Letter from Assisi

I went to Assisi knowing that, in spirit, Alicia would be with me. When I came home I tried to say in letter form what I had realised.

So Alicia, what did I learn in those few days and nights spent in Assisi. That beautiful town on a hillside so beloved by Francis and Clare- and lately by you and me?

I learned, my darling, that what divides ‘now’ from ‘forever’ is paper thin. That you now exist in the bright forever sunlight of God’s love, and that often that sunlight can penetrate whatever separates you from me. Not totally of course because such a light would be too fierce for my present soul to bear, but enough breaks through to illuminate my heart with joy and happiness.

I have cried joyfully often Alicia not just in Assisi, but over the days and nights since you died, and I would wish to cry with such joy forever but know that the happiness you now experience still lies some way ahead of me. Nevertheless I know you are leading me there. That your hand has hold of mine, your loving heart is joined with mine, and you are waiting for me beyond that paper thin divide.

And while we wait, you make up whatever is missing in my love for the great eternal God. Where I stumble and fall, you share your strength to lift me up and carries me on; it is your courage that strengthens my weakness every day, and at night I can sleep certain in the faith that because of you, one day we will both share together in God’s kingdom.

But how do I know all this? How do I even know you still exist?

Because I know how great your love for me is, and I certainly know how much I still love you. But I also know how much greater is Gods love for both of us, and that He cannot bear the thought of being separated from either of us for a single moment of time, let alone for eternity.

In Assisi over those few precious days I came to realise that if I recognize in you’re soul ‘beautiful sister Clare’, then in many more ways than I can ever imagine, I am now your ‘little brother Francis!’