It has been a very good week. Yesterday our intercommunity novitiate met at the motherhouse of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Our topic was "TRANSITION," something none of us knew anything about. My favorite line from the day was, "Transitions begin with endings and end with beginnings." We spent the morning looking at endings in our lives and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that accompanied those endings. In looking at patterns, I discovered that I don't really do endings. I jump right to the beginnings. Our presenter said that endings are often shatterings in our lives, not because they are always bad, but because they change our lives in such a way that we will never be the same. He shared that after giving ourselves adequate time to process the endings, we find ourselves in "the neutral zone," or the time of "do nothingness." I am not so good at that stage. The image I liked was that of stopping to rest half-way up a hill, taking time to look back at where one has been and ahead at what is coming. Mostly just resting though. Then comes the beginning of something new. It was great to share thoughts and feelings with others who are coming from, or at least into, similar places. That and we got to play a little ping-pong and share some laughs.
Today I began classes on "The History of Religious Life in America" and "The History of Catholicism." Both seem like they will be good as well. Sabbath Day tomorrow. Not exactly sure what my plans are, but I suppose that is kind of the point for a Sabbath Day. Just time for God and I. I hope God is ready!
Sisters gather one evening to watch "March of the Penguins." (Was that the same night the fire alarm went off?)
I too am in transitions. I wish I could have gone to that class, but thanks for sharing some of the tidbits of info. It helps
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