Journeying Toward Freedom and Equity

https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/23/willing-to-look-at/ We have a sign in our Florida condo that says, “Blessed.” It serves as both decoration and declaration. It blends nicely with our Florida decor (sans flamingos!) but also acknowledges our gratitude for the many blessings we try not to take for granted.  Yet, this little sign prickles. It prickles because it is a constant reminder of the disparity  between my abundance and the scarcity and suffering experienced by so many of my brothers and sisters.  What did I do to deserve my advantages? Some would say good fortune and hard work. What I have come to learn is that much of my well-being is due to my white privilege. Being white gave me a head-start right out of the gate.  How do I respond to the prickle caused by that sweet little sign? I try not to look away. I wrestle with the tension. I acknowledge that racism still enslaves our people; I continue to educate mys...

https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/19/steadfast-showing-up/ Friday’s reflection from the ISN reminds us to show up for others and for the sake of justice even in the moments when we feel overwhelmed and tired.             I feel overwhelmed and tired this week, especially after hearing more information about the ongoing hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. In addition to that, I face the challenges that are part of everyday life: schoolwork, work, personal struggles, etc. As we continue to face the effects of the pandemic, I feel stuck mentally and physically. I find myself constantly asking God to show me the way and lead me through this difficult journey.               But then I remind myself that all these thoughts and emotions are normal. In fact, maybe my reactions to hate crimes and the circumstances of life as we face it today wil...

     https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/16/last-shall-be-first/      How am I called to “seek out those in the back of the line”?      My Christian upbringing has led me to make many choices in my life, including finding ways to serve in my community and beyond.  I have served in many of the usual ways and some not so usual ways. It is not necessary to list them today, that is another story.  During this Lenten season, I continue to find ways to serve those less fortunate than myself, those of less privilege than me; but this year I have also chosen to reflect on my grief. Perhaps grieving can be another way to serve others?      As I have reflected on how I experience grief, I have recognized I have experienced grief through loss, especially loss of loved ones. However, I have also discovered my greatest grief - my awareness of the suffering of the world caused by social injustice....

Note:  This is the second part of a two-part reflection by Lucretia H. that was inspired by a recent Lenten Ignatian Solidarity Network piece. The link to the ISN posting is provided for you here:   https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/10/lest-we-forget/             Is racism Real?   You be the judge of my experience.             I know I never thought of myself as a racist.   My mother would never permit it.   My father pointed out to us how privileged we were.   “If you have an education, you are never poor.”   I was the oldest of twelve, and my mother was a stay-at-home mom while my dad held three jobs.   He was a Postal Clerk, which paid the bills, and a Handyman at a local hotel, and a janitor at our church (the church money paid for our Catholic Education).    My family is diverse in ethnicity; Russian, Polish, Italian...

https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/10/lest-we-forget/             Recent reflections for Lent got my mind remembering history and my own encounters with social justice. My Inspiration came from Sister Barbara Ginter, who invited me to go with her to New York City to visit Drug rehab centers. My most memorable one was Teen Challenge. If you have not read The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson, this is an easy read about a journey of faith and courage to help teens face their drug demons and end gang violence. I felt privileged to see the actual house and wheat on the fireplace which was the inspiration and confirmation for David Wilkerson that he was to begin his journey. There is a Teen Challenge chapter in Syracuse. Plan to learn more and perhaps volunteer.           Of course, Barb wanted to complete our visit to New York City with a Protest at the Cathedral. It was my fi...

https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/12/beloved-by-god/   Love has so many parts that make up the whole. Love for God, love for Jesus, love for neighbor, love for God’s gifts given freely to us, love for the Holy Spirit, and love for myself.   What?? Love for myself? Isn’t that conceit? How can I love myself when others have not loved me? Doesn’t love for myself take away from my efforts to love God, my efforts to love Jesus, my efforts to love my neighbor…?   God in great love for us gives us gifts that are too wonderful and too numerous to comprehend. Why would God be so giving to us if God did not love us more than we will ever know?   And yet each of us who are the intended recipients of these wonderful, numerous gifts from God often struggle with loving ourselves and in turn, loving each other. If we are commanded to love  our neighbor as ourselves but do not ourselves, where are we??   Dave B.

https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/09/grace-mercy-forgiveness-rooted-in-accountability/ The last few days of the Ignatian Reflection got me thinking. Our actions can be bold.  How is that?  Marching in protest rallies, calling on my Legislative Representatives when they make changes that make a difference for those who are working a full-time job and take home, (again take home), $400 a week…when just the rent is over $1000 a month or when food stamps are cut (food, a basic need).  It may also mean writing letters to the editor or signing a petition against gun violence.  Maybe it is looking at my own guns.  Maybe it is looking at my activities that are killing the air I breathe. My actions can also be a little quieter and more private.  Like the day I drove by a homeless man and felt guilty because I bought these awesome homemade oatmeal cookies and decided to give them to him.  That was a sacrifice, because when I had my afternoon coffee, ...