A friend invited me to attend the Niagra Foundation Peace and Dialogue Awards dinner last week. The Niagra Foundation has its roots in Chicago and began in 1997 as an educational outreach by Turkish-American academicians and business men offering tutoring in areas of math and science. The Foundation has grown over the years and, in Ohio, joined with the Scioto Educational Foundation, founded in 2003, to extend its outreach in the Midwest.

Like Niagra Foundation, Scioto Foundation’s primary mission is to promote global understanding through peaceful dialogue. Last week’s dinner honored four central Ohioans and organizations for their commitment to community service, education, and global understanding. What better way to spend an evening than celebrating with a diverse group of people the ideals of acceptance, dialogue, and service?

These groups and this evening celebrated shared values that bind us all together. In a world that often focuses on differences, this celebration reminded us of the need to look instead at what makes human beings the same no matter their race, culture, or religion. The night’s honorees were chosen for their work for the common good, whether through education, global awareness, community service, and leadership.

However, just as important as the awards was what happened around the tables and around the room that night. People of different nationalities, faith, and work talked, laughed and shared their stories. Professors, ministers, teachers, business people, office workers, and politicians shared food together.

As the evening came to an end, people reluctant to leave shared emails, phone numbers, and invitations for dinner at their homes. This was perhaps the greatest testimony to the success, step at a time, of these two Foundations. Coming as was said that night, from the heart of Turkey, they serve as an example to all of us of the possibilities that flow from commitment to understanding, acceptance, peace, and dialogue.

I encourage you to visit the websites of these two organizations. You may be surprised at the variety of opportunities these nonprofit groups offer to all: luncheons, lectures, interfaith dinners, morning conversations, community service. And the opportunity to develop friendships that span the globe, sharing what is most basic to all human beings: family, faith, community, and the common good. The way to peace is made with small steps. It is made through person to person interaction and service.

I am grateful to Niagra and Scioto Foundations for the inspiring evening that reminded me of this basic truth.

PHOTO: Mary van Balen PICASSO PLATE – GIFT FROM WOMAN ACTIVE IN THE FRENCH PEACE MOVEMENT The Scripture reading from Morning Prayer today (Proverbs 8. , 32-36) as well as the OT reading from Mass (Ws 7. 22b-8.1) speak of the importance of seeking Wisdom and Understanding: “Happy are those who keep my ways. Listen to instruction and grow wise…Happy the one who listens to me, attending daily at my gates, keeping watch at my doorstep.”

Opening oneself to Wisdom is a daily affair. The Holy One is always pouring out Divine Self, Wisdom, and we are called to “attend daily.”

The reading from Mass beautifully describes Wisdom in all her feminine glory. She is spirit, which means, as any reference to Spirit or to Holy One, that Wisdom/Spirit is neither male or female as we define gender. Spirit is beyond human gender. Of course, Christians are accustomed to hearing male pronouns when reading or speaking about God. Today’s reading from Wisdom is refreshingly filled with feminine pronouns – perhaps more noticeable to the women among us.

The author a long list of attributes. Here are a few for your reflection:

“For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.”

“For she is an aura of the might of God and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty.”

“And she, who is one, can do all things and renews everything while herself perduring; And passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets.”

Wisdom is presented as a feminine face of God…as the Spirit who dwells in each of us.

Holy Wisdom, One worthy of our daily attention.

PHOTO: Mary van Balen I took advantage of a day off to accomplish a number of things: doctor appointment, hair cut, and repotting plants. The day was too beautiful not to spend some of it outside and my hospitable friend, Melanie happily offered her time and her place. We have walked paths that wind across her property in every season. We have watched for comets and stars in dark hours of the morning. As I drove to her home, I felt my spirit become lighter anticipating a shared few hours.

As I approached her driveway, I noticed bluebirds on telephone wires. I slid my camera into my pocket as we began our walk. The day was bright and warm for November. We wandered through her garden, edged with drooping sunflower heads and tomato plants that had littered the ground around them with small, orangey red globes. Mint was as pushy as ever. Her basil plant had been huge, and the blue berry bush still sported green leaves.

We saw bittersweet and avoided stepping on too many walnut hulls in an effort to save our shoes. On poor tree had numerous broken branches rubbed clean of bark and shredded by rutting deer.

When I walk slowly like this, I often look down at the ground, my eyes searching for familiar plants and flowers.

“Look, Melanie, a wooly caterpillar.”

