SfS March 13

I find the sun on a sunny day, when the bees are bustling and the birds are chirping, is harder to admire alone than I do the sun on a cloudy day. The warmth and power if the golden sun on an overcast day is magnified immensely because it simply peers through the otherwise silver sky. The same is true for most in finding God. It seems harder where there is noise, where there is distraction, and where there are others to see him than where there is not. 

Yesterday we went to St. Peter’s basilica and though it was magnificent it was crowded. I regret even the fact that I thought this but I feel it must be shared. When we went to Mass at the end of the day I was elated. I thought, “This is mass in the home of the entirety of the Catholic Church with all of these people here the Mass is going to be so packed and awesome!!!” After 10 minutes they were still outside with their cameras out, taking photos...still taking photos....only taking photos. Through the entire Mass all they did was stand behind the wooden railings snapping photos. The audacity  of these people to photograph us like we’re performers for their own entertainment. 

That was all I thought about even until today and my anger followed me when we walked to Basilica of San Clemente. While I was in the courtyard just admiring the simplicities of this ~900 year old courtyard admiring the sun and praying under the frigid cold shade in the port o chere a tour group of kids my age or a little younger came in. This group was at least 50 strong and a good 15 hormonal, dramatic, loud kids made their way into the courtyard after me. Lord did they talk and as they talked something in my head whispered the words ‘listen’ and then again ‘listen’ and one last time ‘listen’. So I sat back and closed my eyes and I just listened and though I could not hear the entire conversation I did pick up on a few words. They were clearly English maybe American then it dawned on me, they like me traveled a world and a half to admire and love God. I thought in that moment, I thought:

They maybe here to inquire but is that not respect? 

They look upon this church with wonder and is that not care?

There is God as much in noise as in silence.

To look for love is to show love. 

To be displeased in something is to be disappointed in God.