Reflection for February 2015 -
by Liz Schumacher
This
Lent we may want to reflect upon the relationship between Jesus and Peter.
How
often, when faced with a situation I believe
needs a response from me have I undergone a head, heart or gut check and
then proceeded headlong into something. It
winds up not working out too well, or not at all, or worse. During these times there is confusion and at
times prolonged confusion, even chaos.
It seems like what is up is down and what is down is up, like Alice 'Through
the Looking Glass'. Nothing makes sense
and a completely unwelcomed situation results.
Or, at times my action, despite my great effort, does nothing to change a
situation and the situation continues without relief. I can't make what 'should happen' happen. I am left simply baffled at what to do, which
is terrible to me, as I am a doer.
So, in November, I was truly
thankful for an awareness that came during a retreat at Graymoor in Garrison,
N.Y. It has given me comfort and renewed
trust that God has things well in hand, and that all I need to do is to get out
of the way.
The subject of the conference was
St. Bonaventure's "Tree of Life" reflections, given by Fr. Rick
Martignetti, OFM an Immaculate Conception friar[1]. The retreat was for Franciscan women and men
in initial formation.
[1] Fr. Rick
presented from his newly published book Hidden Beauty: Reflections on Saint
Bonaventure's Tree of LIfe Lignum Vitae (Tau Publishing, LLC., Phoenix , Az
