Keeping the Faith

Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. – Maya Angelou

This morning my daughter asked if we would do different activities once all our kids were vaccinated. I replied back, “sure,” and then asked her the first new thing she wanted to do. She quickly replied back, “Go to the movies!” One of my sons immediately chimed in, “Yes, let’s go to the movies!” I haven’t even thought of a movie theater in about 18 months….and so I appreciated their perspective.

Speaking of perspective, last night I sat looking out the front window of our house at John McLaren Park. This park has been one of our family’s pandemic finds, as we’ve enjoyed hiking there, riding bikes and playing at a completely renovated playground. The view of this water tower depicted in this picture reminded me of the sacred nature of water. Here in California, and amidst record breaking heat in the Pacific Northwest, I pray for water and the safety of all who protect us against wildfires.

A friend sent me this poem last week- enjoy!

Continue by Maya Angelou (2016)

Into a world which needed you
My wish for you
Is that you continue

Continue

To be who and how you are
To astonish a mean world
With your acts of kindness

Continue

To allow humor to lighten the burden
of your tender heart

Continue

In a society dark with cruelty
To let the people hear the grandeur
Of God in the peals of your laughter

Continue

To let your eloquence
Elevate the people to heights
They had only imagined

Continue

To remind the people that
Each is as good as the other
And that no one is beneath
Nor above you

Continue

To remember your own young years
And look with favor upon the lost
And the least and the lonely

Continue

To put the mantel of your protection
Around the bodies of

The young and defenseless

Continue

To take the hand of the despised
And diseased and walk proudly with them
In the high street
Some might see you and
Be encouraged to do likewise

Continue

To plant a public kiss of concern
On the cheek of the sick
And the aged and infirm
And count that as a
Natural action to be expected

Continue

To let gratitude be the pillow
Upon which you kneel to
Say your nightly prayer
And let faith be the bridge
You build to overcome evil
And welcome good

Continue

To ignore no vision
Which comes to enlarge your range
And increase your spirit

Continue

To dare to love deeply
And risk everything
For the good thing

Continue

To float
Happily in the sea of infinite substance
Which set aside riches for you
Before you had a name

Continue

And by doing so
You and your work
Will be able to continue

Eternally

“Growth-minded leaders… start with a belief in human potential and development – both their own and other people’s. ” Carol S. Dweck

In recent weeks I have participated in several year-end meetings and rituals via Zoom. The experience, resiliency, and empathy demonstrated by the leaders of our Lasallian schools continue to impress me. One colleague noted that “transparency builds trust,” most especially during this recent pandemic year of leading, teaching, and learning. Modeling vulnerability is one primary way that I have witnessed this transparency in leadership, and I am grateful for the maturity, self-awareness, and discipline demonstrated by my colleagues in sharing so generously of themselves this past academic year.

This past weekend, my family and I attended a San Francisco Giants baseball game against my home-town Philadelphia Phillies. To be honest, it felt like the most normal thing we have done in nearly a year and a half. Along with our kids’ return to summer camps this week, our next big re-opening adjustment will be when our neighborhood library re-opens later this summer. I recognize our privilege of enjoying these types of activities while other societies around the world struggle with the danger and devastation of their local Covid-realities.

Lately I have been praying to Mary, the Mother of God, for her support and guidance. This picture is from the site of my office, which is located on the grounds of a beautiful retreat center in Napa, CA. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

“Education is about elevation.” – George Courus

On Sunday I came across this beautiful image on Twitter, and thought it a perfect picture to honor Mother’s Day. Sunday also marked the feast of Saint Louise de Marillac, herself a single mother who overcame great adversity to co-found the Daughters of Charity. I was privileged to previously lead a school named after her, and as such have a special affinity toward her life and legacy. This year, too, I cherished my own mother on Sunday, for a variety of reasons, along with my wife and her mother, and I remain grateful for all mothers and mother-like figures who support and guide young people today.

