It’s been two hours since the debacle ended. My pulse is only now returning to some semblance of a slow and steady beat. And the only thing I can think to write about is gentleness.
What we witnessed tonight is part of the shit-show I suspected would unfold this week. Oh goody – I can’t wait for the moon to become full on Thursday. What lunacy could possibly unfold? I’m sure we’ll find out.
Trauma
Why do I feel gentleness – the main attribute of Deer, which came calling on me every afternoon the past few days – is the watchword for this evening’s post? Because I defy anyone who watched what was billed as a presidential debate (but was never in actuality anything even remotely resembling a debate) to tell me they did not feel battered and traumatized by the disgustingly rude and disrespectful behavior of DT this evening.
As a nation, as humans watching all over the world, quite frankly, we were brutalized. What we witnessed was the unfiltered and unflinching behavior of someone who has never been held to account for himself in his entire life. We witnessed the quintessential bully. While his words and actions may have titillated a small segment of the world – those who are as damaged as he is – I have enough belief in humanity to know that the vast majority of us reject this. He does not speak for us.
And we must mobilize to ensure his deranged tactics are no longer a threat to either our fellow United States citizens or the billions of people with whom we share this planet. We must shift and transmute the energy – the rage, the trauma, the terror – that his behavior is deliberately calculated to trigger within us all into a resolute determination to leave these old ways of trauma-informed tactics behind.
First Take Care of Ourselves
In order to make strides in shifting and transmuting these energies we much first take care of ourselves. And this is where the lesson of Deer comes in. It is essential that we disengage and remember who we are. Walk away from the clips that perpetuate DT’s brutish derision of our system and his opponent, as well as his outrageous lies.
Take a bath, walk in the woods, take ten minutes and just stand outside and look up into the sky. Get ready to greet a new month arriving with the full moon on Thursday.
Deer in the Medicine Cards* (by Jamie Sams and David Carson) entreats us to treat the insane bully with gentleness and loving kindness. In a sense, it will short-circuit him. Don’t argue. Pity him. Make a point of disengaging when the pressure becomes too intense.
Eat some hostas.
Chill Out – these hostas are delicious – Photo: L. Weikel
Sheila & Spart’s Last Minutes Together – Photo: L. Weikel
Spartacus’s Sadness
When we let go of Sheila last Friday I mentioned to Karl that I doubted I would write about it. At least I was pretty sure I wouldn’t share it right away. But as the evening wore on, of course, I could think of nothing but Sheila, so I wrote ‘Irreplaceable.’ That’s what happens with this 1111 devotion. I deliberately refrain from planning ahead what I’m going to write about; instead, I allow whatever is foremost on my mind or in my heart lead me as I settle in to write each post. Tonight, I have to admit, I am compelled to bear witness to Spartacus’s sadness.
As I’ve written elsewhere, Spartacus was Sheila’s one and only puppy. Her only son. We never intended to breed her, but even our veterinarian felt she was such an extraordinary pup that allowing her to have a litter would be an incredible gift to all of us. We were so on the fence over it that we willingly dealt with the hassle of her cycles for four years.
Finally, we decided to take her back to the breeder from whom we’d bought her. The breeding process itself was awful. Sheila wanted no part in the shenanigans and the stud was – of all things – polite. He was not inclined to force himself on her, given her obvious distaste, in spite of what a cutie pie she was. It took a lot of persistence, and we almost gave up. But finally – success!
The only stipulation? I looked into Sheila’s eyes when it was over and she made me promise – she demanded – that I never make her go through that living hell again. We had a deal.
A Room of His Own
When we were sure the single encounter had ‘taken,’ I was psyched to midwife my little girl’s puppies! I read up on it and prepared for the big day as best as I could. We had her checked a couple of times by different people familiar with pregger pups and everyone predicted 2-3 puppies.
