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.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Cornerstones: Calling us to Balance
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?
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?
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Prayer: Nature and Fireflies
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!
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!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Community: Human Dignity and Stereotypes
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?
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?
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Prayer: Dying to Ourselves
"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.
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.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Community: A Non-Violent Approach
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.
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.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Service: It Comes from Passion and Love
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?
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?
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