Remembering PEACE in our world over this Memorial Day

Peace and All Good!

I can hardly believe that it is the end of May already and that we are heading into the Memorial Day Holiday weekend!
Hopefully the sun will shine for part of the weekend because the past few days here in Portland the days have been quite wet and soggy ...

Anyway, when I think of the month of May, I do think of peace and to remember to pray for peace in our world. As we come to this Memorial Day we remember in a special way our veterans who have given their lives to help to make the world a more just and peaceful place. We also remember all those who have died.

The past day or so I keep thinking of some words of St. Francis connected to all of this, so I share them with you ...
from the Legend of the Three Companions:

"May the peace you announce with your lips be even more abundant in your hearts. Do not provoke anyone to anger or to scandal. May everyone be attracted by your lived example of meekness, peace, goodness and harmony. This is your vocation: to heal the wounds, to mend the broken, to call back the lost."
St. Francis sure has a way of challenging me in my life! I guess that is what conversion is all about ... a daily stiving to make a difference and live in peace ...
Have a great holiday weekend and be safe especially if you are traveling about! I'm heading to Spokane Washington for a quick trip to help one of my Franciscan Sisters to celebrate her Golden Jubilee - WOW 50 years of service and dedication to the Church and to the people of God. Congratualtions Sr. Elaine!
It should be a grand celebration! Hopefully I will have some pictures to share next time...
Peace and Blessings!

Water, water everywhere ... or so we think

This morning I heard someone comment, "We sure had a wet and rainy April - it is so good to see a nice day!" Well, I do agree that I am glad for a beautiful, dry, spring day here in the Northwest. However, the rains brought snow to the mountains and helped to keep our water table high. That is good for us! I have been profoundly aware of water troubles in other parts of our country lately though - our Gulf coast with the terrible oil spill going on there and also the horrible flooding in Tennessee! Both those situations need a lot of prayers right now!

Sometimes we do take safe, clean water for granted! Recently the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center (IPJC) in Seattle, of which my community helps to sponsor (along with several other religious congregations), held a video contest for high school students. The first place winner of the contest, Laura Jansen from Chicago Heights, IL produced an excellent video! Please take a few minutes to watch her video ~ it has a powerful message to share .....



Way to go, Laura! You have challenged us all to be creative and help with this issue of water - thank you!
When I was in Haiti several years ago I became VERY aware of the need for clean water. We stayed in a "safe" place while we were there, but we never drank any water out of the tap. We discovered through personal experience that even in the city water supply little worms were swimming around ~ extra protein I guess, but definitely not desirable for anyone....
How fortunate we are in the United States! Let us work together to help with this problem so that all people may have that basic right of water and with St. Francis sing: "Most high, all-powerful, all-good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honour and all blessing ....All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, lowly, precious and pure." (from the Canticle of Brother Sun)