Ascension : News From The Grotto -Thought For The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 10.06.2010 (Article Archived on 24.06.2010)

During this past week, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ was celebrated.

During this past week, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ was celebrated.  This is an important concept in the Christian religion.  The readings included the recounting of Jesus feeding the crowd with five loaves and two fishes, quite a feat indeed.  Another reading told of how Jesus, the night before He was betrayed, gave the instructions that have led to our Communion feast.

We all have bodies.  They come in all shapes, sizes and colours.  Some of us take care of them, others do not.  They carry our souls and our hearts, and we live in them while we are here on this earth.  Some serve us well, others cause us trouble.  Some wear out before their time, others last for one hundred years. 

I read an interesting article in an airline magazine on my recent vacation in the Caribbean.  It was about some of the beautiful ladies on the island of Dominica who have lived to be older than 100.  Apparently Dominica is well known for its centenarian ladies.  There are a rather astounding number of them.  In this article, they recounted their lives.  Not all of them were easy, or the type of lives that one would expect to allow someone to reach the age of 100.  But they all shared several characteristics.  They were tough, and they were full of love.  They loved their families, their friends, and were loved in return.

The woman who had conducted the interviews of these ladies was also a painter.  She had painted portraits of these remarkable women.  Their faces were lined with wrinkles.  The stories of their one hundred plus years were etched into their faces.  And each and every one of them was beautiful.  The beauty that was once recognized on their faces, was now evident in their hearts and souls.

The interviewer asked stories about their lives, their childhood especially.  All talked about the joy of growing up in an island culture that cherished its music, dancing and friendship.  No matter what tribulations were to touch their lives, they had friends and family to help them through it.  They all thrived in an environment where true community spirit was apparent.

So as we all grow older, and start to suffer more of the aches and pains of growing older, let us always remember the beauty and spirit of centenarians everywhere.  Let us take their lessons to heart.  We must not isolate ourselves from a community.  Wherever we find ours, let the spirit, friendship, and love of others fill our lives.  No one travels through life unscathed by sadness and tough times.  But the love of others will help us travel these rough spots, and regain our contentment.  Let us accept God’s love in the form of the spirit of community.  And let us always be a part of that community for others.

May God bless each of us as we grow older, however old that might be.