Of course, her labor started and abruptly stopped. Naturally, this occurred in the early evening, when our regular vet was closed for the day, thus necessitating a trip to the animal emergency room. An x-ray confirmed that our petite Sheila had one huge honker of a pup laying upside down along her spine, splayed out, enjoying the room of his own – just like he continues to sleep on his back to this day. After a touch-and-go emergency C-section, our Spartacus was born.
She Was Here Just the Other Day… – Photo: L. Weikel
Bottom Line
Sheila and Spartacus came home with me that evening and slept right beside me on the floor beside the bed, in a makeshift nest of blankets. And ever since that June day in 2008, they were inseparable.
Sheila was a great mom. She groomed him and loved him, taught him all the good stuff to eat, played with him relentlessly – and always, always cuddled him.
If you take a look at the photo above, to her very last day, he was trying to engage her with a new toy we’d bought him. Sadly, she hadn’t played with Spartacus in probably two years, as she grew steadily more blind and deaf.
Of course, we knew he would miss her. His life would be altered in a way he’d never experienced. (Neither of them ever spent time away from each other. Where one went, the other did too.) His life will never be the same.
He’s been sticking by us like glue, and we’ve been lavishing affection on him – not a hard task by any means. It’s been hard to discern between his sadness and our own. Indeed, even the cats have been subdued and withdrawn.
But when I saw him this afternoon, laying on the grass in the exact spot he’d last spent time with Sheila before we took her to the vet last Friday, I thought my heart would burst. My little boy misses his mommy. No doubt about it.
“Guardians” – Mystic Art Medicine Oracle Cards by Cher Lyn
Big Week Ahead
Although I haven’t mentioned it a lot this year, 2020 has so far unfolded pretty much as expected by those who follow the movements of the planets, sun, and moon. We have some configurations in the sky that haven’t occurred in hundreds of years, and when they last did, major disruptions in societies and humanity as a whole often resulted. There are a lot of aspects occurring over the next several days that portend a very big week ahead.
Maybe I’ll get into some specifics later in the week, but suffice it to say, on Tuesday the planet Saturn stations and goes ‘direct’ once again. It’s been retrograde (with Jupiter and Pluto also retrograde) in the sign of Capricorn since late April/early May. Jupiter ‘went direct’ about 8 days ago, I believe, and Pluto will go direct next Sunday.
Suffice it to say, this week is teeing up to be a blockbuster of a ballbuster. Sorry. But it’s the truth. It was interesting to me that Saturn is going direct on the day of the first presidential debate of this election season even before the news broke this evening that the New York Times has finally obtained copies of DT’s tax returns for the past two decades or so.
I can only imagine – actually, no, I can’t – the reaction this is engendering in the White House tonight. And surely it will have an impact on the debate, making it more, dare I say it, incendiary than it was sure to be anyway?
With all this in mind, and being tired from the emotional toll of the past few days in my own life, I thought it would be instructive to ask for some guidance on what might be best for all of us to focus upon this week. So I broke out my Mystic Medicine Art Oracle Cards by Cher Lyn and started shuffling. I asked: What should we strive to keep in mind as events unfold in the world this week?
Guardians
The top card I chose was Guardians. If you can zoom in on the intricacies of this card, you’ll see some fascinating glyphs and symbols in the details. I’m going to share with you the text Cher Lyn provided with this card so you can consider what feels appropriate to you:
Guardians – “Cosmic Connections”
A dance to heal it all…repair the fall
Cosmic connections…mirror reflections
Copper metal crease, spin the void…Release
Taken to the stars and out beyond,
To the Guardians
Ancient Symbols speak it seems…
We awaken from the dream.
—-Cher Lyn
“The Beings in the painting of “Cosmic Connections” are Apache dancers in ceremonial spirit. Glowing symbols are floating and spinning, emerging out of the vortex and off the dancers’ bodies themselves. They are the embodiment of our star brothers who watch over us. The blue flowers are from a dreamtime journey into another dimension on another planet, the star brother holds them as a gift he brings from home. The others hold curative tools of power from other worlds, gifts to channel and aid.
