This blog post is long in coming.  Life got rather busy!  I have 2 blog posts started (according to the subjects requested in recent comments) – and I promise they are coming (one post on dryness in prayer and another on our identity as ‘woman’ – and living that out in the Church).  Thanks for your patience.  But this post will not fly to such lofty heights…it’s simply to say: Life is beautiful.

I have been thinking a lot about our hidden life here the desert.  Living it, thinking about it, immersing myself in it as if it were all new.  And how beautiful it is.  How absolutely beautiful it is!

All day today the Lord allowed me to experience the beauty of it – and thankfully I just so happened to be carrying a camera! OK, OK – you can call me a paparazzi! 🙂

The beauty of our life struck me when I walked into the Church and heard the Sisters chanting the Magnificat at the top of the hour, as one adorer took the place of the other.life1

The beauty of of it struck me as I poked my head out the back door to catch a glimpse of the sunset.  Instead I saw one of the Sisters making the Stations.  Silently, slowly – walking Station to Station.

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The beauty of it struck me as I saw a Deacon retreatant sitting on a bench – surrounded by solitude – quietly praying.

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Then, shortly after the sun set, my heart still pondering our life’s simple beauty…I read an article about the oldest living Sister in the world.  Today is her birthday; she turned 107.  (Happy Birthday, Sr. Candida)  These were her words:

“In my 80 years as a religious I have never regretted having chosen this vocation.  Only one who feels the happiness of being close to the Lord can understand how abundant his love is for us and how much peace he gives our heart.”

By golly, that’s it!  “Only one who feels the happiness of being close to the Lord can understand…”  Yes, Sr. Candida, I think that reaches to the heart it.  In my short 18 years of Religious Life, this is the same truth I have experienced time and again and again, brand new each day.  To live so near the Lord…yes, that is what makes my life so beautiful!

(On a side note – to help enable us to continue living this beautiful life of solitude and silence, we are having a big fundraiser!  It’s called the Nun Run and it’s happening on March 8th! Heard of it?!! It’s time to register for the 10K, 5K or 1mi!!!  Get an early bird discount by registering before February 23rd.  Check out the Desert Nun Run Website for more details: www.desertnunrun.com)