Running water, electricity, heating, the building I live in, the supermarkets near by and the food I buy that I need to live, public transportation close at hand … bus, train, plane, boat … all nearby … roads and tracks and rivers and sky … gardens of others to enjoy (I live in an apartment) … community centres and libraries … churches … neighbours …

Perhaps by living with gratitude I pass on something to others …

Yes! A deep inner joy (that the Lord, in his mercy and kindness, helps me to place Him first) and the sense of how much he loves me, are growing in me. I am blessed to have a quiet afternoon, and it will be contemplative, grateful and relaxed …

Well, no one person (except our Lord) can embody all human gifts … so it is a joy to be around those with other gifts and talents … I get a better sense of the richness of human potentiality …

I do not really know what my gift is. Suggestions as to how to discover what it is?

My health is good, and I am involved in two churches … Adoring, reading, serving, singing, rosaries, attending Masses. My job is as a care-giver for a religious sister. I am lucky to have work at nearly 70 years of age that is satisfying to both myself and my client! Family relationships are good as well, and I am happy to live where I do, and to be in a country that is at peace (Canada).

I try to live my faith more and more deeply and authentically.

It encourages me to feel deeper compassion for others, rather than reacting to the things they do that are not pleasing to me.

I notice a static hum which I take to mean Presence. It may be tinnitus, of course, failing ears … but I take it to mean a loving Presence, supporting me in my loneliness, anxiety and pain …

This is a second ‘answer’ to this question. It is another question …. There are those moments when I am just interested in doing something distracting, like Mike’s cards, which, fortunately, no longer works on my current version of Mac OS. There must be more creative ways to live free moments!

I think the emotion alone is more superficial and shorter lived, and can have, for me, a somewhat frenetic intensity. Being gratefully is more deeply rooted, more calm, like a deep well of water that can be returned to and drunk deeply from.

It is true. The gift of our life is so precious! Every moment is to be lived as fully as possible, not by exterior demands, but by being present fully, to be rooted in my own being, which is tenderly held in Being in our loving Creator.

Take a nap.

The best comes out of me when I have challenges!

Each and every one …

I lost my job. My sister has offered me some work, for which she will pay me, plus she will treat me to dinner. My friend Linda has invited me over to her place to do some work for her as well, and that means I likely will receive both some pay and some food. Generous family and friends!

I am going to take one last opportunity to reconcile with my boss tomorrow, and people are praying for us.

Will you pray for us too?

I think if I had had an easy life, I would be insufferable, always demanding that everything went my way. But, as I have been blessed with a difficult life, I am stronger, more resilient and more respectful of the uniqueness of others.

I think the difficulties I confront help me know resilience because to dwell on the difficulties and losses is death, but to let go allows me to continue to live more deeply and with more openness …

From my mother, who always loved me no matter my shortcomings.

Some of the many things that make me feel most alive include …
A walk in the woods. Engaged in photography. Learning. Praying. Writing in my journal. Cooking. Reading Scripture, BDP, or the works of spiritual masters. Watching the sun come up. Singing in my choir. Dancing. Being on the sea shore. Adoration. Holding a baby. Remembering those who love me who have passed away. The first new leaves on trees in the spring. …

Bless you, Samuel! It is a difficult situation. I am care-giver for a very ill woman who can be very reactive. I think she needs me more than I need the small pay I receive. Reconciliation, yes! This job continuing? Let’s leave that in God’s loving hands. If she takes me back, I will care for her in spite of the challenges. If she does not, I will relax and get on with my life … May God in his mercy take care of both of us, now and always!