Our hearts are restless

A friend recently visited Melk monastery in Austria.  I saw his photo and thought - "That is some monastery!"  In a world that is seemingly going bonkers, as it goes out of control, such a scene of stability is most inviting but seems purely other worldly.   It is like our world has lost its direction, acting as a restless soul.  

Bonkers?   Yes, as I see endless hatred, suffering and war in the Middle East, now all happening on multiple fronts.  But there is much more, as I see Myanmar, Ukraine, Sudan, and where else?  The worse part is that the world does not seem to care.  Or is it that the voice of those who do care is being drowned out by much more powerful forces, who benefit from world chaos?  

One leading voice for peace and order is Pope Leo, who, for his trouble, is accused of helping 'the baddies'.  Such is the 'new abnormal' in our world.  His great point is that we risk becoming indifferent to brutal wars and the suffering they cause.  Despite all, people of power continue to wage war, while attacking the Pope for unsettling their agenda.  

This is shown by the US Amabassador to the Holy See who tried to misconstrue the Pope's message, by saying that Leo was speaking on war as a Head of State, not as Pope.  His aim was to water down the message for peace.  The Ambassador made his stance to suit his own purposes, and those of his bosses, in exercising power, thus not respecting the voice of the Pope.   

The bottom line was proclaimed by Rome, in a simple statement.  

The Successor of Peter, when he speaks of war and peace, of migration, of the poor, of creation, "is not speaking as a head of state. He is simply proclaiming the Gospel." 

The Gospel offers stability in a world going bonkers.  Yet we seem to prefer a restless world, a chaotic world.   The stability, as signalled by the monastery in Melk, shows us a vision of a way forward, but it is not the way universally assumed.  Restlessness remains the norm, and the struggle for peace and order wages.  

The Ground is Fertile

This photo so speaks to me, as it exudes life, energy, enthusiasm.  For me, it is a living sign of hope in the midst of what could be otherwise a tough existence for young, vulnerable children.  They are not forgotten.  All this arises from a living image of  a happy day at a Migrant Learning Centre, for Burmese children, here in My Bangkok.  

In the midst of their rather rough and tough, daily life as children of poor, migrant families, this picture shows an image of how human goodwill and generosity came their way, offering support and friendship.  Isn't this what we do as decent human beings and good Christians?  

In the world as it is, one can too easily be fatalistic, only seeing DND (Disaster n Despair).  Yes, there is that nasty side of life, seen all too often, dragging people down into a pit of suffering and desperation.  Yet there ever remians the other side of life, that we can all too easily forget.  The person is innately good and kind, seeking to live in harmony.  

Despite all we see in our world, the ground is fertile for people to be able to live together in peace and unity.  Let us not make excuses. Let us just accept this as fact, as our basis for life.  Too easily, we just accept the via negativa, denying people the chance they deserve.    

Now is the time not to think of all that is lacking and bad in our world,. but to face the challenge of what we can do with what there is.  To ponder endlessly on what is not is a waste of our time and energy.  Let us never forget that the ground for life is rich and fertile.. This photo is a timely reminder of this often neglected reality.  

  

The Leo Effect

I am just back from Provincial Chapter in Sydney, where I spent the week sitting beside the Prior General of my Order, a top guy.  For those who don't know, Provincial Chapter is the churchy name for the regular, governance and evaluation meetings of religious groups, at their local level.  This enables them to exercise their shared responsibility for governance and planning, as they pursue their corporate mission and life, within the Church. 

This gathering in the life of the Province.is so pivotal in the Order, that the Prior General comes from Rome for it.  In his leadership role, during the week, he more than once mentioned or spoke of the Leo Effect upon both the Church and the world.  This is obviously more than an Order thing.  What is he implying in sharing this?  

As a member of the Order of St Augustine, Pope Leo is known to us as a brother and leader.  We have a shared and positive experience of him as a man of keen intellect, who is hard working, acting in measured and thought out ways.  What he says and does, he means.  He is committed to the Church and its mission, arising from the Gospel, reaching out to the poor and marginalized, across boundaries.  