There is more to sight than just physical seeing. Human sight creates its own obstacles. We stop seeing where the general consensus says we should. There is much more to this dimension than meets the eye. We are often if not always being watched by Beings that we ourselves cannot see with our naked eye.
The Guardians are here to support you in a number of ways, to include bringing you power to connect to multidimensional realities, ’comprehended.’ You are Ancient, Wise, and Awake. Take notice of your imagination expanding and maturing. The Guardians are opening your vision to help you remember why you’ve embarked upon your journey here on Earth. Communication of thoughts and feelings in your heart give fresh insights. Your higher knowledge becomes easily accessible as you let go of any fear or preconceived ideas of how limited you thought you were. Surrender into your highest good and relax into the vastness of Creation.
There seems to be something secret about everything and everybody, a mystery to behold within your perception. What you see in everyday life is not the natural world deceiving you, but nature encoding reality in ways you can come to terms with. The natural world looks the way it looks because of the way you have been taught.
If you’ve chosen Guardians, study the Ancient Symbols of the Star glyphs, the images of the crop circles. Place your attention upon the stars at night, and spend quality time in medication exploring the universal void inside your own soul. The guardians are ready to telepathically assist you.”
Quick Reflection
I’m in awe at how this card reinforces my posts of a few days ago, when I sensed “Watchers” keeping an eye on us as events seem to swirl more and more out of control. I love that this card suggests we consider expanding our vision to See more of what’s right before our eyes that perhaps we’ve been trained not to see.
And I find it particularly important to heed the advice that we ask for assistance and guidance from these Guardians who are watching us.
“Perception” – Mystic Art Medicine Oracle Cards by Cher Lyn
Card Underneath – the Foundation
So of course, Spirit loves to tantalize us with continuing examples of YCMTSU (you can’t make this ‘stuff’ up) by reinforcing the guidance we were given at the beginning of this month. Of course, the card at the foundation of this question was Perception.
Check out this post from earlier this month, where I quoted the text for this card, which absolutely bears further reflection. Only this time, it’s important to keep in mind that it is providing the underpinning for the top card: Guardians. One possible interpretation might be for us to pay particular, conscious, attention to our powers of perception. Perhaps those Watchers I’ve been sensing are answering our calls for guidance – but we need to shift our perceptions ever so slightly (sort of like how we used to turn the dial on a radio just a teeny tiny bit to hit the sweet spot/frequency that would get a station to come in clearly) in order to perceive them.
Good stuff to keep in mind as we embark on a week like no other.
You know, there’s a lot of ugly, divisive, mean-spirited stuff playing out every day. It’s enough to make any of us despair over the state of humanity. And while I know in my heart that innumerable examples of kindness and love are happening all over the world as well, it’s a rare gift to experience it directly. What I experienced at the hands of all of you is proof of the proverb, “Grief shared is halved; while joy shared is doubled.”
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the many comments on FB I received about yesterday’s post on my family’s loss of our precious Boston Terrier, Sheila.
I could tell almost all of you have loved a pet fiercely and know the searing pain that rips through us when we lose them. Is the pain really halved? Perhaps not. But it is, without question, soothed. The love of others and receiving their understanding and compassion is literally a balm to the soul.
So thank you.
And while the simple statement of thanks feels inadequate, really, to express appreciation for that balm, we will soon have an opportunity to test out the truth of the corollary to the adage. Perhaps we’ll be in a better position to assess the accuracy by then.
Amazing Stories
Of course, what would a significant event in my life be like if I didn’t also experience a bit of magic that would generate some amazing stories? I will probably share them in the coming days because part of my purpose here is – in fact – to share the magic that is our lives, to help us remember
But I have to admit to you: I am emotionally exhausted. I’m also physically ready for bed in the worst way because I’ve been awake since around 4:00 a.m., which is when Sheila decided she was going to give me a bit of a talking-to.
Luckily, I wrote it down, even though at the time I felt confident I would remember it all easily. Thank goodness I listened to my own advice. Like a dream, it could easily have slipped away had I not honored it. And then…the rest of the magic that unfolded in the day wouldn’t have made nearly as much sense.
