Why am I happy?

Which reasons do I have to be happy? I like my life; it is not always an easy path (which one is it?) but it is never sad. It has lots of good moments; in fact, God has given me the gift of being happy with what he gives me so, usually, I don’t lack many things.
I begin each day with a time of prayer in which I read the Bible. God tells me again and again that he loves me; that the world will not fall out of his hands (even if it seems to me that is doing so) and that there is hope for the future. In his Word, Christ reminds me every day that he believes every person I meet to be worthwhile, to the point of giving his own life (and mine) for him or her. Thus, even when I get up a little worried, pessimistic or gloomy, God manages to convince me of the many reasons I have to love the life he has given me.
People also make me happy. Certainly, there are many who neither sow nor peace nor love; however, there are many more who do so. I've lived in four countries: Spain, England, USA and Italy, and my experience has always been the same. The world is full of good people, really and honestly good; who love and fight for the loved ones and for the unknown people they find on their way. Surely, they do not make so much noise as the others, but their lives are a source of happiness for everyone they meet.
I am happy also because it is Christ’s gift for those who listen to what he says: “But now I am coming to you and I say these things in the world to share my joy with them to the full.” (John 17, 13)

Words, Windows or Walls?

Words, windows or walls? Today I have been thinking on how we speak to each other; it is so easy to hurt others without realizing... I suddenly remembered this poem from a book I read last year. It reminds me that to talk is always as having a conversation through a land line, there are filters on both sides of the line. Filters change the sound of our voice, or at least, how it sounds to the one who listens. I, sometimes, wish that we could hear what people really want to say with the words they pronounce. What do you say about yourself? (John 1, 22)

Words are windows, or they’re walls,
They sentence us, or set us free.
When I speak and when I hear,
Let the love light shine through me.
There are things I need to say,

Things that mean so much to me,
If my words don’t make me clear,
Will you help me to be free?
If I seemed to put you down,
If you felt I didn’t care,
Try to listen through my words
To the feelings that we share.

–By Ruth Bebermeyer
(Marshall Rosenberg Nonviolent Communications 2003)

John 1, 22 So they said to him, 'Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?'

Catholic differences

As you know I am studying theology. After two years in England I came to Rome to finish the STB. It has really been a change. Now I am with seminarians and sisters from all over the world. It is giving me the opportunity to know the Catholic Church in its catholic aspect (catholic means universal); it could not be more different from one place to another.

We could not think more differently either. I personally think that our lives (as religious people) should be the basis for our words. Others think that our presence is enough, a presence that is noticed. Yesterday I was talking about this with a friend. Some people (religious and no religious) think that it is enough with “being there” for being a witnesses to the Gospel (the conversation had started with the always present question of why I do not wear habit). He (my friend) was saying that with his habit, when people see him they know that he has given his life to God and this is a witness. I agree with that. I also think that there are many ways of making people know about God; you tell them about Him, that’s one, another is to wake up their curiosity with your life until they ask the question of why you are like that. I like better the second one. Show with your life what you want to say with your words. And when someone asks, then, speak! Neither the habit nor the lack of it makes us truthful witnesses to the presence of God among us; only the acts of love, kindness, forgiveness that we do.

Children, our love must be not just words or mere talk, but something active and genuine. This will be the proof that we belong to the truth, and it will convince us in his presence, even if our own feelings condemn us, that God is greater than our feelings and knows all things. (1 John 3:18-20)