Good things are meant to last

 

I feel disturbed when people say "Good things never last". It seems like a very skeptical way of looking at life. That is what I love about faith. It tells us that there is something beyond us, something that surpasses our way of looking at and understanding things.

If a thing is truly good, it will last. It may not be in the form that we have always known, but it will last. The challenge for us is to know when a thing is truly good. Following our criteria may not be a wise choice, because our criteria could be subjective as they follow our moods, our feelings, and our emotions. 

Look for a north star, a guiding light other than yourself. My faith tells me to look up to God. 

As we look up to that Guiding light, it will tell us what is truly good. And as we go through life, in its ups and downs, we will see that good things may change in forms and shapes, but they always last.r

Embraced by mystery

 

It is Christmas. We welcome the Word-made flesh among us, as the greatest manifestation of God's love. Our life has meaning. The incompleteness, the never-ending journey of living life's questions and paradoxes without desiring to have all the answers, is sustained by our experience of God's tender love. He is the dawn from on high that slowly illumines the darkness. Yes, slowly, almost in a hidden way. And if we are willing to wait, God gives us a glimpse of the mystery.

Shield

 

What shields us from pain might also shield us from growth.

Miracles surround us

I was stopped by a lady this morning. She excitedly told me "Sister, I received a miracle". Then she went on to say that she is diabetic and she was able to find a good hospital where she is being treated. My first reaction was, so what is the miracle there? She is still diabetic. But on second thought, Vittoria was right. 

When we think of miracles we think of instantaneous cures or the complete resolution of a problem. But miracles abound every day. They surround us. We need the pure eyes of a child who can see wonder in the most ordinary things. We need a grateful heart that doesn't demand anything nor take anything for granted.

Thank you Vittoria. Lord, grant that I may see.

Live in the present moment

 I went to St. Peter's very early last Saturday. What an experience. I basked in the silence and in the possibility of just walking and enjoying the views and buildings I have passed several times, without taking time to appreciate their beauty and timelessness. 

I felt grateful to have this opportunity to live in the present moment, fully immersed in the moment, because that is the only one we have in our hands

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Thank you

 

What better way to end the year than to say, "Thank you". Everything is grace. To God who is the source of everything, thank you.

Making a list is always risky because there is always a big chance to forget something. But I make this list because it helps me to recognize God's expressions of love.

For the people I have met along my life's journey, thank you.

For the experiences that made me who I am and that continue to mold me to be a good and decent person, thank you.

For the unexpected circumstances, both happy and sad, that get me in touch with the core of who I am, thank you.

For the gift of life, for every breath I take, thank you.

For all of you, my friends, thank you. Be assured that I remember you in my prayers. Let us allow God to be the center of our lives, our families, our societies. We cannot do it by ourselves. We need a greater Power. 

Why is it difficult to say that we believe in God and we trust Him? That is not infantile. That is speaking the truth.

Joy

 

Joy is not a prize, nor a quest, nor a destination.

Joy is the spirit within us, accompanying us in our journey.

It is like a dancing and totally dynamic flicker of light that warms our heart, sustains our resolve, pushes us to move ahead, and allows us to see the good and the beauty that surrounds us.