A thread:

It seems that I made my life profession as a Franciscan over 10yrs ago, so some reflection might be in order...

We ask enquirers 1)Why an Order? 2)Why Francis?

I went into this saying saying “yes” to an Order because I need the discipline & Francis because...
...I respect the Franciscans I know & want to be more like them.

During the Noviciate, I became friends with Francis & Clare, & the Order became a family.

Over 10yrs later, Francis is in my blood & the Order really is a family with ALL the joys, & challenges, of family life...
...I went into this wanting/expecting to change. It has & hasn’t happened.

I still have all the flaws I came in with, but I now see things very differently.

Being in an Order makes it harder to walk away when things get frustrating & ‘formational’.

Francis’ poverty is...
...raw&painful, wonderful&transformative.

There is nothing to hold on to. Nowhere to hide.

We come face to face with ourselves & find the LOVE that was always there, hidden in the scars.

We glimpse our poverty & very slowly learn to trust the everlasting arms holding us...
...as we are.

Let’s see what the next 10yrs have in store!

@monknunCofE
You can follow @FrSimonTSSF.
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