High Noon in Mid Winter

    High Noon in Mid Winter

    - Here we are, perched on a hill behind Santo Domingo, watching the world go by. 

       

    - Earlier, it was like a child's painting: one blue colour, glistening, for the sea, another blue colour, slightly less intense, for the sky. 

    But with the march of the hours, the heat added a hazier blue, and light white clouds began to appear, drifting lazily above the cristal Caribbean sea. 

    

    - In the distance a cargo ship is approaching the port of Haina. 

- In the foreground there is silence. Absolute silence. 

    It is the last weekend of the holidays. 

    Maybe everyone has gone to the beach. 

    Be that as it may, there is peace on earth and goodwill to all men. 

    - Here we are again, starting the new year by participating in a four day retreat of silence, with a master of spirituality. 

    Silence except for his meditations, and the "Hours". 

    We are praying all seven of the "Hours" in community and -of course-, Mass every day. 

    Franciscan spirituality is so simple and so deep. 

    - Now I am absolutely certain of just one thing: that I know absolutely nothing about spiritual life. 

    

    - I used to joke that I was studying to be a saint, but was always being failed on the end of term exams. Well the year has hardly started and I am totally lost already! 

    - But the handiwork of God makes a lovely view, doesn't it? 

    - Thank you Lord for giving us eyes to see with.