Dear Group Leaders and Friends in Christian Meditation,
The other day, I was visiting my eldest sister. She had a statue of Mary that our parents had on their front lawn for as long as I can remember. It’s been in my mind that I would like to have this statue and place it in a location of prominence at my home. My parents died within a year of each other over a decade ago and at that time, I didn’t take many of their belongings. I had spent much of my life living in church housing with little space to make my own. I have that space now and want something to remind me of my parents, particularly my mom; it seemed like a good moment to ask my sister for the statue. She gladly welcomed me to take it.
The statue is incredibly heavy, but we got it into our Jeep, and it is now in our garage. The truth is it needs some work. My mom was an incredibly loving and empathetic person. She was good at many things, and over the years, my mom would paint the statue with blue clothing, pinks and other colors to make the statue appear like life. Sadly, it mostly looked like a young teen trying make up for the first time without guidance and lacking a steady hand. It is time to give it the attention that it deserves. This means someone else to work on it because I have inherited my mom’s lack of artistic talent.
What a good reminder that God has gifted each of us with particular gifts and talents and we are all unique! My silly example is meant to help us remember that as God’s children, as Christians and as meditators, we come in all shades and colors, genders and sexualities. And God loves us in our diversity…even those of us who can’t paint the Blessed Virgin Mary to save our life! An African American Catholic Bishop from Detroit, Moses Anderson, had his Episcopal motto as “Unity in Diversity.” As Christian meditators, we are incarnating that motto because as we sit still, in simplicity, we are God’s diverse community praying in the unity of the Mantra. We are seeking to be one with the One who is one.
The month of May for many is remembered as the prayerful time of Mary. It is also the month where we recognize our mothers. I think of my own mom, who was a fervent pray-er. She prayed the rosary daily for those children and parents she met as a crossing guard. She would pray using a rosary ring for those who struggled and needed Divine compassion and protection. These are my words but her example. I am sure that she didn’t realize it, but my mom showed me the wisdom of many great teachers such as Franciscan Richard Rohr who has taught that: “The People who know God well—mystics, hermits, prayerful people, those who risk everything to find God—always meet a lover, not a dictator.” It is my hope that my meditation and yours helps each of us to find a beloved in God that compels us to love our God and our neighbor.
As you know, the World Community for Christian Meditation offers both on- the-ground retreats and opportunities online. Since I am talking about the influence of women on our prayer life, as my mom was for me, I want to highlight an offering that you or your group might find inspiring: Women Mystics: Guides in the Life of Prayer. This six-session series takes place from May 8, 2025, until November 27, 2025. It is presented live, however the videos are available after the session to watch on our own time. The link to those videos is sent to you as part of registration. You will find more information here: https://wccm.org/events/women-mystics-2025/
May God continue to call us to be prayerful people compelled to love others in compassion, empathy and kindness!
Warmly, Kevin Maksym
