Sue Moon’s Blog

The Benedictine Abbey and Mount St. Scholastica Convent in Atchison, Kansas

Holy Ground

My first trip to the Abbey was a journey into holiness. It was like I revisited all the best of my Catholic upbringing and that was really special. The ceremonies and rituals, the Latin language, praying, Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, the Incense, the silent retreats, the study of the lives of the Saints, the remembrance that I once desired to become a nun in the Franciscan order. The many spiritual experiences. (I am not going into the negative aspects of it)

You cannot go back though and at the beginning of this trip I was disappointed briefly as I missed that connection. Fortunately I adapt and as Father Blaine was taking us around the Chapels at Mount Scholastica it all came flooding back in. Architecture, Frescos, Mosaics, Stained Glass windows, the quiet peace of the nuns, these are like portals for me into the heart of God, remembrances from childhood of experiencing God. The praying with the monks 3 times a day is a real blessing. The beauty of their young and old voices blending together in reverence and ancient texts places me in an altered state of bliss. When I am there I want to join the order, to be a part of the community and for that brief time I truly am.

The camaraderie of all who sojourned together was also a treat. Twelve of us, like the 12 apostles is what it felt like, all linked by a common desire to be part of something greater.

Then we experienced the amazing personality of Wangari Maathai! Having researched her a little I knew she was a force to be reckoned with. In person, it is rather like the sun has come out from behind a cloud and there she stands in all her glory, full of truth, integrity, righteousness, honor, wisdom, intelligence, I could go on, for she is a modern day saint working in the field of human misery and destruction.

Her words penetrated every one of the 1600 or 2000 people in the auditorium, you could feel their response. Passion would be the best description of her mission. She is passionate about Peace saving the planet, and she is right. She found that by having the women in small communities take back their power and their ability to feed and clothe and nurture their families through the planting of trees, the world will find peace. I’ve said it rather simplistically, but it is. I would recommend that everyone go to her website: http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/ When I came home in such a fine state of strength and belief once again in the human spirit to overcome all odds, I logged onto www.Kiva.org which is one of my favorite charities and donated $25 to a woman in Kenya who needs a water tank. Kiva makes small loans to individuals all over the world of anywhere from $100 to $1000, and when the people pay back the loan, you get back your original investment and can re-invest in someone else. I’ve done this twice now and will probably make it a monthly expense as the way it makes me feel is priceless!!!

I guess if I could sum up my experience of this trip in one phrase, it would be:

Hope for the World.

Peace, Shalom, Jai Bhagwan, Namaste