Hello Peeps …
It is me. Solomon.
Notice that I just said “hello” so do not get nervous about me saying “goodbye.”
Miss Margie and Mr. John said I could write this last Wednesday Wisdom for 2016.
I am wanting to remind you that I am happy about Christmas traditions for humans. Because at this time, sheep and shepherds are talked and sung about. I like that.
It brings back memories of when the Christ who lives in our hearts came to earth to be a “peep”. Okay. To be be fair to you peeps … I mean a person. He was not exactly a sheep like me. Miss Margie says he was God with skin on like all you peeps. And as an old, old sheep, I know very well that he is the Ultimate Shepherd. He loved sheep and shepherds. I like that about him.
So I know I am only a sheep, but even I cannot believe another Christmas has arrived and a new year is about to begin. It has been a very busy year and Miss Margie calls it another transitional year for TSJ. I think I understand. I know it has been a mix of sadness, confusion and finally great joy for Miss Margie and Mr. John.
Miss Margie and I are taking two weeks off before saying “hello” again on Wednesdays.
But we do want to share with you a wisdom thought for today that we have borrowed from a daily blog Miss Margie receives from the Center of Comtemplation and Action.
In today’s blog by Fr. Richard Rohr titled: Love, Our First and Final Home Wednesday, December 21, 2016 (Winter Solstice), he wrote:
“Life is not about being correct but about being connected. At all costs, stay connected! Our only holiness is by participation and surrender to the Body of Love, not by any private performance contest.”
And I, Solomon, as your voice of wisdom (channeled through Miss Margie), want to tell you I really like that quote from Fr. Richard.
In fact, I think it is so good it is like a Christmas present. It will take you time to discover its truth beneath your hurts, fears, and disappointments and beneath the happy faces you wear to cover up your hurts, fears, worries or whatever debris gets stuck in your wool. Oops. I know you don’t actually have wool but your minds trap debris like my wool does.
I also think we all like to be correct. And sometimes we like that better than surrendering to a more loving way. It takes work to truly stay connected – To each other – and to God.
Finally, I believe Fr. Richard is right on when he helps us understand that Love is the ultimate form of surrender to what is whole and holy in the eyes of the Great Shepherd.
So I wanted to say “hello” to this day – live it well. Please remember to play in the pastures. And at the same time, I wanted to say “good bye” to all our yesterdays because a new year is near.
Miss Margie said to tell you we will see you soon in 2017, And we will share the journey again as we enter new pastures. As TSJ peeps, we will discover and practice living well with faith and hope and hearts full of love and compassion for the world. We will try to practice connection more than correction with those we love.
Thank you for being curious and kind peeps.
Love from the TSJ Team,
Solomon, SJ, Sigmund, Margie and John.
