Did you know?

Celery is considered to do best in cool weather, but did you know that it can survive through Chicago winter? Our celery here at the CDN is still surviving, as Sr. Cathy Arnold O.P puts it. A few stems of the celery still withstand temperatures in the low teens and several heavy touches of frost. Winter weather doesn’t kill our hardy celery; the cold is simply slowing its growth. Perhaps we have the best brand of celery.

Each time I look out through the window to the garden and see the weak celery leaves still alive

Our 'surviving' celery

after the snow clears and every other crop is dead, I can’t but think of resilience and perseverance. Maybe this is what we are invited to at these trying times in our world, resilience in the face of life’s challenges and difficulties. To access the redeeming grace, strength, and power of the risen Christ that surrounds us, to trust that God’s grace and the truth will help us navigate through it as we read in scripture; ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’

To achieve this resilience, I need to pray fervently and deeply, sharpen my contemplation skills, and dig deeper into God’s word, as I am frequently reminded through St. Dominic’s lessons.

Kendra Cherry wrote this about resilience, “It is the mental reservoir of strength that people can call on in times of need to carry them through without falling apart. Psychologists believe that resilient individuals are better able to handle such adversity and rebuild their lives after a catastrophe” ( https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-resilience-2795059). If I am open to learning from the experience, I come out stronger and wiser. This will boost my well-being, hence practice gratitude, as Job did. He exhibited resilience even after he lost everything. He refused to focus on his loss but believed that God was in control, and thus maintained resilience. Job didn’t give up! God honored and blessed him for it. Oh, What a lesson I learn from Job!

….. Stay tuned to find our whether our celery will survive the remaining part of winter…..