Up on the Mountain

Rearview Mirror

2011-07-19T20:44:00.000-04:00

As I pull out on to the drive, I glance back in my rearview mirror to see the faces.
The faces of those that have come with me to Nazareth Farm.
I look and I can see God in their faces. The faces have a sense of joy in their eyes but yet they also have a sadness and concern.
The joy is from the experience that we have all partaken in and the enjoyment of each others companionship.
The sadness is the realization that we are leaving this wonderful place that has changed our lives.
The concern is for the fear of where do we go from here. How do we continue this experience and take it to our life going forward.

And then I look once more in the rearview mirror and I see my own face.
I see a mark left on my cheek and it reminds me.
It reminds me of what the farm has taught me.
It reminds me of what the people here have meant to me.
I see the mark and I know that I must put my trust in God.
I must continue to give of myself and share my prayers with others.

Now I am home and the mark on my cheek as long since disappeared.
But I realize the mark was not only on my cheek but in my heart as well.
Just as we received the mark on Ash Wednesday to remind us from where we came.
We receive our mark to remind us where we must go.

Look into your rearview mirror, what do you see? Do you see the mark?

Bill Walters
Chaperone (July 10-16)

Wouldn't it be nice? by Brandon Herzog

2011-04-01T21:18:00.000-04:00

Wouldn't it be nice if we were together
at the Nazaerth Farm
And wouldn't it be nice to live together
In the kind of world where we belong

You know its gonna make it that much better
When we can say goodnight and stay together

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up
In the morning when the day is new
And after having spent the day together
Hold each other close the whole night through

Happy times together we've spent
I wish that every moment was never-ending
Wouldn't it be nice

Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true
Then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do
We could be a family
And then we'd be happy

Wouldn't it be nice

You know it seems the more we talk about it
It only makes it worse to live without it
But lets talk about it
Wouldn't it be nice

2011-03-31T17:32:00.000-04:00

Dear Naz Farm,

I want to thank the staff members for all the lives they have touched. You are all truly role models and every one of you holds a special place in my heart. Before I came to Nazareth Farm I had a lot of turmoil going on in my life. When I first arrived to the Farm I did not think it would be possible to grow so much spirituality in one week. I have never felt so in touch with my spirituality and with God. During the drive home I kept thinking about what I really want to do to help change the world (this had been a constant battle for me). I often find myself overwhelmed by all the possibilities and things I could do, and I find myself wondering how can I make a difference when I am only one person? Then I started thinking more about what I learned on the Farm, and I thought of Fair Trade. I couldn’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner. Finally I have my answer I will buy/advocate for Fair Trade. I started to explain Fair Trade to my boyfriend’s father, and to my surprise I learned that they have family in Canada who are farmers. His father was very excited to learn about Fair Trade and now also plans on buying from them. Through God, the University of Detroit Mercy has led me to Naz Farm which opened my eyes to Fair Trade. When I got home from the farm I had a sudden burst of energy and I began to sing and dance. All the turmoil that was in my life had faded. I am happier then I have been in months. I hope to return to Naz farm and to bring my friends and family with me so they too can experience miracles.

God bless you Naz Farm.

Crissy Bieling
UDM March 6-12

Jim's Nazareth Farm Poem

2011-03-12T10:44:00.002-05:00

They greet you with a hug
And show you a lot of love
They say, "Welcome Home.
You are not alone."

I didn't know what to expect
But this place it has had an effect
It gave me a glimpse of grace
And it helped me find my place.

Because of the work and chores
There are lots of snores
But as the week carries on
The moments are not completely gone
The memories will truly live on.

The friendships made are great
The staff are truly first rate
As well as the wonderful food on your plate
West Virginia is a mountainous state.

Throughout the week
You begin to find God in all you seek
Whether it be on the job
Or hanging out by the creek.

There is daily prayer
And an opportunity to share
You'll begin to see
Here is where you're meant to be.

The trip progresses on
Dark turns to dawn
Every morning begins with a loud song
You know the days can't go wrong.

I know this poem is rather drawn out
But I know that I had to say
That everyone here today
Has impacted me in some way.

Although we are going to part ways
Let's remember those awesome March days
That we walked together in stride
With God as our guide.

They said, "Welcome home.
You're not alone."
I can't believe all the love they've shown
And how much each of us has grown.

Holiday Season Already!

2010-11-09T16:20:00.000-05:00

I know that Halloween was only a few days ago and we still have three weeks till Thanksgiving, but here at the farm we are already gearing up for Christmas. Last year around this same time I wrote a blog about St. Nicholas. This year, while reflecting on the characters of the Christmas season, I thought I would tap into my Scandinavian roots. In Swedish folklore there is a creature called the tomte (in Norway and Denmark they call him nisse). A tomte is a very small gnome like creature that lives under the floor boards of farmer’s homes. It ranges in size from a few inches to half the height of a full grown man. He generally has a beard and wears the clothing of a typical farmer. However, some tales describe him as a shape shifter and in modern Denmark he is depicted as having a red cap and looking almost like a little Santa gnome.
The tomte was a great help on the farm. He had incredible strength and would often do work in secret to help benefit the farmer and his family. However, the tomte was often very irritable and easily offended. Santa Claus may have his naughty list and piles of coal give out to misbehaving children, but the stakes were a bit higher with the tomte. If he heard you cussing, being rude, or urinating in the barn he may have punched you in the face or even go as far has killing your livestock. Also, if you ever spilled something it was customary to warn the tomte dwelling beneath the floor boards. Over time the tomte evolved to replace the traditional Yule Goat as the bearer of Christmas presents. The more commercialized he gets the more he looks like Santa, but he still has his own unique place in Scandinavian history.
Here at the farm, to the best of my knowledge, we don’t have any tomtes. Although a few months ago we did find a gang of puppies underneath the floor boards on the staff house front porch! No, we have our own Christmas traditions here at the farm and my favorite is our annual Christmas party. Each December we take a break from home repair and focus on sharing the joy of the holiday season with our Doddridge county community. We visit all of the families that we have worked with over the course of the year and bring them gifts and cookies. Also, we send a thank you cookie package to all the wonderful businesses the work with us. It all culminates with a big party for the children of the area. We have music, games, face painting, crafts, and Santa has a toy and at least one book for every child.
The only way that we can do this is through the help and generosity of others (or until we get a tomte). For those of you who came here this year, maybe you want to sponsor a family that you worked with. Here are some things to think about. Maybe your family wants to sponsor a family. Maybe your church or youth group wants to sponsor a family. Maybe you want to pool some money with your work crew. If you do decide to sponsor someone you could set aside time to pray for them throughout the holiday season. If you haven’t been to the farm in a while and don’t remember anyone on this list feel free to pick at random, or you could donate to the general Christmas fund. Anything that you all are able to do is appreciated. If you do wish to sponsor a family let us know before Thanksgiving so we can plan accordingly. Thanks a million and Merry Christmas.

Staff Reflection: Gatorade? H20!!!!!!!!!!

2010-10-27T19:17:00.002-04:00

Water is everywhere: in rivers, lakes, ponds, creeks and oceans; in rain, snow and fog; in the very air we breathe, the food we eat; in our bodies and in every living thing. Water is essential to life, and we hardly realize it. From a chemistry standpoint, water is as simple as it gets: as this post's title outlines, water is an oxygen atom with two hydrogen atoms attached on either side. It is beautifully simple, yet essential to all we hold dear.

Let's look at this staff member's daily use of water. Going to the bathroom. Drinking. Brushing teeth. Cooking. Eating. Face and hand washing. All simple acts of water usage. Others shower more, play among water, and partake in other activities that require water. Yet how often do we recognize this simple gift? When do we appreciate the full effect water has on our lives?

I was in the garden the other day and was picking vines off the metal fence that surrounds it. Some were green and tightly wound around the metal links, while others were dead and shriveled, easily picked off with a slight brush. The former were alive and the latter dead, but a defining characteristic differentiating the two was the presence or absence of water. Same thing goes with chopping wood: wet or recently cut wood won't split as well as dried wood, because the wetness allows the wood to hold onto the strength and resilience that it had before it was cut off from life. It is in these small instances that God shows me what water can do. He allows me a vehicle for considering what my life would be with significantly less water, or unclean water. I think of those who live in places around the world, and even in our own country, who go without what we take for granted. Water is an interesting way that God can call us to live in solidarity with our less fortunate brothers and sisters. I see God in its simple beauty, in the life it literally pours out in us, and the joy it can bring - did I mention I'm a surfer?

Staff Reflection: "We are Pilgrims on a Journey"

2010-09-19T10:37:00.005-04:00

Last weekend, the word "pilgrim" was brought to the forefront of my mind in a few ways. First, I saw an individual walking along the highway on my commute home. He was hitchhiking to get where he was going, an out-dated practice typically viewed as unsafe and foolish. But I know personally two people who hitchhiked around the country only a couple of years ago and did so independently and without any great issue. To me such an endeavor seems an exciting journey, one filled with unknown adventures and sights. Perhaps a frightening and daunting idea, hitchhiking must offer some freedom, simplicity, and the opportunity to witness America or wherever at the grassroots level. When I think of a pilgrim, I visualize someone on a journey seeking intangible enlightenment from either the destination or the journey itself. Many times it is a spiritual endeavor, but others may embark on a pilgrimage to get away from life or to experience something new and exciting. I like to believe that all pilgrims are seeking and finding something beyond themselves, what I like to call God. Hitchhiking sounds like an appropriate means for such an endeavor.

I mentioned that pilgrims often embark on their journeys to get away from an old life. The word "pilgrim" was also brought up in my mind the next day when I watched an old film, "Jeremiah Johnson." It's about a Spanish-American war veteran who decides after his stint in the war that he wants to become a mountain man. I can relate to him in that I came from a very different place to live among mountains, although we have very different lifestyles both before and after our relocation. He met a man in the mountains of Colorado who took him under his wing and taught him ways to survive in the wilderness. His mentor called him "pilgrim," for that was what he was.

These two instances brought up ideas about the modern meaning of the word "pilgrim." Is it the hitchhiker on the road? Is it the ambitious traveler whose heart lies somewhere beyond his or her known constraints? Or are all who seek some enlightenment, spiritual or otherwise, and want to grow, learn and experience life more fully the "pilgrims" of today? I learned from the great novelist Stephen King that we are made of our experiences and journeys and it is those things, the events that happen to us, the people we meet, and the things we see along the way, that are more important than the final destination. I think the pilgrim knows this, or at least will learn it as he or she travels onward. My own personal journey is one through life that lies along the path that God has laid before me. I strive to search for that path and to know it, and I pray that I have the courage to live it.

Staff Reflection: Advice from American Poets

2010-08-21T15:46:00.005-04:00

A friend of the Farm recently sent me an email with an excerpt from Walt Whitman's great work, Leaves of Grass. In it Whitman dispenses some good advice about how one should live and view the world. I'm inspired by these words of arguably our country's greatest poet.

You Shall Be A Great Poem (by Walt Whitman)
This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any one or number of persons, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body... The poet shall not spend time in unneeded work. He shall know that the ground is always ready plowed and manured... He shall go directly to creation.

A second literary work I've come across is a poem by a contemporary American poet, Wendell Berry. The poem is called "Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front" and it is another great source for advice, a wonderful point of view on how to approach many of the forces in our lives. But enough from me: I'm not the poet. See what you think.

"Love the quick profit, the annual raise,
vacation with pay. Want more
of everything ready-made. Be afraid
to know your neighbors and to die.

"And you will have a window in your head.
Not even your future will be a mystery
any more. Your mind will be punched in a card
and shut away in a little drawer.

"When they want you to buy something
they will call you. When they want you
to die for profit they will let you know.
So, friends, every day do something
that won't compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.

"Denounce the government and embrace
the flag. Hope to live in that free
republic for which it stands.
Give your approval to all you cannot
understand. Praise ignorance, for what man
has not encountered he has not destroyed.

"Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.

"Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.
Put your faith in the two inches of humus
that will build under the trees
every thousand years.

"Listen to carrion -- put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap
for power, please women more than men.

"Ask yourself: Will this satisfy
a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep
of a woman near to giving birth?

"Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.

"As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn't go.

"Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection."

Staff Reflection: Diggin' a Ditch

2010-08-14T11:23:00.004-04:00

This week, I had the opportunity to dig a trench to bury a gas line for a couple of days during chores. I was accompanied by a few lucky individuals, and it was an enjoyable 10:10 minutes both times. It was the first thing I did that day and I was sweating after just 5 minutes of taking a pickax to the ground. It was hard work for sure. But God was in it, and here's a pair of reasons why.
While I was operating the pickax, I thought of all the people who have done similar work. I thought first about prisoners working on chain gangs. They were put to work to help repay their debt to society, and the image that comes to mind is of the movie "Cool Hand Luke," where Paul Newman and his cohorts are digging a ditch on the side of some road in the blazing summer heat. I only used the pickax for about 20 minutes in the cool morning, but afterward I was drenched in sweat and had gained a new respect for prisoners and laborers who worked in such a way for hours on end. I felt in solidarity with a group of people, even if for only a short period of time.
The other thing that came to mind while digging the trench occurred when we went to put the dirt back into the trench after we had placed the gas line in the bottom of it. The earth didn't settle back into the ground as well as it had originally, and all of the pounding with our feet couldn't create as hard a surface that we started out with. It was obvious that the dirt would settle more with time and precipitation, and the feeling that we disturbed something couldn't get out of my mind. I thought about mountaintop removal and the damage it brings to the mountain itself and the surrounding environment. Mountaintop removers are supposed to return the mountain to an area just as good if not better after the removal of coal. However, it is impossible to put back all the rocks, trees, wildlife and water formations that are uprooted and destroyed after such an aggressive destruction of the environment. What we were doing wasn't nearly at the same scale as mountaintop removal, but it made me realize that God's creation, a creation that is ever evolving and changing without our help, is a gift that is irreplaceable and precious. Nature is imperfect, but it is perfect in its imperfection. I gained a greater respect for what God has given us through this experience. I can now see beauty in dirt, why it's something worth preserving, and how God reveals profound truths to us through simple acts.

Dear Naz Farm: Reflection from a volunteer

2010-03-12T22:51:00.002-05:00

Dear Naz Farm,

Thank you so much for all you've done the past week. It was probably one of my favorite trips I have ever been on. Usually I hate cold weather and get angry when I have to wake up before like 11am. But I didn't even mind.

