I recently purchased a statue of Saint Francis and put him in the humming bird garden, just off a newly constructed patio. The statue continues to transform the entire area. Now when I look at the patio and garden, it feels protected and peaceful. The way the saint looks lovingly downward at the bird in his hand brings solace to the mind who beholds this scene.
Then I went to a nearby church yard and in one of the gardens there was a very old statue of the saint. The look in the downward gaze of both statues can be described as pure humility.
I was dealing with a child abuse case at the time and the child in question was told by the courts that she had to go back and live with the accused who reportedly sodomized her for the first five years of her life.
I kept praying for Divine Intervention in this situation and for the maturity to avoid making judgements and harsh statements that put down the child's alleged abusers.
Remaining nonjudgemental is an exercise in humility. Wasting time and energy visualizing a horrible outcome and railing against the bureaucracy that make these decisions--is a great example of arrogance, by forgetting that the higher powers are working for the greatest good of all concerned.
And thinking further of the simplicity of the Saint Francis figure, who attracted all the animals to his side, I am reminded of the dogs who go with me whereever I move or walk.
The beauty of the animals reminds me to be a channel for Universal Love and Peace.
This is the real lesson in humility.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator of the e- e-book called "Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover Your Calling and Destiny." The book is designed to stimulate nurses to love their work and to prevent on-the-job-burnout. Click here to find out how to order the e-book: http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com Visit Kate's blog: http://nursehealers.typepad.com -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | |