Comments for Visitation Monastery of Minneapolis http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org Living the Monastic Way in the Inner City Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:29:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Contemplating the Space Between by Beth Borgmann http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/2012/01/contemplating-the-space-between/comment-page-1/#comment-7618 Beth Borgmann Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:29:25 +0000 http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/?p=5868#comment-7618 Something beautiful came out of your broken keyboard Melissa. Very nice reflection. Something beautiful came out of your broken keyboard Melissa. Very nice reflection.

]]> Comment on Contemplating the Space Between by Khalilah Briscoe http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/2012/01/contemplating-the-space-between/comment-page-1/#comment-7600 Khalilah Briscoe Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:45:35 +0000 http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/?p=5868#comment-7600 This is interesting because I wrote a response to you and was about to submit it when it just disappeared into space! How's that for thinking about the concept of 'space?' Space is a sacred thing that God created to give us time... Time to breathe, time to figure it out, change our minds or rethink something for the good or betterment of ourselves.. With space comes patience as well... This is something that I battle with constantly ... Having the patience to endure the space... It's a moment to be conscious, to be comtemplative and to discern whatever it is that God has given us the space to do! Personal space is a privacy that humanity needs in order to find ourselves, learn ourselves and just BE! I love having 'space' as well as respecting other people's space! It's a necessary, and obvious part of all of our lives... I love it and I love the fact that our perfect, Lord and Savior, The Christ has created it... Along with all her other wonderous, miraculous and beautiful creations! Be Blessed, Melissa... Khalilah Shah Briscoe This is interesting because I wrote a response to you and was about to submit it when it just disappeared into space! How’s that for thinking about the concept of ’space?’

Space is a sacred thing that God created to give us time… Time to breathe, time to figure it out, change our minds or rethink something for the good or betterment of ourselves.. With space comes patience as well… This is something that I battle with constantly … Having the patience to endure the space… It’s a moment to be conscious, to be comtemplative and to discern whatever it is that God has given us the space to do!

Personal space is a privacy that humanity needs in order to find ourselves, learn ourselves and just BE! I love having ’space’ as well as respecting other people’s space! It’s a necessary, and obvious part of all of our lives… I love it and I love the fact that our perfect, Lord and Savior, The Christ has created it… Along with all her other wonderous, miraculous and beautiful creations! Be Blessed, Melissa…

Khalilah Shah Briscoe

]]> Comment on Contemplating the Space Between by Betty Lou Miller http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/2012/01/contemplating-the-space-between/comment-page-1/#comment-7598 Betty Lou Miller Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:12:36 +0000 http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/?p=5868#comment-7598 I read your reflection with interest in your conceptualization of space between. I had this realization that there is space between things, which you wrote about and space between events or experiences which I enjoyed reflecting on within an online retreat this fall which Jim Smith conducted. Both are good. His spanned about 6 weeks, 3 times a week in which he reflected in a video about different spaces in life. the 56 participants could then respond and see one another's responses and respond to them. (However, many did not share their thoughts.) In the stage of life in which I am now, I need and appreciate having the freedom to create my spaces. These include time spaces, event spaces, and thing spaces. I have quiet spaces which are peaceful; arranging my home spaces for my comfort and enjoyment; and hopefully to welcome family and friends; connecting spaces to friends, online, on the phone, in meeting places. Belonging to various groups, realizing that the interactions therein are sharing spaces of experience, empathy, eye-opening, heart-opening, ear-opening, reaching out, absorbing. "Open my eyes, Lord; help me to see your face; open my heart, Lord; help me to love." Betty Lou I read your reflection with interest in your conceptualization of space between. I had this realization that there is space between things, which you wrote about and space between events or experiences which I enjoyed reflecting on within an online retreat this fall which Jim Smith conducted. Both are good. His spanned about 6 weeks, 3 times a week in which he reflected in a video about different spaces in life. the 56 participants could then respond and see one another’s responses and respond to them. (However, many did not share their thoughts.)