From the moment we pulled into the little holler, I knew I'd have a good time. Mrs. Davis played the mountain song and then we started honking and you all were there to greet us and hug us and say "welcome home." I just felt really comfortable with where I was at.

Then through the week I got to see all the beautiful nature and snow and I met knew people and it was great. I am not really a big prayer person, but I really enjoyed it and I think prayer really changed me because now I even say little prayers of petition or thanksgiving every night.

I learned a lot while I was there, but the cornerstone I learned the most about was living simply. While I was there I realized that: 1.) I don't need to eat every hour like I do at home, and 2.) My mom cooks too much food that gets wasted, 3.) I use way too much water. Since I got home I've been trying to make changes like not washing my hair every day, turning off lights, unplugging chargers, and not wasting food or liquids. I also try to limit my electronics usage by not listening to my ipdod 24/7 and not spending all day on Facebook or t.v.

I really hope to come back again with a group of friends or family in the future, because i had such a great time. I want everyone I know to experience it so, I'd like to say thank you so much for this week! It has changed who I am, and has helped me make memories that I will (hopefully) never forget.

-Hannah Phillips
Assumption High School
2/8 - 2/13 2010

Non-Violent Christians

2010-02-19T08:25:00.002-05:00

Following is a speech given by Fr. Zabelka at Pax Christi about war. He was the priest who blessed the bombers who dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. He soon after resigned from the military and became a staunch opponent of war. When he left the military he lived out his priesthood in Michigan.

Feel free to leave any comments you have on his speech. :)

Father Zabelka – August 1985
Speech at Pax Christi

“As a Catholic chaplain I watched as the Boxcar, piloted by a good Irish Catholic pilot, dropped the bomb on Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, the center of Catholicism in Japan.

I never preached a single sermon against killing civilians to the men who were doing it. It never entered my mind to protest publicly the consequences of these massive air raids. I was told it was necessary. Told openly by the military and told implicitly by my Church’s leadership.

I struggled. I argued. But yes, there it was in the Sermon on the Mount, very clear: “Love your enemies. Return good for evil.” I went through a crisis of faith. Either accept what Christ said, as unpassable and silly as it may seem, or deny him completely.

For the last 1700 years the church has not only been making war respectable: It has been inducing people to believe it is an honorable profession an honorable Christian profession. This is a lie.

For the 300 years immediately following Jesus’ resurrection, the Church universally saw Christ and his teachings as non-violent. Remember that the Church taught this ethic in the face of at least three serious attempts by the state to liquidate her. It was subject to horrendous and ongoing torture and death. If ever there was an occasion for justified retaliation and defensive slaughter, with in the form of a just war or a just revolution, this was it. The economic and political elite of the Roman state and their military had turned citizens of the state against Christians and were embarked on a murderous public policy of exterminating the Christian Community.

Yet, the Church, in the face of the heinous crimes committed against her members, insisted without reservation that when Christ disarmed Peter he disarmed all Christians.

Christians continued to believe that Christ was, to use the words of an ancient liturgy, their fortress, their refuge, and their strength, and that if Christ was all they needed for security and defense, then Christ was all they should have. Indeed, this was a new security ethic. Christians understood that if they would only follow Christ and his teaching, they couldn’t fail. When opportunities were given for Christians to appease the state by joining the fighting Roman army, these opportunities were rejected, because the early Church saw a complete and an obvious incompatibility between loving as Christ loved and killing. It was Christ, not Mars, who gave security and peace.

Today the world is on the brink of ruin because the church refuses to be the church, because we Christians have been deceiving ourselves and the non-Christian world about the truth of Christ. There is no way to follow Christ, to love as Christ loved, and simultaneously to kill other people. It is a lie to say that the Spirit that moves the trigger of a flame thrower is the Holy Spirit. It is a lie to say that learning to kill is learning to be Christ-like. It is a lie to say that learning to drive a bayonet into the heart of another is motivated from having put on the mind of Christ. Militarized Christianity is a lie. It is radically out of conformity with the teaching, life and spirit of Jesus.

Now brothers and sisters on the anniversary of this terrible atrocity carried out by Christians, I must be the first to say that I made a terrible mistake. I was had by the father of lies. I participated in the big ecumenical lie of the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Churches. I wore the uniform. I was part of the system. When I said mass over there I put on those beautifull vestments over my uniform. When Fr. Dave Becker left the Tridant submarine base in 1982 and resigned as Catholic Chaplain there, he said “every time I went to mass in my uniform and put the vestments on over my uniform, I couldn’t help but think of the words of Christ applying to me; beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.

As an air force chaplain I painted a machine gun in the loving hands of the non-violent Jesus, and then handed this perverse picture to the world as truth. I sang praise the Lord and passed ammunition. As a Catholic Chaplain for the 509th composite group, I was the final channel the communicated this fraudulent image of Christ to the crews of the Enola Gay and the Boxcar.

All I can say today is that I was wrong. Christ would not be the instrument to unleash such horror on his people. Therefore, no follower of Christ can legitimately unleash the horror of war on Gods people. Excuses and self justifying explanations are without merit. All I can say is; I was wrong! But, if that is all I can say this I must do, feeble as it is. For to do otherwise would be to bypass the first and absolutely essential step in the process of repentance and reconciliation; admission of error, admission of guilt.

Thank God I am able to stand here today and speak out against war, all war. The province of the old testament spoke out against all false Gods of gold, silver, and metal. Today we are worshiping the gods of medal. The Bomb. We are putting our trust in physical power, militarism and nationalism. The Bomb, not god, is our security and our strength. The prophets of the old testament said simply; do not put your trust in chariots and weapons, but put your trust in God. Their message was simple and so is mine.

We must all become prophets. I really mean that. We must all do something for peace. We must stop this insanity of worshiping the Gods of metal. We must take a stand against evil and idolatry. This is our destiny at the most critical time of human history. But it is also the greatest opportunity ever offered to any group of people in the history of the world- to save our world from complete annihilation.

Staff Reflection: Jordan is in Love

2010-02-02T22:52:00.006-05:00

“If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:2-3

Over the last two years I have sought to reduce all my possessions down to one bag. I have given my life to the service of others. I have spent my time praying and searching for all wisdom in Gods Word and I have tried to practice in my life what it is that Jesus preaches about. Thanks to the power of God, I have been successful in all things.

When I look back at my life, my successes and my failures, my dreams and my realities, my faith and lack thereof; I can not help but marvel at the brilliance and wisdom of God. My God is a loving god, a forgiving God and a providing God. He has blessed me with a strong and close family who is always there for one-another. He has blessed me with friends who support me in all my dreams, seek with me all answers to this sometimes confusing life and most importantly are (and always will be) there for me when I just need company. Lastly, he has provided me with a new family in Christ which has been built in my travels. Those who have offered me rides, places to rest, and food to eat. There are many I keep in touch with and to this day I consider them a part of my life.

In all these things I find love. Whether everyone knows it or not, it is in them that I find the beautiful and loving face of God. Today I spent time reflecting on my future with Jessie Wambold (my fiance) who also is here serving with me at Nazareth Farm. Almost a year ago I asked Jessie to marry me. Expressing that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.

I met Jess in AmeriCorps (National Civilian Community Corps), day one. We were assigned to the same “pod” (temporary groups before we were put in teams). She immediately caught my attention with her stories about traveling the world on her own. Who wouldn’t be impressed by a cute girl, 5 foot tall who, when she was 18 literally traveled around the world on her own. Confidence, happiness and love were beaming from her face and enthusiastic attitude. We remained friends through the first 3-4 months of AmeriCorps. It was in Vermont that we were put on the same team and began reading the bible together that we began to grow closer together. Both of us spent each night reading the New Testament starting with Matthew, in search for God knows what. I being raised Catholic and her Evangelical Free, allowed for good conversations about our understanding of Christ.

The deeper we read into the bible, the closer we became spiritually. With her I felt a bond that I never felt before. With her I felt the Holy Spirit alive, not only in her but in myself. Vermont came and went, and soon we were put back on our first teams. However, the thousands of miles did not break our communication. We continued reading the bible each night and discussing our thoughts about what we were reading on the telephone. We were both attending different Sunday Services but sharing what we learned and experienced. Our relationship seemed to be growing at a constant pace and our understanding of Christ seemed to be growing at a faster pace.
It was towards the end of our third round in AmeriCorps that we decided we wanted to continue our service of those in need, but this time we were going to do it under the authority and dependency of Jesus Christ, not Uncle Sam. One thing about Jess that is most attractive and similar to myself is her ability to dream; her ability to have a vision and work towards that vision with all faith and determination that it will become a reality.

After AmeriCorps we began the next phase of our life (AmeriCorps calls it our “life after AmeriCorps). Entering the program we both had different visions of our separate future, after the program we were on one accord with our dreams, we were on one accord with our God and we were on one accord with making our dream a reality. That dream of serving took us through Hattiesburg, Mississippi and landed us here at Nazareth Farm.

What Paul states in the passage above is important. One can know all things on this earth, have all faith in God and give all their possessions even their life to others, but without love there is nothing. Without getting to know the inner-soul of another human being we miss out on what life is all about. Whether it be a friend, family member or partner in life we are called to love one another. Not just be kind to one another, but to actually love them. We are called to be patient and kind. We are called not to be jealous, a braggart or arrogant. We are to act proper and not degrade ourselves or seek things for ourselves. We should not be provoked by others or count the times we are wronged. We should give no credit to that which is unjust and we are to rejoice and live in all truth. And finally, we are called to believe that anything is possible, be willing to handle anything that comes our way, always remember that Christ has filled us with all hope and use his strength to endure all challenges that may come our way. When we abide in love, we will never fail. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

-Welcome Home
Jordan

Simplicity: Preferential Option for the Poor

2010-01-17T11:33:00.001-05:00

This past week we had groups from a variety of different colleges up at the farm. On Monday we talked about the Catholic Social Teachings and the principle of Preferential Option for the Poor. In that discussion I pointed out how I believed that we are often the over-looked poor and vulnerable; overlooked because we are blessed with an abundance of things. I also pointed out how I believe that it is dangerous to overlook our vulnerability. When we suffocate ourselves with and abundance of things and fail to recognize our blessings we begin to lose the importance of God in our lives. We begin to pretend that we are self-made and that we are in complete control of our lives.

When all this happens not only do we lose sight of God but we lose sight of the poor and we begin to lose sight of even ourselves. We begin to question our faith, we isolate ourselves from humanity and we begin to consider our wants as needs.

Thoreau once said “We often starve ourselves not of lack of necessity, but for lack of wants.” We do this when we begin to view even small things such as coffee in the morning as a necessity in order to function during the day or to not be grumpy with others. We can see signs of this when we think we need t.v. in order to ease our minds after a long day of school or work. In reality those are addictions and escape mechanisms that have replaced God in your lives to provide for the energy, or ease of mind.

In a consumer based society we are targeted daily and are told we need things in order to succeed or to prosper and to be happy. We have created a society in which some believe it is impossible to live successfully unless you spend one hundred thousand dollars on a college degree so that you can get a career that makes good money. But what is the point? What is the motivation behind all that? What is our definition of success? Jesus warned us not to be motivated by “mammon” or material goods. Because they will grow old and even your mind will leave you some day. It is not our physical abilities, our material possessions or even what we know that points to our success in life, but rather it is how we love and serve others that determines our path to Christ. Now, I am not saying do not educate yourselves by any means, in fact, education is extremely important and something we need to strive for. It will help us live informed lives able to advance Gods gifts that we are given, but our attitude, motivation and value that we place with high costing diplomas should be evaluated. Are the poor given the same opportunities or do we create a divide between those that can/have a college degree and those who can’t/don’t?

Put simply: To have the goal in life to make money and collect things is dangerous, selfish and causes people to wander from the faith.

What is the faith that we wander from? The two greatest commandments are to love God with your whole heart soul, mind and strength and to love each other as Christ loved us. When we look at how Christ loved us, we see simplicity and we see sacrifice. We see that our faith is to serve the poor, feed the hungry, visit the lonely, welcome the outcasts and heal the sick. This is why we sacrifice and live simply. To free ourselves for those callings in whatever form they take.

When we disengage ourselves from material goods, comforts, and false needs we expose our vulnerability and recognize our dependence on God. When we depend on God he provides and that leads to much courage and joy. The most confidence one can have is found through the strength that God provides. Our actions can then become intentional, our wants are then realized as wants and our blessings are recognized, given thanks for and shared with others.

So, today I would like you all to take a moment to reflect on your lives. What are the blessings in your life? What in your life do you consider your needs? What are your wants? Most importantly, what can you sacrifice in your life to open yourself up to service, community or prayer?

A New Year!

2010-01-09T22:03:00.001-05:00

We are back! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Season and enjoyed their time with family and friends. We at the farm had an extremely busy but rewarding month of December. Now we have all returned back to the farm and just finished a most wonderful volunteer group week. We were blessed with the presence of St. Mary’s Life teen (Massachusetts) (youth group), Canisius College (New York), Caldwell College (New Jersey) and Manhattan College. Lots of wonderful work was done around the farm. Because we have received close to 10 inches of snow throughout the week the groups for most of the week remained around the farm and completed projects. The supply barn was organized on the inside and all the wood was sorted and stacked. The White Barn and Dining Room was re-mudded and painted! We also had the pleasure to work for Granny, Betty, Butch, and Steve!

It is so beautiful this time of year and the air is fresh. With the New Year already begun it is a time to start anew. To remember fondly the past and to look forward with great hope to the future! Although, most importantly, we should take time to enjoy the season and the people around us and fully enjoy the present!

Tomorrow we have brand new schools coming to the farm for another week and the staff here is enthused to meet the new volunteers. It is a constant reminder for us that people around the world are seeking Christ and aiming to serve him by serving others. God is good, life is good, and we are all one!

Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm.

Twelve Days of Christmas

2009-12-13T19:48:00.002-05:00

I’m sure you have all heard the Christmas carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” with its haunting melody. The carol dates back to the 16th century and its precise author is unknown. It has generally been assumed to consist of twelve nonsense verses built around a pretty melody. But in a fascinating article in Our Sunday Visitor (12/20/92), Fr. Gilhooley, a chaplain at St. Mary’s College, informs us that the carol was written by the English Jesuits of the 16th century as a catechetical device and it is far from filled with nonsensical verses.