I knew him in earlier times as an approachable brother in community, who had a hearty laugh and a keen sense of humour.  He was kind, ready to talk with anyone, and simply loved people.  In the life of the Order, he took the initiative, in furthering missionary endeavours, and kept an open door to all in his sphere of care.  

It is this man who became Pope Leo, whose pontificate has remained focused on peace, unity and dialogue, raising up the dignity of all.  He continually works for bringing people together through showing care for the downtrodden, sharing his humanity with all who come his way and seeking the ways of synodality and encounter.  

Within a fractured and chaotic world, his leadership speaks not just to the Church, but to the world.  People recognise in his message hope and common sense.  He is a religious leader on the world stage, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In doing so, he is attracting attention as a true world leader for today, when good leadership is sought by a humanity that is lost and confused.    

This is not the full picture, but it does give us a sense of the Leo Effect in today's world.  It arises from a church leader who preaches a God of love for all and works for the Kingdom of God, as a forthright, but humble pastor, a decent and gifted human being who loves being with people.     

Home is where the heart is

Ray is a milestone in my life.  He was one of a kind, ever full of humour, ever there, ever vulnerably human, ever kind and accepting.  I so miss him as he was home for me.  I remember how we met.  I had gone to a priest seeking advice, which was direct and simple - I know what you need, Ray!  And he was so right.  Now Ray rests in peace, while never being far away  I can still hear his classic one liners, like - "God will not be mocked!".  

I am thinking of Ray at a time when I am about to visit Sydney for two weeks.  While I never uphold here as paradise on earth, which some do, I always find the days before leaving here tough.  I just don't want to go as I know I will miss it.  Then the return here is always sweet.  What does this naturally occurring pattern say to me?  Does it say that here is home?  I am not so sure as I know my frustrations and critical thinking, that arise from my being here.  

But then, is going to Sydney a homecoming for me?  Not really.  After 20 years in Thailand, I feel like I have lost touch with Australia, a country I no longer understand.  Time away has done that to me.  I have gained distance, lost touch, seen where I have come from in a new light.  The word "diaspora" has a heartfelt meaning for me.  

So where is home?  Where do I belong?  My response to the latter is easy - I don't know.  I am not sure.  And that is okay.  My response to the former is also easy - It is with my family and friends.  It is not defined by location or place.  

Then a friend from here sent me this just this week.  

In any friendship, the most important thing is sincerity and genuine care. 

Sincerity comes from love and kindness. 

In a friendship without sincerity, nothing truly has meaning and nothing feels special.  

Only sincerity can make a friendship meaningful and valuable.  

This speaks strongly to a good friend, so much that he sent it to me.  As a Buddhist, as one from outside my sphere of influence, I take double notice.  That says it for me.  So I share, as I reflect on where is home.  My home is where my heart is.        

  

 

Life is too short

Recently, I enjoyed a memorable night celebrating the birthday of a friend's restaurant.  It was a most hospitable, friendly and, may I say, diverse evening.  As it happened, I happily sat with a German-Thai family, whom I got to know very quickly.  They were so kind and gracious, good fun.  The German "godfather" so readily and comfortably shared about his life, which began as a baby in the midst of the destruction of post-war Germany.  It just went on from there, featuring tough beginnings, hard work, challenging times and colorful life adventures, sailing beyond the shores of the Fatherland.  It all blended into a wondrous tapestry.  

As I listened to his unfolding a captivating life story, I sat privileged and grateful to meet a good and decent human being.  By now, his life was slowing down as he had been hit by cancer.  I could feel both his sense of resignation and fulfilment, earned by having endured a life well lived, full of its own colour and excitement, but now rapidly changing.  We could both agree on a key life theme - enjoy life in the now, as best we can, for it is too short.  

