Glory

"Look at me!"
Timmy Hamm pounded his chest as his mom tied the superman's cape around him.
His ribs protruded from beneath the costume.

I smothered my giggle as I said, "Yes, Timmy you are awesomely glorious as Superman!"
"No, Sr. Janine! I am Superman!" four-year-old Timmy proclaimed.
Last Saturday, Sr. Gwen Huyền went shopping for Halloween candy and I thought of Timmy Hamm. And his desire for glory.

I also thought of another acquaintance.

1. Ladies' man
2. POW
3. Environmentalist

Hardly the resume for a man admired by Hindus, atheists, Muslims, and Christians alike.
He was a dull student, attending school for only three years.
He liked to sing and his friends called him, "Dominus", King of the Party.

Francis sought glory in war and found himself in prison.
He did not give up his dream and tried to re-invent himself as a knight.
He fell sick on the first day and heard a voice pronounce,
"Serve the Master, not the man."

Francis realized glory was already given to man.
There was no need to flaunt it, thirst after it, or create it.
The glory of God is man fully alive. (St. Ireneus)
The man fully alive is already immersed in glory.

Along with all of creation.
He called death, his sister.
He called his body, Brother Ass, for it was a good servant but poor master.

He was not just a poetic romantic.
Or a monk who never became a priest.
He was a person who came across as a fellow human being.

He entered, unharmed, into enemy ranks (this is the age of the Crusades) and met the Sultan of Egypt. Eventually, the Sultan invited Francis to stay with him. Francis accepted on the condition that the Sultan and his people would accept the Word of God. Although the Sultan was moved by Francis, he did not accept Francis' request for fear of upsetting the people. Yet, in a short while, the Sultan sent Francis away because he was afraid that many of the Moslems would be converted.

The glory of autumn is upon us.
The glory of the golden mums is about to burst in my garden.
The glory is in us.

Do we dare to believe it like Tommy?
Do we care to live it like Francis of Assisi?
Is there any other way?

ps1. My mums about to bloom.
ps2. More on St. Francis of Assisi
From a spiritual, non-institutionalized group: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/Catholic/2008/09/The-Real-St-Francis-14-Surprising-Facts.aspx
From a Hindu swami: http://www.dlshq.org/saints/francis.htm
From a Catholic religious sisters and media source: http://www.ewtn.com/library/mary/francis.htm