..."Yes, but the problem is that we have reduced all this to a series of rules. We forget that He invites us to contemplation. As I often say, we could reduce the commandments to two. The first, at the origin of Christianity, is in Christ's invitation, 'Look at the lilies of the field.' He does not simply say they are lilies, but says, "Look at them!" And he shows us how, by contemplating them, we are introduced into the mystery of providence. The second commandment, at the end of the Christian life, consists in these words to the faithful servant: 'Enter into the joy of your Lord.' We are not masochists--the cross is not an end in itself; it is for glory. We Christians are not looking for suffering, but for joy. God, living in joy, wanted to communicate it to all people. This is why he sent it down into our misery, nailing it to the cross. At that point, the cross became the way toward joy. Christianity is not at all morality and prohibitions--first and foremost it is wonder before things."  --Fabrice Hadjadj (French philosopher and convert to Catholicism); excerpted from Magnificat Vol.15, No.9, p.370

Lately, I have been wondering a lot. : )

I was thrilled to win this set of beautiful notecards from my friend Karen at Pumpkin Sunrise. Isn't Karen's photography breathtaking?