Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

I walk down the hallway of the shelter and turn out the bathroom light. An hour later, I do it again. Two hours later, the same thing. 6-8 times a night, I turn off the bathroom light until …finally… Epiphany! A light goes on in my own head and heart… shining on the truth of a reality that to women and children living in the darkness of domestic violence... conservation simply means self-preservation, making your own light… maybe even leaving it on where you find it. As Christian women and men, we are called to be light to others… and to accept light from others… without judgment, without exception. May 2016 truly be a year of mercy compassion and love A year committed to ending violence in our world, in our country, in our neighborhoods and in our own hearts A year committed to letting our light shine… for the common good… for Peace   John 1:5 “ The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” ...

These past weeks prior to Holy Week, like many others, I’ve been watching the NCAA basketball tournament games leading up to the “Final Four.”   After each game, there is the celebration of the winning team and also the experience of loss for the team that did not “make the Final Four.” It occurred to me as I observed the loss and devastation of the team that did not move on to the next game, Holy Week is a week during which we recognize our losses.   And our losses, as humans, are many:   a game, financial security, health, a job, reputation, dignity, relationships, a child, a parent, life as we once knew it …     The litany is endless.   We remember that Jesus experienced the depth of human loss.   He endured the most excruciating loss of all – the sense of being totally deserted, forsaken.   “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me,” he cried.   But Jesus remembered, and we also remember Abba’s promise to us in the words from Je...