earliest convenience. It is a beautiful, collaborative piece that also reminds us of the value of working together.

I am pleased to leave you with this beautiful poem shared with my by one of our school leaders. Blessings on your week ahead!

Small Kindnesses by Denusha Laméris

I’ve been thinking about the way, when you walk
down a crowded aisle, people pull in their legs
to let you by. Or how strangers still say “bless you”
when someone sneezes, a leftover
from the Bubonic plague. “Don’t die,” we are saying.
And sometimes, when you spill lemons
from your grocery bag, someone else will help you
pick them up. Mostly, we don’t want to harm each other.
We want to be handed our cup of coffee hot,
and to say thank you to the person handing it. To smile
at them and for them to smile back. For the waitress
to call us honey when she sets down the bowl of clam chowder,
and for the driver in the red pick-up truck to let us pass.
We have so little of each other, now. So far
from tribe and fire. Only these brief moments of exchange.
What if they are the true dwelling of the holy, these
fleeting temples we make together when we say, “Here,
have my seat,” “Go ahead—you first,” “I like your hat.”

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” -St. Teresa of Kolkata

In recent days we celebrated both the feast of St. Theresa of Kolkata along with the Labor Day holiday (in the United States). I am pleased to share these resources from my opening meeting of the week yesterday, which followed a blissful weekend at the beach with my family. I am counting my blessings and hope that you may count similar blessings. Have a good week ahead!

In Honor of Work and Laborers (Adapted from USCCB Prayer for Labor Day)

As the sun rises to bring in the new day:

We remember those who descend into the earth, their work begins in darkness, pulling from the earth, the resources we steward.

We remember those who work inside a building away from the light and brightness of the day.

We remember those who work outside in the harsh elements of our world, the bitter cold and sweltering heat of extremes.

We remember those who do not have a job to go to, who are struggling to meet the needs of their daily living expenses, for whom the day becomes long and arduous.

As the sun sets to bring in the evening of rest:

We remember those who work in the night.

We remember those who are trying to recover from their labor and toils of the day.

We remember those who participate in unsafe and dangerous work.

We pray for a renewed sense of dignity in their lives and in their work.

God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the worker.

May we be compassionate to all who labor tirelessly for basic necessities.

Ensure a place for all who are struggling to find work.

Grant us your wisdom to greet and care for those who are unable to work due to illness or circumstances that prevent their participation.

Be with the children who are not able to run and play, but instead must put in a hard day’s work to help their family afford to eat, to live.

Be with us all, Christ Jesus, as we go about the busyness of our work.

Hold us accountable not only for our actions, but most importantly to each of our neighbors.

May we continue to work together to bring about your reign! We ask this in your holy name, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God. -The Book of Sirach

This week’s adventures include coaching my son’s soccer team, shuttling my other kids around to their activities, and preparing for our annual family getaway weekend at the beach with our good friends and their families. Our daughter started volleyball season last night with her first practice, and it feels as if we are settling into as normal a return to school as we have had in years. And it feels right.

Meanwhile climate disasters in China, Pakistan and Mississippi are wreaking devastation upon our fellow humankind. Yet I still need to search for these headlines while reading the news; I find it a tragedy that these situations are not more at our common forefront of focus. Of course, I am all the more sensitive given this excellent book I am reading, The Ministry for the Future; Bill Gates describes it as “A scary but hopeful novel about climate change.” I highly recommend this read, along with another article I read this morning from TIME magazine, Where We’ll End Up Living as the Planet Burns. Wow, lots to consider, beginning with reflecting upon my own carbon footprint and sustainability practices that our family strives to employ.

In this past Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus shared a parable that he told in the home of a powerbroker of his time, described as “one of the leading Pharisees” (a religious leader of his day). I imagine Jesus shocked his audience by clearly describing his vision of hospitality and community:

“When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Like 4: 12-14

Talk about the Kingdom of God! This describes my ideal meal, and my hope for the eternal banquet, a place where all are welcome, especially those on the margins. I hope and pray that together as a global human family that we may continue to strive toward this ideal, specifically as it pertains to food and water access across our world. Enjoy this version of U2’s “Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” from Playing for Change as an inspiration for us to keep on keepin’ on.

