The May issue of Heart to Heart invited readers to reflect on the issue’s theme of “Living in Uncertain Times” and to share responses to two questions: “What do the issue’s reflections, prayers, and songs stir in you? What helps you to live in uncertain times? The “Friends of St. Angela” of Laredo, Texas, had a recent Zoom meeting focused on these questions. We are grateful to them for sharing these reflections for our HeartSpeak blog!
As we read the different reflections, many of us connected with several of the thoughts in the Heart to Heart issue. One of them was: “Faith is not certainty. It is the courage to live with uncertainty.” We all feel our life bombarded with uncertainty, but as long as we stay connected to our faith, we have hope that we can face whatever comes our way. The other reflection that many of us connected with was from Maria Shriver, where she states: “During uncertain times the way forward is to return to what forms foundations of our lives. Love. Care. Compassion. Mission. Family. Friendship. Faith.”
Our discussion revolved around using these different foundations to guide us day by day through all of the ups and downs of daily living. We also discussed the quote from Pope Francis, where he stated that we “should be people who carry certainty within us by offering calm in the midst of anxiety, mercy in the face of struggle, and light where there is doubt. In doing so we become not only recipients of God‘s presence, but signs of it for others.” Each one of us realized that we have a mission from St. Angela and from God to move forward with hope and trust, and to rely not only on ourselves, but to rely on our faith, so our lives can stay calm and we can avoid panic. With prayer, we can achieve a better way to live with uncertainty and live more positive lives with love and gratitude.