St. Catherine of Siena

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     I have often written with the phrase: "true wealth is health," and meditated upon the various ways of life; those that possess more or those that possess less. The wealthy, although with the comforts and eases, may still encounter many frustrations, anxieties, in other words, a life that is not free from pain, or tribulations. Whilst the one with less may not possess the same luxuries, or be able to live a particular lifestyle, may even be much more happy and content. In the phrase written above, either ways of lifestyle, including the various points within the spectrum, we could think and wonder how choice, stigma, and labels often intersect with the thought that becomes cognizant with the choices, or even ways of life, that one chooses to embrace. Given the desired ways of life, or what one believes in. We can think of examples, such as the chosen ones, the ones that God chose to share the messages of faith, of the one God - or even the saints. 

     These are the thoughts that came to mind when I thought about Saint Catherine of Siena, who chose to embrace Christ, inspired to serve others. In her isolation. She often heard and even had visions of Christ. It is her lifestyle, isolation, and eventual activism, that was also a source for her deteriorating  health. But it is this idea of silence, that requires isolation that I focused upon. Because even as thinkers who are inspired to envision a future, need to be able to experience this type of silence. Which most often requires periods of isolation, meditation, being surrounded by nature. To begin to think deep from within. Often inspired by intuition, or what we could call higher consciousness, or even God. But to walk in the path of truth might also mean embracing a lifestyle, that is frowned upon, ridiculed, even in terms of a modern thinker. This is also where we can intertwine the labels and stigmas, attached to the idea of lifestyle. 

     One can be wealthy, but also be able to live a minimalist lifestyle, as monetary possessions serve as a mechanism for survival, and also to give back to society. One could even be in a frame of poverty, but also still be very happy. One can live a minimalist life style, and still give back to society. But with each of these are stereotypes and prejudices held. Here we can focus more so on poverty, because when we think of poverty, we can attach other factors such as; mental health, physical health, crime, drugs, alcohol, or other abuses. These factors often driving one to deeper poverty. But this does not always have to be the case. Poverty even as it intersects with other factors, can also be a propelling force. Where one desires to reach above and beyond one's circumstance. Creativity is ignited, or even act as a social reformer. 

     So we can say that in our modern day society and activities, neither being rich or poor does not necessarily have to be good or bad per se. It is really about the human heart, and how the heart becomes transformed through what one has attained, or how one has viewed a circumstance. In this essence we can connect the great thinkers, Prophets, Saints and Jesus himself, who in their silences, isolation, and activism strived to even act as social reformers. Similar to the modern day thinker, researcher, service workers, or any individual who possesses the ability to think. There may be ridicule or stigma, but the ones who have embraced truth, or a certain way of life, will always know what is required to be able to hear through the silences. 

     These thoughts made me reflect upon the life of the saints of the past, especially St. Catherine of Siena. I wondered how social scientists could also be viewed in the category of Saints. In a similar vein, social scientists must be able to think, and desire some level of isolation. Eventually the thought processes turns to a type of activism, that contributes to the community of knowledge, for societal and the common good. 

*Further Reading
Lessons from the Life of Saint Catherine of Siena: Laywoman and Activist

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on May 1st, 2019.
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