By The Sea: Reflections of a Roman Catholic Woman Priest

This should be more aptly called “by the Water”-for any body of water is a gift from God to me. I live on a small lake in Florida and daily I say thank you to our loving God for finding this life giving place over 25 years ago. The life in and on and near this little lake always amazes and delights me. But a change of scenery is also a life giving thing and recently I spent ten days going North to New York and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It was exciting to be near other bodies of water, Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn where I saw two dear friends and Cape Cod where I also reunited with a dear old friend and explored the dunes and quaint towns, especially Provincetown.

Below is Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn where we celebrated Laura’s 86th Birthday. I first met Laura in the early 1980’s while teaching at NYU School Of Social Work and volunteering my services in a Shelter for Homeless Women in New York City. Laura was different than most of the women there. A religious Orthodox Jew, Laura became homeless after the loss of her parents and another elderly woman for whom she was a caretaker. As I shared her grief and her story we formed a bond that would last to the present time. Although of different faiths, our common faith in a loving God united us even as a concern for helping others was another bond. It was hard to find the right place for her to live but she made the best of the possible facilities and led a full life of serving others. In the picture with us is Dr. Danielle Nisivoccia Kavesh, also a social worker and social work educator and my friend and then hers over these many years. Last December Laura finally found the best place for her to live-in a Senior Residence sponsored by the Orthodox Jewish Community in Brooklyn. For the first time she feels at home in her home and is truly happy. She can finally attend regular Sabbath Services and enjoys speaking with her Rabbi. She also loves going just a few yards on her walker to the beautiful Bay. Her testimony is that “it took a long while, but God provided exactly what l needed” and she is truly happy and thankful. We are so happy for her! Happy 86th Birthday Dear Laura!

Below Danielle Nisivoccia Kavesh and Laura Rubin celebrating Laura’s August Birthday by the Bay. The waiters are singing “Happy Birthday”!

From New York we went to Provincetown on Cape Cod. This is a place that I loved years ago and I was delighted for the chance to visit again. The quaint houses and the crooked streets full of activity captivated me and the chance to explore the National Seashore, and even put my feet in its chilly water again was a special joy. And it was a special blessing to see my friend Dr. Carol Swenson again in her seasonal home on the Cape. (She and her husband Dave Hoover also live in California). We met half way between her home in Plymouth and Provincetown and spent a wonderful afternoon together. Carol and l first met when we were young Social Work Professors together at NYU School of Social Work. We ,thankfully , have remained close friends over the years as our jobs and lives took us far and wide.

Cape Cod is such a special place for God’s glorious creation to shine. The dunes are tall and wild and the sea beyond is calm and ever-flowing. The trees are bent by the gentle winds and the sky lifts as high as heaven. It was amazing to feel the vitality of the earth and sea joined there once again.

Thank you Dear God

Thank you for your magnificent

Creation,

for the city, and the countryside,

and the sea,

especially for the sea,

flowing from You,

flowing to You eternally.

For your people who persevere,

no matter what befalls, and

who love others

and become our loving friends.

For being with us

when times are good

and life is sweet and

when times are hard

and there are storms

on the peaceful sea,

and life is a challenge

for You are with us through

through it all.

Oh, thank You God!

Below is a stained glass window in the beautiful Church of St. Peter the Apostle in Provincetown. It shows Jesus calming the disciples’ fears, telling them not to be afraid, and walking toward the frightened disciples during a storm on the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:22-36). At Jesus’ word, Peter is brave enough to get out of the boat and walk toward Jesus. He keeps his eyes on Jesus and is able to begin to walk toward him on the sea. When he takes his eyes off Jesus for a moment and feels the wind pulling at him he begins to sink and immediately Jesus reaches out to him and saves him.

I pray for the faith to walk toward Jesus when the seas are rough. And if I fall, I pray to be able to reach for his hand and grab hold. I pray for all who have come through stormy seas and still served others like my friend Laura. I pray for all to be blessed and given peace and joy as she was.

May you have a sea-walking kind of faith!

Blessings,

Pastor Judy Lee, RCWP

Good Shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community, Fort Myers, Florida