St. Francis

St. Francis of Assi.......... Feast Day October 4th

I am a little late for the feast day but, my blog yesterday began to make me think about creatures, and I immediately started thinking about St. Francis. He is of course considered to be the patron saint for animals and it is well-documented that he had an unwavering love for all of God's creatures. I have this statue in my front yard as you walk up into my house or leave it which ever comes first. The statue is a reminder to me of the simplicity of life, a life in which St. Francis chose to eventually lead and one in which I yearn for in my life today. I mean who actually yearns for and plans for a very complicated, busy and stressful life? Sometimes the life of calm turns into the very opposite. The hallmarks of our life become celebrated by and through our accomplishments rather than the calm within or the mere celebration of just being.

St. Francis made a committment to become an example for Christ. It was not easy then, nor is it now but, God is ever present today and his work is ever so needed in today's world where there is poverty, bloodshed and disaster.

To simplify is to serve each other in love, through love and for the love of God. Simply stated, simply lived, simply simplified, by and by through the life of Christ. Our lives should be so simple that our love of Christ radiates and is an expression of Christian love through our thoughts, words and deeds. Living the life of Chrisitan love is an expression that is celebrated in the total self giving of ourselves, of just being.

I try to consciously thank God everyday for at least 5 different things and or people each day. When I started to do this it was easy until I used up all those things that we thank God for in our OWN little worlds. Once we move out of our world and into the world of others we not only find many ways to give thanks but we also find God in the most unusual places, for instance, our dogs (see previous blog).

In the spirit of joy, laughter, forgiveness and love let us all try to simplify our lives so we can have time to see Christ in the many faces and places that we encounter each day.

Simply put......