October 2010, Vol. XXX, No. 8
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters Convent of the Holy Spirit – Techny, Illinois Falling Leaves--Undressed Trees
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n October we observe the beautiful foliage of leaves dropping away and undressing the personality of the tree. The stark frame embodying the noble character of the tree stands vulnerable and exposed to God and to nature. The tree seems to let go so gracefully of all its embellishing wardrobe and to stand naked and bare just as it is. Both the “letting go” and the stark nakedness of the tree fascinate me and have something to say to us as we prepare for our Assembly/Chapter in April.
Maybe the tree can let go so graciously because it has the experience that at the right time its core will create another dress, another outward form. What is essential, its core self, can stand naked, wait in hope and trust its inner dynamism. As a province, we, too, have the experience of letting go of so much: of one ministry after another, of one form of religious life for another, one geographical location for another, of big numbers for small numbers of Sisters. In all of this, hopefully, we, too, have oth the “letting go” learned to graciously let go, knowing that what is essential will survive. We can’t hold on to and the stark anything, but the truth of who we are and the nakedness of the tree mission we stand for will always be there. Let us with curiosity expectantly await what the inner fascinate … and dynamism of the Spirit, alive in each of our Sisters, have something to say to us will create anew as an outward expression of SSpS religious-missionary life in the Paraclete Province. as we prepare for
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our Assembly/Chapter in April.
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