The words were barely out of my mouth before she saw another, then I saw another.They were easy to spot once we knew they were there. Melanie said she had seen lots this year. We inspected the width of brown and black segments, trying to remember what folklore said about them predicting the harshness (or mildness) of the winter ahead. I took a few photos, amazed at how fast those little critters could move. I wondered what moth or butterfly they became.

Melanie and I walked around the pond and circled by the bee hives. The man who cares for them had winterized them, but bees were busily flying in and out. In November. That seems late to me, but I am not a bee keeper. We watched for a while, and when after a simple lunch, when I left for my appointments, I stopped in the drive long enough to watch the bees again and take a few photos. Buzzing became louder, and when a bee landed on my hand, I decided the time had come to leave.

As always, an hour or a day with my friend, sharing the glories of creation, nurtures my soul and heals what is hurting. When I return home and light my beeswax candles, I will remember this morning and in the re-membering, will be open again to the healing and warmth of its grace.

From the Exultet:
We sing the glories of this pillar of fire, the brightness of which is undiminished even when its light is divided and borrowed, for it is fed by the melting wax which the bees, your servants, have made for the substance of this candle.”

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven
and continue bravely burning
to dispel the darkness of this night!

All Saints Day II by Kadinsky The short reading for today’s Sext or Midday prayer is simple and appropriate for All Saints Day: Be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One who has called you, and scripture says: Be holy, for I am holy. Peter 1:15-16

The universal call to holiness, expressed eloquently in the Vatican II document, Lumen Gentium Chapter V, is for all, no matter their state. We are reminded of the two great commandments: Love God and love your neighbor. Holiness is not something we possess but a way we live. It is not something found only in hours on ones knees at prayer or in a church.

Holiness is the way, not the destination. It is sharing with others, with the world, the gift of Love and Divine Life placed in each of us.Being faithful to the call to holiness is difficult, yet we are given the grace to persevere. We might be surprised not only by where we are called to bring compassion, but also by who brings it to us.

God’s gifts can flow through those we least expect. Saint Benedict’s Rule instructs us to greet every visitor as Christ, especially the poor and the pilgrims:

In the reception of the poor and of pilgrims
the greatest care and solicitude should be shown,
because it is especially in them that Christ is received;
for as far as the rich are concerned,
the very fear which they inspire
wins respect for them. (RB Chapter 53)

Often the poor, the ones we least expect to help us to holiness are the ones who bless us.

Today, as we celebrate All Saints Day, let us be open to the saints who walk among us, in whatever guise.

PHOTO: Mary van Balen The morning after Halloween, my mom’s large, silver mixing bowl filled with small candy bars sits on my table, tempting me. Why not have a bit of sweet to start the morning. I had feared this would happen. Being new to the neighborhood, I had no idea if trick or treaters would find their way to my door, so I prepared with a few bags of candy bars. When my neighbor appeared outside in the afternoon ready to take a walk, I asked her about Halloween “traffic.”

“Sometimes we get a few,” she said. “But not too many. I think they don’t know which door to go to.” She motioned to the row of flats.

It also doesn’t help that my flat is located between two wealthy suburbs. I lived in one for a while and people from all over the city came with vans full of kids in costumes. It was safer. And the take was pretty good.

Before giving in to the call of a snickers bar, I prepared green beans for an evening potluck. Nothing fancy. Frozen French cut green beans, a little butter, salt, and fresh lemon juice. I toasted slivered almonds and put them on top. I saved a small dish to eat later. The longer I looked at the bright green beans and buttery almonds, the less I wanted to wait.

I had green beans for breakfast, eating slowly and savoring each bite. As I sat back enjoying the lingering flavors I wondered why candy held such an attraction. When good food tastes like this, why bombard my body with a sugar explosion that leaves me just wanting more?

Sweet, chocolate, and other desserts certainly have their place, but in a fast food environment they are too easy. Ripping open a paper wrapper or taking a bag from someone at a drive through window is quicker than taking even the few minutes needed to cook something.

I’ll see how long the delicious green bean breakfast can keep me out of the candy bowl. Just to make sure I don’t relapse, I sent most of the temptation with my daughter to share with grad students at work!

I looked

“All Saints Day 1” by Kadinsky Like most American’s, I am prepared to greet young costumed visitors at my door with small bars of chocolate and a smile. In this part of the country, unlike the east coast, weather is cooperating with crisp air and clear skies. I have never been one to jump into this holiday with extravagant costumes, but I did enjoy the years my children came up with creative outfits. There was the “laundry basket,” that was a big hit with everyone who saw my daughter approaching in the middle of a plastic hamper with bottom cut out for her legs, stuffed with towels. She carried a cleaned out laundry detergent bottle to hold her loot. She wasn’t as fond of the costume since it made climbing steps difficult.

