SoulScribe on February 19th, 2018

All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.

Saint Francis of Assisi

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

SoulScribe on November 1st, 2017

Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.

Nelson Mandela

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SoulScribe on April 24th, 2017

As far as the right to life is concerned, every innocent human being is absolutely equal to all others. This equality is the basis of all authentic social relationships which, to be truly such, can only be founded on truth and justice, recognizing and protecting every man and woman as a person and not as an object to be used. Before the moral norm which prohibits the direct taking of the life of an innocent human being “there are no privileges or exceptions for anyone. It makes no difference whether one is the master of the world or the ‘poorest of the poor’ on the face of the earth. Before the demands of morality we are all absolutely equal”.

Saint John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae
(Quote from Encyclical Letter Veritatis Splendor)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SoulScribe on December 31st, 2016

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

Harriet Tubman

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SoulScribe on March 27th, 2016

The living word of God is able to involve us in this history of love, nourishing our hope and renewing our joy. The Gospel also reminds us of this: in order to kindle hope in the hearts of the women, the angel tells them: “Remember what [Jesus] told you” (v. 6). Remember the words of Jesus, remember all that he has done in our lives. Let us not forget his words and his works, otherwise we will lose hope and become “hopeless” Christians. Let us instead remember the Lord, his goodness and his life-giving words which have touched us. Let us remember them and make them ours, to be sentinels of the morning who know how to help others see the signs of the Risen Lord.

Pope Francis
Homily on Easter Vigil in the Holy Night
March 26, 2016
(Click here for full text of the homily)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SoulScribe on October 30th, 2015

Sometimes God gives us a whisper. One we can hear if we pay attention. It’s a nudge toward what we need to remember.

It can come in odd places where we least expect it.

My nudge came from a stranger on social media who asked me if I will continue this blog.

It’s been here, all along, and on my mind. It’s not something I forgot about. But I did have to put it on hold along with multiple other things I love.

Renewal
Ideas — a lot like life — do not stop when we are unable to develop them. Sometimes all we can do is listen and record them for the future. It’s frustrating to be unable to work on them, but also humbling, as we remember this path is part of a larger journey.

We must pick and choose our successes and battles as we are able. We cannot be in the driver’s seat of it all, at once. We are present on this journey and must learn whatever it is we need to continue.

Sounds easy. Except, knowledge comes over time. We do not learn it and move on immediately.

At first, I thought my current journey would be brief. Instead, it persisted. I still wander. In those times, the only one aware of me is God. He knows why I am wandering and that I turn to him in my loneliness.

I may wander in this desert for the rest of my life. Or not. It’s not for me to know or understand right now. It’s just time for me to celebrate one step on this journey as enough.

Even when we cannot see the ground in front of us, we must put one foot in front of the other as we journey through this life. We must turn our face to God, for he is calling to shelter us always.

And for those times when we forget, he’ll whisper until we are able to hear.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SoulScribe on September 25th, 2015

The common home of all men and women must continue to rise on the foundations of a right understanding of universal fraternity and respect for the sacredness of every human life, of every man and every woman, the poor, the elderly, children, the infirm, the unborn, the unemployed, the abandoned, those considered disposable because they are only considered as part of a statistic. This common home of all men and women must also be built on the understanding of a certain sacredness of created nature.

Such understanding and respect call for a higher degree of wisdom, one which accepts transcendence, self-transcendence, rejects the creation of an all-powerful elite, and recognizes that the full meaning of individual and collective life is found in selfless service to others and in the sage and respectful use of creation for the common good. To repeat the words of Paul VI, “the edifice of modern civilization has to be built on spiritual principles, for they are the only ones capable not only of supporting it, but of shedding light on it” (ibid.).

Pope Francis
To the members of the General Assembly of the United Nations
September 25, 2015

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SoulScribe on June 3rd, 2014

God sometimes asks us to follow an unexpected path with him. One that leaves our current path behind completely and starts anew.

It is difficult to leave behind life as we know it, and forge ahead to the unknown. We must deal with many emotions, including negative ones — fear, disappointment, loneliness, failure, pain. Still God calls to us and says it is time — whether gradual or sudden — he tells us our work on the current path is complete.

Unexpected path

I’ve been on this unexpected path for more than two years now. It is God’s design, as I never would have chosen this path knowingly. The catalyst and burden that set me on this path is a rare disease, for which until recently I had no name or treatment.

It is a miracle unto itself that I survived without treatment for so long. I lost almost everything in this battle – my health, my livelihood, my career, my lifestyle, my productiveness, my friends.

But as I was face down in the proverbial dirt, someone knelt next to me and lifted me up. “You are my beloved. Come and take this journey with me.” What I learned on this journey about life, love, myself and most of all God is overwhelmingly beautiful.

That is not to say this path is easy. It is more like clawing my way up a smooth wall of granite, one fingernail at a time. It is painful, lonely and alienating at times.

The one constant is God’s love and support, often times showing through some incredible people he put on my path. The ones who choose to be there and answer the call to do what God would do.

I cannot say that of everyone on my path. Others complicated it even more. God reminded me to pass them by, as I am on a path that they are not on. They have the opportunity to answer his call to compassion – whether or not they respond is up to them. I feel sorry for them, as they missed out on God’s call.

Still my focus is on those who do respond to God from the unexpected path. They reach out and walk along with me. They glow from following his example. They did not miss God as he walked by.

I am still on this path and will be for a long time to come. It will never leave me. Yet, I now know how to truly focus on love, for it will shine through the darkness.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SoulScribe on March 13th, 2014

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SoulScribe on November 16th, 2013

What people don’t realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross.

Flannery O’Connor
The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O’Connor

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,