The carol is akin to the apocalyptic literature of Scripture that used obscure symbols to hide its true meaning from the enemy in time of persecution. To understand the background that gave rise to the carol, let us look briefly at the history of Catholicism in 16th century England.

When Henry VIII was rebuffed by Rome in his bid to divorce Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn, he declared himself head of the Church in England replacing the Pope and demanded that all swear an oath of allegiance to him as such. St. Thomas More, the Chancellor of the Realm, the equivalent of the Prime Minister today, refused the oath supporting the elimination of the Pope’s authority and Henry had him publicly beheaded. Catholic convents and monasteries were closed and looted. The situation was worse under his son, Edward VI, and better during the short reign of Catherine’s daughter, Mary Tudor. She was succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I, an ardent Protestant, the daughter of Anne Boleyn. The practice of the Catholic faith was banned. Priests were exiled and forbidden under pain of death from returning or performing the sacraments. It was a desperate, dreadful time.

But many priests risked their lives to come back and minister to the flock and many lay Catholics likewise risked their lives and fortunes to hear Mass and have their children baptized. Wealthy families built hiding places, called priests’ holes, in their homes to hide priests in case their homes were raided by the secret police.

The story is told of one priest who was almost caught in a surprise raid. He had just time to squeeze into his hole before the police broke in on the family. The police had obviously received a tip because they went right to the fireplace where the priest’s hole was located. But try as they might, they couldn’t find the entrance. Then in their frustration they ordered a fire to be lit to drive out the priest. When he didn’t emerge, because to do so would subject the host family to prison or death, they ordered more logs on the fire. Eventually all were driven from the room by the intense heat and the police left in disgust. The family rushed to get the priest out of the hole but he was already dead, baked alive. He gave his life under cruel circumstances to save those whom he had come to serve. And he was only one of many.

With this as a background we can see the need for secrecy and deception. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was written to educate the faithful in the doctrines of the faith and yet not be obvious to the persecutors. The numbers are simply a mnemonic to help Catholics remember some basic facts. Recall the words of the song. “On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: twelve lords a leaping, eleven pipers piping, ten ladies dancing, nine drummers drumming, eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.”

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” celebrates the official Christmas season which starts liturgically on Christmas Day and ends twelve days later on the Feast of the Epiphany. “My true love” refers to God, “me” is the individual Catholic. The “twelve lords a leaping” are the twelve basic beliefs of the Catholic Church as outlined in the Apostles Creed. The “eleven pipers piping” are the eleven Apostles who remained faithful after the treachery of Judas. The “ten drummers drumming” are the Ten Commandments. The “nine ladies dancing” are the nine choirs of angels which in those days of class distinction were thought important. The “eight maids a milking” are the Eight Beatitudes. The “seven swans a swimming” are the Seven Sacraments. The “six geese a laying” are the Six Commandments of the Church or the six days of creation. The “five golden rings” are the first five books of the Old Testament called the Torah which are generally considered the most sacred and important of all the Old Testament. The “four calling birds” are the Four Gospels. The “three French hens” are the Three Persons in God or the three gifts of the Wise Men. The “two turtle doves” represent the two natures in Jesus: human and divine or the two Testaments, Old and New. The “partridge” is the piece de resistance, Jesus himself, and the “pear tree” is the Cross.

(courtesy of http://www.catholic.net/index.php?option=dedestaca&id=3465)

Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm

Advent Preparation

2009-12-03T19:06:00.003-05:00

Why is it So Difficult to Enter Into Advent?

It happens every year, as predictably as drawing up a shopping list, decorating the tree and planning the Christmas Dinner. Every year we think, “Now THIS is the year when I really will enter into Advent.” And there it stays. Nothing happens. We know in our hearts that Advent can be more than a "pre-Christmas" season, more than those four weeks of getting ready for the Big Day on December 25th. We sit in Church and hear the different readings, the darkness and the promise of hope.

We ponder in our hearts: Our lives are full, our families are good, our homes beautiful. We have everything, simply everything we could want. But in the quiet darkness, we are aware of something stirring in our hearts, a longing we can't name. Something that no trip to the store, no decorations, Christmas dishes or new ornaments can fill. The longing might be risky, even dangerous, so we push it away — quickly — and busy ourselves again. There is so much to do in these weeks.

The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
Jeremiah 3

frustrated manThe stirring returns. What is this promise for us? What does it mean for us in our comfortable, complicated and messy lives? We want to be better people, and our lives are not perfect. We don't want to delve into our relationships at home because we don't want to upset the way things are. We are so often impatient with our children, unreasonable with our spouses and we might even admit, disappointed in our lives. We echo the disciples' confusion and disappointment after the crucifixion: “We had thought it would be different." But we have everything we could want. What else is there?

The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken.

On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
Isaiah 25

HopeWhat if this Advent, we allow ourselves to imagine a life that is different? What if our hearts were at peace and our lives more satisfying? That longing in the most hidden corners of our hearts is something holy, a Holy Longing, a desire for a deeper relationship with God.

We might squirm at that and stammer all of the excuses we know: "Not now. I'm really busy. I'm not a very holy person. I'm going to get to a serious relationship with God as soon as my kids are gone... when I don't have to care for my parents; when I get the promotion at work; when we move to a new house." There are dozens of ways we can evade the issue, but still, that longing is there for something more.

candlesAdvent is a time to recognize both our holy longing and the healing love God has for us, despite the many barriers we put up between ourselves and God. We can start simply and just rest at the edge of our beds in the mornings, open our hands and whisper, "Come, Lord Jesus!" If we let ourselves feel what is in our hearts, we know they are filled with love. We can carry that experience with us as we go through even the busiest of our days. We may not know exactly where to begin or how to fill this longing in our hearts but it is simple. God waits with infinite love and with arms outstretched to meet us. The words we say don't matter. We can speak as if God is a friend we have not seen in a long time, but one with whom we can sit in a comfortable silence.

It's just about taking the first step. Even if we are fearful about this next step, we can say to God what is in our hearts. In this Advent season, it's time to risk, to make the first step, to find our way back home.

Loving God, I don't have the right words. I'm not sure where to begin, but I know you are the hope and promise of the peace to come in my life. Be with me this day. Let me look at my life and my day today and open my heart completely as I begin, "Come, Lord Jesus."

(taken from this website: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/difficult-entering-Advent.html)

Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm

Saints

2009-11-05T18:30:00.000-05:00

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.”
Matthew 18:1-5

But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Matthew 6:3-4

This past Sunday we celebrated All Saints Day. To celebrate this feast day we as a staff decided to plan our prayers around the Saints. We reflected on the lives of new saints and old saints, famous saints and the unknown saints of everyday life. I have always loved hearing these stories. To me they affirm the authentic nature of our faith. It is more than a vague acknowledgement of a spiritual realm; it is more than abstract theological concepts. Our faith is something real and it can be seen and experienced in the ways we act upon it. The Saints remind us that the Body of Christ is made of people, people who have doubted, dreamed about, danced because of, and died for their faith. Their lives serve as examples of, among other things, wisdom, courage, compassion, sacrifice, and usually a healthy amount of stubbornness. We take these virtues and apply them to our own unique journey. It can be very intimidating to model the lives of people that cured the sick and raised the dead to life. However, I feel that we can find comfort it the fact that God does not quantify our deeds. Through one of us the sick may be healed and through another the sorrowful may be comforted. Both of these acts demonstrate God’s love and that is what matters.

In my reflections on the Saints I was led to research a bit about a saint that I am sure many of us have heard of but may not know much about, Saint Nicholas. As it turns out he was not from the North Pole but rather near present day Turkey and therefore most likely did not own any reindeer. However, all the pictures I found do show him with a pretty nice beard and there is a good chance that he had at least one red coat. From what I read of his life it is easy to see how he evolved into the icon that we know as Santa Clause. St. Nicolas was born into a wealthy family but like many other saints he found himself called to faith rather than fortune. He received a large inheritance upon his parent’s death, but committed his wealth to acts of charity. He is remembered as a very modest man and would therefore give gifts in secret. Many citizens of Myra would wake up to find gold coins in their shoes or other gifts from an anonymous giver. In particular he directed his generosity toward children. In one well known story he a poor man is unable to provide for his three daughters. The specifics of this story vary but, what is known is that St. Nicholas secretly gave three bags of gold, one for each daughter. In one version of the story St. Nicholas drops the gold down the chimney to avoid detection.

Reading about St. Nicholas got me thinking about our annual Christmas party. For those of you that don’t know, each year we throw a party for the people of Doddridge County. We hope that it is a time when people can come together for food, fun, and Christmas festivities. Each year St. Nicholas (the rosy-cheeked, bowl full of jelly variety) comes to visit the children. We acknowledge that for many of the low-income families in Doddridge County the holidays can put a strain on the budget. For this reason we make sure that every child that attends leaves with a gift and at least one book. In the same way that St. Nicholas assisted the father and his daughters we hope to be a helping hand to the parents in our community. Not to mention it is always a joy to celebrate with friends and neighbors. However, because we are a non-profit we can do nothing without the generosity of others. We are incredibly blessed to have so many people who, like St. Nicholas, give of what they have. At the Christmas party the staff is fortunate enough to be there to see the faces of the children light up as they play games and receive their gifts. However, most of the people that make this party possible are not there with us. Though in Matthew we are reminded that the Lord sees all that we do and will repay us for our kindness.

We are still planning for this years Christmas party and encourage everyone connected to the farm to consider joining us in our efforts. If you have volunteered recently you may want to sponsor a family that you worked with. Otherwise, we are looking for books, new educational toys, or monetary contributions. Our party is on December 13th and we would like to have gifts in by the end of November. Please consider sending us unwrapped gifts in the mail or contact us at 1-304-782-2742 (by phone) or Nazarethfarm@gmail.com (by email.) As Jesus says, “whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me”. We are grateful for anything you modern day St. Nicholas’s can do. We pray that you are blessed and, like the Saints, that your lives might be examples of how our faith is made real and how a real faith can change the world.

Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm

Speak with confidence, Love with conviction

2009-10-16T16:15:00.004-04:00

"One night in a vision the Lord said to Paul, 'Do not be afraid; Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city.' He settled there a year and a half and taught the word of God among them." - Acts 18:9-11

It is so wonderful to live in a community of Christians. Some days it hits me more than others, but every day I thank God for where he has brought me in my life. It is such a blessing to be surrounded by friends who genuinely care about me and others. It is freeing to be able to openly speak about Christ and to gather as community in prayer each morning. Finally, it is comforting to always have someone there whom which I can depend upon in times of struggle and suffering. Is this not what God has in mind for all of us? Yet, how many people in this world are unable to express those same feelings of joy which I mentioned? How many people whom we know (perhaps ourselves) feel alone or afraid in our faith? Last blog entry I spoke about refining our words and this time I would like to reflect upon the strength of our words and actions through Christ.

In the passage above Paul has arrived in Corinthian as part of his mission to preach the Gospel to all the ends of the earth. In particular he was preaching to the Jews in the area; however, many "opposed him and reviled him" (Acts 18:6). Paul during his life suffered a great deal for the pursuit of spreading the Good News. (He in fact brags about it in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29) Although, this time God speaks to him in a vision and tells him that he should continue speaking and to do so without fear, for He has many people in the city. What a powerful statement, but not just to Paul in his day, also to us. God is telling us that when we are amongst believers in Christ, we shall not fear, we shall speak boldly about our love of Christ, and we will be safe!

Problems occur in our lives when communication is broken down. When we don't understand instructions at work or school and don't ask questions, we turn in a bad assignment. When we are not able to express our feelings to our families, we feel alone in our homes. When two cultures fail to understand one another, violence and fear is bound to rise. And when we fail to discuss our faith with others, our faith deteriorates. We must communicate with God through prayer and we must communicate with love to one another in order to keep each other strong in our faith. This communication is not always with words, but also acts of kindness and giving of ourselves. We all have learned at some point during our lives that actions speak louder than words.

The question then, is why don't we speak? Often times we do not speak up (or out) because we are afraid. We are afraid of what others might think of us, do to us, or say to us. We are afraid of the consequences of our words and actions. Paul, being a good example shows us through is life that he was not afraid of the consequences of his words. In fact, the more he was persecuted the more he spoke. He was able to do so because he was confident in his faith and through his passion for Christ and genuine care for others; his love shined through.

Let us reflect on those we surround ourselves with. Are they a good influence in our lives? Do they allow us to speak freely about our faith in Christ? If so, give God thanks and praise for nurturing people who grow in love with one another through His Son. If not, pray to God for the strength and courage to speak freely about your faith with those who may not be the most receptive. Also, reflect on ways that which you can incorporate more Christians in your lives so that you can begin to form a loving and caring community in which your faith can continue to develop. Lastly, be the comfort and peace for someone else so that they can feel Christ's love. Speak with confidence and love with conviction so all the glory and honor be to God and His son Jesus Christ.

Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm

Circumcise the tongue

2009-10-10T12:38:00.005-04:00

"If we put bits into mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot's inclination wishes. In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord our Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers. Does a spring rush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh." - James 3:3-12

Fall has begun here at the farm and it looks beautiful! The trees are changing and with each big wind leaves rain down on our lawn. Also with this change of scenery, the weather is getting colder each night. Volunteers haven't been around the farm since August and besides the random visitors who have come, as well as the 30th Anniversary, it has been rather quiet. This has been a time for us (staff) to get to know each other, do much needed repairs around the farm and to finish up projects in the community which need to be completed before winter. In the quietness that is here at the farm I have been able to reflect upon the "noise" in life. Particularly the noise which comes from myself. How do others perceive me when they hear me talk and what kind of message do my actions portray to those I come into contact with. Often times it is the ones who we are closest to that we treat the worst. We feel as though we "know" them we are entitled to do and say anything we want around them; we tend to let our guard down.

