Fiction and life . . . from the desk of Gwen M. Plano
  • Home
  • Blog Reflections
  • REDEMPTION THRILLER
  • THE CONTRACT Series
  • My Memoir
  • Poetry
  • About

St. Francis of Assisi and Yom Kippur

10/4/2014

1 Comment

 
By Gwendolyn Plano
PictureEremo delle Carceri
About fifteen years ago, my daughter and I traveled to the fabled city of Assisi in the Umbria region of Italy – to visit the 13th century home of the beloved monk, St. Francis. For each our own reasons, we were pilgrims searching for answers and for healing. 

This morning, I was reminded of our journey, when I noticed that today is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. It is also Yom Kippur. 


If you have not visited Assisi, know that it is a beautiful medieval town, overlooking a peaceful valley of green fields with groves of fig, walnut, and olive trees. In the distance, Assisi appears golden in the afternoon light, and the walls enclosing its perimeters glisten white. It is magical and beckoning. 

We traveled by bus to the town and followed groups of devotees through its arched gate, to the cobbled streets leading to small shops and wall shrines. Our boardinghouse was centrally located. We climbed the worn stone staircase to our room and met our proprietor, a soft-spoken lady who became family over the next few days. 

My daughter and I arose early each morning and walked for miles, retracing the steps of St. Francis—from the country church of San Damiano to the tiny chapel of Porziuncola. Perhaps our most memorable hike was a three mile climb to the saint’s cave retreat at the Eremo delle Carceri, a small hermitage in a forest gorge. Francis slept there on a stone bed carved into its rock walls. He had no pillows, or mattress, or other comforts. 


It was at the cave retreat that St. Francis reportedly preached to the birds and other wildlife. He was a humble man—in love with all of creation. 

Francis lived what he preached, and therefore remains an example for all of us. And, on this holy day of Yom Kippur, I’m reminded of his message: “It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” 

And so it is that I join my Jewish sisters and brothers—in reflecting on the ways I have not been faithful--to myself, to truth, to creation….to love. Perhaps we all need to pause to consider, has our walking been our preaching?
 

1 Comment
Tracie link
10/5/2014 03:00:43

Has my walking been my preaching?

Such a sobering question. Some days, the answer is yes, and some days it is decidedly no. But it is a very worthy goal.

Your trip to Assisi sounds amazing. I would love to go there some day.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    For blog updates, please subscribe below. 
    * indicates required

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    June 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


Plano Enterprises, LLC
Photos used under Creative Commons from Kevin M. Gill, Joel Bedford, qthomasbower, crosescribe, Juho Holmi, diana_robinson, W Presley & B Kunce Photography......WI. USA, U.S. Geological Survey, Ian Sane, florianric, NikoMC, van Van Es, Yen Chao 趙彥, MissMessie, Yuriy Kuzin, Ben Zvan, Bichuas (E. Carton), Nina Matthews Photography, hehaden, alexdecarvalho, Tim RT, Kurdistan Photo كوردستان, Candida.Performa, peddhapati (Thanks for 1M Views!!!), Jhong Dizon | Photography, Waheed Akhtar Photography, lawmurray, USFWS Pacific, JalilArfaoui, SurFeRGiRL30, Lauren Finkel Photography, maf04, SantaRosa OLD SKOOL, Dakiny, vauvau, Zanastardust, Monica's Dad, timpeartrice, marumeganechan, Rafael Acorsi, seyed mostafa zamani, Jorge Franganillo, Irene Grassi (sun sand & sea), The National Guard, D.Fletcher, nada abdalla, Ted LaBar, alison.mckellar, Infomastern, Elvert Barnes, m01229, theglobalpanorama