The Great Turning IS HAPPENING NOW

-

This past week I joined with about 200 other people of Dane County, Wisconsin  to hear Joanna Macy, a scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory and deep ecology.  Joanna travels the world offering trainings to empower our responses to planetary crisis. Her term for our time in history is, The Great Turning.  She says:  A revolution is underway because people are realizing that our needs can be met without destroying our world.  We have the technical knowledge, the communication tools and material resources to grow enough food, ensure clean air and water, and meet rational energy needs. Future generations, if there is a livable world for them, will look back at the epochal transition we are making to a life-sustaining society.  And they well call this the time of the Great Turning.  It is happening now. http://www.ecoliteracy.org/essays/great-turning

As a Dominican woman I was greatly encouraged by her message.  I witness  Dominican women gifting  this revolution by  "proclaiming  the Gospel through the ministry of preaching and teaching in order to participate in the building of a holy and just Church and Society" (our mission statement).  We do not teach without being ourselves lifelong learners.  We are always searching to deepen our understanding of the meaning of our life, and ways to express its meaning.  We look at the Gospel each day in the light of the events of Earth and the peoples around us.  And conversely, we look at the events of the day in the light of the Gospel. Then in community we form one another into people who can participate more fully in such movements as The Great Turning. It is ongoing formation and it is an ongoing adventure.

One year ago today Sister Pat and I who were securely settled in two other loving communities risked moving in order to further develop our Dominican way of life.  The house we chose  is big enough to invite others who live nearby to join the adventure. Our mission statement I think embraces the Great Turning:  As women of Monona House we, pledge to uphold social justice and to dismantle racism and other forms of oppression within ourselves.  We also value the wholeness of Earth as we walk   softly upon it.  We invite you to journey with us and share your gifts here in this space, while taking steps to enlighten others.

How are you entering into the Great Turning?  Where do you find your support to take the next step? Perhaps there is a local Dominican community near you where you can join in study and Gospel prayer that supports your step.
Joan Duerst OP
Monona, Wisconsin

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HOME

-
Image
  I am fortunate to have an iPhone and I use the maps feature regularly when I travel to different places. What I like best is that on my return journey all I need to do is hit the HOME button and  no matter where I am it routes me safely home. I’ve been thinking about the significance of HOME lately especially as I and so many of our sisters have recently moved and settled into new spaces.  Can you find yourself at home in the gift of this day? Do you find yourself at home in your heart? I have returned to live at Sinsinawa mound and feel deeply at home. It is the space from which our sisters are sent out on mission and to which they return for their final resting place. I think of all who have been forced or bombed out of their homes. All the millions of displaced people searching for a place to call home, all the unhomed peopled on our own city streets especially veterans and those with mental health problems who have no place to call home. How am I called to respond o...
Read more

Reflecting - Retirement & Moving

-
Image
    When Sisters began composing reflections for the Vocation Blog, those of us who volunteered to write were challenged to tell the story of what is happening in our everyday lives as Sisters.  So, here is what is going on with me now.    On June 30, I retired from my ministry of providing administrative support for the Prioress and Leadership Council.  In addition, sometime in August, I will be moving from my current residence in East Dubuque to be in community with a group of our Sisters at Chapel Garden in Milwaukee.   There have been some gatherings of Sisters and our staff at the Mound to mark the events for which I am very grateful.  However, needless to say, the angst I am feeling in the midst of two rather significant changes in my everyday life is quite daunting. God and I are conversing about this whole scenario, and I’ve also found having dialogues with other Sisters has been very helpful, reassuring, and comforting.  I am so grat...
Read more

A Flat Tire--A Blessing?

-
Image
On the way home from grocery shopping I had a flat tire and had to pull over on the shoulder of a ramp.  Needless to say, this was a scary experience with all the cars whizzing by--a two-lane ramp that was now a one-lane ramp. After calling AAA I got out of the car afraid my car could be hit.  A man stopped and wanted to know if he could help. Another got out of his car and helped me to see where the spare tire should be. (There was no spare tire.)  A woman went by and then came back around to see if I was alright.  A woman with a baby stopped and a man who spoke only Spanish stopped.  One man offered to stay with me until AAA arrived, and there were others, too.  All these responses were from total strangers. How blessed I felt!  I was no longer panicky or traumatized.  I was experiencing goodness and the power of kindness and caring. Doesn't that sound like a blessing? Have you ever had the experience of an unwelcome event that became a blessin...
Read more