In the letter above written by James, we are reminded that as Christians we are called to a higher standard of speech. He warns us that the tongue is a "flame from hell" which can ignite our whole body. We begin to speak loosely and say things which we do not mean or things which hurt others, but the more we speak these things the more we begin to actually become the things we speak about. This is a scary thought. It causes me to reflect upon the jokes I hear and speak. Why are they funny? Even though I may not be serious about something I am saying to get a laugh or to be sarcastic, saying "Oh, I don't really mean that"; James is saying that eventually those words are going to ignite my whole body. He notes, some day I may actually be doing the very thing I am joking about.

Another passage comes to mind from the Old Testament. In Isaiah chapter 6 we read about a vision that comes to Isaiah. In this vision he sees God up on a throne with Seraphim's flying about covering their faces and feet while crying out "Holy, Holy, Holy". In this sight he immediately reflects upon how unworthy he is because he has "unclean lips" and hangs out with people who have "unclean lips". God, being a God full of grace and forgiveness, burns Isaiah's lips to cleanse them and then sends him out on his mission. James recognizes this also and informs us that our mouth is meant to praise God and that we can not praise God with our tongue one minute and then speak unclean words another.

In our lives we will meet an abundance of people and we do not always know how they will take our words; some things we say will effect a person one way while another day it will have the opposite effect. We are called to show love and kindness to all people and this starts with our words. The only thing we have control over is what WE say and do. Let us focus on our words and actions this week. Can what we say or do be interpreted in a way which would not properly reflect Christ? It takes great courage and strength to hold your tongue and James points out that no man has ever fully tamed his tongue. If we did then we would be perfect, like Christ, and this is what we must strive to be like. Center yourself in prayer and reflect upon people in your life who you consider "holy" people and take note to how they speak and present themselves.

Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm

30 years of Just Living

2009-09-26T14:01:00.005-04:00

"Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain? Whoever walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart; Who does not slander a neighbor, does no harm to another, never defames a friend; Who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath despite the cost, lend no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever acts like this shall never be shaken." - Psalm 15

This weekend we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Nazareth Farm. We started the celebration with a board meeting Friday and today (Saturday) we celebrated a prayer service in the morning with a renewal of the mission statement of the Farm and a blessing of the Farm and its affiliates over the years. Tonight we will have a local band come and play for all those who came to celebrate and on Sunday we are celebrating Mass in the morning followed by a dedication of our porch to Jeanette Sandora.

In the prayer service the above Psalm was read and it caused me to reflect upon the purpose of the Farm and our lives in general as Christians. This Psalm gives us a little insight to the religious tradition to the people of the time period. The "tent" refers to the temple in which the Isrealites gathered. Prior to the building of a temple, Moses and the people traveled through the wilderness in search of the promised land. During their search, they carried the ark of the covenant in a tent which was a designated place where the Lord resided. The mountain is a referral to a designated holy place as well. This also could be a referral to the mountain in which Moses encountered God and received the ten commandments and the laws of the people.

In this Psalm an Israelite is asking a temple official what the requirements are to enter the presence of God. You then notice that the requirements simply spoke are to be true to yourself, love your neighbors, love your friends, refrain from what you know is wrong and when you assist the poor do it free of charge. (At the time period people did not lend money as investments, they did so to help out a struggling neighbor and hence they can be seen as the "poor" in their community. It would have been against the Law of God given by Moses to charge interest on that loan.). It was the belief of the Jewish people that they must abide by the commandments and laws in order to receive salvation. The laws included sacrifices of lambs, rams, cattle and other various animals. However, God became man in Christ Jesus and sacrificed His life as one final sacrifice for ALL humans. Christ became the sacrificial lamb. Before He departed this earth He left us with a series of teachings through stories, parables and His own living example.

Upon His death and resurrection the Holy Spirit was transferred into the bodies of the Apostles at Pentecost and through Baptism we receive the living God within us in the form of the Holy Spirit. The mystery of our faith is a beautiful thing yet challenging and extremely radical. Because of all this we are now called to take our faith to the next level. Not only must we follow the instructions given to us in Psalm 15 to be able to enter the temple (church) where God is present, but we must become a living EXAMPLE of Jesus Christ who is present with us through the Holy Spirit. This means that not only must we be respectful to the poor WHEN we help them but we are called to go OUT OF OUR WAY to help the poor. As we also heard in our prayer service today Jesus tells us in the book of Matthew chapter 25:31-46 we are to be judged by what we do for those around us. It is not just those who rob the poor (charge interest on loans) who break the Law of God as the old testament suggests, but it is also those who do NOTHING who are not answering the call to love and serve one another.

Nazareth Farm was developed to become a community deeply rooted in prayer which lives simply in honor of those who lack basic needs and who uses their many blessings to live with and serve the needs of those around them. Is this not what we are all called to do as Christians? I urge all of you to reflect upon your living situation, your family, your community. Are you worthy of "entering the tent" as listed by the Psalmist and are you a living example of Christ to others as we are called to be in the New Testament? Celebrate with us the last 30 years of "Just Living" which Nazareth Farm has been an example of by bringing home the ideas and cornerstones of the Farm into your own lives.

Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm

Reflection from a Volunteer

2009-09-21T15:44:00.004-04:00

A Home Away From Home

It’s been said that “home is where the heart is”, but I never quite understood what that truly meant until the Spring of 2008 when I spent a week in Salem, West Virginia, one of the poorest districts in the country. Having been raised in the Bronx, to me home was basically a safe haven from the cruel world we live in; a place where I rested my head at night, did my homework and all the other daily routines of life.

“Welcome Home!” – these were the first words I heard when we arrived at Nazareth Farm, the place we would call “home” for the next week as we helped to repair homes that were condemned by the City of Salem, West Virginia. One week of hard work, teamwork and spiritual growth would be the week that would change my life forever.
During this week, myself, along with 11 others from my school and 40 others from Tennessee, New Jersey and Washington D.C. would become a “family,” and Nazareth Farm, our “home”. We worked on many different homes and visited many different people in the area. As part of our service, we learned to put up ceilings, gutters, siding and floors. At “home” we cooked, cleaned and welcomed our workers back home.
Nazareth Farm was a home of complete simplicity that included no electronics – no cell phones, no iPods, not even a watch – none of the things that made me feel at “home”. Not having all of these electronic distractions allowed me the time I needed to focus on what really mattered in life. We were all there, together, to form one family – coming from all different walks of life, with very different backgrounds, we lived together and worked to help others one step at a time.

Through this experience, I have learned that I am a lover, a helper and a friend. I am someone who can make a difference in the world - and will do just that - one day at a time. I am me and through my experiences, I know I can make a difference in this world by showing everyone that small actions make a huge impact.

- Rosa Maria

Material Simplicity

2009-09-15T17:51:00.003-04:00

Simplicity of Life

"There is a form of material poverty which is blessed.
“Ah, yes; we were poor, but happy.”
Saint Francis fell in love with it.
In its more striking forms, it may look like a spare and bare existence. But this is not a material deprivation which dehumanizes. It humanizes us.
Simplicity of life is concerned with our relationship to things. But the heart of its meaning is the relatedness of persons. It is positive and blessed because it is grounded in the right order of valuing persons over objects.
Things are good. They are better and best when they are for persons, personal existence, personal celebration.
Life is for people: hence, simplicity.

We travel light enough so that the goods of the earth may be enjoyed and celebrated by all, so that they may bring the glory to God. We travel light enough so that we ourselves may be for persons, rather than expend our lives collecting, maintaining and replacing objects.

In simplicity, we are empowered to see the destitute, to share of our abundance, to ease the dehumanizing poverty that cries out to us. It enables us to give freely, to be more equitable. It frees us to engage the injustices of the world which are often the source of personal degradation. It makes us less fearful to put our security at risk.

In simplicity, we are given time to enter the grace of our human poverty. If we do not surround and suffocate ourselves with things, by which we manage and control our lives, we are far less likely to believe in the illusion that we have no need of God. We would less likely pretend that we are “self-made” men and women. Simplicity, as a liberation from the chains of consumerism, is also a call to prayer, wherein we encounter our spiritual poverty before God and discover the joy of recognizing ourselves as loved and forgiven creatures. Simplicity, moreover, gives us time for each other, for relationships and intimacy and friendship. A simple change in our style of working, consuming, or spending time with television profoundly affects our availability for persons.

Simplicity is as related to love as it is to justice.
It is freedom from compulsive addictions and entrenched escape mechanisms.
It is liberty to see ourselves anew and to disengage from the comforts that blind us to the face of the poor.
It unfetters us, that we might play and savor the moment, that we might give thanks and sing appreciation.
It can unlock us, finally, that we might do bold things, that we might more fully be men and women, not for things, but for others."

- John Kavanaugh, S.J

This week challenge yourself to simplify your life. What excess do you have and why do you hold on to it? What keeps us from interacting with those in our families? Our neighbors? Our friends? Our God? Do we create a life in which we are in full control or is their a need for God in our lives?

-Welcome Home
Nazareth Farm

Reflection from a Volunteer

2009-09-01T13:18:00.002-04:00

From my week at Nazareth Farm, I can truly say that I can see beauty in every person, every situation, and every environment. I saw beauty in Prayer, Simplicity, Community and Service; the four cornerstones of Nazareth Farm and in my life. Prayer life at Nazareth Farm was absolutely beautiful. As a community we invited God to join us throughout the day. I prayed when I was up on the ladders (I was deathly afraid of heights before Nazareth Farms) I would ask him to hold me. “God just hold me, I trust you!” I would say, and not once did I fall or think of my fear. And now I’m not afraid of heights!

Simplicity was another cornerstone of Nazareth Farm. As a community the staff member asked us to show our natural beauty the way God created us. (Never in my life have I felt so beautiful). And they asked us to conserve everything from water to food. We were also not allowed cell phones or IPods so we could hear God calling and the birds singing. What a relief to step back from our busy lives and just hear God speaking. What a rush. God was speaking to me through all the service that I was doing; his work. Helping people who needed help was His work. And all the people we helped you could see God’s joy in their eyes. And with every swing of the hammer it was me saying, “I LOVE YOU!” I was doing this for my Father’s children, my brothers and sisters. We did this service through community. Every person we helped was in God’s community and at Nazareth Farm we became a community. All the people at Nazareth Farm became my family. They didn’t judge me. They saw me how God sees me as a wonderful gift to this earth. How awesome. What a journey. Anyone that has not gone to Nazareth Farm should go to experience the love and happiness. I will continue to spread the word of God through the four cornerstones and hope that YOU will join me.

God bless,

Colleen Linn

A Solid Foundation

2009-08-15T17:22:00.006-04:00

"When He (Jesus) disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things...Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all...Then he made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray." - Mark 6:34, 41, 45-46

Another week has passed here at the Farm and with that, another group of 35 high school students have been sent back to their hometowns with the commission to bring their experiences here on the mountain to those they return to live with. At first this may seem like a daunting task and to some it may seem impossible. How can the experiences at the Farm be brought home to those who have never been here? Is Nazareth Farm only possible because you are living within a group of believers all there for the same purpose? At a quick glance it may be easy to make that argument. However, when you take a deeper look you will find that Nazareth Farm is a result of believers living and working on a solid foundation, the four cornerstones. Prayer, simplicity, service and community are the four cornerstones which built the Farm and today they are the four cornerstones which continue to hold it together (30 years now).

It is important to remember that at one point, Nazareth Farm did not exist. This is important because that fact means that Nazareth Farm was created amongst a community of believers and non-believers alike. It was created in the "real world"; the same world in which all of you have returned to after leaving the Farm. This last week during our "life after the Farm" talk on Friday night we asked the volunteers what the challenges were that they faced during the week. One person said it was difficult to live in constant community and to not be allowed as much personal time as they would have liked. Another stated that it was difficult to not take a shower every day. Others stated that the work at the work-site was difficult and still others talked about their realized dependency on time, cell-phones and i-pods.

After reflecting on their difficulties, we asked them to reflect on what it was that helped them continue through those hardships. It was at this moment the cornerstones began to shine. The man who said community was over-bearing made it through by finding time for personal prayer. The lady who stated it was difficult to get used to being dirty said she found comfort by the fact that the whole community was dirty and did not care. Those that had trouble at the work-site said that it was rewarding to see the joy and happiness in the faces of those they served and the ones who found it difficult to let go of their phones, i-pods and watches said they were able to experience God through simple things like nature. Any one of the cornerstones can be overbearing and challenging at times. However, a house (or a life) is not built on one cornerstone. In order to stand strong you need the other three cornerstones to help share the weight of the most difficult cornerstone in your life.

This is something Jesus recognized as well and it is evident in the bible passage given above. Jesus came among a crowd of people and had pity on them because they seemed lost. He began to serve them, and teach them. In other gospels it states that he healed the sick as well. Upon entering a community of people he started with service, the giving of his gifts. Jesus began to build a relationship with the people and recognized that the day was late and that they were getting hungry. He could not have known that unless he was in tune with the communities needs which means that he spent time getting to know them. In order to solve the issue of hunger he instructed his disciples to find some food and to begin the simple act of sharing. He did not feed the crowds wine and fruits and expensive food of his time, but rather the thousands of them shared a simple meal of bread and fish, a meal of a commoner, not a king. He also instructed them to eat only what they needed and once all were full he put none of it to waste and had the leftovers gathered into baskets for later redistribution (or perhaps compost). After a long day of serving the people, building community, and doing both in a simple manner, he left the people for a quiet place to pray on his own. Perhaps he recognized that it took a lot of strength to minister to the people and that he needed prayer to rejuvenate his body.

This week we ask you to reflect on how you can live out the cornerstones in your community? Can you identify a need in your community and how can you find ways to meet that need through service? What cornerstone is most difficult to live out and what cornerstones can assist you in that difficulty? We hope all of you can and are finding ways to live out your experience at Nazareth Farm back at home.

Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm

New Life

2009-08-09T18:02:00.002-04:00

“Seeing, then, all things have an end, these two things are simultaneously set before us--death and life; and every one shall go unto his own place. For as there are two kinds of coins, the one of God, the other of the world, and each of these has its special character stamped upon it,[so is it also here.] The unbelieving are of this world; but the believing have, in love, the character of God the Father by Jesus Christ, by whom, if we are not in readiness to die into His passion, His life is not in us.”
– St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Magnesians

Welcome Home! For many of you those words may already bring back memories of joy, love, friendship, tears, service and maybe even outhouses; however, this last week those words have taken a new meaning for some families and for at least two new staff members at the Farm. We just finished our annual family week at the Farm and it could be said that the themes Old/New, Life/Death were very apparent. Family week is a very special time in which many families come together to become one huge family in Christ. At times it may seem like one large family reunion as many of the families have been coming for years. However, the experience is never the same as new families are added into the mix and old families progress in their work, spirituality and age. Some of the kids have been coming to the farm since they were very young children and now are grown teens who are experiencing the reality of Christ for the very first time; even after coming for years.

