“We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.
Blessed is the servant who loves their brothers and sisters as much when they are sick and helpless, as when they are well and of service.
Keep a clear eye toward life's end. And remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received, but only what you have given.”
Francis of Assisi, Fioretti di San Francesco
"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.
But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.”
C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves, 1960
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
Francis of Assisi
As you have probably heard by now, the US Non-Farm Payrolls report came in much higher than expected this morning.
And the Dollar and risk assets rallied, backed off, and then rallied back into the weekend close.
Gold declined with the Dollar rally, but silver rode the equity rally and gained some ground.
And so we shuffle into the weekend, and the fourth quarter of the year.
We are living in a time of savagery, where the bully is admired, and might makes right.
Let us be mindful of what really matter, so we may remain standing strong in the faith.
And give support and strength to the afflicted, and mark the path for those who have lost their way.
For what does it profit a man...
Have a pleasant weekend.
