Eyes Wide Open

 What a pleasant, radiant, peaceful and rewarding day off it is...In a day like this, we must have our eyes wide open, lest we miss tiny miracles and surprises God has placed for our amazement, wonder, awe and inspiration.

How wonderful are unassuming leaves taking early bath in a morning dew... How gorgeous are little flowers waking up from a night slumber and stretching out to the morning sun... I call upon St. Francis of Assisi, the Saint Patron of my ordination class to praise with me the One who made all His creatures...

Saint Francis’ Canticle of All Creatures

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon
for love of You and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.

Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.

Heavenly Father,
You gave Your servant Francis
great love for each of Your creatures.
Teach us to see Your design in all of creation.
We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

All creatures great and small.....the Lord God made them all!

Day off

How convenient that my weekly day off is on Mondays. It comes very handy today as I feel trashed and physically and psychologically exhausted by last week's challenges, work and responsibilities. The voice of reason demanded in full voice deep down in me:

I needed to get out of Kiabakari and drive to Musoma to take my mind off things, even if only for just a few hours. So, right after morning Holy Mass and quick breakfast, got my bag with laptop and drove to Musoma. Checked post office box if there was any new mail (none, sadly, today!). So, I said to myself: 'What a heck, let's do it! Let's have a day off!'


Well, don't get me wrong! My idea of day off has nothing in common with Ferris Bueller's idea of day off in that famous movie:

 

Then drove here to my favourite restaurant, with shaded open space and - what is most important - power socket near my favorite table, so I can plug in my laptop and work in peace, undisturbed by anyone, as I am always alone on Monday mornings here.

Later on I expect a colleague of mine to join me for lunch as we need to plan summer holidays schedule. Many of us, Polish missionaries, go for holidays to Europe (it just occurred, unfortunately, this year that most of us go, and this causes a lot of thinking and planning what to do with Mass schedules in their parishes etc...). So, he needs my help in his parish, which I am willing to do, obviously, as the reciprocity rule binds us naturally - you go, I will help you. When I go, you will help me either.

So, here I am in this open shaded area, sipping Africafe coffee and enjoying calm environment with noone around.

And I may go for Nile perch grilled fillet with boiled potatoes and veg salad for lunch. Fish from Lake Victoria is ranking high among the finest and tastiest fish species around the globe. Yummy!

Enjoying my day off immensely today... So, next time you feel trashed, exhausted, worn out, burned out....