Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Contemplative kayaking along the edges affords me the opportunity to become more deeply aware of the many expressions of life. The amazing rocks and roots systems of gnarled fallen trees that bridge themselves between land and water and sprout all kinds  of new growth moss, grass, and plantings. They become warm places for turtles to climb on and soak up the sun. They become places for otters to play. Badgers can pull away small bits of dried twigs to build their dens. Herons stand sentinel in the cattails and mother ducks keep watchful eyes on their exuberant young chicks. Native plants flower around the edges, loons nest and eagles perch on the tops of the tall living trees and swoop down to fish.  We are so  blessed to be part of this amazing abundance of life expressing itself at this moment in time. Where do I belong in this tapestry of life? For  certainly I am an integral part. How do I honor all life? How do I honor all living beings? Contribute to the healin...

A few days ago as a nation we celebrated Independence Day. As an immigrant of over forty years it has become almost second nature to me. Nowadays however I see that independence is a necessary developmental stage but it isn’t the fullness of maturation. Wouldn’t it be great to celebrate an   interdependence   day ? None of us exist in a vacuum. We are all connected. We are really all one. Everything on earth teaches us this connection, this   interdependence . Looking out my window at a beautiful mature tree I see that each leaf is connected to a twig, which is part of the branch, which connects to the trunk whose roots go deep into earth and all are nourished by its water, minerals and sunlight.  Nothing exists in isolation. How are you part of the whole? What are your many circles of connectedness? Isabel Rafferty, OP Madison, WI