In the stage of life in which I am now, I need and appreciate having the freedom to create my spaces. These include time spaces, event spaces, and thing spaces. I have quiet spaces which are peaceful; arranging my home spaces for my comfort and enjoyment; and hopefully to welcome family and friends; connecting spaces to friends, online, on the phone, in meeting places. Belonging to various groups, realizing that the interactions therein are sharing spaces of experience, empathy, eye-opening, heart-opening, ear-opening, reaching out, absorbing.

“Open my eyes, Lord; help me to see your face; open my heart, Lord; help me to love.”

Betty Lou

]]> Comment on Reflecting on Vocation: the Evolution of our Callings by Marsha West http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/2012/01/reflecting-on-vocation-the-evolution-of-our-callings/comment-page-1/#comment-7450 Marsha West Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:25:20 +0000 http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/?p=5831#comment-7450 First decade: Growing up in Sacramento. Pearl Harbor. Bible stories at bedtime. Air raid warnings where we lived across from an airforce base. Then, when I was 7, my dad was drafted (right at the end of WWII). Traveled for a couple of years to be near him in various parts of US. Then moved up to the country above Sacramento to finish growing up. Playing cowboys. Listening to radio dramas after school. Second Decade: Girl Scouts, passing the US History and Constitution test in 8th grade so we could go to high school! (Yes, it was required! Would that it were now!) High school, going steady, falling in love, getting engaged. One semester of college and getting married when I was 18, having twins when I was 19. And learning about living in the real world. My husband was a farmer. Third Decade. Going back to college, graduating, becoming a teacher.Taught 3 years in California. Became a Catholic - Easter 1974. moved to Washington August of 1974. Fourth Decade: Still teaching high school English. Certificate in Ministry. Kids grew up, left home, two married - 8 grandchildren born. Fifth Decade: Still teaching high school English. Doing volunteer work in parish. Grandchildren were growing up --much too fast. Sixth Decade. Finished teaching high school English. Taught high school English online for Virtual High School. Retired. Did consulting in online learning. Celebrated my 50th Wedding Anniversary with two big parties: one in California with family; one in Washington with friends and parish family. Oldest batch of grandchlldren grew up - three married - three great grandchildren so far. Seventh Decade: Widowed after 53 years of marriage. And everything changed. I am learning to be a single person for the first time in my life. I am invited into new directions, new experiences, new commitments. I'm 74 now - and who knows what the rest of the 7th decade will bring. Bring it on! First decade: Growing up in Sacramento. Pearl Harbor. Bible stories at bedtime. Air raid warnings where we lived across from an airforce base. Then, when I was 7, my dad was drafted (right at the end of WWII). Traveled for a couple of years to be near him in various parts of US. Then moved up to the country above Sacramento to finish growing up. Playing cowboys. Listening to radio dramas after school.

Second Decade: Girl Scouts, passing the US History and Constitution test in 8th grade so we could go to high school! (Yes, it was required! Would that it were now!) High school, going steady, falling in love, getting engaged. One semester of college and getting married when I was 18, having twins when I was 19. And learning about living in the real world. My husband was a farmer.

Third Decade. Going back to college, graduating, becoming a teacher.Taught 3 years in California. Became a Catholic – Easter 1974. moved to Washington August of 1974.

Fourth Decade: Still teaching high school English. Certificate in Ministry. Kids grew up, left home, two married – 8 grandchildren born.

Fifth Decade: Still teaching high school English. Doing volunteer work in parish.
Grandchildren were growing up –much too fast.

Sixth Decade. Finished teaching high school English. Taught high school English online for Virtual High School. Retired. Did consulting in online learning. Celebrated my 50th Wedding Anniversary with two big parties: one in California with family; one in Washington with friends and parish family. Oldest batch of grandchlldren grew up – three married – three great grandchildren so far.

Seventh Decade: Widowed after 53 years of marriage. And everything changed. I am learning to be a single person for the first time in my life. I am invited into new directions, new experiences, new commitments. I’m 74 now – and who knows what the rest of the 7th decade will bring. Bring it on!