To “let go and let God” is to put yourself into the hands of God, even for just a little while, until the challenges of life are more bearable. —Diana L. Hayes

Last night I attended the Mass of Resurrection for a former colleague and longtime educator, Sister Joan. This woman religious was an inspirational, courageous, and faith-filled person with a force of personality grounded in her fierce sense of humor. The sense of appreciation and admiration was palpable, a testament to Sister Joan’s friendships, love, and commitment to kids. After the ceremony, I took this picture of some close friends and colleagues for whom I am deeply grateful. God bless, John, Sister Chris and Brother Nick.

Today California passed legislation that will eliminate the sale of gasoline cars by 2050, which I hope to be a significant example to be followed in our global attempt to combat the crippling affects of climate change. Our President also announced a plan to address student loan inequities by canceling some student debt. Both of these accomplishments give me hope about the possibility of systemic change.

Over the weekend I received the following prayer from Richard Rohr’s Center for Action & Contemplation. I share it with you in recognition of God’s goodness. And in hopes for continued reasons to be optimistic.

Lamenting Injustice

In the ancient tradition of lament, this prayer from Latina activist and pastor Rev. Sandra Maria Van Opstal invites us to share with God our heartbreak at the world’s suffering, and ask “How long, O Lord?”

How long, Lord?
How long must we cry out? 
How long must the vulnerable sit silent as bombs, 
     guns, cages, natural disasters threaten lives? 
How long must we hear the agonizing silence of so 
     many in the church? 
How long, Lord?
 
Are you listening? Yes? You do! You do? You do 
     see us! You do hear us!
 
(insert time to ugly cry)

We believe you are at work bringing peace. True 
     peace—flourishing, wholeness, and well-being. . . .

We believe and we feel overwhelmed—sometimes 
     it is hard to believe that you actually care about 
     the injustice and suffering. When we don’t see 
     your work. When we sense the apathy from 
     the church. When we feel small and forget that 
     we were designed to be different and make 
     things different. 

When we feel overwhelmed by darkness in the 
     world—the violence, injustice, poverty, 
     oppression, abuse. 
Give us hope not to be overcome. 
Give us eyes to see your goodness for our world. 
Give us the strength to hold the pain of injustice in 
     our world and faith that it will end. 
Give us courage to be honest with ourselves about 
     why and how we are doing justice.

We believe. So. Empower us to disrupt our broken 
     thinking by learning truth from diverse leaders. 
     Enable us to discover the beauty of justice and 
     inspire action in others. Embolden us to display 
     your goodness in the world. . . .  

Our greatest joy is when we seek to do good for others. -Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Yet again my children provided me with such refreshing perspective this morning. Today was the first day at a new school for my youngest kids, and they were so impressive. My youngest son and my daughter modeled courage, optimism and faith. I am grateful. The good they did for me carries me forward, and I was enthused (relieved) to learn over lunch about the new friends they each made.

Since I last posted on this blog, in our household we encountered a variety of unexpected “opportunities.” Covid made its way through our house over a 4 week period in the late spring, our home required an unplanned-for renovation project, we replaced our thirteen year old car with a new one, and we spent much of May discerning the aforementioned change of school for two of our three children. Throughout it all, the privilege of options we enjoyed, along with our relative good health, was not lost on me. But the summer months afforded our family some much needed respite, quality time together, and time away from the routine demands of work and school.

And last weekend I spent 48 hours in Philadelphia, surrounded by my extended family as we mourned and celebrated the life and passing of one of my uncles. Tom lived a full life, and served as an inspiring example of dedication to family and selflessness. I felt blessed to join in the faith-filled rituals associated with his passage to eternal life: church, food, family, Irish music, and community. The cycle of life continues.

Friday I hop on a plane for a school visit and will spend time throughout the fall traveling around and hoping to help support the schools I serve. I also look forward to coaching 8th grade soccer for my oldest son’s team, our annual Labor Day getaway to the beach with family friends, and other family plans we have in the books. I pray to remain grounded and open to God’s call throughout it all, and hope the same for you!