Rejoice

     There are children everywhere in our house today (that is, more than usual). Teens on Wii and teens playing “Settlers of Catan.” In the morning, a quadruple recipe of pancakes after a huge sleepover, the car stuffed like a sardine can on the way to church. Later, the happy sounds of toddlers on the floor with trains, and schoolboys with Legos. It is the third Sunday in Advent, Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete…"Rejoice!"

      Edith Stein was a Jewish woman who lived in Germany in the early 1900’s. She became a Catholic and then a nun: St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She died at Auschwitz in 1942. She truly loved souls. She wrote that, whether we have children or not, when we are open to life in a spiritual sense, we beget life by inspiring others in love and faith.

     I have recently reconnected with a friend from High School. She was in a terrible car accident in our senior year and was disabled. She still has pain. She marvels at her path toward Christ and is openly thankful for His mercy. Her messages of hope and encouragement and love on her Facebook page are beautiful and inspirational. She truly loves God’s creation, His plan, and His souls. She has such joy.

     Last year I saw a documentary called “The Human Experience.“ The filmmakers, two young men, traveled around the world to some of the saddest of places: a leper colony in Africa, an orphanage in South America, the streets of New York where the homeless sleep in cardboard boxes on freezing nights. They wanted to know what kept these people going. What they found was remarkable. The movie is now out on DVD. It is beautiful.

     We are all here on this Earth, but living in many different circumstances. I pray for joy wherever you are. For love, hope, acceptance, and faith. Gaudete!


Suzy
  
The Abbey Farm