Thinking About Life and Death

Last month, I helped lead five retreats with Fr. Don Farnan at his Spirituality Center in Kansas City. We called these retreats "Contemplating Life and Death."

Each group was different, but everyone shared interesting stories and asked thoughtful questions. One common theme with all of the groups was people realizing they probably have fewer years ahead than behind them. That got many of us thinking about how we want to use our time and live with more purpose.

During our retreats, we heard a beautiful prayer written for Archbishop Oscar Romero. Part of it says:

"We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities."

I love this prayer because it reminds us that even our small actions matter. We're all helping build a future, even if we won't see all of it ourselves. Our part still counts!

What seeds are you planting and nurturing in your own life?

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Here's two questions I've been asking myself lately, and maybe you'd like to think about them too: What seeds am I planting today? And how am I taking care of the ones already growing?

As we move through these final weeks of Lent – a time when many people reflect and prepare – I'm trying to live each day more mindfully. There's a phrase I've been thinking about: Memento Mori. It means "Remember that you will die." But I pair this with another important reminder: Remember that you must LIVE.

I want to live the life I feel called to. I want to become the person I believe I'm meant to be. Both truths – that I will die someday and that I need to live fully now – help me focus on what truly matters.

As you think about your own life, you might ask yourself:

• Am I living the life I really want?

• What matters most to me right now?

• What do I want to leave behind?

We might not have all the answers, but just asking these questions can help us live more meaningfully and consider the ways we are being called to grow and to help others grow.

If these thoughts stir something in you and you'd like someone to talk with as you explore them, I'd love to chat about spiritual direction. It's a safe, supportive space where you can pause, reflect, and notice where you might be experiencing the divine in your everyday life.

~ Rhonda