waiting in joyful hope

Advent peace to you as we wait in joyful hope...

God help us to live slowly:
To move simply:
To look softly:
To allow emptiness:
To let the heart create for us.
Amen.
--Michael Leunig

"Praying Advent" "Beginning Advent" "Desiring Patient Fidelity"

"now that i have seen..."

I just watched a video I wanted to share with all of you~ this is Brooke Fraser and her song "Albertine" about a young child (named Albertine) who she met in Rwanda in 2005.

This song speaks to my heart...




(The second video is one I made after time in Rwanda in 2003.)

Room at the Table...

I read the following story this morning, and wanted to share it, with an added thought or two of my own at the end...

At turkey time last year, Monique White was unemployed, living in a cramped motel room and pining for the Thanksgivings of her childhood, when dozens of people would gather for a holiday feast.

Today a receptionist at a dentist's office, she has a townhouse in Littleton, Colo. And, thanks to an Internet posting, a list of Thanksgiving dinner guests — strangers all — who will help her eat nine turkeys, four hams, 16 boxes of stuffing and a dozen or so pies.

How did this happen?

White, 36, was feeling a bit lonesome a week ago; her two sons were planning to spend the holiday with their father. And though her longtime partner, Doug White, would be there for her on Thanksgiving, she longed to be surrounded by many more people.

So she posted invitations on Craigslist, the Internet classifieds site. In part, one read:

"Maybe you are someone who is new in town and doesn't have anywhere to go. Maybe you are a small family that wouldn't be able to afford Thanksgiving dinner otherwise. Maybe you are just looking to change up your normal Thanksgiving tradition. ... We have room at our table this year."

She figured four folks, maybe five would answer. But then the replies poured in: People laid off from work. People with no family. People ashamed to bring their children to a Thanksgiving dinner at a soup kitchen.

"I thought: There's was no way I can judge who is worthy of sitting at my table. I have to invite them all," White says.

In all, 32 people are expected for dinner.

When White's boss heard what she was doing, he offered to pay for the food. Then a local hotel offered to provide tables and chairs. Then a professional magician said he would like to perform for the kids.

Certainly a far cry from Thanksgiving 2007, White says. "Last year it was just us two. It was horrible."

Doug White has been busy baking turkeys, putting one in the oven as soon as another comes out.

"People need to stop being so worried about me, me, me, my bills, my life," he says. "You stop worrying, and look what happens?"

(This story can be read in full here.)

A few weeks ago I had the gift of meeting a wonderful woman and new friend-- Kelly Monroe Kullberg-- founder of The Veritas Forum at Harvard and author of "Finding God Beyond Harvard." She is an amazing woman, a true friend, and a blessing to many (including me!)

The other day I visited a web site she contributes to called "The Well" and came across her answer to a question that was posed, "I understand we are called to be hospitable, and as the holidays approach, this seems to be a big deal -- cook good food, have your place looking great. I know this image of entertaining is not what we as Christians are called to, but what does hospitality look like for a grad student?

Kelly's answer really struck me:

I believe hospitality has to do with being a host — offering some kind of bread of life to hungry people. We can take the gift of hospitality with us into our classrooms and workspaces.

Hospitality is the gift of presence — greeting and welcoming colleagues each day with a smile that says, “I’m glad you’re here and that we are working together.” When some U.S. professors were leaving Mother Teresa’s home in Calcutta they asked if she had any words for them. She did. She suggested that they might smile at one another more. This begets a warmth in return, and there we have the beginnings of friendship.

You could also bring food with you or think ahead to have it delivered once in awhile to your department for conversation over lunch. You might suggest a film or book discussion during that time, or something less structured. Post a few signs on the wall. Let’s discuss, “What matters to you and why?”, with lunch provided. Or use a nearby coffee shop. At Ohio State IVCF staff often use the faculty club for conversations.

Abiding in Christ we become a branch that bears fruit for others to find shelter and food. They’ll know us by our love.

After reading this I immediately sent an e-mail to Kelly to tell her that the words she used "Hospitality has to do with being a host-- offering some kind of bread of life to a hungry people" gave me a new insight into the Eucharist. I've always heard it called the host, but never before made the profound connection with hospitality. Christ, the Perfect Host, calls us to the table where all are welcome and where He longs to offer the Bread of Life to hungry people.

"Eucharist" means Thanksgiving. Today I am thankful for the Host who invites us all to His table. He is both the Host and the Guest and whoever is around our table today is Christ in disguise. Let us cherish and ponder His presence among us...

A blessed Thanksgiving, a joyful Eucharist, to all of you~

with love,

nicole

(Images "The Lord's Supper" and "The Christ of the Breadlines" are by Fritz Eichenberg, who frequently contributed illustrations for Dorothy Day's newspaper, The Catholic Worker.")

perspective

A++++++++++++++++

This is courtesy of my awesome sister...

Spend your Christmas at Ralphie's house!!

