Be Glad of Life...

To be glad of life,
because it gives you the chance to love
and to work and to play
and to look up at the stars;
    ~from “The Footpath to Peace” by Henry van Dyke

The guiding charm of these words, and the accompanying bucolic image of a peaceful village, have played through our imaginations for the last several years. The quote and picture were discovered at a time when a deep dive into the essences of education, something to which we have dedicated the majority of our adult lives, had brought us up to surface upon a new shore, the world suddenly teeming with meaning and rife with sense and appeal. And so we realized that we had to decide, and we decided to take up the invitation to be glad of life. For us, this deliberate gladness has manifested in the leaving off of more conventional modes of operation (read: we do many things the old-fashioned way on purpose), leading us to homeschool and take up music more fervently, for example. 

As a matter of course, our faith and the liturgical calendar primarily sets our schedule, not contradicting but complimenting the natural ebb and flow of the seasons which, fortunately for us, also inform how we spend our time and our days now that - Deo gratias, not a day goes by that we are not thankful to have been led to this haven - we are scraping things together as a family on a small farm. Our life is simple, even if there is never enough time in the day to 'get it all done'. We've happily adopted the idea that good enough is perfect in many endeavors - though not, it must be noted, in prayer or devotion or the sacramental life. In that sense we've happily adopted the idea, or rule, that practice makes perfect, and understand that such a race is not won this side of heaven. 

At the moment, we are preparing beds for the vegetable garden with great and sometimes impatient anticipation, all the while watching the fruit trees drop their flowery petals, budding green leaves to lusher growth, and putting out soon little fruit for future days of plenty (it is our hope). It is a healthy time, even during the sparing time of Lent - not despite but very possibly because of, we are learning - when we sacrifice properly enjoyable food and drink and comforts (and hurt for it), coming to realize and enjoy more keenly the providence of God. Now, music has not abated but has filled more of our moments, as have the schemes and dreams of days to come. For bird's song and blue skies and the playful breeze you would think that anxiety were banished. In the most meaningful way, this is true and - though we know there is a storm on the horizon - today life is full of love and work and play and the chance to look at the stars, perchance to wonder on the One whose music makes them move. 

​May the Immaculate Heart of Mary accept our small offerings and help to purify our wills, for her triumph and for the glory of Christ the King her Son and Our Savior; may He reign!

“The Footpath to Peace” by Henry van Dyke (1852-1933)

To be glad of life,
​because it gives you the chance to love
and to work and to play
and to look up at the stars;

to be satisfied with your possessions
but not content with yourself
until you have made the best of them;

to despise nothing in the world
except falsehood and meanness,
and to fear nothing except cowardice;

to be governed by your admirations
rather than by your disgusts;

to covet nothing of your neighbor's
except his kindness of heart
and gentleness of manners;

to think seldom of your enemies,
often of your friends
and everyday of Christ;

and to spend as much time as you can
with body and with spirit
in God's out-of-doors;

~ these are little guideposts
on the footpath to peace.