If you have a bee in your hand what do you have in your eye?
BEAUTY - because beauty is in the eye of the bee-holder!

I had been encouraged by some of the more artistic sisters in my community to visit the art museum while I was in Chicago. Since this month the admission was free it seemed like the ideal time to go. My comprehension of art is minimal – so I really went with no expectations or hopes. It just seemed like a fun outing.

I was surprised to find myself not only enjoying our time there but totally mesmerized by the art. And what’s more, I could feel my soul being nourished as I simply took in all the beauty that surrounded me. This was an unexpected grace for me and I found myself wondering on the way home– what was that about? Upon my return, I googled, “God and beauty.” This quote of G.K Chesterton was among some of the things that came up and it spoke to me of what I had experienced. He said, “There is a road from the eye to the heart that does not go through the intellect.”

It was beyond my rational intellect to truly “understand” all the art I saw. I am neither a painter nor sculptor and so I couldn’t appreciate the art with the intimate knowledge of the craft as some could. And even the objects in the paintings would have been lost on me had there not been plaques beside each one with explanations. And yet, something was touching me, speaking to me, tending to an empty place in my heart. Some would say it was the beauty of the art and I would agree but I would call it God.

There is a phrase attributed to St. Francis de Sales “cor ad cor loquitor” – heart speaks to heart. This saying expresses for me what occurred at the art museum. The creative stirrings in the heart of the artist that compelled him or her to create these masterpieces travel that road from my eye to my heart. The divine in their heart speaks to the divine in mine and I am fed.

I find myself filled with gratitude not only for the experience but for the implications it holds. I know now that in times of darkness and aridity there is a road that may bring me light. In seeking beauty, I have a source to resurrect and awaken my spirit when it seems deadened and numb. I have food for the journey that was before unknown to me. I understand more deeply the importance of beauty in our lives. And, I see,too, the need for each of us to have outlets where we can create beauty be it the simplest sketch, the off-key melody, the unpolished poem, or any other way we express the divine stirrings in our hearts.

As I continue to plan and prepare for formation work, I find here an area that I will explore with our candidates. I want them to discover where they find beauty, what fills their souls, and equally important what medium can they use to pour out the beauty that lives inside of them.

As I prepared this reflection these words from Psalm 27 (v 4) came to mind –“One thing I have asked from the Lord, this I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple.” I have prayed these words for many years but until now they only spoke to me of seeking the heaven that is awaiting me. Now, I see them as a way of life. I am called to continually seek to behold beauty, here and now. And if I do this, if I actively seek it, I believe I will find it everywhere, and all places and peoples will feed my contemplative spirit and become temples where I meditate and behold the beauty of the Lord.

Happy Valentine’s Day!
I am not a big fan of the overly romanticized notions of this day. I am not a big fan of the consumerist mentality that equates care with cash spent. BUT…

I am a big fan of love - new love, young love, old love, God’s love. Love of family, love of friends, love of a good book, love of GOD, … love, love, love, love. I love these words about love by the Jesuit priest, Pedro Arrupe. May they be a blessing to you, as well.

Nothing is more practical than finding God,
that is, than falling in love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you
out of bed in the morning,
what you will do with your evenings,
how you will spend your weekends
what you read, who you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you
with joy and gratitude.
Fall in love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.

A triptych is usually an icon with three images together. In the last few weeks there were three separate moments that have together spoken to me.

The first was at Sunday Mass two weeks ago. We attended the children’s mass at Old St. Pat’s here in Chicago and after Gospel, the presider called all the children in the church to gather on the steps to the sanctuary. He asked them if any of them had any special gifts and talents. He gave them examples of silly things like being able to roll your tongue or cross your eyes. He also gave them other examples like being able to sing and dance. Every child there happily rose his or her hand and acknowledged that they had a special gift.

The second moment was Saturday evening watching the US figure skating championships. The top two winners in the competition would represent the US at the Olympics. Some of the women competing were in their mid 20s which is considered old for this sport and this most likely would be there last chance to go to the Olympics. The commentator gave them a lot of credit for training for so long and encouraged them not to leave the sport with any regrets otherwise they would wonder for the rest of their lives what if…

And lastly, yesterday at Sunday Mass the presider quoted Mary Oliver’s poem “When Death Comes” in his homily. The poem ends with this sentiment, “When death comes… I don’t want to end up having simply visited this world.”

At a glance, these three things may not seem very cohesive. But each of them made me pause and consider what are my gifts, am I using and developing them so that I won’t have any regrets, if I were to die tomorrow would I feel like I had only visited this planet. I know that I have been blessed by God with various gifts and talents but like the youngsters at St. Pat’s can I readily and willingly name them? Can I claim them with joy and exuberance rather than putting my gifts down as nothing special? And what of the skills that I have that are perhaps not as good as another’s in the same area? Am I still developing and using them, still trying my best while I have the energy? And when the time comes can I let the younger generation replace me? Am I living so that I won’t have regrets that will make me some day ask what if I had really tried to write some poetry or create some lovely artwork, what if I had learned Greek and Hebrew? There are no simple answers to these questions.

However, as I prepare to take on the work of forming the new members of our community these questions become more important because these are precisely the challenges I will have to present to the young women in my care. I will want to help them discover and use all the gifts they have. I will want them to make the most of their formative years and move forward with no regrets. And if I am to be an authentic witness, if I want to leave this world not as a visitor then I must do the same myself.

Several years ago, I came across some excerpts from the works of Erma Bombeck. Though she was known for her funny stories, it was some of her more inspirational writings that have stayed with me. As I face these questions about how I will choose to live my life these words of hers are a source of hope and inspiration. She wrote, “”When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’ “

This is a request for all who read this blog. Please pray for the people in Haiti and if at all possible please contribute to the relief efforts. If you have blogs, use your voice to spread the plea. There are numerous reputable places that will use the money to truly help those in need. Here are a few:

www.crs.org (Catholic Relief Services)
www.unicefusa.org (Unicef)
www.redcross.org (Red Cross)

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere. Let us join together as Catholics, as Christians, as members of the family of man and help our fellow human beings.

Thank you. God bless.