Sheila’s Burial and Sacred Fire
Early this evening we buried Sheila. Karl did a yeoman’s job of digging a hole some 4’ by 1’ by 2’ deep, where we could place her facing toward our home so she can keep a guardian’s eye out over us. Our daughter-in-law Tiffany attended (diligently maintaining safe and appropriate distance), as did Sage and Sarah from Boston (via FaceTime). Spartacus was also in attendance.
We sent off our sweet Sheila with some snacks for the journey, including three dried praying mantises which I’d scraped off the road just a few days ago on a walk. I’d forgotten to give them to her when I got home that evening, so I buried them with her. We also gave her a couple of her favorite dog treats and wrapped her in one of her wolf blankets. We also included a lot of sage, which of course was significant on many levels.
Afterward, we had a sacred fire to honor and give thanks for her life and her irreplaceable contribution to the love and light of our family.
A photo of the flames is at the top of this post. Tell me you think this is any ordinary fire.
Spartacus Snuggling All Day – Photo: L. Weikel
Thank you, again, from the bottom of my heart. Your love for me (and all of my family) and your willingness to share our grief and sorrow is extraordinary.
As I struggle to find words to express my feelings tonight, ‘irreplaceable’ keeps spiraling to the surface.
Happy Pups: Spartacus (l) and Sheila (r) – Photo: L. Weikel
She came into our lives in October 2004 and changed our family forever.
Sheila – Queen of the Household – Photo: L. Weikel
We thought we knew love before we met our Sheila. Boy, were we in for a surprise.
Speaking of Watchers… – Photo: L. Weikel
There just aren’t any words for me to share with you tonight.
Inseparable Mother & Son – Photo: L. Weikel
This photo of Sheila and Spartacus snuggled together almost inseparably, has them facing a wall hanging we got after Karl died. In stumbling upon this tonight, I think she is letting me know we listened to her…by letting her go. It says:
Yesterday and especially today I began seeing evidence that ‘watchers’ and ‘witnesses’ are arriving on the scene. My sense is that the purpose underlying their presence is at minimum two-fold and quite possibly manifold.
First of all, the couple of small watchers that appeared above me as I sat at on a boulder in the middle of the Tohickon yesterday felt playful. The one on the right appeared to be diving down toward me, sort of emulating a person doing the frog kick of a swimmer doing breaststroke. I don’t know why, but it conveyed to me a message of, “Hey! Don’t stay down. Lighten up! Release your overwhelm into the flow of the creek and play. Know that we’re here. You’re not alone.”
Simply sitting at the creek the way I did and allowing myself to drink in the serenity of that place for half an hour was precious and restorative to my sense of well-being.
Getting Closer – Photo: L. Weikel
Getting Closer
Then we walked tonight and the sense of more beings making a closer inspection was palpable. Not only was I aware of the difference in size and demeanor of tonight’s visitors as compared to yesterday’s, the sense of scrutiny (perhaps both of being scrutinized and being asked to view circumstances with greater attention) was dramatically different.
There’s a lot going on right now. We’re hearing warnings – especially over the past few days – that have not been expressed since the midst of the Civil War, and some would argue, not since the inception of this country.
I do believe we’re being watched to see how we will react to these times of unprecedented choice. Of course there may or many not be interest in whether the grand experiment known as the United States of America will survive now that someone is basically refusing to abide by long-established ‘norms’ of behavior that most people never thought needed to be codified.
Universal Implications
But I get the feeling that the interest goes well beyond interest in the survival of our baby country. It’s the impact our survival as the beacon of ‘free and fair elections,’ of the champion of the ‘rule of law’ and ‘peaceful succession of power,’ will have on the rest of our planet. And the reason this survival issue is of interest to beings that may be viewing from ‘above,’ if you will, is because whether we choose to apply the underlying principles of love, justice, fairness, compassion, and responsibility to each other will literally ripple out into the Universe.
