“Mother’s Day” (a secular celebration) in North America is not the same as “Mothering Sunday” which is a Christian celebration, celebrated on the 4th Sunday in Lent in the UK and Ireland since the 16th century. Mother’s Day is being marked today … or avoided …
Whichever it is, With Mother’s Day may we be mindful that there are women who will be celebrating and giving thanks, while at the same time, there will be women who will be grieving, hurting, in pain. All on the same day.
With Mother’s Day I think of and pray forexperiencing a wide range of emotions … the women who never birthed a child … the women who miscarried … the women who were infertile (or their partner was) … the women who had an abortion … the women whose child was stillborn … the women whose child had serious health issues … the women whose child ran away and put into custodial care … the women whose child was raped … the women whose child was taken away at birth by authorities … the women whose child was kidnapped, arrested, deported … the women whose child died due to the pandemic, accident, overdose, illness, murder … the women who began life as male, but knew they were not … the women whose child lives in fear … the women whose child became alienated from them and there is little or no communication … the women whose adoptions fell through … the women whose artificial insemination didn’t work … the women whose surrogate changed her mind & kept the baby … the women whose child is in prison … the women whose child had a debilitating physical/mental disability … the women whose child committed suicide … the teachers who ‘mothered’ the children in their classrooms … the women who were surrogate mothers, carried the child to term, but who never became that child’s parent. … the mothers have died … the women in countries at war, trying to be strong for their children while separated from their partners, families, country and living with explosions, food shortages and the threat of rape, annihilation.
With Mother’s Day, I think of, and pray for those who are rejoicing because … they gave birth to a healthy child … their child had children and they became a grandmother … they adopted a child … each of us – for we all had a biological mother and were given life.
With Mother’s Day, I think of and pray for those who are mothers, but who may not see their role to be one of mothering: foster moms, spiritual moms, mentor moms.
With Mother’s Day, I think of and pray for those who lost their mother through death or alienation or deportation and all who suffered abuse from their mother.
This year, with the reality that Roe v Wade was overturned in the United States, I think and pray for the countless woman who will be forced to carry a child to term … regardless of rape, incest, age, or their own death.
May acknowledgment of Mother’s Day, be done with sensitivity, compassion and kindness in faith groups/religions, families, social media and law courts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Remembering Joy (Gene Dolores) … mother to June and Gerry; step-mother to Lois, Fran and Eric; grandmother to Tod, Christopher and Tracy; step-grandmother to Grace, Brenda, Glen, Jeff and Danae … and giving thanks. May you continue to rest in peace, Mom. Thank you – for oh, so much.
Do you remember Yoda from Star Wars? A legendary Jedi Master, Yoda may have been small in size, but he was quite the theologian, philosopher and poet.
Yoda said “Do or do not. There is no try.” In those two short sentences, Yoda extended a call to *do.” *Do* kindness. *Do* acts of justice. *Do* speak up for … the bullied … the disabled … the environment … the mentally ill … the lonely … the impoverished … the victimized … the grieving … the homeless … the abused animals … the frightening slippery slope that has followed the abolition of Roe v Wade … the elderly … the frightened … the planet … the chronically ill … the addict … the growing tension on university campuses … the addicted … the war in Ukraine and the Middle East and Africa … the political situations in the United States, Hungary, Canada … and
We’re going down the Rabbit Hole and further down the Slippery Slope because …
“First they came for the women who decided abortion was the best response to their pregnancy and I did not speak out because I was not pregnant. Then they came for the LGBQT+ and I did not speak out because I was straight. Then they came for those who were not Caucasian and I did not speak out because I was Caucasian. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.” June Maffin – based on Martin Niemöller: “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Yoda set a challenge and put forth a reminder that … change *can* begin … peace *can* appear … joy *can* be experienced … hope *can* be rekindled … voting *can* bring about change …
Perhaps only in oh-so-small steps, perhaps only in oh-so-small glimpses, but change *can* happen when a Yoda Attitude begins in our heart, in our mind, in our spirit, in our action.
Change might not happen in the ways we want … or expect … or in the time frame we need. But change *can* happen. “Do or do not. There is no try.” (Yoda).
On this, the fourth day of the month of May, may we have a Yoda Attitude. And may the Fourth/Force be with us all.
It’s a new month … the month of May has begun. HAPPY MAY DAY!
Summer is on its way. And in Celtic tradition, the beginning of summer is known as Beltane (Gaelic May Day festival) with celebrations which include the decoration of homes with flowers, bonfires, feasting, making of May bushes. In France May 1st (known as the “worker’s holiday”), branches of Lily of the Valley are given as tokens of good luck.
Somehow, with the way things are unfolding politically in many countries, it seems strange to be thinking of “celebrations” and “festivals” and decorating with flowers. But, then I think of the roses that are beginning to open and their blossoms bringing colour, sweet aroma and joy!
And yet – and yet, I remember that their thorns prick and can cause pain. Like roses, life brings joy and can cause pain. But even with the pain, in the midst, there is hope. Look for it. It’s there. Look for it. It is here.
Where?
While it may be difficult to see, sometimes even more difficult to experience, there is hope as a new month begins. … hope – that life will return to some semblance of political normalcy … hope – that people will think, speak and act with kindness … hope – that peace will come to Ukraine, the Middle East, the United States, the other countries facing fear … hope – that this planet will survive climate change … hope – that neither nuclear nor chemical warfare will ever be used … hope – that A.I. will slow down its rapid development in unsafe ventures
Hope … because it’s the beginning of a new month. And with beginnings, there are possibilities!
Let’s not focus on the fear, but on the ‘possibilities.
Every time we “think fear,” let’s find something for which we can be grateful. Just one. … one thing that equalizes the impact of the negative. … one person that puts a smile on our face. … one action we did that made us proud of ourselves.
Just one thing so we can say/think … Happy Beltane! Happy Month of May!
It’s April 22nd – Earth Day – a global annual event celebrated in more than 190 countries to show support for the environment. Words by Thich Nhat Hanh are poignant and critical for us all to remember: “The earth is not just our environment. We are the earth and the earth is us.”
Earth and human beings are inter-related. We can not … we must not … ignore the cry from the earth … the cry of the birds and the bees and the shrubs and the vegetables and the animals and the children and …
For this planet earth to survive we must care for Mother Earth. We must consciously work towards making Planet Earth sustainable for generations to come.
As the wee bird in the magnolia tree says “Please save this earth … for you … for me … for us all.”
Whenever you find a Thursday that is sad Whenever you find a Thursday that is lonely Whenever you find a Thursday that is difficult in any way how about welcoming it?
How about letting it know you’re delighted … it is here? How about expressing gratitude that … you’re here?
Gratitude – because you are here. Existing. Surviving. Living. … “in spite of.”
Thursday is not just another day of the week. It’s a day that looks to tomorrow and is a reminder, as Annie sang, “The sun will come up, tomorrow.”
Today, Thursday, helps us look to tomorrow … with anticipation.
The days are difficult, seemingly getting more difficult. We’ve got to remember to breathe.
This simple message may not be earth-shattering but it is important, especially when we are stressed, confused, angry, hurting, feeling hopeless or frightened.
So … a reminder: to breathe and inhale ruach – calm – peace – hope.
May these beautiful in-bloom cherry trees with clouds in the background gently ambling across the blue sky help us focus on possibilities, beauty, hope.
Today’s Soulistry reflection is a simple message: … remember to breathe.
