Recently, Mary Hunt, a good friend and co-director with Diann Neu of WATER (Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual), emailed me. Mary is very committed to contemplation and asked me about swimming as a type of contemplative practice similar to Thich Nhat Hanh's walking mediation.

The Life - Good coffee. A walk in the bush. A catechism class for sixth-graders. But also prayer, parish visits and cherished time spent in community. In this latest installment of The Life, our global panel of sisters talk about how Sundays become days of physical and spiritual rejuvenation, of dreaming and visioning.

"Jesus touched the unclean, ate with sinners, worked on the Sabbath, and generally seemed to relish activities that were the symbolic equivalent of blowing dandelion seeds over every manicured lawn he came near."

Women who enter most apostolic congregations in the 21st century intentionally engage in a changing time. They add their energy to the chaotic mix, in service of God's people. But what we think is new is not new.

See for Yourself - The beautiful longhand with its display-card-quality perfect shaping of the letters belied her years of teaching the primary grades. I, for one, remember vividly the penmanship classes in grade school several times a week.

A seven-part documentary series focuses on the mission and charisms of women religious from Vietnam, Tanzania, the United States and elsewhere. The videos include interviews with sisters and those they serve, and convey the sisters' bonds and sense of community. The videos are available to view on Salt and Light TV's website.

"Resist! Sure, we have to stay in the struggle, but savor the flowers and gazpacho and the smell of cut grass this summer."

From A Nun's Life podcasts - Adrian Dominican Srs. Mary Beth Howell and Dusty Farnan share their guidance for those working their way through the winding path of discernment, and trying to understand God's calling in their lives.

"Let the public outcry reach all concerned, for there must be an outcry."

Truth can become corrupted if we latch on to some piece of data that fits a preconceived notion of our own, but that is not critically examined. Truth also entails that we live with a heart open to others.