Several months ago, I stumbled upon a Moleskin giveway via Blankanvas by Pat Law. To win the Moleskin,  participants were asked to write about their biggest achievement of the year. As I wrote in my response, my biggest achievement of the year 2009 is more of an evolution than an achievement, and that is: following my dream to start an agriculturally based healing center for individuals dealing with trauma or loss. It turns out that my vision, along with the support of all of YOU, won me a colorful daily planner with plenty of room for detailed field observation and copious note-taking. And so the package arrived today, traveling to our rural spot in the heart of south central PA all the way from Singapore!

Many thanks to Pat Law for sending this along and to those of you who step forward with your support in so many different ways. . . As I’ve written elsewhere, transforming the dreams in our hearts into a living, breathing reality involves a community of people engaged in dialogue, the spaces between helping us to better understand and to live by what we value.

The following Franciscan Benediction has become a mantra of sorts, especially that last bit:

May God bless you with DISCOMFORT  at
easy answers, half-truths, and superficial
relationships so that you may live deep
within your heart.

May God bless you with ANGER at injustice,
oppression, and exploitation of people so that
you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with TEARS to shed for
those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation
and war so that you may reach out your hand
to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough FOOLISHNESS
to believe that you can make a difference in this world
so that you can DO what others claim cannot be done.

With gratitude,