Review of Life

Lectio Divina

You formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.

Psalm 139:13

Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.

Philippians 2:6

Library

Working slowly, steadily through the Spanish textbook. Going similarly through Priscilla and Aquila. Reading in Franciscan philosophy and theology on hold for the moment.

Log

Yesterday: lunch with one of the local Capuchin priests (on loan to the California province from the New York province) in the town of Solvang, which surrounds Old Mission Santa Ines. Solvang was founded a century ago by Danish immigrants, and its whole economy is basically tourism. If you want to get a taste of Denmark, come to Solvang. I mean this literally: we dined at a restaurant specializing in Danish-American fare. Then we enjoyed some frozen yogurt before returning to Old Mission Santa Ines for good conversation.

Today: ministry at Catholic Charities in Santa Maria.

This evening, the brothers gather for what they call a "review of life." It is similar to our faith-sharing meetings, except that instead of looking at our lives through the prism of Scripture, we are looking at our lives with the naked eye. We are the immediate subject of our reflection, not Scripture. Thus, instead of identifying what words or phrases from the Gospel speak deeply to us, we will identify experiences, feelings, and thoughts that speak deeply to us. Our brothers will have the opportunity to ask questions for clarification but not the opportunity to advise or evaluate us. As in the faith-sharing meetings, we are here to listen to one another, and to listen well enough to summon speech from our brothers. We will hold these review of life in lieu of faith sharing once a month on these Fridays. These meetings for personal reflection serve as a lead-in for our monthly meeting for business, known as a house chapter, the first of which is Saturday morning.

Weather

Temperatures rising out there, but within, spirits are staying cool.