CSM Graduation Address 

Sr. Norita Cooney 

May 20, 2007 

  

Good morning! It is a privilege and an honor for me to be part of this ceremony. On this very special day I would like to extend my personal congratulation and best wishes to the graduates and to their families. 

  

As we gather to celebrate the class of 2007 I am reminded of the lines from an old church hymn that have always meant a lot to me: 

  

            We are pilgrims on a journey, 

            We are travelers on a road, 

            We are here to help each other, 

            Walk the mile and bear the load. 

                                                            (Servant Song) 

  

Over the years we've all had the privilege of walking with many, many companions on this journey through life. Our experiences on that journey profoundly influence our beliefs about ourselves, our relationships  and our responsibilities to the greater community..  

  

The theologian Walter Bruggemann once said, and I've always loved this quote: "What God does first and best is trust us with our moment in history. God trusts us to do what must be done for the sake of God's whole community." To the graduates I say: "This is your moment in history. As women who have been prepared for full participation and leadership in a global society, you have a special responsibility to do what you can to make this world a better place for all God's people."  

  

This morning I would like to share briefly a few stories and experiences about what I've learned on this journey through life. I hope these reflections will be of assistance to you as you seek to understand "what must be done for the sake of God's whole community." 

  

The most important lesson I have learned over the years is that it's all about where you find meaning and purpose and direction in your life.  Several years ago I attended a Nursing Council meeting at Bergan Mercy Medical Center. For the reflection at the beginning of the meeting one of the nurses shared the following poem from William Carlyon(Car-lee-on), the Director of the Department of Health Education at the American Medical Association. This poem, which is written tongue in cheek, illustrates the point I am trying to make. 

  

                                      

  

  

  

  

2) 

"The Healthiest Couple"                                      

 

They brush and they floss                                              And when at the age of 

with care every day.                                                      two hundred and three 

But not before breakfast                                                They jog from this life 

of both curds and whey.                                     to one still more free, 

  

He jogs for his heart                                                      They'll pass through those portals 

she bikes for her nerves.                                                to claim their reward 

They assert themselves daily                                          and St. Peter will stop them 

with appropriate verve.                                      "just for a word." 

  

He is loving and tender                                      "Who Ho" he will say 

and caring and kind.                                                       "You cannot go in 

Not one chauvinist thought                                             This place is reserved 

is allowed in his mind.                                        for those without sin." 

  

They are slim and attractive                                           "But we've followed the rules" 

well-dressed and just fun.                                               She'll say with a fright. 

They are strong and well immunized                               "We're healthy- 

against everything under the sun.                                    Near perfect- 

                                                                                    And incredibly bright." 

They are sparkling and lively                                            

and having a ball.                                                           "But that's it," will say Peter, 

Their diet? High fiber                                                     drawing himself tall, 

and low cholesterol.                                                       "You"ve missed the point of living                                                                                              by thinking so small." 

Cocktails are avoided 

 in favor of juice.                                                           "Life is more than health habits, 

Cigarettes are shunned                                      though useful they be.  

as one would the noose.                                     It is purpose and meaning, 

                                                                                    the grand mystery." 

They drive their car safely 

with belts well in place.                                      "You've discovered a part 

At home not one hazard                                     of what makes humans whole 

ever will they face.                                                        And mistaken that part 

                                                                                    for the shape of the soul." 

1.2 children they raise 

both sharing the job.                                                       "You are fitter than fiddles 

One is named Betty,                                                      and sound as a bell. 

.2 is named Bob.                                                           Self righteous, intolerant 

                                                                                    and boring as hell." 

(William Carlyon, Di rector 

Department of Health Education 

American Medical Association) 

3) 

  

Life is more than health habits (or a challenging job or a nice home in the right neighborhood or a good salary), though useful they be. It is purpose and meaning, the grand mystery." 

  

I believe the grand mystery is all around us. We just have to be open to the beauty and wonder of God that is present in the dailyness of our lives. Several years ago, on a beautiful spring morning, I was walking to the car and I ran into a homeless, young man who came to our house on occasion for food. We were talking about how beautiful it was outside after the long, hard winter and this young man, who had nothing, says to me: "This is God's world. I'm walking in God's world and it is a privilege to be here."  I thought to myself, "Wow, if I were in his situation would I be able to say that and to mean it ?"  

