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At times of transitions, like moving to a new city, changing ministries, letting go of friends and even when expanding my sense of the Sacred, I like to retreat with my kayak. This is such a time in my life! I was born in Sudbury in 1942. Mom and Dad had one son, Chuck, then I came along. Jean, a second daughter arrived three years later. I left home at age eighteen to enter The Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie in North Bay, Ontario. Because I don't do 'good-byes' well, I told no one outside my family that I was entering. My friends were shocked! They said, “Least likely to enter a convent!” While on my Canonical Year, (that's a year set aside to learn how to be a Sister, how to pray, how to live the three vows and how to build Community), I was assigned to clean the Chapel. I was up on the ladder dusting a six foot statue of the Sacred Heart and I started to cry. I told the Sacred Heart, “I don’t want to be here! I don't like it here! I am lonesome, I want to go home!” Very gradually I could ‘hear’ a soft voice repeating, “Sharon, Love Never Fails.” “Well,” I said, “my love always fails!” The Voice purred, “Sharon My Love for you never fails, when you can’t love enough, My Love will be there. . . loving for you!” After graduation as a registered nurse from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in North Bay, I moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario. There I began a glorious journey that would take me around the world, training Healers in India, Nepal, USA and Canada. For over thirty years I have been privileged to share the sacred, healing journey of many people. My specialties are family therapy and counseling those addicted to alcohol/drugs. Today, I find myself in Sabbath time. I ponder, “Who am I now?” During my Canonical Year in 1961, I regarded my three Vows as rather draining of life! Poverty seemed to underline detachment. Today, this Vow invites me to embrace all of life. Poverty reminds me to take responsibility for using my mind, (thoughts and words), using my heart, (emotions), and using my hands to contribute to the whole Earth Community. I had interpreted Obedience as relinquishing my will - becoming selfless! Today, my fundamental task in Obedience is to become who I am! My greatest power is to choose Love, which I best express by being in co-operation with all of creation. Chastity I thought was telling me to avoid relationships, intimacy was a “no, no.” Today, every part of creation has interiority, has soul. My sexual energies are to help me join, be in communion with all of creation. This Sabbatical time is a time to listen to my Divine Maker of Hearts. A time to discover where my God would like me to Love. To the kayak! I am the only one on the lake this evening. I wonder if I should go into the tributary? It is always difficult to get out, my rudder gets caught in the weeds, my paddle hits the branches. I don't paddle backwards too well! “Come in Sharon, come in!” The Narrows send me their invitation. I leave the beautiful blue expanse of water and gently make my way into the narrow path. Beaver joins me. Loons calm me. I sit quietly and watch the Wind Spirit tossing the cattails about. I whisper, “Should I go East? Should I go West? I surrender, I believe, I trust. Your Love never fails!” When I come out of my meditation, the Wind and Water have taken me back out to the big waters! Imagine all by themselves and no need for me directing them! My message is clear – “I will take you, Sharon, to where I want you to Love large!” Happy Kayaking!
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