In recent weeks, my ventures out to the schools with whom I work have been a source of great inspiration to me. Today I met with various faculty, staff and administrators at one of these Lasallian schools and I left hopeful. The work is not yet complete (although graduation is soon:). I pray for the opportunity for a break for each of them this upcoming summer…along with their students, who also deserve a respite from the educational rollercoaster of the past 12+ months!!!

This week I came across “New Beatitudes for Today” in The Little White Book. I share them in hopes that they clarify for each of us our shared priorities both as people of faith, and at the most foundational level, as members of our global family. Here’s to the week ahead!

From Pope Francis (2016):

Blessed are those who remain faithful while enduring evils influenced on them by others and forgive them from the heart.

Blessed are those who look into the eyes of the abandoned and marginalized and show them their closeness.

Blessed are those who see God in every person and strive to make others also discover them.

Blessed are those who protect and care for our common home.

Blessed are those who renounce their own comfort in order to help others.

“The whole reason why we pray is to be united into the vision and contemplation of God to whom we pray.” – Julian of Norwich

Here in San Francisco, yesterday we moved into the “yellow tier,” the least restricted level of California’s re-opening system. The state plans to fully re-open within about six weeks. In some ways I find it surreal, in other ways I continue to marvel at the miracle of modern medicine, the heroism of so many individuals, and the beauty of coming together as community.

I am pleased to share one of my favorite prayers from Jesuit priest, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. I trust that we can continue to place our hopes and dreams in the hands of God. Blessings on your week ahead!

Patient Trust

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.

And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through some stages of instability—
and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;
your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.

—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ

“Tell the truth. Communicate for understanding. Practice compassion.” -Dr. Anthony Fauci

This morning on the walk to school we noticed so many birds – a dove, a robin, a crow and a finch, among others. We previously walked with our kids for years without noticing these pleasant additions to our daily morning experience. Perhaps there are simply more birds during this spring time, yet I also bet that our attentiveness to these important observations has been honed over the course of this past year…another pandemic blessing.

Yesterday I rode public transportation for the first time in a year. I also re-introduced myself to our local tailor when I dropped off dry-cleaning. I feel as if I am gradually re-awakening from hibernation. While the transition to this period of hibernation was forced and abrupt, that my family can be slow and purposeful in our re-entry to renewed life is an incredible privilege. I pray that our intentionality and awareness of our gift of health, and life in general, is sustained throughout the months ahead.

Dr. Anthony Fauci “stopped by” a virtual conference I am currently attending, and his honest reflection on leadership and community provided a welcome perspective. He credits his Jesuit education in high school for shaping his values. My own experience with the Jesuits in college reflects a similar sentiment of gratitude and appreciation on my part.

I’ll conclude this week with sharing the Psalms passage from this Monday’s readings. May your week ahead be a blessed one!

Psalm 42

Athirst is my soul for the living God.

As the hind longs for the running waters,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?

Athirst is my soul for the living God.

Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling-place.

Athirst is my soul for the living God.

Then will I go in to the altar of God,
the God of my gladness and joy;
Then will I give you thanks upon the harp,
O God, my God!

Athirst is my soul for the living God

“Here’s the truth about racial injustice. It’s not just a Black America problem or a people of color problem. It is a problem for every American. It is keeping us from fulfilling the promise of liberty and justice for all.” – Kamala Harris

On the one hand, yesterday’s court ruling regarding the murder of George Floyd brought some peace to those most impacted by the disturbing state of systemic violence against our black sisters and brothers. On the other hand, as I heard reflected on the news that I watched last night, true justice only would have been served if George Floyd had returned home. And so the dynamic tension of these two extremes inform our current reality. We have more work to do when it comes to promoting anti-racism in our country and in our world. I pray that you may rest in peace, George Floyd.

This week I bought a used guitar on Craigslist. It is an older model, from a quality guitar-making company. Although it is more worn than my guitar, I think that the sound quality is superior. The other night I replaced the strings and some of the other parts, waking up all three of my children as I hammered out the old bridge pins. When I played them a song last night, they understood why I was so focused on cleaning up the older guitar. Recently I have been thinking about how blessed I am by the role of elders in my personal and professional journey….though they may not know all the latest Zoom hacks, or utilize Twitter for professional development like I do, these wise individuals continue to shape and form me. New is not always better, and we are wise to continually allow our past to inform our future.

