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Book: The Lessons of St. Francis: How to Bring Simplicity into your Daily Life Author: John Michael Talbot with Steve Rabey Dutton Book, New York, 1997, pp.255 Excerpt from Jacket: As we stand at the threshold of the new millennium, the teachings of St. Francis have more significance for us than ever before. His simple words and heartfelt message can touch us in ways we never imagined, affecting the way we live every hour, every day. Practical, down-to-earth, and inspiring. The Lessons of St. Francis casts a warm light on the uncertain future before us, as it guides us along a reassuring path that can enhance and transform our lives. Excerpt from Book: Don’t Worry about Tomorrow James the brother of Jesus was critical of the arrogance of those who tried to control their lives through detailed, far-reaching plans: “You don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Likewise, in small ways and big ways, Francis sought not to be distracted from the responsibilities of today by worries about tomorrow. When he sent his friars out to collect alms, he instructed them only to collect enough for one day. And he forbade the monastery’s friar cooks from soaking vegetables the night before they were to be cooked. The Jesuit writer Jean Pierre DeCoussaid describes this kind of attention to the here and now as “the sacrament of the present moment.” This doesn’t mean one can’t have plans or hopes for tomorrow. But it does mean that too many of us are too preoccupied about the future — or too consumed by the past — to concentrate on the beauty and the promise of the current. Embrace the immediate moment. Practice being present when you’re washing the dishes, cutting the grass, relaxing in the bath tub, or taking out the trash. Learn how to be alive in the here and now instead of constantly dreaming and scheming for something better. Table of Contents: A Tangible Saint Simplicity Joy Solitude Humility Creativity Chastity Community Compassion Creation Service Peace Prayer Francis: His Life and Legacy |