A Gentle Soul

Dear Diary,

Today is the Feast of St. Francis.  He has always been one of my favorite saints and mystics.  It is his association with animals and birds I think.  He was a gentle soul who recognized the gentle souls of the small furred and feathered ones.  This sweet one was at my feeder early this morning and I love the light on it's feathers and its watchful eye.  I created a painting of this gentle soul.

If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.

So many of his words resonate strongly for me today especially after the horrific school shooting this past week and the never ending conflict in the mid-east.  He tried to reconcile the warring factions during one of the Crusades by simply walking into the Sultan's camp to talk with him.  We could use his spirit there today.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

With Pope Francis we are finally seeing a pontiff that "walks the walk".  I believe that is what makes him so beloved among diverse peoples around the world.  We would do well to do the same.

It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.