Shoes on the path of service . . .

In the hiddenness of time, there was a poor man who left his village, weary of his life.  He longed for a place where he could escape all the struggles of this earth.  He set out in search of a magical city – the heavenly city of his dreams, where all things would be perfect.  He walked all day and by dusk found himself in a forest, where he decided to spend the night.  Eating the crust of bread he had brought, he said his prayers and, just before going to sleep, he placed his shoes in the center of the path, pointing them in the direction he would continue the next morning.  Little did he imagine that while he slept, a trickster would come along and turn his shoes around, pointing them back in the direction from which he had come.

The next morning, in all the innocence of folly, he got up, gave thanks to the God of the Universe, and started on his way again in the direction that his shoes pointed.  For the second time he walked all day, and toward evening finally saw the magical city in the distance.  It wasn’t as large as he had expected.  As he got closer, it looked curiously familiar.  But he pressed on, found a street much like his own, knocked on a familiar door; greeted the family he found there – and lived happily ever after in the magical city of his dreams.

On the final Monday of May, we will observe Memorial Day.  Three years after the War-between-the-States ended, on May 5, 1868, it was established as Decoration Day, a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.  A selection of the proclamation by Gen. John Logan reads as follows: “We are organized comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose, among other things, of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion.  What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foe?”

So let us observe this Memorial Day remembering our power and capacity to gather as peacemakers.  Let us strengthen our spirits and vision; let us decorate our hearts with the flowers of nonviolence and loving kindness; let us pray for all who experience sacrifices and loss; and to stand in awareness of all who are still held captive throughout the world suffering from the ravages of war.  I share with you briefly the story of the Sisters who set their shoes on the paths that led to outstanding service as nurses in the war named “Civil.”

Let us pray: Song of Transformation – by Sister Alice Ann, CSA

Refrain: All of us gazing on the glory of God are being transformed from glory to glory into the image of Jesus, Word of God, living and active throughout the universe!

1. Because we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God, we cannot stand still, we cannot be silent until we’ve made a stand for God’s reign in every land and promises of justice are fulfilled.
2. Transforming Spirit stirs in every place and time; she cannot stand still, she cannot be silent until God’s will be done and all living things are one and all creation dances with delight.
3. God’s word accomplishes all that God intends and raises up the witness, the prophet to speak truth to pow’r and peace to the poor, to search for common ground where all can stand.