We had a pac-man that won “most original” in the school contest, and a cheetah with spots hand-painted on orange sweats and a homemade head cap with ears. We have let loose on the streets a Magic Parrot (don’t try to find it. It is an obscure Disney film character.), a ballerina, mad scientists with smoking beakers, egyptian gods, well, the list goes on and on.

I remember my first grade year when my mother borrowed a poodle costume from my aunt. It was a hit, but I had to appear in many classrooms and bark when asked to show it off. Not my favorite halloween.

Later, the Catholic schools I attended had “All Saints” day celebrations instead of Halloween parties and the halls were filled with white garbed Marys with heads draped in blue, bearded St. Josephs, and the ever present St. Patrick. A couple angels made appearances too.

I don’t go in for the fear tactic of evangelizing would be halloween celebrants with “Hell Scare” scenarios popular with some evangelical churches. I say, let the kids trick or treat, count and sort their candy (good math practice if you think about it), and eat it til its gone. You might want to help a bit. I’ve been known to raid one of my children’s stash on a gloomy November day when I convinced myself that a piece of candy would remedy my mood.

Still, knowing the history of the name “Halloween” and celebrating the two days that follow are good practices, too.

“Halloween” evolved from the Old English “All Hallows” and in the 16th century, the Scottish “Hallow Even” (Hallow Evening) that named the vigil of the feast of All Saints, which in the Roman Catholic tradition, is celebrated on November 1. That is a good day to remember not only those people canonized by the RC church, but also the unnamed millions who lived a good life, faithful to who God made them to be, who have passed from earthly life. I am sure we all know many. The variety and vitality of “saints” is captured in Kadinsky’s painting.

All Souls Day, a day of prayer for those who have died but are not yet purified of the result of their sins, is commemorated on Nov. 2 in the Roman Catholic church. Those still waiting to be in the presence of God, the “beatific vision,” are those in need of prayer. In some countries, people visit cemeteries and decorate them with flowers and candles on Nov. 1 and 2.

Both these feasts celebrate those who have lived life with all its difficulties and challenges. This is a day to remember the saying often attributed to Plato but of unknown origin: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

Life is hard. Period. For some, harder than for others. Being faithful while living it requires strength of will and soul. I believe the Holy One looks upon all who make the journey with mercy and a loving embrace. That makes me a believer in universal salvation, I suppose, but I don’t claim to know, just to believe in a God who can and does love into Love the worst as well as the best of human kind. One could resist. C.S. Lewis’s book, “The Great Divorce,” comes to mind. Being created as we have been, we are free to refuse God’s love and choose isolation instead. Such a reality is difficult for me to imagine, but I suppose it could happen.

One of life’s challenges is to live it in a way that allows the Love that is irresistible to touch those we meet; to move those who most need to feel it.

Remember that when you smile at the little ones and their parents who show up at your door tonight.

Hapy Hallow E’en!

Detail from icon written by Br. Robert Lentz Today, Pope Benedict XVI has travelled to Assisi to hold a world day of prayer for peace on the 25th anniversary of the first interfaith world day of prayer for peace convened in Assisi by Pope John Paul II in 1986. An AP article, Rainbow of Religious Leaders Join Pope for Peace ,describes the gathering of some 300 religious leaders as well as a few agnostics. Unlike the event it commemorates, this day did not include a communal prayer, but provided quiet time for individual prayer for peace.

Religious belief never provides justification for violence and terrorism, and this diverse group reaffirms that truth.

Why Assisi? St. Francis of Assisi is known as a man of simplicity and peace. A lesser known fact, however, is that in 1219 during the crusades, he travelled across the battle lines (perhaps during a cease fire that followed a ferocious battle, to speak with the Sultan of Egypt, hoping to convert him and thus end the bloodshed.(Francis also thought he might earn martyrdom in the process.) The only reliable reports were that the Sultan received Francis with hospitality and the two of them conversed about matters of faith.

Early biographers of St. Francis say they both respected one another, and though the crusade continued, the Sultan assured Francis’ safe return across enemy lines. Stories are told about the Sultan converting to Christianity on his deathbed, but those, of course, may just be stories.

What is important to those of us who pray for peace today is that two leaders from different faiths and different states in life, met with respect and listened to one another. I imagine both came away from the meeting changed in some way. Both surely had to have grown in respect for the other.

