I like to begin my day with a cup of tea, some reflective reading, and quiet time with God.
I am slowly working my way through The Listening God by a Trappist nun, Miriam Pollard, OSCO. This morning I sat down for meditation time after reading a beautiful yet down to earth reflection by Sister Miriam. Pondering the “little pains” and “discordant restlessness” we all have in our pockets and on our hearts, she ends by turning to God who says to our most wounded self:
“Give me the self you do not want to be. Give it here. Let it stop squirming and be still in the self I am. Let it sleep my sleep and wake my waking.”
This spoke deeply to me. And so I sat in my favorite spot, holding my warm mug, and closed my eyes to sit with God for a bit before I started my day.. To sit with this giving over of my most wounded and squirmy bits to my loving creator. Breathing in. Breathing out. Peace.
And then.
I had forgotten they are doing road work outside my window. Bursts of rather boisterous jackhammering interrupted my quiet time. My peace. Sigh.
And yet.
Somehow, perhaps because I am becoming more accustomed to the mess and chaos of life these days, I found peace between the boisterous bursts. And humor in the interruptions. And gratitude for those people working on this early morning. And sympathy for neighbors roused from slumber or otherwise disturbed in their morning routines. And loving concern for all those truly suffering these days, lives interrupted by war and violence and illness and death of loved ones.
Once again I learn the lesson that God is with us IN the mess of life, in the noise, the chaos, the pain, the tearing down and building up. God is there, God is here, and so are we.
At the Corner of Susan and St. Joseph 
Hello Sister Susan, I am a friend of your sister, Marie. We went to graduate school together at the University of Arizona. My wife Alejandra used to babysit your niece, Eileen, while Marie was writing her dissertation. I was educated by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Peace in Our Lady of Peace School in Fords, NJ. I just found out that Sister Cecelia King passed away. She was the principal of the school when I entered kindergarten in 1974 until the end of second grade in 1977. Later, when she would make the occasional return visit, she would always spend time with me to catch up. Sister Cecelia was such a smart, warm, and compassionate person who imparted the love of learning and faith. Please know that I’m praying for the repose of her soul and for the well-being of the CSJP community. In gratitude, Michael Brescia.
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♥️ Thank you.
Mary Burggraff
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