Carmel develops our gifts

I was looking at what St Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12 about the diversity of gifts within the communities of the faithful and thinking how beautiful it is.  We complement each other in our gifts.  But I have become aware of another dimension to this – the time dimension.  What I mean is that at different stages of our lives we may have opportunities to exercise different gifts.  Most people’s lives go through stages.  I suppose the obvious example is how our bodies are a limiting factor in what we can do – for example, a person can excel in sport up to a certain age but then physical decline sets in and that person has to move into coaching or encouraging others.  In my case the loss of my beloved spouse, while extremely painful, opened up a space in my life in which I could exercise talents I never knew I had – mainly within a Carmelite context.  Carmel gives us many gifts, and the development of those gifts over time is a special experience.  Nowadays I love to see individuals coming into community and flourishing as I have flourished myself.  ‘Carmel’ means ‘garden’, and new plants and new growths are constantly appearing.  That’s a good thought for the Spring season which is nearly upon us.    

Intercessions:

Brian Davis

Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela), Agnes – cancer

Siena, Elara – sick children

Rosemarie – seriously ill

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

RIP Roswitha Watson OCDS (former President of St Therese Community, Oxford)

David - housebound