Do we choose our personal freedom to say, do, and be whatever we want without any thought to the way our choices impact others? Or do we recognize a higher octave of freedom? The higher octave that demands that we exercise our freedom to protect and ensure the rights of all?
Choices Matter
Right now, the choices we make have monumental consequences. Our responsibility to ourselves, each other, those with whom we share this planet, the planet herself, and sentient beings existing beyond our usual perceptions is being tested by fire.
I had to stop at my sanctuary today. As so many of you know, Tohickon Creek is one of my primary sources of healing and solace. I feel love within its flow. My heart knows peace when I allow my eyes to drink in her yielding ripples. So in spite of the myriad obligations on my ‘to do’ list today, I physically took myself to this font of life in order to catch my breath.
The daily onslaught never ceases. We’re bombarded with outrageous conduct and insane accusations about institutions that we know are safe, reliable, and trustworthy. We’re gaslit and fear-stoked relentlessly in a cynical attempt to delegitimize our trust in the foundations of our society so that – finally admitted to out loud today – he can simply ‘remain’ in power.
Tohickon – ripples – Photo: L. Weikel
Here It Is
In case you missed it, if you want to know what the Trump Republican game plan actually is this election season, you must read this article. Everyone needs to read this article because we must hunker down now and prepare a game plan. Proceeding as if this is anything close to a normal year and a normal election cycle is utterly insane and irresponsible.
Everything is at stake.
Meanwhile, Breonna Taylor is treated as if she never existed or, perhaps more accurately, her life didn’t matter. At all. As I saw one person put it, the grand jury in Louisville valued the drywall of her neighbors more than Breonna’s very life.
But as I mentioned in my post the other day, it is essential that we take care of ourselves and prepare. If the way I felt today – and the way I think I saw so many of the people I love and care about (I’m looking at all of you, in one way or another) feeling today – is any indication, we must redouble our efforts to feed our souls.
Now is the time for us to do whatever it is that brings us peace. And no, I don’t mean numbing ourselves, tempting as that may be. Because that stresses our bodies. Numbing ourselves ultimately breaks down our immune systems – and let’s face it, we need to be beefing those babies up. Why? Because WINTER IS COMING – in every sense of that phrase.
Until you can get yourself to your version of my Tohickon, I share these photos with you. Drink them in. Let them nourish and sustain your soul.
We need to stay alert, pay attention, but most importantly, take care of ourselves and each other.
I have to admit, it’s tough trying to think of something to write when I’m in the midst of feeling anything I write is a waste of time. This isn’t a denigration of my writing per se, but more a commentary on the futility I’m feeling as I simply observe life outside the confines of my own little homestead. While I’m busy acting like Homer Simpson quietly backing into the hedges in order to blend into the background, it’s rather counter-intuitive for me to be speaking out about anything substantive. Which is why I want to tell you about the weird thing at the CSA today.
I’m not the actual owner of the CSA share this year; that honor belongs to my daughter-in-law and son. But I occasionally go to the farm to pick up their order (which they generously share with us) when they’re otherwise disposed. Every time I’ve gone this season, part of my duties have entailed walking into the field to the ‘pick-your-own’ section, which includes (or at least used to) a wide variety of cherry tomatoes, okra, raspberries, hot peppers, and flowers.
Ah, the flowers. Simply lovely. I forgot to take a photo earlier of those I picked today, which is unfortunate. But the reason I neglected to document the bouquets of loveliness was because I became distracted by a tall, naturally occurring piece of modern art in the midst of the pick-your-own.
Shhhh – Photo: L. Weikel
Don’t Know How I Missed It
I’d just completed my harvesting rounds this afternoon when I laid eyes for the first time on this odd declaration of Mother Earth’s vegetative creativity. My first thought was, “How did I miss seeing this every other time I’ve been here?”
I still remain ignorant on that score, as well as on the simple identification of the vegetation itself.
“You’re getting heavy” – Photo: L. Weikel
But I managed to take a few shots of it from a variety of angles so you can gain a first-hand appreciation of this natural ‘installation’ gracing the Tinicum CSA’s ‘pick-your-own’ field.
