What a terrific morning we had yesterday! Sister Julie and I were in downtown Chicago for breakfast with Sarah Jindra, Lisa Labuz, and Melba Lara, of WBEZ Chicago Public Media. Sarah is the traffic reporter for WBEZ, and Lisa and Melba are the on-air folks in the early morning and in the afternoon.

The breakfast was part of a fund-raiser that Sarah was involved in for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The fund-raiser was incredibly successful. The money will help in the cause against blood cancers. The fund-raiser included an auction for the breakfast with Sarah, Lisa and Melba. A dear friend who knows that Sister Julie and I adore WBEZ placed the winning bid and offered us the breakfast prize!

We met at the WBEZ studio on Navy Pier, then headed to The Yolk for breakfast. As we talked over a really good meal (God bless red skin potates), Sister Julie and I were deeply impressed with the way they described their work. For example, they talked about how, before going on-air, they have to be able to set aside the distractions of their day so as to be fully present to listeners.

To my ears, it sounds like a great spiritual practice! Being present to ourselves and others in a world that constantly tugs at our attention is no small feat! It also reminds me that our ministries affect not only others, but that they also shape and transform ourselves. Blessings to Sarah, Lisa, and Melba for their presence and their service!

Religious & Ethics Newsweekly on PBS recently aired an episode about Abbot Barnabas Senecal, OSB, of the Abbey of Saint Benedict located on the campus of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.

Abbot Senecal is a photographer and says that in the midst of his life of prayer and contemplation he has found a spiritual practice in photography.

“Taking photographs reminds me of the positive. Monastic mindfulness is pursuing what Benedict taught about being aware daily of your presence of God with you and in the world. It’s mindfulness of creation and of sharing that with others….

Watered by Father Joaquim, a photo by Abbot Senecal

I am nourished by taking pictures. Yes, it’s a spiritual exercise in that I don’t just take a picture and store it. I will reflect on it. Entering into these moments of photograph is a conviction that I’m seeing something that I didn’t make, the other person didn’t make. It’s there, it’s there because it’s part of God’s creation….

A quick camera shot, up close, holds that beauty before me. I don’t own such beauty. No one does. It is the Creator’s forever, and mine for now, and I share it with you.”

Abbot Senecal often takes photos of his fellow monks, with each photograph telling a story not only about the man but about the way of monastic life.

Watch the video of Judy Valente’s interview with Abbot Senecal at Photographer Monk (September 10, 2010). And don’t miss the link to the Extended Interview with Abbot Senecal in which the abbot reflects on the Psalms, prayer, photography, and the Benedictine desire “to seek God daily.”

See a gallery of Abbot Senecal’s photos on the website of his community.

What sparks your imagination as you read about Abbot Senecal? What “ordinary” activity such as photography is or might be your spiritual practice?

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Join A Nun’s Life Community for prayer today via our live podcast “Praying with the Sisters” and chat room. Just before 6 p.m. Central Time (your time zone) join us at http://aNunsLife.org/LIVE … more info on that page.

Today we are blessed to have Sister Theresa Milne, IHM, with us. This is one of the videos that I took when I was home in Monroe. Sister Terry responds to one of your Nun Questions.

What particular spiritual practice is most important to you in your walk with the Lord and why?” (from deerose)

In this video Sister Terry talks about the simple prayer of saying “yes” and “thank you” to God.

The two books that Sister Terry mentions are as follows:

• Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
• Thank God Ahead of Time: The Life and Spirituality of Solanus Casey by Michael Crosby

Sister Theresa Milne, IHM, is a Catholic nun belonging to the Immaculate Heart of Mary congregation. Sister Theresa lives at our IHM Motherhouse in Monroe, Michigan.