Saint Francis of Assisi is one of my greatest heroes. He was a soldier and a victim of war whose experience brought into sharp focus, Gods plan for him. While besieged by a fever as a prisoner of war, Francis had his first inkling that he should devote his life to God. Subsequently, some time later, he left well to do merchant family, taking nothing with him not even clothing, and set out on a life of Godly poverty and service. He devoted himself to service to the poor and peace on earth.
"Be praised my Lord, through those who forgive for the love of you, through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure peace for by you they will be crowned" -from "The Canticle of the Sun" written by Francis shortly before his death.
Francis not only wrote these words but lived them to the day he died. He happily wed the fair "Lady Poverty" and remained loyal to her all his days. He disdained wealth and traveled the land giving all he had, both materially and spiritually to the poor and to the outcast.
Once, during a group I was facilitating at the VA, a client who was drug addicted, depressed, recently homeless and had a chip on his shoulder like the Rock of Gibraltar asked me: "What Tenderloin doorway do you think Francis of Assisi would fall in today?"
I think he was inferring that good works and selfless acts were all well and good during the Middle Ages, but just do not happen today. I have to admit that I was at a loss for an answer as it is a tough and very legitimate question. I have spent quite a bit of time pondering it in the year that has gone by since it was asked.
Firstly, Francis and Clare are still very much with us through the orders that they founded that still exist today, but that is not the whole of the spirit of St Francis. In his desperation and frustration, that veteran didn't realize that Saint Francis is in every Tenderloin doorway where an act of kindness has ever been carried out.
I've seen Saint Francis on the "Thirty-eight Geary" bus at the VA hospital in San Francisco when a Fallujah veteran helps an Okinawa veteran into a seat. I've seen it when total stranger helps a lost child find her parents in a mall. I recently read of a woman, over one hundred years old, whose home was foreclosed on by a big bank and the movers and Sheriff's deputies assigned to evict her simply refused to do so. I have seen people just spontaneously buy a sandwich for a homeless person just out of God inspired impulse.
The point is this. Saint Francis and Clare live anywhere they are welcome. If you want to find Francis in a Tenderloin door way, then you have to take it upon yourself to put him there. We are all Saint Francis in our good works. When we strive to help others, or simply be kind, Then Francis is there with his hand on your shoulder smiling a gentle smile. It really doesn't take much, it only requires that you do what you can and we all know what that is for each of us. No grand gestures, nothing for show, just simple acts of kindness known only to you, Francis and God. That is how we make Saint Francis live. The bad news is that if we just wait around for somebody to step up and inspire us, it will never happen and the streets and the world will remain grim and heartless places. If we take it upon ourselves with Gods gift of generosity, then Saint Francis of Assisi comes alive and his good work continues. It is totally up to us. Not the Government, not the church, but us. We, as individuals, must take that first step on the pathway of Clare and Francis, in whatever way that is appropriate for each of us. Saint Francis lives in the heart, the trick is letting him out.
No comments:
Post a Comment