Carbon Conscious Carmelites
The late November sun shone with an intensity rarely experienced this year as 22 Carmelite Sisters from various parts of Ireland gathered at Emmaus, Dublin for a conference on Cosmology. This is the second year of their renewal programme facilitated by Sr. Moya Hegarty OSU.I had the privilege of presenting and what a privilege!
" We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness" (Thich Nhat Hanh). This meditation by the renowned Vietnamese Zen Master was a fitting refrain as we explored the intrinsic oneness of all life.While the Sisters oozed a love of nature and that mystical composure born of intimacy with God they were eager to learn more from a scientific perspective. The mystery of the evolving story of the universe in its complexity, differentiation, beauty and wonderful wildness is intriguing and the almost 14 billion years simply adds to the excitement and wonder of it all.
The sharing was amazing as we struggled with differing worldviews and changing perceptions in light of the new story of our evolving universe.Over the 2 days the science and theological challenges were interspersed with story, ritual, song, and body movement.The outdoor guided meditation and one- to-one encounters with the natural world opened up memories and insights that could have kept the group sharing all afternoon. This was a time of awakening the senses and expanding our consciousness as we gradually proclaimed that life is one great interwoven system, the divine energy incarnating in countless manifestations of which each being is a unique revelation. 'The day of my spiritual awakening was the day I saw and knew I saw all things in God and God in all things' (Mechtild of Madgeburg)
We were approaching the Advent liturgical season, that time of expectancy, renewed hope and awakening into the Jesus time. We prayed the Morning Body Prayer on the lawn delicately strewn with the last of the multi-coloured leaves and rimmed by tall almost bare trees showing off their true identity. The symbolism was magic as our conscious movements connecting with the directional energies of the universe echoed the Advent themes of awakening, expectancy, dreams, visions and prophesies, introspection, healing and transformation. The invitation to step into ourselves, the unfolding universe and the potential in the present with openness and freedom was challenging, energising and profoundly prayer-ful.
The engagement with the sense of the oneness of all life (Jn 17), the realisation that we are all interdependent and interwoven was inspiring.Can we live without pure air, clean water, fertile soil, healthy food or the companionship of others? The answer is sobering especially as our planet home becomes more impoverished and more people are deprived. We marvelled at the living systems of the planet, thankful for the abundance of Earth whose resources are nonetheless finite and there was an amazing sense of collective responsibility in maintaining the health of these systems so vital to all living beings.
The urgency of it was brought home to us as we reflected on the current crisis in the market economy and the efforts of numerous governments to resuscitate it - if the living systems of Earth collapse no government, no human power, can bring them back to life. May this be a moment of awakening for all people and may we seize the opportunity for life and living. The fact that these women, whose particular lifestyle ensures a very low carbon footprint, were so aware and concerned for the future wellbeing of all beings was a humbling experience for me as together we reflected on what legacy we might leave for those in the total life community.
Throughout the 2 days science and theology joined in moments of dissonance surely but also in flashes of insight and meaning which prompted an expressed desire to read the scriptures with new eyes and more expansive hearts.
'The fullness of joy is to behold God in all things' (Julian of Norwich). That sums up a wonderful experience at Emmaus; our eyes were opened to some more of the wonders both within and without and hope enkindled anew as we continue to journey.
Nellie McLaughlin rsm
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