A Good Read & Tranquility

“The root of the cross is not justice, though its fruit be mercy, as you say. The root of the cross is love, and what is laid down is more than gold, it is blood, life: given not with the clink of dead metal, but with the groans of a many dying in agony…..That is more than justice…it is love.  Nor is it merely a just love.  It is a merciful love.”

“God loves me, even me; and though Satan parade my sins and weakness before me, yet am I saved by the love of God in Christ Jesus, from which nothing can separate me.”

“In my house we do not flog a man for loyalty, nor for love, however inadvisably expressed.  We treasure it.”

“There is no healing without hope.  Despair is life’s direst enemy.  Despair is living death.”

“For the moment they (the novices) are working well, praying devoutly, living contentedly.  No doubt trials and difficulties will assail them, but just now we have tranquility.”

Two vintage walnut bowls I couldn't resist at the thrift store yesterday...

 I despaired of copying all the lines of The Hawk and the Dove Trilogy that caught my attention and culled out my deeper contemplation.  These are just a few of them.  Add to them the story - two stories really - of the bond between a mother and her daughter and monks to their beloved Abbot and their God, and you have a story that will hold your attention from beginning to end.  Well, it certainly held MINE. I've placed a request for the book that follows this trilogy and can't wait until I receive notice that it has arrived at the closest library branch.

Read the book, if you haven't already.  Visit the author, too.  I've traversed her entire blog and beyond and have found frequent inspiration and challenge. 

My desire today is to live as the novices were - at least for the moment 
..."working well, praying devoutly, living contentedly."

Isn't that the the essence of tranquility?