Hajja Salesjana January-March 2021

H AJJA S ALESJANA 4 The Windows of the Soul The year 2020 is past and gone, forever relegated to the books of history as the annus horribilis that brought the world to a standstill and humanity down to its knees bringing life as we knew it to a crashing halt while also adding a good dollop of sadness, anxiety and fear. Thankfully now with the prospect of taking a vaccine on the horizon, we can hopefully look forward to a form of existence with the semblance of some normalcy. Yet I am sure, that some things will never be the same again. Sure enough, one bright beam of light in the gloom of 2020 was the beatification of 15 year old teenager Carlo Acutis, whose portrait graces our magazine’s front cover. Like a shooting star, his trailblazing life points us way beyond our beleaguered and sick world. Another thing I am sure you can all identify with is that for the time being, we have all been masked so as to respect one another and stop the spreading of this dreaded virus. Funny how up to a few months ago, seeing a group of masked people approaching you would have scared you, whereas now, seeing masked persons approaching you gives you a sense of calm! However, because of these masks, now an accessory we simply cannot go or do without, all our facial expressions have been hidden from sight. This has greatly hampered our communication with one another because we all know that non-verbal gestures are very important in our everyday sharing with each other. Our face expresses and reveals what we share, feel or see. Yet now all that is still visible from our whole face are only the eyes, the windows of the soul, as someone had once aptly termed them. Recently, this fact set me thinking and it is this thought I wish to share with you as we commence a new year, trusting that better times await us all: What do people see when they look into your eyes peering on top of your mask? Do they see welcoming, gentle and serene eyes or eyes full of fear, sadness and pain? Can people feel warmth, kindness, goodness coming through your look or do they see vindictive eyes laden with hatred and judgement? What is it that you communicate through your eyes? Think about that for a while for your eyes reveal the state of your soul, whether you like it or not. Sure enough, we are all going through our own inner and external struggles as we tread forward through these surreal times. Hence, meeting a fellow human being, a fellow companion on life’s journey who not only sees you, but also smiles kindly at you with his/her eyes as your paths cross, well that would surely be a pleasant gesture not to be underestimated. Try to take the initiative yourself, do so too! We can all do with some added support and love as we hesitatingly venture into the unknown of 2021 aware that God, who is Emanuel meaning God with us, is certainly walking beside us and that is more than enough. He is our security, our fortress, our refuge and our eternal Companion. With Him beside us, we will all see this through. I wish you all well. Blessings of peace, health and good will to you all! Fr. Sandro Camilleri sdb PhotobyPilleRiinPriske fromwww.unsplash.com