Schedule & Activities

DECEMBER 24:

• 10am: Personal behind-the-scenes tour of A Christmas Story House & Museum
• Ride in family car (weather permitting) and receive bars of Lifebuoy Soap
• Try on original costumes from the movie
• Read through the costume “bible” that includes photos and notes from the production
• 2pm: Check into A Christmas Story House
• Large FRA-GI-LE Major Award crate delivered to the front door of the house (yours to keep – provided by A Christmas Story House). Crow bar provided to open.
• Go out to check the mail for Decoder pins delivered to mailbox (one for each guest and yours to keep - provided by A Christmas Story House)
• Climb under the sink just like Randy
• 5pm: Chinese Turkey Dinner at Pearl of the Orient
• 7pm: Back to A Christmas Story House to watch “A Christmas Story” in the house it was filmed (25th Anniversary DVD is yours to keep; popcorn and sodas provided)
• 9pm: Spend the night in A Christmas Story House sleeping in Ralphie and Randy's bedroom!

DECEMBER 25:

• 8am: Open presents in A Christmas Story House living room
• Continental breakfast basket provided by A Christmas Story House
• Presents included: 2 BB guns (behind the desk), blue bowling ball, can of Simonize, and a bunny suit, 4 Christmas Story House shirts. (provided by A Christmas Story House)
• Bring your own presents to unwrap as well
• Shoot BB guns in the back yard (provided by A Christmas Story House)
• 1pm: Check out of A Christmas Story House and return to Renaissance Hotel (Room is reserved for you)
• 5pm: Enjoy Christmas dinner at Sans Souci, an award-winning, fine-dining restaurant in the Renaissance Hotel

More here. Enjoy!

dancing

Thanks to my wonderful roommate Cheryl for sharing this with me! See what happened when a guy known as 'dancing Matt' started dancing all around the world...




(Check out his website for outtakes, comments and more!)

Haiti

Fr. Rick and emergency response teams attempting to dig children out of the collapsed school.

Some of you might remember the experience a few of us from the med school had last March spending time with Fr. Rick Frechette in Haiti.

I wrote an e-mail to Fr. Rick after the school collapsed last Friday, and he shared this reply:

hello friends

yesterday, a 5 story school shabily built in a ravine near our old hospital collapsed on a thousand children
there was a call for help on the radio for doctors and trained staff
and we went right away
in fact i just got home now

we worked like soldiers all this time
sledge hammers, torches, shovels and bare hands

we were able to rescue about 8 pretty battered kids after a lot of breaking concrete and digging
and we also pulled many dead children out of the rubble
other teams rescued a good number of children too
especially the doctors without borders and the UN soldiers
but i think there are a lot who are dead under the rubble

thousands of people lined the ravines..families of the children, neighbors
watching and crying and wailing
the sound of the wailing filled the whole valley
like a wailing nation
and there was the terrible sound of muffled screams of children
under the cement


very very sad

join us in prayer for the families
after yet another pathetic tragedy in this country



i was glad to see so many NPFS and St Luc people there to help
carrying stretchers
bringing water for the workers and the people trapped by concrete
carrying the dead
carrying the wounded
helping to dig
thanks so much for your concern

we have to move forward in hope

best regards
fr rick

He also shared his plan for moving forward. If the find the means, he would like to provide
1. A proper burial for all the children.
2. A team of psychologists for the families and neighborhood
3 Give each of the families a sum of money...about US$200 to helP them with the expenses for medical care, etc.
4. Get the living kids in a school right away. It's important to get them fast into normal routines and let them absorb the shock a little at a time in a setting that has predictable routine.
If there are no schools nearby we can try to pay transport to other schools not too far
If this doesn't work we can try to make a tent school for the rest of the year
5. Build a proper school

I also found out in case anyone would like to support his efforts that donations (addressed to him) can be sent to:

Fr. Rick Frechette
8980 SW 56th St.
Miami, FL 33165

More information about the situation and the response of St. Damian's hospital and Fr. Rcik can be found here as well.

sincerely,
nicole

more birthdays!!!

Happy 25th Birthday to my favorite sister!!! We love you Christy!!!!




(the bottom left corner is my favorite... it's Christy and her friend Angie as "a birthday girl breaking a pinata" for Halloween. Love it!)

birthdays!!

Happy Birthday to my brother Ryan!! God bless you today and always! We love you!! Happy birthday also to ND's greatest fan, Mrs. Rizzi. You both are the best and I hope you have a wonderful day today!!

the question of the day

Regardless of who we voted for, this election brought out much passion and conviction for a better and more just society. It is now my deep hope that this election year fervor for justice will be translated into our willingness to sacrifice to help bring about the world that we envision.

The election is over, but the work is just beginning. Just as each of our votes matter to building a strong democracy, so too do each of our voices, choices and actions in the days and years ahead.

What will I be willing to sacrifice to bring about the world I want to see?

This is the question I've been asking myself lately. I know the world that I hope for... what will I personally be willing to give or give up to make it possible?? (Time? Higher paying job? Comfort? Money? Popularity? The list goes on...)

I like the perspective posted today on a blog that I often read. "Our family will respect our next President and pray for him and continue to work for the evangelization of our culture. As Catholics, we’ve been around longer than any government still functioning in modern times, and we have the long view..." I too will join in this perspective, and plan to use this election and the issues that it has raised as an opportunity to examine my beliefs & principles, and most importantly my current level of commitment to them. Will you join me?

One last note before I head out to study. I was at mass last night at 9pm, and right before Communion the priest said the very scripture verse that has been on my heart for the past few weeks as I think about the election, the future, and all that lies ahead...

"And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." - Matthew 28:20