This last week we also welcomed two new staff members named Jordan and Jessie. They are an engaged couple from California and Michigan who have focused their lives on service to Gods people and with their arrival the Farm Staff is at full strength minus one last addition coming in October. Kelly was able to share during shared prayer that this last week she was able to realize the completion of a transitional period. She is finally able to settle in and fully function as a loving mother of two young kids as well as a hard working friend and family member through Christ at the Farm. A feeling of comfort and peace comes with being able to put transition behind and focus on the reality of HOME.

Transitional periods are often difficult and hectic. Change and newness is easy to reject and the comfort of tradition has its benefits and attachments. However, it is in newness that the old is to be reflected upon and improved where needed. It is in newness that life is most easily recognized. Jesus Christ came into this world by the Holy Spirit to bring new Life into our world. He was speaking of Life to a people oppressed, poor, brutalized and dead spiritually in the law and oral tradition of the Pharisees. Over the years, the laws of Moses had lost some meaning and life. Christ did not come to condemn the law but rather to bring a new life and fulfillment in the law. He was calling people to a reflection of the old and openness to his new wine (New Covenant).

The Farm is experiencing its 30th anniversary this year and in many ways it has kept the traditions, values and focus alive. However, it has also brought in an abundance of new ideas, new transformation and new life which has shaped it to become the way it is over the years. Each new person brought to the farm both staff and volunteer brings a uniquely different spirit and experience which makes an impact on the farm. Like an old pair of shoes each puddle and each step has a lasting effect which tells a story of where they have traveled and what they have done.

This week we invite you to reflect on your life. Where has your life taken you and most importantly how has Christ shaped your being? As Christians we are called to die to ourselves and live with the new spirit and clothing of Christ. What does this mean in our lives and how are we affected by those around us? How do we share our uniqueness and love with those we encounter and how can we impact their lives to bring newness, peace and comfort?

Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm

Still Growing with Ken and Jessica

2009-08-02T10:42:00.001-04:00

Jessica shares with us the reality of living the cornerstones of the Farm after moving back to St. Louis...

With the inspiration of a good book, I have tonight come to an important realization. I can still grow – in my faith, in sustainability, in all of the cornerstones – away from the Farm. It’s a very basic idea, but it’s tougher than it might seem. The Farm really provides ideal conditions in which to carry out a certain lifestyle, and it’s hard to duplicate much of that in a city environment. Take compost, for example. I have to do more research, but so far we have found no one that will accept compost composed of food scraps. We could get a worm bin, but I’m not sure I’m ready to have that in our apartment…

Back on the topic at hand, I’ve been spending a lot of time lately analyzing our lifestyle and trying to decide if we’re living up to the ideals we set while living in West Virginia. Our situation has changed significantly, so the way we live out some of the cornerstones – community, for example – has changed drastically. So I keep trying to think of ways that I can improve in such a way that we more closely echo the Farm’s model.

This can be a great tool, but tonight’s revelation provides a certain freedom with a side of encouragement. Our growth is not limited to becoming more and more like the Farm. We can accomplish great things! And being in a city environment gives us the opportunity to grow in new ways. We can still place that growth within the framework of the cornerstones, if that is helpful. But we can expand our horizons and spread our excitement into new realms.

Some of the topics I have been exploring since leaving the Farm include economic inequality, race relations, and urban gardening. The list will continue to grow in proportion to my stack of library books, which is already towering. And as I read, I incorporate new attitudes and ideas into my lifestyle. I begin to take action, to live out the cornerstones in a new way. That’s one way we’re bringing home the Farm.

Opening Our Eyes by Steve Seitz

2009-07-26T14:22:00.005-04:00

This week's blog post comes from Steve Seitz, a past chaperone, and his reflections on how Nazareth Farm opened his eyes... this was published in the June 28, 2009 edition of The Catholic Moment (page 9).

Nazareth Farm experience opens eyes and hearts

I recently had the good fortune of chaperoning a group of kids on a week long mission to a special place... Nazareth Farm.

Nazareth Farm is a service-oriented ministry in the Appalachian hill country of West Virginia. Its mission is two-fold: to live out the call of Jesus to love and serve our neighbor, and to introduce people of all ages to the great blessing to be found in answering that call. Nazareth Farm has been succeeding at both for 30 years.

As soon as we arrived, I knew this would be a unique experience for me. We pulled into the driveway as the staff all came out of the house to welcome us. Anyone watching would have thought we were there to visit family. In a very real sense, I guess we were.

Our small group from St. Louis de Montfort Church, Fishers, was not the only one. By the end of the evening, groups from five other parishes/ schools arrived - all strangers to each other. In less than 24 hours, we were friends and family, celebrating being together for a common purpose.

We were there as volunteers. Nazareth Farm provides home repair to people who might otherwise live in homes they are physically and/or financially unable to maintain properly. In keeping with Catholic social teaching, the dignity of the homeowners is respected in that they are asked to pay for materials, with all the labor provided by volunteers. Through a special arrangement with the farm, the cost of materials is not allowed to be a barrier to people having proper housing.

The truly amazing thing that happens on the farm is this: Volunteers come, expecting to work in the homes of people living in an economically impoverished area and they go home amazed at the work the Holy Spirit has done in the hearts of people living in a spiritually impoverished world.

At one moment in prayer, we listened as "Open the Eyes of My Heart" was sung. Should we have been surprised when our prayer was answered? Of course, the challenge for us is to keep those eyes open now that we are all back home.

The work was more strenuous than many of us had done for a long time, if ever. Volunteers were divided into six groups, and off we went each day.

Armed with love, cold water, a cooler full of lunch and little experience, we tackled the work laid out for us. One group worked on putting a new metal roof on a couple's home. another installed siding. Still another rolled out fresh tar over a leaky roof.

The most meaningful work for my crew was installing a fenced play area for a little girl. She lives with her grandmother, who worried that the child would wander too near a deep creek or too close to a busy road that borders their property. We worked in the heat and rain, but at the end of each day our group was still smiling, glad to be together.

Our eyes truly were opened to what can happen when we make ourselves available to the Holy spirit. He was present there with us and with the people who allowed us to serve them in Jesus' name.

In giving, we received. It was an awesome week.

How have your eyes been opened by this experience?

If you have reflections you'd like to post feel free to send them our way!

Simplicity: What it means to be "humble"

2009-07-19T12:27:00.004-04:00

When we are able to extend simplicity beyond material matters and to a mental simplicity it is common that we think about being humble. The desire for humility makes us think that we should deny all compliments and direct all attention away from ourselves... that we are not worthy of praise but only giving of ourselves. I'm no Latin expert, and I have a bad memory of where I read this, but I read once that to be humble is to acknowledge our own humanity. In that acknowledgment we become aware of our own limitations, the fact that we have faults and make common mistakes. But in that process we also come to know ourselves and that is what really makes us humble. When we know what drives us and what turns us off to the world around us. When we know what our strengths are and the things that really challenge us. In doing that we become willing to use those desires and strengths to give of ourselves, but we also use those turn offs and challenges to challenge ourselves to give to others. And if we are able to know ourselves to this level, then we also enable ourselves to receive praise and to praise others as well. There's a reason we give work groups the time to affirm one another on Friday afternoons, so that they can realize their own gifts and receive that praise, but also recognize the gifts of others and how our humanity calls us to be interdependent.

Spend some time this week reflecting on your own humility. Do you know yourself well enough that you can accept and give affirmation? Why or why not? Do you use your gifts to give of yourself? If so, how? If not, how could you? Challenge yourself to grow by spending some time reflecting on what makes you who you are. That is what makes you humble.

Bringing it Home with Tina

2009-07-12T16:48:00.001-04:00

This weeks post comes from former staff member Tina Marquart who now works at the Hospitality House in Alderson, WV. Tina enthralls us with her wisdom this week...

A simple truth: “So many want to live at the top of the mountain, but few realize that the growth and happiness occur while you’re climbing it.”

On many a Saturday morning at the Farm, I would listen to the story of the Transfiguration. Now when I hear that story, my thoughts drift fondly to those ridiculously early mornings in the OC. And like I would then, I still smile at Peter’s excitement, at our shared humanity, when he exclaims: “Lord! It is good that we’re here!” In the immediate wake of his revelation is his intense longing to remain there, in that moment, with Jesus. I can almost see James and John gathering sticks for a celebratory bonfire J I’m sure we’ve all felt that way! When we catch a glimpse of our Lord transfigured, of Heaven on Earth, of the breathtaking view at the top and feel pure jubilation and wonder pulsing through our veins, of course we want to stay!!! Oh, but friends, we are called to live every step of the journey: up each precarious inch of the ascent, in amazement at the grandeur of the top, and down every reflective stride of the decent. And we are to keep this in mind: while our first mountain is no doubt a sacred part of our journey and a most enriching experience, that first mountain is never intended to be our only.

So, what did I learn from the Farm?

One of the most prominent truths I hold to is that I am called to live every one of my days just as intentionally as I did at the Farm. Certainly my days now are drastically different from my days at the Farm, but today is as much of a gift as were those days. These sights and sounds, painted and composed by the same Creator, are just as magnificent. The companions on this stretch of my journey are just as cherished by the Beloved and deserving of my patience, kindness and compassion. Truly, the point of a mountain isn’t to memorize it and recreate that experience everywhere and with everyone else. In living that way, we will most assuredly be disappointed in our days. Rather, the point is to take the lessons learned (to join in a fabulous game of hide and seek with the Beloved, to tread lightly on this gorgeous Earth with which we’ve been gifted, to see the face of Christ in those I encounter, and moreover, my inherent connection to each of those souls, to serve, to be lovingly honest, to pray, to give hugs, and to dance) and keep on keepin’ on.

I hope and pray that each of us can accept with grace the paths to which we are called and that we are able to make the trip learning and loving the aches and truths along the way. May we always be able to value the mountain behind us, and summon the tenacity to keep hiking J Happy trails, friends!

Service: Sharing Our Desires with God

2009-07-05T16:01:00.005-04:00

Let's admit it, sometimes we can't do anything but think about the future, about what opportunities lie ahead of us and how much we might want to pursue a certain one. Then when that opportunity that we were looking forward to so much doesn't work out we become upset. But lets ask ourselves, why are we upset? Is it because we made a mistake? Or is it that the lack of control we have over our own lives hits us like a brick and makes us realize that God is in control rather than ourselves.

Maybe we're hoping to make plans with a friend and then something sudden changes those plans. Possibly we're looking at a university to pursue a bachelors or masters degree but are then rejected by that university. Maybe we're wanting to get to bed a bit earlier but then a friend in need keeps us up late. There are common, and somewhat small, examples of those times when our lack of control becomes so apparent. Instead of becoming upset and so greatly frustrated we should be turning to God. We should be saying, "Ok, that's not what you're calling to, show me your will..." We should be putting ourselves at the service of our Creator so that we can grow closer to God but also help those around us grow closer to God as well. But first we need to share our desires with God so that we can lead a life of prayer. This doesn't mean to put our desires aside, or to completely push aside all initiative towards those things we want to pursue, but instead to prayerfully pursue those opportunities and people around us. Let us seek to live a life of service and not be too caught up in what lies ahead. Be present to God, yourself and those around you so that you may be of service.

Bringing it Home (from Joe)

2009-06-28T11:40:00.002-04:00

In an effort to gain wisdom from past staff members and the ways they have been affected by the Farm I asked people to reflect on how they have brought the farm how after spending at least a year on staff. Our first response comes from Joe Ciesielski who was on staff August 2007-August 2008. Joe now teaches in Philadelphia. Here's what he has to say...

Hey Mike,

So I listen to a lot of NPR on my drive to work. On the local station they have a psychologist who just received an award for in Taiwan. He was talking about how life-changing this experience was for him. He was struck by how much kindness was shown to him and how he wanted to be more aware of kindness in his life, of showing kindness to other and being thankful for kindness shown to him. He wanted to do a better job of not passing judgment on individuals (which I'm sure is really difficult as a psychologist). The key to making changes in your life, such as the ones he was trying to make, is to set small, measurable goals. "I'm going to try to be aware of kindness and not passing judgment" is an attainable goal while "I'm going to be a better person," he says, is easy to let slide. You have nothing to hold yourself accountable. The mind always gravitates towards whats comfortable, so if you don't set yourself up for success by setting small, attainable goals, it's going to be very easy to let them slide away.

This has been very true in my life. When I was at the Farm, I knew that one of the things I wanted to do was keep up with relationships with those I loved in Baltimore, Philly and West "by God." So I set a goal for myself of writing a letter or a note to some one every day for the 40 days of Lent. Now, did I write one every day - heck no. But I did feel really good about staying in touch with people and growing in my relationships. But when I left WV, I didn't set a goal like that for myself. So I started a new job, got a new car, bought (actually am buying) a house, and I let those relationships that I had nurtured slide.

But it ain't all bad. One of the things I wanted to do was incorporate simplicity in what I am consuming. So I set goals for being more aware of where my food was coming from, cooking more myself and growing some. I joined a food co-op that gets all it's food from local farmers, and members can even help grow some of it, made some delicious dishes and have a few tomato plants that look pretty good so far.

There is always room for improvement and there always should be. I can build off these small success and take this aspect of simplicity to the next level. But you have set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success and keep people around you who can hold you accountable.

Cornerstones: Calling us to Balance

2009-06-21T12:17:00.002-04:00

Growing up my faith was very much about my own personal experience and development, it wasn't very well connected to service. Sure in high school I was very involved in community service, but it was for my own benefit not the benefit of those I was serving or even to serve God. I did community service because it helped me feel good about myself, like I was doing something good for the world and that built me up. I found satisfaction in the compliments and encouragement of others and that fueled me to stay involved in service activities so that others would continue to think highly of myself. Looking back on this I realize that my faith life was very skewed towards myself.

