Mar23

we are made from stories.

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a lovely break

spent with my sister, my aunt, and her 20 spiritual sisters

each incredibly accomplished

making the world better

in her own  way

going from place to place

person to person

greeted warmly

welcomed in

with each interaction

we learned more about my aunt, the sister

her own stories, her own accomplishments

how she began on this path, became one of them, learned from them, grew to lead them,

now traveling with them into the next stage of their lives

putting together the people and places in her life

that have meant, and continue to mean

so much to her

she has been happy and much loved

on our last night they all sang to us

after a shared meal

gifting us with a blessing and best wishes.

—

“listen, and you will realize that we are made not from cells or from atoms. we are made from stories.”

*-mia couto

*António Emílio Leite Couto, better known as Mia Couto, is a Mozambican writer. He won the Camões Prize in 2013, the most important literary award in the Portuguese language, and the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2014.

 

—

image credit: from crayon

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66 responses »

  16. Beth, I’m not sure I understood completely. But it might be what we can do here too; taking a ‚out-time‘, joining a cloister or similar for 1 week, 10 days, whatever, living in silence, or work, or discussions – only the ‚story-telling‘ doesn‘t fit because these retreats are mostly silent…. But whatever; it‘s a beautiful experience you were allowed to make and it made you richer and probably quite thankful too. Love the circle of friends-drawing and the quote.

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    • It wasn’t a cloister situation, I have an aunt who is a nun and she invited my sister and I to visit her where she lives, in a convent. we were welcomed by all of the nuns and had a great time visiting. these are nuns who have been active all over the world, and working hard to help people in many ways I had no ideas about. it helped us to learn so much more about her than we ever had.

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  21. My goodness, what a wonderful time you had with your sister, aunt, and sisters. I’m so happy for you. Family stories, connecting people and places are so important. Yes, we are made from stories. May I ask what the sisters sang to you on your last night?

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  25. I could once again “feel” your post and the calmness that washed over me while reading it. What a memory you will have of that visit. We should ALL find ways to escape into a place of serenity and love among others now and again!

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