Family, Friends, Fans of "QueenMab" -- Far and Wide:
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Blogging for the Visitation Monastery in North Minneapolis
Family, Friends, Fans of "QueenMab" -- Far and Wide:
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
"The Long Way Here" - Another Immigrant Narrative from John's Hopkin's Surgeon
Some questions this video inspires me to ask:
Where would Kofi be without his persistence?
What would have happened had his chemistry professor not co-signed his loans?
What relationships are necessary for any of us to "succeed" or see our dreams into being?
When have you been "detained" from moving forward in life? What have the consequences been for you?
Who do you have to thank for where you are?
Who takes time to really get to know a colleague born outside their immediate community?
How do we celebrate the gift of our journeys to this moment, this place, and honor our respective paths?
Happy Contemplating...
Melissa
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Immigration and Epiphany: A Sunday Meditation
Sunday, January 3, 2010.
Homiletic Reflection
It’s powerful to hear people’s stories - their first person account or witness of their lives. As a former English teacher, and writer myself, my livelihood is wrapped up in narratives. I can’t think of a more incredible privilege, too, than listening to a person reflect on what they have encountered, and how they make sense of their journeys. Last week at St. Philip's we had Cece Ryan offering her first person account and meditation on questions of the Holy Family, and this week, we have the awesome privilege of hearing John Allagh, and a tale from my husband, Francois Kiemde.
As Fr. Jules has said, "Today’s service is dedicated to Immigration." Stories of people going on journeys, crossing borders and oceans in the hope and desire of resettling, of a making a better life for themselves somewhere else, and realizing their dreams…..
Today is also the Feast of the Epiphany. Of wise men encountering and recognizing the Christ Child in their midst.
As a contemplative person, I wonder,
“How do the two intersect? What does it mean to be an immigrant? What does it mean to experience the epiphany? Or to have an epiphany? How can hearing stories and reflecting on journeys trigger insight? Expand our minds and hearts to fuller knowledge of Christ in our midst?”
These are my questions as I close out today’s homiletic reflection time and space with my husband, Francois Kiemde’s story. As I read you his reflection, I invite you to consider your own tale of crossing borders, of seeking experiences and being a person of hope and opportunity, someone likewise recognizing the Divine in their midst…
Note: For a copy of Francois' narrative, please email us.
Merci!