  

Throughout the course of my life I have experienced certain sacred moments like this that pull me up short and make me re-think how I am looking, or not looking, at life. Those moments generally happen in the midst of my daily activities. I believe God is inviting me at those times to step back and reflect on the underlying meaning in the host of fragmented and diverse experiences that are part of each day. 

  

One of my all time favorite books is a novel by J. D. Salinger entitled, "Franny and Zooey." In the book, Zooey talks about the fact that he was five years old when he discovered God. He says he was sitting at the kitchen table one morning pouring milk into a glass and he realized that everything was God and all he was doing was pouring God into God. Later on in the book Zooey tells his sister, Franny: "All we do the whole of our lives is go from one little piece of holy ground to another." I think Zooey, like the homeless young man, understood at a very profound level that all he did and all that happened to him was part of something greater, part of the mystery and wonder of life. 

  

We have innumerable opportunities every day to discover or uncover meaning and purpose in our life and in the world. In order to do this, however, we have to be conscious of the opportunities that are constantly before us. A couple of years ago I had a 7:00 a.m. meeting at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs and a 9:00 a.m. meeting at Bergan Mercy Medical Center here in Omaha. Of course, I was running late and I was supposed to chair the 9:00 a.m. meeting. As I raced through the front door of Bergan, totally focused on getting to the meeting room, an elderly woman in a wheel chair called out to me. "Come over here," she said. I knew by the tone of her voice that she meant business so I went over to her. "Who are you," she asked, "and what are you doing here?"  I replied, "I'm Sister Norita Cooney and I work here." "Well," she said, "then who am I and what am I doing here?" 

  

One of the hospital volunteers was standing by the woman and he told me that the woman's name was Mary Smith. This was before all the HIPPA regulations so he also told me that Mary had been in the emergency room because she broke her arm. The volunteer said they were waiting by the door for the woman's daughter who had gone to 

  

4) 

  

the parking lot to get the car. So, I said to the woman, "I know who you are. You're Mary 

Smith and you're here because you broke your arm." When I told the woman her name she got the most beautiful smile on her face and settled back in her wheelchair, quite content. She had her identity back and that was all that mattered to her. I continued on my way, going from meeting to meeting throughout the day and all I could think about was that profound question of Mrs. Smith: Who am I and what am I doing here?" 

  

Sometimes we get so caught up in what I call the clutter of our lives that we forget what has led us to this particular moment in time. I truly believe that what makes life special is the many and diverse opportunities we have to discover the wonder of life through our encounters with others and our opportunities to serve others. As Mother Theresa said: 

  

            There is a light in this world, a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we  

            may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is too much        

            suffering, too much pain. Then suddenly, the spirit will emerge through the lives  

            of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways. 

  

My prayer is that as you leave the college and continue on your journey through life you will always be open to hear the call and answer in extraordinary ways. And if you regularly ask yourself that question, "Who am I and what am I doing here?" it will help to focus on what is really important in life. 

  

Finally, as I was preparing my comments for this morning I kept thinking, if I could give you only one piece of concrete advise as you move on and take your next big step in life, what would that advise be? Well, I think I know what it would be and that advice is contained in a poem by Langston Hughes. The poem is entitled, "Mother to Son" but I don't think Mr. Hughes would mind if I rephrase the poem a bit and re-title it "Mother to Daughter." I'm also quite confident that all of the mothers in the room would agree with this precious piece of advice. 

  

Well, daughter, I'll tell you:                                              

Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.                So, girl, don't you turn back. 

It's had tacks in it.                                                         Don't you sit down on the steps 

And splinters.                                                                Cause you find it kinda hard. 

And boards all torn up.                                       Don't you fall now- 

And places with no carpet on the floor-               For I'm still goin' honey. 

Bare.                                                                            I'm still cimbin', 

But all the time                                                  And life for me ain't been no crystal stair. 

I've been a climin' on.                                       . 

And reachin' landin's 

And turning corners. 

And sometimes goin' in the dark 

Where there ain't been no light. 

5) 

  

Because life isn't always a crystal staircase, there will be times when you might be inclined to turn back or sit down and refuse to move forward. Be mindful at those times of all of the important models and mentors in your life who are still going on, still moving forward despite the splinters and cracks in their own lives. You owe it to them and to yourself and to the world to keep on climbing because, as I mentioned earlier: 

  

            "What God does first and best is to trust us with our moment in history. 

              God trusts us to do what must be done for the sake of God's whole community." 

                                                                                                            (Walter Bruggemann) 

  

Congratulations and enjoy this special moment in your life.