“Living the Life I Love”

One of my favorite theatricals has been “Man of La Mancha.” His quest is so eloquently verbalized in the song “The Impossible Dream.”

As our global violence mounts each day, we search for solutions to the reality. Truly we’re experiencing a dilemma on Mother Earth.

Michael Dowd and other visionaries step forth sharing options for our consideration. Michael states, “It is only through change in human consciousness that the world will be transformed. The personal and planetary are connected! As we expand our awareness of mind, body, psyche, and spirit, and bring the awareness actively into the world, so also will the world be changed. This is our quest as we explore new dimensions. Science tells us that we are evolving creatures,  living in the evolving universe that began with the great radiance/flash 15 billion years ago, leading to a transformation in our understanding of ourselves and our cosmos/universe.”

Deepah Chopra’s 2005 book Peace is on the Way challenges each of us in its multiple approaches. It bears reading by all who heed his invitation to become involved in humanity’s evolving.

My life was evolving gradually when I announced to my parents, Elizabeth and Oswald, that I desired to enter the School Sisters of St Francis in Milwaukee and become a nurse. Our mother had been an exceptional and beloved teacher according to her contemporaries. Her response to my message was, “Are you sure, Rosemary, that you don’t want to be a teacher?” My prompt “Oh no, mom and dad, I feel I want to become a RN.” Early in life, I tended to make decisions/commitments and live them. Some 27 years later I became a nursing educator for ten years in both classroom and clinical areas. Mom’s delight was immeasurable!

My siblings, Mary (Sheehan) Hutchcroft, Jim, our twins Cliff and Clete, Tom, and I learned from our parents the key of hope–filled and successful living. Music was an energizing part of our early lives as we were mentored for our future life commitments. Dad chorded on the piano as he shared his melodic tenor songs with family and friends. On one occasion, this earned an invitation to share his gifted music with persons in our local radio audience. Mom accompanied him at times when she enthusiastically played the piano with his chording/singing. Our Uncle Johnny entertained us with his violin, taking our requests.

The Sister Principal in our school, Sister Zita Wiebelhaus, had become a bright star in my early goal setting in life. She was a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis. On one occasion, I said to her, “Sister Zita, if I thought I could become half the person you are some future day, I’d check into your order.” She gave me one of her hearty laughs, adding, “So, Rosemary, you think I’m okay?” My affirmation of her rested in her caring soul and beamed to me through her diamond-bright eyes.

At the age of 17, I was received into the order. Symbolic of my call to the new lifestyle, my name was changed to Sister Miriam Terese. Gradually I was known as Sister Miriam. I loved my baptismal name Rosemary Frances. My parents’ wise choice befitted my later Franciscan lifestyle, since Frances is the feminine name for Francis.

The root of my name “Mir” means “peace” in many Eastern bloc countries. “MIR – I – AM = Peace I am. My name is perhaps the seed of my advocacy approaches to life’s calls to take a stand on issues affecting the many!

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, another “prime mover” in my life, stated that “Any act of love, no matter how small, is an act of peace!” Does the truth not create a road map for each of us in our awareness of necessary alternatives to war and violence?

I enjoyed 60 years actively involved in health care. After 37 years of uninterrupted acute care hospital ministry – the last 15 in the care of persons experiencing prolonged therapy and sometimes death after sustaining severe burn injury and cancer – I realized one day that I had to step away because it was just too much. I felt I had been nurturing myself throughout the accumulative years in these specialty services. However at that point I was questioning my beliefs, doubting my self-worth, feeling a failure in the discounted ministry and experiencing depression.

This brought me to the core/center of my be-ing in a depth never experienced in my 39 years in religious life. Darkness led me to an ever deepening “at oneness” experience with the Divine, nature, others and the cosmos. In this darkness, I found the light, my source, the energy that creates and maintains all of creation as it continuously evolves. Then I experienced an ongoing, ever deepening unity with all!

It was in these transferring months that the symbolism of the caterpillar’s progress through the cocoon to freedom of life-giving pollination beautifies life for all. Now I could identify with this process and grasp its hope-filled message.

This dark period catapulted me into the study and experience of the Eastern traditions and complimentary health care. I accepted a four-month scholarship at the Himalayan Institute for Health and Healing in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. I was a massage therapist in the wellness center, enjoyed the spiritual conferences and attendant discussions, and thrived on nutritious meals.

In the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Massachusetts, I was certified as a holistic health educator upon completion of the training program.

With Barbara Brinier, I completed eight programs in “esoteric healing.” From Dr. Carl and Stephanie Simonton at their Cancer Counseling and Research Center in Dallas, Texas, I completed Phases 1 and 2 of cancer counseling. Through Dolores Krieger’s supervision, I completed levels 1 and 2 in therapeutic touch. I became a certified Reiki Master and completed the four levels in Spring Forest Qi–gong and two Spring Forest Qi–gong retreats with Master Chung Lin.

Several years before learning Qi–gong, I recognized the symptoms of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in myself and I immediately enlisted healing modalities. After several months I recognized levels of improvement and decided to have the diagnosis confirmed by an oncologist with the understanding that with my continued approach, I would not chose chemotherapy. After some dialoguing, the compassionate physician agreed to my plan. I was completely healed – another transformation!

We understand that there is no justice without love! As our efforts in peace and justice and in our generous response to life proceed, I invite each of you to buy into creating your living the life you love story.

John Powell reminds us, “We need to think of ourselves as gifts to be given, and to think of others as gifts offered to us.”

The root of my name, then, is love/peace. Starting from the beginning: MIR – I – AM = love/peace I am. Starting from the ending: I am love/peace. I love my name and my life that flows from it! Shalom/peace!