]]> Comment on Reflecting on Vocation: the Evolution of our Callings by Melissa Kiemde http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/2012/01/reflecting-on-vocation-the-evolution-of-our-callings/comment-page-1/#comment-7443 Melissa Kiemde Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:49:32 +0000 http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/?p=5831#comment-7443 What BEAUTIFUL responses! Thank you Betty Lou and Sue! Blessings! The hand of God in our lives, in how we are called....Amen. Melissa Borgmann-Kiemde, Vis Companions What BEAUTIFUL responses! Thank you Betty Lou and Sue! Blessings!
The hand of God in our lives, in how we are called….Amen.

Melissa Borgmann-Kiemde, Vis Companions

]]> Comment on Reflecting on Vocation: the Evolution of our Callings by Sue http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/2012/01/reflecting-on-vocation-the-evolution-of-our-callings/comment-page-1/#comment-7442 Sue Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:44:31 +0000 http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/?p=5831#comment-7442 This post arrives as I am thinking about the funeral we attended today for our 68 year old friend who died of Pick's Disease. Jim was a high school friend of my husband's, full of life, love of people, with a raucous sense of humor. We couples slept on our pontoon boat together in the early 70's, among many other crazy experiences. When Jim told us he'd decided to enter the deacon program (he was 30) in the archdiocese we said, "No, not you...you're too wild and crazy...." Thirty two years later Jim may well be a model for all deacons with his unique ability to fulfill his pastoral ministries at the Cathedral and at St. Peter's. After he'd given the last rights to people he'd say, "NOW you are greased for glory!" Youth would love his often irreverent way of making them understand that Jesus would help them through any difficult situation they might encounter. He was capable of discussing, in the most graphic detail, all things a high schooler or college kid might be thinking about. The young people loved him as was recounted in many stories today. During the last weeks of his life, when Jim could only lay in his nursing home bed, unable to walk and with no communication skills left, his elderly roommate lay dying. Jim was found, having somehow crawled out of his bed, kneeling at his roommate's bedside, silent, holding the hand of this man who needed comfort...ministering one last time with the miraculous help of the Holy Spirit. In decades? Jim grew, served, loved, honed and shared God's word by his ever more profound presence, even silent presence, to all with whom he crossed paths. Blessings...let me be present and continue to grow as I move through the decades. This post arrives as I am thinking about the funeral we attended today for our 68 year old friend who died of Pick’s Disease. Jim was a high school friend of my husband’s, full of life, love of people, with a raucous sense of humor. We couples slept on our pontoon boat together in the early 70’s, among many other crazy experiences. When Jim told us he’d decided to enter the deacon program (he was 30) in the archdiocese we said, “No, not you…you’re too wild and crazy….” Thirty two years later Jim may well be a model for all deacons with his unique ability to fulfill his pastoral ministries at the Cathedral and at St. Peter’s. After he’d given the last rights to people he’d say, “NOW you are greased for glory!” Youth would love his often irreverent way of making them understand that Jesus would help them through any difficult situation they might encounter. He was capable of discussing, in the most graphic detail, all things a high schooler or college kid might be thinking about. The young people loved him as was recounted in many stories today.
During the last weeks of his life, when Jim could only lay in his nursing home bed, unable to walk and with no communication skills left, his elderly roommate lay dying. Jim was found, having somehow crawled out of his bed, kneeling at his roommate’s bedside, silent, holding the hand of this man who needed comfort…ministering one last time with the miraculous help of the Holy Spirit.
In decades? Jim grew, served, loved, honed and shared God’s word by his ever more profound presence, even silent presence, to all with whom he crossed paths.
Blessings…let me be present and continue to grow as I move through the decades.

