Prayer
Knowledge
It’s funny how the Holy Spirit works. Once again, I struggled to put words on paper for this week’s YLBG. My first attempts were simply awful. I’m glad I can hit the delete key and don’t have to waste ink and paper.
I decided to take a mental break and scroll social media. Would you believe that one of the first things I saw was a post on five fact you probably didn’t know about sunflowers? I’m not sure if it was meant for inspiration or as a nudge to get back to work. But it did inspire me since sunflowers were so loved by St. Julie. Did you know a sunflower head is actually hundreds of individual flowers that make up the whole? Each of these flowers produces its own seed. Kinda like the sisters… hundreds of individuals that make up the ministry and life of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. It is in this combined energy that each of you plants seeds to make change in the world.
There are 70 different varieties of sunflowers - in diversity we have strength.
Sunflowers attract pollinators with their bright flowers. Those who join the sisters in ministry – associates, staff, students, mission volunteers – are in the work because they know a sister.
Sunflowers are natures detoxifiers. They are even planted at sites following industrial and nuclear disasters to detoxify soil and water. Sisters bloom where they are planted and most often take the challenges they find and turn them to good.
How good is the good God!
Action
Make connections! Connection is so important when we are engaged in the work of justice and caring for the earth. We cannot do this work alone. And we can find inspiration in the work of those sisters who have gone before.
Earth Day is coming up on April 22. Catholic Climate Covenant’s theme this year is God’s Abundant Vision for Life. Engage with their activities.
Connect with Just Earth – Cincinnati, a new organization Sr. Judy Tensing helped create as her ministry at Venice on Vine was coming to an end. Their mission statement: “Just Earth educates and facilitates action among residents of the Cincinnati region to address the intersecting crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental injustice.” This will be a great place to connect and grow the seeds of climate care.