Today’s gathering at Assisi holds a similar promise. It reminds us of the necessity of listening to one another with respect; of joining our prayers for peace, and coming away from the experience with hope that the God Who Hears All will dwell in our hearts and move them to work for peace with love, not with violence.

The Way I am soon off to work, but want to take a moment to recommend the movie, “The Way.” You can follow the link to learn more about it.

This blog takes its name from the symbol of the great pilgrimage route, Camino de Santiago: the scallop shell. The shell has become a universal symbol for pilgrim. As I watched the movie, I became a pilgrim along with the others, carrying my life and my need with them to the Cathedral of St. James. What was true for them is true for me, for all pilgrims on their journey: The WAY not the destination, is what changes us.

See the movie when you are able!

Sr. Bonifacia You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry; my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children orphans. If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them. If you take your neighbor’s cloak in pawn, you shall restore it before the sun goes down; for it may be your neighbor’s only clothing to use as cover; in what else shall that person sleep? And if your neighbor cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate. Ex 22. 21-27

This reading reminds us that aliens, the poor, widows, children are with us always.
We know only too well that “alien” does not mean only those from a country other than that where they reside. One can be an “alien” through poverty, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, or race. We can feel “alien” when we are not understood, when our work is unappreciated, when we are lonely.

Exodus states clearly how God expects us to relate to those suffering alienation in our midst. We are to serve. We are to love. We are to be a reflection of the Holy One who names herself “Compassion.”

Today the pope canonized three new saints. two of whom reached out to women, One, Spanish nun Sister Bonifacia Rodriguez de Castro, a cord maker, founded an order that served poor women, providing them with a safe place to work. Hers was a prophetic voice that spoke quietly through her creation of a community of women that challenged prevailing assumptions about the place and role of women in the world. She offered an alternative to women who often were (and still are in many places here and around the world) abused and powerless.

At a time when even entering a religious order often required wealth and a dowery, Bonifacia’s order and workshop accepted all; those who were physically able earned money by making cords or lace and gave their profits to a general fund,enabling those who could not work to remain.

She thought “outside the box,” creating something new. God was her strength. The home of her parents’ and that of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, a home where money was made simply in their workshop, were her inspiration.

Even her craft, learned as a child from her parents in their home workshop is prophetic. Cords hold together, connect, strengthen: often the gifts women bring to the world. Bonifacia and her workshops where cords, prayer, friendship, and support flourished, challenges us to become aware of those around us who are in need and to respond as we are able.

Another canonized today was Rev. Luigi Guanella, an italian priest who spend his adult life caring for the poor, orphans, and handicapped. For a while, he worked with Saint John Bosco, caring for homeless children. Fr. Guanella travelled to Chicago to work with Italian immigrants and founded two orders that still serve those in need in a number of countries.

Both these holy people gave their lives in service to the most vulnerable of God’s people. They were open to receive God’s love and to be God’s hands and heart on earth. They were Compassion.

How can we follow their lead in our lives? How can we, like Bonifacia, think “outside the box” and live in a way that is counter cultural? Instead of being caught up in an obsession with celebrity, materialism, and wealth, how can we be committed to the forgotten, to service, and to simplicity?

How can we, too, be Compassion?

and an Italian priest who worked with the poor, the Rev. Luigi Guanella.

PHOTO: Hose Luis Hernandez Zurdo The parable of the barren fig tree is today’s gospel reading. After three years of waiting for fruit from the tree, the orchard owner was ready to cut it down. Why not plant something else? The gardener had another idea. “Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.” LK 13.8-9.

His remark brought another type of cultivation to mind. What do I do to “cultivate the ground” where my soul sinks its roots? What do I do that nurtures my spirit and enables me to share what I have been given?

Our lives are full of choices. How do we spend time? When at work, are we mindful of what we are doing, finding ways to serve even in positions that seem unlikely places for meeting God or sharing Goodness with others? And time when we are not at work?

What do we read? Are we aware of creation that surrounds us? The night sky? The shapes of clouds? Are we mindful and present to the moment? When we are not, we do not allow the Grace of the moment to soak our soul as it might, and our spirits can become hard and dry, like uncultivated ground.

I imagine Jesus is the gardner who is patient and loving rather than the owner of the orchard who was annoyed and ready to give up on the tree. Jesus will give me what I need to be fruitful. Yes, the Holy One provides, but I must be receptive. I have responsibility as the gardener, as well. We garden together, God and I. God and all of us. Together, we bear fruit for the world.
© 2011 Mary van Balen