I Am One String

I Am One String

by Lois Wendel

I am one string

Of a violin

Tighten me

To produce a tone

But careful!

Too much tension

And I'll break.

Tune me, oh God.

Play me-

Vibrato, staccato, legato-

Coax me

I am one string.

By myself,

No melody

Share me.

(This poem was written by my friend Lois Wendel during the retreat that we attended this weekend at the Sisters of St. Joseph Convent at Baden PA.  Lois and I are associates of the Sisters of St. Joseph and we gathered this weekend to reflect on the presentations of the two invited speakers from the Buffalo New York Congregation, Sister Judith Justinger, CSJ and Maureen Brown, CSJA on the Charism of Compassion.  In one of the sessions, one of the speakers, Maureen, invited the associates to reflect on the question "How are we instruments of the charism of the Sisters of St Joseph?" and "What instrument are we?",  

This beautiful poem was composed by the gifted Lois Wendel after reflecting on these questions.  I found this inspiring and symbolic of the need of community to carry out the charism of love, unity and compassion.

Lois Wendel.  You can read more of  her reflections in her blog,