Clouds

 

There's no need to despair when the sky of our lives is cloudy. Above the clouds is the sky, blue and full of light. Personally, I'm very happy when I see a patch of cloudy sky and, amidst those clouds, some space where the blue of the sky is still visible, and then, as evening falls, one can clearly see how the light shines more brightly through that space. There's always one; you just have to know how to look. And even if there isn't, the clouds bring the hope of rain, which renews and nourishes the earth. So, if there are clouds in your sky, remember, just say it's time to wait, that when the rain falls, it will nourish you and you will be able to see the sky again, as blue as it always was.

The Two Donkeys - Don Bruno Ferrero

 

 They arrived at the cave of Bethlehem with difficulty, even two donkeys.

They were tired and annoyed. 

Their back was torn by the heavy bags that the miller, their master, carried daily and by the blows of the cane that he did not spare. 

They had heard the shepherds speak of the King of Kings who came from Heaven, and they too had gone. They followed that star and, before the cave, they stayed to contemplate the Child. 

They adored him, prayed like everyone else, and placed at his feet as a gift the only thing they had: their lives. And their pain, their sorrows... 

As they left, the ruthless miller was waiting for them, and the two donkeys set off with their heads down, the heavy staff on their backs. "It's no use," said one, "I begged the Messiah to take the burden away from me, and he didn't." 

"I, on the other hand," replied the other, who was trotting with some vigor, "asked him to give me the strength to carry him!"

And if someone tells you, "Life is hard," ask them, "Compared to what?"

- Don Bruno Ferrero - 

And God Was There

I wrote down what I heard in a video on Instagram. I also translated it:

And God was there,

In my beginnings

And in my finals.

God was there

In every process,

He perfected me

He was there

At the center of every storm,

He hugged me

Because he was the only one

Who is not afraid of my failures.

But that was there

To help me stand up.

He does not wait for me

At the end of the road.

He takes my hand,

He pulls me out of the mud

And we walk together

To a new destination.

God was there

At every stage of my life,

The Creator of the universe,

He who takes care of me. 

Open Your Eyes

 

Last Sunday (November 25, 2019) I went to Mass, despite having a cold or the flu. I still can't decide what I'm sick with. It happened that while the priest was giving the homily, my eyes closed, and almost immediately I heard him say, "I assure you that today you will be with me in paradise." I opened my eyes surprised, but interested in what the priest would say, and he said, "Those are the words we all long to hear." I confess that, as far as I'm concerned, he's right. Who wouldn't want to die in the hope of eternal life? If only we truly knew what we lose each time we sin, each time we deny the Lord, each time we choose evil for good. We need to be humble like the good thief and recognize Jesus as the only king of our lives, the only true God. The priest said that the good thief at the foot of the cross asked for nothing more than to be remembered by Jesus when he came to his kingdom, but not before acknowledging himself as a sinner. It takes humility to recognize that we are not perfect and that Jesus is the only one who can lead us to that heavenly dwelling. I think we must be prepared at all times for the end. Acknowledge our sins, confess them, and declare at all times that Jesus reigns in our lives. Declare this by saying "no" when someone offers us drugs or any other easy escape from reality. Say "no" when we ourselves seek other false "gods" like money or sex, easy ways to get ahead or to create a false sense of self-worth. Recognize and share the gospel with our fellow human beings as the only truth. Always say "yes" to God, a God who, as the Father reminded us, is a king with a crown of thorns and a cross as his throne. He didn't say the latter, but that's how it seems to me. Our King Jesus Christ is the only one who can lead us to the Father. Let us acknowledge him as king of our little universe, and may we hear in that hour when our eyes close in this life and open in eternal life that we will be with him in paradise. Because there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 who don't need to repent. Let's make it a celebration in heaven! Long live Christ the King!

Rest

 

I want to rest in You

Oh, Eternal and Uncreated Good

Yes then here on Earth

Even if at my earthly end

I want to rest in You

Even at the end of each day

And every week

You are my rest

My source of peace

I miss you if I go away

Of your sacred commandments

Don't you despise this crazy woman

Come to my heart,

Let me rest in Your goodness,

When the heart is already tired.

Because we do not rest

Until we rest in You,

Until I find you Lord

In every moment, in every human being

Away with the Wind

 

On the lawn of a public garden, in the warm spring sun, amidst the tender grass, the robust, toothed leaves of dandelions had sprouted. 

One of them displayed a magnificent yellow flower, innocent, golden and serene like a May sunset. 

After a while, the flower turned into a "showerhead": a light sphere, embroidered with feather crowns attached to seeds that were tightly packed in the center of the showerhead.

And how many conjectures the tiny seeds made. How many dreams the breeze made at dusk, when the first timid crickets sang their serenade.

"Where are we going to germinate?"

"Who knows?" Yes.

"Only the wind knows."

One morning, the showerhead was grabbed by the invisible and strong fingers of the wind. 

The seeds were attached to their small parachute and flew away, caught by the air current.

"Goodbye... goodbye," the little seeds greeted each other.

While most landed on the good soil of orchards and meadows, one, the smallest of all, made a very short flight and ended up in a crack in the cement of a sidewalk. 

There was a hint of dust deposited by the wind and rain, so small compared to the good, fat soil of the meadow.

"But it's all mine!" the seed said to itself. 

Without a second thought, he snuggled up tight and got to work on the roots.

In front of the crack in the cement was a leaning, scribbled-on bench. A young man often sat on that very bench. He was a young man with a tormented face and a restless gaze.

Dark clouds weighed on his heart and his hands were always clenched into fists.

When he saw two jagged, tender green leaves pushing their way through the cement, he laughed bitterly: "You won't make it! You're just like me!" and stepped on them with his foot.

But the next day he saw that the leaves had risen and become four. From that moment on, he couldn't take his eyes off the stubborn and brave little plant. After a few days, the flower appeared, bright yellow, like a cry of happiness.

For the first time in a long time, the grieving young man felt the resentment and bitterness weighing on his heart begin to melt. 

He raised his head and took a deep breath. He slammed his fist on the back of the bench and shouted, "Of course! We can do this!"

She felt like crying and laughing. She touched the small yellow flower head with her fingers.

Plants feel the love and kindness of humans. For the brave little Dandelion, the young man's caress was the most beautiful thing in life.

Don't ask the Wind why it brought you here.

Even if you're drowning in cement, work from your roots and live.

You are the message.

- Bruno Ferrero -

From: "Solo il Vento lo Sa", by Bruno Ferrero, Ed. Elledici.