As life went on I continued to stay involved in community service because it was something that brought me satisfaction and it wasn't until I was finishing college and working here in West Virginia that I realized it really isn't about me. Nor do I have the abilities to really "help people" in a way that will completely change their life. However, I do have the ability to share love with those around me, to let them know that despite whatever situation they are in they have inherent dignity and deserve to be treated the same way I am treated. That is what I believe God calls us all to do, to love one another.

This calling to love one another is our calling to serve and be served. However, I believe that can bring another challenge, that we become too wrapped up in doing service and become lacking in our personal faith. Having grown up in one extreme, I now find myself at the complete other end of the spectrum, enthralled in service and unable to really find a balance between personal faith and service. This is where the cornerstones come in... while I may not feel all that balanced the cornerstones call us to this balance. Turning our focus on prayer and simplicity calls us to look inside ourselves, to see how we express our faith, how we live our lives as a prayer, and what we are really focused on in our lives. Then community and service call us outward, to look at those around us and how we can work for the common good and human dignity.

This week take some time and reflect on how this balance is in your life, are you too enveloped in your personal faith? Do you do service because it brings you gratification or because you seek to love others? Are you able to connect the two (faith and service)? How do you (or could you) achieve that balance?

Prayer: Nature and Fireflies

2009-06-14T12:15:00.001-04:00

Everybody needs a week off once in a while, right?

Here's our newest post, courtesy of Julie Schneider. Enjoy.

As the bugs begin to pester and the fireflies light up the hillside, I am reminded of how alive the earth becomes as summer arrives. We are surrounded with colorful wildflowers popping up in every corner, the babbling sound of our creek, the singing birds in the morning, the sun shining longer, and the season of many crops. There is much to be thankful for as we journey through a summer of beauty and life.
One thing that excites me the most at this time, in this place is the nightly presentation in the trees.
Growing up, my neighbor’s brothers, sisters and I would get a big kick out of catching lightning bugs. We would poke many holes in the lid of a jar, fill it up with some grass, and trap some bugs there for a while. It was exhilarating to catch one in between my hands and show my mom how many I got. Most of the time, we would forget about them and leave them in the jar to slowly pass away. I didn’t realize that was a mean thing to do. Regardless, to me, lighting bugs were the coolest creatures on earth and the mystery behind their little glow blew my mind.
Over time, I suppose I lost sight of lightning bugs and stopped noticing them.
When I moved to West Virginia and saw the glimmer in the hills for the first time, I realized once again how much I still get a kick of them. I also discovered how amazing they really are. Last summer, I was introduced to some of the best spots to watch them on our holler, where there isn’t any light to glare out the glowing show.
It’s incredible to witness how spectacular the hillside becomes when it’s flooded with thousands of mini sparkling bugs. As I find myself staring quite a bit lately, I also find myself in prayer with God, wondering how nature could put on such a good show. I wonder if God knew how cool this was, and I quickly realized that maybe God was asking me the same question. Do you see as God sees?
Perhaps, we are always surrounded by God in nature, not just with the amazement of fireflies, but with all living creatures and plants. As we journey through this summer, let us always be mindful of the things we encounter that both annoy us and astound us. Maybe God is present everywhere, and if we allow ourselves to see as God sees, we won’t find it too difficult to be amazed!

Community: Human Dignity and Stereotypes

2009-05-31T11:35:00.002-04:00

Over the past year we've adapted our Monday afternoon "spiel" a bit. In the past we discussed stereotypes very explicitly but have recently decided to mesh that discussion into our discussion on Catholic Social Teaching. It is important to raise awareness about stereotypes and how they impact our thoughts, words and actions, and it is also important to see how those stereotypes go against our principles of CST.

Initially when I think of stereotypes I think of the basics - race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation to name a few. But I also see stereotypes put on other people by their interests and disinterests, by their capabilities. Instead of fostering open and honest communication with others we make assumptions about them. Its so easy to ask someone about their experience, about what makes them who they are, but for some reason we think its even easier to assume those things and place those stereotypes on each other. I see that act as a direct violation of the Principle of Human Dignity.

This principle calls us to recognize the inherent dignity that all of God's creation has, a dignity that cannot be given or taken away but is instilled at the moment of creation. So who are we to play God and try and take away that human dignity by creating or abusing stereotypes of others. Recognizing another's dignity is the first step in overcoming these stereotypes, breaking them down, and building an inclusive community. Let us challenge ourselves and each other to examine our thoughts, words and actions to recognize how they might be cutting others down or placing assumptions on others according to their abilities and characteristics. Let us challenge ourselves and our communities to recognize Jesus in everyone so that we may also be Jesus for others (a little bit of Mother Teresa there). In what ways have you experienced stereotypes? How do you (or could you) work to overcome those stereotypes placed on yourselves and others?

Prayer: Dying to Ourselves

2009-05-24T12:32:00.003-04:00

"You will grieve, but your grief will become joy." Jn 16:20

In Thursday's gospel Jesus provides us with this quote, telling his disciples that their grief over his death would soon be turned into rejoicing. I was struck by this reading because of the recent passing of Jeanette Sandora, wife of Butch Sandora for 41-years and long-time friend and advocate of the Farm. Jeanette's death made me think of a phrase I heard in college, "dying to ourselves."

It is this theme of dying to oneself that emphasizes our life not as our own but as a glorification of God. The service we do is not for our own good, but rather the good of God's creation and God's coming kingdom. It is quite a difficult thing to do though, to always remind ourselves that it is not about us but it is about God, especially in a culture and a world that is so focused on the satisfaction of others. Dying to ourselves also calls us to a humility that recognizes the fact that we are human and that we all have certain gifts and limitations. In coming to know ourselves in this way, in dying to ourselves, then we can rejoice in turning our lives over to God. Many times we are discouraged by those limitations, and in some sense we mourn the fact that we are so human. But, instead of being discouraged, it seems more appropriate to rejoice in our humanity and the gift of God's creation, and to live a life that glorifies God.

So this week let us turn our grief into joy, let us reflect on Jesus' Ascension into heaven with the hopes that we too can be so dedicated to God that we may one day be with Jesus. Let us die to ourselves and remind ourselves that everything we do is for the glory of God, not our own glory.

Community: A Non-Violent Approach

2009-05-17T14:01:00.004-04:00

This previous week during our discussion on Catholic Social Teaching, someone raised the question "Does fighting in a war fulfill the principle of the Common Good?"

Now clearly any response to this question can take a very political turn very quickly, and while I believe we should be spending our money on better causes, I'd like to steer our reflection in a spiritual direction. When it comes to the use of violence as a means to attain anything, in fact the use of violence alone I believe we need to be reminded of the image of Christ. Here is a man who had so many violent things done to him because he stood up for what he believed in and never did he retort with violence. The man was handed a cross and crucified because he believed so deeply in God. His expression of non-violence accomplished far more than any violent response could have. Sure those who wanted him crucified accomplished something in killing him, but his martyrdom is what allowed him to be raised from the dead saving all of humanity... a much greater feat than the death of one man.

On January 2nd, 1991 Mother Theresa wrote the following letter to Presidents Bush and Hussein in response to the Gulf War:

"Dear President George Bush and President Saddam Hussein:
I come to you with tears in my eyes and God's love in my heart to plead to you for the poor and those who will become poor if the war that we all dread and fear happens. I beg you with my whole heart to work for, to labor for God's peace and to be reconciled with one another.
You both have your cases to make and your people to care for, but first please listen to the One who came into the world to teach us peace. You have the power and the strength to destroy God's presence and image, his men, his women, and his children. Please listen to the will of God. God has created us to be loved by his love and not to be destroyed by our hatred.
In the short term there may be winners and losers in this war that we all dread but that never can and never will justify the suffering, pain and loss of life which your weapons will cause.
I come to you in the name of God, the God that we all love and share, to beg for the innocent ones, our poor of the world and those who will become poor because of war. They are the ones who will suffer and when they do we will be the ones who are guilty for not having done all in our power to protect and love them. I plead to you for those who will be left orphaned, widowed, and left alone because their parents, husbands, bothers and children have been killed. I beg you please save them. I plead for those who will be left with disability and disfigurement. They are God's children. I plead for those who will be left with no home, no food, and no love. Please think of them as being your children. Finally I plead for those who will have the most precious thing that God can give us, Life, taken away from them. I beg you to save our brothers and sisters, yours and ours, because they are given to us by God to love and to cherish. It is not for us to destroy what God has given to us. Please, please let your mind and your will become the mind and will of God. You have the power to bring war into the world or to build peace. Please choose the way of peace. I, my sisters, and our poor are praying for you so much. The whole world is praying that you will open your hearts in love to God. you may win the war but what will the cost be on people who are broken, disabled, and lost?
I appeal to you - to your love, your love of God and your fellowmen. In the name of God and in the name of those you will make poor do not destroy life and peace. Let the love and peace triumph and let your name be remembered for the good you have done, the joy you have spread, and the love you have shared.
Please pray for me and my sisters as we try to love and serve the poor because they belong to God and are loved in his eyes so we and our poor are praying for you. We pray that you will love and nourish what God has so lovingly entrusted into your care.
May God bless you now and always."

While violence may be our first reaction, let us respond with love. Let us be symbols of Christ's triumphant non-violence, and build community by building others up rather than tearing them down.

Service: It Comes from Passion and Love

2009-05-09T17:33:00.003-04:00

I feel like I should apologize for taking a week off last week, and I realize its not good for continuity sake. But, everybody needs a vacation day every once in a while - right? We just have to make sure we aren't taking a vacation from God or our faith, those must be constants in our everyday lives.

It is that consistency of faith that drives me to serve, to recognize the dignity of all those I encounter and to do my best to put my own blessings aside so that others may be blessed in the first place. I guess you could say that is my passion in life, to be with other people and to serve God at the same time. I'm always awestruck when I hear about people living out their passions, even jealous sometimes. A few specific situations come to mind.

Since I am a Cincinnati native, I am also a Reds fan at heart and will always be a Reds fan despite their more trying years. So I was very happy when I heard the story of Chris Dickerson integrating his passion for environmental sustainability and his center-field position with the Cincinnati Reds. As a minor-league player for the Louisville Bats, Chris was appalled by the overuse of disposable cups and Gatorade bottles in the locker room and dugouts. So he bought Sigg bottles (comparable to Naglenes and other reusable bottles) for each member of the team in an effort to be more sustainable. When he was promoted to the majors with the Cincinnati Reds he didn't let this mission die and did the same thing - bought a bottle for each teammate. Throughout that process he also started a non-profit organization called "We Play Green" which encourages athletes to live sustainably and join forces with Chris.

I also read an article lately about Dikembe Mutombo's life-changing effect on an ESPN reporter who traveled with him to Africa and saw the poverty-stricken people firsthand. Chad Ford was forever changed by that trip and the hope that Dikembe brings to the people of his native land. Seeing that hope and Love that Mutombo brings inspired him to do the same.

Check out We Play Green's website: http://www.weplaygreen.org/ or Chad Ford's letter to Dikembe Mutombo on ESPN's Blog "truehoop": http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-125/Chad-Ford-s-Letter-to-Dikembe-Mutombo.html. And let's ask ourselves, how do we liev out our passions and love for others no matter what our current profession? Who are those around us who are models of such service and how can we strive to live in their model and the model of Jesus?

Prayer: A Bridge

2009-04-28T08:30:00.001-04:00

Three summers ago I landed in Costa Rica to begin a seven-week study abroad course focused around Spanish language and Central American culture. For me the most intense part of a study abroad experience is the moment of meeting the host family. The family defines a crucial (and for the student, unchangeable) aspect of the environment; they remain a mere assortment of facts on paper until they suddenly spring to life in an airport terminal in a foreign country.

After waiting just outside the San José airport for what felt like hours, I spotted an eager couple holding a piece of paper with my name scribbled in unmistakably large letters. From the moment I met my host parents Gema and Edwin, I counted all my apprehensions as silly. They would become my enthusiastic guides to an incomprehensibly gorgeous country and to a language whose subtleties I was only just beginning to understand. As I would discover, their zeal permeated their faith and their community as well.

Having arrived in the middle of May, I was fortunate to catch the latter half of an unforgettable Costa Rican phenomenon. May is the month of Mary, often celebrated in the U.S. with May Crowning ceremonies in which we adorn Mary’s head with a wreath of flowers. In my particular Costa Rican neighborhood of San Lorenzo, they took May to the next step. The members of the community banded together to decorate a small float with a statue of Mary as the centerpiece. Every evening the float would move to a new family’s house, where the community would gather after dinner. Then anyone could volunteer to help lead the group in a recitation of the rosary. (I found that praying the rosary aloud in Costa Rica differed dramatically, and often humorously, from my own previous experience; rather than rely on a set rhythm of recitation as we do in the U.S. to ensure that everyone stays together, people in my Costa Rican community simply prayed the prayers at their own pace, creating a wondrous cacophony of praise.) Once the prayer finished and we sang a few hymns together the hosting family presented refreshments and everyone spent some time chatting with neighbors and meeting new friends.

What a fantastic tradition! This nightly rosary procession represented to me the embodiment and interconnectedness of the cornerstones. Prayer, of course, was the reason we gathered, but we also celebrated community in gathering together and spending time in conversation, simplicity in being fully present to each other and sharing our talents, and service in offering hospitality. With May nearly upon us, let us take time to reflect on how Mary’s simple desire to do God’s will changed the course of human history. Perhaps we can take some time to pray a rosary and gather our community and friends. I truly believe that all the cornerstones are intertwined, but without prayer as a foundation none of them can be sustained.

-by Adam Austin

Prayer: The Reminder and Celebration of Earth Day

2009-04-20T18:28:00.007-04:00

I'm a bit behind this week, but I thought we could spend some time reflecting on Earth Day which is this Wednesday - April 22nd.

The first thought that came to mind when I thought of Earth Day was the fact that this year there is a great movement in the White House to End Mountain Top Removal (a problem that is very prevalent all over Appalachia including southern West Virgina). This movement also brings to light the need for greater care for our natural resources in the Appalachian region. Check out these links on The Alliance for Appalachia's website for some more information about that:

http://www.theallianceforappalachia.org/citizens-meet-with-the-white-houses-council-on-environmental-quality-to-ask-for-an-end-to-mountaintop-removal/

Janet Schaeffer provides a nice reflection on the connection between Earth Day and our Catholic faith. She also points out the fact that Earth Day should be a reminder of how we should act in our everyday lives, that "Earth Day" extends to every other day of the year. Having our own faith in mind, as well as this celebration of Earth Day - lets take some time this week to think about how we use our resources and how we could be more mindful of the resources we use, the things we take for granted, and the things that we are waste. How does, or should, our own faithfulness and our own prayer lives affect the way we interact with the gift of our own environment?

