Peace and all good things to you! Recently, as many of you know, I had total knee replacement surgery, so I had some extra time to read during my recuperation period. I just want to share with you some threads of that reading and my ponderings from it.

Thread One: Dioum, a conservationist in Senegal, wrote: “In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.” These words made me think that for so long many of us were, and still are, teachers and nurses helping others to under-stand. We know that understanding leads to love, and that love leads to care and compassion. It seems that in our world now there is so much fear and it tries to separate people on every level.

Thread Two: Isaiah has been front and center of our Scriptures recently and speaks of a bear and cow being neighbors and a baby sitting aside a viper
(Is. 11:1-9) At first glance I think Isaiah is teaching us about peaceful coexistence; direct opposites uniting as one. Could it be that in our present age of bitter divisions, Isaiah is encouraging us to shake hands with those we tend to avoid? As a bear and cow enjoy neighborly peace together, so too, are we invited to practice wholesome neighborliness. Could it be that we are actually called to envision a future in which we coexist together and thus inspire hopefulness?

Thread Three: Recently in a Trivia game I learned that the motto of South Carolina is Dum spira spero, “While I breathe, I hope.” This motto encourages us to breathe in hope’s inspiration, zestful powers and strength. Hope possesses power to conceive of new possibilities and to dream of a better world.

When I read the stories in this newsletter, I feel hope! I celebrate hope! The Women of Providence in Collaboration, in its members, gives witness to a brighter future, to a wholesome neighborliness, and to the zest, strength and power to co-create a better future for our tomorrows. They “teach” by being God’s hope, joy and justice in the world. They help us all understand that movements of gratitude, compassion and goodness unite all of humankind.

Our providence charism teaches us that creation is an excellent teacher. Our common home here on Earth needs us all to live thoughtfully, and to teach future generations to do the same—to conserve, to love and to understand. With God’s breath, and its hopefulness filling us with zest, we can co-create a world of peace and hope now and in the time to come.