The trick, it seems, is to be able to hold both things very close – the gratitude and the misery – and then, with a semblance of faith, to let them fly.
ELIZABETH AQUINO
I believe that Elizabeth Aquino’s quote is perfect for me, just now. As I wrote in my answer to Jill, I had some problems during my holidays in holding Gratitude and Misery and then let them fly. When I felt prejudices (towards some people in the Italian place where I spent my holidays) I judged myself as a bad woman, not able to be better. When I stayed in the moment, listening to those speaking about their lives, their difficulties, I was moved. So, at the end, maybe I have to accept that there can be two things in my soul. The choice is in part that suggested by Aquino, “let them fly” and in part that suggested by Philippians 4:8 (thanks, Aine!)

I resonate with you all here. But, today my sense of wonder is truly human, it pertains more to relationships, than to nature. I am at home, my holidays has just started. This morning I woke up, read my meditations, had my breakfast and then I felt a deep and physical anxiety, as if my breathe were hard.
I tryed to do my chores…i looked at my mobile and noticed a “thought of the day” that one of my choir friends is used to posting in WhatsApp, then I turned to this site and noticed the title of Kristie Nelson’s blog.
I felt a sense of inner peace, my breathe came back, and the rhythm was normal. My boring thoughts (my train of thoughts) slowly went away, I definetly felt a sense of wonder. I went down in my garden, my father was cutting the grass, one of my neighbours was tidying the freshly cut wood, the light was shining after yesterday storm, and enlightening all the greenery with that special slightly sloping light of August. The wonder of being part of a community of good people, the gratitude for sharing.

As grown in a catholic tradition, this question brings me to …yes to the same place of Jill, 1 Corinthians 13:1.
and also to two little women, them both named Therese. One, the author of today word of the day, so young, so focused on doing something for people in need, but at the end she decided for her inner works, and she chose to be a clausure nun. The other, so well known, Mother Therese, she always prayed before putting her hands in leprosy plagues.
So, enlightened by these glorious and inspiring exemples, I try to find my balance. Hard to discern and choose if it is better for me to be like Marta, or Maria ( 10, Luke’s Gospel, 38,42). Marta, focused on activity, was not wrong, as Pope Francis lately said, and Christ kindly and softly rebukes her: love comes first, and at first it brings to humbly listen, only later to act. Otherwise, maybe we are tempted to be omnipotent.

I have always thought of you as smiling, for your logo, and your deep and kind words. I believe that it is a matter of time, and not a long time, dear Christina. Some years ago, When I got up early and started driving, I often thought of the hard day ahead of me, or of the news in the world, in my country…always bad news Christina…now, since I visit this website and read the reflections of you all, I look at the landscape and I feel a smile growing up, inside my soul into my face: i love the mountains on the background, the quiet light of the morning, and even the busy road full of people like me ( oh this is obviously unless i find some unkind driver, or some cyclist who pretens to drive in the middle of the road!)