Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The Season of New Life


By Sr. Annie Klapheke, SC Federation Temporary Professed

      Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation

      Click HERE to learn more about Annie

It is the season of springtime and Resurrection.  All around us, the budding trees and flowers remind us that new life is always possible, no matter how long or cold the winter.  These signs of new life remind me of my favorite Mary Oliver poem, The Singular and Cheerful Life.  The words of this poem offer good advice to anyone who is discerning – which would be all of us.  The advice is this: take a cue from nature, stop being so anxious, and simple allow yourself to become what God intended you to be. 

The Singular and Cheerful Life
By Mary Oliver

The singular and cheerful life
of any flower
in anyone’s garden
or any still unowned field –

if there are any –
catches me
by the heart,
by its color,

by its obedience
to the holiest of laws:
be alive
until you are not.

Ragweed,
pale violet bull thistle,
morning glories curling
through the field corn;

and those princes of everything green –
the grasses
of which there are truly
an uncountable company,

each
on its singular stem
striving
to rise and ripen.

What, in the earth world,
is there not to be amazed by
and to be steadied by
and to cherish?

Oh, my dear heart,
my own dear heart,
full of hesitations,
questions, choice of directions,

look at the world.
Behold the morning glory,
the meanest flower, the ragweed, the thistle.
Look at the grass.

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Spring '18 Gathering

This weekend a group of Future of Charity members gathered near Cincinnati, Ohio, to spend time in prayer, companionship and recreation, and to remember our dear Sister Marie Flowers who joined the saints in heaven almost six months ago.  We thank everyone who held us in prayer during this sacred time together.



Celebrating the beautiful life and spirit of Marie!


Check back soon for more reflections from our bloggers!