Journal of Sacred Work

Days 294-295 An Essential Truth

“If your only goal is to love, there is no such thing as failure…” St. Francis of Assisi

Vermont 10-6-2016According to the Franciscan priest Richard Rohr, Saint Francis offered an alternative way of life that recognized God’s presence in our midst and the sacredness of everything that is.

The lived experience of St. Francis was one of opening to love, and of loving God wholeheartedly through love of all God's creation.

Francis understood “an essential truth about God, that there is no separation between matter and spirit. Knowing our true identity- one with God- frees us from fear of death and allows us to let go of our small self to live more fully as embodied love.” (Rohr)

Rohr encourages us to seek the inspiration of St. Francis through a contemplative way of being, forging connection, rather than judgement. In the sacred realm of relationships we  can explore, find and trust our gifts and use these gifts in the service of others.  

We can create bonds of healing in communion with one another and our community. This requires a willingness to see differently, to awaken to the common thread of our humanity and not turn from suffering but rather to embrace our true calling. 

 Liz Sorensen Wessel
Photo: Huntington Gorge, Vermont-Oct 6, 2016

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5 responses to “Days 294-295 An Essential Truth”

  1. Terry Chapman Avatar
    Terry Chapman

    Yes! Focus on love not results! Yet another well thought out piece that helps us lean on our core values, the greatest of which is love.
    Interestingly you chose a pastoral background for your entry, one which portrays the calm respite that God’s nature can provide for all of us if we will simply “retreat” to a quiet place, preferably outside. And we must realize that on Planet Earth, all God’s creatures and yes, even the stones and streams and waterfalls, are invaluable, and should be treasured. To ignore our need for quiet surroundings is to lessen our experience as human beings; God wants us to thrive but also to be “quiet”!

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  2. erie chapman Avatar
    erie chapman

    Love this part of quote from Francis via Rohr: “an essential truth about God, that there is no separation between matter and spirit. Also love my cousin’s comments to “focus on love not results.”

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  3. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    Yes, you have expressed this all so beautifully, Terry. Often the quaint image that comes to mind of St. Francis is birds and animals surrounding him yet his message is expansive.
    Thank you for enriching the experience of our readers with your insightful perspective.

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  4. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    Yes, I do too, and thank you so much for commenting Erie.

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  5. Terry Chapman Avatar
    Terry Chapman

    Thanks for writing this piece and others I’ve admired on Chip’s Sacred Journal; keep it up! I find I truly am a writer who thrives on spontaneous glimpses of life’s realities, often through nature and then it circles back into all of life–most of which is still, despite all the obstacles, joyful!

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