Ash Valentine’s Day
Wednesday was a mixed-bag. I joked with a colleague that the ashes on my forehead felt apropos for a vowed celibate on Valentine’s Day. But the day held the truth of paradox on a much deeper level. I awoke to the distribution of ashes and a special morning prayer with my community—a wonderful way to begin the day in holy communion. Later, I got to visit with Congresswomen Maloney (CA) and Jayapal (WA) along with Sr. Simone Campbell to thank them for their service and for scoring 100% on NETWORK’s Voting Record. Both women—testaments to the strength of love-in-action—inspire and demonstrate the “good” that can manifest on the Hill. Then the news broke about another mass shooting at a school in Florida—17 students killed—and the grieving set-in. A reminder that evil is also manifested on the Hill in the form of harmful policies, blame, greed, and vitriol. I’ve never felt more in...