I’ll conclude with a prayer that was shared at a meeting this morning of the Lasallian Education Council. May God continue to bless our efforts. Have a good day ahead.

God, our Creator, enlighten us so that we may “really see.” Inspire us to bless others with understanding, appreciation and love. Lead us to confirm for all people the dignity that arises from being made in your image and likeness and from being called to follow Jesus, your Son. Pour out on us your Holy Spirit that we may share the lived example of Jesus.

“Sharing silence is, in fact, a political act. When we can stand aside from the usual and perceive the fundamental, change begins to happen. Our lives align with deeper values and the lives of others are touched and influenced.” -Gunilla Norris

This week marks the 279th anniversary of the premiere of Handel’s “Messiah.” I love this classical tune, which was composed in just 23 days! On April 13, 142, Handel debuted it at a charitable event in Dublin, Ireland, to free 142 men from debtor’s prison there. (Source: The Little White Book)

Throughout the duration of this pandemic, Irish musician (and teacher) Patrick Dexter has shared numerous picturesque renditions of classical and modern favorites. His excerpted rendition of “Messiah” via Twitter here is worth a viewing. Learn more about Patrick with this interview. Viewing Patrick’s contributions regularly has fed my spirit and my soul throughout this past year.

I read this article today, “The intentional use of silence at work.” It reinforced for me the importance of slowing down and being intentional- personally and professionally. I sincerely appreciate that I work in an environment that values starting each and every meeting with a pause for prayer.

Blessings to you in your week ahead!

“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” Dolores Huerta

President Biden declared today national César Chávez Day. When I first moved to California over twenty years ago, on the first March 31st that I lived in the Golden State, my future wife organized an event to honor and celebrate César’s legacy. I learned then of a man I have come to ever more deeply admire….for his faith, for his hard work ethic, and for his commitment to community. These values were engrained in me from my own family while growing up, and are ideals that I strive to impart upon my children as well. César’s partnership with Dolores Huerta to lead the United Farm Workers Movement is an inspiration.

PRAYER OF THE FARM WORKERS’ STRUGGLE
Show me the suffering of the most miserable;
So I will know my people’s plight.
Free me to pray for others;
For you are present in every person.
Help me take responsibility for my own life;
So that I can be free at last.
Grant me courage to serve others;
For in service there is true life.
Give me honesty and patience;
So that I can work with other workers.
Bring forth song and celebration;
So that the Spirit will be alive among us.
Let the Spirit flourish and grow;
So that we will never tire of the struggle.
Let us remember those who have died for justice;
For they have given us life.
Help us love even those who hate us;
So we can change the world.
Amen.
Written by César Chávez, UFW Founder (1927-1993)

Last week I finished Kristin Hannah’s latest book, The Four Winds. I highly recommend this novel, which portrays the life of a family who moved from Texas to work the fields of the Central Valley of California following the Depression. Like so many, they were in search of a better life and sustained incredible heartbreak and challenge with dignity and perseverance. Brigid and I have read many of Kristin’s historical fiction books throughout this past year, and have found them one of the ways by which we keep a healthy perspective…while also “traveling” the only way we can these days. With imagination!

Blessings to you and yours throughout the week ahead.

“There are many things that can only be seen through eyes that have cried.” — Oscar Romero

Today marks the feast of Saint Oscar Romero, the former Archbishop of San Salvador. Saint Romero was martyred on this day in 1980 for his advocacy on behalf of the poor of El Salvador. A decades-long civil war of that time period has left a permanent imprint upon that country. In 2004 I visited Romero’s home and the chapel where he was killed; they are among the most sacred of sites I have experienced. Romero’s conversion to experiencing life through another’s eyes is a powerful story and witness, and his leadership ability to emphasize with others was extraordinary. I hope that modern society can embrace these characteristics as we continue to navigate the challenges of our reality.

