Something in the Heart

On the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, I am reminded of the following quote by opera singer Enrico Caruso, who said that his success could be attributed to six things: “A big chest, a big mouth, 90% memory, 10% intelligence, lots of hard work, and something in the heart.” 

As a fisherman who lugged around heavy nets, Saint Peter likely had a big chest; we know he had a big mouth (“Even though all should have their faith shaken, mine will not be!”); and he certainly relied on his memories of Jesus as he proclaimed the Good News. Saint Paul also had a big mouth (“You foolish Galatians!”). As a scholar who had never met Jesus in the flesh, he naturally relied more on intelligence than on memory. However, both Saints Peter and Paul were indefatigable in their work of building up the kingdom of God, and it was all made possible by something in the heart — a personal experience of the love of Christ. 

Last week in my residency for the Souljourners spiritual direction training program, the following observation by Jennifer Ruffing was shared: “Our directees sense that we respond to them in the same way that God does, so the ground we stand on is the same ground we sense God is standing on — open embrace, love, acceptance, and belief in the other person” (from Spiritual Direction: Beyond the Beginnings). 

This calling to respond to others in the same way that God does is not limited to spiritual directors — it is the vocation of all disciples of Jesus, who said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” We need to remind ourselves constantly of God’s loving presence in our lives through prayer, receiving the Eucharist, journaling, gratitude — whatever keeps us in touch with that “something in the heart” that allows us to stand on the ground of God’s faithful love and mercy and offer it to others. 

Impermanence: The Playground of the Holy Spirit

During our recent election of a new prioress at Mount St. Scholastica, we invited the Holy Spirit to be present and guide us in our deliberations. The prayer chant we sang to open our sessions throughout the week was “O God, send Spirit; open us to the wisdom heart of Jesus” by Suzanne Toolan. For our part, each of us in the community had to create space for the Holy Spirit to work by listening to each other, being open to all possibilities, and not clinging to our own preferences. Looking back, it seems clear that the Spirit was guiding us as we elected Sr. Mary Elizabeth Schweiger, a woman of many gifts and much leadership experience, who will challenge us to be true to our Benedictine charism and to make critical decisions about our future life together.

It is human nature to resist change. Our current prioress, Sr. Esther Fangman, has shepherded our community well and led us safely through the COVID pandemic; it would be so much more comfortable if we could maintain the status quo by keeping her in office! However, in setting term limits, we open new pathways for the Holy Spirit to work. As the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn said, “Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible.”

I find that thought comforting whenever I am challenged by loss. Cutting down a dead tree creates space for a different type of tree to be planted. The loss of a job can open a path to a more fulfilling career. Even our own impending death frees us to be with God in a different way, without the limitations of an aging body and mind.

Come, Spirit. Free us from clinging to what is and open our hearts to the possibilities that accompany impermanence. Help us join your beloved daughter Emily Dickinson in saying, “I dwell in possibility.”

Revealing God's Face

Helen Keller said, “I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the color and fragrance of a flower — the Light in my darkness, the Voice in my silence.” It’s remarkable to consider that not only is God in us, but our unique characteristics reflect that presence. In my community, God’s sense of humor is reflected in laughter at the dining room table; God’s concerns about the needs of the poor are reflected in the programs we offer at Keeler Women’s Center; and God’s delight in the beauty and diversity of creation is reflected in the variety of trees, flowers, and vegetables that we plant.

One implication of this idea that God is in each of us and is expressed by each of us is noted by Pope Francis: “…all are needed to reveal the Lord’s face.” When we fail to see God’s presence in certain people, our image of God’s face is incomplete — perhaps God is missing an eyebrow, an upper lip, or a left nostril! More seriously, we might not see God’s industriousness if we exclude immigrants from our workplaces, or God’s love of rhythm if we refuse to listen to rap musicians, or God’s desire for adventure if we judge people who go on exotic vacations.

God often resorts to the element of surprise as we receive insights and direction in unexpected ways — perhaps through illness or loss, the discovery of a hidden talent, or an unforeseen friendship. Thus we, who carry God within us, should continually expect to learn new things about ourselves (and thus about God) and be open to the often surprising ways that others reveal God’s face to us.