Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

A very wise mentor suggested that as part of my spiritual journey, I might incorporate eating an apple into my prayer life, a metaphorical way of getting to the core of my spirit and the questions that lie there. We use the word ‘core’ more often than we may realize, in phrases and idioms like “getting to the core of the matter”, or the “earth’s core”, or of businesses that use “core competencies” to evaluate their employees. One of our Sinsinawa-sponsored ministries –Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin – has as its motto, “Cor ad Cor Loquitur” - “heart speaks to heart” – a dialogue between souls, based in compassion, leading to understanding. When we are open to prayer that spirals us ever closer to the Sacred Center, we will discover at our core seeds. They are like God’s breadcrumbs, leading us to further questioning, deeper searching, and more profound union with the One who scattered them. I am grateful for this new prayer experience and what it has meant to me thi...

A recent experience being pulpit preacher gave me new insights into being a member of the family of preachers.    I had been invited as a MOSES leader to preach about risk at a Unitarian worship service. As preachers, we are part of a team.   Shown in the picture accompanying this post was the visible part of the team.   Fellow MOSES member, worship coordinator and yours truly.   I don’t usually smile well for pictures, but the camera caught me as I was recognizing a person I had recently met at a MOSES meeting. We had shared our passion for MOSES, (Madison Organizing in Strength, Equality and Solidarity.)   We work on prison reform. Her presence was a team moment for me. I spoke of risk for the biblical MOSES, Jesus the new Moses, Harriet Tubman the Moses of her people, and MOSES congregations. Members risk speaking up about injustice.   I enjoyed having a day in the pulpit, but the real preaching came from the people.   “I have fo...