I’m not even going to wax rhapsodic about what I ‘see’ when I look at this wonderfully weird plant. I’ll just leave it here for you to enjoy. Allow it to inspire you to seek out the creative source in your vegetation as well.
I am still puzzling over how I could’ve missed seeing this every other time I visited this field. Maybe I saw it today for the first time because of the magic of the Autumn Equinox?!
Oh my goodness. The past few evenings have been quite the shock to my system! The chilly edge to the air takes my breath away and makes me feel – I don’t know – vulnerable. And I’m not even sure I could answer if you asked me, “Vulnerable to what?” It’s a rather ineffable sense. Nevertheless, I must admit, I’m feeling a strong urge to just stop, step back, and blend into the background.
Since the death of RBG, I’ve not paid quite as much attention to the news. Actually, I don’t know if that’s exactly true. It wasn’t immediately upon her passing that I withdrew from tracking the news. It was more like 18 hours later. It was when I saw that trusting Republicans to behave with any semblance of integrity or honor was fruitless and a fool’s errand.
There is no sense of decorum being exhibited by the Republicans nor is there even the remotest attempt to honor the historic recognition of the most basic of moral consistency or responsibility to telling the truth. I guess I knew it when the Senate refused to convict and remove DT for his corrupt solicitation of Ukraine. Or at least I should have known, since they broadcast their willingness to tolerate obvious malfeasance if the purveyor of that corruption would garner them more power.
Stepping Back
I’m feeling the need to step back and blend into the background. The assaults on my fundamental belief that people will inherently do what is right in matters of grave consequence are taking their toll. I am seeing with stark clarity that the acquisition and retention of power is everything to Trump Republicans. And yes, I do see a difference between Trump Republicans and the Republicans I knew growing up – my parents, just to name two off the top of my head.
The reason for feeling I must step back at this moment is because it is crystal clear that nothing will persuade Trump Republicans to act with integrity. There is no appealing to their sense of right or wrong, their sense of decency, or even their own sense of shame over blatantly bulldozing through supposed behavioral firewalls they professed that they could be held to account over.
Nothing matters to them other than accruing and wielding power. And winning. So much winning. Who cares if it’s at the expense of their integrity? Or causes the death of fellow citizens. What a laugh.
Marsh Wren going about it’s business – Photo: L. Weikel
Stop Wasting Energy
And so, blending into the background feels appropriate at this moment. Not because I’m giving up. Not because I have any intention of running away. Rather, it’s time for me (and all of us) to stop wasting energy expecting anything from them but the most selfish and self-serving choices and actions in any given situation, especially those pertaining to power in any form. Instead, we need to gather our resources.
Don’t waste your breath arguing. Don’t waste your time trying to shame them or appeal to their sense of decency. Instead, we are best served by blending into the background and strategizing how to counter the treachery. Imagine the worst case scenarios and plan for them. For they are broadcasting their intentions loud and clear. Everything they accuse Democrats of doing and plotting is precisely their own game plan. How many times must we see this play out?
Get quiet. Take a few steps back. Instead of expressing surprise yet again at their behavior and lack of character, pay careful attention. Observe what they’re broadcasting is their intention. How do we do that? Listen to what they’re screaming that Democrats will do to subvert the election. Listen to what they repeat over and over again will happen after November 3rd. Listen to the dire predictions of armed ‘insurrection.’ Why? Because that’s their plan. They’re broadcasting it.
So we must stop, step back, blend into the background, and prepare.
Let’s get smart and stop falling for the bullshit.
Jane and Fr. Tom – The Two Gallaghers; Photo: L. Weikel
Love and Respect
My parents had kids over a span of 18 ½ years. As the youngest, I’ve found myself chasing the love and respect of my siblings for pretty much my entire life. Each of them set an example or raised the bar in some area of their lives that pushed me to strive to be or do my best. I’ve always been trying to catch up to them.
