What to do with a Whirlwind-Week and a Hulahoop?

On Tuesday, one of my friends sent me a youtube link to a lady performing her hula hoop skills while trying to pour herself a glass of wine (and drink it). At one point she had 3 hoops going at different points on her body. Somehow I felt like this lady...and it had nothing to do with the wine! It was kind of like the juggling metaphor...trying to keep a number of things going all at once and making adjustments to accomodate more and more! Not only could she handle 3 more hoops than I could ever hope to, but her motivation (besides showing off a skill many of us probably stopped trying to master at the age of 8) was extrinsic and separate from the act of keeping those hoops going.

Do you ever feel like you're trying to keep many hula hoops going but still have your eye on something else while you're at it (can we say 'multi-tasker')? Like many of you, I have many 'hoops' swirling around me but especially during this season of Lent my "eye" or my focus has been on my relationship with Christ. Keeping my focus there has helped me keep those hoops going...without Him there's no way I could do it.  And knowing that our prayers for each other help  us keep our "eye on the prize" while doing the 'hula of life' has really been a great relief to me and I am so grateful to those who lift me up! Please know I lift you up in my prayers too! :)

Here are a few  scripture-influenced thoughts that have been my focus this week:

Your Grace Is Enough For Me (Matt Maher/Chris Tomlin do a great song together with this as the title)

http://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/songdetail.aspx?iid=563385 (they actually start singing at about 2min 50sec)

"For when I am powerless, then I am strong" (from a hymn we sang last weekend)

Thank you Jesus, even for...(fill in the blank)

The Lord is mystrength and my song...the cause of our JOY :)

What thoughts/quotes/scriptures do YOU use when things get stressful?  Please share :)

God Bless You!

Unless A Grain of Wheat, of Barley, of Corn...

Muenster, SK (during my stay at St.Peter's Abbey)

I have had the opportunity to hear 3 different reflections on the Gospel for today. Here’s an excerpt: “ The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” (John 12:23-24)

Two of the reflections I heard were in homilies – Fr. Andrew focused on the fact that we must not focus on the dying of the grain, but the rising to new life – specifically related to losing loved ones in death. Fr. Piotr focused on how the dying of the grain is specifically related to how we need to allow certain things in our lives die in order to allow God’s life to bloom in us. The third reflection though took a view that surprised me…and that is the view of time. This reflection I read in “Daily Reflections for LENT” by Bishop Robert Morneau from Green Bay, WI. Bishop Morneau talked about living in accord with God’s time and design.

Jesus was obedient to God’s timing. He knew the plan and that His hour had come. As I think about “time” I’m reminded of Ecclesiastes and it’s litany of times…to be born, to die, to plant to harvest, to weep, to laugh, to keep, to throw away etc. Like in our gospel, the hour comes when the grain of wheat must die in order for it to produce harvest. The hour comes when the beautiful grapes must be plucked off the vine and thrown into the vat to make wine. The hour comes when a friend or son/daughter has to move away or the hour comes when we are asked to sacrifice ourselves (in small/great ways) for the good of another. All of these times are appointed by God…in fact it says in Ecclesiastes 3 that there is “…a time for every affair under the heavens.”

So what does that mean for us? Do we focus too much on the past or future or do we focus on the appointed hour given to us at this moment? What is God saying to me right now? For me personally, I have some dying in my life coming up and even now I feel it’s a process that has already begun. And even though sometimes it feels like it’s going to be a long wait before I enter the Holy Family Convent, I know that all will happen at God’s appointed time. There are many moments including this one as I’m typing that I have to discover what God has appointed for me. (Sleep and getting rid of this cold is one thing I am appointed to do today! ) J

Today I really marvel at the Lord and His Word… and each reflection of it has value and meaning. It’s like a multifaceted gem that you can look at from many angles and still find new wonder and beauty. Thank you Jesus and please help us to see what it is in our lives that we need to let go of, help us remember that death is not the end only the beginning of new life and strengthen us each moment so that we can be open and at peace with your design, your time, your will. Amen!

Me - living with a bunch of women??

