Dcn Anne Strong

“Holy Father, you have strengthened and nourished your Church by the inspired writings of your servant Thomas A. Kempis: Grant that we may learn from Him to know what is necessary to be known, to love what is to be loved, to praise what highly pleases you and always seek to know and follow your will.”

My dear sisters and brothers:

“Today is the day that the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Every day is a new opportunity to begin again. Every day is a birth day.

I have returned from a month long pilgrimage where I visited…

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, my home town—experiencing both hurtful memories and blessings and discerning possibilities for my future.

Boulder Junction, Wisconsin—the north woods where I stayed in a friend’s cabin. My community was Creation; I felt attuned and a oneness with the eagles, the lake, turtles, huge trees, loons AND the mosquitoes. Anyone who has experienced the lakes in the north is aware that they are cold. One of my fondest memories is going”where I feared to tread” into the water. We giggled (believe it or not) swam, and while treading water, marveled at our sacred environment.

Nashville, Tennessee—after a sad goodbye, I ventured forward to visit my daughter, son and daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. My seeking continued as I experienced the happiness of reunion and the drama, accompanied by feelings of inadequacy and passion which only family can produce.

Today’s readings brought to realization that suffering is an equal opportunity occurrence. A lesson from which is that we ARE in control. We can frame it as an opportunity. However, we have a decision to make: how we respond. With this pain we can retaliate in like (for which we can find a lot support) OR feel the pain and respond with love. My mistake has been to feel like a victim, out of control. WRONG. We have total power with our choice of how we react. I have found that in choosing the latter response, I am healed; the relationship will continue and I feel more alive and resilient.

Another take away from my pilgrimage is that God is my home, my grounding force! When I am balanced spiritually I can venture “where I fear to tread,” can truly experience peace, joy, hope and possibility. I am still tempted by all worldly matters BUT I know where to go. “The Lord is my stronghold, of whom shall I be afraid.” (Psalm 27)

Only God can place me on this holy axis. “Abide in me as I abide in you” (John 15:4)

It is then and only then that I am able to experience darkness in this imperfect world. Always believing that where there is LOVE, there is always HOPE.

Faithfully and with Christ’s love,

—Dcn Anne