Saturday April 2
1 p.m.

The news of the Pope, Our Holiness Jean Paul II., continues to worsen. It began to rain here during the night, after many days of sunshine & warm weather. As I watched CNN throughout the night, rain played it own sad song on the two skylights in the television room upstairs. Today I awoke to a very grey, overcast day & continued rain - as though the worldwide grief of John Paul’s flock & the commiseration & admiration of many non-Catholics was reflected in the clouds & haze & rain. He is a great & holy man, & I think much of the world, no matter what their religion, feel this. Certainly, all those who watch the silent crowds standing vigil in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, & the candlelit prayer ceremonies in churches around the world, could not help feeling touched by the deep grief of their fellow humans. The world is united in its grief, and therefore - for at least these hours - one. One in God, and united in its humanity.

I felt this as I watched the news of President Kennedy’s assassination so many years ago, the recent invasion of Iraq, the tragedy of September 11 & other disasters such as the recent tsunami. These global outpourings of grief or horror - & the compassion & love that they foster around the world, beyond personal interest or politics or patriotism - are memorable, & for many reasons. These sorts of events strip us of our own small, personal histories & bring us to something Higher. Our deeply felt & shared feelings for those we do not even know & will never personally meet is the higher octave of the human, personal emotions. These deeply felt world events can bring us to the Higher Love and Compassion. It would be better if we could do this without world tragedies to guide us there ...

The gardens are happy for the gentle & abiding rain, fresh & new, their colors now vibrant & alive. The grey of winter has ended for the gardens, in stark contrast to our now cheerless sky.