From February 28, 2019

Yesterday, near the end of my seventh day in Florida, my new “used” bike still was parked in the bedroom. Every day I think I’m going to get a chance to ride it…even if for only ten minutes. By day got derailed yesterday when I had to go back to the doctor because I somehow misplaced the second pill I had to take…and I took the opportunity to bring up the event in the supermarket before leaving Haiti when the sudden onset of brutal headache that immobilized me for a minute or two.

From February 26, 2019

How stupid it was of me to think that “my” work on behalf of the poor was more important than tending to my own inner poverty. It was never “my” work; it was work given to me by God. I was doing God’s work. And to perform at the highest level of effectiveness I needed to have the work be more fully rooted in the grace of God.

From February 27, 2019

I went to the doctor yesterday. Every month he checks my lungs. I must take a breathing test each visit. Before the test, I told the doctor I had no real breathing issues in Haiti, despite all the smoke and pollutants in the air. However, since returning to Florida, my breathing has become more labored. I told a friend that I couldn’t take fresh air, I needed to inhale smoke from burning garbage.

From February 25, 2019

Decluttering is the work of continual contemplative practice. As our mental clutter dissolves, we experience a greater inner silence. We begin to forget the self and are more and more grounded in God. This takes discipline on our part and an outpouring of grace on God’s part. Our inner stillness allows grace to operate and opens us up to be receptive to the inflowing grace.

From February 24, 2019

Yesterday, I sent a thank you note via email to a faithful supporter who made a very generous donation. After finishing the “thanks,” I spontaneously shared with him something that happened that morning.

From February 23, 2019

Billy sent me an e-mail saying that Sr. Immacula came to Santa Chiara yesterday to ask him if we could help her. She knows a woman who is HIV+ and is very sick. Sr. Immacula wants to help the woman, but the woman has four kids, a girl and three boys who need a place to live.

From February 18, 2019

I left for the Missionaries of Charity just a few minutes before six yesterday morning. As always, I took a deep breath and hoped for the best. When I reached a long stretch of dirt road that is very narrow, I was dismayed to see a large water truck blocking the way. I decided to back up as there was no space for a U-turn. I had long way to go in order to reach a place wide enough to turn around.

From February 22, 2019

On the road to God, words eventually dissolve into silence. To become more and more silent, to enter deeply into creative silence, takes courage. The wordless is foreign to us. Yet God transcends language and intellect. In silence, we are able to meet our deepest self. When we have found our authentic self, we are free to give ourselves away, to give ourselves back to God.

From February 20, 2019

Ecarlatte and I are both headed for Florida this morning…on a 9:00am Jet Blue flight to Ft. Lauderdale. Ecarlatte has a doctor’s appointment on Friday. She will return to Haiti on Sunday. I will stay in Florida for an additional week to handle administrative chores.

From February 19, 2019

Yesterday morning I spotted Christella in backyard. I was happy to see her. I gave her a hug. She clung to me. I went out front to see why she was here. I saw Madame Polycarne. She smiled at me. I then saw Lovna, who still looked sad, even though she was talking with Bency. I gave her a hug.