Come with me into the desert.

"Love one another. Just as I have loved you. This is not only to give up the blanket, but life itself. The perfect act of love consists in being ready to do what Jesus did: he died for Kada, for me, for everybody. Seen in this way, heaven is the place where everyone must be so mature in love as to offer his life for all others. It is love which is universal , and lies at the heart of things; where every vestage of hate, resentment, and selfishness has been destroyed by this love and cast into its fire. "

These are the reflections of Carlos Carretto in Letters From the Desert as he thinks about his choice not to give an extra blanket to a stranger on a cold desert night. As Carretto asked himself, I ask myself tonight:

"What's the use of giving up everything and coming here to the desert and the heat, if only to resist love? "

Community

When I started this blog years ago, I let everyone know that most of my entries would not be my own words, but mostly the words of others.

"We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community"

Dorothy Day

Anyway I've been reflecting on this quote a lot in my first week of life in Albuquerque. New city, new people, new job, it can all be a little overwhelming. I've felt so comforted by everyone who has welcomed us to the city and for awesome community-mates who have laughed, danced, and listened.

Even though its easy to feel lonely in a foreign place, I rejoice that God has put people in my life here already that remind me of His goodness.

And it doesn't hurt that its pretty beautiful out here!