Remembering the Butterflies

Today, November 25, is the anniversary of the 1960 assasinations of Minerva, Patria and Maria Teresa Mirabal, along with their driver and friend Rufino de la Cruz. Known in the Dominican Republic as the Butterfly Sisters, they were working to end the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Their story is the subject of Julia Alvarez' book, In the Time of the Butterflies. Their home is both a museum and an extension of the national cemetary.

It is a peaceful place, a beautiful garden spot filled with the powerful story of the Mirabal women. If you are lucky enough to visit, you might be even luckier and encounter Dede, the sister who tends the memories and keeps the story alive.



On November 25, 1999, the United Nations established an annual International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The date was chosen to honor the Butterfly Sisters. They worked for release from the tyranny of a dictator. Join in the work for release of tyranny from all abuse against women.

Random Fall Photos

U2 Concert at FedEx Field Sept, 2009






Vietnam Veterans Memorial October 3, 2009





Crucifix
Washington National Cathedral Oct., 2009




Underside of a really cool mushroom, Oct, 2009

Dogwood, Oct, 2009






Wolf Gap Winery, Virginia Nov., 2009


Last of the fall leaves Reston, Nov., 2009

Labyrinth

Walking to the center of a labyrinth as a physical act of centering prayer is a powerful experience. Like sitting quietly and meditating, walking the labyrinth is not without its distractions, especially when walking in a group. It takes some work to stay in a prayerful frame of mind.

We have a canvas labyrinth at St. Anne's. It gets rolled out fairly often for use by the congregation. Because it's portable, we've also carried it to Shrine Mont for use in retreat activities. I've been to a labyrinth walk at the National Cathedral and now, Shrine Mont has its own outdoor labyrinth made of stones.

Most often, my labyrinth walking has been quiet. Starting with a deep breath, I've plunged in. Step by step, cares of the day fall away. Step by step, the pilgrimage proceeds. Step by step, I approach the center.

A year ago I walked the candle-lit labyrinth while a friend came to the end of her fight with lung cancer. I stepped into the center and realized that I had carried my friend with me. While standing in that spot closest to God, I knew that God was waiting for me to hand over my worries. My friend was a faithful Catholic, she knew God's strength and support in her life. Who was I to worry? God held us both, I needed to let go. I walked out of the labyrinth, leaving that burden of worry behind.

Almost exactly a year later I entered the stone labyrinth in the woods. A few of us had found our way there after the Sunday service. The words of the final hymn were in my mind as I walked the leaf-strewn pathway, "I will call upon the Lord... who is worthy to be praised." The sky was clear, birds were chirping, a few bright red leaves clung to a tree. "So shall I be saved from my enemies... I will call upon the Lord." I almost tromped through the labyrinth as I sang in my head, "The Lord liveth... and blessed be the rock... and let the God of my salvation be exalted..." I heard my friend coming up beside me. She said, "I've decided to greet people on my journey." We hugged, knowing we both had the recent funeral of a young teacher in mind.

The labyrinth as shared journey. Sing it together, "The Lord liveth, and blessed be the rock."

Behold! A New Post!

My, oh my. It's been MONTHS since I last opened this blog! (It's also been three years since my first post.) There have been lots of "behold" moments since April. And many of them have been savored.

As I rounded the corner to the school parking lot one morning last week, the pre-dawn colors took my breath away. It was a moment to be shared. I went in and grabbed my friend, knowing she had arrived in the dark. Together we stood in the quiet morning and watched the clouds turn pink. The sky was a muted blue/gray, the trees were tinged with the orange and red promise of the changing season, the air crisp and the presence of the Creator was palpable.

Breathe in, breathe out, prayers of adoration and praise are such a wonderful way to start a day.

Favorite Flowers

Oh, first...
1. Behold! My messy desk at work, symbol of the fact that I have a job.
2. Behold! A great cup of coffee with the office friends.
3. Behold! The warm cat curled up at my knee.

Now, favorite flowers.

I love flowers. I think I've always loved flowers. I remember making tiny bouquets of dandelions and violets to give to people. I remember wondering why anyone would want to kill clover in the yard, it has such a pretty bloom. I remember my grandmother's peonies, gathered in big wash tubs to place in the cemetery on "decoration day." I remember falling in love with the yellow-to-pink transition of the peace rose.

Wildflowers fascinate me... Dutchman's Breeches made sense to me, remembering the clothes worn by the folks in Pella, Iowa during the street washing of the Tulip Time parade. Jack-in-the-Pulpit is another of my favorite wildflowers, especially after touring some of the colonial era churches in this region and seeing their sounding-board covered pulpits!

I also love Bleeding Hearts. It's another old-fashioned flower that reminds me of grandmothers. Right now we have a big plant blooming in our front garden. The light was so pretty on the pink blooms when we came home from Easter dinner that I now have a new desktop picture and a new Facebook profile picture.

Now, next week, I'll probably be in love with lily of the valley. But for today, I really love bleeding heart.

Behold! Day 2

1. Behold! Last night's amazing full moon.
2. Behold! Today's spring rain.
3. Behold! The people grieve after Good Friday and are hopeful because they know the next chapter.

Behold! Day 1

1. Behold! The perfection of this rose!

2. Behold! How tightly this weed clings to the earth.

3. Behold! The church family kneels in prayer on Good Friday.