Journeying Toward Freedom and Equity

https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/04/begin-to-heal/ Let us also reflect about how, in addition to our personal wounds, failing to address our society’s wounds with compassion likewise increases the depth of chasms in our world, that so they become harder to climb out of.   These challenges include caring for God’s creation/our common home, challenges with racism, how we address poverty in our midst, and our dealing with challenges of neglecting others around us. We can choose not to do address challenges in our society, because we are busy or because the challenges seem so daunting, but when we do so the chasms grow.   Dave B.

https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/04/begin-to-heal             Wounded  parts-these are generally what we want to avoid in our lives. Who wants to face their own pain and suffering? In today's Ignatian Solidarity Network, Anna Robertson brings us face to face with the hidden struggles of our own interior lives:  “ When we fail to tend our wounds with compassion,  we often end up transmitting them onto others.”   For me, a midlife crisis that led to a 'dark night of the soul', gave me the opportunity to become deeply immersed in dealing with my wounded parts. Although this was a very challenging path, it led me to reconnect with Christ's Spirit in new ways that nourished my soul. As I faced my own wounds, my spiritual path led me to become aware of God/Christ within myself, as well as all people, and the world. I learned to see any daily irritations with other people as opportunities to learn more about myself, and what ol...

    Thursday’s reflection from the Ignatian Solidarity Network addresses the differences between self-preservation and vulnerability. https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/02/25/self-preservation-vulnerability/           Last semester, I took a course in Multicultural Psychology and it was truly one of the most eye-opening courses I have ever taken. My professor opened each session not only as a safe space, but a “brave space.” Our sessions helped me to recognize that it is okay not to know all there is to know about marginalized populations. It is okay to make honest mistakes as we continue to grow and learn about individuals who are different from us. But as we learn, we must be honest with ourselves. We have to be willing to acknowledge those moments where we did not see the full picture, or we did not recognize our brothers and sisters the way we should have.          ...

https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/02/22/may-justice-take-root/ A Reflection on the Following Questions:    What suffering are you called to witness?  How are you being called to respond?   How can you better accompany and stand with those whose experiences differ from yours, particularly those impacted by injustice?     For many weeks I have walked with Clifford Ryan ( On the Ground with the OGS , OGS Against Gun Violence) . We have walked through neighborhoods that many will not even drive through. My first impression was the broken sidewalks and it certainly was not like the orderly, lily-white neighborhood I live and work in. The jail-like atmosphere of the housing projects, the lack of flowers and trees, nothing but cement.   It was more than the South side.   It was the North side and West side; we have walked them all.   We stopped and prayed for the victims of shootings and listened to the families of those vi...