I've got to admit that I know barely anything about today's saint, but from what I've heard he sounds like a cool guy. In the 1700s St. Junipero Serra founded a lot of missions for Native Americans, particularly in California (he's called the "Apostle of California"). That's pretty neat in itself, but what really sticks out to me is something that Pope Francis wrote about him:
"Father Serra had a motto, which inspired his life and work, a saying he lived his life by: Siempre adelante! Keep moving forward! For him, this was the way to continue experiencing the joy of the Gospel, to keep his heart from growing numb, from being anesthetized."
Being the shameless animated movie lover that I am, when I read "keep moving forward" a choir began enthusiastically singing in my head and my mind's eye very helpfully showed me this:
Meet the Robinsons, anyone? All right, if you haven't seen it, you should watch it. It's hilarious, and highly motivational.
Anyway, I think both Disney and Pope Francis are definitely right. I know from experience that when I, for one, dwell on the awkwardness of the past, it becomes more difficult for me to be joyful and to connect with other people, and to realize how amazing life really is. My heart becomes "numb," as Pope Francis put it.
Here's to a new month, a new day, and…er…an un-numb heart!
Siempre adelante!
