May, 2008
May 8 , 2008
Intending Each Decision
I bought a bottle of water yesterday and am still kicking myself today. Sure, it was 87 degrees and I was about to jump in a kayak to paddle through the everglades for a couple of hours. I could have carried to Florida my aluminum water bottle that would not leach chemicals into the drinking water nor cause environmental problems, but I didn't.
On the other hand, I say to myself, Sanibel Island is beautiful, but it has swampy-tasting tap water; filling my aluminum bottle would be unsatisfactory as well. So, what do I do?
I've learned from the Sisters of St. Joseph that when a solution is not obvious, invite others to the discussion table. I invited to the table of my thoughts, children from 7 generations out. I asked them for suggestions.
Quenching my thirst with ice tea or other flavored additives readily came to mind. Fresh citrus fruit is another satisfactory option. Changing the timing of my activities to avoid the day's most intense heat would be smart as well.
I'm reminded that I am one of more than a million visitors to Florida each year — most of us are unaccustomed to the taste of the water. How many of us purchase bottled water and how many bottles a day are consumed?
The faces of the children 7 generations out are the faces of our own families just as we resemble our grandparents and they resembled theirs and on and on. Their lives literally depend on us. Once again, I will attempt to intend each decision as though it were the tipping point into the quality of life our descendants will face. It may seem small, but, what if we each did that?
Possumus
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May 4, 2008
Critical Dials
Today is my brother Ed's birthday. He is a pilot. Years ago he took me up in his small flight instructor's plane and let me fly it! I remember it like it was yesterday. He said, “Go ahead, turn the steering wheel.” I did and the plane turned! I don't know what I thought it would do, but I didn't expect that. I gasped, “But Ed, I don't know what all the dials are for!!!! He said, “Not to worry. There are only a few that are really critical.”
I think back to this moment many times when I ponder the future of the Sisters of St. Joseph. I've learned that with us there are only a few critical dials to keep our eyes on as well that point to the health and vitality of our group of courageous servant leaders.
One dial is Mission — are we doing that for which we were founded? Yes. You find Sisters of St. Joseph responding to the needs of the time across the Twin Cities, nation and world. We are in board rooms as well as homeless shelters. We are good neighbors serving people in need.
A second dial is Membership. Our vowed members number about 300. Our growth edge comes with our lay membership, called Consociates, and our many young women who join our St. Joseph Worker volunteer program. In addition there are all the people who serve or have served on our boards. People come to the Sisters of St. Joseph because the charism of unity and reconciliation is already inside them; when they have an experience and discover a name for this charism, they identify with us and want to be with us. We continue to grow by leaps and bounds.
The third dial is Resource. Our greatest resource is our people. Generosity begets generosity. We've built systems of social justice from the bottom up. When everyone helps we have just enough.
There are a lot of other dials that allow our Sisters to stay the course of being good neighbors in a world that doesn't always feel so good. If you would like to learn how to fly with us, come! I guarantee you'll enjoy the ride.
Happy birthday to my brother, Ed.
Possumus.
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May 1, 2008
Gala Celebration
Tis the season for Galas. Tomorrow evening the Ministries Foundation sponsors the Carondelet Gala, one of the biggest and finest annual events in the St. Paul Minneapolis metropolitan area. The proceeds fund our St. Mary's Health Clinics. About 6 cents from every dollar donated leverages nearly $4 worth of service.
If you ever want to meet a philanthropic community that is smart, generous, fun-loving, gracious, strong and kind, consider coming to our Carondelet Gala next year. You will find the folks at your table interesting and the ambiance, dazzling. You'll discover one of the greatest non-profit agencies in the nation and leave feeling proud to be part of the group. I personally will welcome you when you arrive.
In the meantime, if you would like to help us out with the clinics throughout the year, you can send contributions to the Ministries Foundation, 1884 Randolph, St. Paul, MN 55105. Or donate online. Thank you! Together we make a difference.
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