My Dad, a World War II veteran, passed along to me by way of example the spirit of the virtue of patriotism. Though in many ways our nation has not lived up to its full potential as "an agent of peace with justice for all people," there are some patriotic ways to celebrate July Fourth.

When Sr. Mary Rose Mukukibogo first approached women in Gisagara, southern Rwanda, about starting an agricultural association, they were furious. It was 1997, three years after the 100-day genocide in 1994 that killed more than a million people during the fighting and the chaos afterwards. Mukukibogo, a member of Les Soeurs Auxiliatrices (Helpers of the Holy Souls), remembers walking from house to house in the district near the southern city of Butare, asking them if they'd like to join a farming cooperative.

"Ask the animals — and they shall instruct you; ask the birds of the air — and they shall tell you; ask the plants of the Earth — and they will teach you and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of our God has done this? In God's hand is the life of every living being and the breath of humankind."

The Panama Canal, the highlight of our last day, was a study in contradictions after the full immersion in the natural world of Darién. In the context of the Web of Life, I think beyond this place and this moment, where 3,000 people will visit with their cameras and iPhones and take selfies in front of the moving machines. I think of the 30,000 people who died in the creation of this canal. I think of the mountains moved, the thousands of acres of forests flooded and wetlands drained, and the millions of gallons of fresh water being flushed into the sea with the movement of every ship.

The day was one of transition. Two earlier presenters, Hermel López, regional environment ministry representative for Darién, and Osvaldo Jordán of the Alianza para el Desarrollo y Conservación shared reflections about the future for Matusagaratí and its meaning as a microcosm of the larger picture. Participants joined in a thought-provoking reflection , then the group immediately jumped into a series of activities until nearly 10 p.m. in Panama City. Today, Friday, is the last day, and we will go to see the Panama Canal and then have an integration ceremony.

See for Yourself - "If you show them love, they'll run their hearts out for you," so shared an unlikely horse expert. Unlikely only because I wasn't expecting one of the banquet servers to tell me about the horse track.

I was born into security and opportunity, but many others emerged into a world of poverty and barriers. On this, my 31st birthday, I pray that each of us does what we can to make the world better for all.

"Each of us was baptized to share in Christ's prophetic ministry. That means we need to stop and ask ourselves if we are willing to step into the space where the way of the world contradicts the Gospel and say, 'It doesn’t have to be this way.' "

Though we started with a somber presentation, as the day progressed, we moved to celebrate a rich abundance of life in many manifestations. And on our last night in Darién, we were caught up in the cosmic dance.

From A Nun's Life podcasts - What are some unexpected things you've learned about prayer? In this Random Nun Clip, we're with the Sisters of the Humility of Mary on a Motherhouse Road Trip to Villa Maria, Pennsylvania.