I see the word ‘triggers’ a lot in relation to reading. Authors warn readers of possible triggers whereas certain actions or situations may cause harm to a reader mentally, bodily and even spiritually. Recently an author pulled her debut novel out of publication because a book reviewer disagreed with the theme of the book. The author wrote a novel based on her own life and the culture she left when she immigrated to the United States. The protagonist of the book encountered human trafficking, slavery, and forced prostitution in the country where she was born and countries where she l lived enroute to America. The book’s intended audience was older teens to adult. The editor and publishing company explained that the book wasn’t pornographic or violent but a young woman’s life story as fiction. The result? The author stopped publication because she didn’t want to offend anyone. Think of all the books that we may have been denied because they might “offend someone.” Readers have different tastes in books. I might be offended by a book you liked and you might think the stories I like are boring. Religion, political views, lifestyles or themes are perceived in different ways, especially in books, movies and entertainment. The bible is the most banned book in history. The US and many other countries don’t censor book production at this time. Things could change. What if reading was prohibited and the government burned all books? Farenheit 451by Ray Bradbury is science fiction as of now. That’s the temperature at which paper burns. Should we listen to one reviewer’s opinion as to what is dangerous to read? Do you think people are able to decide for themselves what to read? Was the young author wrong to not let her book out into the world? Are there any books that you would be disappointed not to have read? What would you do if some group, organization, or even the government, came and took your books away? Writers, would you let someone tell you what you could or couldn’t write?

A reflection on a prayer written by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity for her sister Guite  1906

Heaven in Faith   The Second Day, First Prayer

“Since love is what unites us to God, the more intense this love is, the more deeply the soul enters into God and the more it is centered in Him.”

I attended a birthday party for my husband’s twin fifteen year old niece and nephew. I say his, not mine, that is until I watched them dance with their mother and grandfather. It was a slow dance, the boy with his mother and the girl with her grandfather. I’ve never spent much time with them because we lived far away. Now we are retired and live in Mexico where Oswaldo and Shara live. They have Multiple Sclerosis and have physical and mental problems due to their condition. Shara will not look at anyone. Oswaldo will look at you in the eye and make a sound. Neither one speaks. Oswaldo hugged me back but Shara put her head down even further.

During the dance, everyone in the room was crying. That made me cry because I saw how much the family loved Oswaldo and Shara. The family lives in the same town and see the twins frequently, but I couldn’t feel love until then. Until I saw them for the brief five minutes or so of the dance, I didn’t think of them as individuals. I thought of them as just “them”; the kids who have something wrong. I didn’t feel hate or anything bad. I didn’t feel anything. But then I observed Oswaldo and Shara communicating with their grandfather and mother, communicating as much as they knew how. And then I felt like they were mine.

I thought about God at that moment and wondered if that is how He feels about Oswaldo and Shara. They are imperfect, but He loves them anyway. He loves them greatly. I am not perfect either. I felt united to God very deeply for those few minutes because I had a glimpse of the way God loves people. Without judgement, with complete acceptance, and holding us close within His heart. The dance ended and the music stopped. I am certain now of God’s love for me and for our family and His people on Earth.

Elizabeth of the Trinity. Elizabeth of the Trinity Complete Works, Volume I: I Have Found God, General Introduction and Major Spiritual Writings . ICS Publications. Kindle Edition.