You might say I'm a dreamer

By Sr. Christine Gebel, O.L.M.
March/April 2009

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Sixty years ago, Our Lady's Missionaries was founded on a dream. Over the years, the elemental pieces of the dream have remained the same: the bringing to birth of the kin-dom of justice, peace, freedom, and love. Yet, the dream has grown and expanded to meet the challenges of new times, becoming ever more inclusive and universal.

Sisters Frances Brady and Christine Gebel (left and right) with Bonnie and Dave Collacutt at the Awakening the Dreamer symposium. Toronto.

Like our founder, each OLM Sister and Associate is propelled by the dream, and each one has her own unique way of living it out. These days I find myself in Canada once again. What has happened to my dream of being a missionary? I suppose that other OLMs are asking themselves this same question, particularly those who have returned to Canada now that they are growing older.

However, when I look around at the OLMs in Toronto, I see every single one continuing to live mission. After years of dedicated work with dear friends in various well-loved little corners of the world, I see the Sisters turning that fierce love towards new friends in new places. Physical energy may have waned to some extent, but the dream remains strong and vibrant.

Sr. Frances Brady and I have become involved in a group called Ecologos.The dream of this marvelous group is of a society that is ecologically viable, economically vital, and socially just. The goal of Ecologos is to bring this about through a five-step experiential learning process called Image Shifting. Image Shifting makes use of the head and the heart with the hope that in turn, hands, and feet cannot help but move to make a difference. Ecologos has also partnered with another group, The Pachamama Alliance, which has developed a symposium called "Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream." Both of these groups are about coming together, not just to dream, but to make our dreams reality.

Our level of involvement in these two groups is not great, but we do try to be a supportive presence and to help out in our own small ways. It seems to me that what is most important of all is the coming together; coming together to talk, dream, and make a plan of action - this encourages me and enlivens me to carry on, as I realize that even though some may say I'm just a dreamer, I'm not the only one.

For more information on Ecologos, The Pachamama Alliance, and the symposium "Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream", visit: www.ecologos.ca, www.pachamama.org, and awakeningthedreamer.org

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