Francis of Assisi

This morning, I got a call from my consultant broker. Since 2nd of June, I've been waiting to meet a client to accomplish a work deal, which was supposed to be just a simple procedure "with my strong credentials, and the growing demand". So I was told... But reality worked out different. First, my broker's client was on holiday. And when (s)he finally came back, their client (i.e. the owner of my potential project) just left for holiday. So we cannot meet, negotiate, agree, or anything else until August when they're back, and I'm back. This is Finland, the Promised Land of Long Summer Holidays!

The deal was/is about a major job from August to November or so. And my livelihood.

A friend from a Christian magazine calls. "I'm writing on Slowness, and thought about your life choices, and efforts to find a slower rhythm of life. Has it been successful?" - Yes. It has been successful. Thanks for asking!

Then, without any hesitation, I tell her about Francis of Assisi, whose thoughts I've been reading lately in Richard Rohr's excellent book Hope Against Darkness. When asked by a brother "what is joy?" Francis used a story to illustrate. "When we come... soaked by the rain and frozen by the cold, all soiled with mud and suffering from hunger, and we ring at the gate of our friary... and if we continue to knock and the porter comes out and drives us away with curses and hard blows and if we bear it patiently and take the insults with joy and love in our hearts... That is perfect joy!"