Good, Samaritan Survives!

Thanks be to God! The Samaritan Dogwood in the Our Lady of Fatima Memorial Garden at Agnus Dei Hermitage has been removed from triage. New leaves are budding out, and the tree is off hydration other than nature's best.

Before long, God willing, the branches will be thick with healthy leaves and producing some shade despite the pruning necessary after it's near death dehydration ordeal.

Such beautiful leaves--cream and green variegation--and huge white blossoms in the spring are anticipated with gratitude to the endurance capabilities of God's creation.

Endurance comes to hermits, by the loving invigoration of the Holy Spirit!

A long time older friend asked not long ago, "Don't you
get lonely? Aren't you afraid to live out there by yourself? Aren't you scared to drive home at night?" The elderly friend does not, of course, know that nothing is a hermit. And, what difference should it make, anyway, as to questions of fear and loneliness?

All Christians should grow in courage, endurance and such love of God and desire to exist in His will, that loneliness and fear wither.

Of course, nothing has had some frights--the unexpected outbursts from the neighbor requiring the detective's intervention, as well as something most weirdly horrific (as in two more "s"... as in Stephen King and Steven Spielberg!) when off on what was supposed to have been a 30-day retreat.

But loneliness? Nah. God seems to have provided for that potential challenge in hermit life. There aren't enough hours in the day, as it is; and nights are often filled with other types of adventure. There is never a want of people, even if the bulk are not in temporal form or physically present.

A young security system salesman stopped to give his spiel. Nothing explained that it is ready for death ever since its dying nearly 21 years ago, post-op, and was sent back after a marvelous encounter defying true description: of the One Triune God. And, if anyone wants to break in to steal all the religous objects, holy water fonts and framed prints, they are welcome, for the world might benefit. If the Catholic book collection is taken, perhaps people will read them and have deeper conversions! If the place burns to the ground, the nothing will not have to discard the STUFF--a task it or others will someday have to complete.

The good salesman then mentioned carbon monoxide poisoning, and having quick access to help. Ah, now that would be a silent, solitary, slow and simple manner in which to breathe one's last.

But pain? Or rather, the "sensations"? That is no doubt the challenge nothing faces requiring the most endurance and courage. It tends to knock the very stuffings out--either in a siege or in the course of the prolonged issuance. Some used to say they could see it in the eyes; others have said it shows in the writing. Part of the joy of death is release from the "sensations", which seem to me just as well to call "pain". I am used to the idea of it, anyway, but no one ever gets used to suffering, but comes to appreciate its joy: sensate bliss with Christ, for souls.

Perhaps later, on the exact anniversary date of the nothing's death and being sent back to rear the children (checked off the list) and fulfill its mission (in progress), the nothing will share about that amazing and glorious experience. And, perhaps not.

There is so much to fill the nights and days, and seems as if even now, with allowing God to choose the human and spiritual soul encounters, there is simply no time to be lonely. And the bullfrogs' night singing and oriole's day chirpings soothe most fears. Even the devil's surprise attacks aren't so much frightening but more the lesson in what God desires nothing to learn by His allowing them.

There is the good in all, after all. And good! The Samaritan has not succumbed but doggedly perseveres--with God's grace in created endurance, rain at just the right times, pruning, many prayers, fertilizer, and hose waterings as needed.