Check out Janet's reflection at: http://www.aodonline.org/AODOnline/Archives+177/Faith+Formation+04-04-23.htm

Simplicity: Focusing on the Sun, Celebrate Easter!

2009-04-12T13:37:00.003-04:00

Alleluia! Jesus is Risen!

To begin our Easter season the staff hiked to the top of our hill very early this morning to watch the sunrise. I couldn't help but compare the sun and its production to Jesus' rising from the dead on this day. I'll assume that we've all heard many comparisons with sunrises and sunsets to our faith lives, especially since they are a great place to find God (I realize assuming is a risky thing to do). But this morning I was struck by some symbolism I hadn't quite thought of. As I watched the sun come over the mountain I couldn't help but stare at it, just like you do when you're a kid and then you can't see for a few minutes while your eyes adjust. I realize this probably wasn't the smartest decision for the health of my eyes, but I couldn't quite help myself. While focusing in on the sun, its brightness overcame everything around it and I could hardly see anything else besides that vast array of light. I found myself using trees to shade myself for a few second, but I almost felt guilty for doing so because I didn't want anything to come between myself and Jesus. And somehow, I found this as a simple way to focus my thoughts and my energy on Jesus' resurrection. In the stations of the cross we find Jesus stripped of all his garments and his dignity. Even when he is buried he is only provided with a linen cloth in a small, simple tomb. Amidst this simplicity he was able to focus on what was really important - the will of God.

This Easter season let us focus ourselves on what is really important, the Son of God, Chris out Savior and the light and warmth that He provides for us in our days. Let us pray that all that comes between God and ourselves may be pushed aside, so that we may rejoice in the loving grace of God. When Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph approach the tomb of Jesus they begin to wonder how they will move the stone which comes between Jesus and themselves... how will they remove this blockade? However, when they arrive at the tomb they find that the power of God has removed this blockade so that they may seek Christ in the world around them. Let us reflect on how Christ has freed us from sin and how we may simplify our lives to be focused on God's presence around us.

Rejoice in the Lord and His loving sacrifice and majesty!

Community: Violence in Media

2009-04-05T10:50:00.004-04:00

(I've edited this one twice for accuracy of my opinion... feel free to post your comments whether you agree or not, I'm playing a bit of the devil's advocate here.)

It was a while ago that I finished reading Fr. John Dear, S.J.'s book "A Persistent Peace." John Dear reflects on his own life and his quest for nonviolence, including his own commitment to live fight for human rights while also supporting nonviolent acts. This theme of nonviolence caused me to reflect on a lot of themes that are prevalent in movies these days.

Since I've been on staff we've watched quite a few movies, including two trips to our local (and cheap) theater. The first of those was to see "The International." In this recent film violence is a dominant theme as good attempts to prevail over evil using violent acts, but does not since violence is not the answer. It serves as a positive example of the need for peaceful resolutions instead of violent actions, but a large part of me is also troubled by how widely accepted violence is in today's media.

When I see films like "The International" I can't help but think of what things my own children will someday watch. I struggle with the fact that many TV shows and movies these days demonstrate violence as an acceptable form of expression, therefore teaching children that it is suitable to use force to fulfill their desires. It is this sense of expression, this over-tolerated violence, that causes our communities and world to be so dismantled. If we are continually seeking to be better than the next person without allowing ourselves to understand one another, the we are not only crushing the common good and any sense of community, we are allowing something to become the norm that in no way should be so heavily tolerated.

Jesus' death on the cross was truly done in a humiliating and violent fashion, but never did he resort to violent retaliation. And in the end, good prevailed - Jesus rose from the dead and brought us the gift of everlasting life, he never even flinched to use violence. Taking time this week to reflect on the closing of Lent and the Passion of the Lord, ask ourselves in what ways we encourage this culture of violence. This can go far beyond physical force, but even when we degrade others and fail to recognize their human dignity. How can we change our lives to seek peace and to do so in ways that are peaceful? How can we better build community and seek to rebuild communities torn apart by violence? I know I won't be watching any violent films for quite a while... or I'll at least be aware of how they portray violence.

Prayer: Giving of Ourselves

2009-03-29T11:07:00.002-04:00

Today's Gospel reading uses the parable of the grain of wheat to encourage us to give of ourselves to those around us. It challenges us to ask ourselves difficult questions - what I can do to build community with my neighbor? how can I offer some form of service to those closest (and farthest from) to me?

These are great questions to ask. But I'd like to give a "spin" on this emphasis to "give of ourselves."

The end of this past week the staff took a break to go on retreat at Jeffer's Tree Farm near Athens, OH. Every spring we take some sort of retreat to rejuvenate ourselves before the approaching craziness of the summer season. A large reality that came out of this retreat was the fact that I, as well as others in our community, can be more disciplined and dedicated to our own needs, especially that of prayer. Tending to these needs also allows us to better tend to the needs of those around us - therefore engaging in service and fostering community. Ironic how if we are more in tune with ourselves then we can be more in tune with our surroundings, right? So what if we take this theme of giving of ourselves and give ourselves to God in prayer? In what ways can we be more dedicated to our personal needs? How can that help us to then give of ourselves to others?

It is my natural tendency to want to surround myself with people. So during group weeks the only things that can hold me back from spending time with volunteers are my own responsibilities and my lack of sleep. When volunteers aren't here I am easily engaged by the staff community. While these are two great things that I want to continue to seek in my life, they also cause me to lose sight of my own need for personal time. I spend all my time working, hanging out with others, and wondering why my prayer life and other relationships feel a bit off. In the end all I really need is some discipline to be aware of my own needs and to do my best to take that time to rejuvenate myself, or else I become too worn out and am not the person I want to be.

Spend some time in prayer this week reflecting on that and the Farm's theme of "right relationships." Before the sacredness of Holy Week comes upon us, take some time to reflect on how you might be in a better relationship with yourself and with God.

Service: Looking for the Little Things

2009-03-22T20:29:00.002-04:00

Spring is a wonderful season for reasons beyond the change in weather and signs of growth. March brings us College Basketball's "March Madness" and is closely followed by April's start to the baseball season. I always love these two events every year, however this time around our lack of television reception and any radio station that could pick up any sporting event leaves me a bit saddened and troubled. Clearly this is something that simplicity and community call me to overcome (and maybe it sounds like they're larger impacts than they should be), but I'd like to use this factor to reflect on service a bit.

Since I long to watch as much NCAA basketball as I can at this point of the season, I called up our community friend Betty Nicholson. Betty loves watching sports and loves having people over, and is probably my favorite community friend (yes, I have a favorite) so there were many advantages to joining her for some of the opening games of the tournament. When she asked me to take her to K-Mart to pick up her prescriptions for her eye medicine I was more than willing to say yes, although a small voice in the back of my head was wishing I didn't have to use so much gas (K-Mart is at least a 30 minute drive). But I did my best to ignore that fact and help Betty out since she does everything she can to help out the Farm and is such a positive friend for all of us. I was astounded at how grateful Betty was by this simple act, that I took my own time to help her out. She has been talking about how I offered my help for two days now, making me well aware how appreciative she is of my offering. To top things off, as we were watching basketball that Friday evening, when she went to put her eye drops in she had run out and needed to open the prescription we had picked up that day. Had I not been available (or willing) to help her out she would not have had her medicine for at least the night.

Looking back on that I felt largely affirmed by Betty that my willingness to help her out was in fact a small act of service. At the Farm we always encourage those forms of service along side our more tangible service of home repair. We emphasize the acts taken on home crew - cooking, cleaning, and welcoming friends home as a form of service. We stress the fact that we are building relationships with people and that just sitting with someone can also be a form of service. So what are some of the ways that you can serve others in these small ways? What holds you back from helping others in these ways?

I hope that in my life I can continue to do these small acts of service (or small acts of kindness) and that I can even get to the point where I don't have that nagging voice in the back of my head reminding me of the negative sides to those acts. Make sure to give of yourself today and this week...

Community: The Benefit of Locality

2009-03-15T16:39:00.003-04:00

One of the many great attributes to our college group weeks is that volunteers are from many places that not only span the entire United States but the entire world. It always intrigues me what life is like in other parts of the country and other parts of the world, so I try to hold back all assumptions about people and where they're from while still inquiring about what life is like for them in those areas.

This previous week I was touched when talking with a volunteer who had spent time living in Ethiopia, Russia and Germany (as well as the United States). Of course I asked the typical questions, why the move? how long did you live in each place? etc. But I was more touched when I commented that it was cool that this particular volunteer had the opportunity to see the world in so many ways and so many places. I think it is extremely beneficial to spend a week or two on an immersion in a foreign place (domestic or abroad), and so I assume that having the opportunity to live in different countries for a prolonged period of time would be even more beneficial. That benefit wasn't negative, but when I made the comment that having that experience was great the response was that it is beneficial but very challenging because of the difficulty to form really great friends. I quickly realized that I am extremely lucky to have grown up in Cincinnati my entire life, to have grown up with the same people and to have people that I could call best friends. It became quite evident that while living in different places gives us great experience for life, it also inhibits our ability to form those very strong friendships and to build that sense of community in our lives.

Today's scripture readings call us to focus our lives on what is really important. Clearly Lent is a beneficial time to do such a thing. I thought those themes can be clearly connected to this theme of friendship and community. Take some time this week to reflect on the things that you hold dear in your life. Should those things be as high of a priority as they are? Are there other things that should be a higher priority instead? Make a list of these things if you can/ have to. I would hope that your closest friends are on the higher end of that list. Give thanks for the blessing of those friendships and work to continue to build that sense of community this Lent.

Simplicity: Hungering for Bread and Justice

2009-03-08T16:15:00.001-04:00

If they are hungry, give bread. If they have bread, give the hunger for justice.

This traditional Latin American prayer resonates in my heart and what we do here at the farm. Here at the farm, we are blessed with an abundance of food. Both local and seasonal, we try to live in right relationship with the Earth and provide healthful options for our volunteers. I hear every week volunteers on home crew talk about how easy it was to make bread or granola, and how unexpected this was. I feel that our busy culture has moved us away from the simple pleasures of cooking a meal, or understanding where our food comes from. It’s very convenient to run to the local grocery store and pick up peanut butter, but a few short minutes in the kitchen with some peanuts, oil, honey and a food processor will provide the smooth creamy treat. No hydrogenated oils here! While learning the ingredients that go into our food, we are also called to be in solidarity with those who have provided those items for us. By thinking of the tomato pickers or sugar cane farm workers, we can reflect on the quality of their working conditions and the justice of their wages. I feel that we are called to demand fair wages for these workers, to respect their human dignity so they can provide for their families. We encourage you all to look at the foods you are eating today, and reflect on where these items came from. Maybe soon you can start making them for yourself!

Some of my favorite meals are made from Mexican food, and the tortilla is a basic staple in a lot of great dishes. Enjoy!

Flour Tortillas
Combine in mixing bowl:
2 c unsifted flour
1 t salt
Cut in with a pastry blender:
¼ c lard or shortening
When particles are fine, add gradually:
½ c lukewarm water
Toss with fork to make a stiff dough ball. Form into a ball and knead thoroughly on lightly floured board until smooth and flecked with air bubbles.

Divide dough into 8 balls for large size. Roll as thin as possible on a lightly floured board or between sheets of wax paper (they don’t need to be round, hearts are fun too!) Drop onto a very hot ungreased griddle. Bake until freckled on one side (approximately 20 seconds). Lift edge, turn, and bake the other side. To serve at once, fold each limp tortilla around small lump of margarine. Or cool tortillas, wrap airtight, and refrigerate or freeze. To serve later, place in tightly covered baking dish and warm in oven, or fry briefly in shallow oil.

Stuff with your favorite ingredients: cheese, beans, peppers, etc. Or be like Ken and use it as a starter for pizza. The possibilities are endless!

Recipe from Bethlehem Farm cookbook (16) / More With Less (84)

-by Laura Sienas

Prayer: A sustained relationship

2009-03-01T15:07:00.003-05:00

Today (unless you're not reading this on Sunday) begins our first week of Lent. Since I was raised in Catholic Schools I was always taught the importance of prayer, especially during Lent. While Lent is clearly an opportune time to make sacrifices and give up small (or large) pleasures in our lives, it is an even more opportune time to further commit ourselves to our faith and our relationship with God. The greatest way to grow in that commitment is through prayer.

I often ask myself, "why pray?" and before I let myself get too far I call to mind the fact that God is our creator and that somehow I have a relationship with God. So just as I would spend time with my friends or family to foster those relationships I also realize that I need to spend time with God in order to foster our relationship as well.

Another key factor here is that there are many ways to pray, so what works for one person may not work for another. Therefore we all have to be creative and also in tune with ourselves. Having that fact in mind I am also a firm believer that some time each day to just sit and talk with God like we would any other friend will nurture that everyday prayer life and also help us to extend it into our daily lives. There are many ways to spend that quiet time each day, but having that 15 minutes (or more) is the place to start.

Here at the farm we always put a great emphasis on relationships and our cornerstone of community. We build community with our homeowners, with fellow volunteers, with staff members, and with all those who have experienced the farm in any way. Having that importance of relationships in mind, reflect upon your relationship with God and how you might extend that relationship through prayer this Lent. We'll pray for all of you and that you can continue to grow closer to Christ!

Community: Responding to Need

2009-02-23T12:10:00.002-05:00

How do we respond to need? One of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching that we discuss during the spiel on Monday challenges us to respond radically—Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. That’s a big fancy title for something that I like to summarize another way: we must meet others’ needs before filling our own wants.

I think that point is important enough to restate: we must meet others’ needs before filling our own wants. This is naturally a frightening point. Does this mean that we can’t go to the movies because some people don’t have enough to eat? And why do they get preferential option, if all people are equal in dignity? Let me tell two stories that demonstrate this principle more clearly.

