VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
It really is the Lord that inspires me to do the things that I have done. As I try to follow the promptings, the Lord unfolds things little by little. When I left Hawaii 20 years ago, I wasn’t really sure where the Lord was leading me next. But if you have faith and respond to whatever you feel called to, it is really only about taking one thing at a time. As you keep on moving, each step becomes an affirmation of the Lord, an incident provided in life that somehow confirms the path that you are taking. You begin to see the fruits of trusting the Lord’s path.
I wasn’t always trusting. Many times I did get nervous and lose heart; it’s a part of the journey. However, it was while being in New York during the era of the holistic movement of body, mind and spirit as one in harmony, that I was drawn to cofound the Oneness in Peace Spiritual Center with Claire Langie in Germantown, New York. The center was a humble, little one built on the hope of touching lives with peace that would touch others.
As educators, we incorporated contemplative prayer and mindfulness into the retreats and teaching programs offered. We also designed a peace education program called H.O.P.E. (Holistic Orientation for Peace Education) for schoolchildren. In the program, children were taught how to use their body, mind and spirit in caring for themselves, that they could treat others with peace, love and respect.
For example, when you are feeling tense, do the “ha” breath. In a standing position, imagine yourself between heaven and earth tall like a tree, or like a piece of string running from above your head to below your feet. As you take a deep breath in, reach your hands up to heaven. As you breathe out, say “haa” as you bend your knees and lean your head forward letting your hands drop to your side. Then slowly, vertebrae by vertebrae stand up and return to your center. Children like to do this exercise. After their bodies relax, we can continue with the lessons on peace education.
Peace begins with me. You need to find peace first in yourself. If you don’t have the peace in your heart, you can’t give it to others. It’s about finding peace with God and God within yourself. Refer to the Lord in your heart. Look at creation and all the different ways and experiences you have and try to remember that God is with you. God is there in each one of us, so breathe in God’s presence.
In times of frustration, stop and breathe in God’s presence. In times of joy, stop and breathe thanking God for the joy. Try to be mindful as you breathe, for once you attain peace, it can be expanded to the whole universe. You can also use a mantra breathing in, for example while saying “Jesus.” And breathing out while saying, “I let go.” Use whatever comes to mind and fits you personally. In learning these skills we can leave peaceprints. This is the fruit of trusting the Lord’s path.
Sister Vergilia Jim is a Sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities from Wailuku, Maui. She credits her Buddhist mother especially, who encouraged the children to go their own way, for the Catholic faith she discovered at St. Anthony School in Wailuku and her religious vocation. She is 63 years professed and retired in Mt. Vernon, New York.