The Longest Day

We are fast approaching the longest day of the year in this Northern Hemisphere.  Daylight/sunshine is precious for reasons almost too numerous to list; such as, reasons related to vegetation; reasons related to food; reasons related to bone health to mental health and on and on.  Energy from the sun is essential for life on our planet.

The saints will tell us that we all have an inner diamond, which, in order to be fully itself the diamond must absorb as much light as is possible.

Do you have plans for this longest day of 2025?  Or would you rather just be surprised by how your summer solstice day unfolds? 

Mary Oliver has written the following poem entitled “The Summer Day” which might inspire your plans/or not for the way you spend the longest day of this year.

The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean —
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down —
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

-Mary Oliver

Blog by Sister Elaine Cole

Image: Rajiv Bajaj/Unsplash

Notice the Invisible

Today we are into the second week of April when crocuses have already pushed through the cold dark earth and tulips, and daffodils are inching above ground with the promise of spring.

I did not expect to see snow falling this morning but there it was.  However, as the flakes fluttered and fell, they instantly melted on all the surfaces in sight.

Then I noticed two snowflakes that did not land, no longer fluttered and did not melt.

They were caught in an unfinished strand of a spider web and waved up and down on my balcony for at least two minutes.

I’m left with an inner experience of awe at how what is invisible can capture and take control of the movements of a delicate visible snowflake. 

-Sister Elaine Cole, CSJ

Images courtesy of Unsplash: Julian/

The Third Sunday of Lent - Are you Curious?

The Scripture readings for the third Sunday of Lent (Year C), advances a belief that one can have a personal relationship with the Divine.

Moses sees a bush burning but is not being consumed.  He is curious.  He moves closer.

He hears a voice call his name “Moses”.   To hear one’s name is to believe that one is known. The voice warns Moses that he treads on holy ground and is to remove his shoes.

During this intimate encounter Moses learns his mission in life and learns the name of the Master pursuing him, “I AM, WHO I AM”.  This Divine voice identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 

The personal relationship established in this encounter will require trust and faithful obedience if it is to continue. God reveals Himself to Moses; the encounter begins with simple curiosity but evolves into an extraordinary exchange with the Divine.  Moses must now have a heart that remains humble and faithful to God.

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story of another tree-the fig tree that is not bearing fruit.  In his parable, the owner of the vineyard wants to cut down the fig tree, but a compassionate gardener pleads for more time to nurture it before cutting the tree down. 

Everything is being done to bring the tree to the fulfilment of its purpose for being that is, to bear fruit.  The owner of the vineyard grants one more year of life to the fig tree.  Jesus is teaching a lesson of mercy to his disciples.  By gratefully receiving the mercy of the owner of the vineyard and accepting the compassionate care of the gardener the fig tree is given extra time to bear fruit. In a personal relationship with the Divine each is given the gift of mercy and time to bear good fruit.

Now is there a tree in your life that can pique your curiosity and draw you into an extraordinary relationship with the Divine?

-Sister Elaine Cole, CSJ

Images: Unsplash: Andy Watkins/Michal Hlaváč/

World Day of Prayer 2025

February is the shortest month of the year and we are already looking at March and planning for World Day of Prayer which always takes place each year on the first Friday of March.

This year's prayer service was put together by the women of the Cook Islands and is to be celebrated on March 7, 2025.  I appreciated finding this attached video because I had no idea where the Cook Islands were.  The women of the Cook Islands tell their story as indigenous people being colonized and their story is not unlike that of the indigenous people in our own country of Canada.

““I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.””

— Psalm 139

If you wish to take part in the prayer service, please search for the Christian Churches in your area that will be gathering to pray together for the women of the Cook Islands.

-Sister Elaine Cole, CSJ

Image: Hanny Naibaho/Unsplash

About Family

In Alberta, it was noted that February was a month without a day to have a holiday celebration.  Alberta passed the first Family Day Act in 1990.  The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta—Helen Hunley—established the third Monday of every February as Alberta Family Day.  Other Provinces adopted the holiday over the next twenty years.  Saskatchewan founded “Family Days” in 2007, and Ontario followed in 2008 then British Columbia in 2013.  British Columbia is the only province to choose the second Monday of the month instead of the third Monday. Other Provinces have adopted similar holidays in February.

Family Day is meant to provide an opportunity to spend quality time strengthening family relationships.  I’m reminded of the scripture from Exodus 20:12, that reads

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you”.

You may recognize this as the Fourth Commandment given to Moses on Mount Sinai.  It’s rather curious to note that this is the only Commandment with a condition attached, with a ‘provisio’.  Respect, esteem shown your parents merits long life wherever God is leading you.  This could be one interpretation of the Fourth Commandment.

I believe the Indigenous Community live instinctively their love, respect and esteem for their elders and merit to live long in this God-given land.

Perhaps we should focus on our families showing the members love, respect and esteem, so that we too can live long and peacefully in this land we call Canada.

-Sister Elaine Cole, CSJ