The first story is about a man and his two daughters. The older daughter was about to have a birthday, and so all three of them were planning to celebrate by going ice skating. They planned their outing and excitedly awaited the festivities. Finally the older daughter’s birthday arrived, but when the younger daughter woke up she was sick with a fever. All three of them had to stay home so that the younger daughter could be cared for. Even though they were disappointed that they couldn’t go ice skating, there was a greater need in the younger daughter, and so she received the preferential option so that she could recover.

The second story takes place in a soup kitchen for the homeless. The staff was busy preparing lunch, with each person making a different part of the meal. The woman heading up the preparation called to one of her co-workers and, mentioning that they were short on some ingredients, asked him to run to the store to pick up a pound of butter. He went to the refrigerator and pointed out that they had a couple pounds of margarine that they could use. The woman turned and firmly replied, “Butter!” The man didn’t understand that we should not simply use our excess to fill people’s needs, but that preferential option calls us to give of our substance, that which reinforces dignity.

Of course, we are aware that poverty takes on many forms. When we are sensitive to various forms of poverty, it is easy to identify them and respond accordingly. Observing situations of vulnerability is not as easy, however. People are vulnerable when they are in a situation in which they can easily be ignored, marginalized, or offended, all of which harm human dignity. Those people could be the homeless in the last story, or they could be more familiar to us, such as new students or teachers at our school. Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable calls us not just to acknowledge equal dignity, but to respond to needs when they are present even if it inconveniences us.

-by Adam Austin

Simplicity: The aspect of Sacrifice

2009-02-15T14:33:00.002-05:00

Friday night of this past group week a few of us we having our discussion about how to take this experience home and extend it beyond Nazareth Farm the place. One of the chaperones brought up a very interesting point about sacrifice.

Oftentimes we think about coming to Nazareth Farm and having to "sacrifice" so much - we have technology taken away from us, we are limited how many showers we take (some are even outside), we do our best to not have waste on our worksites, we compost, etc. And to many that is a form of sacrifice, especially those who don't live that sort of lifestyle or who may be visiting the Farm for the first time. However, to a certain extent, that form of simplicity is what calls us to a better understanding of sacrifice and the world around us.

What we may not realize is that the blessings of technology, a seemingly endless water supply, and others often call us to sacrifice other factors or life. How often do we spend too much time checking our email, goofing around on facebook, playing video games, taking showers that are too long instead of spending time with someone or doing something nice for someone else? Whether we realize it or not, in those situations we become so engrossed in our blessings that we sacrifice other things in our lives. This is clearly an example of a negative sacrifice.

Don't be fooled though - if we use these blessings properly while still focusing on what's important to us in life and what God is calling us to then we don't necessarily have to completely remove those blessings. Things like facebook and video games can be used to build community. The challenge those is to make sure we aren't too engrossed in these things that make life less simple, those things that distract us from dedicating ourselves to God and God's calling in our lives.

So this week - ask yourself, where can I live a simpler life so that I am not sacrificing what is important to me? Am I too engrossed in my blessings? What is God calling me to at this point in my life? How can I further live out the cornerstones of simplicity, prayer, community and service?

Simplicity: The Principle of Solidarity

2009-02-08T11:40:00.003-05:00

It wasn't until recently that I began to understand Catholic Social Teaching's principle of solidarity. Sure we encourage volunteers to conserve water and electricity by taking bucket showers as an act of solidarity with those who do not have running water, but what does that really mean? Clearly we are blessed with clean running water, aren't we supposed to use our blessings to our best ability while avoiding the temptation to indulge and abuse those blessings? So why give up the indoor shower so that we can live our lives similar to those who are not as fortunate?

So that we can build bridges, not walls. Solidarity encourages us to learn about others and to find the beauty (and hardships) in their way of life. This principle encourages us to simplify our lives so that we can embrace global community and stand beside the less fortunate. It calls us to focus on what we have in common, so that we can break down barriers and better understand one another. It calls upon a concern for world peace, global development, environment and international human rights while illuminating the fact that our decisions make us responsible to everyone, across all types of physical, social, and economic boundaries.

When I reflect upon solidarity, fasting comes to mind (when people abstain from food for a prolonged period of time as an intentional act). How is it that fasting would put me in a place that allows me to reflect and grow? Its because it allows us to simplify our minds, to open ourselves to others point of view and way of life. That simplicity and openness drives us to grow and to further live our lives as models of Christ.

So the challenge this week is to ask yourself, what are some acts of solidarity that you can do to better understand the lives of those in our global community? What are some barriers (or stereotypes) that you may have with others? How can you grow to overcome those barriers? How might this particular act of solidarity help with that?

Here's some more resources on solidarity for further reflection:
The United States Bishops call to global solidarity
Some notes on Solidarity from USCCB and papal documents

F.Y.I.

2009-02-04T10:04:00.003-05:00

Just two F.Y.I.'s:

The comments feature has been adjusted so now all visitors can leave comments on each post. Feel free to use this as a discussion based forum.

Another is that if you add yourself as a follower it not only shows us that people are keeping up with this but it also is more convenient for you - each update that is made to the blog will be sent to you via email.

Just thought those features could help... (use them, please, hint hint!)

Service: Learning and Giving

2009-02-01T13:16:00.003-05:00

Its just the simple reality that there are not many youth in West Virginia. Sure we have grade schools, high schools and universities, but once people finish their education they tend to move out of West Virginia and not come back. That leaves us with a dominantly older population, as well as a much underutilized state.

Its also the reality that Appalachia is a region rich in resources as well as wide-open space and opportunity to pursue personal dreams and to use our gifts creatively and effectively. In an effort to encourage youth to stay (or come back) to West Virginia, organizations have been set up to help youth follow their dreams and to use their gifts and talents while also building the economy and job field in West Virginia. Check out some of our resource links for some more information on those.

Whether we are in West Virginia or not, we are called to explore what our personal gifts are. What are the things that you do very well? What are the activities that are life giving for you? And on the flip side, what are the things that you are not as skilled to do? Maybe you love cleaning but hate cooking. Maybe you're really good at drawing but not very good at building things. We can always try and grow in both those things that we excel in and those we struggle in, but it also very important that we use those talents to the best of our ability, to help others and to extend this cornerstone of service. Obviously at the farm our most tangible form of service is our home repair, but in some way it is also a form of service that we build relationships with each other. It is in those relationships that we form, in that service, that we use our talents, we grow in our talents, and that we seek the talents of others to fulfill our projects and our dreams.

There are obviously regions of the United States, and the world, that need talented individuals to give of themselves more than other regions, but wherever you are ask yourself how you can use your gifts and talents more wisely. How can you serve you family, your friends, your neighbors and your greater community? It may not be as difficult or as tangible as you think, but it definitely entails you to learn about yourself and then give of yourself. Pray about it, reflect about it, and act on it.

Prayer: Sustaining Our Passion

2009-01-25T15:34:00.004-05:00

Every Sunday night, we tell our new group of volunteers about the cornerstones. “We pray a lot here at the Farm,” we say. And the list of prayer times really is…extended, I suppose you could say: When we wake up. Before breakfast. Before we leave for the worksite. When we arrive at the worksite. Before lunch. Before we leave the worksite. Before dinner. In the evenings. There are eight formal prayer times every single day.

But our cornerstone of prayer is about more than just saying a lot of words. We incorporate these prayer times into our schedule in order to remind us that our lives are to be a constant prayer. We are to find God in all things, to see God’s presence all around us and to make that recognition a prayer. We are to listen as well as talk, to create a relationship with Christ that sustains our service.

Most people come to Nazareth Farm in order to do service. The other cornerstones are either pleasant surprises or abstract distractions. But often, the service might be difficult, or even unfulfilling. The day is long, or cold, or hot. Perhaps we mess something up and have to start over, or we just don’t make as much progress as we had hoped. Or we have a great day, but it’s exhausting, leaving us sapped of energy.

Service cannot be sustained without prayer. That’s what gives us the motivation to go out every day, to overcome difficult conditions or rough days. As Mother Teresa says,
“The fruit of prayer is faith, The fruit of faith is love, The fruit of love is service, The fruit of service is peace.”

We are all called to be holy. It’s not just a vocation for the saints – all of us can aspire to live a sanctified life. This week, let us commit ourselves to prayer and the pursuit of holiness. To seeing God all around us. To talk with God. To listen to God. And to make all of our actions prayerful and loving.

-by Jessica Mayo

Community: Extending the Table

2009-01-20T10:01:00.003-05:00

I was musing on what it would be like to meet every person on earth.

Imagine that you could meet one person per second until you had met all of the (roughly) 6.7 billion people on the planet. From the very first hello to the final goodbye, you would spend somewhere around 212 (and a half) years, which is, as it happens, a good deal longer than you will likely live. And yet as our economies and technologies globalize, we keep hearing buzz words like “global community” and “shrinking planet”. Global community? How can we identify with a community of billions of people, the majority of which we clearly will never meet?

These questions began swarming in my brain earlier today when I came across some of the several hundred photographs I took of last year’s lunar eclipse on February 20. This eclipse stands out for a couple reasons: first, I was so captivated by its beauty that I stood outside in zero degree weather for at least an hour and a half taking pictures, and when I finally went inside I realized that my camera lens had literally frozen over. And if you know me, you know that I had to be really interested to voluntarily remain in the cold for that long. Second, and more to the point, I specifically recall mentioning the event during that week’s shared prayer. Lunar eclipses so fascinate me because of those moments before and after totality when the edge of the earth is projected onto the moon’s surface. For a few minutes we glimpse a shadow of God’s vantage point. In the perfect stillness of our holler I could see the outline of our planet (albeit cloaked in penumbral darkness) and I could envision all the beauty that our world contains. For a few minutes I could look at our shadow on the moon and see our global community.

All these romanticized notions might merely remain a collection of warm fuzzies were it not for our firm grounding in the understanding of community. While community certainly speaks about all the people in our lives whom we know and with whom we interact—family, friends, teachers, co-workers—the true challenge of community is to think beyond our immediate surroundings. Some community-derived jargon we throw around at the Farm comes from the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. One of my favorite principles, but one that is difficult to grasp, is solidarity. I like to describe solidarity as prayerfully seeking to understand another’s trials through a commitment to a certain sacrifice or through an intentional action that spiritually connects us to that person. One of our most concrete examples of solidarity at the Farm is bucket showers, which scale back the amount of water we use to place us in solidarity with those who have limited access to clean, safe water. By living in solidarity, we begin to authentically investigate our global community. Who must live with limited access to safe water? What historical, geographical, economic, political, and environmental factors create this limited access? How is the community responding to this form of poverty, and what more needs to be accomplished? As a member of the global community, in what way can I respond, either through direct action or through actions of solidarity?

Of course, we cannot meet every person on earth. But we can begin to meet our global community through our intentional efforts to seek justice.

-by Adam Austin

(Our apologies for our tardiness this week... check back on Sunday for another update).

Simplicity Post-Christmas

2009-01-11T11:55:00.004-05:00

When volunteers come to the Farm they are immediately immersed in a simpler culture and lifestyle, encouraged to put aside anything that may distract them from forming stronger relationships with God, themselves and those joining them on this immersion experience. Usually those distractions include things such as e-mail, iPods, music, cell phones, TV, and other technological advances. But they also expand to any expectation or stressor that may be hindering their ability to open up to what God has in store and grow.

As we officially close the Christmas season today with the Baptism of the Lord Jesus, we reflect upon the new life that Christmas brought us this year. It can be difficult to not think of all the physical gifts we may have received and lose sight of all the relationships that we formed and developed this season. It can be even more difficult to continue this aspect of simplicity when we are given so much, especially when those gifts are things we not only enjoy but things we need. (Most people say things like socks are a tacky and not so exciting gift, but I definitely asked for them this year because I really needed some nice wool socks to get through the cold winter - one example). However, it is still possible to life simply among all these gifts. In the spring time we often hear the phrase "spring cleaning," but sometimes I wonder if it is really necessary to wait until the spring. Having received so much this Christmas, why don't we reflect on those who may have so little, or who would much more appreciate those things that we may not need or use? I'd encourage you to reflect upon that question. Then take some time to look through all your belongings, your clothes especially. Lay them all out even and ask yourself which of the items just sit in your closet all year. Gather those items together that you may not often use or even need in the first place and donate them. Call a local jail or shelter, or even St. Vincent DePaul or Goodwill. Not only can this help out locally, but it also reaches out to those in need while also simplifying your own life.

We are frequently reminded that the most important part of Christmas is our relationships with our family and friends. However, it is too easy to only focus especially on that during the Christmas season. But Christmas is a time of birth, a time of new life - not of life and death. And so then we must extend the new life of Christmas beyond the Christmas season and into our daily lives all year long. Jesus begins that process by being baptized by John the Baptist and we can too by living simply.

Why a Blog?

2008-12-12T16:04:00.004-05:00

Well, here it is - the unveiling of the one and only Nazareth Farm blog where we will begin posting weekly reflections in January of 2009. At this point you might be wondering, "why a blog?".

As a staff member, one of my responsibilities and desires is to help volunteers extend their Nazareth Farm experience beyond just their group week. On Friday of each group week we have a discussion focusing on the many experiences of the week and the many ways that this week-long immersion extends beyond just a week but into our daily lives. We also reinforce this theme of "Bringing it home" at Saturday morning prayer before the groups leave the Farm and venture to their homes. Having these discussions is crucial to the reflection and development process, but I also felt the need for us as staff to provide an ongoing resource to aid in this theme of "bringing it home." Although sending out weekly emails seems like a good way to provide this resource, logistically it is anything but ideal. So I thought we could try a blog. The intention then is that we provide a weekly reflection focusing on anything from the cornerstones, to Catholic Social Teaching, to situations around the world, and many other topics. Along with that all of our readers have the ability to comment on any post on the blog which can then not only build community but also aid in our own personal growth. (All those comments will be sent to the administrator to be approved before they are posted, sorry we need some security features).

So beginning on January 11th, 2009 we will provide a weekly reflection written by a staff member, or even by one of our readers. All questions and comments can be posted on here or directly mailed to mikebennett@nazarethfarm.org. In the meantime, we are trying to spread the word as much as possible for that launch.

We hope the holiday season is life-giving and celebratory for you and your families.
-Mike and the Nazareth Farm Staff