One of the most interesting of my sibling relationships is the one I have with my eldest sister, Jane. My earliest memories of her are as half of a couple with my brother-in-law, Frank*. They were very active in the Marriage Encounter movement of the Catholic Church, so of course Karl and I not only did our “pre-Cana” obligation via an Engaged Encounter weekend, we also participated in a Marriage Encounter weekend within the first couple of years of our married life.
It was obvious to us that ‘the Church’ played a big role in Jane and Frank’s life wherever they lived – be in Massachusetts, Connecticut, or New Hampshire. They always seemed to find a parish where the clergy were open-minded and open-hearted, welcoming and supportive of those less fortunate. In other words, my sister always seemed to find a parish close to home that exemplified the best of Catholic teachings. We weren’t as lucky, which probably played a not insignificant role in my exploration of other spiritual paths.
Haiti
When my sister was right around the age I am now, some 18 years ago, she became active in the birth of a new ministry at the Church of St. Patrick/St. Anthony in Hartford, Connecticut. She was part of an exploratory mission to Haiti laying the groundwork for establishing a sister parish between St. Patrick/St. Anthony’s and a parish in that island nation.
My sister had never been a public speaker. She might be loquacious and unafraid to offer her opinion on a variety of topics one-on-one, but she wasn’t one to grab a microphone or hog a spotlight. So it was a huge deal when she agreed, as an adjunct to her inclusion on the trip, to speak to the parish about the results of her fact-finding mission upon her return. I remember her grousing a bit about having to agree to this responsibility, but feeling she could suck it up if she had to.
I also remember her horror when she discovered – after returning from Haiti – that contrary to her original fear, she wouldn’t have to address the congregation at just one mass. No. She would in fact be required to address the congregation at every – single – mass that weekend. Wow. That was a leap far further than she’d expected.
But what I witnessed was how her passion and commitment to the meaningful growth she believed St. Patrick/St. Anthony’s could experience and share by establishing a sisterly bond with their Haitian counterparts helped her transcend her stomach churning responsibility into a labor of love. Her dedication to that mission lasted many years and translated into several opportunities to be of service in Haiti.
Other Acts of Love
Over the years, Jane has engaged in many other acts of service through the auspices of the Franciscan Order that always seems to have been part of the progressive parishes she’s been lucky enough to be part of throughout her life. She’s engaged in LGBTQ work, assisted in working with the homeless, and knitted countless prayer shawls that have brought peace, comfort, and solace to those yearning for just that.
Meanwhile, she had a ‘little sister’ with whom she shared extremely similar spiritual attitudes, but who pursued them through the ancient ways of shamanism. That could be a big stretch to even admit. Yet she wasn’t embarrassed by me. Rather, I think she takes pleasure in how vastly different our approaches may seem to the outside world, while we nevertheless share the open secret that, ultimately, we’re cut out of the same spiritual cloth.
Celebrating – Photo: L. Weikel
Today’s Proud Moment
And so it was that today I was able to witness a proud moment when Jane was awarded the Francis Medal – a ‘symbol of and connection to Holy Name Province established in 1998. This award is given in gratitude for ways that our partners in ministry have enhanced the Franciscan vision through their participation.’ Jane’s role in establishing the sister parish relationship in Haiti featured prominently in Fr. Tom Gallagher’s expression of appreciation.
His words were all the more poignant meaningful in that today was the celebration of his final masses as Pastor and Guardian of St. Patrick/St. Anthony’s. It was clear from other parts of the mass today in tribute to him that his presence and role in the church and community will be deeply missed.
I’m lucky to have such a wonderful role model as a sister. And I find it particularly amazing and a true gift that we share such a profound spiritual connection while pursuing its expression in vastly different yet deeply meaningful ways.
I’m so proud of you, Jane, both for who you are and the work you’ve contributed – and continue to offer – to your family, the Hartford community, and the world. I’m still trying to keep up. You’re a hard act to follow.
Sisters – Photo: Delia Gallagher Hansen
*Sadly, Frank, far too young, passed away over a decade ago.
