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+ Dear Relatives and Friends,
the sacred texts of East and West call out to us: “Lift up your eyes!”
At this mid-winter season in the Northern hemisphere, we do lift up our eyes to the starry night sky. In turn, its awesome beauty lifts up our awestruck hearts.
So much, these days, is weighing us down; all the more, we need to raise the eyes of our hearts to the beauty of nature and art that still has power to give us courage.
We need to lift up our eyes beyond what divides us; only united can we tackle our tasks.
Only when we lift up our eyes, do we notice the many opportunities to give joy to others and in giving joy to others, we find joy ourselves.
It takes so little: $50 will make a blind child see.
Courage and unity in tackling our shared tasks, generosity and the joy that flows from it, what better gifts could i wish for all of us on the threshold of 2022?
Let us lift up your eyes, then, and look for the Morningstar dawning.
Your Brother David
Photo: Diego Ortiz Mugica
Br. David Steindl-Rast is the founding advisor of A Network for Grateful Living. He is a Benedictine monk, interfaith pioneer, author, and teacher. You can read more about him and find his extensive online archives here.
If you would like to offer a brief reflection on this letter or a short greeting for Br. David during this season of light, please do so in the space below.
Br. David Steindl-Rast
Brother David,
I was putting the letters I received in 2021 in my letter box and came across a card you sent me that encouraged me to publish the book on reflections from your workshops on Kauai ( at the Waipa Foundation). I did publish the book and have given it many times as a gift. I also put it on Amazon. I would really like to send you a copy if I could know the address where you would like to receive this gift.
Blessings +
Pamela McRae-Dux
Good Morning Pamela – Thank you for this lovely offer. If you want to send the wonderful sounding book to me at our office address, I will be happy to forward it to Br. David wherever he is. He will likely either be in Austria or Argentina. We are 245 Russell Street, 21B, Hadley, MA 01035
I will certainly do that Kristi. I am waiting for an order from Lulu publishing and it should be here soon. I will also include a gift copy for you which you can share with the staff if you wish.
Warm regards,
Pamela