An election week

Brothers Robert James and Luc are still at Mount Calvary Monastery in Santa Barbara, CA, helping with the coming move of many things to West Park.

On Tuesday, we celebrated All Souls (transferred because of our Monday Sabbath). Oh, and many of us voted that day. Some of us had voted by mail or in early voting sessions. Most of us tried to maintain our sanity by not gluing ourselves to screens for the rest of the week.

On Wednesday, I gave an especial thanks for my monastic vocation, on the eleventh anniversary of my Life Profession of the Benedictine Vow. Actually, I thank Jesus for it every morning when awaking and every night before turning off the lights. That and for the wonder of being human in this universe.

All through the week, I kept getting anxious and or funny text messages from my family in Belgium who was not so successful at independence from screens. America put on the best thriller for the world this week...

I must admit I feel great relief at the outcome of the presidential election. The result felt like a release from great anxiety. There remains daunting challenges for our country to be sure. I hope the new White House team can help bridge divides among Americans. May we all remember that we are One.

While America elected a president and vice-president, the Hudson River kept flowing in and out of its  estuary and our bell kept calling us to church. Meanwhile, many Americans and many world citizens with them watched as the results of the election came in (a Belgian television screeen capture from my family on Saturday).

May God bless the whole world with a pacified, cooperative and constructive America.

Peace!