Blessing Seed

describes a life form that scientists identify in creation; a being that emerges independently, that grows and sustains itself while relating and responding to its’ environment: “autopoiesis”, also known as “Blessing Seed.”

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We honored a unique and wonderous, deeply respected life this month, a one-of-a kind sister-of-faith and blessing seed: my late and beloved friend, Kathy Collins.

The last time I saw Kathy, she was lying in bed encircled by a dozen of her precious, tender and weeping, family members. There was to be a sing-a-long. And there was. With her arm outstretched and overhead, and with the strongest voice in the room, she called to us, “SING!”

Battling her illness for years, Kathy was never dying but always rising.

“Joy,” she would say, “Is a choice.” And, “We really only have this present moment, don’t we? to make a choice?”

With one foot at her cross, Kathy stood firmly with life and her daily mission of loving and serving the world, a model for how to embody our faith and its’ good news, calling us to give whatever we have, choose life whenever we can, and to love and serve as much, and as many as possible, to the end of our days.

What do I embody? To whom am I a blessing seed?

When do I stand with life? choose joy? live my gratitude? give from my abundance?

Kathy Collins, was recognized this month by the Ignatian Spirituality Center with their new award, named in her honor and presented in her memory, the:

Kathy Collins Spirit of Service Award

for her remarkable commitments, life of faith, boundless service, and love of Ignatian Spirituality.

There was an inspiring force at work in Kathy: with students at Seattle University, with vulnerable ones of Saint Francis House, with retreatants in Spiritual Director of SEEL Puget Sound, and with the people of Bolivia in her Maryknoll year with her extraordinary partner in life and love, Bill, the best year of her life.

Kathy was grounded in love, determined and generative, creative and adventurous, a dreamer of possibilities, buoyed by youthful vitality and imagination, who chose to live simply, and give abundantly and - for all around her - beamed with joy and delight.