On the wall is a painting: Señor, que des urban mi Soledad, para luego poder collaboration contigo, en la salvacion del mundo.

Jesus taught us, saying: ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the land. Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready, at once he starts to reap because the harvest has come.’ Mark 4:22-26

But if we have the discipline to stay put and not let these dark voices intimidate us, they will gradually lose their strength and recede into the background, creating space for the softer, gentler voices of light.

These voices speak of peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness, joy, hope, forgiveness, and, most of all, love. They may at first seem small and insignificant, and we may have a hard time trusting them. However, they are very persistent and they will grow stronger if we keep listening. They come from a very deep place and from very far. They have been speaking to us since before we were born, and they reveal to us that there is no darkness in the One who sent us into the world, only light. Henri Nouwen, Can You Drink the Cup

 O Lord, we come this morning Knee-bowed and body-bent Before thy throne of grace. O Lord—this morning— Bow our hearts beneath our knees, And our knees in the lonesome valley. We come this morning— Like empty pitchers to a full fountain, With no merits of our own. O Lord—open up a new window of heaven, And lean out far over the battlements of glory, And listen this morning. James Weldon Johnson

The name of the street we are on is Santo Espiritu, Holy Spirit. And it is a peaceful street, full of light and color and life and yet peace. And it led with just a few curves to this sanctuary of peace, this sixteenth century Casa de la Trinidad, run by the nuns Trinitarias.

And already, even before the edge of dawn, a gentle organ plays down one of these long winding corridors. Very softly. And just now, soft voices are joining in.

Another day.

Last year, this is where I left our entire bag of toiletries, when I ran back upstairs to leave one of my dad's little Bibles. And we did just fine with just a toothbrush purchased at the corner farmacia.

Like empty pitchers to a full fountain. O Lord-open up a new window of heaven.