Along this journey of discernment I must admit that I've used a few excuses along the way for not following the quiet but deep desires for religious life.  One of them I must admit was a belief I took on while in university...after living in community with L'Arche and having some experiences with some nuns that weren't that life giving I decided that "living with a bunch of women" just wouldn't cut it for me.  I need men in my life and I don't want to be surrounded in estrogen ;).  It doesn't help that most of my career I have spent working in schools whose staff is predominantly female (God bless our male Caretakers!). 

What the Lord has shown me in a very clear way this week is to take a second look at these thoughts/beliefs. He's done this by highlighting the amazing love and support I've recieved lately...and the majority of this has come from the beautiful women in my life (family, friends from church, the diocese, choir, work etc) - I would try to list of all them but it would be too long!  I am so blessed...and really, I know that living in a community of women won't be all sunshine and lollipops. If I think about it - would it be so bad living or being in a place with all the women I am surrounded by now, women of faith, of love, of laughter, wisdom, creativity and joy?  Certainly not! And I look forward to deepening my knowledge and making new friendships/connections with the women in the community I will be joining.  And I am so thankful to all those who surround me now, who walk with me in different ways, and who I hope to continue to walk with as this journey continues.

Lord, please remove from me thoughts or beliefs that block me from seeing your love.  Help me to be open to the beauty of your gifts around me, especially the women in my life, of the past, the present and the future.  Bless them and Mother Mary, help us to have the grace to love like you.  Amen!



Are you listening??



Tree pic from a trip to San Antonio, TX
Reflection written by Chelsea
March 27, 2011

Not only give Jesus the fruit of your work,

prayer and love of neighbors,

but the whole tree of your life….
When you do this, expect Him to transform you with His love, to maybe even change you into a different kind of tree!  What if Jesus asked you to change the way you give of yourself, the way you commit your life to Him?  What if you completely give Him your life and then later He wants your life to look different because He has a plan you never imagined before…are you open to hearing Him, would you actually listen?  Would you stick to your original plan and our million “do’s and don’ts” or trust in His creative direction?  Will you allow Jesus to decide what kind of fruit you should bear for His Kingdom, His glory…even if it wasn’t your idea, even if it seems to be a road that some will not accept? 

The abandonment of your life into God’s hands, a true gift of love – are you truly ready for God’s response?  It will be amazing!

“He  saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to His own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus…”
(2 Tim.1:9)

 Inspired by a homily a year ago, I wrote this with a friend in mind. But now, a year later...it's very applicable to my own life and the call for me to "relook" at my plan, ideas and my courage and openess to actually listen.
An opportunity to take my own advice...haha :)

I love Wordles :)

Perfect Beginning

image from turnbacktogod.com

A perfect picture to begin this new blog...I love the image of the MIRROR and how I love to REFLECT and muse on the Lord! His beautiful Creation (nature, art and especially MUSIC), His everlasting LOVE for us (through the Eucharist, each other and the marvelous ways He looks after us!) are ever inspiring to me.


I'd like this to be a place where I can share part of my journey with you.  I am currently discerning a call to religious life as a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity (http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org/).  I will be accepted as a postulant into their community in August 2012.  The coming of this new step in my life has inspired me to get serious about creating a blog, a place where those who love and support me can keep in touch with my journey and a place to be acquainted with new friends too!

I love this quote from St.Clare of Assisi:

Place your mind in the mirror of eternity;

Place your soul in the splendor of glory;

Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance;

And, through contemplation, transform your entire being into the one image of the Divine One Himself,

so that you, yourself may also experience what his friends experience when they taste the hidden sweetness that God alone has kept from the beginning for those who love Him.

- from the Third Letter of St. Clare to Agnes of Prague


There's so much to glean and appreciate from this quote...I just really love the idea of transforming into the image of the Divine.  On my most recent retreat to the Holy Family Convent we watched a video of a Fr. Michael speaking on how when we contemplate the Cross, we are not waiting to see our own face in the face of Jesus but rather we are waiting for ourselves to be transformed and changed into the likeness of Christ. THEN we go forth as His presence to a world that most desperately needs Him.  How Beautiful!!