Intentionally Pausing

A Holy Week Experiment in Creating Space

A Contemplation of Friendship

An excerpt of "It is not Good for Man to be Alone" written by Daniel Michaels

The friendship between Francis and Clare had this characteristic: it was not exclusive. It did not exclude the others, those brothers of Francis or those sisters of Clare, but rather overflowed onto them. Francis is the brother and father of all the sisters; Clare is the sister and mother of all the brothers. When a friendship … is of this quality—non-possessive but sharing—it becomes a reminder of creation; it returns us to relationships of original innocence. It is a “return to paradise” on the lines of the ascetic ideals of the Fathers of the desert. Through, or by means of, renunciation and the cross—the cross of Christ!—humanity re-enters a lost paradise.[1]

Adapted from the words, of Saint Clare of Assisi

We place our minds before the mirror of eternity!
We place our souls in the brilliance of glory!
We place our hearts in the figure of the divine substance!
And transform us, our whole selves, into the image of the Godhead itself through contemplation![2]
Amen.

[1] Michaels, D. (n.d.). "it is not good for man to be alone": Clare and Francis: Ca:Ed, p. 10. CA. Retrieved April 5, 2023, from https://www.franciscantradition.org/clare-of-assisi-early-documents/it-is-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-clare-and-francis/186-ca-ed-1-page-10
[2] Claiborne, S., & Wilson-Hartgrove, J. (2012). Common prayer pocket edition: A liturgy for ordinary radicals. Zondervan. P. 281

Creating Space for Friends

In creating space for friends, what is one thing you could do to show at least one of your friends that you are thinking about them? What is one thing you could do to intentional spend time with a friend today? Some ideas are:

Write a friend a letter and mail it to them.
Phone up a friend you have not spoken to for while.
Ask a friend to go for a walk, or another activity that is mutually enjoyed.
Send a friend a reel you know will make them laugh.