]]> Comment on Reflecting on Vocation: the Evolution of our Callings by Betty Lou Miller http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/2012/01/reflecting-on-vocation-the-evolution-of-our-callings/comment-page-1/#comment-7433 Betty Lou Miller Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:39:50 +0000 http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/?p=5831#comment-7433 First decade: Same house; youngest of 5 siblings; all of them left the house one by one in that decade. Same school and church. Second decade: Same house; St. Anne's first of these 5 years; St. Anthony 4 years. Seven years of piano lessons from Sister Rochelle. Dad died. Entered work world as a typist; met husband-to-be. Had considered entering convent. Third decade: Married; moved out of same house into first apartment with new husband; had first 5 babies; put husband through college and masters degree. Moved into second apartment; a rented house; a purchased house. Fourth decade: had one more baby; moved into second purchased house; kids all in Catholic grade school. Fifth decade: Moved to Robbinsdale; kids in new Catholic grade school; worked 5 years at McDonald's. Room mother for a kid a year. Mother died. Worked at TCF for 4 years. Sixth decade: Worked full time as Administrative Assistant. Kids in college; grandchildren born each year. Visited Jamaica where daughter and husband were volunteering. Husband died. More grandchildren. Joined St. Philip. Went to Guatemala with Fr. Greg and 30 others. Treated for breast cancer. In choir; helped in office, doing bulletin for 8 years. Remodeled kitchen. Went to Italy with Fr. Dale and 20 others. Seventh decade: Continued at St. Philip until it merged with Ascension. Joined Ascension; singing; and volunteering in office. Have an abundance of experience, including: loving, losing, gaining, understanding, grieving, enjoying, marveling, meeting, thinking, friending, surrendering, learning, merging, emerging, letting go, cheering, listening, holding on, discovering, imagining, trying, failing, wondering, watching, participating = living and being and thanking. Looking forward to growing in all of the aforesaid. I think I will copy this for my memoirs. Thanks for initiating this, Melissa. Betty Lou First decade: Same house; youngest of 5 siblings; all of them left the house one by one in that decade. Same school and church.

Second decade: Same house; St. Anne’s first of these 5 years; St. Anthony 4 years. Seven years of piano lessons from Sister Rochelle. Dad died. Entered work world as a typist; met husband-to-be. Had considered entering convent.

Third decade: Married; moved out of same house into first apartment with new husband; had first 5 babies; put husband through college and masters degree. Moved into second apartment; a rented house; a purchased house.

Fourth decade: had one more baby; moved into second purchased house; kids all in Catholic grade school.

Fifth decade: Moved to Robbinsdale; kids in new Catholic grade school; worked 5 years at McDonald’s. Room mother for a kid a year. Mother died. Worked at TCF for 4 years.

Sixth decade: Worked full time as Administrative Assistant. Kids in college; grandchildren born each year. Visited Jamaica where daughter and husband were volunteering. Husband died. More grandchildren. Joined St. Philip. Went to Guatemala with Fr. Greg and 30 others. Treated for breast cancer. In choir; helped in office, doing bulletin for 8 years. Remodeled kitchen. Went to Italy with Fr. Dale and 20 others.

Seventh decade: Continued at St. Philip until it merged with Ascension. Joined Ascension; singing; and volunteering in office. Have an abundance of experience, including: loving, losing, gaining, understanding, grieving, enjoying, marveling, meeting, thinking, friending, surrendering, learning, merging, emerging, letting go, cheering, listening, holding on, discovering, imagining, trying, failing, wondering, watching, participating = living and being and thanking. Looking forward to growing in all of the aforesaid.

I think I will copy this for my memoirs.

Thanks for initiating this, Melissa.

Betty Lou

]]> Comment on “God is in Everything…” by Sr. Karen http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/2012/01/god-is-in-everything/comment-page-1/#comment-7419 Sr. Karen Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:11:41 +0000 http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/?p=5826#comment-7419 Beth, what a refreshing way to image a new year ! I appreciated your post -- and am grateful for YOU. love, SK Beth, what a refreshing way to image a new year !
I appreciated your post — and am grateful for YOU. love, SK

]]> Comment on “God is in Everything…” by melissa http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/2012/01/god-is-in-everything/comment-page-1/#comment-7411 melissa Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:40:30 +0000 http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/?p=5826#comment-7411 Love it! Thank you.... xxox, Melissa Borgmann-Kiemde Love it! Thank you….
xxox,
Melissa Borgmann-Kiemde

]]> Comment on “God is in Everything…” by Betty Lou Miller http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/2012/01/god-is-in-everything/comment-page-1/#comment-7410 Betty Lou Miller Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:23:09 +0000 http://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/?p=5826#comment-7410 Thanks for your seeing and believing and sharing. Thanks for your seeing and believing and sharing.

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