September 23. BECOMING (From BECOMING ECO-FRIENDLY FAMILIES)
The Yesterday, today and tomorrow bush is a wonderful example in nature of “Becoming” with flowers changing colour as they mature and eventually die.” MARFAM’s history of over 30 years is a journey in faith, a journey of becoming more and more family-centred. Originally in 1979, we, Chris and Toni Rowland had experienced a life-changing conversion through Marriage Encounter, gaining new insights into the value of marriage for couples and the Catholic Church. This led to our work in marriage preparation and gradually, also as our family grew, into family ministry. We came to appreciate the importance of family life as a network of relationships and the ideal place to begin to learn the many life skills required to become mature and well-functioning persons in a social setting.
Growing and becoming are life tasks at every stage of life from infancy to old age, through marriage, widowhood, divorce, parenting and grandparenting. After Chris’ untimely death in 2000 the journey of becoming continued for me, Toni, into widowhood. My spirituality in time has become more ecological, understanding too more fully, God as Trinity, God as creator and our human role as co-creators with God through lifegiving sexuality which is God’s gift and is intrinsic in all of creation.
Becoming Fully Human and Fully Alive is a psycho-spiritual view of growth and development that everyone undergoes in their own way as an individual and also in the context of their relationships. I am a woman, not in isolation but in the context of my family relationships first of all. After that my friends and colleagues, in school, work and other activities, help me on my way to becoming the person I am destined to be according to God’s plan.
At the same time there is also a need for privacy. “Why do people keep some of their traditions and cultures a secret? People may be welcoming but seldom really get to share or know other people’s personal traditions. Is it privacy, fear, embarrassment, not wanting to be challenged, or superstition?“ But through social media everyone can get to know everything about everybody. “I also believe that we often keep things that worry us to ourselves.” “Maybe we ought to be more open about teaching important values e.g. about loss of biodiversity or how properly to Care for our Common Home.” “Communication in a family is important to help persons grow and become but can be really tricky too, to keep a proper balance.”
Reflect, share, act. Scripture: Jesus said “no one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. Luke 8:16-17.
Pope Francis. Ecology involves protecting the cultural treasures of humanity in the broadest sense. It is more than what we have inherited from the past; it is also and above all a living, dynamic and participatory present reality which cannot be excluded as we rethink the relationship between human beings and the environment. LS 132. Pope Francis: In the family we receive an integral education which enables us to grow harmoniously in personal maturity. The human person grows more, matures more and is sanctified more to the extent that he or she enters into relationships, going out from themselves to live in communion with God, with others and with all creatures as everything is interconnected. LS 240.
Eco-tip and prayer: Reflect on and discuss the value of privacy or openness in communication for our common good. Pray the Glory be to the Father…………..
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