We are heading into the Holiday season as you already know by going to the store. During these days Feelings can and will run high. That is why I wanted to share this story with you that my former student, Gail Lowney Alofsin, sent me from part of a homily by the Fr. Greg Sakowicz, rector at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.
Island of Feelings
Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all the others, including Love. One day, the feelings learned that the island would sink, so they all repaired their boats and left. Love was the only one who stayed.
Love wanted to persevere until the last possible moment. When the island was almost sinking, Love decided to ask for help. Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat.
Love said, “Richness, can you take me with you?”
Richness answered, “No, I can’t. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place for you.”
Love decided to ask Vanity, who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel.
“Vanity, please help me!”
“I can’t help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat,” Vanity answered.
Sadness was close, so Love asked for help, “Sadness, let me go with you.”
“Oh... Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!”
Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her!
Suddenly, there was a voice. “Come, Love, I will take you.”
It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that he forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way.
Love, realizing how much he owed the elder, asked Knowledge, another elder, “Who helped me?”
“It was Time,” Knowledge answered.
“Time?” asked Love. “But why did Time help me?”
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, “Because only Time can understand how valuable Love is.”
There is a lot of material to digest here. The story can leave you thinking, especially during this hectic time. How will I handle the different situations I find myself in? Will I remember that taking time will nurture love no matter the situation I find myself in?
Check out those different feelings and see if the shoe doesn’t fit sometimes.
Till Next week,
Sister Theresita
