Changes…conversions…and a future Sister.

Here is an interesting news piece that a Salesian priest, Fr. Mike sent to me today…

Hollywood screenwriter returns to Cleveland, turns life over to GodCLEVELAND (CNS) — The Gospel of Luke’s prodigal son has nothing on Joe Eszterhas. A self-described “Hollywood animal,” Eszterhas is best known for writing such adult-themed thrillers as “Basic Instinct” and “Jagged Edge.” He is a guy who seemed to live his earlier life as if the seven deadly sins were a personal to-do list. But then Eszterhas found God. Or as Eszterhas writes in his latest memoir, “Crossbearer,” God found him. Today, the man who once was the center of attention at exclusive Hollywood restaurants, enjoys the easygoing community spirit of sharing a meal with his wife, Naomi, and the couple’s four sons at a Lenten fish fry at Holy Angels Parish, in suburban Bainbridge, where he often carries the cross at Mass. A screenwriter who describes his younger self as arrogant and full of hubris now reads the works of Trappist Father Thomas Merton and Dutch-born Father Henri Nouwen for spiritual guidance. Days that once started and ended with cigarettes and gin, now are filled with prayer and quiet walks in nature.

 

 

Now, without saying too much, let’s just say that every life has its times of conversion…and every person lives their “growing pains” in different ways, but I can relate to this change of heart.  God works in the life of each person.  And no, nuns are NOT born with veils on their heads and rosaries in their hands.  My favorite story is of a Sister who is a friend of mine who says before she entered, she was almost kicked out of a bar one night when she had had a few beers and began to dance on the table!

There are times when I wonder, “God, how can you do your work with such plain and simple instruments?” And then, like St. Paul, I realize that is JUST why He chose me – so that HIS work would be evident.  After all, what good could I potentially do?  So God is making His presence obvious by purposely choosing a weak instrument.  (I hope all those who wonder whether or not God is calling them to religious life reread and meditate on that sentence, because often we think we are not worthy, and we are not!)

Mother Teresa of Calcutta wanted to be a pencil in the hand of God.  There was an early Salesian who told Don Bosco he wanted to be like a handkerchief in his hands.  My hope is to be that available, to be that malleable, so that God can do all the good that is possible with this Kleenex!

Why?

There is a saying that says, ANYONE can do ANYTHING at ANYTIME as long as the person has a WHY and a FOR WHOM.  Right now, I’d like to talk about our WHY…

One of the things Don Bosco said was:

It is enough for me that you are young for me to love you.

In some ways, our why is the young – our why is the face of a needy young person we see.  Why would a young woman with a promising future, perhaps a good job, a healthy intelligence, perhaps good looks, or charisma, or great friendship, and perhaps even a deep love for  a man give all this up?  Why put aside wealth, learning, personal goals and ambitions?  Why give up a future, the possibility of regulating your own life and the potential to earn, and to decide one’s own fate?  The only reason is if there is a very good answer to WHY? or FOR WHOM?

You see, for the religious – our answer to WHY rests in WHAT we do – that is, our apostolate.  In other words, for a Salesian, the answer to WHY is because there are young people out there who have no one, who have no parents on whom they can rely, who have no stable point of reference for their life, who need someone to guide and encourage them in faith, who need someone to help them and believe in them and love them…that’s WHY!

So there you have it – we’d give anything for the young…even to giving our very lives!  On the day of my first profession, August 5, 1992, I offered Jesus my life, already giving Him my all for any young person I would ever encounter…and so, I give Him it again.  I publicly renew my dedication to Him for the young *my WHY*.

“Vado io” or “vado she-o”…

 

There is a saying in our constitutions, and in our history, which is in Italian.  It says that we should live in an attitude of “vado io” (pronounced “va-doh’  ee’-oh”, or in English, “I’ll go.”).  It is the desire of every Daughter of Mary Help of Christians to fully live this willingness to be the first to do whatever is necessary.  This is why so many of our brave Sisters head off each year for the missions.  It’s  a beautiful way to live life, and when many people live this together, it’s easy to see that each one tries to make life easy for one another. 

When I was in formation, we would often hear, “it’s ‘vado io’, not ‘vado she-o’”.  We would laugh about the changing of the term, and the implication of our responsibility to be the first to step forward and offer to do work. 

In response to a questionnaire, I was looking for a definition of what customer service is, when I came across this on www.simpletruths.com, a sight I highly recommend.  I think that this young man, though he is not Salesian, nor has he undergone any formation to be a Salesian, understood well what it means to live in a spirit of “vado io” and to do something with a particular touch that demonstrates a willing heart.

more about “The Simple Truths of Service Movie“, posted with vodpod

 

I ask the Lord to renew this spirit in me and to grant this spirit to each Salesian Sister throughout the world.  Fourteen thousand (plus) of us living like this will certainly be able to change human history, don’t you think?

 

How often we complain…

Today, I got this email.  It was titled, “the best email ever”.  I don’t know if it is the best or the worst or what, really…but I know one thing ~ it made me reflect on my life, on my hot meals, on my warm, comfortable bed….

If  you think you are having a hard time then  just look at  them

If  you think your salary is low, how about  her?

If  you think you don’t have many  friends…

When  you feel like giving up, think of this  man

If  you think you suffer in life, do you suffer as  much as he does?

If  you complain about your transport system, how  about them?

If  your society is unfair to you, how about  her?

I don’t know about you, but these pictures made me think quite a bit.  They make me reflect on how I accept what I have  ~ my attitude toward all that is given me.  My thoughts went to those things we say, like “people are starving in Africa…” but the truth is that so much of humanity is worse off than you or I…as we sit at our computers, and get ready for a meal or for a night’s sleep in a comfortable bed.  Some people say it’s stupid to compare yourself with others, but sometimes, I really think it gives us a sense of what we have, and how lucky we are.