Some might be surprised to learn that at 82, i walk over two miles with the help of two canes for purposes of balance and safety.
I certainly am not yet in the same league as the former soldier who recently became a British hero at 100. He committed himself to walk the 82-foot length of his garden back and forth 100 times using his walker for support. To his surprise, he raised over a million dollars to support the chronically under-funded British National Health system!
The two-plus FitBit miles I walk take about an hour over the course of the day. It is distraction-free for the most part. I can tell you about every change in the pattern of the rug. Of course, my cardiologist and physical therapist are quite happy with the difference it has made in my life.
What do I think about?
On the eve of Vocation Sunday I find myself thinking about what led people to drop the nets of their daily lives to follow this Jesus. What inner urge led them to hang around Jesus. Of course, the corollary to that question is… what caused so many people to hang around with Vincent and Louise.
My hunch is that people of goodwill were attracted by their way of looking at things and how they commited themselves to it. They must have liked being in their company along with many other like-minded people. Jesus, Vincent and louise were the best
What is your hunch?
What does that mean as we celebrate Vocation Sunday?
How can our lives attract peopole to Jesus’ earthly mission to bring good news to the poor.
Thanks for sharing your mindwalk with us.
What draws people? Light. Just like moths are drawn to light.
As the song says – “Let your light shine for all the world to see.” or as Jesus admonished “Don’t hide your light under a bushel basket” (do I have that right?) So what draws people to drop the nets of daily to to follow Jesus (or Vincent or Louise) is the light of that they allowed to shine through. It shows through as love and involvement in the present moments of life. It shines into the dark corners of life so one can be safe to look there and discover that “red and yellow, black and white, we are precious in His site.”
You once told me that you could only show me the God you know. That’s the light that shines through you.
Thanks for your comment! I am deeply touched that you remember me saying something like that.
But now that I think of it, it may have been one of the many times when we were in Paris doing digital presentations for CIF, the Center for Vincentian Formation, and got into a discussion close the subject of this post.
I just got back from part of my daily walking and realized a couple of other things about your comment.
You are a background person who many people do not know has worked with FamVin since 1998. Yes, 1998!
Without your technical wizardry, FamVin would not be the light it is today!
It has been quite a journey from those early days getting FamVin up and running in three languages. I have lost track of how many languages you are supporting now… not to mention the numerous sites for other individual branches of the Vincentian Family. I do know that you have made it possible for the light of Vincent and Louise to shine in our time. Thank you.
Oh, yes, the memory a light shining was probably from a discussion of St. John Henry Newman’s words… “Let love light up my mortal frame until others catch the living flame.”