This morning I walked nine miles while on the phone for several hours. Walking throughout my city while on calls has been one of my favorite “work from home” activities. My dog also joined me today for part of the journey, and I have since reflected upon the “5 P’s” outlined in Living a Life of Purpose: Going Beyond Work-Life Balance to Find Your Life’s Work. The elements of presence, purpose, process, people and planet provided one framework for how we approach work-life integration. I feel blessed to share my vocation as a husband, father and educator with many good people in my life.

Here’s a timely prayer that was sent to me today. Together let us pray for healing.

Sad, Tired and Angry: A P rayer in the Face of Gun Violence [James Martin, S.J. October 02, 2017]

Almighty God,

I come before you,
once again,
after another shooting.

I am sad, God.

So I ask you
to receive into your loving care the souls of those who were killed,
to care for those who were wounded or hurt in any way,
to console the family members and friends of those who died or were wounded,
to strengthen the hands of the rescue workers, medical professionals and caregivers

I pray too for the shooter, as I must as a Christian.

All this makes me inexpressibly sad, God.
But I know that the sadness I feel is your sadness.
It is the same sadness your son expressed
when he wept over the death of
his friend Lazarus.

I know that the sadness I feel is your sadness.

I am tired, God.
I’m tired of the unwillingness to see this as an important issue.
I’m tired of those in power who work to prevent any real change.
I’m tired of those who say that gun violence can’t be reduced.

All this makes me tired.
But I know that the tiredness I feel is your tiredness.
It’s the same tiredness that Jesus felt after his own struggles against injustice
that led him to fall asleep on the boat with his disciples.

I am angry, God.
I’m angry at the seeming powerlessness of our community to prevent this.
I’m angry at the selfish financial interests who block change.
I’m angry that these shootings happen at all.

But I know that this anger is your anger
It’s the same anger Jesus felt when he overturned the tables in the Temple,
angry that anyone would be taken advantage of in any way.

Help me see in these feelings as the way that you move me to act.

Help me see in these emotions your own desire for change.
Help me see in these feelings your moving me to act.
Help me see in these reactions your pushing me to do something.

Because I know this is the way you move people to action.
And I know that you desire action.
For Jesus did not stand by while people were being hurt.
He plunged into their lives.

So help me to answer these questions:
How can I help?
How can I fight against gun violence?
How can I urge my political leaders to enact change?
How can I help people understand that this is
an issue about life?

I am sad over the loss of life,
tired of excuses for the loss of life,
and angry that we are paralyzed by the loss of life.

Turn my sadness into compassion. Turn my tiredness into advocacy.

Turn my sadness into compassion.
Turn my tiredness into advocacy.
Turn my paralysis into the freedom to act.

Help me
to be compassionate,
to advocate
and to act,
as your son did,
Almighty God.

“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!” -Apostles Peter, James and John

The Gospel reading from the weekend before last, regarding the Transfiguration of Jesus, has compelled me to think deeply about the power of presence. In recent weeks, from my time with my kids, to my time on Zooms, to my many discussions with my wife about education, family, learning and growth….these conversations and experiences have often focused upon the power of community. And for me, that sense of community is rooted in the intentional recognition of God’s presence in all things. Indeed, it is good that we are here.

In normal times, just showing up is often so much of how we can begin to be and feel successful- at work, in our home lives, and in our broader society. The past year has challenged us to continually re-define our understanding of success, as individuals and as communities. While we have made progress, we certainly have some distance to go. Perseverance will be key to our healthy perspective and pacing to the challenges ahead. Here’s a practical article on how to promote perseverance: How to Help Families and Staff to Build Resilience During COVID-19.

The picture of this flower is from a recent walk with my children. Our regular neighborhood walks at the end of our days have been a real life-enhancing aspect of our pandemic routine. I listen to music or make phone calls while the kids ride their scooters and skateboards. It’s great exercise and a nice release from all the screen time. This week my daughter was so struck by the flowers that we passed that she asked for my phone to take this picture. It is good that we are here.

“The most important thing that parents and teachers can do to help kids thrive is be resilient yourself.” Dr. Michele Borba