Here was a man who saw life through firsthand experiences of joys and hardships, of people loved and enjoyed, of success and loss, of love and heartbreak.  All this has produced a truly kind and human person, who appreciates our raw humanity and glories in being able to enjoy that humanity with others, who come his way.  He is a person of the big picture, drawn by his own rich experience of undiluted life.    

I know he does not realize it, but life experience has sculpted my "birthday party host and friend" into a saint.  As St Carlo Acutis, who died in 2006 at the age of 15, realized, each of us is a unique person, called to be a saint.  We just need to follow our call from God, whatever that may be.  Being truly human is our universal call.  How we live our humanity, as a response to our own unique opportunities, in our own unique ways, is what makes us who we are.   

Magnifica Humanitas

In the Church, today is Trinity Sunday.  In Bangkok, today sees the parade to begin Pride Festival 2026.  By these photos, the Irish Ambassador to Thailand has chosen to enter full swing into the spirit of the latter.  While I may applaud the ambassador's ingenuity and audaciousness, I do question a grasp of understanding and a depth of focus, when approaching the named issue, equality.  In his seizing the opportunity for Pride Month, has the issue been hijacked and misconstrued?  

I am all for equality for all.  That goes without saying.  We are all who we are.  We just accept who we are and live together.  However, when one population is singled out, my immediate challenge is simple - what about all the others? 

In our world, so many people are excluded.  I think also of the migrants and the refugees; of people of different race, colour, culture, religion; of the poor and lower classes - the list is endless.  Our world is unfair and full of injustice.  How do those unfairly treated fit in?  Where do they fit in?  Do they fit in?  Do we care?  On the latter, mixed messages arise.  Sadly, equality can be reduced to being a "sex appeal issue".  As Christians, we cannot be directed or tempted by a "sex appeal" campaign for solidarity, as we approach people suffering injustice and exclusion.  

We are reminded of this, with the release of Pope Leo's first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, in the past week.  Pope Leo is a straight shooter, bluntly challenging us to stand up for our responsibility and role in the world, to stand up for equality for all, in a deep and real way.   

This challenge is rooted in our very existence, which is totally thanks to God, for we are due to the very nature of God, who is love, giving of his self and thus creating.  So we see and know a humble God, a God intimately with us, a God who freely gives and makes us who we are, never leaving us alone.  Herein is the foundation of the dignity of all persons.  We are to uphold this dignity and live it at all costs.  So Pope Leo challenges us, teaching us about social issues and the Church response to them.  All is founded on who God is, on who God is with us.          

Cardinal Fernandez, the Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, was the first presenter at the launch of Magnifica Humanitas.  His finishing line was a powerful challenge for all:

Do I wish to belong to a humanity closed in on itself or to one that reflects the vision of God?      

This says it all.  

Time after time

"Lying in my bed, I hear the clock tick and think of you

Caught up in circles
Confusion is nothing new
Flashback, warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcase of memories
Time after"

These are the opening lyrics of a song by Cindy Lauper.  It is one of my personal Top 40.  It makes me think of time.  Time is so precious.  How quickly it goes.  It is like it disappears.  Do I truly value it?  I ask as I waste so much of it.      

Then during the week, I was introduced to Frida Kahlo, a Mexican artist of last century.  In her 47 years, she obviously suffered much, but achieved much more.  No matter what befell her, she used life to be herself.  She lived life to the full, living it with such passion and creativity.  

Too often, we approach life with disdain, by putting ourselves and our meagre interests at the centre.  So we are prevented from seeing the great treasures of the world and the precious time we have to savour them.  Do we appreciate the mammoth scale of time, within which we enjoy but a nano second?  

It strikes me that we can approach time in two ways.  We can look back and think - Wow!  We live in 2026, so far down the line in history.  Or we can look ahead and think - How much more of history is to come?   Can I fathom it?  

The former serves to make us feel self-assured, superior, being overcome by all that is.  The latter opens our eyes in awe and wonder, enlivening us for so much more to come.  The former enslaves us, getting us stuck in a rut.  The latter liberates us, freeing us for new ways.  Time after time after time ............