Ad majorem dei Glorium

“Ad majorem dei Glorium.  For the Greater Glory of God.”

-       Society of Jesus (Jesuit) Motto.

In 2013, as part of a creative exercise to create a Times magazine cover representing Saint Louis University in twenty years, I drew the Sword of Ignatius of Loyola balanced by righteousness and justice.  I included a quote from Matthew in the Bible - "Think not that I came to send you peace, I came not to send you peace, but a sword."  This quote from the Bible is about putting God first (who is love) or brother will be set against brother.   I believed Saint Louis University's mission was to change the world through the education of the whole person to promote justice and righteousness in the world.   I included on the Time Magazine cover the following under the title:

"Sharpened Sword"

Discerning intellect

Inwardly reflective

Outwardly focused

Disciplined in action

Bound by love and service

Unified in purpose

“Ad majorem dei Glorium”  

(For the Greater Glory of God)

I have learned that leading means exercising self-discipline to follow Jesus, but to know that I am sinful and that only through grace and forgiveness by God and others can I grow in the Kingdom of God.  Each one of us is granted gifts, but we must follow the lead of Jesus when using them.  I'm not sure if God is asking me to lead through symbols or asking something else of me, but no matter what I do, I have chosen to follow God.

  "Ad majorem dei Glorium"

The Tree of Knowledge

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.”

- Genesis 2:17 (NKJV)

This week I watched on the PBS News Hour a report stating that since 2007, there has been a significant drop-off by Americans of all races and ages that identify with a religion.  The drop off in religious affiliation was greatest amongst Millennials.   The News Hour also reported that this trend pertained to all developed nations including Europeans.

When Adam and Eve ate the apple from the Tree of Knowledge, it symbolized the initiation of human individuality and self-will.  Adam and Eve saw their nakedness and were no longer "clothed in God's Glory."  They could no longer experience through wordless thought and spirituality the presence and oneness with the eternal God.   The purpose of many religions including Christianity is to once again experience oneness and eternity by reconnecting with God.

Western scientific thought has brought us many gifts of discovery, but it also has focused on measuring phenomenon with technology while not acknowledging that the more we know, what we do not know is greater.  God has a reason for this paradox; not knowing requires us to have faith.  Faith promotes imagination, possibilities, and hope.   God knew humans would eat from the Tree of Knowledge, but knew that we would need reconciliation with him to once again experience the oneness and eternal.  

The Cat in the Hat

This week I received a card in the mail from a friend from Saint Louis University.  I had to smile - on the front of the card was Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat.  The Cat had a broad smile as he tipped his hat walking jauntily down a path.  It reminded me of Pastor Randy's sermon in January on the Zoad in the Road and decision making.

"The Zoad In The Road”: 

Did I ever tell you about the young Zoad?
Who came to a sign at the fork of the road?
He looked one way and the other way too -
the Zoad had to make up his mind what to do.
Well, the Zoad scratched his head, and his chin, and his pants.
And he said to himself, "I’ll be taking a chance.
If I go to Place One, that place may be hot
So how will I know if I like it or not.
On the other hand, though, I’ll feel such a fool
If I go to Place Two and find it’s too cool
In that case I may catch a chill and turn blue.
So Place One may be best and not Place Two.
Play safe," cried the Zoad, "I’ll play safe, I’m no dunce.
I’ll simply start off to both places at once."
And that’s how the Zoad who would not take a chance
Went no place at all with a split in his pants.
-Dr Seuss

The same day I received the card, at work I had posted at my desk the Mission Statement from Saint Louis University - "The Pursuit of Truth for the Greater Glory of God and for the Service of Humanity.  I knew that I had accomplished everything I needed to in my current position for my employer and myself.  I realized my gift is to process messages and to write.  I also have a gift for organization and process thinking.  I naturally lead, but I also need to time to contemplate, write, and garden in order to process messages. I decided write a description and resume for my dream job and send it to Saint Louis University with my link to Sacred Souls and to let them decide if and how they can use my gifts.  

The Arbor in the Dream Garden

Last year I started my Sacred Souls blog in March with an entry title The Road not Taken in reference to my favorite poem by Robert Frost.  I was at a crossroads and I needed to start down a path so I began writing down my thoughts that had been accumulating for twenty years about God and humanity. This week I realized again I am at a crossroads.

