Who is the drama queen in your family? Mom, Dad, Aunt Sally, your sister? Maybe you are the drama queen of the family.

Trust that I am not using the term “drama queen” in a harsh or demeaning way. Drama queens have spirit. They can lighten up a room. They bring energy with them and sometimes notice truths others do not see. And yes they do overreact (hence the term” drama queen”) but often if we look deeper at their reactions we learn something.

In my family the title of drama queen fluctuates. It is an equal opportunity designation shared by all of us, male and female alike. However, we have one who proudly owns the drama queen title, and we love her for it. She is adventuresome, inclusive, and loads of fun. How many times she has lit a moment?  She has also developed a good sense of knowing when things are serious.

I mention this idea of a drama queen because that is what came to mind when reading Paul’s warnings to the Corinthians today. He warns that “time is running out” with specific suggestions that seem to ask the impossible: “ Let those having wives ( and I add husbands) act as not having them, those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, that buying as not owning, those using the world as not using it fully.”

At first glance this seemed a call to be disingenuous. What was he saying? If we are married we should act as not married, or if we are sad and grieving we should pretend otherwise or stop rejoicing even if something calls for great joy? As I read I pushed back and then realized he was telling his followers to be sure to have their priorities straight. He thought the world as he knew it was “passing away.” He thought Jesus was returning soon and he wanted everyone to be ready.

All of today’s readings shout out in no uncertain terms that following the Lord is our calling. Jonah goes to Nineveh where things are not going so well and tells the people to wise up and repent. He was doing “the Lord’s bidding.” The psalmist pleads with the Lord, …” teach me your ways.” Jesus invites fishers to, “come after me and I will make you fishers of men (and women) because “the kingdom of God is at hand.”

Each reading holds a plea to pay attention. The plea is as relevant today as it was so long ago.

What is it that we are being called to pay attention to? It is a personal question as well as a collective question.

Peace,

Anne

LIGHT YIELDING

In the space where nothing matters

Where only the breath of hungry hollow desire

Foul breath Wet breath

Lives

I stand before a yielding open door

Willing to smell my own Suffering

Wear it into the Open wound of the world

For all to see

Then a Light

Unbearable in its mercy

My body freezes watches

how fear travels a current

Electric Sudden Jagged

 Asking me to yield and

Yielding again

Grateful for each small

Glimpse of your fearsome

Love your infinite Light

Always most

Brilliant

In the

Dark

Where pain wants to

Seep into the open cracks

Of me thicken my heart

With the blood of anguish

Your mercy

Waits for my

Trust for the world

To yield

To the vast

Mystery of love

Poem by Nancy Wolter

Ignations West Celebrates

a Day of Reflection and Prayer

"Showing the Way to God Through the

Spiritual Exercises and Discernment"

On January 10 Ignatian volunteers and guests enjoyed a fruitful retreat day at the beautiful Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino led by Lauren Schwer from Loyola University, Chicago.

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