Dear friends,

Despite the chaos swirling through our country, and the myriad of difficult emotions swirling within our hearts….we notice this week that with the celebration of Valentine’s Day that despite our burdened hearts: “Love is in the air!” 

 Love is manifesting in the many kind notes and affirmation coming through cyberspace…the many actions women and men are taking in support of the marginalized and threatened in our country today…in the support of immigrants staying home from work to show us by their absence how present they are to us. The many faces of love…and the challenges to it, brought to mind for Ron and I, Ilia Delio’s “Evolution and the Primacy of Love” presentation that we and a number of others from The Spirit of Life had the gift of witnessing last July at Boston College. It was a stunning presentation and many community members requested that we offer it as one of our Spiritual Discussion evenings for all to enjoy and learn from. This week’ Spiritual Discussion gathering seems the perfect week for this!  We hope that many of you can join us after this Sunday’s liturgy to view Ilia’s presentation and to share your responses to her work with others. 

As we think of the love in our lives…and the gift of Love we’ve been graced with, we offer for your pondering, two of the quotes Ilia shares in her presentation: 

“Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

“What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination will affect everything.”
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the mornings,
What you will do with your evenings,
How you spend your weekends,
What you read,
Who you know,
What breaks your heart,
And what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.”
― Pedro Arrupe

At The Spirit of Life, our belief in the sacredness of all created beings and loving relationships compels us to respond with care and compassion to all who are marginalized in our church and world. We invite you to come and to pray with us as we “do our own work” in growing into a deeper awareness of our own gifts and ‘growing edges’ and together create a community that invites diversity and honors the uniqueness of each individual and every journey. We are confident that you will feel welcome in the “home” of The Spirit of Life. 

Loving blessings,

Jean & Ron