The hair salon I use, called the Louve, displays artwork of local artists.  This month a series of beautiful watercolors painted by Susan Winter filled the salon. Her painting of an arbor in country garden on a hill reminded me of a garden spot that has special meaning to me.  As I initially walked around the salon I realized that the watercolors depicted my dream home.   On Saturday I returned to the Louve and purchased five watercolors – the arbor in the garden, Iris, a cat on a chair in a garden, a young boy with a dog, and a little girl with a Teddy bear looking out the window with a snow scene.   None of the watercolors depicted a house, but had all the elements of what I wanted in a home – my Christmas House.   I realized this week that in my heart that what address I am at doesn’t matter only that I am surrounded by the love of family and pets and that is what is most important to me.  God has given me many blessings and gifts but I have never had a family and everything else comes second to that dream.  I will be fifty-five in October and the dream seems impossible, but I have faith that God answers our innermost dreams whether it is on Earth or in Heaven.

The Experience of the Holy Spirit

“ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

- Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

I have not written a blog entry before about the presence of the Holy Spirit lest someone would believe that I am crazy.  Although I think God speaks to each of us in many ways - through nature, pets, friends, and loved ones, I believe the Holy Spirit is a direct conduit between God and each other where thoughts are shared.   After one sermon at church by the Pastor, I thought about the order of the books in the Bible and wondered if the order was important, and got a resounding yes by the Holy Spirit in my head.  When experiencing the Holy Spirit I feel a warmth, peace, and expansiveness (feels like warm air expanding inside out in my brain).  Sometimes it is when I am thinking of others I love, I feel the expansiveness connected to God and to the other person I am thinking about.  It is a physical sensation of affirmation without words.  I am never sure that others are experiencing the same sensation, as I am when I think of them, but it feels like it.

Sometimes I feel like I am sharing thoughts with a group and I feel so connected to the love of others.   I once read that the Jesuits when traveling alone to other parts of the world with no way to communicate with the Jesuits in Italy were connected to each other in thought through the Holy Spirit.  I know many people don't believe in telepathy, but if we can communicate through wireless, then why should not we also have the ability as humans to communicate by telepathy using the Holy Spirit as a conduit?  The sharing of thoughts through the Holy Spirit is not like speaking with words, but it is a different form of communication with God and others.  Perhaps the more we are open to it; the more we experience the Holy Spirit.  I feel the Holy Spirit the most often when I go for walks and the experience makes me happy, loved and at peace.

Easter is the Fulfillment of the Promise of Christmas

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

- Franklin D. Roosevelt,  32^nd President of the United States

As my daffodils are beginning to bloom at the first sign of spring I have been thinking about what spring means to me.  It is renewal and a sign of life after a period of dormancy.  During winter when the sign of life appears to die, we are reminded in spring that nothing truly dies in God's Kingdom.  Easter has now replaced winter as my favorite season.  It is because spring and Easter is the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus' birth at Christmas.  But as I truly love Easter, I am reminded how divided the world is and that even Christians forget what Jesus life represents.  He didn't die just for Christians; he died to reconcile the holiness of God to the sinfulness of all humans at a time when there were few Christians.  Jesus represents forgiveness and love, which is offered by God the Father.  My favorite Christmas card I sent out years ago reads:

 "Every time a hand reaches out to help another... that is Christmas.  Every time someone puts anger aside and strives for understanding...that is Christmas.  Every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other....that is Christmas.  May this Christmas bring us closer to the spirit of human understanding, closer to the blessing of peace."  

This is Jesus' promise for all.  Those who instill fear divide us.  Just because my brother commits murder, doesn't make me a murderer, yet I may also be classified as a murderer causing others to fear me.  We must bring those who commit murder to justice, while realizing extending that belief to others based on culture, race, or religion is directly in opposition of Jesus' teaching and for American principles.  My dear friend Fay, who is Muslim, said all true religions represent the love of God and the presence of peace.  We must not let murderers committing heinous crimes that need to be brought to justice, divide us from moving closer to understanding, love, and the blessing of peace for all who love God and each other.